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Entered according ?s ad af Congress in ttie^ear 186? by Virtua i Vouron m iheOerks QIT.a; of tiieOramtOwrtsf thellniiei SrarSrinheSoudiem DreinHof He* York
THE

WAR WITH THE SOUTH

A HISTORY OF

THE LATE REBELLION

WITH

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF LEADING STATESMEN
AND
DISTINGUISHED NAVAL AND MILITARY COMMANDERS, ETC.
Bt ROBERT TOMES, M.D.
-f' *
CONTINUED FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE TEAR 1864 TO THE END OF THE WAR
By BENJAMIN G. SMITH, Esq.
VOLUME III.

NEW YORK:
VIRTUE & YORSTON, PUBLISHERS, 12 DEY STREET.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, In the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-two,
By Robert Tomes,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New Tork.

£c^.o\olo

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOLUME III.

PAGB
- PORTRAIT OF GENERAL U. S. GRANT Frontispiece. \
i
VICTORY Vignette Title. ¦ !
-, MAP OF PORT HUDSON AND ITS DEFENCES To Face 16
^ | (
^_ CHART OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM THE OHIO TO THE GULF OF MEXICO 11 22
^_ PORTRAIT OF GENERAL GILLMORE n 91 i J
PORTRAIT OF GENERAL HOOKER 114 ' 1
! I
j, BATTLE OF CHANCBLLORSVILLE. — GENERAL SICKLES' DIVISION COVERING THE RETREAT 123
^ * . ¦ !
_ PORTRAIT OF GENERAL KTLPATRICK n 137
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG « 148 j |
PORTRAIT OF EDWARD EVERETT » 153
MAP OF GETTYSBURG AND ITS VICINITY 156
PORTRAIT OF GENERAL MEADE " f 62
'— ~ CHATTANOOGA AND ITS DEFENCES n 222 i '
PORTRAITS OF GENERALS SEDGWICK, TERRY, JOHN G. FOSTER, CROOK, AND MERRITT ' 340 j
PORTRAIT OF GENERAL HANCOCK " 351
^* i |
PORTRAIT OF GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN • " 376 \ ;
y j i
, PORTRAIT OF GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN " 393 j j

TORTRAIT OF GENERAL SHERIDAN
PORTRAIT OF GENERAL STONEMAN

« 481
524
PORTRAITS OF GENERALS HOWARD, ROUSSEAU, GRIERSON, SLOCUM, AND JEFFERSON C. DAVIS n 537
PORTRAIT OF ADMIRAL PORTER
PORTRAIT OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON
PORTRAIT OF EDWIN M. STANTON

5S5
664669

THE GREAT CIVIL WAR:

A HISTORY OF

THE LATE REBELLION.

CHAPTER I.
The Condition of Vicksburg after the Surrender. — Comparatively little Ruins. — Marks of the Bombardment. — The
Hospitals. — Persistence of the Defenders of Vicksburg.— Starved out. — Mule Meat. — A Soldier's Bill of Fare.—
The Efforts made by the Enemy to relieve Vicksburg. — Proofs of Weakness. — Determination of General Pember-
ton. — Fighting to the "last dog."— Effects throughout Mississippi.- Retreat of Johnston. — General Sherman in
Pursuit. —Jackson evacuated. — Sherman occupies Jackson. — Destruction of Railroad Property. — "Nothing goes
well in the Southwest." — Mississippi abandoned by Johnston.— Sherman's return to Vicksburg. — Surrender of
Port Hudson.— Operations of General Banks in Louisiana. — Operations in the Teche Region. — Capture of the Diana.
— Battle of Beasland. —Advance of Banks to Franklin.*— Co-operation of the Navy.— The Queen of the West burned.
— The Diana blown up.— A Fleet of Transports destroyed. — Fort Butte La Rose captured. — General Grover forms
a junction with Banks. — Banks at New Iberia. — At Martinsville. — At Opelousas. — At Alexandria.

1S63.

The condition of the city of Vicks
burg and its defences, when entered
by the victorious army of General
Grant, was such, notwithstanding the
tremendous fire to which they had been
so long exposed, as to surprise every
observer. It was natural to expect a
general scene of ruin, yet few of the
buildings were demolished, and most of
the houses were so little injured as to
be easily rendered habitable. The shot
and shell which had been poured so
continually into the city had, however,
left their marks everywhere. The streets
were ploughed up, the pavements shat
tered, and the yards, gardens, and other
inclosed spaces, pitted with great holes.
The shrubberies and cultivated grounds

which once so greatly adorned the pic
turesque Vicksburg, presented a scene
of confused ruin.
With a daring mockery of the cruel
spirit of war, the people had ornamented
their houses with the missiles of destruc
tion. " Nearly every gate in the city,"
writes a visitor,* "is adorned with un-
exploded thirteen-inch shells placed atop
of each post. The porches and piazzas
(nearly every house has one) are also
adorned with curious collections of shot
and shells that have fallen in the yards."
He adds : " It is said that there are
some houses in the city that have
escaped unscathed ; but in my rambles
« New York Tribune,.

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

through the streets I could not find
them. " I entered perhaps twenty buildings
in all, and found frightful-looking holes
in the walla and floors of every one.
The house occupied by General Pem-
berton as his headquarters, has a hole
in the first room you enter on the left
side of the hall, which a mule could
crawl through without difficulty. The
publisher of the Vicksburg Citizen invited
me into his residence, and interspersed
his remarks while showing me around
with frequent cautions not to tread here
and there, for fear a shattered piece of
its flooring would let me through into
the cellar. And so it is all over the
place. The northern portion of the city
suffered most, and I cannot convey any
idea of the damage sustained better
than by saying it has been smashed.
"Notwithstanding the evidences every
where visible of the terrible ordeal
through which the people and city have
passed, the Vicksburgers persistently
assert that they have not been much
damaged ; that shells are comparatively
innocent things — ' nothing when you get
used to them ;' that they could have held
out a year if they had had provisions,
etc. They also claim to have learned
how to dodge shells, and say that those
fired from the mortars had become fa
vorites with the people. Shots from
Parrott guns were not so popular.
"The most noticeable feature of the
city is the group of caves in every hill
side. In these caves the women and
children were sheltered during the night,
and occasionally in day-time when the

firing was very severe. The excavations
branch out in various directions after
passing the entrance. I should not
imagine them very desirable bed-cham
bers, but they seem to have answered a
very good purpose. In one or two
instances shells entered them, and two
women and a number of children were
thus killed during the siege."
The inhabitants and the soldiers of
the garrison, though they had suffered
severely, as the hospitals indicated, which
were filled with from four to five thou
sand sick and wounded, persisted in de
claring that they would have still held
out if there had been any hopes of
relief. " There is but one reason," says the
observer already quoted, " given by the
rebels for their surrender. They say
they discovered that they would be
starved out before it would be possible
for Johnston or anybody else to .. raise
the siege ; and although they could have
held out six or seven days longer, they
would have gained nothing thereby, the
prospect being that at the end of that
time Johnston would be as far off as he
is now. They repel the suggestion that
they were afraid of an assault in column
on the 4th of July, and say that they
would have been able to repel any such
assault. However this may be, the fact
that they were brought to desperate
straits for something to eat is indispu
table. All prejudices against mule meat
were thoroughly conquered by hunger,
and the army was using it freely, es
teeming it better food than the blue
beef and rancid pork upon which they

DESPERATION OF PEMBERTON".

formerly subsisted. The little remnant
of breadstuff which they have on hand
also attests the extremity to which they
were reduced, and their soldiers are this
moment praising the ' hard tack ' or
pilot bread given them by our men, as
if it were the most delicious bread ever
baked. " A rebel staff officer informed me,
while making inquiries on this subject,
that they have frequently communicated
with Johnston, and that their last hope
of relief was destroyed by a communi
cation from him. *****
" The citizens of Vicksburg were in
much worse plight than the army in
many respects. No food was issued to
them from the army stores, and specu
lators had run up the prices upon them
to a most prodigious extent. A man
could not procure a good meal of victuals
for one thousand dollars. The following
list of prices was made out for me by the
publisher of the Citizen, who assures me
that he has not over-priced anything :
" Flour, $5 per lb., equal to $1,000 per bbl.
" Beef, SI to $1 25 per lb., supply exhausted.
" Pork, $2 50 to $3 per lb., supply exhausted.
"Butter sold five weeks ago at $2 50 to $3 per lb.,
since which time there has been none in market.
' ' Rice, 75 to 80 cents per lb.
" Sugar, 70 cents per lb.
" Molasses or treacle, $10 per gallon.
" Corn meal, $40 per bushel, supply exhausted.
" Tea, $15 to $20 per lb. ; none on hand for four weeks
past. " Coffee, $7 50 to $10 per lb. ; none on hand for four
weeks. ' ' Mule meat, $1 per lb.
"Louisiana rum (only liquor in market), $40 to $100
per gallon.
" Clothing beyond all price, a man refusing $100 for an
ordinary white shirt.
"That these stunning prices were
freely paid by all who could produce

money enough to buy them is a fact
beyond all dispute. That those who
did not pay them suffered much, is
equally true. The victims are loud and
bitter in their denunciations of the ex
tortioners, who were protected by the
military authorities from robbery or
interference. One of the first things
done after the surrender was the break
ing open and sacking of a few of the
most obnoxious Jew stores. The out
break was promptly suppressed, but I
would gladly have seen them emptied
of all their contents."
Notwithstanding the failure of the
enemy to relieve the beleaguered city,
great efforts were made. That they
were unsuccessful, proved not only the
skilful disposition by General Grant
of his great resources to render them
abortive, but the weakness to which the
enemy had been reduced. With a full
consciousness of the importance to their
cause of holding Vicksburg, they made
the most desperate attempts to defend
and relieve it. General Pemberton, who
commanded the place, was stimulated to
almost superhuman effort, for the sake
of his own good name, which had been
tarnished by his failure to prevent the
approach of General Grant. Every
word he uttered proved the passionate
resolve of a man who had but one
throw of the dice left to retrieve him
self, and upon which he was determined
to risk his all.
While retiring before the victorious
troops of Grant, he uttered this passion
ate appeal to his soldiers :
" The hour of trial has come. The

enemy who has so long threatened
Vicksburg in front, has at last effected
a landing in this department, and his
march into the interior of Mississippi
has been marked by the devastation of
one of the fairest portions of the State.
He seeks to break communication be
tween the members of the Confederacy,
and to control the navigation of the
Mississippi River. The issue involves
everything endeared to a free people.
The enemy fight for the privilege of
plunder and oppression. You fight for
your country, homes,, wives, children,
and the birthrights of freemen. Your
Commanding-General, believing in the
truth and sacredness of this cause, has
cast his lot with you, and stands ready
to peril his life and all he holds dear for
the triumph of the right. God, who
rules in the affairs of men and nations,
loves justice and hates wickedness. He
will not allow a cause so just to be
trampled in the dust. In the day of
conflict let each man, appealing to Him
for strength, strike home for victory,
and our triumph is at once assured.
A grateful country will hail us as de
liverers, and cherish the memory of
those who may fall as martyrs in her
defence. " Soldiers ! be vigilant, brave, and
active ; let there be no cowards, nor
laggards, nor stragglers from the ranks ;
and the God of battles will certainly
crown our efforts with success."
Again, while at bay, within the closely
beleaguered walls of Vicksburg, the un
fortunate Pemberton is said to have
exclaimed to his soldiers :

" You have heard that I was incom
petent, and a traitor, and that it was my
intention to sell Vicksburg. Follow me,
and you will see the cost at which I will
sell Vicksburg. When the last pound
of beef, bacon, and flour ; the last grain
of corn ; the last cow, and hog, and
horse, and dog, shall have been con
sumed, and the last man shall have
perished in the trenches, then, and only
then, will I sell Vicksburg."
Throughout Mississippi and its border
States, great efforts were made to arouse
citizens of all ages to rally under Gen
eral Johnston, who strove, but in vain, to
recruit a force of sufficient strength to
attack Grant's large army, and compel
it to raise the siege of Vicksburg. When
Pemberton, at last hopeless of relief and
reduced to starvation, surrendered the
place, Johnston, who had been hovering
in the neighborhood in impotent menace,
was obliged to retreat hastily with his
meagre and ill-conditioned army. Gen
eral Sherman was at once sent out with
a strong force in pursuit. At Bolton,
on the 5th of July, the enemy's rear
guard was overtaken, surrounded, and
forced to surrender. Johnston succeed
ed, however, in escaping with his main
body to Jackson, the capital of Missis
sippi. Here, within the intrenchments,
he made a brief stand, but Sherman
coming up and attacking him briskly,
he was forced to evacuate during the
night. On the next morning, July 16th,
General Sherman occupied Jackson, and
thus obtained, although much had been
destroyed by Johnston before his re
treat, a large quantity of the enemy's

PURSUIT OF JOHNSTON.

property, consisting chiefly of the roll
ing stock of the New Orleans, Jackson
and Great Northern, the , Mississippi
Central and Mississippi and Tennessee
railroads. The motive power alone
consisted of over forty engines. The en
emy* bewailed the loss as "incalculable,
important, and wholly irreparable," and
was forced to the confession : " Nothing
goes well in the Southwest."
Johnston continued his flight west
ward, toward the borders of Alabama,
and thus virtually abandoned the whole
State of Mississippi to the conquering
arms of the North. Sherman did not
persist in the pursuit, but after destroy
ing most of the public property at
Jackson, returned with his troops to
Vicksburg. The surrender of Vicksburg was fol
lowed, as a direct consequence, by that
of Port Hudson. It will be necessary,
however, before recording the details- of
the latter event, to narrate the move
ments in Louisiana of General Banks,
which preceded it. This commander,
on succeeding General Butler in Louis
iana, passed several months in organiz
ing the department, and then with a
largely reinforced army entered upon a
campaign against the enemy occupying
the Attakapa and Teche regions, lying
between the western bank of the Missis
sippi and the shores of the Gulf of
Mexico. General Weitzel, who had
been operating in this quarter with more
or less success, in advance of the main
army, having fallen back to Brashear
City, there awaited the arrival of Gene-
" Richmond Whig, July 23.
170

rai Banks. In the mean time, a " recon
noitring" expedition was sent out, which
resulted in the loss of the steamer
Diana, which was captured by the en
emy, with all on board.
The main body of General Banks'
army having reached Brashear City, the
campaign was begun by the advance of
General Weitzel, on the 11th of April.
Little resistance was met on the route
through Brashear City to Patterson ville,
which was occupied by the troops on
the night of the first day. On the next
morning the army continued its march
along the borders of the Bayou Teche,
with " General Weitzel," says the chron
icler whom we quote,* " having the ex
treme right of the line, Colonel Ingr'a-
ham with the first brigade of General
Emory and General Paine, of the second
brigade, with five batteries, and the
Second Rhode Island Cavalry as the
main body, and Colonel Gooding with
the third brigade in the reserve.
" It was the same order all day. On
the opposite or north side of the bayou,
Colonel Bryan, with the One Hundred
and Seventy-fifth New York, marched
parallel with the main body. Captain
Ellis, of this regiment, was deployed far
in the advance and opposite General
Weitzel's brigade as skirmishers, and
was very hotly engaged^all day with the
Eighteenth Louisiana Infantry. In the
afternoon he was so hotly pressed, that
Lieutenant Geisse, with half of his com
pany, took the bayou side, and Captain
Ellis with the other half, the right, skirt
ing the woods, and Captain McCarthy,
* Correspondent N. Y. Herald.

THE WAR WITH.- THE SOUTH.

with Company A, took the centre.
Colonel Bryan reported that he was too
hotly pressed, and the Thirty-first Mas
sachusetts was sent over to support
him. ' ' In the afternoon the main army had
reached the enemy's works, and for half
an hour an artillery duel ensued of the
fiercest description. The object on our
part was to try ere night to feel the
enemy's works and prove their position
and strength, so that we could commence
the attack understandingly in the morn
ing. The enemy seemed to have field-
works of an extensive character. In the
bayou, the rebel gun- boat* Diana took a
very active part, and was plainly seen
delivering her fire. At last the firing
ceased. During it, the balls struck
among the reserves, who were ordered
to fall back and lie down. The loss on
our side was very small. General Banks
unexpectedly found himself beyond his
extreme advance, and had one of his
orderlies shot beside him. This taught
us greater caution. The army biv
ouacked on the field."
Early on the next morning, April
13th, the army made ready for immedi
ate conflict with the enemy, who, says
the writerf previously quoted, "had
a field about a mile and a half
broad, bordered^ on the north by the
bayou and on the south by thick
woods. On the side of the bayou was a
large mansion, which the enemy had set
on fire the night before to prevent our
a The vessel captured from the Unionists.
| The enemy's position was on a plantation belonging
to a Mr. Beasland, and the battle has been therefore
termed that of Beasland.

creeping upon them unperceived. This
was in a pretty thick wood.
" Immediately beyond this and from
the bayou commenced their fortifica
tions, consisting of a breast-work and
ditch in front. The ditch was an old
plantation ditch enlarged and deepened,
and had water in it. It had a large
earth-work, called the Star work, which
commanded the bayou. This earth-work
commencing here, ran away across- the
field to the woods, and entirely concealed
by them was a work which was not dis
covered until late in the day. Behind
this work was a line of rifle-pits, and
still farther back was a second line, with
a slight ditch. In the rear of this were
woods. We were to take these works,
commanded by artillery and sharp
shooters. The Diana ran up as near us
as she dare, but did not come up as near
as it had been hoped she would. On
learning that the left bank would be
hotly contested, Colonel Gooding was
ordered to take that bank with his en
tire brigade and hold it, and drive the
enemy, not pressing them beyond the
lines on the opposite side.
" Meanwhile the main body advanced,
and soon an artillery duel ensued, with
varying success. The whole line was
engaged in skirmishing, and on the ex
treme left, as the enemy's fire seemed
very severe, an attempt was made to
turn their flank by Colonel Ingraham's
brigade, which drew upon them so
severe a fire from the masked battery
behind the woods, as to compel them to
retire. The enemy served their guns
from every part of their works, and with

BATTLE OF BEASLAND.

such rapidity that they seemed to have
a much larger battery than they in fact
had. The Star fort sent very heavy
shot from a pivot thirty-two pound
rifled gun. In fact, at dark, but little
progress had been made but to drive
them up to their intrenchments, and we
were ready to attempt to storm them
in the morning.
"Colonel Gooding, with his brigade,
was sent over to the north bank, as
above alluded to, by means of the re
paired bridge partly destroyed by the
rebels. We crossed over with the First
Maine battery, and found there the One
Hundred and Seventy-fifth New York
and Thirty-first Massachusetts, and a
squad of cavalry from Captain Magee's
squadron. These were skirting toward
a line of catalpa trees. Beyond the
trees was a large field a mile and a half
long, having the bayou on one side and
a wood on the other. Through it and
toward the enemy ran several parallel
roads, all smooth. Crossing them were
deep plantation ditches and cross roads.
About the" middle of it was a tall cane-
field. Half-way up the field and on the
bayou was a large sugar-house, sup
posed to be occupied by the enemy.
Beyond it, and also on the bayou, were
the smoking ruins of some buildings
which had been burned by the enemy
the night before. At the farther end
of the field were the enemy's field-works.
Commencing at the bayou, the lines ran
all the way across the field, being a
breast-work, with a ditch in front, and a
few rifle-pits in front of it. At each
entrance of the road was a small redoubt

to guard it, and at the extreme right
a large five-sided work, with a deep
ditch filled with water. It had, as we
afterward found, a frame for a pivot
gun. This work was on .the extreme
left of the enemy's works, and was dis
guised by the bushes and woods. Run-
ing parallel with the woods was a plan
tation ditch, which was enlarged and
deepened, and a breast-work, which was
enfiladed by the fire from the corner
fort. Across this was a small earth-work
running into the woods to prevent the
rebels being outflanked.
"The whole of our force was con
cealed by the catalpa trees. Colonel
Gooding received orders to drive the
enemy's light battery from the field, but
not to storm the works. It turned out
that there was not any battery outside
the works.
" The Thirty-first Massachusetts, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Hopkins, was ordered
to deploy as skirmishers, and slowly ad
vanced, meeting no enemy until they
had passed the line of the sugar-house,
supported by the Thirty-eighth Massa
chusetts, Lieutenant-Colonel Rodman.
Here they were hotly contested by the
enemy. When we had pushed them
back, Colonel Gooding and his staff
rode on the field and examined all the
works of the enemy. The Thirty-first
Massachusetts having expended its am
munition, it was relieved by the Thirty-
eighth Massachusetts.
" The dispositions of the brigade were
made for the day by the Thirty-eighth
Massachusetts advancing and deploying
as skirmishers on the left ; the Fifty-

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

third Massachusetts slightly in the rear,
and at the right of the Thirty-eighth, also
deployed as skirmishers ; the One Hun
dred and Fifty-sixth New York, Lieu
tenant-Colonel Sharpe, on the extreme
right on the woods, advancing slowly
and supported by the cavalry. Between
the Thirty-eighth and Fifty-third Massa
chusetts, one section of the first main
battery was placed on a road leading to
the enemy's works ; one section between
the Fifty-third Massachusetts and One
Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York;
the third section in reserve ; the One
Hundred and Seventy-fifth New York in
reserve to the left and on the rear of the
battery ; the Thirty-first Massachusetts
in reserve and in the rear of the right
section of the battery.
"A cautious reconnoissance of the
sugar factory discovered the fact that
there was no enemy in it, and after
the usual precautions the entire staff en
tered the factory with Colonel Gooding
and reconnoitred. The enemy's works
were distinctly seen to extend the whole
length of the field, and in three pieces
there appeared to be three batteries,
but how many pieces was not apparent.
In the corner, the five -sided fort was
plainly seen, but appeared to be a lu
nette. Lieutenant Russell, of the signal
corps, was on the top of the roof signal
izing, when suddenly crash came a shot
through the roof, making the whole
building shake. A few feet below Lieu
tenant Russell the ball had entered. It
was a beautiful line shot, but aimed too
low. " Colonel Gooding ordered those in

the neighborhood of the factory to leave
with as much ostentation as possible, to
prevent the enemy from making it a
centre of their shot, as it was very desir
able to have the building out of harm in
order to have our signals seen. The
lines were ordered to advance slowly
but surely, the skirmishers in advance,
the main body running from plantation
ditch to ditch, so as not to be more ex
posed than necessary. Thus we passed
the cane-field. The One Hundred and
Fifty-sixth New York were pressing the
left of the enemy, intending to turn it ;
and here occurred an example of bravery
worthy of mention. The exact position
of the enemy on the right, in the woods,
was unknown, when a cavalryman offered
to advance and draw their fire. Slowly
he rode up until almost at the woods,
when suddenly a sheet of fire opened
upon him. He coolly turned his horse
and rode back unharmed. Colonel
Sharpe now advanced very close to the
woods under a terrible fire. So heavy
was it, that the Thirty-first was ordered
to support and press it on. They con
tinued it until near the breast-works,
when, with a loud cheer, they carried
the works,^ and were enabled to follow
the enemy into the woods.
" MeanwhileT on the left, the Thirty-
eighth Massachusetts charged up and
drove the enemy on that side in their
intrenchments, and were following them
up. The Fifty-third Massachusetts was
driving them up when darkness came
on. An order was received by Colonel
Gooding to remain where they then
were until the next morning. The line

MARCH TO FRANKLIN.

of skirmishers became a line of pickets,
the main body sleeping on their arms,
in the same position they were during
the day, intending to renew it in the
morning. * * *
n" The order to keep the men concealed
in the plantation ditches made our loss
very small. The skirmishers cleared
the way, and the regiments would pass
forward from one ditch to another on a
run. The disposition thus made was
sufficient to make the enemy apparently
in the condition of the unintrenched.
*****
'' Early the next morning, at daybreak,
Captain Allen, of Company D, Thirty-
first Massachusetts, entered the extreme
left of the enemy's works, and at the
same time Colonel Kimball, with the ad
vance of the Fifty-eighth Massachusetts,
entered the centre of their works. They
were evacuated. The works were found
to be stronger than we had anticipated.
The left had been turned by the One
Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York,
and hence were, in fact, untenable.
Another hour would have put us in
possession of the whole works. We
immediately pressed in, and the One
Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York
appeared on our right as cavalry, so
many horses had their skirmishers picked
up. Our fire had been very effective
here. The dead were lying all about
the woods. Their wounded were gen
erally carried off. Where the artillery
had been, we found a heap of dead
horses. Our howitzers had given them
a good dose of grape, and it is supposed
that their guns must have been quite

short of horses. We followed them up'
through the woods for a mile, when we
found the road crossed the bayou. Here
the enemy had crossed over, and burned
the bridge after crossing, which com
pletely checked our course. We made
a temporary bridge for the men to
cross, and then rigged up one suffi
ciently strong for the artillery and
wagons. * * *
" On the opposite side of the bayou
General Banks discovered that they had
retreated in the night, and entered the'
works, finding that they had left their
thirty-two-pounder without spiking it.
They had heard that Grover was in their
rear, and had retreated, intending to cut
through Grover. It seems that Grover,
with his division in gun-boats, had gone
up the Atchafalaya and landed near
Franklin, and attempted to come down
on the enemy's rear. When coming
down they hit upon a party of skirmish
ers of the enemy. They led one of his
brigades into an open field, where they
had a wood on either flank, and one in
front. They drew the brigade toward
the corner of the two woods, when
suddenly they had a terrific fire opened
on them in the front and flank, both of
musketry and cannon. So hot was it,
that the loss was between two and three
hundred before they could form and fall
back. A section of one of our batteries
came very near being taken, the enemy
getting within sixty yards of it before it
could be withdrawn. The remainder of
the division came up, and a cannonading
was kept up for four hours. The ene
my sent off his infantry by a cross road

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

'through them, used his artillery until
the last, then sent the mass of it bj' the
same cross road, and the cavalry kept
up the fight until their army was safe,
and then galloped off. In the afternoon
General Banks joined General Grover,
and in the evening, after building his
bridge and recrossing the river, Colonel
Gooding rejoined General Emory, and
all encamped at Franklin."
While the land force had thus marched
to Franklin, driving the enemy before
them, the gun-boats which had moved
up the Bayou Teche and the Atchafalaya
River were co-operating with effect.
The Queen of the West, whose capture
by the enemy has been already recorded,
was overtaken in the Atchafalaya by
the ram Arizona, and after a broadside
set on fire. Burning to her magazine,
she finally exploded. An attempt to
recapture the Diana was foiled by the
enemy, who blew her up ; they also
burned a powerful iron-clad ram known
as the Hart, to prevent her being taken.
A large number of other vessels were
destroyed by the fleet, in its course up
Bayou Teche. The capture of Fort Butte
La Rose, on the Grand, a branch of the
Atchafalaya, which yielded after a slight
resistance, was a naval success of no
little importance. General Banks speak
ing of this capture said :
" This was handsomely done, without
serious loss, on the morning ofthe 26th
of April, by Lieutenant-Commander
Cooke, U. S. Navy, with his gun-boat
and four companies of infantry. We
captured here the garrison of sixty men
and its commander, two heavy guns in

position and in good order, a large
quantity of ammunition, and the key of
the Atchafalaya."
The enemy being evidently unable to
make a serious resistance, General. Banks
determined to press on with vigor.
General Grover, after forcing the enemy
to evacuate their position at Irish Bend,
on the 14th of April, had now succeeded
in forming a junction with Banks. Gen
eral Grover had been dispatched with a
force of troops and gun-boats from
Brashear City up the Atchafalaya River,
with the view of getting into the rear
of the enemy and cutting off their re
treat. Though not succeeding fully in
his purpose, his co-operation was not
ineffective, and he was enabled to aid in
the general pursuit of the retreating
enemy. Banks running forward rapidly, reach
ed New Iberia on the 16th of April.
The enemy had evacuated the place so
precipitately that they had found no
time to provide for the safety of their
transports, which they had destroyed in
their haste, with all their stores and
ammunition. A foundry used for the
casting of shot and shell, and the salt
works, about seven miles from New
Iberia, were taken possession of, and
thus two sources of most important
supplies were wrested from the enemy.
General Banks, continuing his onward
progress, was able, on reaching St.
Martinsville, April 17th, thus to sum up
the results of his campaign : a march of
over three hundred miles, three victories
over the enemy, two on land and one
on Grand Lake, destruction of their

BANKS AT OPELOUSAS.

navy, dispersion of their army, capture
of their foundries at Franklin and New
Iberia, and of the salt-works near the
latter place — capture of the enemy's
camp equipage, a number of cannon,
and between 1,000 and 2,000 prisoners.
His own loss was only about 700 men.
With his way thus successfully opened,
General Banks moved rapidly on, easily
overcoming the feeble opposition of a
retreating and demoralized enemy.
General Banks thus briefly reports
his progress to Opelousas :
" On the evening of the 17th of April,
General Grover, who had marched from
New Iberia by a shorter road, and thus
gained the advance, met the enemy at
Bayou Vermilion. The enemy's force
consisted of a considerable number of
cavalry, 1,000 infantry, and six pieces
of artillery, masked in a strong position
on the opposite bank, with which we
were unacquainted. The enemy was
driven from his position, but not until he
had succeeded in destroying the bridge
over the bayou by fire. Everything had
been previously arranged for this purpose.
" The enemy's flight was precipitous.
The night of the 17th and the whole of
the next day were occupied in pushing
with vigor the reconstruction of this
bridge. " On the 19 th the march was re
sumed, and continued to the vicinity of
Grand Coteau, and on the following day
our main force occupied Opelousas. The
cavalry, supported by one regiment of
infantry and a section of artillery, being
thrown forward to Washington, on the
Courtableau, a distance of six miles.

" The command rested on the 21st.
On the 22d, I sent out Brigadier-General
Dwight with his brigade of Grover's
division, and detachments of artillery
and cavalry, to push forward through
Washington toward Alexandria. He
found the bridges over bayous Cocodue
and Bocuff destroyed, and occupied the
evening and night in replacing them by
a single bridge at the junction of the
two bayous. The people say that the
enemy threw large quantities of ammu
nition and some small-arms into Bayou
Cocodue, and that the Texans declared
they were going to Texas. Here the
steamer Wave was burnt by. the enemy,
and the principal portion of her cargo,
which had been transferred to a flat,
captured by us. A dispatch was found
by General Dwight, in which Governor
Moore tells General Taylor to retreat
slowly to Alexandria, and, if pressed, to
retire to Texas. General Dwight will
push well forward to-day, and probably
halt to-morrow, to continue his march,
or return, according to circumstances.
-x- * * * *
"An expedition — consisting of the
One Hundred and Sixty-second New
York, Lieutenant- Colonel Blanchard,
one section of artillery, and Barrett's
Company B, First Louisiana Cavalry,
accompanied by Captain Dunham, as
sistant adjutant-general, and First Lieu
tenant Harwood, engineers (both of my
staff) — was sent out yesterday morning
by way of Barre's Landing, to examine
the Bayou Courtableau, in the direction
of Bute-a-la-Rose. Last night Captain
Dunham reported the road impassable,

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

four miles below Barre's Landing, and
that the expedition had captured the
steamer Ellen, in a small bayou leading
out of the Courtableau. This capture is
a timely assistance to us."
General Banks adds :
' I hope not to be obliged to lose a
moment in improving the decisive ad
vantage gained in this section. We have
destroyed the enemy's army and navy,
and made their organization impossible
by destroying or removing the material.
We hold the key of the position.

" Among the evidences of our vic
tory are 2,000 prisoners, two trans
ports, and twenty guns (including one
piece of the Valvado battery), taken ;
and three gun-boats and eight trans
ports destroyed."
From Opelousas, General Banks con
tinued his rapid and almost unopposed
progress to Washington and Alex- ^Ay
andria, on the Red River, where ?•
the enterprising Porter, with his gun
boats, had already secured him a free
admission.

CHAPTER II.

General Banks crosses the Mississippi at Bayou Sara.— Description of Port Hudson.— Its Defences. — Its Commander. —
¦'A Gibraltar." — Banks invests Port Hudson. — A Spirited but Unsuccessful Assault. — Union Account. — Enemy's
Account— Co-operation of the Fleet.— The good conduct of the Negro Soldiers.— A Regular Siege.— A Surrender
demanded and refused. — Another Unsuccessful Assault.— Another Assault proposed.— A ready Response. — Volunteers.
— The Enemy's Division in the Teche and Attakapas regions.— Surprise and Capture of Brashear City. — Navigation
on the Mississippi obstructed. — Unsuccessful Attempt upon Donaldsbnville. — Fears for New Orleans. — Banks per
sists in his Siege Operations. — The surprise of Springfield Landing. — Negro Soldiers praised. — White Officers cen
sured.— Surrender of Port Hudson. — Gallantry of its Defenders.— Their Hardships. —The "Last Mule."

1863.

General Banks having, by his suc
cessful campaign in the Teche and
Attakapas regions, wrested from
the enemy a country so essential to
the support of their army, now cross
ed to the eastern side of the Missis
sippi, at Bayou Sara, and prepared
to invest their stronghold of Port Hud
son. Port Hudson is about twenty-five
miles above Baton Rouge, the capital of
Louisiana, on the eastern side of the
Mississippi. Its great natural advan
tages of defence had been skilfully avail

ed of, and with the application of art,
the place had been rendered very strong.
It is described as situated at a point
where a bend forms almost a right-angle,
and thus gives it command of .the river,
up and down. On the north, from a
distance of eight miles, it is protected
by an impassable swamp, which is bound
ed on the side nearest Port Hudson by
Thompson's Creek, the higher bank of
which is a precipitous bluff, crowned by
an intrenched abattis. This abattis ex
tends from the river eastward, till iu
joins a series of intrenchments nine or

PORT HUDSON AMD ITS DEFENCES.
CaNS'EKUCTED AffD EMJRAWED TO TLLLTSTRATE "THE WAR "WITH THE SOUTH"

BAYOU SARA

S-^teTvrfo.vor^.^ or ^bzf G^.-ewJilMa *1-VU*u.llB™to,L&cfin.thJ:„te,lx, cm** cf H*dJ*rr^t ccurrct 'A* UrilzdStott*. far.Us.ufttm a^.vhtnfll-Z.

En^^-by-WTKemVl
A Topographical Map o£ Port Hilda oil audita mcmi-ty-, shewing Earthworks, &c. that -were nxessten.ee at the time of its fell.

¦'Zt-<-7~c^c/ . -5^

STRENGTH OF PORT HUDSON.

ten miles in extent, sweeping to the
south in a semicircle again to the river,
where they rest on the crest of a range
of high hills. The country in the rear is
rolling, and afforded many natural ad
vantages to the enemy. Between Baton
Rouge and Port Hudson is a long stretch
of territory difficult of access at all
times, being covered by dense woods
and undergrowth, and abounding in
bayous and marshes.
A formidable range of batteries com
manded the bluffs on the river, and de
fended the approaches by land. The
whole position was inclosed within suc
cessive lines of fortifications of the most
formidable character. The enemy were
so confident of its strength, that they
proudly termed Port Hudson their Gib
raltar. The commander was Major-
General Frank Gardner, an officer noted
for his capacity and resoluteness.
"While General Banks was landing at
Bayou Sara, on the north, General Au
gur came up from Baton Rouge, on the
south, to join in the proposed investment
of Port Hudson. Slight attempts were
made by the enemy to thwart this pur
pose, but their forces were easily driven
back to their intrenchments. On the
26th of May, the enemy's works were
completely invested.
" Our line of investment was as fol
lows : The extreme right was command
ed by General Weitzel, with his own and
the division of General Emory ; the
right centre by General Grover ; the
left centre by General Augur, and the
extreme left by General J. W. Sher

man.

General Banks now made a spirited
but unsuccessful assault. The de- 5jay
sign was to carry the enemy's 27,
positions on the right and left, and its
execution chiefly devolved upon the
divisions of Generals Sherman and
Weitzel. The assault was spiritedly
made, and an entrance into the enemy's
works gained, though our troops were
afterward forced to retire. There was
also an attack on the centre of the
position by the columns of Generals
Augur and Grover, but though gallantly
conducted, it proved equally fruitless
with the main assault.
"At sunset the firing ceased," re
ported the enemy, " after a hotly con
tested 'engagement of twelve hours,
during the whole of which our men
had'behaved with unflinching gallantry,
and had completely repulsed the enemy
at every point."
The fleet, under Admiral Farragut,
which had been co-operating with Gen
eral Banks in all his movements, kept
up a continuous bombardment of the
water batteries of Port Hudson, while
the army was making the assault upon
the land fortifications. Little effect,
however, was produced, beyond dividing
the attention of the enemy.
General Banks estimated his loss in
killed, wounded, and missing at nearly
one thousand. His testimony in regard
to the conduct of the negro troops dif
fered entirely from that of the Southern
writers. General Banks is reported to have
said that the blacks "answered every
expectation. Their conduct was heroic.

171

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

No troops could be more determined or
more daring. They made during the
day three charges upon the batteries of
the enemy, suffering very heavy losses
and holding their position at nightfall
with the other troops on the right of
our line. The highest commendation is
bestowed upon them by all the officers
in command on the right. Whatever
doubt may have existed heretofore as to
the efficiency of organizations of this
character, the history of this day proves
conclusively to those who are in a con
dition to observe the conduct of these
regiments, that the Government will find
in this class of troops effective supporters
and defenders. The severe test to which
they were subjected, and the determined
manner in which they encountered the
enemy, leave upon my mind no doubt
of their ultimate success. They require
only good officers, commands of limited
numbers, and careful discipline, to make
them excellent soldiers."
After the first unsuccessful assault,
General Banks was persuaded of the
necessity of laying siege in regular form.
His troops, accordingly, were set to
digging ditches, erecting batteries, and
approaching by parallels. Active skir
mishing was, in the mean time, kept up,
and the sharp-shooters were busy on
both sides. Our works were soon so
close to those of the enemy, that con
versation could be kept up. A witness
within Port Hudson declares that " the
men were behind the breast-works night
and day, and one could scarcely show
his head an instant without being made
the mark of a sharp-shooter." A be

sieger also testifies that he and his
comrades were no less exposed-; "Our
fellows," he says, "are behind logs, and
a hat cannot make its appearance with
out receiving a dozen shot-holes through
it." On the 13th of June, General Banks
communicated, by flag of truce, with
General Gardner, the commander, and
demanded an unconditional surrender
of the place. The latter answered that
his duty required him to defend his
post, and he must refuse to entertain
any such proposition.
General Banks now determined to
risk another assault, which was accord
ingly, after a heavy bombardment of
several days, made on Sunday, June
14th. This also was unsuccessful.
The loss of the Unionists on this as
on the previous occasion was estimated
at about one thousand. That our men
were not discouraged by the ill-success
of the assault upon the enemy's strong
hold is apparent from the readiness. with
which they responded to an appeal of
their general on the next day after the
last repulse.
" We are at all points," said General
Banks, " upon the threshold of his forti
fications. One more advance and they
are ours. For the last duty that victory
imposes, the Commanding General sum
mons the bold men of the corps to the
organization of a storming column of
a thousand men, to vindicate the flag
of the Union and the memory of its de
fenders who have fallen."
Volunteers came forward at once, and
in such numbers as to more than satisfy'

SIEGE OPERATIONS.

the demand of their commander. The
services of these heroes in intent were,
however, fortunately not put into re
quisition. General Banks, loth to risk
the lives of such brave men, now de
termined to resort to the slow opera
tions of a continued siege, the issue of
which he did not doubt would result
in the surrender of Port Hudson. He
accordingly prosecuted his labor of in
vestment and approach with increased
energy and vigilance.
In the mean time, the enemy were
striving to make a diversion in favor of
the beleaguered garrison at Port Hud
son. Reappearing in considerable num
bers in the Teche and Attakapas regions,
the scene of General Banks7 triumphant
campaign, they succeeded, though fail
ing in their main purpose, in inflicting
considerable damage.
An imposing force, principally of
Texans, under General Dick Taylor, a
son of the former President of the
United States, operated with great bold
ness and no little success in Western
Louisiana. The main object of the
enemy seemed to be to regain posses
sion of the New Orleans and Opelousas
Railroad, and capture Brashear City.
The Union forces in that quarter retired
before the enemy as they approached,
destroying the bridges at Thibodeaux and
Lafourche crossing, in order to check
their advance. Taylor, however, suc
ceeded in seizing a considerable por
tion of the railroad and holding it tem
porarily, but his chief success was the
surprise and capture of Brashear City,
on the ,27th of June, by which he got

possession, according to the Louisville
Democrat, of "800 prisoners, including
thirty-three officers '; also, $3,000,000
worth of commissary, $1,500,000 worth
of quartermaster's stores, $250,000 of
ordnance, and $100,000 of medical stores ;
also, twenty-three garrison and regi
mental flags, 10,000 tents, 2,000 horses
and mules, 7,000 negroes, 7,000 stand
small-arms, sixteen siege guns, and a
position as important as Port Hudson
or Vicksburg."
Having obtained command of the
western bank of the Mississippi, the
enemy were enabled greatly to molest
transportation by the river. " They
attack," wrote a correspondent, " to-day
at one place, and to-morrow they are
at another ; consequently we never know
where to expect an attack." A con
siderable number of transports were thus
destroyed, and the navigation of the Mis
sissippi seriously impeded. An attempt
of the enemy to retake Donaldsonville,
which had been captured and garrisoned
by General Banks, proved unsuccessful.
chiefly owing to the spirited de- june
fence of the gun-boats. 28#
So close did the enemy appear to
New Orleans, and such command had
they obtained of its land approaches,
that it was feared by the timid that that
city would be taken, and many of its
inhabitants of secession sentiments bold
ly expressed their expectations of such
a result. The enemy's main object,
however, was to create a diversion in
favor of the beleaguered Port Hudson,
.as they could hardly hope, without a
naval force, to repossess themselves of

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

New Orleans, girded as it was by strong
forts, and guarded by a United States
fleet. General Banks, conscious that the
issue which involved the command of
the Mississippi was to be decided at
Vicksburg and Port Hudson, persisted
resolutely in his siege operations, unawed
by the demonstrations the enemy were
making. An audacious raid of their
cavalry immediately in his rear seemed
for a moment to awaken serious appre
hensions, but these were soon dispelled
when the insignificance of the force
became known. It appeared that Logan,
a rebel chief who had been hitherto
kept in check by Colonel Grierson, the
leader of the famous expedition through
Mississippi, but who was now embold
ened to act by the junction of the latter
with General Banks' army of besiegers,
made a sudden dash with some six
juiy hundred horsemen into Springfield
2i Landing, a large depcit of public
property. It was evidently the inten
tion of Logan and his men to destroy
everything, but they were fortunately
checked in their progress.
The raiders were forced to decamp
by the appearance of a Union cavalry
force, which succeeded in capturing
eight and killing ten of them. Briga
dier-General Dwight officially imputed
the blame to the guard at the landing,
declaring that "the panic and alarm
which existed were caused by the dis
graceful cowardice of the officers and
soldiers of the Second Rhode Island
Cavalry, who were sent out expressly
to prevent this alarm, and to cut off

the enemy, should he attempt to do
what he accomplished."
General Dwight closed, his report
with this praise of the conduct of the
negro soldiers, and censure of that of
their white officers :
" I am informed," he said, " that the
conduct of the officers of General Ull-
man's brigade, during the panic near my
old headquarters, was particularly dis
graceful, as a rule, while the black
soldiers of that command, on being
supplied with muskets and ammuni
tion by my ordnance officer (Lieutenant
Dickey, Sixth Michigan Volunteers),
were easily formed in line, and did not,
in the least, yield to the panic about
them." General Banks' siege operations, car
ried on with continued vigor, were
working a slow but sure effect upon the
enemy's stronghold, when an event oc
curred which at once brought the com
mander of Port Hudson to terms. This
was the surrender of Vicksburg on the
4th of July.
The endurance of the garrison whose
resistance had been so resolute, may be
learned from the testimony of those
who were within the walls of Port
Hudson. The defences were so strong,
and the protection they gaye to the
garrison so sure, that comparatively
little injury was inflicted upon life and
property ; but the enemy, by the activ
ity of the besiegers, were left but little
repose by day or night. " During the
siege of six weeks, from May 27 to
July 7th," remarks one of the besieged,
" the enemy must have fired from fifty

SURRENDER OF PORT HUDSON.

to seventy-five thousand shot and shell,
yet not more than twenty-five men were
killed by these projectiles."
The enemy without was less formi
dable than the foe within. The garrison
had worse dangers than shot and shell
to contend with, but " against them all
they fought like heroes, and did their
duty cheerfully. Several buildings were
burned by the enemy's shells, among
which was the mill, entailing a loss of
two -or three thousand bushels of corn.
" About the 29th or 30th of June,
the garrison's supply of meat gave out,
when General Gardner ordered the
mules to be butchered, after ascertaining
that the men were willing to eat them.
Far from shrinking from this hardship'
the men received their unusual rations
cheerfully, and declared that they were
proud to be able to say that they had
been reduced to this extremity. Many
of them, as if in mockery of famine,
caught rats and eat them, declaring that
they were better than squirrels."
Such was the condition of the garrison
when, on the 7th of July, salutes fired
by the Union gun-boats and batteries,
loud cheering along the whole line of
the besiegers, and other boisterous
tokens of joy, reached the ears of the
famished defenders of Port Hudson.
The besiegers, whose approaches had
brought them within conversing distance
of the besieged, were quick to announce
the cause of their jubilation. Vicksburg
had fallen !
On that night (July- 7), about ten
o'clock, General Gardner summoned " a

council of war; consisting of General
Beale, Colonels Steadman, Miles, Lyle,
and Shelby, and Lieutenant -Colonel
Marshal J. Smith, who, without excep
tion, decided that it was impossible to
hold out longer, considering that the
provisions of the garrison were exhaust
ed, the ammunition almost entirely ex
pended, and a large proportion of the
men sick, or from exhaustion unfit for
duty." A correspondence was accordingly
opened by the enemy with General
Banks, which resulted in the uncon
ditional surrender of Port Hudson. juiy
The capture and its results were 8.
thus announced by General Banks to
the commander-in-chief, General Hal-
leck :
" Sir — I have the honor to inform
you that with this post there fell into
our hands over 5,500 prisoners, includ
ing one major-general and one brig
adier-general ; twenty pieces of heavy
artillery, five complete batteries, num
bering thirty- one pieces, of field artil
lery ; a good supply of projectiles for
light and heavy guns, 44,800 pounds of
cannon powder, 5,000 stand of arms, and
150,000 rounds of small-arm ammuni
tion, besides a small amount of stores
of various kinds. We captured also
two steamers, one of which is very
valuable. They will be of great service
at this time."
At the very moment that the surren
der was completed, the enemy requested
6,000 rations, as " the garrison had eaten
its last mule."

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER III.
The Operations of the Fleet before Port Hudson.— Its good services.— Gallant Exploits.— Farragut attacks the Batte
ries.— The Result.— The Hartford and Albatross pass the Batteries.— The rest repulsed.— The Loss ofthe Mississippi.
—Enemy's Account of Farragut's Attack upon Port Hudson.— The Cruise of the Hartford and Albatross above
Port Hudson.— Passing the Batteries at Grand Gulf.— At Warrenton.— Communicating with Admiral Porter and
General Grant.— Belief sent to Farragut. — The Passage of the Switzerland and Lancaster.— The Wreck of the
Vicksburg.— Beturn of Farragut and Fight with the Warrenton Batteries.— Off the Red River.— Blockading the
Red River.— Communications cut off. — Bold attempts to renew them. — Adventures of a Party. — The Cruise of the
Albatross on the Red River. — A Fight. — The Hartford and Albatross co-operating in the attacks by Banks.upon
Port Hudson. — Fall of Port Hudson.. — Return of the Steamers to New Orleans. — Clearing the Mississippi. —The
Enemy"s Discouragement. —What they had lost by the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson.

1863.

During the protracted operations of
General Banks, which resulted in
the-jcapture of Port Hudson, a fleet
of armed steamers and gun-boats, under
the command of Admiral Farragut, was
constantly co-operating with the land
forces. The service of the navy, though
subordinate to that of the army, in the
accomplishment of the final result, was
of great assistance in securing it. Not
only during the siege of Port Hudson,
but in the movements which preceded
it, the navy was rendering active and
efficient assistance. In the course of
the naval operations, many acts were
performed which, if not always success
ful, were of a character which illustrate
the heroic valor of our sailors, and claim
the record of the chronicler.
Having aided in clearing the enemy
from the country bordered by the lakes
and bayous in the immediate neighbor
hood of New Orleans, the fleet was free
to operate upon the waters of the Mis
sissippi and its tributaries. Admiral
Farragut, who had already given proof,

in his daring passage of the forts below
New Orleans, of his taste for bold expe
dients, now determined to confront the
formidable batteries of Port Hudson.
The land forces- were placed in such
position as to co-operate if required, and
to take advantage of any success that
might be achieved by the navy. Baton
Rouge, which had been abandoned by
General Butler, had been reoccupied by
General Banks, and General Weitzel
had advanced with his brigade to Ber
wick Bay.
Admiral Farragut, having previously
sailed from New Orleans to Baton Rouge,
weighed anchor off this latter place at
nine o'clock on the night of March 14th,
and proceeded to the attack of the
batteries of Port Hudson. His squadron
was composed of the Hartford, the
Albatross, the Richmond, the Genesee,
the Monongahela, the Kineo, the Missis
sippi, and the Sachem. Before moving,
the Albatross was lashed to the port side
of the Hartford, the Genesee to that of
the Richmond, and the Kineo to that of

CHART of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER from the OHIO RIVER to GULF of MEXHU <
CONSTRUCTED AND ENGRAVED TO ILLUSTRATE "THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH'

rweiisDa

Emt>iYil 'nmn Jinn t.uirl of 'Conptvij .-(> }P.ijM>y~¥<rtui>Jbrstoi\.ii-ro.intfu

fifth c district court of 'llu-Oiulnti States • tWthi'.voufhv ihstafKYoik .

Rae Smith Sr

FARRAGUT ATTACKS PORT HUDSON.

the Monongahela. The squadron now
sailed up the river in the following
order : the Hartford towing the Alba
tross ; the Richmond towing the Genesee ;
the Monongahela towing the Kineo ;
foliowed by the Mississippi and the
Sachem. The iron-clad Essex and a
fleet of mortar boats had been sent in
advance, and were already moored with
in range of the enemy's batteries.
" Our progress was necessarily slow,"
wrote one* who was on the Richmond,
" as our rate of speed had to be regu
lated by that of the flag-ship. We soon
passed the head of Prophet Island, how
ever, and arrived abreast of the mortar
boats, which were headed by the Essex
and the Sachem. Presently the gleam
ing lights, which had been on our star
board beam, shone on our quarter, and
anon they were sparkling astern. And
now we were * nearing the point of
danger. Signal lights were seen flash
ing from the direction of the batteries,
the entire distance along, and were
answered from the opposite shore.
Right ahead, too, lights were seen from
the rebel boats, as was afterward ascer
tained. It was evident the rebels were
prepared to give us a warm reception.
" Presently a large fire was seen on
the Port Hudson side of the river, a
little below the town. This fire was
kindled right in front of the most for
midable of the fortifications, in. order
that the gleam thrown across the river
should reveal every vessel as it passed.
The plan was an admirable one, and
succeeded to a charm. * * *
* Correspondent of K. T. Herald.

"We had left the mortar boats well
astern, when a sulphurous light was
seen gleaming on the shore, on our port
side. Flashing up for a moment, a dull
explosion followed. It was evidently
an imperfect rocket. Another was es
sayed ; but, instead of ascending, it ran
along the surface of the river close to
the bank. A little farther up a third
was tried, and with complete success.
It ascended high in the air, where it
burst in the usual manner. Instantane
ously it was answered by a field piece
from the opposite shore, aimed at the
Hartford. The Admiral was not slow
in returning the compliment. Three or
four guns fired from the flag-ship in
rapid succession testified to the alacrity
with which the wager of battle was
accepted. "The return of the rebel fire by the
Hartford was promptly followed up by
a hot fire from the artillery pieces of
the rebels, and quite a brisk action
ensued between them. The scene, as
viewed from the Richmond, was both
brilliant and spirited. The flashes of
the guns, both on shore and afloat, were
incessant, while the roar of cannon kept
up a deafening and almost incessant
sound. Great judgment was here ne
cessary to prevent the Richmond from
running into the Hartford, and, in fact,
to keep the war vessels generally from
running into each other.
"And now was heard a thundering
roar, equal in volume to a whole park
of artillery. This was followed by a
rushing sound, accompanied by a howl
ing noise that beggars, description.

24:

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Again and again was the sound repeated.
* * * It was apparent that the
mortar boats had opened fire. * * *
But while the mortar boats were at
work, the Essex was not idle. Unman
ageable as she is, especially in so strong
a current, she did not follow the rest of
the fleet, but remained at the head of
the ' bummers,' doing admirable service
with her heavy guns.
' ' All this time the Richmond had to
hang back, as Admiral Farragut seemed
to be so enamored with the sport in
which he was engaged as to be in no
hurry to pass by. Once or twice, in
consequence of the dense column of
smoke that now rolled over, the river,
our bowsprit was almost over the taff-
rail of the Hartford, and there was an
incessant call on the part of Second
Lieutenant Terry, who commanded the
forward part of the ship, to stop the
engines. * * *
' ' The Richmond had by this time got
within range of the rebel field batteries,
which opened fire on her. I had all
along thought that we -would open fire
from our bow guns, on the topgallant
forecastle, and that, after discharging a
few broadsides from the starboard side,
the action would be wound up by a
parting compliment from our stern
chasers. To my' surprise, however,
we opened at once from our broad
side guns. * * *
" Of course we did not have every
thing our own way ; for the enemy
poured in his shot and shell as thick as
hail. Over, ahead, astern, all around
us, flew the death-dealing missiles. It

must not be supposed, however, that.
because our broadside guns were the
tools we principally worked with, our
bow and stern chasers were idle. We
soon opened with our bow eighty-
pounder Dahlgren, which was followed
up not long after by the guns astern,
giving evidence to the fact that we had
passed some of the batteries.
* * * n rri^g action now became
general. The roar of cannon was in
cessant, and the flashes from the guns,
together with the flight of the shells
from the mortar boats, made up a com
bination of sound and sight impossible
to describe. To add to the horrors of
the night, while it contributed toward
the enhancement of a certain terrible
beauty, dense clouds of smoke began to
envelop the river, shutting out from
view the several vessels and confound
ing them with the batteries. It was
very difficult to know how to steer to
prevent running ashore, perhaps right
under a rebel battery or into a consort.
Upward and upward rolled the smoke,
shutting out of view the beautiful stars
and obscuring the vision on every side.
Then it was that the order was passed,
"Boys, don't fire till you see the flash
from the enemy's guns.' That was our
only guide through the ' palpable ob
scurity.' ' ' But this sole dependence on the
flashes. was likely to be attended with
serious consequences, as the following
incident will show : We had got nearly
into the middle of the hornet's nest,
when an officer on the topgallant fore
castle called put : ' Ready with the port

PASSAGE OF BATTERIES.

gun.' The gun was got ready and
pointed, and was about to be discharged,
when Lieutenant Terry called out :
' Hold on ; you are about to fire into
the Hartford.' And such was the fact ;
for the flash of the Hartford's guns at
that moment revealed the spars and
rigging of that vessel. Consequently
the gun . was not fired, nor was it dis
charged during the engagement, the
fighting being confined entirely to the
starboard side. Still the fight went on.
* * * "So thick was the smoke,
that we had to cease firing several times ;
and, to add to the horrors of the night,
it was next to impossible to tell whether
we were running into the Hartford or
going ashore, and, if the latter, on which
bank, or whether some of the other
vessels were about to run into us or into
each other. All this time the fire was
kept up on both sides incessantly. It
seems, however, that we succeeded in
silencing the lower batteries of field
pieces. " While a brisk fire was kept up from
the decks of the several vessels, the
.howitzers in the tops were not permitted
to remain idle. * * *
* * * "I would occasionally get
up and walk about the topgallant fore
castle for a change of position. During
one of these peregrinations a terrific ex
plosion took place beneath me. A shell
had entered the forward port on the
starboard side, and exploded right under
the gun, splintering a part of the
carriage in front, indenting the gun
itself, and cutting off the two legs of a
boatswain's mate at the knees and an
172

arm at the elbow, shaking the topgallant
forecastle as if with an earthquake. I
knew nothing of what had taken place
till some time afterward.
* * * " This battery [the writer
is alluding to the central battery] stands
on a bluff so high, that a vessel in pass
ing immediately underneath cannot ele
vate her guns sufficiently to reach those
on the battery ; neither can the guns on
the battery be sufficiently depressed to
bear on the passing ship. In this posi
tion the rebel batteries on the two horns
of the crescent can enfilade the passing
vessels, pouring in a terrible cross fire,
which the vessel can return, though at
a great disadvantage, from her bow and
stern chasers. We fully realized this
last night ; for, as we got within short
range, the enemy poured into us a ter
rible fire of grape and canister, which
we were not slow to return — our guns
being double-shotted, each with a stand
of both grape and canister. Every
vessel in its turn was exposed to the
same fiery ordeal on n earing the centre
battery, and right promptly did their
gallant tars return the compliment.
This was the hottest part of the engage
ment. We were literally muzzle to
muzzle, the distance between us and the
enemy's guns being not more than
twenty yards, though, to me it seemed
to be only as many feet. * *
" Shortly after this close engagement
we seemed to have passed the worst.
The enemy's shot and shell no longer
swept our decks like a hail-storm ; but
the fire 'from the batteries was kept up
in a desultory manner. The starboard

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

bow gun could no longer be brought to
bear. Consequently Lieutenant Terry
ordered the men on the topgallant fore
castle to leave the guns in that part of
the ship, and to descend to the main
deck to help work the broadside guns.
Our stern chasers, of course, were still
available. I left my station on the top
gallant forecastle shortly after the men
who had been working the bow guns,
and passed under where I had been sit
ting, taking up my station on the port
side, just opposite the forward gun on
the starboard side, where but a few
minutes before a shell had exploded.
" I was not long in this position when
there came a blinding flash through the
very port I was opposite to, revealing a
high bank right opposite, so close that
a biscuit might have been tossed from the
summit on board the Richmond. Sim
ultaneously there came a loud roar, and
I thought the shot had passed through
the port I was opposite to. Indeed, so
close were we to the battery, that the
flash, the report, and the arrival of the
shot, crashing and tearing through our
bulwarks, were instantaneous, there not
being the intermission of a second be
tween. * * *
" It was no easy matter, in the midst
of such a dense cloud of smoke, to know
where to point our guns. Even the
flashes of the enemy's guns shone dimly
through the thick gloom. Several times
the order was given to cease fire, so as
to allow the smoke to clear away ; but,
as there was scarcely a breath of wind
stirring, this was a very slow process ;
still the order was necessary, to prevent

the several vessels from running into
each other. * * *
"While it was yet clear enough to
distinguish objects on the river, lights
were seen rapidly moving up the river,
above the batteries. . They "were on the
rebel gun-boats, that were making all
speed to get out of the way of the
dreaded Hartford and the Albatross,
and the rebels on board of the disloyal
craft knew not how many other Union
vessels besides. * * *
* * * "Denser and denser be
came the dark volume of smoke, render
ing it next to impossible for the pilot to
know where to put the vessel's head.
Lieutenant Terry, therefore, stationed
himself at the head of the ship, where
there was a better chance of penetrating
the gloom than on the bridge. Loud
rose his voice, even amidst the roar of
cannon and the shrieking of shot and
shell, directing how the vessel's head
should be placed. The order was taken
from him by the men all along the deck,
and by them conveyed to the quarter
masters at the wheel. At times this
was a difficult matter ; for the noise of
battle would sometimes drown the ne
cessary orders thus conveyed. As it
was, it seemed to me that a great deal
of the manoeuvring was sheer guess
work. It could scarcely be otherwise.
This was the moment of peril for the
Richmond ; for had she gone on shore
under the batteries, it would have been
all up with her. * * *
" Matters had gone on in this way for
nearly an hour and a half— the first gun
having been fired at about half-past

PASSAGE OF BATTERIES.

eleven o'clock — when, to my astonish
ment, I heard some shells whistling over
our port side. Did the rebels have
batteries on the right bank of the river ?
was the query that naturally suggested
itself to me. To this the response was
given that we had turned back. I soon
discovered that it was too true. Our
return was, of course, more rapid than
our passage up. The rebels did not
molest us much, and I do not believe
one of their shots took effect while we
were running down rapidly with the
current. It was a melancholy affair,
for we did not know but what the whole
expedition was a failure ; neither could
we tell whether any of our vessels had
been destroyed, nor how many. We
had the satisfaction of learning soon
afterward, however, that the Hartford
and the Albatross had succeeded in
rounding the point above the batteries.
All the rest were compelled to return."
Two, only, of the vessels of Admiral
Farragut's squadron, his flag-ship the
Hartford and the gun-boat Albatross,
succeeded in passing the batteries at Port
Hudson. The Mississippi was destroy
ed, and the rest, after being more or less
damaged, were forced back. The former
unfortunately got aground opposite the
centre and strongest of the forts, and
thus became the object of the enemy's
concentrated fire. Her commander, after
persisting for half an hour in the un
equal struggle, gave orders for. the
burning and abandonment of his vessel.
In the mean time the enemy continued
their fire, riddling her with shot and
destroying many fives. " While the crew

were preparing to burn and abandon
her, two shells struck her and set her
in flames. As the fire approached the
magazine, all, including the wounded
men, left in the boats, and landed on
the shore opposite the batteries. A
loud cry of exultation arose from the
enemy when they beheld the burning
ship. The Mississippi, lightened by the
departure of her 300 men, swung off
into deep water, and, after turning with
her head down stream, exploded.
The Hartford and Albatross, which
had succeeded in passing the batteries
at Port Hudson, continued their course
up the river. At Grand Gulf they
were unexpectedly forced to run the
gauntlet of a formidable battery lately
established ; but they moved on un
dauntedly, though roughly treated on
their way. Both vessels were more or
less injured by the fire of the enemy,
but returned it vigorously. The Hart
ford was struck fourteen times, and had
three men killed.
Again, on their passage, they were
met by a heavy cannonade from the
eneuay's batteries at Warrenton. After
a severe engagement, they passed and
anchored on the 26th of March below
Vicksburg, at the mouth of the canal cut
by the Unionists through the neck of
land opposite. Admiral Farragut was
thus enabled to send his secretary to
communicate with General Grant and
Admiral Porter. The messenger arrived
in safety, and soon an attempt was made
by Admiral Porter to send reinforce
ments and supplies. Two rams, the
Switzerland and Lancaster, and several

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

flat-boats with coal, were dispatched
from above. One of the rams, the
Lancaster, was destroyed while striving
to pass the batteries at Vicksburg ; the
other, the Switzerland, was disabled, but
was rescued by the Albatross, which
towed her to a safe position, while the
coal barges fortunately floated down the
stream without damage.
The Switzerland having been repair
ed, joined the Hartford and Albatross,
and, all three now fully supplied, pre
pared for a cruise clown the Missis
sippi. In the mean time, during a heavy
blow from the north, on the 29th of
March, the Vicksburg, with which Col
onel Ellet had his' famous encounter
under the guns of the enemy, drifted
from her moorings, and floating down
the river, went ashore opposite the
anchorage of the Hartford and Albatross.
Farragut sent an officer to board her,
who reported that all her machinery
had been removed. While the Admiral
was hesitating as to what disposition to
make of the empty hull, the enemy
came down, on the night of the 30th of
March, and burnt her.
On the morning ofthe 31st of March,'
the Hartford, Albatross, and Switzer
land passed Warrenton, on their course
down the river. On reaching their
anchorage at Turner's plantation, in
quiries were made in regard to the
wreck of the Indianola, which had been
seen at this place on the passage up the
river. No traces of her were left, and
it was reported that she had slid "off into
deep water during the late gale. At
six o'clock in the evening (March 31st),

the three steamers weighed anchor, and,
moving down, engaged the batteries at
Grand Gulf.
"This battery," reported Admiral
Farragut, "consisted of some two or
three heavy guns, "sent down from
Vicksburg. One of these guns was
mounted upon a steamer, which had
been concealed up the Big Black River.
The enemy had also a light field bat
tery. " They struck the Switzerland twice,
doing no damage, however. The Alba
tross was' not struck at all. The Hart
ford was struck only once, but this shot
struck an iron hammock stancheon, and
threw a fragment of it forward nearly
half the length of the ship, and killed a
man named Jones, a landsman. This
was the only casualty.
"We passed this battery in about
fifteen minutes, and anchored below
Grand Gulf for the night."
On the 1st of April, the little squad
ron again got under weigh, and pro
ceeded to the mouth of the Red River,
where it anchored, after destroying on
its passage a large number of skiffs and
flat-boats. The three steamers were1
now principally engaged in blockading
the Red River, through which the en
emy were obtaining their supplies from
Western Louisiana and Texas. They
also kept a vigilant guard along that
part of the Mississippi over which they
held .command. On the 6th of April
they moved down to Bayou Sara, and
seizing some ten thousand sacks of corn,
threw them into the river. They then
sailed down to within five miles of the

FIGHT OF THE ALBATROSS.

batteries of Port Hudson, where they
anchored. As Admiral Farragut was thus, by
bis position between the batteries of
Vicksburg, Warrenton, and Grand Gulf
above, and those of Port Hudson below,
cut off from his communications by wa
ter, and unable to restore them without
a fight, there was great inquietude felt
in regard to his safety. The enemy
affected to be sure of catching him.
The Admiral, while trusting confi
dently in the power of his good ships
and himself to force their way past the
enemy's cannon, wherever the object
would justify the risk, contented him
self, in the mean time, with such com
munications as he could hold through
an -occasional adventurous messenger.
On the 7th of April, his secretary boldly
faced the dangers of passing the enemy's
position, and succeeded in reaching
Baton Rouge.
Admiral Farragut continued to block
ade the Red River, occasionally send
ing out the Albatross to reconnoitre,
while the Switzerland joined Admiral
Porter's fleet, which had come down
from above and was co-operating with
General Grant's movements by land.
The Albatross, in the course of an ex
pedition up the Red River, had a severe
fight with two of the enemy's boats near
April , Gordon's Landing, the Mary T.
27o and the Grand Duke. Though
the Estrella and Arizona, two Union
gun-boats, followed the Albatross, they
engaged the enemy only at long range,
since they had been ordered not to
advance. The Albatross moved up to

within 400 yards of her antagonist, but
was prevented from approaching nearer,
in consequence of a strong raft which
spanned the river and separated them.
A vigorous fight now began.
" Almost the first shots from the
rebel steamers," says an eye-witness,*
" demolished the pilot-house of the Al
batross, killing one of her pilots and
carrying away a hand of the other.
They rigged relieving tackles aft, and
thus steered the steamer during the
remainder of the action. Her mainmast
was also cut nearly in two ; a ball
passed through her hull, near the water
line, injuring her machinery, but not so
seriously as to prevent its use.
" The first broadside ofthe Albatross
carried away the steam connection-pipe
of the Mary T., killing and wounding
thirty persons. The Grand Duke was
also struck several times, her cotton
flying at every shot, or our well-aimed
broadsides taking effect in different
parts of her works. The action con
tinued about forty minutes, without
interruption of firing on either side.
The Grand Duke then finding it too hot
for them, backed up stream under cover
of the woods, leaving the Mary T. dis
abled. The Albatross then dropped
down and communicated with Captain
Cook, of the Estrella, as to the practi
cability of capturing the disabled steam
er. The raft across the river, however,
was still intact, and interposed an im
passable barrier between our own and
the rebel steamers. Meantime, the
Grand Duke hitched on to her crippled

» N. T. Tribune.

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

companion and towed her out of range.
The fight — one of the fiercest and most
desperately contested naval engage
ments yet witnessed on the Western
waters — was over.
" Throughout the action the Albatross
fought with most unflinching gallantry,
and her officers and crew deserve well
of their country. She had seven men
killed and wounded at her guns — three
killed and four wounded, as near as I
can ascertain. The Grand Duke and
Mary T., according to the statement of
two deserters, had sixty persons killed
and wounded on the two boats."
The Hartford and the Albatross re
mained above Port Hudson until the
surrender of that place, having, in the
mean time, taken part in the bombard
ment of the batteries, during the un
successful attempts of General Banks
to carry the enemy's works by assault.
On the 11th of July, the two steamers
arrived at New Orleans, where, after
their adventurous cruise and long ab
sence, they were received with acclama
tion. Admiral Farragut, after aiding
in completing the victory at Port Hud
son, by clearing the banks of the Missis
sippi at Donaldsonville and elsewhere,
of the lingering enemy, returned to the
North, where he met a triumphant
reception. The capture of Vicksburg and Port

Hudson was the greatest blow yet in
flicted upon the enemy. The occupa
tion of the Mississippi River being thus
secured by the Union forces, the region
of the insurgents was divided into two
parts, and their armies on the east
of the river severed from the great
sources of supply — Arkansas, Louisiana,
and Texas — on the west. The success
of the Northern arms on the Mississippi
caused great exultation at the North
and proportionate dejection at the South,
while the nations of Europe became
more impressed with the power and
vigor of the United States, and less con
fident of the means of resistance of its
enemies. The enemy, notwithstanding the cap
ture of their strongholds at Vicksburg
and Port Hudson, and the consequent
loss of the command of the Missis
sippi, strove by every effort to obstruct
its navigation. The tortuous course of
the great river, its length, and the
formation of its banks, whose alternate
marshes, cane-brakes, and bluffs offered
ready means of offence and shelter,
were favorable for skulking guerrilla
parties, who continued to infest the
Mississippi and seriously impede the
passage of vessels. The Union fleet
was constantly on the alert, but not
withstanding its vigilance, many lives
and much property were destroyed.

OPERATIONS OF ROSECRANS.

CHAPTER IV.

General Rosecrans, after the Battle of Stone River. — His Advance Checked.— Delay in establishing a Basis of Opera
tions and- securing Communications — Rosecrans prepared to Advance. — Rosecrans' Movements in Middle Tennes
see. — His Report. — The Operations of the Enemy's Cavalry and Detached Parties. — The Enterprise of General Van
Dorn.— His Attack on Franklin. — His Repulse. — General Morgan on the Move. — His Rout at Snow Hill.— Success
of Union Cavalry. — Woodward Recaptured. — Wheeler's Raids. — Destruction of Railroad. — Eaid on the Eiver. —
Gun-boats Destroyed.— McMinnville Surprised hy the Unionists. — Mrs. General John Morgan a Prisoner. —Escape
of the General. — Unionists Capture Tuscumbia and Spring Hill. — The Success of Union Cavalry. -^Death of Van
Dorn. — Streight's Expedition. — Streight overtaken by Forrest, and forced to Surrender.

1863.

After the battle of Stone River and
the occupation of Murfreesboro',
General Rosecrans found it im
practicable to advance through Tennes
see immediately. The necessity of
securing his communications, constantly
threatened by an enterprising cavalry,
and the strong positions easily assumed
by the enemy in a region of mountain
and forest, with rare spaces of settle
ment and culture, prevented a rapid
campaign. He was obliged first to
establish and secure a depQt of supplies,
and to organize an adequate cavalry
force to protect his line of communica
tion and take advantage of the enemy
should they retreat or be beaten. ' ' The
dep6t was established and in a defensible
condition," reported Rosecrans, " by
the 1st of May, but," he added, "the
inferior numbers of our cavalry and the
scarcity of long forage wore out our
cavalry horses faster than we could
replace them, and it was not before the
15th of June that we had brought
what we had into available condition."

Finally prepared, General Rosecrans
commenced a series of operations which
resulted in driving the rebels out of
Middle Tennessee. " Their main base
of supplies," says the General in his
report, dated Winchester, Tennessee,
July 24, 1863, "was at Chattanooga,
but a vastly superior cavalry force had
enabled them to command all the re
sources of the Duck River Valley and
the country southward. Tullahoma, a
large intrenched camp situated on the
' barrens,' at the intersection of the
Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad with
the McMinnville branch, was their main
depQt. Its front was covered by the
defiles of Duck River, a deep, narrow
stream with but few fords or bridges,
and a rough, rocky range of hills, which
divides the 'barrens' from the lower
level of Middle Tennessee.
" Bragg's main army occupied a
strong position north of Duck River,
the infantry extending from Shelbyville
to Wartrace, and their cavalry on their
right to McMinnsville, and on their left

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

to Columbia and Spring Hill, where
Forrest was concentrated, and threaten
ing Franklin.
" The position of Bragg's infantry
was covered by a range of high, rough,
rocky hills, the principal routes passing
southward from Murfreesboro' toward
Tullahoma and the line of the enemy's
communications. "1. By McMinnville it is seventy-five
miles' to Tullahoma. Its length pre
cludes it, while the intermediate by-roads
between that and Manchester were so
difficult as to be regarded as unsuited
for the movement of an army ; and
"2. The Manchester pike passing
these hills through Hoover's Gap, and
ascending to the ' barrens' through a
long, difficult canon called Matt's Hollow.
"3. The War trace road through Lib
erty Gap, which passes into the one
along the railroad by Bellbuckle Gap.
" 4. The Shelby ville turnpike run
ning through Guy's Gap.
" 5. The Middleton dirt road.
"6. The road by Versailles, into the
Shelby ville and Triune roads, both of
which avoid passes and have few de
files. " The enemy held all these passes,
and his main position in front of Shelby-
ville was strengthened by a redan line
extending from Horse Mountain on the
east to Duck River on the west, covered
by a line of abattis.
" Polk's corps was at Shelby ville.
Hardee's headquarters was at Wartrace,
and his troops held Hoover's, Liberty,
and Bellbuckle gaps. Polk's corps was
generally estimated by intelligent rebels

and Union men at about 18,000, in
fantry and artillery ; Hardee's at 12,000,
infantry and artillery— making a total
of 30,000 of these arms, and probably
8,000 effective cavalry."
After describing the position of the
enemy, General Rosecrans thus narrates
his own movements and their result :
"Positive information from various
sources concurred to show the enemy
intended to fight us in his intrenchments
at Shelbyville, should we advance by
that route, and that he would be in good
position to retreat if beaten, and so re
tard our pursuit through the narrow
winding roads from that place which
lead up to the 'barrens,' and thus
inflict severe loss without danger to
their own line of retreat to the mount
ains toward their base. I was deter
mined to render useless their intrench
ments, and, if possible, secure their line
of retreat by turning their right and
moving on the railroad bridge across
Elk River. This would compel a battle
on our own ground, or drive them on a
disadvantageous line of retreat. To
accomplish this it was necessary to make
Bragg believe we could advance on him
by the Shelbyville route, and to keep
up the impression until, if possible, we
had reached Manchester with the main
body of the army, as this point must be.
reached over a single practicable road
passing through Hoover's Gap, a narrow
way three miles in length, between high
hills, and then through Matt's Hollow,
a gorge two miles long, with scarce
room anywhere for wagons to pass each
other. These passes were occupied by

REPORT OF ROSECRANS.

the enemy, but eight miles from Har
dee's headquarters, nor more than six
teen miles from their left at Shelbyville.
" The plan was, therefore, to move
General Granger's command to Triune,
and thus create the impression of our
intention to advance on them by the
Shelbyville and Triune pikes, while
cavalry movements and an infantry
advance toward Woodbury would seem
to be feints designed by us to deceive
Bragg and conceal our supposed real
designs on their left, where the topog
raphy and the roads presented com
paratively slight obstacles and afforded
great facilities for moving in force.
"Events proved that this had the
desired effect ; and accordingly Bragg
called forward Buckner and all the
spare troops at his command from East
Tennessee and the lines of the railroads,
the last of them arriving on the very
evening they began their retreat from
their position in front of Duck River.
The operations which followed these
successful preliminaries were as follows :
" On the 23d of June, Major-Gen
eral Granger, under orders, sent General
Mitchell, with his cavalry division, on
the Eagleville and Shelbyville pike, to
make a furious attack on the enemy's
cavalry and drive in their infantry
guards on their main line, while General
Granger, with his own troops and Bran-
nan's division, moved, with ten days'
rations, to Salem, sending his sick and
baggage to the camps at Murfreesboro'.
On the same day Palmer's division and
a brigade of cavalry were ordered to
move, via Cripple Creek and Ready-
173

ville, to the vicinity of Brady ville ; his
advance to seize the head of the defile
leading up to the ' barrens' by an ob
scure road leading them to Manchester
by Lumley's Station. All the other
troops were ordered to be in readiness
to march with twelve days' rations of
bread, coffee, sugar, and salt ; six days'
meat on hoof, and six days' pork or
bacon. General Mitchell accomplished
his work after a sharp and gallant fight.
General Granger arrived and took posi
tion at Salem in pursuance of orders.
" The corps commanders met at head
quarters in the evening, when the plan
of the movement was explained to them,
and each received written orders for his
part, as follows :
"Major-General McCook's corps was
to advance on the Shelbyville road, turn
to the left, move two divisions by
Millersburg, and, advancing on the
Wartrace road, seize and hold Liberty
Gap. The third division was to advance
on Fosterville and cover the crossing of
General Granger's command from the
Middleton road, and then move by
Christiana to join the rest of the corps.
" General G. Granger was to advance
on the Middleton road, threatening that
place, and cover the passing of General
Brannan's division of the fourteenth
corps, which was to pass by Christiana
and bivouac with the rear division of
the twentieth corps.
" The fourteenth corps, Major-Gen
eral Thomas, was to advance on the
Manchester pike, seize and hold with
its advance, if practicable, Hoover's
Gap, and bivouac so as to command and

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

cover that and the Millersburg road,
so that McCook and himself could
be within supporting distance of each
other. "Major-General Crittenden was to
leave Van Cleve's division of the twenty-
first army corps at Murfreesboro', con
centrate at Bradysville with the other
two, and await orders.
"The cavalry, one brigade under
General Turchin, was sent with the
twenty-first army corps to look out
toward McMinnville. All the remain
der, under Major-General Stanley, were
to meet General Mitchell coming in
from Versailles, and attack the rebel
cavalry at Middleton.
" The headquarters of the army was
to be established at Mrs. McGill's, at
Big Spring Branch.
" All these movements were executed
with commendable promptness and suc
cess, in the midst of a continuous and
drenching rain, which so softened the
ground on all the dirt roads as to
render them next to impassable.
" General McCook's taking of Liberty
Gap was very gallant and creditable to
the troops of Johnson's division, Wil-
lich's brigade leading, supported by
Carlin's brigade of Davis' division on
the right.
" General Reynolds had the advance
in the fourteenth corps, Wilder's mount
ed brigade leading. He surprised and
carried Hoover's Gap, a defile three
miles in length, before the main infantry
support of the rebels (two brigades)
could come up ; and when they did
arrive, fought them and held the posi

tion until the remainder of Reynolds'
division arrived. The enemy kept at
artillery distance from them, and left
us to hold the bridge across the Garrison
fork and the debouch of the Fairfield
road. "As it was not yet certain whether
the enemy would advance to test our
strength on McCook's front or mass on
the flank of the fourteenth corps, near
Fairfield, the orders for June 25th were
as follows :
" Major-General Crittenden to ad
vance to Lannon's Stand, six miles east
of Beech Grove, and open communica
tion with General Thomas.
" General Thomas to attack the rebels
on the flank of his advance position at
the forks of the road and drive the
rebels toward Fairfield.
"General McCook to feign an ad
vance as if in force on the Wartrace
road by the Liberty Gap passes.
" General Stanley with his cavalry to
occupy their attention at Fosterville,
and General Granger to support him
with his infantry at Christiana.
" Should Thomas succeed, and find
the enemy retreating toward Wartrace,
he-was to cover that road with a division
and move with the remainder of his
troops rapidly on Manchester. McCook
to move in and, taking his place at
Beech Grove, hold Liberty Gap with a
division, and finally withdraw that and
follow General Thomas to Manchester.
The incessant rain delayed the arrival
of General Brannan to join the four
teenth corps, on the Manchester pike,
but everything was finally in position,

REPORT OF ROSECRANS.

and General Reynolds' division had ad
vanced on the heights toward Fairfield,
but did not attack the enemy, who
appeared to show a disposition to con
test our advance by that route. At
Liberty Gap the enemy tried to regain
possession, but finally retreated, leaving
our pickets in position.
" On the 26th, most of the movements
ordered for the 25th were completed,
amid continuous rains. Generals Rous
seau, Reynolds, and Brannan's divisions
co-operated in a gallant advance on the
enemy, who, after a short resistance,
fled toward Fairfield, near to which
place our pickets were advanced, while
Reynolds' division and the baggage
moved forward during the night toward
Manchester, Wilder's brigade having
seized Matt's Hollow early in the after
noon, and thus secured the passage.
"June 27th, headquarters reached
Manchester, where General Reynolds'
and part of Negley's division had already
arrived. The remainder of Thomas'
corps came in during the night. It was
now manifest that the enemy must leave
his intrenched position at Shelbyville,
and that we must expect him at Tulla
homa, only twelve miles distant. It
was therefore necessary to close up our
columns on Manchester, distribute our
rations, and prepare for the contest.
" While this was progressing, I de
termined to cut, if possible, the railroad
in Bragg's rear. Wilder's brigade was
sent to burn Elk River bridge, and
destroy the railroad between Decherd
and Cowan, and Brigadier-General John
Beatty, with a brigade of infantry, to

Hillsboro', to cover and support his
movements. " General Sheridan's division came in
June 28th, and all McCook's arrived
before the night of the 29th, troops and
animals much jaded.
" The terrible rains and desperate
roads so delayed Crittenden, who on
the 26th got orders to march to Man
chester with all speed, that it was not
until the 29th that his last division
arrived, badly worn. The column be
ing now closed up, and having divisions
of the fourteenth and twentieth corps
at Crumpton's Creek, orders were given
for the fourteenth corps to occupy the
centre at Concord church and Bobo
cross roads, with a division in reserve.
The twentieth corps to take the right
on Crumpton's Creek, two divisions in
echelon retired, one in reserve. The
twenty-first corps to come up on the
left, near Hall's Chapel, one division
front and one division in reserve.
" It rained almost incessantly during
the 30th, but the troops, by dint of
labor and perseverance, had dragged
their artillery and themselves through
the mud into position. It is a singular
characteristic of the soil on the ' barrens'
that it becomes so soft and spongy that
wagons cut into it as if it were a swamp,
and even horses cannot pass over it
without similar results. The terrible
effects of the rains on the passage of
our troops may be inferred from the
single fact, that General Crittenden re
quired four days of incessant labor to
advance the distance of twenty-one
miles.

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

" While the troops were thus moving
into position, General Thomas sent
Steadman's brigade of Brannan's di
vision, two regiments of Reynolds' di
vision, and two regiments of Negley's
division on separate roads to reconnoitre
the enemy's position, while General
Sheridan sent Bradley's brigade of his
own division on another for the same
purpose. These reconnoissances all re
turned, and reported having found the
enemy in force on all the roads except
the one leading to Estill Springs. Scouts
all confirmed this, with the fact that it
was the general belief that Bragg would
fight us in his intrenchments at Tulla
homa. "Wilder returned from his expedi
tion, reporting that he found the enemy
at Elk Bridge with a brigade of infantry
and a battery, which prevented him
from destroying that bridge, but that
he had damaged the road considerably
at Decherd, where his appearance with
his mountain howitzers created great
consternation, and within three hours
brought down some heavy trains of
infantry. " Meanwhile we had information from
Stanley's cavalry ; supported by Major-
General Granger's infantry, and acting
under his general directions, it had
attacked the enemy's cavalry and ar
tillery at Guy's Gap, on the Murfrees-
boro' and Shelbyville pike, and driven
them from stand to stand, killing,
wounding, and capturing as they went,
until the enemy reached their intrench
ments, by which they were soon driven
by flanking and a direct charge, where

in the cavalry captured three pieces of
artillery, some with loads in but not
rammed down.
" From their intrenchments the rebels
fled to town, when they made another
stand, but in vain. Our cavalry came
down with resistless sweep and drove
them in confusion into the river. Many
were killed and drowned, and Shelby
ville, with a large number of prisoners, a
quantity of arms and commissary stores,
were the crowning results of the cavalry
operations that day. It was worthy of
note that the waving of flags and cheers
of welcome from the inhabitants of this
unconquerable stronghold of loyalty
doubtless gave added vigor and energy
to the advance of our troops. The
reports from this cavalry battle showed
also the enemy's withdrawal on Tulla
homa. and the general expectation that
he would fight there.
" June 30. Orders having been given
General Morton to ascertain the practi
cability of moving by column in mass in
line of battle from our position to gain
the rear of the rebel position at Tulla
homa, and he having reported favorably
thereon, preparations were completed,
and Crittenden's second division was
moved into position.
" July 1. I received a dispatch from
General Thomas, that the enemy had
retreated from Tullahoma during the
night. " Brannan's, Negley's, and Sheridan's
divisions entered Tullahoma, where the
infantry arrived about noon. Negley's
and Rousseau's divisions pushed on by
Spring Creek and overtook the rear

END OF CAMPAIGN.

guard of the enemy late in the after
noon at Bethpage Bridge, two miles
above the railroad crossing, where they
had a sharp skirmish with the rebels
occupying the heights on the south side
of the river, and commanding the bri
gade by artillery, which they had placed
behind epaulments.
" July 2. Having brought forward the
ammunition, McCook, with two divi
sions, pursued on the roads west of the
railroad. Arriving at Rock Creek Ford,
General Sheridan found the Elk so swol
len as to be barely fordable for cavalry,
and the rebel cavalry on the south bank
to resist a crossing ; but he soon drove
them away and occupied the ford.
General Thomas found equal difficulties
in crossing, for the enemy during the
night burned the bridge and retired
before morning. General Turchin, with
a small brigade of cavalry, had pushed
forward from Hillsboro', on the Decherd
road, and found the enemy's cavalry at
the fords of Elk, near Morris Ferry ;
engaged them coming up, and reinforced
by the arrival of General Mitchell, they
forced the passage of the river after a
sharp conflict. Night closed the pursuit.
" July 3. General Sheridan succeeded
in crossing Elk River, and supported
by General J. C. Davis' division, pur
sued the enemy to Cowan, where he
learned the enemy had crossed the
mountains with his artillery and infantry
by University and Swedine's Cove, and
that the cavalry only would be found
covering their rear. General Thomas
got over his troops the same day,
Negley's division moving on the Brake-

field Point road toward University.
Sheridan sent some cavalry from his
position, and Stanley some from the
main column, now in pursuit, but they
only developed the fact that the enemy
was gone ; and as our troops were out
of provisions, and the roads worn well-
nigh impracticable from rain and travel,
they were obliged to halt till their
supplies could be brought forward from
Murfreesboro', to which point the wag
ons had been. sent for that purpose.
"Thus ended a nine days' campaign,
which drove the enemy from two forti
fied positions and gave us possession of
Middle Tennessee, conducted in one of
the most extraordinary rains ever known
in Tennessee at that period of the year,
over a soil that becomes almost a quick
sand. Our operations were retarded
thirty-six hours at Hoover's Gap, and
sixty hours at and in front of Man
chester, which alone prevented us from
getting possession of the enemy's com
munications and forcing him to a very
disastrous battle. These results were far
more successful than was anticipated,
and could only have been obtained by a
surprise as to the direction and force of
our movement."
General Rosecrans concludes his re
port with a statement of his gains and
losses. " The reports of the corps com
manders show that our total loss dur
ing these operations was :
Killed. "Wounded. Missing.
Officers U 26
Non-commissioned officers
and privates 71 436 13

Total.

462

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

" We captured many stand of small-
arms, three field pieces, six caissons, three
limbers, three rifled siege pieces with
out carriages, besides arms destroyed
by the cavalry ; quartermasters' stores,
eighty -nine tents, eighty -nine flies,
3,500 sacks corn and corn-meal.
" The total number of officers taken is
59 commissioned officers, and 1,575 non
commissioned officers and privates."
In the mean time, while General Rose
crans was preparing for this successful
movement narrated in his report, the
enemy's detached parties were actively
occupied in efforts to interrupt his com
munications and perplex his plans of
advance. General Van Dorn, now act
ing more appropriately as a guerrilla
chief than as a leader of armies, was
especially' enterprising. With a force
of cavalry and flying artillery he hovered
about the Tennessee and Cumberland
rivers, doing much damage to the Union
gun-boats and transports navigating
them, and ventured occasionally to
attack the Federal posts on Rosecrans'
line of communications in his rear. On
the 10th of April, Van Dorn, embolden
ed by some minor successes, assaulted
Franklin, situated on the railroad south
of Nashville.
" Van Dorn made his promised attack
to-day," reported, on the 10th of April,
General Granger, the Union commander
at Franklin, " at one o'clock, directly in
front and on the town. The infantry
regiments on guard in town, with the
cavalry pickets, held him at bay until
their ammunition was exhausted. The
dense smoke and atmosphere favored

their operations, enabling them to ap
proach very near without our being
able to observe them. Our siege guns
and our light batteries opened upon
them with murderous effect, literally
strewing the ground with men and
horses. I had halted Stanley four miles
out on the Murfreesboro' road. He at
once crossed his forces over at Height's
Mills, vigorously attacking Forrest's di
visions, moving down on the Lewisburg
pike, capturing six pieces of artillery
and some two hundred prisoners ; but,
owing to the unfavorable nature of the
country, was unable to hold them, being
attacked by greatly superior numbers,
outflanked and nearly surrounded. Our
loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners
is less than one hundred, while the
enemy's cannot be less than three times
that number. They were repulsed on
all sides, and driven until darkness
prevented the pursuit. Captain Mcln-
tyre, of the Fourth Regulars, took the
battery and prisoners, bringing off thirty
odd of the latter."
General Morgan, too, whose bold raids
have been so often recorded in this
chronicle, was again pursuing his career
of mischief, but not always with his
usual good fortune. While marauding
in the rear of General Rosecrans, he
was overtaken by General Stanley at
Snow Hill, near Smithville, about April
sixty-one miles east of Nashville, 2-
and routed.
" General Stanley," reported General
Rosecrans, "has returned from his scout,
bringing in some forty or fifty prisoners
and 300 serviceable horses and mules.

OPERATIONS OF CAVALRY.

He drove Morgan's cavalry from the
peninsula, whipping them from their
stronghold, Snow Hill, north of Smith
ville, and, but for their precipitate re
treat and the difficult nature of the
country, would have had a force in their
rear and captured their artillery and
animals. " The enemy left quite a number of
their dead, and fled toward McMinnville,
leaving many horses, saddles, and guns."
Various other successes were accom
plished by the Union cavalry detach
ments. Woodward, which had been
captured by the enemy's guerrilla parties,
was retaken (April 8), with its stores
and some prisoners ; and an expedition
under Colonel Wilder, about the same
time, in the direction of Snow Hill,
destroyed five thousand bushels of wheat,
much corn and bacon, and "a part of
the village known as Saulsbury, con
taining the dwelling of a notorious
guerrilla." On the other hand, the enemy were
making their boasts of mischief. " I
divided my command into two parties,"
officially stated General Wheeler, on the
11th of April, "and made a raid upon
the Louisville and Nashville, and Nash
ville and Murfreesboro' railroads, cap
turing a large train on each and many
officers and men."
Again, in the middle of April, Gen
eral Wheeler boasted the destruction
of two gun-boats and three transports
on the Cumberland River, to which the
Unionists, about the same time reported,
as more than an offset :
" The Munfordsville (Ky.) expedition

to Celina returned to Glasgow, having
destroyed the town of Celina, 100,000
pounds of bacon, 20,000 bushels of
wheat and corn, 100 barrels of whisky
and flour, a considerable quantity of
sugar, tea, coffee, salt, and other stores,
and forty boats used by the rebels for
transporting supplies.
" The rebels admit a loss of ninety
killed. Colonel Graham thinks their
loss greater. The Union loss was one
killed and one missing."
On the 22d of April, the Union
cavalry took McMinnville by surprise.
On this occasion, "Colonel Longworth,
of the Ohio Cavalry, struck the railroad,
destroyed the telegraph and bridges be
tween Morrison and Manchester, and
burned a train of cars and locomotive,
together with other spare cars at va
rious places, and vast quantities of
meat." " While at McMinnville, Colonel Wil
der destroyed the bridges, 600 blankets,
30,000 pounds of bacon, two hogsheads
of sugar, three hogsheads of rice, eight
barrels of whisky, 200 bales of cotton,
one large cotton factory, one large mill
and one small one, one camp at Charley's
Creek, and subsequently one at Liberty,
and took 300 prisoners, among them
Dick McCann, who subsequently es
caped." Mrs. General John Morgan was also
captured, but her adventurous husband
succeeded in making off with most of
his troops. To the success at McMinn
ville were added the capture of Tus
cumbia and a dash upon the camp, at
Spring Hill, of the Texas legion of

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

General Van Dorn's command, about
eight miles south of Franklin, Tenn.,
toward the end of April. The fair
proportion of successes achieved by the
Union cavalry proved that that branch
of service was rapidly acquiring the
desired vigor.
,It gave further evidence of its im
proved efficiency in May and June,
while the enemy's raiders, though still
active, and meeting with an occasional
success, became less enterprising. The
death of General Van Dorn, who was
killed by an indignant husband,* in
revenge for a usurpation of his marital
rights, was a great loss to the enemy,
for he was well endowed with the enter
prising and, perhaps, unscrupulous at
tributes of the successful guerrilla chief.
A Union reconnoitring force under
Colonel Streight, after reaching the rear
of General Bragg's position and pene
trating Georgia, was overtaken by Gen
eral Forrest, one of the enemy's most
enterprising cavalry officers, and cap
tured. Forrest having, by a rapid
movement from Spring Hill, Tenn.,
formed a junction with Colonel Roddy,
attacked General Dodge at Tuscumbia,
Ala., and after a skirmish of several
hours, fell back to Courtland. In the
.mean time, Colonel Streight took the
0 General Van Dorn was shot hy a Dr. Peters, at
Spring Hill, Tenn., on the 7th of May, 1863.

occasion to get to the rear of Forrest
and move toward Georgia. The latter,
upon discovering the movement, started
in pursuit, and overtook Colonel Streight
at Dayton's Gap, in Sand Mountains,
where a skirmish ensued, with a loss to
the Unionists of forty killed, wounded,
and missing. "Six miles farther on," ac
cording to the report of the enemy,
which is our only available record,
" another engagement took place, last
ing an hour and a half, in which Streight
was driven forward with the loss of
two pieces of artillery."
Fifteen miles farther south, Streight
was again attacked, and after the strug
gle having taken refuge in Huntsville,
was driven out of the place with a loss
of three killed and twelve wounded.
Pursued to Gadsden, the fighting was
resumed, and finally Colonel Streight,
still flying before the resolute Forrest,
was overtaken early in the month of
May, within twenty-six miles of Rome,
in Alabama, and compelled to sur
render. It is useless to attempt to trace the
movements in detail of the various
cavalry detachments. Enough has been
already recorded to illustrate the char
acter ofthe warfare preliminary and sub
ordinate to Rosecrans' important move
ment already related, which secured
him possession of Middle Tennessee.

BURNSIDE JN KENTUCKY.

CHAPTER V.

Kentucky no longer a Field of Battle.— Subject, however, to Incursions. — Her Routes of Travel exposed to Raids. — A
Marauding Force under Pegram enters Kentucky. — Mount Sterling Captured and Burned. — Danville Captured. —
Alarm at Lexington. — Burnside in command of the Department of the Ohio. — Vigorous Work to clear Kentucky
of its Invaders. — Gillmore's Expedition to Somerset. — Its Success. — Pegram driven into Tennessee. — Burnside pre
paring for a Campaign into East Tennessee. — Preliminary Expedition of Saunders. — Its Results. — Another Raid into
Kentucky by Morgan. — Alarm in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. — Preparations for Defence. — Morgan in Indiana. —
His Successes. — The Damage to Railroads and other Property.- — Course of Morgan through Indiana into Ohio. —
Pursuit of Morgan. — His Unsuccessful Attempt to recross the Ohio. — Morgan at bay. —Morgan Captured and Im
prisoned. — An attempted Diversion in his Favor. — Its Failure. — A Successful Raid upon Stamford, Ky.

Though Kentucky had ceased for the
time to be a field for the opera
tions of large armies, its proximity
to the scene of war in Virginia and Ten
nessee exposed it to frequent incursions
of the enemy. The main routes of
travel to the contiguous State of Ten
nessee were especially the objects of
attack. Thus the Louisville and Nash
ville railroads, together with the Ten
nessee and Cumberland rivers, the chief
channels of Rosecrans' communications
with the North, were often visited by
marauding parties which did great dam
age. These expeditions, being favored
by the sympathies of some of the in
habitants of Kentucky, were not only
able to elude the vigilance of the Union
garrisons, and penetrate into the inte
rior, but even traverse the State. In
the month of March, a considerable force
of the enemy, under General Pegram,
entered Kentucky and began a series of
depredations. On the 21st, a Colonel Clarke, one
of their cavalry raiders, surrounded
174

Mount Sterling, captured it after a street
fight of four hours, and finally burned
the town. Danville was subsequently
occupied ; and the inhabitants even of
Lexington, exaggerating the numbers of
the invading force, became alarmed for
the safety of their city.
In the mean time, General Burnside,
after resigning the command of the Army
of the Potomac, to be hereafter related,
had assumed charge of the Department
of the Ohio, and set to work at March
once vigorously in clearing Ken- %&•
tucky of its invaders. General Gill-
more was immediately dispatched to
overtake the marauders, who had re
tired from Danville to Somerset, where
it was " ascertained that there were
some 2,400 rebels encamped."
" I attacked the enemy yesterday,"
said Gillmore in his report, dated Somer
set, Ky., March 31, 1863, "in a strong
position of his own selection, defended
by six cannon, near this town ; fought
him for five hours, driving him from
one position to another, and finally

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

stormed his position, whipped him hand
somely, and drove him in confusion
toward the river. His loss is over 300
in killed, wounded, and prisoners.
"The enemy outnumbered us two to
one, and were commanded by General
Pegram in person. Night stopped the
pursuit, which will be renewed in the
morning. "We captured two stand of colors.
Our loss in killed and wounded and
missing will not exceed thirty. Scott's
famous rebel regiment was cut off
from the rest and scattered."
To this statement General Gillmore
subsequently added the following :
" I underrated the enemy's force in
my first report of yesterday's fight.
They had over 2,600 men, outnumber
ing us more than two to one. During
the night their troops recrossed the
Cumberland in three places. We have
retaken between 300 and 400 cattle.
Pegram's loss will not fall short of 500
men." . The repulse of Pegram was an effec
tual blow, which drove him back across
the Cumberland River into Tennessee,
and momentarily checked further incur
sions. Relieved for a time from in
quietude in regard to the cavalry raids
of the enemy into Kentucky, General
Burnside was enabled to prepare for a
contemplated campaign to East Tennes
see. Preliminary to this,' he sent an
expedition to that quarter, the results
of which Colonel S. H. Saunders, its
leader, thus reported :
"I arrived here," he wrote from
Boston, Ky., June 23d, 1863, "with

my command at eleven o'clock this
morning. I struck the railroad at
Lenoir, destroyed the road up to Knox
ville, and made a demonstration against
Knoxville, so as to have the troops
drawn from above. I then destroyed
the railroad track and started for Straw
berry Plains. I burned the State Creek
bridge, 312 feet long, and the Straw
berry Plains bridge, 1,600 feet long;
also, the Mossy Creek bridge, 325 feet
long. " I captured three pieces of artillery,
some 200 boxes of artillery ammunition,
over 500 prisoners, and 1,000 stand of
arms. " I destroyed a large amount of salt,
sugar, flour, meal, saltpetre, and one
saltpetre work and other stores.
" My command are much fatigued.
We have had but two nights' sleep since
leaving Williamsburg.
" The rebel force in East Tennessee
is larger than I had supposed.
"I did not attack Loudon Bridge.* *
" At Mossy Creek I determined to
return into the mountains. I had very
great difficulties that were unexpected.
I found the gap through which I in
tended to return, strongly guarded with
artillery and infantry ; a force was also
following our rear.
" I then determined to cross at
Smith's Gap, which I did."
Kentucky, however, was not long left
in repose. It was soon rumored that
the enemy were contemplating another
bold raid under the leadership of the
noted Morgan, whose audacious exploits,
hitherto so successful and destructive,

MORGAN'S RAID.

were greatly dreaded. The anxiety
spread through Kentucky to Indiana
and Ohio, for it was 'feared that the
daring guerrilla chief, unchecked in the
first, would invade the latter States.
Hasty preparations for defence were made
not only in Kentucky, but in Ohio and
Indiana. Large meetings were held in
Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati, In
dianapolis, and other places of the ex
posed States, for the purpose of evoking
every means of resistance. Martial law
was declared ; the militia was called out
in full force ; business was suspended,
and the citizens enrolled themselves and
built fortifications.
The inquietude and the preparations
for defence which it induced, proved to
be not without cause. The adventurous
Morgan, having secured a position at
Somerset, in the southern part of Ken
tucky, started from that point with a
cavalry force, and made rapidly for the
Ohio River, which he crossed into In
diana. On his route through Kentucky, where
he never failed to find sympathizers, he
was enabled, through their collusion, to
surprise and inflict great damage upon
the lines of communication of the Union
armies, and to supply his own needs at
the expense of his enemies. The Nash
ville and Louisville railroads, so often
the object of his attack, received a pass
ing blow, and he gathered up from the
Union depots throughout Kentucky the
horses, arms, and ammunition he re
quired. The Unionists of the State
were forced to contribute to his wants,
while the secessionists, many of whom

joined his ranks, volunteered their
services. On reaching the Ohio, Morgan cap
tured a number of steamers, and by
their means crossed the river at juiy
Brandenburg with his whole force, 8.
estimated at 4,600 men, and ten pieces
of artillery. Corydon, a small place in
Indiana, on the border of Kentucky, fell
an easy prey to the invaders. Thence
taking an easterly direction along the
line of the Ohio River, but diverging
occasionally to burn a railroad bridge or
destroy a track, they reached Vienna, on
the Jeffersonville Railroad, July 11th.
On the same day they made their ap
pearance at Vernon, on the Madison
and Indianapolis Railroad, and demanded
the surrender of the town. Colonel
Burkham, the Union commander, re
fused compliance, and on moving out to
meet the invaders, found that they had
made off, but succeeded in overtaking
and capturing nineteen of them.
As they moved on, they did consider
able damage to the Ohio and Mississippi
and Indianapolis and Cincinnati rail
roads, and arrived at Versailles on the
12th of July. On the next day they
crossed the borders of Indiana,- and
reached Harrison, in Hamilton County,
Ohio. Thence they continued their
course for a time eastward, toward
Hamilton, through Columbia, Batavia,
and Williamsburg. In the mean time,
such preparations had been made in
Indiana and Ohio to capture Morgan
and his invaders, that, evidently becom
ing anxious for their safety, they sud
denly turned in a southerly direction to

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

the Ohio River, which they continued
to hug close, with the view, apparently,
of attempting to recross it into Ken
tucky. Their purpose, if such it were,
was, however, thwarted by some Union
gun-boats, and they moved toward the
Virginian border, passing through Rip
ley, Piketon, and Chester.
With the States of Indiana and Ohio
now fully aroused, and the regular
troops at command in those States and
in Kentucky in close pursuit, Morgan
and his men had little chance of escape.
A cavalry force, under General Hobson,
had followed on their track from Somer
set, in Kentucky, and continued to pur
sue them through Indiana and Ohio.
General Judah had started with an ex
pedition from Cincinnati, and White
and Runkle had moved' from another
quarter, while the gun-boats were guard
ing the river. The local militia at the
same time were on the watch. Morgan,
thus beset on all sides, was driven at
bay, and forced into several desperate
encounters, in which he met with great
loss. Having reached Chester, on the Ohio
River, on the 19th of July, he found
himself surrounded by the Union forces.
Hobson had closed in upon him from
the east, Judah from the south, and
White and Runkle from the north and
west. The militia of the neighborhood,
moreover, were out in full force. The
roads were barricaded, and the fords of
the Ohio were guarded by gun-boats,
artillery, and sharpshooters.
"Morgan, finding himself in close
quarters," reports a chronicler, " sent

out scouts to find a crossing near Buf-
fington, as this was the only ford left
him that he could possibly reach. On
learning that the ford was guarded by
the gun-boats, and that we had a strong
force of sharpshooters on the island,
Morgan broke up his band and they
separated, each squad to take care of
itself. " One squad broke for the crossing at
Buffington, followed by the battery of
six pieces which Morgan brought with
him. As soon as the rebels approached
the river, they were opened upon by the
gun-boats, and 150 were killed or
drowned. Our cavalry made a dash
upon the force in charge of the battery
and captured the whole six pieces, and
killed a number of the rebels. In this
skirmish we understand we lost six or
seven killed. The rest of this force was
repulsed and driven back.
" The main force now fell back to
ward Belpre, and then scattered and
took to the hills in squads, in the direc
tion of Coolsville."*
° The following is the official report of the part taken
by the gun-boats :
" U. S. Steamer Moose, above Bottihqton Island, )
Ohio River, July 19. J
" Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy :
"After chasing Morgan nearly 500 miles, I at last met
him on the river at this point, and engaged and drove him
back, capturing two of his pieces of artillery. He aban
doned the rest to General Judah. The enemy broke in
confusion from the banks, and left his wagon train and
many horses and small-arms in my possession.
"Since writing the above, I followed farther up the
river;, met another portion of Morgan's force, fording
fourteen miles above, shelled and drove most of them
back. Several were killed, twenty-five or thirty wounded,
and twenty horses captured. Have but two men wounded
slightly. Our shell and shrapnel created great confusion
in the rebel ranks, killing and wounding many.
" Lekot Fitch, Lieutenant-Commander."

CAPTURE OF MORGAN.

Brigadier- General Shackelford follow
ed the fugitives. •
" We chased John Morgan and h-is
command over fifty miles to-day," he
says, writing from the field, Geigek's
Creek, July 20, nine p.m. " After
heavy skirmishing for six or seven
miles, between the Forty-fifth Ohio, of
Colonel Wolford's brigade, which was
in the advance, and the enemy, we suc
ceeded in bringing the enemy to a
stand about three o'clock this afternoon,
when a fight ensued, which lasted an
hour, when the rebels fled, taking refuge
upon a very high bluff. I sent a flag
of truce demanding an immediate and
unconditional surrender of Morgan and
his command. The flag was received
by Colonel Coleman and other officers,
who came down and asked a personal
interview. They asked an hour for
consultation. I granted forty minutes,
in which time the command, excepting
Morgan, who deserted his command,
taking with him a very small squad,
surrendered. It was my understanding
that Morgan himself had surrendered,
and I learn it was the understanding of
Morgan's officers and men.
" The number of killed and wounded
is inconsiderable ; the number of pris
oners between 1,000 and 1,500, in
cluding a large* number of colonels,
majors, and line officers. I captured
between 600 and 700 prisoners yester
day." Morgan having escaped with a rem
nant of his troops, moved in a north
easterly direction, evidently seeking a
chance to- get into Virginia. On the

23d of July he crossed the Muskingum
River at Eastport. Here he was check
ed by a militia force, but succeeded in
getting away with a loss of some fifteen
or twenty of his men. On crossing the
Central Ohio Railroad he burned a
dep6t and tore up a portion of the track.
On the 24th of July, Morgan arrived at
Washington, Guernsey County, where
he did much mischief, and obtained a
large supply of plunder.
General Shackelford, continuing in
close pursuit, succeeded in over- juiy
taking Morgan near "New Lisbon, 26.
on his way to the Ohio River, where
he was seeking to cross into Virginia
above Wheeling. Having but some 700
men left, he made no attempt to resist
the superior Union force which sur
rounded him, but surrendered himself
and 400 of his band. The rest escaped
across the Ohio River into Virginia.
The capture of the adventurous Morgan
was considered one of the great events
of the war, and the Secretary of State,
in his summary of the successes of the
North, thought it not unworthy of
national exultation.*
s The public curiosity followed the noted chief and his
officers to ihe seclusion of their prison, whose secrets were
thus graciously disclosed by an obliging chaplain of the
Ohio Penitentiary at Columbus, in a communication to
the Christian Advocate :
"There are sixty-eight of Morgan's officers in the
prison. They occupy the south side of the new hall, each
end of which is temporarily closed. They are locked up
separately in cells at seven o'clock in the evening, and aro
unlocked at about seven in the morning. They enjoy the
privilege of walking the hall through the day, which is
perhaps one hundred and fifty feet long and twelve feet
wide. At eight a.m. and three p.m. they are conducted to
the common dining hall, and have prison fare, with, I
believe, the addition of coffee and sugar, and some few
articles furnished by themselves.

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

A faint attempt was made to create
a diversion in favor of General Mor
gan, while hard pressed by the Union
troops in Ohio. A force of several
thousand men, under Pegram and Scott,
penetrated Eastern Kentucky as far as
July Paris, not far from Lexington.
*9* They were, however, met promptly
by the Union forces and repulsed. They
" Morgan had no ' belt filled with gold, greenbacks, and
Confederate notes.' His valuables amounted to $23 and
a butternut breastpin. The amount of our government
and postal currency found on the persons of the other
officers was not large. They had considerable sums in
Confederate money.
' ' Morgan and his men are all shaved and trimmed, in
accordance with the rule of the institution. This is the
custom, I suppose, for two reasons : first, to secure personal
cleanliness ; second, to give a uniform appearance to the
prisoners, so that detection would be more easy in case
of an attempt to escape.
' ' Morgan is full six feet high, straight and well built,
with an elastic step and something of a commanding
presence. His upper lip is short and somewhat sunken,

now retreated, closely followed by the
Union cavalry, until, they were forced
back across the Cumberland River into
Tennessee, leaving a large number of
prisoners in the hands of their pursuers.
A portion of the raiders, however, in
their transit, made a successful raid
upon Stamford, Ky., where they captured
and burned a train of Union wagons.
so that his front teeth are slightly exposed. His com
plexion is sandy, and the hair quite thin on the top of his
head. He looks to he an ordinary man intellectually.
He has, however, one of the qualifications of a good com
mander — he knows how to obey. He conforms strictly to
the rules of the establishment, and enjoins obedience on
the part of his fellow-prisoners.
"Colonel Cluke is three or four inches taller than
Morgan, very slender, with a thin, sharp face and resolute
eye. I suppose, from his appearance, he has more dash
and daring than Morgan himself.
' ' Basil Duke is a small man, firmly built ancPmuscular.
His complexion is dark, and his eye and head indicate
some mind and a bad heart. He is much the most intel
ligent-looking man of the crowd."

ARREST OF VALLANDIGHAM.

CHAPTER VI.

Political Action of Burnside in his Department.— The Arrest of Vallandigham.— Its Effect upon the Country'.— The
Unpopularity of Vallandigham on account of his Opposition to the War.— Sympathy with him in consequence of
his Arrest.— The Particulars of his Arrest.— An Attempt at a Rescue.— Its Failure.— Riot at Dayton.— Destruction
of a Newspaper Office.— The Riot suppressed by the Military.— Arms Seized.— Vallandigham at Cincinnati.— Trial
by a Military Commission.— Charges.— Witnesses.— Cross-examination.— Portrait of Vallandigham.— Vallandigham
found Guilty and sentenced to be Imprisoned in Fort Warren —Sentence Commuted by the President to Transpor
tation within the Lines of the Enemy.— Vallandigham delivered to the Enemy.— His Reception .—Vallandigham
nominated for Governor of Ohio.— Vallandigham runs the Blockade.— At Nassau.— In Canada.— His Address to the
Democrats of Ohio.— The Election in Ohio.— Vallandigham defeated.— Action of Democrats in various States in
regard to the Arrest of Vallandigham.— Resolutions of the Albany Meeting. —Answer of President Lincoln.— Ex
citement of the Country.— Riots in Albany and Philadelphia.— Political Agitation in Kentucky— Vigilance of the
Military Authorities.— The Democratic Convention dispersed.— Continued Loyalty of the Kentucky Legislature.—
Opposition to the Administration at Washington.— Rigid rule of Burnside.— His Orders in regard to the Election.
—The Election in Kentucky.— State of Parties.— Success of Union Candidate.— Opposition to Burnside's action in
Illinois, etc. — Burnside forced to Retreat.

1863.

The purely military movements of
General Burnside in his depart
ment, however effective, yielded
for a time in public interest to his re
pressive political action. The arrest
of the Hon. Clement L. Vallandigham,
a citizen of the State of Ohio, and its
representative in the Congress of the
United States, was a measure, whatever
might be its justification, which startled
the traditional reverence of the Ameri
can people for personal rights. Though
Vallandigham had sturdily persisted
from the beginning in opposing the
popular sentiment in favor of the war,
and thus made himself obnoxious to the
vast majority of his countrymen, his
arrest aroused, temporarily at least, a
sympathy in his behalf among others
besides his own partisans.
During the night of the 4th of May,
a detachment of soldiers left Cincinnati

by a special train, and arriving early
next morning at Dayton, they battered
down several doors of his house, and seiz
ed Mr. Vallandigham. His friends then
rung the fire-bells and aroused a mob
of people, who attempted to rescue him,
but failed. During the night, Mr. Val
landigham having been, in the mean
time, conveyed to Cincinnati, some 600
of his excited partisans took possession
of the office of the Journal* completely
gutted the house, and burned it to the
ground. The fire extending to the
adjoining buildings, much valuable prop
erty was destroyed. All the telegraph
wires and a bridge were subsequent
ly demolished. The rioters, however,
were arrested in their career by the
arrival of Federal troops from Cincin
nati and Columbus. Thirty of the
ringleaders were seized and imprisoned ;
e This paper was politically opposed to Vallandigham.

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

the Umpire, newspaper, friendly to Val
landigham, was suppressed, a swivel-gun
removed from the office, and two wagon-
loads of muskets stored in an armory
were taken possession of by the soldiers.
Dayton was thus restored to quiet and
order. Meanwhile, Vallandigham had arrived
at Cincinnati, where, on the 6th of
May, he was arraigned for trial by a
military commission,* appointed by Gen
eral Burnside, commander-in-chief of
the Department of Ohio.
The "charge" and "specification"
were as follows :
" Charge. — Publicly expressing, in
violation of General Orders No. 38,
from headquarters, Department of the
Ohio, his sympathies for those in arms
against the Government of the United
States, declaring disloyal sentiments and
opinions, with the object and purpose
of weakening the power of the Govern
ment in its efforts to suppress an unlaw
ful rebellion.
" Specification. — In this, that the
said Clement L. Vallandigham, a citizen
of the State of Ohio, on or about the
1st day of May, 1863, at Mount Vernon,
Knox County, Ohio, did publicly address
a large meeting of citizens, and did utter
sentiments in words, or in effect, as

® The following officers composed the commission :
" Brigadier-General R. B. Potter, President.
" Captain J. M. Cutts, Judge Advocate.
" Colonel J. F. De Courcy, Sixteenth Ohio.
"Lieutenant-Colonel E. R. Goodrich, Commissary of
Subsistence. " Major Van Buren, Aid-de-Camp.
" Major Brown, Tenth Kentucky Cavalry.
" Major Fitch, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio.
" Captain Lydig, Aid-de-Camp.''

follows : declaring the present war ' a
wicked, cruel, and unnecessary war ;' ' a
war not being waged for the preserva
tion of the Union ;' ' a war for the pur
pose of crushing out liberty and erect
ing a despotism ;' ' a war for the freedom
of the blacks and the enslavement of
the whites ;' stating.' that if the Adminis
tration had so wished, the war could
have been honorably terminated months
ago ;' that ' peace might have been hon
orably obtained by listening to the pro
posed intermediation of France ;' ' that
propositions by which the Northern
States could be won back and the South
be guaranteed their rights under the
Constitution, had been rejected the day
before the late battle of Fredericksburg.
by Lincoln and his minions ;' meaning
thereby the President of the United
States, and those under him in author
ity ; charging ' that the Government
of the United States were about to
appoint military marshals in every dis
trict, to restrain the people of their
liberties, to deprive them of their rights
and privileges ;' characterizing General
Order No. 38, from headquarters, De
partment of the Ohio, as ' a base usurpa
tion of arbitrary authority ;' inviting his
hearers to resist the same, by saying,
' the sooner the people inform the
minions of usurped power that, they
will not submit to such restrictions upon
their liberties, the better ;' declaring
' that he was at all times and upon all
occasions resolved to do what he could
to defeat the attempts now being made
to build up a monarchy upon the ruins
of our free government, ' asserting ' that

TRIAL OF VALLANDIGHAM.

he firmly believed, as he said six months
ago, that the men in power are attempt
ing to establish a despotism in this
country, more cruel and more oppressive
than ever existed before.'
' ' All of which opinions and sentiments
he well knew did aid, comfort, and en
courage those in arms against the Gov
ernment, and could but induce in his
hearers a distrust of their own Govern
ment and sympathy for those in arms
against it, and a disposition to resist the
laws of the land. J. M. Cutts,
" Captain Eleventh Infantry, Judge Ad
vocate, Department of the Ohio."
The chief witnesses against the ac
cused were two officers of the army,
who had been sent by their superiors in
command from Cincinnati, where they
were on duty, to Mount Vernon, in
order to report Mr. Vallandigham's
expected speech at the Democratic meet
ing to be held there. These military
witnesses were accordingly present,
though not in their uniforms, and hav
ing listened to Mr. Vallandigham's ora
tion, reported the expressions upon
which the charge and their testimony
in confirmation were based.
The accused cross-examined the wit
nesses for the prosecution, but failed to
extort from them any contradiction of
their direct testimony ; but he himself,
in the course of their examination,
positively denied the accuracy of some
of their statements. His own witness,
the Hon. S. S. Cox, a member of Con
gress from Ohio, who, like Vallandigham,
had spoken at the Mount Vernon meet
ing, and was known to be his political
175

friend, contradicted, in some particulars,
the testimony of the prosecution, and iu
his report of the speech greatly extenu
ated the offensiveness of its character.
At the close of the testimony, Mr.
Vallandigham said :
" Gentlemen ofthe Court, very brief
ly and respectfully I offer the following
protest :
"Arrested without due 'process of
law,' without warrant from any judicial
officer, and now in a military prison, I
have been served with a ' charge and
specification,' as in a court-martial or
military commission.
"I am not in either 'the land or
naval forces of the United States, nor in
the militia in the actual service of the
United States,' and therefore am not
triable for any cause by any such court,
but am subject, by the express terms of
the Constitution, to arrest only by due
process of law, judicial warrant, regu
larly issued upon affidavit and by some
officer or court of competent jurisdiction
for the trial of citizens, and am now
entitled to, be tried on an indictment or
presentment of a grand jury of such
court, to speedy and public trial by an
impartial jury of the State of Ohio, to
be confronted with witnesses against
me, to have compulsory process for
witnesses in my behalf, the assistance
of counsel for my defence, and evidence
and argument according to the common
laws and the ways of judicial courts.
" And all these I here demand as my
right as a citizen of the United States and
under the constitution ofthe United States.
"But the alleged 'offence' itself is

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

not known to the Constitution of the
United States, nor to any law thereof.
It is words spoken to the people of Ohio
in an open and public political meeting,
lawfully and peaceably assembled under
the Constitution and upon full notice.
It is words of criticism of the public
policy of the public servants of the
people, by which policy it was alleged
that the welfare of the country was not
promoted. It was an appeal to the
people to change that policy, not by
force, but by free elections and the
ballot box. It is not pretended that
I counseled disobedience to the Consti
tution or resistance to laws and lawful au
thority. I never have. Beyond this pro
test, I have nothing further to submit."
The Judge Advocate in reply said :
" I find nothing in the defence of the
accused to call for remark, except that
in regard to counsel and summoning of
witnesses. He was permitted to have,
and did have, counsel to consult with,
and an opportunity was offered him to
send for witnesses."
The court was now cleared, and the
Commission, after a deliberation of three
hours, came to a decision, which was
submitted to General Burnside for his
approval. The sentence, as subse
quently promulgated by this officer, is
here given, with the exception of the
charge and specification, already printed
on a previous page.
GENERAL ORDER — NO. 68.
"Headquarters, Department oe the Ohio, )
Cincinnati, Ohio, May 18, 1863. J
"I. At a military Commission, which
convened at Cincinnati, Ohio, on the

6th day of May, 1863, pursuant to
Special Order No. 135, of April 21,
1863, current series, from these head
quarters, and of which Brigadier- Gen
eral Robert B. Potter, United States
Volunteers, is President, was arraigned
and tried Clement L. Vallandigham, a
citizen of the State of Ohio, on the fol
lowing charge and specification of charge,
to wit :
" To which charge and specification
the prisoner refusing to plead ' guilty'
or ' not guilty,' the Commission directed
the Judge Advocate to enter on the
records the plea of ' not guilty.'
"The Commission, after mature de
liberation on the evidence adduced and
the statement of the accused, find the
accused, Clement L. Vallandigham, a
citizen of the State of Ohio, as follows :
" Of the specification (except the
words, ' That propositions by which the
Northern States could be won back, and
the South guaranteed their rights under
the Constitution, had been rejected the
day before the last battle of Fredericks
burg, by Lincoln and his minions,'
meaning thereby the President of the
United States, and those under him in
authority ; and the words asserting that
' he firmly believed, as he asserted six
months ago, that the men in power are
attempting to establish a despotism in
this country, more cruel and more
oppressive than ever existed before'),
' guilty.' " And as to these words, ' not guilty.
" Ofthe charge, ' guilty.'
" And the Commission do therefore
sentence him, the said Clement L. Val-

VALLANDIGHAM NOMINATED GOVERNOR.

landigham, a citizen of the State of
Ohio, to be placed in close confinement
in some fortress of the United States, to
be designated by the commanding officer
of this department, there to be kept
during the continuance of the war.
" II. The proceedings, finding, and
sentence in the foregoing case are ap
proved and confirmed, and it is directed
that the place of confinement of the
prisoner, Clement L. Vallandigham, in
accordance with said sentence, be Fort
Warren, Boston Harbor.
" By command of
" Major-General Burnside.
" Lewis Richmond,
" Assistant- Adjutant General."
President Lincoln having commuted
the sentence from confinement in Fort
Warren to transportation within the
lines of the enemy, Mr. Vallandigham
was accordingly conveyed from Ohio to
Tennessee, and passed by Gen. Rosecrans
through his lines to the enemy's advanced
May picket guard at Shelbyville. Upon
25- being delivered up by the Union
guard, he said to the Confederate soldier
who received him, "I am a citizen of
the State of Ohio, and of the United
States ; I am here by force and against
my will. I therefore surrender myself
to you as a prisoner of war." He was
courteously received by General Bragg
at his headquarters. And notwith
standing a rumor that he was im
prisoned, it soon became apparent that
his freedom of movement was not in
terfered with.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Democratic con
vention met at Columbus, Ohio, and

the Hon. Clement L. Vallandig- june
ham was nominated for Governor, H.
by a vote of 448 out of 461. His nomi
nation was subsequently made unani
mous. At this convention, resolutions
were unanimously adopted protesting
against President Lincoln's emancipa
tion proclamation ; condemning martial
law in loyal States where war does not
exist ; denouncing the suspension of
the writ of habeas corpus; protesting
against the banishment of Hon. Clement
L. Vallandigham, and invoking the
President to recall him and restore him
to all his rights as a citizen of the
United States ; declaring that, " we will
hail with delight a desire of the seceded
States to return to their allegiance, and
that we will co-operate with the citizens
of those States to restore peace ; and
that we insist upon the freedom of the
press and the right of trial by jury."
Mr. Vallandigham, after a brief stay
among the insurgents, found his way
through a blockaded Southern port to
Nassau, whence he proceeded to Canada.
While at Niagara Falls, he issued an
address to his political allies of Ohio,
and accepted their nomination for the
governorship of that State.
It is convenient here, though in ad
vance of the regular course of the
general narrative, to record the result
of the extraordinary nomination, by the
influential party of a great State for its
chief office, of a man who was expiating
an offence against the Federal authority.
The election in Ohio took place on the
13th of October, and Mr. Vallandigham
was defeated by his antagonist, Mr.

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Brough, who was chosen by the large
majority of more than 60,000.
The arrest, trial, and condemnation
of Vallandigham by the military au
thorities agitated not only his own State
of Ohio, but excited the public feeling
in other parts of the country. Large
assemblages gathered in Albany, New
York, and Philadelphia, at which res
olutions were passed and speeches de
livered, denouncing the arrest of Mr.
Vallandigham as an unwarrantable as
sumption of military authority. At the
meeting in Albany, a letter was read
from Governor Seymour, in which he
spoke of the arrest of Mr. Vallandigham
as "an act which has brought dishonor
upon our country ; which is full of
danger to our persons and our homes,
and which bears upon its front, con
scious violation of law and justice."
Expressions of similar opinions from
prominent men abounded at the meet
ing in Philadelphia. These assemblages
were composed, it must be recollected,
principally of those who, belonging to
the Democratic party, might be con
sidered political partisans of Mr. Vallan
digham, although it would not be fair to
impute to all of them an unconditional
sympathy with his extreme views.
The Albany meeting having resolved
that a copy of its resolutions should be
transmitted to the President, Mr. Lin
coln, on receiving them, replied in a
long letter, controverting in detail the
various positions assumed against the
constitutionality of the suspension of the
Habeas Corpus Act and the legality of
military arrests.

While justifying the general princi
ples of such military arrests, Mr. Lin
coln at the same time made this re
markable concession in regard to the
particular case of Mr. Vallandigham :
"And yet, let me say," he added,
" that, in my own discretion, I do not
know whether I would have ordered
the arrest of Mr. Vallandigham. While
I cannot shift the responsibility from
myself, I hold that, as a general rule,
the commander in the field is the better
judge of the necessity in any particular
case. Of course I must practise a
general directory and revisory power in
the matter.
" One ofthe resolutions expresses the
opinion of the meeting, that arbitrary
arrests will have the effect to divide and
distract those who should be united in
suppressing the rebellion, and I am
specifically called on to discharge Mr.
Vallandigham. I regard this as, at
least, a fair appeal to me on the ex
pediency of exercising a constitutional
power which I think exists. In re
sponse to such appeal I have to say, it
gave me pain when I learned that Mr.
Vallandigham had been arrested — that
is, I was pained that there should have
seemed to be a necessity for arresting
him — -and that it will afford me great
pleasure to discharge him so soon as I
can, by any means, believe the public
safety will not suffer by it. I further
say that, as the war progresses, it ap
pears to me opinion and action, which
were in great confusion at first, take
shape and fall into more regular chan
nels, so that the necessity for strong

EXCITEMENT IN THE COUNTRY.

dealing with them gradually decreases.
I have every reason to desire that it
should cease altogether, and far from
the least is my regard for the opinions
and wishes of those who, like the meet
ing at Albany, declare their purpose to
sustain the Government in every con
stitutional and lawful measure to sup
press the rebellion. Still, I must con
tinue to do so much as may seem to be
required by the public safety."
The expressions of indignation against
the Government and sympathy with
its offender, at these meetings of the
"Democrats," and in some of their
newspapers, provoked violent demon
strations of opposition. During the
meeting at Albany, some returned sol
diers disturbed the proceedings by
manifestations of dissatisfaction, and
finally rushing upon the stage, broke
the chairs and tables, and strove to put
to rout the speakers. The rioters, how
ever, being few in number, were readily
checked, and comparatively good order
was secured.
In Philadelphia, the " Age" news
paper having made itself obnoxious by
its persistent opposition to the Govern
ment and repeated expressions of sym
pathy with Vallandigham, not only in
its printed columns but on its bulletins,
a crowd collected in front of the office
and tore in pieces one of the offensive
placards.* The mob vented its indig-
* The obnoxious placard was as follows :
East Side. — " Another terrible disaster— Retreat of our
army — Kebel cavalry advancing on Falmouth — Capture of
Grand Gulf- ^500 prisoners, arms, etc.
"Editorial — General Sigel snubbed.
' ' The moral of the campaign.
" The arbitrary arrest of Clement L. Vallandigham.''

nation in cries of " Down with the
Copperheads !" " Down with Vallan
digham, the traitor !" as they tore into
shreds the offensive bulletin. The pro
prietors of the Age, after having remon
strated with the excited crowd, pasted up
another placard of similar tenor, which
was at once torn down by a wounded
soldier, amid cries of "Tear out the
office," " Traitors ought to be hung,"
etc. As the mob had increased to a
thousand or more men, the few police
men on duty were incapable of dispers
ing it. The mayor of the city then came
to the rescue with a large detachment
of the police, and succeeded finally in
suppressing the tumult. The proprie
tors of the Age discreetly ceased from
offending the public sentiment by ob
noxious placards, but the editor opened
fire upon his antagonists from his lead
ing column.
The political movements in Kentucky
were watched with eager interest by
the Federal Government and all friends
of the Union. The United States mili
tary authorities were .constantly on the
alert to encourage every manifestation
of loyalty, and repress the least indica
tion of disloyalty.
A "Democratic convention," as it was
termed, though it was not recognized
as such by all the Democrats of Ken
tucky, was invited to meet at Frankfort
in accordance with the following call :

West Side. — " From the seat of war.
' ' Our army retreated to Falmouth.
" Rebel cavalry advancing on Falmouth.
" Capture of Grand Gulf, 500 prisoners, arms, etc.
" Editorial — General Sigel snubbed.
' ' The moral of the campaign.
" The arbitrary arrest of Clement L. Vallandigham."

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

"Frankeort, Jan. 31, 1863.
" Pursuant to a resolution of a meet
ing of the Democratic party held at the
Capitol in the city of Frankfort, on the
30th day of January, 1863, which reads
as follows : ' Resolved, That the Central
Committee be directed to call a conven
tion for the purpose of nominating can
didates for Governor and other State
officers, to be elected at the next August
election, to meet in the city of Frank
fort on the 18th day of February, 1863'
— a convention of the Democratic party
is hereby called, to meet at the time
and place designated by the above res
olution, for the purposes therein men
tioned. "It is hoped that the Democracy in
each county will proceed forthwith to
appoint delegates to said convention.
" Jeptha Dudley, S. I. M. Major,
"G. W. Craddock, M. B. Chinn,
" Grant Green, T. N. Lindsey,
"A. W. Dudley, A. J. James,
"J. W. South,
" Democratic Central Committee."
That the proposed " Democratic Con
vention" was not favorably viewed by
all the politicians in Kentucky profess
ing to belong to that party, is apparent
from this description, in the Louisville
Democrat, of those who composed it :
" Some of those named as delegates
are well known Union men, who were
mostly not present — the rest not having
been asked to serve — but appointed as
a sort of blind. All the officers and
active persons were and always have
been active ' secesh,' and sympathizers
with the rebellion. Many of them are
on the record as having taken the oath

of allegiance and being under bonds.
They are proper Democrats, they are."
The delegates gathered at Frankfort
to hold what they persistently called a
Democratic Convention for the ostensible
purpose of making nominations for the
August elections in Kentucky. Their
application for the use of the hall of the
House of Representatives having been
refused by a large vote, they rented the
theatre. Delegates from forty counties
being present, the convention was or
ganized by the appointment of David
Merriweather as chairman. On taking
the chair, he expressed the hope that
the convention would do nothing that
good loyal citizens should not do.
" In the mean time," according to the
telegraphic dispatch, "a regiment of
soldiers, with fixed bayonets, formed in
front of the theatre. When the call of
counties was made, Colonel Gilbert read
the following order :
"Reliable information having been
received at these headquarters that a
number of rebel spies and emissaries
are in this city, it is ordered that all
persons now here, not residents or
members of the Legislature or officers
of the State Government, forthwith
leave their names at these headquarters,
accompanied with satisfactory references
as to their loyalty to the Government.
" Colonel Gilbert took the stand, he
said, to facilitate the proceedings and
save the convention trouble. He wished
his adjutant would take the names of
the delegates. He said : ' There are
those here whom we know to be rebels
of the loosest kind under the disguise

ACTION OF KENTUCKY.

of the name of Democrats. You have
assembled here with the hope of perfect
ing your designs. But it will not do.
Repudiated by the Legislature, who
have refused you the use of their hall,
the Democratic newspapers scorn and
disown you. There is no use of your
holding a convention in Kentucky.
There will be none but men of un
doubted loyalty to the Government
allowed to run for any office. Such
meetings as this you shall not hold
within the limits of my command ; and
to avoid difficulty, you will disperse to
your homes, and in future desist from
all such attempts to precipitate civil war
upon your State.'
" After Colonel Gilbert had spoken,
an attempt was made to offer resolu
tions, which were respectfully declined
by Colonel Gilbert. The body then
adjourned." The Legislature of Kentucky con
tinued to reiterate its loyalty to the
Union, but at the same time did not
cease its opposition to the policy of the
Administration, which it carefully dis
tinguished from the Government. The
sentiments of the members were defi
nitely expressed in a series of resolutions
peb, offered by the Committee on Fed-
27* eral relations, which they accepted,
though rejecting the accompanying re
port. The resolutions were thirteen in
number :
"The first, after stating that Kentucky
was assailed by armed rebellion on one
side, and unconstitutional usurpation on
the other, recommended calmness, and
invoked the aid of patriotic men.

"The second reaffirmed her loyalty
to the Government.
" The third recognized a marked
difference between the Government and
the Administration.
" The fourth most solemnly protested
against the Emancipation Proclamation,
declaring it unconstitutional and void.
" The fifth declared the suspension
of the writ of habeas corpus unconsti
tutional. " The sixth declined compensated
emancipation. " The seventh declared it would hail
with delight any manifestation of a
desire on the part of the seceded States
to return to their allegiance.
" The eighth adhered to the Consti
tution and the Union as the last hope
of freedom, and sought redress for all
wrongs, under the Constitution and in
the Union, by a resort to the peaceful
but powerful agencies of the ballot-box.
"The ninth hailed with pleasurable
hope the recent manifestations of con
servative sentiment in the Free States.
" The tenth recommended a call of a
National Convention, for the purpose of
proposing amendments to the Constitu
tion. The eleventh recommended a
Mississippi Valley State Convention,
with a view of consulting how to pre
serve the whole Government, and pre
venting one or more States from seizing
the mouth of the Mississippi River.
The twelfth declared that the laws of
this State must be maintained and en
forced." Upon the arrival of General Burnside
to assume the command of the Depart-

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

ment of the Ohio, he took measures to
repress all disloyal manifestations in
Kentucky. He issued an order, pro
nouncing the penalty of death on all per
sons found guilty of aiding the rebels,
declaring that all sympathizers with
them should be arrested and tried or
sent beyond the lines.
As the election in Kentucky ap
proached, General Burnside's orders be
came still more stringent, and finally on
the day before, when the enemy seemed
to be making a demonstration to in
fluence the suffrage of the citizens, he
issued an order declaring the State of
July Kentucky invaded by a rebel force
«*!• with the avowed intention of over
awing the judges of election, intimidat
ing loyal voters, keeping them from the
polls, and forcing the election of disloyal
candidates. "The military of the Gov
ernment being the only force," declared
the orders, ' ' that can defeat such an at
tempt, the State of Kentucky is there
fore placed under martial law." All
military officers were commanded to aid
the constituted authorities of the State
in the support of the laws and in pre
serving the purity of the suffrage. The
order closed with the declaration that —
" The legally appointed judges at the
polls will be held strictly responsible
that no disloyal person be allowed to
vote, and to this end the military power
of the Government is ordered to give
them its utmost support."
There were two parties struggling for
the ascendency in Kentucky, called the
"Union" and the "Democratic," both
professing to be attached to the Federal

Government, but the former supposed
to be more unconditionally so. Colonel
Bramlette was the candidate for Gov
ernor of the " Union" party, and the
Hon. C. A. Wickliffe that of the " Dem
ocratic." Such were the prudent prevision and
decided action of the military authorities,
that the threatened intrusion of the
secessionists in the election was thwart
ed. The triumph of the Union party
was the result. Colonel Bramlette, the
more decided Unionist, and most of the
candidates for Congress, whose opinions
were supposed to be equally unequivo
cal, were elected by large majorities.
General Burnside, extending the se
verity of his military rule to the other
States within his department besides
Kentucky, was met by demonstrations
of popular opposition. Having sup
pressed the Chicago Times, the citizens
showed their indignation by a large and
excited meeting, at which resolutions
were passed denouncing this military
interference with the freedom of the
press. On an appeal being made by
some prominent men of Illinois to the
President, he was prevailed on to re
voke the order in regard to the Chicago
paper. At the same time, General
Burnside,* of his own accord, relieved
the N. Y. World from the ban he had
imposed upon its circulation.

0 "Lexington, Ky., June 4, 1863.
"Editor of the New York World :
" Having been directed by the President of the United
States to revoke that part of my order suppressing the
Chicago Times, I have revoked the entire order, and your
paper will be allowed its circulation in this Department.
"A. E. Burnside, Major-General."

•CONDITION OF MISSOURI.

CHAPTER VII.
The Federal Authority established in Missouri.— The State disturbed by Political Discord and Guerrilla Warfare.— Hicks
on the Kansas River. — Capture of United States Steamers. — Hicks' Band Dispersed. — Mannaduke enters Missouri.
-r-His Attack on Cape Girardeau repulsed. — Mannaduke Pursued. — His Rear-guard overtaken. — His final Escape
with most of his Booty. — Richmond and Plattsburg plundered. — Jeff. Thompson captured. — Obstructions to Navi
gation of the Rivers. — Burning of Steamers at St. Louis and elsewhere. — Political Parties. — The Badicals and Con
servatives. — Emancipation Resolutions. — The immediate Abolitionists. — Their Convention and Address to the
President. — Answer of the President. — Manifesto of the Conservatives.

Though the Federal authority had
been effectually established in Mis
souri, not only by force of arms,
but by the will of its people, its repose
continued to be disturbed. Political
discord agitated the whole State, and its
borders were still the frequent scenes
of guerrilla warfare. A band of ma
rauders, under Hicks, was able, by
skulking along the banks of the Mis
souri River where it bounds the State
of Kansas, to interfere seriously with its
navigation. On the 28th of March
they captured the Government steamers
Sam Gatty and Murdock, threw over
board 300 sacks of flour, and forty-eight
wagon-beds belonging to the Govern
ment, and considerable private prop
erty, and carried off nine negroes, two
soldiers, and several thousand dollars.
General Blunt, stationed at Leaven
worth, in Kansas, however, was on the
alert, and was soon able to report that
Major Raum, of the Sixth Kansas, had
destroyed Hicks' band of guerrillas in
Jackson County, Mo., killing seventeen
and hanging two engaged in the robbery
of the Sam Gatty, and that he had re

covered some ofthe "contrabands," and
captured twenty-one of the bushwhack
ers' horses, and seven guerrilla camps
with all their equipage, ammunition,
etc. Again, a large force of marauders,
under General Marmaduke, crossed the
southeastern border of Missouri, and
advanced boldly into the .State, strip
ping the country of everything movable.
On approaching Cape Girardeau, they
demanded the surrender of the place.
General McNeill, the Union commander
of the post, having returned a defiant
reply, they attacked him, and were ^rn
repulsed. McNeill, being rein- 2<>i
forced, pursued the enemy, who were
hastily retreating with their long train
of over a hundred wagons loaded with
plunder. General Vandeveer also join
ed in the pursuit, and strove to cut them
off. Pressing hard upon Marmaduke,
he succeeded in overtaking his rear
guard and attacked it twice, capturing
many prisoners, and recovering con
siderable property. Vandeveer continu
ed the pursuit as far as Chalk Bluff,
near the Arkansas line, but the enemy

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

escaped with the larger portion of their
booty. Notwithstanding the "destruction" of
Hicks' band near the borders of Kansas,
another guerrilla party made its appear
ance in the same neighborhood toward
the close of May, and plundered the
towns of Richmond and Plattsburg.
The capture, at Pocahontas, Ark., of
4n<r, the noted General Jeff. Thompson,
23 • who had become conspicuous as a
partisan leader, and so often disturbed
the repose of Missouri by his daring
invasions, was a source of great satisfac
tion to the Unionists. Jeff. Thompson
was stationed near the border of Mis
souri, for the purpose of recruiting a
force from the disaffected of that State,
and had established himself at Poca
hontas, with a large staff and a body
guard of nearly 200 men. A plan was
devised, by the Union commander of
the post of Pilot Knob, to surprise
and capture him, which proved success
ful. It is impracticable to narrate all
the details of the irregular warfare
which continued to be waged in portions
of Missouri. A writer* thus testifies
to its desolating effects.
" Life in isolated localities in the in
terior," he says, writing from St. Louis,
October 1, 1863, " is anything but
pleasant. Crops are unharvested, farms
unfilled, orchards untouched, ruin and
decay settling everywhere. The guer
rillas have made it unsafe to do out
door work without a guard, and valu
able plantations and farms have been
abandoned for this reason. The towns

« N. T. Herald.

and villages offering no support, the
refugees from the interior are flocking
hither at the rate of 500 persons per
week. Small and cheap tenements are
in great demand. The guerrillas have
had free swing in many counties, and
their presence is like that of a swarm of
locusts, devouring everything in their
path. North Missouri has suffered
severely from this depopulating process
during the last few weeks, and still the
bushwhackers abound."
Besides those desolating raids on land,
the navigation of the Missouri River
was constantly interrupted by guerrilla
bands firing from the banks upon pass
ing vessels. An order was consequently
issued by the commandant of the post at
Jefferson City, forbidding all steamboats
to pass that point without a planking
five inches thick around the pilot-houses,
as the pilots had been so frequently
shot. The burning of a number of
steamboats by incendiaries" at the levee
of St. Louis, coincident with that of
several upon the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers, in accordance, as was supposed,
with a general plot of the enemy, served
to increase the public anxiety in the
much-vexed State of Missouri.
Political dissension added its torments
to the other troubles of the State. Al
though the citizens, generally, of Mis
souri, had reached the conviction that
their best interests demanded the ex
tinction of slavery, they were much
divided in regard to the manner of ac
complishing it. Great as was the dis
cord on this subject, there was a unani
mous expression, at least on the part

POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS.

of the chosen representatives of public
opinion, of attachment to the Union.
The senators of the United States, elect
ed by the Legislature, were, though not
the political adherents of the Adminis
tration, undoubtedly supporters of the
Federal Government. The unwelcome
reception given by Governor Gamble and
the Legislature to the Delaware resolu
tions in favor of an armistice, showed
them to be in favor of prosecuting the
war, while the readiness with which they
concurred in the adoption of a scheme for
emancipation, evinced a disposition to
further the administrative policy for the
Jani restoration of the Union. A reso-
29» lution asking Congress to appro
priate 25,000,000 of dollars to compen
sate owners for the liberation of their
slaves, was passed by a large majority.
A convention of the State, called
chiefly for the purpose of providing for
emancipation, met on the 15th of June,
and passed the following ordinance, by
a vote of fifty-one against thirty-six :
" Section 1. The first and second
clauses of the twenty-sixth section of
the third article of the Constitution is
hereby abrogated.
"Sec. 2. That slavery or involun
tary servitude, except in punishment of
crime, shall cease to exist in Missouri
on the 4th of July, 1870, and all slaves
within the State on that day are hereby
declared to be free : provided, however,
that all persons emancipated by this
ordinance shall remain under the control
and be subject to their late owners, or
their legal representatives, as servants
during the following period, to wit :

Those over forty years of age, for and
during their lives ; those under twelve,
until they arrive at the age of twenty-
three ; and those of all other ages until
the 4th of July, 1870. The persons, or
their legal representatives who, up to
the moment of emancipation, were own
ers of slaves hereby freed, shall, during
the period for which the services of such
freed men are reserved to them, have
the same authority and control over the
said freed men for the purpose of receiv
ing the possessions and services of the
same that are now held by the master
in respect of his slaves ; provided, how
ever, that after the said 4th of July,
1870, no person so held to service shall
be sold to non-residents or removed
from the State by authority of his late
owner or his legal representative.
" Sec 3. All slaves hereafter brought
into the State, and not now belonging to
citizens of the State, shall thereupon be
free. "Sec. 4. All slaves removed by con
sent of their owners to any seceded
State after the passage by such State of
an act or ordinance of secession, and
thereafter brought into the State by
their owners, shall thereupon be free.
Sec. 5. The General Assembly shall
have no power to pass laws to emanci
pate slaves without the consent of their
owners. " Sec 6. After the passage of this
ordinance, no slave in this State shall be
subject to State, county, or municipal
taxes." Governor Gamble, who at the open
ing of the convention had resigned his

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

provisional Governorship, at the close
consented to hold it until the election of
a successor on the regular day, in August.
The ordinance providing for gradual
emancipation, passed by the convention,
excited great opposition on the part of
many of the people of Missouri, who
were in favor of the immediate abolition
of slavery. An angry political dispute
ensued, and the Unionists of Missouri
became divided into two parties, the
"Radicals" and "Conservatives." Al
though the question of slavery, the
former being in favor of immediate, and
the latter of gradual, emancipation, was
the main cause of their contention, they
soon became so antagonistic as to dis
agree on all points. Gamble, who had
been re-elected Governor, and General
Schofield, who had succeeded General
Curtis as the U. S. commander-in-chief
in Missouri, supposed to be exclusively
devoted to the Conservative interest,
became especially obnoxious to the
Radicals, who vigorously strove to de
prive them of office. The Federal Ad
ministration having resolutely withstood
their importunities, a committee was
finally appointed by a committee of the
" Radical Union men," to address the
President of the United States upon the
condition of Missouri. A document was
accordingly prepared and presented to
Mr. Lincoln, in which the immediate
abolition of slavery in the State was
emphatically advocated, and the policy
of the Federal Administration in regard
to this subject, and the conduct of civil
and military affairs in Missouri, and
those to whom they were intrusted,

were bitterly complained of. President
Lincoln in answer, after justifying his
policy and the action of his officers, con
cluded with the general remark :
" I do not feel justified to enter upon
the broad field you present in regard to
the political difference between the
radicals and conservatives. From time
to time I have done and said what
appeared to me proper to do and say.
It obliges nobody to follow me, and I
trust it obliges me to follow nobody.
The radicals and conservatives each
agree with me in some things, and dis
agree in others. I could wish both to
agree with me in all things ; then they
would agree with each other, and would
be too strong for any foe from any
quarter. They, however, choose to do
otherwise. I don't question their right.
I, too, shall do what seems to be my
duty. I hold that, whoever commands
in Missouri is responsible to me, and not
to either radicals or conservatives. It
is my duty to hear all ; but at least I
must, within my sphere, judge what to
do and what to forbear to do."
The "Conservatives" issued a counter-
manifesto to the address of the "Radi
cals." In this they justified the conduct
of the military and civil officers of Mis
souri, and defended the plan of gradual
emancipation of the slaves :
" The State Convention," they said,
" having adjusted the question of eman
cipation in a manner which should
afford general satisfaction, we reprobate
the effort which is being made to disturb
it. The destruction of the institution
of slavery is quite as rapid under that

THE WAR IN KANSAS.

ordinance as the interest of society or
the good of the slave would seem to
justify, and we cannot but view the
project of immediate emancipation, ad
vocated by the radical party in this
State, as not only impolitic and unjust
to the master, but cruel and inhuman to
the slave."
The "Radicals," moreover, were bit
terly denounced as revolutionists, whose
intolerance outstripped that of the se
cessionists :
1 ' They misrepresent and calumniate
every man who differs with them in
opinion. They deny that there are any
Union men outside of their own party,
and charge such men as the President

of the United States, Major-General
Blair, Major-General Schofield, General
Totten, and other officers who have dis
tinguished themselves on the battle-field,
as Copperheads ; and if the gallant Lyon
could reappear in our midst, they would,
no doubt, denounce him as the chief of
Copperheads. "These denunciations of our patriotic
soldiers and most loyal citizens are
uttered by the leaders of this party, who
have remained quietly at home during
the entire war. Such denunciations can
deceive no one ; but we allude to them
as furnishing evidence of the means to
which these lawless men resort to ac
complish their purposes."

CHAPTER VIII.

The War in Kansas.— Quantrell' s Raid on Lawrence.— Ravages committed.— Movements of Union Troops to intercept
Quantrell.— Failure to catch him.— Excitement in Kansas.— Revenge.— General Lane's Views.— Severe Policy of the
Union Military Authorities on the Borders of Missouri.— A District depopulated.— Motives explained.— The Con
flict in Arkansas.— Guerrillas.— Union Movements.— Price and Marmaduke in Arkansas. —Their Movements.— Coun
ter-movements of Union Troops.— Clayton's Expedition.— The War in the Indian Territory.— The Union Posts and
their Defences.— Fort Gibson threatened, but the advancing Enemy driven back.— Supposed Advance of Price.—
A Feint to Hide his Attack on Helena.— The Assault on Helena.— The Enemy repulsed.— Blunt' s Campaign in the
Indian Territory and Arkansas.— Blunt's Address to the Arkansas People.— Occupation of Little Rock by the
Unionists. — Blunt and his Escort attacked by Quantrell.

1863.

Kansas, less from elements of disorder
within itself than from its conti
guity to the infected State of Mis
souri, was subjected to ravage by the
guerrilla bands of the enemy. General
Blunt, who had been stationed at Leav
enworth, having moved to the south of
Kansas, toward the Indian Territory,
the noted Quantrell took the occasion to

make a sudden raid in his rear, and
pounce upon the unguarded city of
Lawrence. Entering early at sunrise, he
took the citizens by surprise, and shot
them down before they were able to make
the least attempt at resistance. One
hundred and forty of the people of
Lawrence were thus killed, twenty-four
wounded, one hundred and eighty-five

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

buildings burned, and a large quantity
of booty carried off.
Quantrell having gathered together
about 300 of the most desperate marau
ders of the border counties of Missouri,
passed into Kansas on the 20th of
August, at a point about forty miles
south of Kansas City, Missouri.
Brigadier-General Thomas Ewing,
Jun., who held the command on the
border, with his headquarters at Kansas
City, had been for some time sus
picious of Quantrell's movement, and
disposed his forces accordingly. By an
" error of judgment" of one of his sub
ordinates, the opportunity of overtaking
the marauders before they could con
summate their design was lost.
" Captain Pike, commanding two
companies at Aubrey," reports General
Ewing, " received information of the
presence of Quantrell on Grand River,
at half-past five o'clock p.m. of the
20th of August. He promptly forward
ed the information up and down the
line, and to my headquarters, and called
in his scouting parties to march upon
them. One hour and a half later he re
ceived information that Quantrell had
just passed into Kansas. Unhappily,
however, instead of setting out at once
in pursuit, he remained at the station,
and merely sent information of Quan
trell's movement to my headquarters and
Captain Coleman, commanding two com
panies at Little Santa Fe, twelve miles
north of the line. Captain Coleman,
with near 100 men, marched at once to
Aubrey, and the available force of the
two stations, numbering about 200 men,

set out at midnight in pursuit. But
Quantrell's path was over the open
prairie, and difficult to follow at night,
so that our forces gained but little on
him. By Captain Pike's error of judg
ment in failing to follow promptly and
closely, the surest means of arresting
the terrible blow was thrown away —
for Quantrell never would have gone
as far as Lawrence, or attacked it, with
a hundred men close on his rear."
General Ewing, on receiving Captain
Pike's dispatches reporting what he
knew and what he had and had not
done, strove to make' up for the lost
time by the utmost rapidity of action.
"The first dispatch of Captain Pike
reached here," says the General, writ
ing from his headquarters at Kansas
City, August 31, 1863, " thirty-five
miles north of Aubrey, at half-past
eleven p.m. ; the second, an hour later.
Before one o'clock, Major Plumb, my
chief of staff, at the head of about 500
men (which was all that could be got
here and at Westport), started south
ward, and at daylight heard, at Olathe,
twenty-five miles from here, that the
enemy had passed at midnight through
Gardner, eighteen miles from Lawrence,
going toward that town. Pushing on,
Major Plumb overtook Captains Coleman
and Pike, six miles southeast of Law
rence, at half-past ten o'clock, Friday,
the 21st instant, and by the light of the
blazing farm-houses saw that the enemy
had got six miles south of Lawrence, on
their way out of the State. The enemy
were overtaken near Palmyra by Major
Plumb's command, to which were there

PURSUIT OF QUANTRELL.

added from fifty to one hundred citizens
who had been hastily assembled, and led
in pursuit by General Lane.
" By this time the horses of our
detachments were almost exhausted.
Nearly all were young horses, just is
sued to the companies, and had marched
more than sixty-five miles without rest
and without food from the morning of
the 20th. Quantrell had his men
mounted on the best horses of the
border, and had collected fresh ones
going to and at Lawrence, almost enough
to remount his command. He skilfully
kept over a hundred of his best mounted
and best trained men in the rear, and
often formed line of battle to delay pur
suit, and give time and rest to the most
wearied of his forces. By the time our
scattered soldiers and citizens could get
up and form line, the guerrillas' rear
guard would, after a volley, break into
column, and move off at a speed which
defied pursuit. Thus the chase dragged
through the afternoon, over the prairie,
generally following no roads or paths,
until eight, when Quantrell's rear-guard
formed line of battle three miles north
of Paola, and twenty miles from where
they entered the State. A skirmish en
sued, the guerrillas breaking and scatter
ing so that our forces in the darkness
lost the trail, and went into Paola for
food and rest, while search was being
made for it.
' ' Lieutenant - Colonel Clark, Ninth
Kansas Volunteers, with headquarters
at Coldwater Grove, was in command
of the troops on the border south of
Little Santa F6, including the stations

at Aubrey, Coldwater Grove (thirteen
miles south of Aubrey), Rockville (thir
teen miles south of Coldwater Grove),
Choteau's Trading Post (fifteen miles
south of Rockville), and Harrisonville.
There were two companies at each
station, but the force out patrolling rarely
left fifty men in camp at each post. He
received Captain Pike's message as to
the gathering of Quantrell's forces on
Grand River on the night of the 20th,
and at once sent for the spare troops at
Rockville and Trading Post to march
up to Coldwater Grove. At three
o'clock on the morning of the 21st, he
received a dispatch from Captain Cole
man, at Aubrey, saying that Quantrell
had crossed into Kansas ; and he set out
with thirty men, following Quantrell's
trail nearly to Gardner, and thence
going south to Paola, reaching there at
five p.m. With this command, and a
force of perhaps fifty citizens, and a part
of Captain Beuter's Company of the
Thirteenth Kansas Infantry, which had
been garrisoning Paola, he prepared to
attack Quantrell at the ford of Bull
Creek, three miles south of Paola, to
ward which he was then retreating.
But Quantrell, on coming within four or
five miles of that crossing, soon after
dark, formed line of battle, as I stated
above, broke trail, turned sharp to the
north, and dodged and bewildered the
force in waiting for him, as well as that
in pursuit. These troops at the ford
returned to Paola about the time the
command which had followed Quantrell
reached there. One of the parties in
search of the trail found it five miles

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

north of Paola, and reported the fact to
Lieutenant-Colonel Clark, who was then
ranking officer there, at between one
and two o'clock. He was slow in order
ing pursuit, which was not renewed
until daybreak. He at that time sent
Captain Coleman forward, with thirty
men of the Ninth Kansas, which he him
self had brought to Paola, and forty of
the same regiment which had got there
from Trading Post at about two o'clock
that morning, and about seventy militia,
chiefly of Linn County. He march
ed soon after himself with the troops
which had followed Quantrell the day
before. "Half an hour before Major Plumb
started from Kansas City on the night
of the 21st, Captain Palmer, Eleventh
Kansas, was sent by him from Westport
with fifty men of his company down the
line to near Aubrey, where he met a
messenger from Captain Coleman, direct
ing reinforcements to Spring Hill, at
which point he struck Quantrell's trail
and followed it to within seven miles of
Lawrence. Thence, learning that Quan
trell had gone south, he turned south
east ; and at Lanesfield (Uniontown)
was joined by a force about eighty
strong, under Major Phillips, composed
of detachments of Captain Smith's com
pany, E. M. M., Captain Killen's/ Ninth
Kansas, and a squad of the Fifth Kansas.
This latter force had been collected by
Major Thacher at Westport, and dis
patched from there at noon on Friday,
the 21st, via Lexington, Kansas. The
command of Major Phillips, thus in
creased to 130, pushed southeast from

Lanesfield, and struck Quantrell's trail
about sunrise, five miles north of Paola,
and but a little behind the commands
of Coleman and Clark.
" Major Thacher, commanding at
Westport when news arrived that Quan
trell was returning by way of the Osage
Valley, took the rest of the mounted
troops on the upper border (Co. A,
Ninth, and E., Eleventh Kansas, number
ing 120 men), and moved down the line.
He struck Quantrell's trail below Au
brey, immediately in the rear of Lieu
tenant-Colonel Clark's command.
" Quantrell, when after dark he had
baffled his pursuers, stopped to rest five
miles northeast 'of Paola, and there,
after midnight, a squad of Linn County
militia, under Captain Pardee, alarmed
the camp. He at once moved on, and
between that point and the Kansas line
his column came within gunshot of the
advance of about 150 of the Fourth M.
S. M., under Lieutenant-Colonel King,
which had been ordered from the
country of the Little Blue, in Jackson
County, down the line to interrupt him.
The advance apprised Lieutenant-Col
onel King of the approach of another
force. Skirmishers were thrown out,
but Quantrell, aided by the darkness
and the broken character of the prairie,
eluded the force and passed on. Lieu
tenant-Colonel King was unable to find
his trail that night.
" The pursuing forces thus thrown
behind, Quantrell passed out of Kansas
and got to the timber of the middle
fork of Grand River in Missouri, near
his last rendezvous, before starting, about

DISPERSION OF QUANTRELL'S FORCE.

noon of the 22d, an hour in advance of
the head of the pursuing column. There
his force scattered. Many dismounted,
or, worn out through fatigue or wounds,
sought concealment and safety in the
fastnesses of that region. About 100
moved down Grand River, while the
chief part of the force passed northeast
toward Chapel Hill. Our forces divided
in like manner at that point, Major
Plumb and Major Thacher following the
main body. * * *
" News reaching me at Leavenworth
City," adds General Ewing, " of the
burning of Lawrence, and of the avowed
purpose of the rebels to go thence to
Topeka, I thought it best to go to De
Soto, and thence — after an unavoidable
delay of five hours, in crossing the
Kansas River — to Lanesfield. Finding
there, at daybreak, that Quantrell had
passed east, I left the command to fol
low as rapidly as possible, and pushed
on, reaching, soon after dark, the point
on Grand River where Quantrell's force
had scattered.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Lazear, with the
detachments of the First Missouri from
Warrensburg and Pleasant Hill, number
ing about 200 men, after failing to find
Quantrell on the Blackwater on the 22d,
encountered him at noon of the 23d on
Big Creek, broke up his force, and has
since had five very successful engage
ments with different parties of his band.
" The pursuit of Quantrell, after our
forces had caught up with him at Brook
lyn, was so close, that he was unable to
commit any further damage to property
on his route, but was compelled to
ill

abandon almost all his horses, and much
of the plunder from the Lawrence
stores ; and since he reached Missouri,
a large part of his men have abandoned
their horses and taken to the brush
afoot. The number of equipments so
far captured exceeds 100, and the num
ber of participants in the massacre
already killed is fully as great. The
most unremitting efforts are being made
to hunt down the remainder of the band
before they recover from the pursuit.
" Familiar as many of Quantrell's men
were with our prairies — unobstructed
as to course by any roads or fords,
with a rolling country to traverse, as
open as the sea — to head off his well-
mounted, compact, and well-disciplined
force, was extremely difficult. The
troops which followed and overtook him
south of Lawrence, without a co-operat
ing force to stop him, were practical
ly useless from exhaustion ; and the
forces which did not follow, but under
took to head him, failed, though they
nearly all exerted themselves to the ut
most to accomplish it. There were few
of the troops which did not travel 100
miles in the first twenty-four hours of
the pursuit. Many horses were killed.
Four men of the Eleventh Ohio were
sun-stricken, among them Lieutenant
Dick, who accompanied me, and who fell
dead on dismounting to rest. The citi
zens engaged in pursuit, though they
were able generally to keep close upon
the enemy between Brooklyn and Paola,
killing and wounding many stragglers
and men in the rear-guard, were with
out the requisite arms, organization, or

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

numbers to successfully encounter the
enemy." The people of Kansas, naturally
greatly enraged at the savage assault
upon the unoffending town of Lawrence,
were eager to avenge it. General
Lane — the senator from Kansas, whose
heart had been tempered to severity by
his long experience in border warfare,
and who having had his place of resi
dence destroved during the attack upon
Lawrence, was less than ever inclined
to mercy— advised the most cruel re
taliation. At his suggestion, General
Ewing was prevailed upon to issue an
order depopulating the district border
ing on the State of Kansas.
"On the 25th of August," says the
General, "I issued an order requiring
all residents of the counties of Jackson,
Cass, Bates, and that part of Vernon
included in this district, except those
within a mile of the limits of the mili
tary stations and the garrisoned towns,
and those north of Bush Creek and west
of the Big Blue, to remove from their
present places of residence within fifteen
days from that date — those who proved
their loyalty to be allowed to move out
of the district or to any military station
in it, or to any part of Kansas west of
the border counties — all others to re
move out of the district."
" To obtain the full military advan
tages of this removal of the people,"
added General Ewing, "I have ordered
the destruction of all grain and hay, in
shed or in the field, not near enough to
military stations for removal there. I
have also ordered from the towns oc- i

cupied as military stations a large num
ber of persons either openly or secretly
disloyal, to prevent the guerrillas get
ting information of the townspeople,
which they will no longer be able to get
of the farmers. The execution of these
orders will possibly lead to a still fiercer
and more active struggle, requiring the
best use of the additional troops the
General Commanding has sent me, but
will soon result, though with much un
merited loss and suffering, in putting an
end to this savage border war."
General Ewing made the disloyal
character of the inhabitants the justifica
tion for his severity.
"When the war broke out," he says
in his report, " the district to which this
order applies was peopled by a com
munity three-fourths of whom were in
tensely disloyal. The avowed loyalists
have been driven from their farms long
since, and their houses and improve
ments generally destroyed. They are
living in Kansas, and at military stations
in Missouri, unable to return to their
homes. None remain on their farms
but rebel and neutral families, and prac
tically the condition of their tenure is
that they shall feed, clothe, and shelter
the guerrillas, furnish them information,
and deceive or withhold information
from us. The exceptions are few — per
haps twenty families in those parts of
the counties to which the order applies.
Two-thirds of those who left their fami
lies on the border and went to the rebel
armies have returned. They dare not
stay at home, and no matter what terms
of amnesty may be granted, they can

GUERRILLAS IN MISSOURI.

never live in the country except as
brigands ; and so long as their families
and associates remain, they will stay
until the last man is killed, to ravage
every neighborhood of the border. I
was about adopting, before this raid,
measures for the removal of the families
of the guerrillas and of known, rebels,
under which two-thirds of the families
affected by this order would have been
compelled to go. That order would
have been most difficult of execution,
a.nd not half so effectual as this. Though
this measure may seem too severe, I
believe it will prove not inhuman, but
merciful to the non-combatants affected
by it. Those who prove their loyalty
will find houses enough at the stations,
and will not be allowed to suffer for
want of food. Among them there are
but few dissatisfied with the order, not
withstanding the present hardships it
imposes. Among the Union refugees it
is regarded as the best assurance they
have ever had of a return to their
homes, and permanent peace there."
Though the numbers of the marauders
in western Missouri had been tempora
rily diminished, and though they had for
a time been kept in check, they had now
suddenly increased beyond control.
" Since the fall of Vicksburg, and the
breaking up of large parts of Price's
and Marmaduke's armies," says General
Ewing, "great numbers of rebel soldiers,
whose families live in western Missouri,
have returned, and being unable or un
willing to live at home, have joined the
bands of guerrillas infesting the border.
Companies, which before this summer

mustered but twenty or thirty, have now
grown to fifty or one hundred. All the
people of the country, through fear or
favor, feed them, and rarely any give
information as to their movements.
Having all the inhabitants, by good- will
or compulsion, thus practically their
friends, and being familiar with the
fastnesses of a country wonderfully
adapted by nature to guerrilla warfare,
they have been generally able to elude
the most energetic pursuit. When as
sembled in a body of several hundred,
they scatter before an inferior force, and
when our troops scatter in pursuit, they
reassemble to fall on an exposed squad,
or a weakened post, or a defenceless
strip of the border. I have had seven
stations on the line, from which patrols
have each night and each day traversed
every foot of the border for ninety
miles." With but a small force withheld from
the armies of Generals Grant, Steel, and
Blunt, numbering less than 3,000 men
and officers, and having over twenty-five
posts to provide for, General Ewing had
an arduous field of duty. His men,
however, he declared, had " worked
hard, and until this raid [that of Law
rence] successfully, in hunting down
the guerrillas and protecting the stations
and the border. They have killed more
than a hundred of them in petty skir
mishes and engagements between the
18th of June and 20th of August."
The conflict in Arkansas, as in the
neighboring State of Missouri, had, from
the exhausted resources of the enemy,
dwindled to a partisan warfare. The

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Unionists, with their posts on the Mis
souri and Mississippi borders, kept watch
over the guerrilla bands of Arkansas,
and sent occasional scouting parties to
hunt them out of their skulking places.
Thus Captain I. J. Worthington, with
two companies of the First Arkansas
Cavalry, having been dispatched from
Fayetteville, Ark., held by a Union
force, composed principally of Arkansas
recruits under Colonel Harrison, to Car
roll County, Ark., returned on the 3d
of April, " after four skirmishes with
the rebels. He killed twenty-two, and
took seven prisoners," and had but one
of his own men wounded. The enemy,
with a force of about 3,000 men and
four pieces of artillery, under General
Cabell, made a bold attempt on the 18th
of April to drive the Unionists from
their post at Fayetteville, but after a
fight of four hours were driven off and
forced to a disorderly retreat toward
Ozark. It having been determined to break
up the guerrilla bands of Arkansas,
Colonel Clayton started for this purpose
on the 6th of May, from Helena, Ark.,
on the Mississippi River, with a force of
1,200 cavalry, 1,000 infantry, and one
section of artillery. While looking after
the guerrilla chief, Dobbins, Colonel
Clayton discovered that the famous
General Price was between the Arkan
sas and White rivers, with three bri
gades of infantry and four companies of
artillery, and that General Marmaduke
was encamped with his whole command
up Taylor's Creek. Clayton determined
to march against the latter, and accord

ingly, after leaving a company to guard
the bridge over the river Langueville,
which he had crossed, set out with a
detachment — the rest of his force, under
Colonel Jenkins, having gone in search
of Dobbins— of 230 men of the First
Indiana Cavalry, and two small steel
rifled guns.
" He had proceeded," says a chron
icler, "but a short distance before the
two forces came together. After a brisk
fight, our small force succeeded in driv
ing Marmaduke from the town (Taylor's
Creek) to the wood above the town, on
the Wittsburg road."
The enemy again attacked and driven
from this cover, Colonel Clayton march
ed to the Langueville bridge, which he
defended against an assault by Marma
duke, who was forced to retreat to the
neighboring hills. Colonel Clayton re
mained at the bridge for a while, with
the hope of being joined by Colonel
Jenkins, but finding that it was possible
for the enemy to ford the river and cut
off his retreat, he determined to move.
Not destroying the bridge lest Jenkins
might want it, and lighting the camp
fires to deceive the enemy, Clayton
quietly marched to Helena.
Meanwhile, Colonel Jenkins, also dis
covering the presence of Marmaduke,
gave up his pursuit of Dobbins and
hastened to join Clayton at the bridge.
On his march, he was met by a portion
of Marmaduke's force, which he, how
ever, succeeded in repelling. He thus
was enabled to cross the river Langue
ville in safety and join Clayton at
Helena.

THE INDIAN TERRITORY.

The results of Clayton's expedition
were thus summed up :
"1. A complete and thorough ex
amination of the country lying east of
the Bayou De Vue as far south as White
River, and north as far as Madison.
"2. We have ascertained to a cer
tainty the position of a large portion of
General Price's forces.
" 3. We have destroyed at least one
hundred thousand dollars' worth of the
enemy's supplies.
" 4. We have administered to Gen
eral Marmaduke's command one more
severe castigation. All of this has been
accomplished with the loss of but two
men killed and eighteen wounded, and
without the loss of any arms, equip
ments, or public property.
" The loss of the enemy in killed and
wounded, thus far ascertained, is about
150, including four captains and five
lieutenants." The Indian Territory, on the west of
Arkansas, and on the south of Kansas,
now became the scene of active hostil
ities. Colonel Phillips, the Union com
mander of the Territory, was stationed
,at Port Gibson on the Arkansas River.
He had renewed and strengthened the
old works, and rechristened the post
Fort Blunt.
Some of the enemy's detached parties
had occasionally penetrated the Indian
Territory from Arkansas, but Colonel
Phillips had succeeded in driving them
back. At Webber's Falls, early in May,
he had defeated a considerable force
and driven it across the Arkansas River
at Fort Smith. General Price having,

in the mean time, advanced toward the
western border of Arkansas, sent a con
siderable detachment of his force across
the Arkansas River into the Indian
Territory. Phillips, after a severe strug
gle, succeeded in again driving the
enemy back. " Our loss was thirty jiay
killed, and the enemy's was much 20.
greater." The approach of Price with a large
force caused great consternation among
the settlers in the Indian Territory, but
Colonel Phillips did not lose courage.
The movement of General Price into
the Indian Territory proved to be
merely a demonstration to mask a more
serious attempt upon Helena, on the
Mississippi, which was finally made,
after several weeks of preliminary skir
mishing, on the 4th of July. General
Prentiss held the Union post at Helena
with about 4,000 troops and several
gun-boats. The number of the enemy
was estimated to be from 9,000 to 15,000,
under Price, Holmes, and Marmaduke.
They advanced in three columns, and
being unable from the roughness of the
ground to bring up their artillery, at
tempted to carry the works. The
centre column charged and took three
lines of rifle-pits, but the other columns
on the flanks failed, and became exposed
to an enfilading fire, which did them
great damage.
At the commencement of the attack,
General Prentiss was evidently anxious,
and wrote in the morning thus despond-
ingly to Hurlburt, the major-general in
command at Memphis :
" We have been hard pressed since

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

daylight by the combined forces of
Price, Holmes, Marmaduke, Parsons,
and others. Thus far we have held
our own, and captured several hundred
prisoners, whom I send you on board
the steamer Tycoon.
" The enemy are now evidently pre
paring for a renewed attack in force.
Send on another gun-boat, if possible.
The Tyler has done good service to-
day." "
In the afternoon, however, he wrote
more cheerfully, saying :
" We have repulsed the enemy at
every point. Our soldiers are now col
lecting their wounded. We have taken
in all 1,200 prisoners. The rebel loss
in killed will reach 500 or 600. Al
though the rebels are badly whipped,
there is no doubt but that they will
renew the attack, and are now massing
their troops for that purpose.
"My force is inferior to that of the
rebels, but with the aid expected from
you and the gun-boats, the rebels will
be severely beaten."
The enemy had been more thoroughly
beaten than General Prentiss had q,t
first supposed, but on the next day he
had risen to a full conception of his suc
cess, which he thus reported to the
Commander-in-chief at Washington :
" We encountered the enemy, 15,000
strong, under Generals Holmes, Price,
Marmaduke, and others, on the morning
of the 4th of July, and whipped them
handsomely. We have captured 1,000
prisoners, 1,200 stand of arms, and two
colors. Our total loss will not exceed
250. The enemy's losses are very

severe — not less than 2,500 in killed,
wounded, and prisoners."
When General Price was repulsed at
Helena, General Blunt hastened to re
inforce Colonel Phillips at Fort Gibson,
not now menaced by the Texans from
the south, but by Price forced back
from the east and turning to the west.
Blunt having moved from Leavenworth
to Fort Scott, in Kansas, started thence
with all the mounted men he could
muster for the Indian Territory. On
reaching Fort Gibson, and finding that
the enemy had retired, he followed them
in pursuit with 2,500 men and twelve
guns. After a march of fifty miles, he
overtook the enemy, consisting of several
thousand men under General Cooper, in
a strong position on Elk Creek, a branch
of the Canadian River. He attacked
them at once, and totally routed jujy
them, capturing sixty prisoners, 16.
three stand of colors, two pieces of artil
lery, and 500 small-arms. Blunt's loss
was but ten killed and five wounded,
while that of the enemy was 200
killed and 400 wounded. Blunt fol
lowed the flying enemy through the
Indian Territory to within forty miles
of Red River, which divides it on the
south from Texas. On returning, he
crossed from the Indian Territory, where
he took possession of Fort Smith with
out opposition. Here he was de- Sept,
tain-ed, for some weeks by illness. 2.
Meanwhile, the General issued an address
to the people of western Arkansas, tell
ing them that the Federal occupation
was permanent, the whole of the Indian
Territory and western Arkansas being

f"m

ARKANSAS REDEEMED.

under his control, and the rebel troops
driven beyond the Red River followed
by the most anxious rebel citizens. He
was confirmed in his statement, he
declared, by the love for the Union
exhibited in western Arkansas, the joy
manifested at the appearance of his
troops, the reports of the delegations
from the interior of southern Arkansas
which had visited him, and by the ar
rival of hundreds of refugees to enlist in
his army.
"Many applications," he said, at the
close of his address, " have been made
by citizens for safeguards. None will
be issued. The best safeguard you can
have is the American flag unfurled
over your premises, and if you deport
yourselves as becomes good loyal citi
zens, your conduct must be j^our safe
guard. If it be your desire to disenthral
yourselves from the tyranny and oppres
sion to which you have been subjected,
organize a civil government under the
authority of the United States. Every
facility will be afforded you to accom
plish that purpose. I leave the matter
with you, trusting that wise counsels
may prevail."
The success of General Blunt in west
ern Arkansas was soon followed by a
triumph of the Union arms, under Gen
eral Steele, in the north and centre of
the State, over General Price's army.
The advance of Steele's force, under
General Davidson, drove the enemy's
cavalry, under Marmaduke, out of
Brownsville on the 26th of August, and
again on the 28th over the Arkansas
River by the Bayou Metairie bridge.

The enemy now hastily fled to the
south, leaving Little Rock, the capital
of the State, without defence. Accord
ingly, on the 10th of September, General
Steele occupied it with his main body,
while General Davidson continued the
pursuit. Arkansas was now supposed
to be " redeemed from the rebellion
and restored to the Union."
General Blunt having improved in
health, returned toward the close of
September from Fort Smith, Ark., to
Fort Gibson, in the Indian Territory.
On the 4th of October, he received word
that the former post was in danger of
an attack, and on the same day he set
out for Fort Smith with an escort of a
hundred men. Nothwithstanding the
smallness of his guard, he felt no great
inquietude about his security, as the
post at Baxter's Spring, . about sixty-
three miles from Fort Scott, garrisoned
by three companies of soldiers, guarded
the roads between the forts. The bold
partisan chief, Quantrell, was, however,
on his track, and came suddenly upon
Blunt's party. The General thus nar
rates the event in a private letter to a
friend :
"The escort, Company I, Third Wis
consin Cavalry, and Company A, Four
teenth Kansas Cavalry, behaved dis
gracefully, and stampeded like a drove
of frightened cattle. I did not anticipate
any difficulty until we got below this
point. We arrived near this camp
[Baxter's Spring, from where he writes,
October 7, ten p.m.] about twelve m.,
and halted on the hill almost in sight
of the camp, and not more than 400

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

yards distant, to wait for escort and
wagons to close up.
" The escort came up and dismounted
to wait for the wagons, which were but
a short distance behind. At this time
my attention was called to a body of
men — about 100 — advancing in line from
the timber of Spring River, on the left,
which you will recollect is not more
than 300 or 400 yards from the road.
The left of their line was not more than
200 yards from Lieutenant Pond's camp
at the spring.
" They being nearly all dressed in
Federal uniforms, I supposed them at
first to be Lieutenant Pond's cavalry,
(two companies) on drill. At the same
time my suspicions were aroused by some
of their movements. I ordered the wag
ons, which had just come up, to the rear,
formed the escort in line with their
carbines unslung, while I advanced alone
toward the party fronting us, to ascer
tain if they were rebels. I had advanced
but a short distance when they opened
fire ; at the same time firing was heard
down in Pond's camp. Turning round
to give the order to the escort to fire, I
discovered them all broken up and go
ing over the prairies to the west at full
speed. They did not even discharge
the loaded carbines they had in their
hands, except in a few cases. Had the
escort stood their ground as soldiers
should have done, they would have
driven the enemy in ten minutes. I
endeavored in vain, with the assistance
of Major Curtis, to halt and form a
portion of them. When the escort
stampeded, the enemy, on discovering

it, rushed on. with a yell, followed by
another line of about 200 that emerged
from the edge of the timber. Being
better mounted than our men, they soon
closed in on them. The men of the
escort were much scattered, and with
them it was a race for life.
" After going a mile, I succeeded in
halting fifteen men, including Lieuten
ant Pierce, of Company A, Fourteenth
Kansas, who has done his duty well and
nobly throughout. As soon as I got
them in line and commenced advancing
upon the enemy, they fled and fell back
to the road, when the whole command
(600) formed in line of battle. The
balance of the escort that had escaped
were all out of sight in the advance.
Major Curtis had been seen to fall from
his horse, which was wounded, and
stumbled in crossing a ditch.
" About one o'clock I sent Lieutenant
Tappan (who had kept with me all the
time), with four men, to Fort Scott,
while with the other nine I determined
to remain until the fate of those that
had fallen could be ascertained. As
they fell back to the road, I followed
them up over the ground we had come,
to look for the wounded, but all, with
two or three exceptions (which had
escaped accidentally), were killed — shot
through the head. All the wounded
had been murdered. I kept close to
them and witnessed their plundering
the wagons. At one time they made a
dash at me with about 100 men, en
deavoring to surround me, but failed in
this purpose.
" As they moved off on the road lead-

ATTACK ON BLUNT.

ing south, I went down to the spring
and found them all 0. K. Lieutenant
Pond, of the Third Wisconsin, and his
command, are entitled to great credit
for the manner they repelled the ene
my and defended the post. The colored
soldiers fought with great gallantry.
' " The band wagon was captured, and
all of the boys shot in this way, after
they were prisoners. The same Was the
case with the teamsters, and Martin
O'Neill, my driver, was killed with the
band boys. All of the office clerks,
except one, were killed. Lieutenant
Farr is among the killed ; also my
orderly, Ely. Major Henning is with me.
But few of the escort who escaped have
come in. I suppose they have gone to
Fort Scott. The dead are not all buried,
but the number will not fall short of
seventy-five. " The enemy numbered 600— Quan
trell's and Coffey's command."
178

The General closes his characteristic
letter with the resolute declaration :
"I will follow the hounds through
the entire Southern Confederacy, as
long as there is a prospect of overtaking
them. And I will have it well under
stood, that any man of this command
who again breaks from the line and
deserts his post, shall be shot on the
spot, and there shall be no quarter to
the motley crew of murderers."
Blunt's own escape seems to have
been marvellous, for he was much ex
posed. "I was fortunate in escaping," he
says, " as in my efforts to halt and rally
the men, I frequently got in the rear,
and got considerably mixed up with the
rebels, who did not fail to. pay me their
compliments. Revolver bullets flew
around my head thick as hail, but not a
scratch. I believe I am not to be killed
by a rebel bullet."

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER IX

The Enemy strive to recover their Losses in North Carolina. — Small Union Force there. — General Foster succeeds
Burnside. — Activity of Foster.— Expeditions. — Scouring of three Counties. — The Enemy under General Hill
assume the Offensive. — A Demonstration against Newbern. — Investment of Washington. — A Surrender demanded
and refused. — The Enemy's Batteries on the River. — Navigation obstructed. — Little hope for Washington. —
Daring Passage of the Batteries.— -Relief for Washington. — Movements by Land. —Failure of the Union Troops. —
Another Passage of the Batteries.— Foster runs the Blockade.— His arrival at Newbern. — His action. — Naglee's
March. — Siege of Washington raised. — Expeditions. — Enlargement of Foster's command. — He succeeds General
Dix at Fortress Monroe.— Union Sentiment in North Carolina.— Opposition in North Carolina to the Policy of Jeff.
Davis.— The bold action of the Raleigh Standard.— The Standard Office attacked.— Policy of President Lincoln.—
Removal of Governor Stanley.

Though frequent attempts were made
by the enemy to recover what they
had lost in North Carolina, the
Union arms succeeded in holding the
positions they had established in that
State. After General Burnside was
summoned to join the Army of the
Potomac, little was done to add to his con
quests. The comparatively small Union
force left in North Carolina was not more
than sufficient to guard the various posts
against the attacks of the enemy, which,
however, were such at times as to menace
their safety. These led to movements
and conflicts worthy of being chronicled.
General Foster, who had proved him
self an energetic subordinate, succeeded
to the general command of the Depart
ment of North Carolina on the departure
of General Burnside. He at once gave
proof of his characteristic activity by a
series of expeditions or raids into the
enemy's territory. On the 16th of
January, Colonel Mix set out with the
Third New York Cavalry and penetrated
the counties of Onslow, Trent, and Jones.

The enemy retired, destroying the
bridges and obstructing the roads on
the advance of Mix, ' who returned to
Newbern after an absence of five days.
The result was stated to be, "that three
counties of North Carolina, in which our
troops had never been before, were
scoured, and the rebels driven out ;
prisoners, arms, negroes, mules, and
colors captured, and much valuable in
formation obtained."
During the first ten days of March,
no less than four expeditions were sent
out. These succeeded in obtaining
some useful information, but beyond an
occasional skirmish with some detached
parties of the enemy, accomplished
nothing worthy of record.
Meanwhile, the enemy in North Caro
lina, having been considerably reinforced,
and placed under the command of an
able officer, General D. H. Hill, assumed
the offensive. After advancing' and
making a demonstration against New
bern, General Hill turned and invested
Washington. General Foster went there

WASHINGTON (N. C.) INVESTED.

immediately upon hearing that it was
threatened. On the 30th of March,
General Hill demanded a surrender,
which, however, was refused. The en
emy having established powerful bat
teries on the river, were able to com
mand the approaches by water as well
as by land. The attempts made by the
Union gun-boats to silence these bat
teries had failed. Thus completely in
vested and cut off from all communica
tion, there seemed .for a time no great
hope for the little* garrison of Washing
ton, which was only prevented from
surrendering immediately by the oc
casional relief brought by some bold
volunteer. On the night of the 3d of April,
" Captain McDermot, of the Ceres, vol
unteered to run the batteries with his
vessel, to carry a load of ammunition.
The Ceres started from the fleet just
after dark ; but as the rebels had re
moved the buoys and stakes which
marked the channel, the captain had to
feel his way ; and as he proceeded, he
took the precaution to re-stake out the
channel, so that any boats which might
follow would have no trouble. He
reached the blockade about daylight,
having been under fire from the guns
of the battery all night. The next
morning, at six o'clock, he passed the
obstructions and made his way safely
to Washington, passing the enemy's
three works on the south shore, though
his course lay within 300 yards of
the lower, and less than 200 yards of
the upper batteries. The Ceres was hit

° The garrison at Washington numbered about 1 ,200 men.

several times during the trip, but was
not materially damaged."
An expedition, under General Spinola,
which set out from Newbern on the 8th
of April, to relieve Washington, returned
without effecting its purpose. The men
of the Fifth Rhode Island Regiment were
so dissatisfied with this failure, that they
determined to make another and more
resolute effort.
Immediately on the return of 'Spinola's
expedition, " some of the officers," wrote
a correspondent,* " of the gallant Fifth
Rhode Island Regiment (this regiment
was one of the fourteen under Spinola)
waited upon General Palmer, and stated
that that body of veterans had, en masse,
requested permission to either run past
the batteries upon the river below Wash
ington, or land and capture them bod
ily. It is unnecessary to state that the
offer was accepted, and the staunch
transport Escort, Captain Wall, was
brought up to the dock to receive them.
They came on board at midnight, so
noiselessly that not a dozen people knew
of it until late the next day, when they
had arrived in the vicinity of operations.
So completely exhausted were the men
with their four days' hard marching and
fighting, that when they found themselves
on board the steamer, they sank down
to rest and sleep upon the bare decks
only as tired warriors can rest under the
dew-sprinkling canopy of heaven. A
run of seventeen hours brought them to
the fleet of gun-boats five miles below
the battery at Hill's Point. General
Palmer was with them, as were also
s» N. T. Herald.

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Lieutenant-Colonel Hoffman, acting
adjutant-general on General Foster's
staff, and Colonel McChesney, of the
First North Carolina Union Volunteers.
The brave Rhode Islanders were clam
orous to be put through the ordeal that
night ; but the commandant felt it his
duty — as it Was — -to study well the posi
tion and weigh carefully the chances.
The commandant of the fleet was to
be consulted, and joint plans arranged,
all of which took time ; so that when all
was ready it was so near morning, and
the moon was shining so brightly, it was
wisely concluded to defer the hazardous
enterprise until Monday night.
" About ten o'clock on Monday night
(April 13th), the gun-boats, which had
taken position just below the Hill's Point
battery, opened a brisk fire upon the
rebel works, but were unable to elicit
any reply. During the cannonade, the
Escort, loaded with supplies and troops,
steamed up past the gun-boats, > and
before the rebels could realize the fact,
was abreast of the battery and entering
the gap of the blockade, which had been
buoyed out by Captain McDermot, of
the Ceres, through which she passed in
safety. The Hill's Point battery did not
molest her in passing, owing to the fact
that the gun-boats kept up such an in
cessant and well-directed fire upon the
fort as to make it impossible for the
rebels to get their guns into position'.
But after the steamer had passed the
blockade, her trip was a decidedly excit
ing one. The rebels had posted sharp
shooters on rafts in the river 'and in the
bushes on the shore, and they also had

planted light field batteries along the
south bank of the river, near which the
channel runs, from which they kept up
a continuous fifing of volley after volley
of musketry and roar upon roar of
artillery, until the craft was ! lost in the
distance. For six miles she ran the
fiery gauntlet, a part of the time being
within 300 yards of a shore which
swarmed with gray -backed riflemen
and butternut-colored artillerists, whose
every word of command and shout of
defiance could be distinctly heard by
those on board. When she arrived op
posite the battery on Rodman's Farm,
the guns which had so nearly demolished
the gun-boat Commodore Hull, belched
forth their hostile welcome, and for
twenty minutes the thunder from the
rebel guns was continued like one pro
longed peal of Jove's own artillery.
The night was as calm and still as ever
night was — not a breath of air, except
the gushing bursts set in motion by the
rebel guns and the steamer's own ad
vance, stirred the smoke, as it fell like
a pall upon the water, and rendered the
darkness doubly sombre. Guided only
by the firing upon the shore, the brave
pilot headed her on until the last dis
charges of cannon and musketry were
heard far astern, and he knew he was
close upon Washington. Then he espied
the low, black hull of one of our gun
boats, and heard the watch-bell upon
the deck tolling out the hour of the
night ; then he saw the dim lights in the
back windows of the houses in town,
and heard the half-suppressed voices
of our men on shore, and he doubly

THE SIEGE RAISED.

realized that the immediate danger was
over." On the 15th of April, the Escort re
turned from Washington, with General
Foster on board, who proceeded to
Newbern, in order to bring up a force
to the relief of the besieged garrison.
The Escort, in coming back, met with
even harder treatment than in going.
" No less than eighteen solid shot and
shells struck and passed through the
steamer, completely riddling her upper
works, and partially disabling her ma
chinery, while the bullets of the enemy's
sharp-shooters perforated her joiner
work like a sieve. When opposite the
lower battery, on Rodman's Farm, the
pilot, Mr. Pederick, was killed at his
post by one Of the rebel sharp-shooters.
Immediately upon the fall of Pederick,
Captain Wall sent for a negro who
knew the channel, and compelled him
to point out the course of the steamer
past the blockade, while one of the New
York pilots of the boat handled the
wheel. The boat went on down the
stream at a rapid rate, and, though
experiencing probably the hottest fire
to which ever a transport boat was
subjected, reached and passed the lower
fort and blockade without further loss
of fife.
" It would be useless for me," adds
the correspondent just quoted, "to at
tempt to describe the appearance of
the Escort as she lies at her wharf, back
of W. C. Hamilton & Co.'s warehouses,
an object of wonder and curiosity to
thousands. One of the shots of the
enemy — a twelve-pounder Whitworth —

passed directly through the berth which
had just been vacated by General Foster,
and another struck one of the connecting
rods above the cylinder cross-head, in
denting and bending it so as to render
it almost useless."
Before General Foster could set the
troops at Newbern in motion for the
relief of Washington, the enemy had
raised the siege and retreated. A re
connoitring force, under General Palmer,
followed them as they retired, Aprji
and overtaking them within eight 28.
miles of Kinston, drove them from the
cover of their intrenchments, and took
possession of the works.
The enemy having, after raising the
siege of Washington, fled into the in
terior of North Carolina, showed but
little activity for some time, but on the
15th of May, a guerrilla party which in
fested that quarter, captured a couple
of Union dispatch boats, the Arrow and
Emily, on the Albemarle and Chesa
peake Canal.
On the 21st of May, an expedition,
commanded by Colonel Jones, set out
to surprise the enemy in their intrench
ed camp at Green Swamp. Colonel
Jones, after an arduous march "through
swamp and jungle, came upon them, but
they did not wait to give him fight,
having fled precipitately on discovering
his approach. As Colonel Jones was
returning with his captures, he was
attacked by the enemy in force, and
though great damage was done to his
assailants, he lost his own life.
General Foster reported the captures
to be .

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

" One hundred and sixty-five prison
ers, twenty-eight horses, three ambu
lances, and two baggage wagons (teams),
one twelve-pounder howitzer, with lim
ber, eighty muskets and equipments ;
11,000 rounds of ammunition."
The loss of the Unionists was estimat
ed at :
"Two killed, five wounded, and one

missing.

General Foster, continuing to send
out his expeditions, reported on the
7th of July, that the cavalry dispatched
from Newbern, " July 3, under Colonel
Lewis, of the Third New York Cavalry,
have safely returned, having successfully
accomplished their mission, and without
loss. " They destroyed (twisting rails, etc.,
by General Haupt's plan) two miles of
the railroad at Warsaw ; also destroyed
for five miles more all the culverts as
well as the telegraph. At Keenansville
an armory was destroyed. Large quan
tities of small-arms and quantities of
commissary and quartermaster's stores
were burned. About 150 animals and
some thirty prisoners were captured by
them, and some 100 men and about 300
women and children, negroes, followed
them in."
General Heckman, who left Newbern
at the head of an expedition on the 4th
of July, destroyed the Wilcox bridge
over the Trent River, in the village of
Comfort, and dispersed with artillery a
considerable force of the enemy. Again,
another and more imposing expedition
was sent out, of which General Foster, on
the 24th of July, 1863, thus reported:

" The cavalry raid, having for its
object the destruction of the railroad
bridge at Rocky Mount, has returned
completely successful. The expedition
consisted of the Third Regiment New
York Cavalry, and a squadron of the
Twelfth and of Mix's men (cavalry), and
one company of North Carolina, and
was under the command of Brigadier-
General Edward E. Potter, chief of
staff. The bridge over the Tar River
at Rocky Mount, a station on the
Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, be
tween Goldsboro' and Weldon, was
completely destroyed. The bridge was
350 feet long, and the trestle-work 400
feet more. A cotton mill, filled ; a
flouring mill, containing 1,000 barrels
of flour and large quantities of hard
bread ; a machine shop, containing
shells, gunpowder, and every munition
of war ; a large depQt, offices, etc. ; an
engine and a train of cars ; a wagon
train of twenty-five wagons, filled with
stores and munitions ; an armory and
machine shop, with the machinery and
materials, and 800 bales of cotton, Were
all destroyed.
"At Tarboro' two steamboats and
one large and fine iron-clad in process
of construction, a saw-mill, a train of
cars, 100 bales of cotton, and large
quantities of subsistence and ordnance
stores were destroyed. About 100
prisoners were taken, and some 300
animals (horses and mules). Some 300
contrabands followed the expedition in
to Newbern.
" The force had constant fighting with
the enemy, who made great endeavors

FEELING IN NORTH CAROLINA.

to intercept their return ; but in every
case the enemy's position was either
turned or they were compelled to re
tire. Our losses in killed, wounded, and
missing will not exceed twenty-five men."
General Foster's command was now
enlarged, so as to include the peninsula
between the York and James rivers,
and the southeastern part of Virginia,
formerly the department of General
Dix.* He accordingly established his
headquarters at Fortress Monroe.
In spite of the secession of North
Carolina, there still remained in that
State a Union sentiment, which, though
for a time dormant, seemed to be again
awakened by the permanent establish
ment of the armed authority of the
Federal Government. This revival of
loyalty was supposed to be manifested
by the election of Colonel Vance to the
Governorship of the State, as he was
esteemed to be a more moderate seces
sionist than his unsuccessful antag
onist. The resolute opposition, more
over, of many of the citizens of North
Carolina, to some of the arbitrary acts
of the Confederate Government, seemed
to indicate an impatience of its authority
and a disposition to return to the Union.
The Raleigh Standard became remark
able for its antagonism to the adminis
tration of Jefferson Davis, and boldly
published an article from a correspond
ent, in which the leaders of the Southern
rebellion were declared not to have been
justified in seceding, since they could
have more successfully obtained repara-
0 General Dix had been sent to New York during the
riots ft'hlch occurred in consequence of the draft.

tion for their wrongs within than with
out the Union. The Standard persisted
in denouncing the war as fatal to South
ern interests, and demanding a conven
tion of all the States to procure peace
either by reconstruction of the Union
or by peaceable separation. These
sentiments were acceptable, probably,
to many moderate men in North Caro
lina, but were obnoxious to those of
extreme opinions. The latter were,
finally, so enraged by the conduct of the
Standard, that they attacked its office
and forced it to suspend its publica
tion * The " symptoms of disaffection
toward the insurgent league" were
zealously encouraged by the Federal
authorities, and it was hoped that the
people of North Carolina would volun
tarily declare for a restoration of their
State to the Union. It was asserted
that a majority of the Legislature were in
favor of reconstruction, and that over
tures to the Union General even had
been made to promote that object. The
leading Unionists of North Carolina
were reported to be willing to concede
a gradual emancipation of the slaves,
and other conditions that might be es
sential toward a settlement with the
Federal Government. They, however,
deemed it impolitic to act as long as a
Confederate army held Virginia, or at
least until a Union force occupied
North Carolina sufficiently large to pro
tect its people in the expression of their
opinions.

° The publication of the Raleigh Standard was resumed
on the 2d of October, 1863, and its editor renewed his
opposition to the administration of Jefferson Davis.

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

President Lincoln had so far modified
his policy in regard to the subjugation
of North Carolina, as to remove Mr.
Stanley, the Union Governor, and cease

from extending the application of mili
tary force. He seemed now disposed to
leave the State to its spontaneous reac
tion in favor of the Union.

CHAPTER X.
Delays in capturing Charleston. — Disappointment of the North. — Perseverance. — Defences of the Enemy. — Their In
quietude. — Beauregard's Address. — The Unionists ready for an Attack.— Order of Battle. — Attack by the Iron-clads.
— The Fleet Withdrawn. — The Loss of the Keokuk. — The Co-operation of the Troops. — Enemy's Account of the
Attack on Charleston. — What was done by the various Batteries. — The Losses, etc.

The patience of the Northern people
was greatly tried by the repeated
failures of the attacks upon the
fortifications of Charleston. Though so
often disappointed in the hope of suc
cess, the desire, not unnaturally vindic
tive, of capturing a city which had first
defied and insulted the Federal power,
was so intense, that each discomfiture
aroused a more determined spirit of
perseverance. The enemy conscious of the sentiment
with which the city of Charleston and
the State of South Carolina was regard
ed at the North, and appreciating the
influence of an intense popular feeling
in stimulating administrative effort, pre
pared at an early period to meet the
formidable means of offence at the com
mand of the Federal Government. The
fortifications of Charleston had been so
increased and strengthened, that many
apparently disinterested observers had
pronounced them to be impregnable.
Yet there were indications, in spite of

the boasted confidence of the Carolini
ans in their strong defences and their
own self-asserted but undoubted valor,
of a fear of Northern strength. This
was indicated in the remarkable proc
lamation of General Beauregard.
" It has become my solemn duty," he
said, in his usual fervid style, " to Yoh,
inform the authorities and citizens 18.
of Charleston and Savannah that the
movements of the enemy's fleet indicate
an early land and naval attack on one
or both cities, and to urge that persons
unable to take an, active part in the
struggle shall retire.
" It is hoped, however, that the tem
porary separation of some of you from
your homes will be made without alarm
or undue haste, thus showing that the
only feeling which animates you in this
hour of supreme trial is the right of be
ing able to participate in the defence of
your homes, your altars, and the graves
of your kindred.
" Carolinians and Georgians ! the hour

DUPONT'S ATTACK ON CHARLESTON.

is at hand to prove your country's cause.
Let all able-bodied men, from the sea
board to the mountains, rush to arms.
Be not too exacting in the choice of
weapons. Pikes and scythes will do for
exterminating your enemies, spades and
shovels for protecting your firesides.
To arms, fellow-citizens ! Come to share
with us our danger, our brilliant suc
cess, our glorious death."
General Beauregard was correct in
his conjecture that an attack upon the
fortifications of Charleston was in con
templation, though he anticipated the
time. General Hunter, in command of
the Union forces, having made the
necessary preliminary disposition of the
troops, Admiral Dupont advanced with
his fleet of iron-clad gun-boats, which
April were to execute the chief work,
7- and attacked the forts.
The following was the " order of
battle :"
"The bar will be buoyed by the
Keokuk, Commander Rhind, assisted by
C. 0. Boutelle, Assistant United States
Coast Survey, commanding the Bibb ;
by Acting Ensign Piatt, and the pilots
of the squadron. The commanding
officers will, previous to crossing, make
themselves acquainted with the value
of the buoys.
" The vessels will, on signal being
made, form in the prescribed order
ahead, at intervals of one cable's length.
" The squadron will pass up the main
ship channel without returning the fire
of the batteries on Morris Island, unless
signal should be made to commence
action. 179

" The ships will open fire on Fort
Sumter when within easy range, and
will take up a position to the northward
and westward of that fortification, en
gaging its left or northeast face at a
distance of from 1,000 to 800 yards,
firing low and aiming at the centre
embrasures. " The commanding officers will in
struct their officers and men to carefully
avoid wasting a shot, and will enjoin
upon them the necessity of precision
rather than rapidity of fire.
" Each ship will be prepared to render
every assistance possible to vessels that
may require it.
" The special code of signals prepared
for the iron-clad vessels will be used in
action. " After the reduction of Fort Sumter,
it is probable the next point of attack
will be the batteries on Morris Island.
" The order of battle will be the line
ahead, in the following succession :
" 1. Weehawken, with raft, Captain
John Rodgers.
" 2. Passaic, Captain Percival Dray
ton. "3. Montauk, Commander John L
Worden. " 4. Patapsco, Commander Daniel
Ammen. "5. New Ironsides, Commodore
Thomas Turner.
" 6. Catskill, Commander George W.
Rodgers. " 7. Nantucket, Commander Donald
McN. Fairfax.
"8. Nahant, Commander John
Downes.

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

" 9. Keokuk, Lieutenant-Commander
Alex. C. Rhind.
" A squadron of reserve, of which
Captain J. F. Green will be the senior
officer, will be formed outside the bar
and near the entrance buoy, consisting
of the following vessels :
" Canandaigua, Captain Joseph H.
Green. " Unadilla, Lieutenant- Commander S.
P. Quackenbush.
" Housatonic, Captain William R.
Taylor. " Wissahickon, Lieutenant-Command
er J. G. Davis.
" Huron, Lieutenant-Commander G.
A. Stevens.
" And will be in readiness to support
the iron-clads when they attack the bat
teries on Morris Island."
" The sun rose bright and clear on
Tuesday morning, April 7th. The sea
was smooth as a mirror, and the atmos
phere so translucent that we could see
right up to the city. All hearts were
throbbing with anxiety as to the result
of the conflict in which these little iron
clads were about to engage. And here,"
says the correspondent whom we quote,*
"I may as well remark that the same
confidence of success which seemed to
have taken possession of the people,
and even of the Government, did not
find itself fully reflected in the minds of
the Admiral and of his officers. They
knew the difficulties they had to en
counter, the odds they had to contend
with. They knew the powerful batteries
which lined the shores on either side for
» N. Y. Hei-ald.

four miles, and forbade all hostile en
trance to the harbor. They were aware
that, in addition to those destructive
engines of war, the various channels
were so obstructed, that even if the
iron-clads should prove altogether in
vulnerable, they would still find their
passage blocked up by obstructions,
which it might be impossible, and would
certainly be difficult, to remove ; and
they knew, moreover, that, however
well adapted for defensive purposes the
iron-clads might prove to be, the diffi
culty of manoeuvring them, and the
fewness of their guns — heavy though
they might be — did not commend them
for offensive purposes against such forti
fications as those which they should
have to encounter.
" And, therefore, with no trepidation,
no shrinking, no calculation of defeat,
but at the same time without the con
fidence which unprofessional persons
seemed to possess, the gallant Dupont
and his officers prepared to move for
ward and test the great question of
whether the Monitors were or were not
a match for the forts and batteries.
" The attack would have commenced
an hour or two earlier than it did, had
it not been that the Admiral was advised
to wait for the ebb tide rather than sail
up with the flood tide, as the former
would be more apt to discover the
locality of the obstructions in the chan
nel ; and the tide turned at eleven
o'clock. During these hours of suspense
the eye had an opportunity of taking
the features -of the scene on which the
great act was to be played. The blue

DUPONT'S ATTACK ON CHARLESTON.

waters danced in the bright sunshine,
and flocks of sea-birds dipped their
white wings in the waves and uttered
their shrill cries as they swooped down
ward after their prey. Over the para
pets of Forts Sumter and Moultrie the
rebel defenders were watching our
movements and signalizing them ; and
even on the roofs and steeples of the
distant city we could see hundreds of
spectators. Distinctly in view were the
numerous batteries, extending from the
Wappoo Creek, on the Ashley River,
following the contour of James' Island.
down to the Lighthouse battery, on the
south point of Morris Island. On the
other side they were more numerous
still — Breach Inlet battery, on the lower
end of Sullivan's Island ; Fort Beaure
gard, and on up to Fort Moultrie ; while
in the centre of the picture, rising as it
were from the water, stood Fort Sumter,
displaying the rebel flag on one angle
and the Palmetto flag on the opposite
angle ; and beyond, Fort Ripley and
Castle Pinckney, the city filling up the
background. "Meanwhile, the attacking vessels lay
at anchor in the main ship channel,
within a mile of the batteries on Morris
Island, without provoking a hostile shot.
The Weehawken was in the van, and the
other vessels in the order in which they
are named in the plan of attack. Pre
cisely at half-past twelve o'clock the
fleet commenced to move. The distance
to the positions at which they were
directed to attack was nearly four miles,
and for almost all that distance they
were within range of the enemy's bat

teries. But again there is a delay.
Grappling irons attached to the Wee
hawken have got foul of her anchor
cable, and it takes nearly an hour to set
matters right. At last the difficulty is
got over, and once more the vessels are
under weigh. Slowly they move up the
ship channel. They pass within easy
range of Fort Wagner, on Morris Isl
and ; but not a shot disputes their
progress ; they pass the battery at
Cummings' Point — named, I believe,
Battery Bee — but still not a discharge
from a rebel gun. And it is not till the
vessels have got fairly between the two
upper points of Morris Island and Sulli
van's Island — which are about a mile
apart — and are rounding to make the
entrance of the harbor, that the omin
ous stillness is broken. Fort Sumter
opens the hall with her barbette guns ;
Fort Moultrie takes up the loud refrain.
The various batteries join in the deafen
ing chorus, and the iron-clads find them
selves within a circle of fire, concentrated
from all the rebel guns that can be
brought to bear upon the point.
" Nor is that all that these little
floating turrets have to contend with.
If it were, they might have held on
their way defiantly, and run the gaunt
let of all the batteries that stood be
tween them and Charleston. The weak
side of Fort Sumter is well known to be
its northwest front. That was the point
against which our guns were ordered to
be directed ; but that was also the point
which the rebel engineers were deter
mined that we should not get at. From
the northeast angle of the fort, across

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

the channel to Fort Moultrie, were sus
pended, floating from barrels and kept
taut by weights, heavy nets and con
trivances of roping, so fixed as to be
sure to get entangled in the propelling
apparatus of vessels, and also connected
with torpedoes. Into this net the Wee-
hawken, which led the van, fell ; and
for a long time her machinery was use
less and she drifted with the current.
At last, after great exertions, she ex
tricated herself. The other vessels
sheered off and avoided the same peril.
There was no getting into the required
position in this way. Any attempt to
persevere in that course would have ren
dered the fleet unmanageable and ex
posed it to destruction. Baffled in the
attempt to get round or past Fort Sum
ter in that way, the bulldog Monitors
sought another opening ; but even the
shoal ground between the fort and Cum-
mings' Point was barred up with piles.
In fact, Fort Sumter was found to be the
apex of a triangle, the two sides of
which were impenetrable to our vessels,
and at the base line of which they were
exposed to a concentric fire from Forts
Sumter and Moultrie, the Redan, Bat
tery Bee, Fort Beauregard. Thus
brought to a stand, a'nd nothing being
left but either to batter down Fort
Sumter or retire, the iron-clads went
resolutely to their work. Stretching
themselves in a line between Sumter
and Moultrie, and only giving an oc
casional shot to the latter work, they
plied their guns upon the walls of
Sumter. "The Keokuk steamed up to within

some 300 yards of the fortress, while
the other vessels lay at intermediate
distances between that and 600 yards.
The Ironsides — the Admiral's flag-ship —
had become entirely unmanageable, re
fusing to answer her helm ; so that, with
the exception of one broadside which
she poured into Fort Moultrie, she took
no part in the attack, although she was
herself the target for many of the
enemy's largest guns, and was hit some
sixty or seventy times, sustaining, how
ever, no material damage. For half an
hour, while our vessels were in the
position I have described, the cannonad
ing was of the most awfully grand and
terrible character. No words of mine,
no words of any man, can convey a faint
idea of it. It was sublimely terrific.
No less than 300 guns of the largest
calibre concentrated their fire upon the
eight assailants, who had but sixteen
guns with which to respond. The con
test was too unequal to be persevered
in. The Keokuk was soon badly dam
aged. The turret of the Passaic was so
indented as to prevent its revolving.
The Patapsco had her 200 pound Par-
rott gun disabled ; and, besides, night
was coming on. The Admiral therefore
signalized the fleet to retire, and sullenly
they fell back from a contest in which
they were so tremendously overmatched ;
not, however, without leaving their
mark behind. . The northeast front of
Fort Sumter, which was the only one
exposed to our fire, was badly damaged.
No less than eleven holes, some of them
three feet wide, and two embrasures,
knocked into one, showed the effect of

FAILURE OF THE IRON-CLADS.

the Monitors' guns. But that was all
we effected — that and the dissipation
of a popular error, that Charleston could
be captured by nine or ten iron-clads.
The signal to cease firing was given
about five o'clock. It was obeyed, and
the vessels fell back to the flag-ship, the
parting shot being fired by the Nantucket
as she passed Fort Wagner."
In the conflict, the Union fleet had
suffered to such an extent, that it was
deemed by the Admiral and his officers
imprudent to renew the attack. The
Keokuk was the only vessel destroyed.
She was struck by ninety shots. Of these,
nineteen were on the water line, fifteen
in the after turret, twelve in the forward
turret, and twenty-five on the sides.
" The Passaic," wrote the correspond
ent already quoted, "is disabled by
having her turret so injured that it can
not revolve, and she has to be sent to
Port Royal for repairs. She was struck
fifty-eight times. The Patapsco was
injured by having her 200-pound Par-
rott gun disabled. She was struck from
forty to fifty times. The Nahant was
struck eighty times, and had her pilot
house completely shattered. The Iron
sides was hit from, sixty to seventy
times, receiving no material damage
beyond the knocking off one of her port
shutters, thus exposing her gun-deck.
The Weekawken was struck fifty-nine
times, and had her funnel deeply in
dented, so that she worked with diffi
culty. The Montauk was hit twenty
times. The Nantucket and Catskill
were each hit about fifty times, having
their decks considerably torn."

There was not a single life lost dur
ing the engagement, but Captain Rhind
and twelve men of the Keokuk, and
six of the Nahant, one of whom subse
quently died, were more or less severely
wounded. The chief reliance having been placed
upon the iron- clad fleet, the service of
the troops was held subsidiary. A
small force was landed on Folly Island,
to be in readiness to occupy any bat
teries that might be taken by the navy.
As the day closed, the Admiral signal
ized as follows to General Hunter :
" Delayed in getting under weigh by
accident. Orders not reaching the lead
ing ship, we attempted to pass into the
inner channel, but were obliged to
anchor to prevent going ashore. En
gaged the forts, but found it too late to
continue. Casualties few. One iron
clad disabled, two partially so. Iron
sides very slightly, struck very often."
A minute narrative of the conflict,
from the enemy's point of view, is here
given, as published in the Charleston
Mercury, April 11 :
" At two o'clock p.m., just as the
officers had seated themselves for dinner,
the first advance of the iron-clad fleet
was announced to the commandant of
the post. Their anchorage had been
within the bar of Ship Channel, off the
southern end of Morris Island, some
four or five miles from Sumter. Upon
inspection, it was judged that good time
would be allowed for the conclusion of
the meal, and, after communicating the
movement by telegraph to headquarters
in Charleston, dinner was comfortably

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

dispatched. At half-past two o'clock,
after examination of the approaching
armament from the terreplein, the order
for the ' long roll' was issued. The
whole garrison knew that the hour 'of
trial was at hand, and the greatest en
thusiasm and alacrity prevailed. The
men rushed to their guns with shouting
and yells of exultation. The regimental
band was ordered to the rampart. The
garrison flag (the Confederate States)
was already flying defiantly from the
staff at the northern apex of the pen
tagonal fortress. The blue and white
banner of the Palmetto State was given
to the wind on the southwest corner of
the work, and the elegant black and
white color of the First Regiment South
Carolina artillery (regulars) was run up
at the southeast angle, in the face of the
coming foe. A salute of thirteen un-
shotted guns was fired, and the band
broke forth with the stirring strains of
"Dixie." " It was determined to permit the
fleet to come well within range before
opening fire. Lieutenant- Colonel Joseph
A. Yates, who that morning reported
for duty, was assigned to the special
command of the barbette batteries.
Major Ormsby Blanding was assigned
the special command of the casemate
batteries. They were both at their
posts, with officers, men, and guns ready,
and awaiting the order to begin the
engagement. Colonel Alfred Rhett, the
commandant of the post, stood on the
parapet watching the progress of the
doughty iron-clad dogs of war. Every
heart beat high. Every face was flushed

with calm excitement, properly incident
to such a moment. On they came,
steaming slowly northeastward — seven
Monitors, their hulls sunk down to the
water level, showing only a black line
on the surface, and a projecting turret
and smoke-stack each — the Ironsides,
looming up from the sea a formidable-
looking monster, and the Keokuk, her
hull more distinctly visible than the
Monitors, and with two turrets, the
most dreaded of all the nine.
" In front, a Monitor, supposed to be
the Passaic, commanded by Drayton,
pushed forward a long raft,* forked and
fitting her bow, intended to catch, by
suspended grappling-irons, any entangle
ments, or to explode any torpedoes
'-- This was called in some of the enemy's reports a
' ' Devil, ' ' and is thus described by a writer in the N. V.
Herald :
' ' The devil spoken of in the rebel report is a large raft
of timber, securely bolted together, in width about the
same as one of the Monitor batteries, and extending some
thirty feet forward of the battery's bow, which fits into it,
and is then secured to the ring-bolts on deck.
" At the extreme forward part of this raft, and under
water, strong iron stanchions point downward to a few
inches below the bottom of the battery. These stanchions
are secured by iron braces which run back at an angle to
the after under side of the raft. At the bottom of this
network of braces and stanchions are placed two rods, on
which rest several torpedoes, together containing nearly
a thousand pounds of gunpowder. In connection with
this are hammers, which, when acted upon, strike per
cussion caps, exploding the several torpedoes instantly,
and of course causing a rupture of anything they may
come in contact with.
"The experiments of these devils at the North were
very satisfactory, and reflected great credit upon their in
ventor, Captain Ericsson ; but the Government forced
Captain Lowber, of the steamer Ericsson, to take in tow
four of them, and three were lost in a heavy gale of wind.
Subsequently one of them was picked up at sea and towed
into Fortress Monroe, and thence to Port Royal.
" Although the rebels have one, it will do them no
good, as they cannot use it without doing themselves
harm. Perhaps it is only the wreck of one that our people
have used and cast aside."

ENEMY'S ACCOUNT.

which might lie in the path of their
hostile advance. Next followed, in
approximate echelon, another Monitor,
bearing a pennon, and conjectured to
be the flag-ship of the commanding
officer of the fleet. This was succeeded,
in the same order, by two others of a
similar kind, only distinguishable by
slight differences in the adornments of
red and white paint upon their generally
black turrets and smoke-stacks. These
formed the first line or division. After
an interval of space came the Ironsides,
of much larger proportions, her sleek
and glistening black sides rising high
and frowning above the water. She
occupied a central position, and was
followed at some distance by the three
remaining Monitors and the Keokuk in
the rear. These four formed the other
line or division of battle.
" At three o'clock, when the leading
gun-boat had got east-southeast of Sum
ter, at a distance of about 1,400 yards,
Fort Moultrie fired the first gun. The
band was hushed at Sumter, the musi
cians were dispatched to their pieces,
and the order was given to open fire,
carefully and by battery.
' ' At three minutes past three the
guns belched forth their fierce thunders
upon the foremost monster. Within
two minutes there was a response. His
shots were directed against Sumter, and
the strife was inaugurated. The east
and northeast batteries, en barbette and
in casemate, were those only engaged,
together with a mortar battery on one
of the ramparts, which fired for a short
time. It would be improper to publish,

at this juncture, the garrison of the fort,
but we may mention that the east
barbette battery was officered, as we
understand, by Captain D. Fleming,
Lieutenant F. D. Blake, Lieutenant
Jones, and Lieutenant Julius Rhett (a
volunteer absent from Preston's Battery
Light Artillery on sick leave). The
northeast barbette battery was officered
by Captain Harleston, Lieutenant McM.
King, and Lieutenant W. S. Simkins.
The mortar battery was for a time
manned and officered by Captain Mac
beth and Lieutenant Julius Alston, who
were subsequently transferred to one of
the casemate batteries engaged. The
other, the largest casemate battery en
gaged, was commanded by Captain W.
H. Peronneau and Lieutenant Fickling,
while a third small battery was in charge
of Lieutenant Grimball.
" For thirty minutes the guns of Fort
Sumter were concentrated on the lead
ing vessel, irrespective of the answering
cannon of the others. The garrison
fought with eagerness and impetuosity.
They had to be restrained, and after
trial, firing by battery, it was found that,
from the small size of the object at a
distance of 1,100 to 1,400 yards, and its
constant and alternate moving and stop
ping, it was difficult to keep the guns
trained to shoot simultaneously with
accuracy. The method was changed,
with apparent advantage, during the
course of the engagement. The gun
boats fired deliberately, at intervals.
The smoke-stack of the pioneer boat
was riddled with balls. The turret was
repeatedly struck and impressions dis-

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

tinctly visible. At twenty-five minutes
past three, a flat-headed bolt of chilled
iron, projected from a Brooks gun (rifled
and banded seven-inch), struck with
manifest damage. A volume of steam
was seen to issue from the creature, and
it turned off on a curve toward the east
and southeast, steaming out of range
and out of the fight. Meantime, the
three other Moniters of the first fine had
bestowed their attention upon the fort
with impunity. They now, after the
retirement of the supposed Passaic, re
ceived each, for a brief season, sundry
acknowledgments. That bearing the
pennon, at thirty-seven minutes past
three, had its emblem of command cut
down by a well-directed shot. Its
turret and hull were indented. Several
shot were visible, driven and sticking in
the iron. The smoke-stack was re
peatedly pierced through. And at a
quarter of four, this invulnerable man-
of-war also drew off, followed by the
two that had accompanied it.
"The Ironsides steamed shy of the
contest. She fired a few shots at a
distance of not less than 1,500 yards,
and perhaps as much as 1,800. Three
balls were seen to strike her in return.
She soon headed off out of range, and
was counted out.
" The Monitors of the second line
were under a concentrated fire, each a
few minutes. All were hit, but ap
parently with no special injury. The
longer the fight continued, the more
accurate the firing proved with the gun
ners of that gallant and admirably train
ed corps.

"The Keokuk now boldly advanced,
bow on, to 850 yards of the east side
of Fort Sumter. This was the shortest
distance attained by any of the fleet, no
other venturing so near. Colonel Rhett
now requested Lieutenant-Colonel Yates
to take charge of a Brooks gun for a
few shots, and to sight it carefully him
self. The first shot entered the open
port-hole of the foremost turret, appar
ently silencing the boat.
"The next ball was a centre shot
upon the turret. The third penetrated
the bow, some ten feet from the stem,
making a large opening at the water
line ; and a fourth also struck the hull.
During this time a concentric fire was
poured into the monster from all the
guns that could be brought to bear.
The fire of the fort had been reduced,
by order, to one gun from each battery
every five minutes, and was exceedingly
precise and effective. For many minutes
the boat drifted lifelessly with the tide,
under a terrific hail, being torn in dif
ferent places, and having shot plainly
imbedded in the iron armor. It was
strongly hoped that it would be so dis
abled as to surrender, falling into our
hands by capture. But, after being
under punishment forty minutes, it
managed to crawl feebly off and escape,
giving a parting salute as it was getting
out of range to show that the will was
there to fight. The following morning
it settled down some 500 yards to sea
from the beach toward the south part
of Morris Island.
"This was the end of the fight.
After a short engagement of two hours

ENEMY'S ACCOUNT.

and twenty-five minutes, an unprotected
brick fort, by the use of its cannon,
assisted by Fort Moultrie and the guns
of one or two sand batteries, em
ploying few guns, repulsed a fleet of
nine of the boasted iron-clad gun-boa,ts.
The Keokuk was sunk. The Passaic
had disappeared from view — probably
sent or towed to Port Royal for repairs.
And the flag-boat has been undergoing
the mending process in plain sight.
The prestige of their invulnerability is
gone. The question is reduced to the
relative powers of destruction of the
fort and the assailing fleet. It is a
question of pluck and survivorship in
a square stand-up fight for victory.
Iron-clad fleets can be destroyed as well
as forts. Fort Sumter, although some
what pitted, to-day is, we believe, as
strong as it was when this fight began.
We deem that, if the attack is renewed
as before (and there is good reason to
believe it will be), the six Monitors left
and the Ironsides will come out the
defeated party, with worse results than
those obtained in the first attempt.
Nous verrons.
" The enemy fired about eighty shots
— mostly fifteen-inch and steel-pointed
shells — at Fort Sumter. This estimate
was made from Sullivan's Island. Forty
only struck the work. One-ten inch
gun was temporarily disabled by a shot.
One columbiad, of old pattern, burst.
One seven-inch rifled gun dismounted
by recoil, and one gun was disabled for
a Tew moments by fracture of the elevat
ing screw through recoil.
" Not a person was killed in Fort
180

Sumter from any cause. Sergeant
Faulkner, and privates Chaplin, Minnix,
and Penn, Company B, were injured by
a shower of bricks thrown from a trav
erse on the rampart by a large shot of
the enemy. A drummer-boy, Ahrens,
was struck on the head by the explosion
of a shell over the parade. A negro la
borer was also wounded. All, we learn,
are doing well, and there is no danger
of losing a life or a limb. The wounded
were dressed by Surgeon Moore, of the
post, and sent out of the way to a hos
pital in the city, where they now re
main. " The regimental ensign was pierced
near the centre by a ball. The Con
federate flag was also perforated."
The same writer in the Charleston
Mercury thus describes the part in the
engagement borne by the other bat
teries :
" Fort Moultrie opened the engage
ment. At three o'clock, the head of
the grim procession of Monitors having
come within reason-range, the word
was given, and the first shot of the
batteries went whizzing at the iron fleet.
In a very few minutes the batteries of
Sumter, with the earth-works of Morris
and Sullivan's islands, were mingling
their deep voices in the chorus of the
fray. During the entire fight, the bat
teries of Fort Moultrie maintained a
well-directed fire against the Monitors
that happened to be nearest, and the
frequency with which the Yankees turn
ed from the main effort against Fort
Sumter to give a spiteful shot to Fort
Moultrie, showed how effectively and

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

accurately the men at the latter post
were hurling their metal on the foe.
" There was but one casualty at Fort
Moultrie. A shot from one of the
Monitors cut away the flag-staff, a few
feet above the parapet, and the staff fell
upon private Lusby, Company F, First
South Carolina (regular) Infantry, in
flicting injuries from the effect of which
he soon died.
"The garrison of Fort Moultrie it
would not be proper to enumerate. It
consists of the First South Carolina
(regular) Infantry. The commandant of
the post is Colonel William Butler, of
the same regiment, and the companies
during the action were severally com
manded by Captain T. A. Huguenin,
Captain S. Burnet, Captain Constantine
Rivers, First-Lieutenant E. A. Erwin,
and Captain R. Preston Smith — the last-
named officer having special charge of
the mortar battery. The closest range
into which the enemy ventured was
estimated by the officers of the fort at
about 1,200 yards. The flag-staff had
been replaced ; and as no other portion
of the fort sustained any damage what
ever during the engagement, the post
is in excellent condition to join in an
other trial of strength with the turreted
armada. " Battery Bee, on Sullivan's Island,
just opposite Fort Sumter, was com
manded by Lieutenant- Colonel Simkins,
of the First South Carolina (regular) In
fantry, and manned by companies of
that regiment, The captains command
ing the companies at this post engaged
were Robert de Treville, Warren Adams,

and W. T. Tatum. The battery was the
recipient of occasional shots from the
enemy, but was not in any way injured,
nor were there any casualties among
the men. During the fight, General
Ripley was present at Battery Bee.
Whenever the enemy may choose to
renew the attack, if his object should be
to dash into the harbor, Battery Bee
will have a far more important part to
play. " The Beauregard Battery, with three
of its guns, also took part in the general
melee of heavy artillery, and twice re
ceived a broadside from the enemy.
This battery, commanded by Captain J.
A. Sitgreaves, First Regiment South
Carolina (regular) Artillery, is situated
on the Sullivan's Island beach, northeast
of Fort Moultrie, a little beyond the
Moultrie House, and is manned from
the First Regiment South Carolina (reg
ular) Artillery, First-Lieutenant Erwin
commanding, and Company B, First
Regiment South Carolina (regular) In
fantry, Captain Warley commanding.
The battery was in no respect damaged,
although many of the Yankee round
shot fell upon the sand in the immediate
neighborhood. " The forces on Sullivan's Island
(which is a portion of the subdivision
commanded by Brigadier-General Tra-
pier) were under the immediate com
mand of Colonel D. M. Keitt, of the
Twentieth Regiment South Carolina
Volunteers. Both General Trapier and
Colonel Keitt were on the island at the
time of the action, and during the firing
were moving from battery to battery."

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LIFE OF GENERAL GILLMORE.

CHAPTER XI.
Disappointment and Dissatisfaction.-The Public denounce the Leaders of the Attack on Charleston -Sympathy of
Government with Popular Sentiment—Removal of Dupont and Hunter.-Their Successors.-Life of General Gill-
more.-Gillmore in command at Charleston— Organization— Siege Operations—Headquarters established at Folly
Island— Batteries Erected— Batteries Unmasked— Fire Opened— An Assault— Works carried at the south end
of Moms Island— Assault upon Fort Wagner. -Failure— Co-operation of Fleet under Admiral Dahlgren— Life of
Dahlgren— Gillmore's Congratulations to his Troops -The Unionists reoccupy James Island— The Enemy strive
to drive them off— The Result— Behavior of Negro Troops— Siege of Fort Wagner— Fire Opened— Assault—
Failure.— The Havoc.

1863.

The disappointment at the result of
the attack on the forts of Charles
ton naturally led to dissatisfac
tion with those who had conducted it,
and the people, as is usual in popular
governments, seeking expiation for a
general fault in individual sacrifice, de
manded their punishment. The Ad
ministration, accordingly, in sympathy
with the popular discontent, yielded up
two of its former favorites, General
Hunter and Admiral Dupont, to public
denunciation. Both were finally re
moved from command at Charleston,
though the former was the first to suffer.
General Gillmore succeeded him. Dahl
gren was appointed in place of Dupont.
These new commanders were officers
whose high character justified their se
lection for the important duties to which
they were assigned.
General Quincy Adams Gillmore was
born in the township of Black River,
Loraine County, Ohio, in 1828. He
received his early education in Elyria,
Ohio, and was intended by his pa
rents for a medical practitioner, but

on leaving school expressed a desire to
go to West Point. His father consented,
on his son promising that he would try
to come out at the top of his class. The
promise was faithfully kept, and young
Gillmore entered the Academy at West
Point in 1845. He graduated in 1849,
the first of a class of fifty-three in num
ber, among whom were many who have
attained high rank and distinction in
the present war. "v
He entered the army as brevet second
lieutenant of engineers, and was at
once detailed for duty on the fortifica
tions in progress of erection in Hampton
Roads. . In 1852 he was appointed
Assistant Instructor in Practical Engi
neering, and in 1856, Quartermaster and
Treasurer at West Point. On the 1st
of July of the same year he was pro
moted to a first-lieutenancy of engir
neers, and was detailed for duty upon
the defences of New York harbor.
While thus employed, he made a series
of experiments, the results of which he
published in his " Treatise on Limes,
Hydraulic Cements, and Mortars."

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

In 1861, being promoted to a cap
taincy of engineers, the young officer
demanded a more active sphere of duty,
and was accordingly appointed Chief
Engineer on the staff of General Thomas
W. Sherman, commander of the land
force which co-operated with the fleet
of Admiral Dupont in the capture of
Port Royal. His engineering skill was
at once put into requisition in the
erection of defensive works upon the
ground occupied by the troops.
The consummate ability of Captain
Gillmore as an engineer being proved
by his masterly siege and reduction of
Fort Pulaski, the Administration recog
nized his merit, and promoted him, April
28, 1862, to a brigadier-generalship of
volunteers. In September, 1862, Gen
eral Gillmore was appointed commander
of the district of Western Virginia, but
had no sooner arrived at that post than
he was assigned to the command of a
division of the Army of Kentucky. He
was subsequently appointed commander
of the forces occupying Lexington,
whence he marched out to meet General
Pegram, whom he defeated at Somerset
on the 30th of March, 1863.
On the 3d of June, 1863, General
Gillmore was ordered to South Carolina,
to relieve General Hunter, and on the
12th of the month assumed command of
the Department of the South.
General Gillmore, after a rapid or
ganization of his department and a
thorough personal survey of the position
before Charleston, began a series of
operations with the view of capturing
or destroying the enemy's works. Per

suaded that Folly Island, which had
been for some time occupied by a. Union
force, was a good temporary base, he
removed to it a large supply of cannon,
mortars, and ammunition, constructed
formidable batteries, and finally estab
lished his headquarters there. Having
completed his works, he now determined
to attack the enemy's position on Morris
Island. On the 10th of July, General
Gillmore unmasked the guns of the
Folly Island batteries and opened fire.
Under cover of a heavy cannonade the
assaulting column was landed, which
after a short struggle carried the works
at the south end of Morris Island.
"At five o'clock on the morning of
the 10th instant," wrote General Gill
more in his report, July 12, 1863, "I
made an attack on the enemy's fortified
position on the south end of Morris
Island, and after an engagement lasting
three hours and a quarter, captured all
his strongholds on that part of the isl
and, and pushed forward my infantry
to within 600 yards of Fort Wagner. '
We now hold all the island except about
one mile on the north end, which in
cludes Fort Wagner and a battery on
Cummings' Point, mounting at the pres
ent time fourteen or fifteen heavy guns
in the aggregate.
" The assaulting column was gallantly
led by Brigadier-General Strong. It
landed in small boats, under cover of
our batteries on Folly Island and four
Monitors, led by Rear-Admiral Dahl
gren, which entered the main channel
abreast of Morris Island soon after our
batteries opened. The Monitors con-

ATTACK ON MORRIS ISLAND.

tinued their fire during the day, mostly
against Fort Wagner.
" On the morning of the 11th instant,
at daybreak, an attempt was made to
carry Fort Wagner by assault. The
parapet was gained ; but the supports
recoiled under the fire to which they
were exposed, and could not be got
up. "Our losses in both actions will not
vary much from 150 in killed, wounded,
and missing.
" We have taken eleven pieces of
heavy ordnance and a large quantity
of camp equipage. The enemy's loss
in killed and wounded will not fall short
of 200."
The assault upon Fort Wagner was
gallantly made by a portion of the
Seventh Connecticut, which volunteered
to perform the hazardous work ; but a
New York and Pennsylvania regiment
which were to act as supports, recoiling
before the enemy's fire, the Connecticut
men, after gaining the parapet, were
driven back with a loss of over a
hundred in killed, wounded, and cap
tured. The naval force, of which Admiral
Dahlgren* had now assumed command,
took part. Four iron-clads, the Cats-
kill, Weehawken, Nahant, and Montauk,
were, however, the only vessels en-
° Admiral John A. Dahlgren was born in Pennsylvania.
He entered the navy as a midshipman, February, 1826, be
came a lieutenant in March, 1837, a commander in Sep
tember, 1855, and an admiral in 1863. Since 1847, with
the exception of a short cruise, until his appointment to
the command at Charleston, he was engaged on ordnance
duty at the navy-yard in Washington. His name is asso
ciated with a cannon called Dahlgren, invented by him for
the discharge of heavy shells

gaged. A writer* who was on board
of the last-named vessel, thus describes
the action :
" The morning was soft and mild.
At a quarter to four a.m. all hands were
called, anchor was soon up, and in a few
moments we were well under weigh,
steaming well in across the bar. It was
too early to perceive the condition of
affairs on Morris Island, and not until
half-past four o'clock could we easily
distinguish the shore. Admiral Dahl
gren, who had come up from Port Royal
in the Augusta Dinsmore, now took his
position on board the Catskill, as his
blue pennant indicated. As we crossed
the bar, the work of the day began,
commencing with the guns of General
Gillmore on Folly Island, which threw
their shell and grape far over the low
lands and bluffs of Morris Island into
the channel beyond — indeed, into the
neighborhood of the four iron-clads. It
was a magnificent sight indeed. One
heavy, unbroken, continuous boom,
boom, boom, filling the air with burst
ing shell and spreading grape, and send
ing a broad, heavy veil of blue smoke
behind and over the woods, against the
dark foliage of which we watched with
peculiar interest the rapidly succeeding
flashes of the guns. It was now half-
past five o'clock, and the firing by the
rebels from Morris Island was very ir
regular. The iron-clads steadily and
slowly moved up the channel, sending
their globes of iron across the island and
into the bluffs which lined the coast.
The batteries upon the bluffs were not
° Providence Journal.

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

used, probably from the scarcity of men
and the surprise of the attack. And
yet we saw men around the little clus
ters of tents, which were near' the bat
teries and upon the shore ; but they
seemed excited a,nd unable to man the
batteries, even if disposed, which they
did not seem to be after the location of
part of our cargo in the midst of them.
Soon, however, we saw large bodies of
men coming from the centre of the
island up to and into the batteries which
covered the bluffs. Immediately our
shell were sent with astonishing preci
sion among them, which caused the
evacuation of their strongholds to be as
rapid as the possession had been. Over
the tops of the bluffs, through the val
leys between them, around them, and
in all directions, the rebels were flying
in straggling crowds, driven by our
shells from the seaward, and from the
land side by the troops of General
Gillmore's army, whose occupation of
the south end of Morris Island had been
indicated by the discontinuance of the
firing of the heavy guns and the rat
tling of musketry which now filled our
ears. "No sooner would a crowd occupy
one of the batteries, than a fifteen-inch
would immediately dislodge them, send
ing them in confusion to the next bat
tery, from which again they were scat
tered in a similar manner. From bluff
to bluff and through the gullies the
rebels were continually flying, never
stopping to use the muskets which they
carried over their shoulders.
"But now, over the low point of

beach on the south end of Morris Island,
appear a dozen or twenty men, bearing
the familiar army signal flag, and wav
ing in exciting exultation the Stars and
Stripes. They had scarcely come into
view, when the solid black mass of our
men, with splendid front, and bearing
above them our own banners, came over
the point and moved, line after line, in
beautiful order along the smooth beach.
In vain the rebels tried to turn the
guns on the bluffs upon the advancing
columns, for our shells immediately scat
tered sand and men in all directions.
The line of bluffs, about half a mile
long, had now all been evacuated, with
the exception of one solitary battery,
from which they succeeded in throwing
four shots upon our advancing men.
The concentrated fire of the four iron
clads in two minutes drove the rebels
from their last position, and sent them
in flying crowds down the hills and over
the low lands toward the city. Instantly
our men secured the battery and turned
the guns upon the flying rebels.
"In twenty-five minutes after the
appearance of our men upon the lower
end of Morris Island, they held all these
bluffs, and were using the guns.
"There are no other earth- works
upon Morris Island, except upon the
northern extremity. Between the bluffs
and the upper end, a distance of per
haps two and a half miles, the island is
low and narrow, easily swept by guns
from the channel. Along the slope are
some six or eight houses, toward which
our forces rapidly moved. About two
miles from the bluffs and near the shore,

NAVAL ATTACK ON FORT WAGNER.

and within easy range of Fort Sumter,
is a large and finely constructed earth
work, with all the usual accompaniments
of an extensive fort, and mounting
probably some twenty guns. This forti
fication, called Fort Wagner, was com
menced immediately upon the breaking
out of the rebellion, and is»a formidable
affair. Farther up, upon the extreme
point of the island, and where the old
Cummings' Point battery was, is another
work, and a strong one, called Battery
Bee. Sumter covers both of these.
" After the evacuation of the bluffs
we moved slowly up the channel, shell
ing the low land as we moved. Soon
the long-range guns of Wagner opened
upon us, with an occasional gun land
ward toward the troops. Shells were
fired from Wagner, destroying two of the
houses on shore, as they were serving
as a protection to our skirmishers, who
were rapidly advancing under their
cover. The burning houses filled the
sky above with the black smoke, adding
to the interest, which was now becoming
intense. " The four iron-clads were now in
excellent position off Wagner, and send
ing their eleven and sixteen inch shell
through and through the parapet, and
opening great caves into the immense
solid walls and traverses which formed
the earth-work. Seldom was a head
seen above the parapet, and when the
men sprang to load their guns, as soon
as the black port-holes in the turret
were turned toward the fort, the men
immediately disappeared as though shot.
" Shell after shell, with an occasional

shrapnel and grape, were sent slowly
and deliberately within the rebel work,
doing fearful execution among the men)
guns, and the well-arranged and nicely
sodded bastions and angles. It was
a magnificent sight, and he was a lucky
one who had possession of a standing
place within the little pilot-house and
watched through the eyeholes the scene
which was becoming so intensely excit
ing. On the right is Moultrie, silent
and still ; across the narrow sea way
is Sumter, with its red walls looming
above the sea around it, with its parapet
occasionally lighted by the gun flash,
while from under the rings of blue
smoke which so gracefully float away
above the strong walls, issue their shots
and bolts, but falling into the water and
doing the fleet no harm. To the rear
of Sumter the steamers are occasionally
running, evidently carrying men and
munitions. To the left of Sumter is
Cummings' Point and Battery Bee ; still
farther to the left is Fort Wagner, now
being torn and rent by our shells. On
the extreme left the regiments, which
were but a few hours before marching
in solid column up the beach, are now
resting, their muskets stacked, and the
men in groups upon the sand hills,
watching the fight in which they have
now no participation, excepting, indeed,
the wary skirmishers and sharpshooters
which, advancing from hut to bush,
quietly kneel and give the rebel gun
ners knowledge of their presence, and
receive in return, every now and then,
the compliment of a shell.
" At forty minutes past twelve o'clock,

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

at signal from the Catskill, the iron
clads slowly withdrew down the chan
nel and came to anchor, to give the
men a resting and eating spell. The
fire from Wagner, which for an hour
had been decreasing, now rapidly re
vived, both upon us and upon the troops
which now held and occupied the island.
Neither, however, paid any attention to
the firing, and it soon became slow and
irregular. " The little tug Dandelion, Captain
Barryman, which forms a part of the
blockading fleet, ran up into range of
Sumter and received in quick succession
three or four shots, which threw high
into the air great columns of water.
They are continually firing at the tug
when an opportunity occurs.
"Just as the Montauk came to
anchor, a rifled bolt from Wagner struck
our deck on the starboard quarter, made
a long, deep indentation into the iron,
broke in two, and the parts went whiz
zing over our heads.
" We anchor abreast ofthe bluffs and
come out upon the iron decks once
more, with the most perfect nonchalance.
A field battery of General Gillmore's,
which has been harnessed up all the
morning,, is moving off from the beach
toward the low, level land of the island.
" The troops fall back from the ad
vanced position which they had attain
ed, and are resting and taking dinner.
Although the sun shines warm, the air
is cool, with a fresh breeze.
" The commanders of the four iron
clads lunch with the Admiral on board
of the Catskill, and after returning to

their respective vessels, the order is
given to get under weigh again, and at
fifteen minutes past one our anchor is
up and we are steaming toward Wagner
again. In half an hour the old position
is attained, and the little iron fleet are
once more paving the interior of Wag
ner with iron»globes.
" A large two-horse ambulance, which
came to Wagner this morning, now
moves slowly away up the beach, dis
playing an immense yellow flag.
"A large steamboat comes to the
rear of Wagner with ammunition, and
Captain Fairfax tells our master, Mr.
Giraud, who has charge of the guns, to
fire at the steamer, and a fifteen-inch
flies above it, throwing up fountains of
water beyond. Mr. Giraud is one of
the finest shots in the service, and the
accuracy of his fire to-day has been
remarkable. As the afternoon wore
away, the fire from Wagner slackened
again and grew irregular and inaccurate.
At twenty-five minutes to eight o'clock
p.m. we withdrew after a hard day's
fighting, and came to anchor again in
the channel below. * * *
" We have been struck but once ; the
Catskill, however, bearing the Admiral's
blue pennant, has some honorable scars,
and well she deserved them, for her
shells must have done much damage to
the rebel fort."
Soon after the capture of the works
on the south end of Morris Island, a
Union force also succeeded in making
good a landing and reoccupying a por
tion of James Island, which had been
evacuated by General Hunter on the

SIEGE OF FORT WAGNER.

failure of the attack (April 7th) by the
iron-clads on Fort Sumter. On the
16th of July, the enemy made an effort
to regain complete possession of the
island, but failed.
The loss of the Unionists amounted
to eight killed, and forty wounded and
missing. The enemy took an encouraging view
of the failure of their attack. The
official report declared, " We attacked
part of the enemy's force on James
Island this morning (July 16th), and
drove them to the protection of their
gun-boats in the Stono, with a small
loss on both sides."
The colored regiments which had been
recruited under an act of Congress were
now beginning to be extensively em
ployed. Of their good conduct during
the attack on James Island, the most
reluctant believer in the policy of using
negro soldiers gave impressive testi
mony. General Gillmore now began a series
of engineering operations, with the ob
ject of reducing Fort Wagner. The
first parallel being constructed, and
heavy siege guns posted, he was ready
to open fire. In the mean time, a sortie
was made from their works by the
enemy, who, after killing a man, wound
ing two men, and taking a single
prisoner, retired. On the morning of
the 18th of July, a bombardment of
Fort Wagner was begun from the works
on Morris Island and the iron-clad gun
boats, and continued the whole day. At
night, an assault was made by the troops
under General Strong. " He had or-
181

ders," says the correspondent* whom we
quote, " to march his brigade across the
open land to the beach near the old
house at the right of our works ; and
for this movement the Fifty-fourth Mas
sachusetts, Colonel Robert Shaw, was
added temporarily to his command.
His other regiments were the Sixth
Connecticut, Colonel John L. Chatfield ;
Ninth Maine, Colonel Sabine Emory ;
the remnant of the Seventh Connecticut
battalion, Captain Sylvester S. Gray
(not with the storming party) ; Forty-
eighth New York, Colonel William B.
Barton ; Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania,
commanded by Captain John Littell,
and the Third New Hampshire, Colonel
J. H. Jackson.
" Colonel H. S. Putnam was ordered
to advance with his brigade to the rear
of Strong's. His brigade had been on
the beach, under the bluffs, all day, and
consisted of the Seventh New Hamp
shire, Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Abbott
in command ; One Hundredth New
York, Colonel Dandy ; Sixty-seventh
Ohio, Colonel A. C. Voris, and the
Sixty-second Ohio, Colonel Howell.
" Brigadier-General Stevenson was
also ordered toward the front with his
fine brigade as a reserve.
" It became necessary to communi
cate with Admiral Dahlgren, so that
he might co-operate with the projected
movement. Captain Burger, of General
Gillmore's staff, was selected to bear
the message, no trifling duty, for Ad
miral Dahlgren was on the Montauk,
and the Montauk had just crept up
«N. T. Herald.

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

nearer to Fftrt Wagner. Her move
ment had excited suspicion, and from
the rebel forts desperate but futile
efforts were being made to disable her.
A boat, drawn up on the beach, was
impressed for the service ; but her crew
objected, under the circumstances, to
visiting the Montauk. Eight sturdy
oarsmen from the Seventh New Hamp
shire volunteered at once, and in half
an hour Captain Burger was returning
safely. " As a part of the plan, the land bat
teries and iron-clads now made a furious
assault on the fort, firing with the
greatest possible rapidity. * * *
The roar from the guns and mortars was
almost deafening. Under this cover the
two brigades advanced.
" Strong's brigade marched in column
up past the old building on the right
of our batteries ; then deployed and
advanced in line a short distance, then
deployed again, and marched up the
beach in close column, Putnam's brigade
following at supporting distance, and
halting at a point where they had been
ordered to stop. Fort Sumter saw the
movement, and pitched her shells over
among the troops, but hurt none of
them. When Strong's troops, led by
their gallant general, had got two-thirds
the distance to the fort, the cannonading
ceased, to avoid injuring our own troops,
and then the rebels in Fort Wagner
came out in full strength. A thousand
muskets flashed almost together, and
poured a deadly fire into our troops.
The guns were brought to bear on
them, and grape and canister hailed

down upon them. With a shout they
advanced, at a word from the General,
on a double-quick, unfalteringly, directly
up into that terrible fire. *
They never staggered — never wavered
— did not stop for the many who fell.
* * * They reached the ditch and
crossed it, some on planks, some rush
ing down in and toiling up, some seek
ing a better entrance to the left, where
the ditch was, however, filled with
water. As they were making the
crossing, howitzers in the bastions kept
up a raking fire, prostrating many
bodies, but not deterring the mass.
Over they went, and clambered up the
parapets. But the grape met them
everywhere, sweeping the ditch, the
curtains outside, the parapets above,
and the rebel infantry, seeing all, but
unseen themselves, peppered them with
bullets and gave no chance to respond
effectually. Some retreated without
further effort ; the majority struggled on
manfully, and charged down over the
parapet, driving all before them. There
was certain danger now in retreating,
uncertain danger in staying or advanc
ing. The rebels were driven from one
corner over a traverse, and the Sixth
Connecticut colors planted on the para
pet. But from the opposite sides of
the fort, from behind parapets and tra
verses and bastions, the fire was kept
up. Two guns commanded our position
with their volleys of grape. All at
tempts to reach them commenced with
slaughter and ended with retreat. The
Fifty -fourth Massachusetts (colored)
found a place lower down, and charged

REPULSE AT FORT WAGNER.

bravely over the parapet, their officers
urging them to distinguish themselves.
But the rebels made a dash at them,
with all their bitter feeling against negro
troops aroused, and neglected all else
for a moment in attacking the negroes.
They took some prisoners, slaughtered
many, bayonets clashed and muskets
rattled, and the Massachusetts blacks
got bewildered. They barely saved
one of their flags, and the staff of
another, and then, With thinned ranks,
retreated through the showers of iron
hail, leaving their colonel in the fort,
many officers unaccounted for, and many
black bodies, lifeless or disabled, along
their track. All the other regiments
got, wholly or in part, on or over the
parapets, but all were finally forced to
flee. The contest oh their part was a
short but bloody one. Had these regi
ments held on together but a moment
longer, they would have had a whole
brigade to help them ; but the difficul
ties were greater than had been antici
pated, and they could not be longer held
where victory seemed impossible. With
one or two regiments it was a rout ;
they went off helter-skelter, running
wildly, anxious only for some shelter
from the rebel fire. Others marched
off as orderly as if executing a simple
manoeuvre, carrying their arms and
taking away such of their wounded as
were outside the ditch.
" The brigade of Colonel H. S. Put
nam, with his Seventh New Hampshire
Regiment on the right, when the ad
vance was ordered, moved to the rear
of the old house behind our batteries,

and deployed into line. In this form
they advanced to our intrenchments,
and then deployed into close column.
When the nature of the ground would
admit, they again deployed into line, and
in this manner advanced to the works.
Colonel Putnam was one of the first to
reach the parapet, surrounded by his
brave New Hampshire Seventh boys,
and inspiring his whole brigade by his
fearless, gallant conduct. In approach
ing the ditch, the retreating men of the
first charge were met, and some portions
of the brigade were detained for a
moment, but not permanently demoral
ized. Colonel Putnam sent Lieutenant-
Colonel Abbott, of the Seventh, and
Major Henderson, his adjutant-general,
to intercept stragglers, rally those who
halted, and hurry forward all troops.
They did this under a very hot fire,
which was as terrible a short distance
from the fort as in it. The rear division
of the Seventh and a portion of the
One Hundredth New York were massed
together, crossed the ditch, and essayed
to get a foothold inside from one point,
while the Sixty -second and Sixty -
seventh Ohio went to another. Every
regiment behaved nobly, and all have a
fearful roll of casualties to attest the
persistency and energy of their effort to
obtain and hold the fort. One corner
of the fort only was ours, and that was
swept by grape and canister and ex
posed to musketry. The troops looked
back, saw they were alone, and began
to falter. General Strong had been up
and cheered and rallied his quondam
classmate and ever friend, Colonel Put-

100

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

nam, and returned to try and bring up
reinforcements. Colonel Putnam im
plored, entreated, commanded his troops
to hold on but a moment longer, and
then another minute, and then a mo
ment again, but no help came. He had
sent a messenger to ask for reinforce
ments. He did not know that Generals
Strong and Seymour had both been
carried from the field wounded. The
messenger learned the fact, and went
to General Gillmore. The latter, anx
ious, but still cool and clear-headed,
told him the reserve, a fresh brigade,
had been ordered forward as soon as it
was known a foothold had been gained
in the rebel work. Before this messen
ger had left, another arrived to say that
Colonel Putnam was killed, and that
our troops had retired from the fort
entirely. That was the result, briefly
told. General Stevenson's brigade was
being conducted by Colonel Turner, of
General Gillmore's staff, to reinforce

Colonel Putnam, when the news of his
death and the retirement of his troops
reached them in season to prevent the
whole rebel fire taking effect on them.
Sad and disappointed they turned back,
and the battle-field was left to the en
emy, and our dead and wounded. * * *
" Our fresh troops fell back to the
intrenchments in good order, occupying
all our old positions."
The havoc, as is usual in all assaults
on a fortification, and especially in those
which are unsuccessful, was terrible.
The officers suffered greatly. Generals
Seymour and Strong were severely
wounded. Colonels Putnam and Shaw
were killed, with several others of less
rank. The total number of killed,
wounded, and missing* amounted to
nearly a thousand.

° "My medical director in the field," wrote Gillmore
in a dispatch, July 23, "reports an aggregate loss in
killed and wounded in our hands of 635. I judge there
are 350 missing. The losses cover the three actions of the
10th, 11th, and 18th instant."

GILLMORE'S BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER.

101

CHAPTER XII.

The -Siege of Fort Wagner continued. — A Modification of Plan. — Great Batteries of Parrott Guns established. — Fire
opened on Fort Sumter. — A terrible Bombardment. — Co-operation of Fleet.— Fire opened on Charleston. — Immense
range of the Parrott Guns. — Sumter in Ruins. — Correspondence between Beauregard and Gillmore in regard to the
fire upon Charleston.— Continuation of Siege of Fort Wagner.— The Difficulties.— The Details of the Siege Opera
tions.— Ready for an Assault. — Evacuation of Forts Wagner and Gregg by tbe Enemy. — The Enemy's Flag still
flying from Fort Sumter. — Naval Expedition against Fort Sumter. — Failure of the Expedition. — An Apocryphal
Bulletin. — Causes of the Failure.— Why the Fleet did not advance. — Obstructions, Torpedoes, etc., in the Channels.
—A Torpedo described —The Attempt with a Torpedo upon the Ironsides.— Occupation of Forts Wagner and Gregg.
— The Works Strengthened and Improved.— Fire upon Sumter and Charleston. — Running the Blockade during
the Siege.

1S63.

After the two unsuccessful attempts,
General Gillmore so far modified
his original plan as to determine,
before completing his siege operations
against Fort Wagner, to effect the re
duction or demolition of Fort Sumter,
which kept up an annoying fire upon
his trenches.
In order to reduce this work, General
Gillmore constructed breaching batteries
on Morris Island, and mounted them
with two and three hundred pounder
Parrott guns. These were placed at
distances between 3,300 and 4,240 yards
from Fort Sumter. Batteries were also
established, in spite of a heavy fire from
the enemy on James Island, by Gen
eral Gillmore on his left, within effective
range of Charleston.
On the 17th of August, fire was
opened on Fort Sumter, and the bom
bardment, unequalled in its severity,
was continued for seven days. The re
sult was announced by the General on
the 28th : "Fort Sumter is to-day," he
said, " a shapeless and harmless mass of

ruins." Colonel Turner, the chief of
artillery, thus reported in detail, on
the 23d:
" At the close of the seven days'
bombardment the gorge wall of the fort
is almost a complete mass of ruins
for the distance of several casemates.
About midway on this face the ramparts
are removed nearly, and in places
quite, to the arches ; and but for the
sand-bags with which the casemates
were filled, and which have served to
sustain the broken arches and masses
of masonry, it would have long since
been entirely cut away, and with it the
arches to the floor of the second tier of
casemates. The debris on this front
now forms a rampart reaching as high
as the floor of these casemates. The
parapet wall of the two northeasterly
faces is completely carried away, a small
portion only being left in the angles
made in the gorge wall, and the ram
parts of these faces are also a total
ruin. " Quite one-half of our projectiles

102

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

seem to have struck the parade and
parapet of these two faces, and, judging
from the effects they have had upon the
gorge wall within our observation, the
destruction of masonry on these two
sides must be very great, and I am of
the opinion that nearly every arch of
these fronts must be broken in. But
one gun remains in position on these
two fronts, and this is in the angle of
the gorge, and, I think, unserviceable.
The ruin extends around, taking in the
northeasterly face as far as can be seen.
A portion of this face, adjoining the
angle it makes with the southeasterly
face, is concealed ; but, from the great
number of missiles which have struck in
this angle during the last two days, it
cannot be otherwise than greatly dam
aged, and I do not think any guns can
be left on this face in a serviceable
condition. The ramparts in this angle,
as well as in the southeasterly face,
must be ploughed up and greatly shat
tered. " The parapet on this latter face is
torn off in many places, as we can see,
and I hardly think the platforms of the
remaining guns on this face could have
escaped. " With the assistance of a powerful
glass I cannot determine that more than
one of these guns can be used, and it
has been dismounted once. The car
riages of the others are evidently more
or less shattered, and such is the con
dition of the parapet and parade, in the
immediate vicinity of this gun, that it
probably could not be served for any
length of time.

" In fine, the destruction of the fort
is so far complete, that it is to-day of no
avail in the defence of the harbor of
Charleston. "By a longer fire it can be made
more completely a ruin and a mass of
broken masonry, but could scarcely be
more powerless for the defence of the
harbor. "I therefore respectfully submit my
opinion, that a continuance of our fire
is no longer necessary, as giving us no
ends adequate for the consumption of
our resources."
While Gillmore was operating with
his batteries against Fort Sumter, the
enemy at Fort Wagner were occupied
with the naval force, whose operations,
to the 18th of August, were thus re
ported on that day by Admiral Dahl
gren :
" Yesterday," he wrote, " was begun
another series of operations against the
enemy's works.
" Early in the morning General Gill
more opened all his batteries upon Fort
Sumter, firing over Fort Wagner and
the intermediate space.
" About the same time I moved up
the entire available naval force, leading
with my flag in the Weehawken, fol
lowed by the Catskill, Nahant, and
Montauk, the Passaic and Patapsco in
reserve, for Sumter ; the Ironsides in
position opposite to Wagner, and the
gun-boats named in the margin at long
range, viz. : Canandaigua, J. F. Green ;
Mahaska, Commander J. B. Creighton ;
Cimmarone, Commander A. K. Hughes ;
Ottawa, Lieutenant-Commander J. L.

«#-

ADMIRAL DAHLGREN'S REPORT.

103

Davis ; Dai-Ching, Lieutenant - Com
mander J. L. Chaplin ; Ladona, Lieu
tenant-Commander E. Broadhead.
" As the tide rose, the Weehawken
was closed to about 450 yards off
Wagner ; the other three Monitors fol
lowed, and the Ironsides was taken as
near as her great draught of water per
mitted. " After a steady and well-directed
fire, Wagner was silenced about thirteen
minutes past nine a.m., and the fire of
our own vessels was slackened in conse
quence. " Meanwhile the fire of our shore
batteries was working effectually upon
the gorge of Sumter, which appeared to
have been strengthened in every pos
sible manner.
" At this time the flag was shifted to
the Passaic, which, with the Patapsco.
both having rifled guns, steamed up the
channel until within 2,000 yards of
Fort Sumter, when fire was opened
on the gorge, angle, and southeast front
of the work.
" The Patapsco fired very well, and
is believed to have struck the southeast
front nine consecutive times.
" To all this Sumter scarcely replied.
Wagner was silenced, and Battery Gregg
alone maintained a deliberate fire at the
Passaic and Patapsco.
" It was now noon. The men had
been hard at work from daybreak, and
needed rest ; so I withdrew the vessels
to give them dinner.
" During the afternoon our shore
batteries continued the fire at Sumter
with little or no reply from the enemy,

and I contented myself with sending up
the Passaic and Patapsco to prevent
Wagner from repairing damages.
" The fort replied briskly, but in a
short time left off firing.
" I am not able to state with exact
ness the result of the day's work, but
am well satisfied with what a distant
view of Sumter allowed me.
" Our entire power is not yet devel
oped, as it will be daily, while the
enemy is damaged without being able
to repair.
"The officers and men of the vessels
have done their duty well, and will
continue to do so.
" All went well with us, save one sad
exception. Captain Rodgers, my chief
of staff, was killed, as well as Paymas
ter Woodbury, who was standing near
him. "' Captain Rodgers had more than
once asked on this occasion if he should
go with me as usual, or resume the
command of his vessel, the Catskill ;
and he repeated the query twice during
the morning, the last time on the deck
ofthe Weehawken, just while preparing
to move into action.
"In each instance I replied, "Do as
you choose." He finally said, " Well, I
will go in the Catskill, and the next
time with you."
" The Weehawken was lying about
1,000 yards from Wagner, and the
Catskill, with my gallant friend, just
inside of me, the fire of the fort coming
in steadily.
" Observing the tide to have risen a
little, I directed the Weehawken to be

104

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

carried in closer, and the anchor was
hardly weighed when I noticed the
Catskill was also under weigh, which I
remarked to Captain Calhoun.
"It occurred to me that Captain
Rodgers detected the movement of the
Weehawken, and was determined to be
closer to the enemy if possible.
" My attention was called off immedi
ately to a position for the Weehawken,
and soon after it was reported the Cats-
kill was going out of action, with a
signal flying that her captain was dis
abled. He had been killed instantly.
"It is but natural that I should feel
deeply the loss thus sustained ; for the
close and confidential relations which
the duties of fleet-captain necessarily
occasioned, impressed me deeply with
the worth of Captain Rodgers. Brave,
intelligent, and highly capable, devoted
to his duty and to the flag under which
he passed his life, the country cannot
afford to lose such men. Of a kind and
generous nature, he was always prompt
to give relief when he could.
" I have directed that all respect be
paid to his remains, and the country
will not, I am sure, omit to honor the
memory of one who has not spared his
life in her hour of trial."
On the 21st of August, General Gill
more, after having notified General
Beauregard of his intention, opened fire
upon Charleston.*
" Between one and two o'clock, Satur-
0 The immense Parrott gun used on this occasion was
called by a, cruel irony of our soldiers the '¦ Swamp
Angel," swamp, from the fact of the battery being con
structed in a marsh, and angel on the lucus non lucendo
principle.

day morning, August 21, the enemy,"
wrote a resident of Charleston, ' ' com
menced firing on the city, arousing our
people from their slumbers. Twelve
eight -inch shells fell into the city,
thirteen in all having been fired. For
tunately no person was injured. Several
shells flew in the direction of St. Michael's
steeple, and fell either in the vacant
lots in the burnt district on King Street,
or more generally struck in the centre
of the streets, as exhibited at the corner
of Queen and Rutledge, where an eight-
inch shell tore up the plank-road and dug
a large hole in the ground. Another shot
entered the warehouse of G. W. Williams
& Co., corner of Hayne and Church
streets, entered the roof, and exploded
in the upper story, making a large
opening in the brick wall of the medical
purveyor's storehouse next door, scat
tering things in great confusion. Some
loose straw or packing was set on fire
by the explosion, which caused the
alarm bell to ring and brought out the
firemen. It was extinguished with little
effort before it had made any progress.
Four shells fell in this locality. One
large piece was picked up and exhibited
in the guard-house, where it was the
subject of much curiosity."
That Fort Sumter should have been
pounded to pieces, and the city of
Charleston reached from such distances,
were convincing proofs of the great
effectiveness of modern artillery. The
Parrott guns, manufactured at the foun
dry at West Point, New York, were the
agents by which these marvellous feats
had been accomplished. General Gill-

GILLMORE AND BEAUREGARD.

105

more, modestly wearing the credit which
belonged to him for the skilful applica
tion of these monstrous powers of
destruction, said in a letter to a friend
on the destruction of Fort Sumter, " I
take no special credit to myself for the
attainment of this result. It was simply
the development of the power of skil
fully served artillery. Parrott is the
real hero."
The fire upon the city of Charleston
naturally excited the temper of the en
emy, and led to an angry correspondence
between General Beauregard and Gen
eral Gillmore. The former, after being
notified of the intentions of the Union
general, protested against them as con
trary to the usages of war.
" It would appear, sir," wrote General
Beauregard, angrily, "that despairing
of reducing these works, you now resort
to the novel measure of turning your
guns against the old men, the women
and children, and the hospitals of a
sleeping city — an act of inexcusable
barbarity from your own confessed point
of sight, inasmuch as you allege that
the complete demolition of Fort Sumter
within a few hours by your guns seems
to you a matter of certainty.
" Your omission to attach your sig
nature to such a grave paper must show
the recklessness of the course upon
which you have adventured. When
the facts that you knowingly fixed a
limit for receiving an answer to your
demand which made it almost beyond
the possibility of receiving any reply
within that time, and that you actually
did open fire and throw a number of the
182

most destructive missiles ever used in
war* into the midst of a city taken
unawares, and filled with sleeping women
and children, will give you a bad emi
nence in history — even in the history
of this war."
General Gillmore replied, saying :
"If, under the circumstances, the life
of a single non-combatant is ex- Ang,
posed to peril by the bombardment 22.
of the city, the responsibility rests with
those who have first failed to remove
the non-combatants, or to secure the
safety of the city after having held
control of all its approaches for a period
of nearly two years and a half in the
presence of a threatening force, and
who afterwards refused to accept the
terms upon which the bombardment
might have been postponed. From
various sources, official and otherwise,
I am led to believe that most of the
women and children of Charleston were
long since removed from that city ; but,
upon your assurance tha,t the city is still
full of them, I shall suspend the bom
bardment until eleven o'clock p.m. to
morrow, thus giving you two days from
the time you acknowledged to have
received my communication of the 21st
instant, "f
The siege of Fort Wagner, now that
Fort Sumter was in ruins, was pursued
with greater ease. The difficulties,
however, were still great, not only from
the strength of its construction, but
* These " destructive missiles" were bombs filled with
an inflammable fluid called " Greek fire."
t The foreign consuls residing at Charleston had asked
for a suspension of the bombardment of the city, and
General Gillmore acceded to their request.

106

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

from its position. Skilfully built of the
sand of that region, which has been
found to be the best material to with
stand the effect of shell and shot ; pro
vided with a wet ditch ; mounted with
seventeen guns, and possessed of a bomb
proof for its garrison, Fort Wagner was
in itself a powerful work. The advan
tages of its site were, moreover, very
great. On the east it was guarded by
the sea, on the west by a creek called
Vincent's, and a marsh, and in the rear
by the enemy's fortifications at Cum
mings' Point and on Sullivan's Island.
The only approach in front was the
narrow ridge of sand, which contracted
to a width of twenty-five yards on
reaching the work. It was on this
ground that General Gillmore had made
his approaches. Nothing could be more
unfavorable for the regular operations
of a siege. On one side was a marsh,
and on the other the sea, which oc
casionally, at high tide, overflowed the
sand spit and put a stop to work. The
besiegers, moreover, were exposed to a
heavy fire, lessened, however, by the
demolition of Sumter, to which they
could respond only by centre-batteries.
Gillmore, in spite of all obstacles, pushed
on his approaches.
' ' The first parallel and the batteries
in it were ready on July 18th, and the
fire was opened at 1,350 yards, several
hours prior to the assault on that day.
The second parallel was opened by the
flying sap on the 23d of July, at 750
yards from the fort, was made the
principal defensive line, was well secured
from sorties, and contained the breach

ing batteries afterwards used against
Sumter. The third parallel, at 450
yards, was made by the flying sap also,
on August 9th, and beyond this point
the trenches were sometimes pushed
forward by the flying sap, sometimes by
the full sap, as opportunity demanded.
The fourth parallel, at about 300 yards,
was made on the 22d and 23d of August.
The fifth parallel, at 200 yards, on a
ridge wrested from the enemy, August
26th. Beyond this point the approaches
were simply zig-zags, making very acute
angles with each other, as there was not
front enough for a parallel.
" Here came that period," says a
professional writer,* " which almost
every well-contested defence has shown,
where the besieger, being in fact the
enveloped party, his artillery to a great
extent unavailable, his daily losses heavy
discouragement seizes upon the besieg
ing force, and all but those who possess
the bull-dog spirit are ready to give up.
An officer present, writing to a friend,
says : ' Matters seemed at a stand-still,
and a spirit of dejection and discourage
ment began to pervade the entire com
mand. There seemed, indeed, to be no
adequate return for the daily loss of life
which we suffered.'
" In this emergency new means and
redoubled efforts were called for, and
General Gillmore was equal to it. He
moved to the front all his light mortars,
enlarged the positions for his sharp
shooters, obtained the co-operation of
the Ironsides by day, used powerful
calcium lights to blind the enemy by

* Army and Navy Journal.

FORT WAGNER EVACUATED

107

night, opened fire with as many heavy
guns to his rear as he could without
danger to his men in the trenches, thus
essaying to keep the garrison confined
to their bomb-proof, and to breach this
through a breach in the work. These
measures were inaugurated on the
morning of September 5th, and for
forty-two hours, one who was present
writes, ' the spectacle was magnificently
grand, even sublime.' The fort was
silent. The garrison were immured in
their bomb-proof, and the work went
on in safety except from the batteries
on James Island. The men moved
about in the trenches, even sat on their
parapets, and hunted torpedoes, at which
they had become as skilful as rat
catchers at scenting out rat-holes. The
counterscarp of the work was crowned
on the night of September 6th, and
some formidable obstructions in the
ditch removed. All being now ready
for an assault, the order for it was
given ; but seeing the hopelessness of
their position, the enemy evacuated just
in time to avoid the result."
Fort Gregg, at Cummings' Point,
being evacuated at the same time as
Fort Wagner, the whole of Morris Isl
and remained in possession of the Union
forces. " Last night," wrote General Gill
more in his official dispatch of Septem
ber 7, 1863, " our sappers crowned the
crest of the counterscarp of Fort Wag
ner on its sea front, masking all its
guns ; and an order was issued to carry
the place by assault at nine o'clock this
morning, that being the hour of low tide.

" About ten o'clock last night the
enemy commenced evacuating the island,
and all but seventy-five of them made
their escape from Cummings' Point in
small boats.
" Captured dispatches show that Fort
Wagner was commanded by Colonel
Keitt, of South Carolina, and garrisoned
by 1,400 effective men; and Battery
Gregg by between 100 and 200.
"Fort Wagner is a work of the most
formidable kind. Its bomb-proof shel
ter, capable of holding 1,800 men, re
mains intact after the most terrible
bombardment to which any work was
ever subjected. We have captured
nineteen pieces of artillery and a large
supply of excellent ammunition.
"The city and harbor of Charleston
are now completely covered by my
guns." From the ruins of Fort Sumter the
enemy, though they had not a single
gun in position, still hung out their
flag. Admiral Dahlgren, accordingly,
fitted out an expedition with the view
of taking by surprise and capturing the
troops in possession.
" At about eleven o'clock at night,"
says a correspondent,* " the expedition,
consisting of over twenty boats, with
thirty-four officers and 413 men, of
which 120 were marines, was placed
under the direction of Commander
Thomas H. Stevens, ofthe Patapsco, with
Lieutenant - Commander S. B. Bunce,
and Lieutenant Moreau Forrest, as aids.
Lieutenant-Commander Williams, of the
Wissahickon, was placed in charge of
o N. T. Herald.

108

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

the first division of boats ; Lieutenant
Remey, of the naval battery, of the
second ; Flag-Lieutenant Preston, of
the third ; Lieutenant Higginson. of the
Powhatan, of the fourth, and Captain
McCawley, commanding the marines,
and Ensign Craven, of the Housatonic,
the fifth division. Captains Stevens and
his aids led the flotilla in the admiral's
barge. ' ' The plan of attack was to assail the
fort on three sides— one party landing
on the gorge wall and attempting to
ascend the debris and gain the parapet ;
a second was to attempt to gain entrance
through the lower embrasures, and a
third was to act as a reserve. The
Daffodil took the boats in tow and
.steamed up to a short distance from
Sumter, when they cast off and formed
in line of attack. The boats pulled cau
tiously along and made slow progress
necessarily, as the proper line of attack
had to be observed.
"At half-past one the first line of
boats approached closely the fort, and
were discovered by the sentry on the
walls of the work and sharply challenged.
No reply was made to the question of
' What boat is that ?' A second chal
lenge of the same nature failing to elicit
a reply, the sentry discharged his musket
and called to the officer below to ' Turn
out the guard.' The boats on being
hailed pulled quickly to the fort ; but
before they could reach it, several shots
had been fired at them. The boats had
dashed rapidly up, the formation of the
line of advance being broken, and each
boat striving to effect the first landing.

" Seven boats succeeded in getting
alongside of the debris on the gorge
wall ; the others while pushing up were
met with a sharp fire of musketry.
Signal lights were burned from Sumter,
and in a moment all the rebel batteries
bearing on the fort opened a fire of shell
and shrapnel on the fort itself, and, of
course, on any party that might be
about its base. About 150 sailors and
marines got ashore, and instead of find
ing a slope of debris up to the parapet
of the gorge wall, they found a perpen
dicular range of masonry, which the
rebels had constructed, meeting them
full in the face. All their efforts to find
a place of ascent were fruitless. Not a
soul could ascend the wall, and the
party found themselves in a critical
position. The rebels had manned the
parapet with infantry, and were also
firing through loopholes, formed by
sand-bags, in the upper slope of the
debris. In addition to this, five hand-
grenades were hurled upon the assault
ing party's heads, and bricks were de
tached and tumbled down upon them.
Three of the boats were torn to pieces
by hand-grenades or shells from the
distant rebel batteries, and retreat was
being rapidly cut off. At this juncture
a rebel ram came down and opened fire
with grape and canister upon the boats,
the rebels on the fort throwing flashes
of light upon the dark waters about
them from a large locomotive lamp.
As each boat was brought to light,
volleys of musketry, canister, and grape
were poured in from the fort and gun
boat, and many men killed and wounded.

BOAT ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER.

109

The only mark for our men to fire at
was this light, and a volley or two was
thrown at it, but to little effect. Finally,
a continuance of their effort to carry
out the plan being evidently of no avail,
and promising only a heavy loss of men
without any gain, the order to retire
was given. Four boats came off from
the landing at the gorge, and three,
being destroyed, were left there. Only
a small portion of the storming party
succeeded in regaining their boats. Many
were killed and the balance taken
prisoners." The loss in this untoward expedition
was, according to the Union accounts,
ten officers and 104 men. General
Beauregard in his official account gave
a higher estimate.
" Last night," he wrote in his dis
patch of September 9, 1863, " thirty of
the launches of the enemy attacked
Fort Sumter. Preparations had been
made for the event. At a concerted
signal all the batteries bearing on Sum
ter, assisted by one gun-boat and a ram,
were thrown open. The enemy was
repulsed, leaving in our hands 113
prisoners, including thirteen officers.
We also took four boats and three
colors." He added, though apocryphal-
ly, "We took the original flag of Fort
Sumter which Major Anderson was
compelled to lower, and which Dahlgren
had hoped to replace."
There was much public disappoint
ment that the fleet had apparently
effected so little, while the land opera
tions had been so successful. After the
guns of Sumter had been silenced, it

was thought that the iron-clad gun
boats would have been able to approach
Charleston. The enemy, however, had
so obstructed the harbor, that to attempt
to enter it without a further reduction
of its defences was deemed too hazard
ous. Apart from the regular fortifica
tions, whose means of resistance being
obvious, could be easily opposed, there
was a number of ingenious contrivances
for offence and defence, which were so
hidden that they could not be readily
provided against. Among these were
torpedoes, some of which were fixed,
and others movable. The latter were
either allowed to float down the current
and left to the chance of contact, or
were pushed down by external force
against the object it was intended to
destroy. The floating torpedoes occa
sionally picked up were found to be con
structed of staves bound together by
iron hoops, in the form of elliptical bar
rels, supplied with nipples and primed
with fulminating mercury, which, on
being struck, would explode the coarse
powder with which the machine was
filled. A memorable attempt was made with
one of the other kind of movable
torpedoes. " It w'as on the night of
Monday, the 5th of October," wrote a
correspondent,* "that a little cigar-
shaped craft was descried approaching
the New Ironsides. She was towed
down to the vicinity of our picket-boats
by a steamer, and there cast off, and
while her consort was manoeuvring
about the harbor, and by her move-
« N. T. Herald.

110

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

ments attracting the attention of the
pickets, the venturesome little craft made
her way without discovery to within a
few hundred feet of the frigate.
" As soon as the stranger was made
out, she was hailed and challenged by
Ensign Howard, the officer of the deck.
The only reply received was a volley of
musketry. Instantly all hands were piped
to quarters, and the marines, the earliest
on hand, answered with their rifles to
the volley of the stranger. They seemed
to produce no effect on the coming craft,
which, dashing on with all the speed it
could make, soon struck the frigate on
the starboard side. Instantly a terrific
explosion followed, the Ironsides trem
bled from stem to stern. Vast columns
of water were thrown up, and, descend
ing, extinguished the fires of the venture
some steamer. By the fearful shock,
some sailors lying on the gun-deck of
the Ironsides were thrown with violence
up to the under surface of the spar-
deck, and one of them had his leg
broken by the fall.
" This was all the damage the New
Ironsides sustained. As soon as her
guns could be brought to bear upon the
rebel craft, they were opened, and when
the smoke of the first fire cleared away,
the stranger was no longer visible.
Only the circling waves where it had
gone down, and a few objects float
ing or struggling in the water, marked
the spot where it had been a moment
before. " On the following morning, Captain
Rowan, thinking it not unlikely that
some of the rebel crew had been picked

up by vessels of the surrounding fleet,
ordered a search to be made ; and on a
coal schooner from Philadelphia, Lieu
tenant Glassell, of the rebel navy, and a
rebel sailing-master, named Toombs,
were discovered. The lieutenant had
already assumed the garb of a Union
coal carrier, for which he had paid the
captain of the schooner the sum of 300
dollars and a gold watch, and was
patiently awaiting an opportunity to get
back to Sullivan's Island, in which effort
the Philadelphia skipper had covenanted
to aid him. The three persons were
chained together and taken in irons to
Port Royal.
" From all that we could learn of the
strange craft," adds the writer, "she
was built expressly for the purpose of
destroying the New Ironsides, and was
constructed by means of a public sub
scription circulated in Charleston. Five
months have been consumed in getting
her ready. Her hull, though long, was
narrow and shallow, affording room
only for her engines and a crew of four
or five picked men. Projecting thirty
or forty feet beyond her bows was an
immense torpedo, which, although ex
ploding by percussion as intended, had
no other effect than to jar the frigate it
was meant to annihilate."
General Gillmore, immediately on
occupying Forts Wagner and Gregg,
set vigorously to work to adapt them to
his own purposes. After strengthening
the works and mounting them with Oct.
more and heavier guns, he opened 26.
fire upon Fort Sumter, where the enemy
were suspected to be engaged in erect-

RESIGNATION OF BURNSIDE.

Ill

ing new batteries under the cover of
the ruins of the old work. At the
same time some shots were fired at the
city of Charleston. The audacity of
commerce was impressively displayed

by the fact, that during the siege of
Charleston several vessels ventured to
break the blockade, and thus expose
themselves to the immense powers of
destruction concentrated there.

CHAPTER XIII.
The Effect of Bumside's Failure at Fredericksburg upon the Army of the Potomac— His Officers' Interview with Presi
dent Lincoln.— The Effect.— Bumside's Resignation.— The Report of the Congressional Committee on the subject.
—Successor of Burnside.— General Joseph Hooker.— " Fighting Joe."— Life of Hooker.— His Military Career and
Services.— His Personal Appearance and Character.— His excessive Self-reliance.— The Effect upon the many.— Effect
upon the judicious few. — Hooker's freedom of criticism upon his co temporaries. — Hooker versus McCIellan.— Hooker
versus Burnside.— The famous Order No. 8.— The Army of the Potomac inspirited by the appointment of Hooker.
—Activity of Hooker.— Cavalry Expeditions.— Mosby's Raids.— The Enemy's Cavalry checked by the Unionists—
Wyndham's Expedition.— Wadsworth's Expedition.— AveriU's Expedition.— Hooker determined to give Lee battle
at Fredericksburg.— Hooker's plan.— The Army of the Potomac crosses the Rappahannock.— Hooker's confidence.
—Battle of Chancellorsville.— Attack of Sedgwick on Fredericksburg. —Its success— Position of the Enemy.— The
Enemy turn upon Sedgwick.— His Defeat at Salem Heights.— Sedgwick retreats across the Rappahannock.— Hooker
retires across the Rappahannock to his old position opposite Fredericksburg.

The failure of General Burnside at
Fredericksburg createdV in the
Army of the Potomac so much
distrust of his capacity to command it,
that some of his officers ventured to
state the fact to the President. Mr.
Lincoln was so far impressed by the
statement that he wrote to General
Burnside: "I have reason for saying
that you must not make a general
movement without letting me know it."
This interference led to the General's
resignation, the circumstances of which
are authentically given in the report of
the Congressional Committee on the
conduct of the war.
" General Burnside," they say, " came
to Washington to ascertain from the

President the true state of the case.
He was informed by the President that-
some general officers from the Army of
the Potomac, whose names he declined
to give, had called upon him and rep
resented that General Burnside con
templated soon making a movement,
and that the army was so dispirited and
demoralized that any attempt to make a
movement at that time must result in
disaster ; that no prominent officers in
the Army of the Potomac were in favor
of any movement at that time.
" General Burnside informed the Pres
ident that none of his officers had been
informed what his plan was, and then
proceeded to explain it in detail to the
President. He urged upon the Pres-

112

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

ide'nt to grant him permission to carry
it out ; but the President declined to do
so at that time. General Halleck and
Secretary Stanton were sent for, and
then learned for the first time of the
President's action in stopping the move
ment, although General Halleck was
previously aware that a movement was
contemplated by General Burnside.
General Halleck, with General Burnside,
held that the officers who had made
those representations to the President
should be at once dismissed the service.
General Burnside remained here at that
time for two days, but no conclusion
was reached upon the subject.
"When he returned to his camp, he
learned that many of the details of the
general movement, and the details of
the cavalry expedition, had become
known to the rebel sympathizers in
Washington, thereby rendering that plan
impracticable. When asked to whom
he had communicated his plans, he
stated that he had told no one in Wash
ington, except the President, Secretary
Stanton, and General Halleck, and in
his camp none knew of it except one or
two of his staff officers who had remained
in camp all the time. He professed
himself unable to tell how his plans had
become known to the enemy.
" A correspondence then took place
between the President, General Halleck,
and General Burnside. General Burn
side desired distinct authority from Gen
eral Halleck, or some one authorized to
give it, to make a movement across the
river. While urging the importance
and necessity for such a movement, he

candidly admitted that there was hardly
a general officer in his command who
approved of it. While willing to take
upon himself all the responsibility of the
movement, and promising to keep in
view the President's caution concerning
running any risk of destroying the Army
of the Potomac, he desired to have at
least General Halleck's sanction or per
mission to make the movement. Gen
eral Halleck replied, that while he had
always favored a forward movement, he
could not take the responsibility of giv
ing any directions as to how and when
it should be made.
" General Burnside then determined
to make a movement without any further
correspondence on the subject. He was
unable to devise any as promising as
the one just thwarted by this interfer
ence of his subordinate officers, which
interference gave the enemy the time,
if not the means, to ascertain what he
had proposed to do. He, however,
devised a plan of movement, and pro
ceeded to put it in execution. As is
well-known, it was rendered abortive in
consequence of the severe storm which
took place shortly after the movement
began. " General Burnside states that, be
sides the inclemency of the weather,
there was another powerful reason for
abandoning the movement — viz., the
almost universal feeling among his gen
eral officers against it. Some of those
officers freely gave vent to their feelings
in the presence of their inferiors.
" In consequence of this, and also
what had taken place during the battle

RESIGNATION OF BURNSIDE.

113

of Fredericksburg, etc., General Burn
side directed an order to be issued,
which he styled General Order No. 8.
" That order dismissed some officers
from the service, subject to the approval
of the President ; relieved others from
duty with the Army of the Potomac,
and also pronounced sentence of death
upon some deserters who had been tried
and convicted.
" General Burnside states that he had
became satisfied that it was absolutely
necessary that some such example should
be made, in order to enable him to
maintain the proper authority over the
army under his command. The order
was duly signed and issued, and only
waited publication.
"Two or three of his most trusted
staff officers represented to General
Burnside that, should he then publish
that order, he would force upon the
President the necessity of at once
sanctioning it, or, by refusing his ap
proval, assume an attitude of hostility
to General Burnside. The publication
of the order was accordingly delayed
for the time.
" General Burnside came to Wash
ington and laid the order before the
President, with the distinct assurance
that in no other way could he exercise
a proper command over the Army of
the Potomac ; and he asked the Pres
ident to sanction the order or accept
his resignation as major-general. The
President acknowledged that General
Burnside was right, but declined to
decide without consulting with some of
his advisers. To this General Burnside
183

replied that, if the President took time
for consultation, he would not be al
lowed to publish that order, and there
fore asked to have his resignation ac
cepted at once. This the President
declined to do.
" General Burnside returned to his
camp, and came again to Washington
that night at the request of the Pres
ident, and the next morning called upon
the President for his decision. He was
informed that the President declined to
approve his Order No. 8, but had con
cluded to relieve him from the command
of the Army of the Potomac, and to
appoint General Hooker in his place.
Thereupon General Burnside again in
sisted that his resignation be accepted.
This the President declined to do ; and,
after some urging, General Burnside
consented to take a leave of absence for
thirty days, with the understanding that
at the end of that time he should be
assigned to duty, as he deemed it im
proper to hold a commission as major-
general and receive his pay without
rendering service therefor. General
Burnside objected to the wording of
the order which relieved him from his
command, and which stated that it was
at his own request, as being unjust to
him and unfounded in fact ; but upon
the representation that any other order
would do injury to the cause, he con
sented to let it remain as it then read."
General Burnside, on his resigna- jan,
tion,* turned over his command to 26.
* Major- Generals Sumner and Franklin were, at the
same time, relieved from their commands. The former
died on the 21st of MaTch, 1863 ; the latter was placed in
command of a corps under General Banks, in Louisiana.

114

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

General Joseph Hooker, an officer who
had won by his gallantry a conspicuous
position. The title of "Fighting Joe,"
by which he was known among his
soldiers, proved the popular estimate
of his dashing qualities.
General Joseph Hooker was born in
Hadley, Massachusetts, in 1815. In
1833 he entered the Military Academy
of West Point, and graduated in 1837,
ranking No. 28 in a class of fifty. On
the 1st of July, 1837, he became second
lieutenant of the First Artillery, and
on the 1st of November, 1838, was
promoted to the first lieutenancy. From
July 1 to October 3, 1841, he was the
adjutant of the Military" Academy of
West Point, and from 1841 to 1846 was
the adjutant of his regiment. He served
with distinction in Mexico, and was aid-
de-camp to Brigadier- General Hamer.
He was, in May, 1847, brevetted captain
for gallant conduct in the several con
flicts at Monterey, which took place on
the 21st, 22d, and 23d days of Septem
ber, 1846. His brevet bore the last-
mentioned date. He was appointed on
the staff as assistant adjutant-general,
with the brevet rank of captain, on the
3d of March, 1847, and in March, 1849,
was further brevetted major for gallant
and meritorious conduct in the affair at
the National Bridge, Mexico, his brevet
dating from June 11, 1847. In the
same month he received another brevet
— viz., lieutenant-colonel — for gallant
and meritorious conduct in the battle of
Chapultepec. This brevet bore date
September 13, 1847. On the 29th of
October, 1848, he .was appointed a

captain of the First Artillery, and on
the same day vacated his regimental
commission, retaining his position in the .
adjutant-general's department, with bre
vet of lieutenant-colonel.
After serving a while in California,
he resigned on the 21st of February,
1853, and purchasing some land at
Sonoma, on the bay of San Francisco,
became a farmer. He was, however,
employed by the Government to super
intend the construction of the National
Road between California and Oregon.
While in the latter State, he was urged
to accept a nomination for the U. S.
Senate, but declined in favor of the late
General Baker, who was his personal
friend, and whose political interests he
warmly advocated.
As soon as Hooker heard of the
fall of Sumter, he left his farm and
hastened to Washington, where, im
mediately on his arrival, he was ap
pointed a brigadier-general of volun
teers, with a commission dating from
the 1 7th of May, 1861. His first service
was in Maryland, under General Dix ;
but he was soon after promoted to a
separate command under General Mc-
Clellan. He showed energy and tact in
his management of the rebelliously dis
posed counties of Prince George and
Charles, which he subjected to military
control without loss of life. He took
possession, at the same time, of the
Maryland shore of the Potomac, and
kept his troops actively employed in
expeditions into Virginia. He subse
quently crossed the river with a portion
of his troops, took possession of the

Xrtizrca.as:#<rdit4 tv aehof CmyrtaijO IBiJ 1-hyYi

LIFE OF GENERAL HOOKER.

115

enemy's batteries which so long block
aded the Potomac, and advanced some
distance into the interior.
When McClellan entered upon his
peninsular campaign, General Hooker
joined him with his division. In the
severe battles which were fought from
Williamsburg to Malvern Hills, Hooker
and his men did a large share of the
fighting, and became noted for their
readiness and courage.
At the battle of Antietam, General
Hooker commanded a wing of McClel-
lan's army, and for his bearing on that
day received great applause. He was
wounded in the foot during the fight,
but remained on the field until the
victory was won, which he thus an
nounced to General McClellan :
" A great battle has been fought, and
we are victorious. I had the honor to
open it yesterday afternoon, and it con
tinued until ten o'clock this morning,
when I was wounded and compelled to
quit the field. The battle, was fought
with great violence on both sides. The
carnage has been awful. I only regret
that I was not permitted to take part in
the operations until they were concluded,
for I had counted on either capturing
their army or driving them into the
Potomac. My wound has been painful,
but it is not one that will be likely to
lay me up. I was shot through the
foot." His wound proved so severe that he
was prevented for some time from active
service. On his recovery he was pro
moted to a major-generalship of volun
teers, with a commission dating from

July 4th, 1862,* and soon after appointed
to the brigadier-generalship in the
regular army, vacated by the death of
General Mansfield, killed at Antietam,
with a commission dating from Septem
ber 20, 1862. On the removal of Gen
eral Fitz John Porter, General Hooker
was appointed to the fifth army corps,
the command of which he assumed on
the 12th of November, 1862. Subse
quently, when the Army of the Potomac
was divided by General Burnside into
three grand divisions, he was given the
command of the centre, composed of
the third and fifth army corps. At
the battle of Fredericksburg, Hooker's
troops, as usual, distinguished them
selves by their fighting qualities.
General Hooker is described as "very
tall, erect, compactly but not heavily
built, extremely muscular, and of great
physical endurance ; of a light complex
ion, a fresh, ruddy countenance, full,
clear mild eyes, intellectual head, brown
hair, slightly tinged with gray — and al
together, one of the most commanding
officers in his bearing and appearance in
the army."f With a social disposition
and unreserved manners, he yields readily
to the influence of conviviality, and has<
thus incurred the censure of the more
rigid. From the gallantry and activity shown
by General Hooker on various battle-

«* On Hooker's appointment to the command of the
Army of the Potomac, the President requested that his
commission of major-general of volunteers should date
from May 5, 1862, instead of July 4th, 1862, since the
former was the day of the fight at Williamsburg, in which
he had so greatly distinguished himself.
fN. Y.

116

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

fields, great expectations were enter
tained of his success as the commander
of the Army of the Potomac. His
excessive self-reliance and proportionate
distrust of others, although so freely
expressed as to cause the judicious to
doubt his prudence, served perhaps
only to strengthen the confidence of the
people in their favorite, whom, with a
well-founded predisposition in his favor,
they did not hesitate to exalt according
to his own estimate of himself and his
fellows. When asked by the Congressional
Committee to what he attributed the
failure of the peninsular campaign, he
answered: "I do not hesitate to say
that it is to be attributed to the want
of generalship on the part of our com
mander." He also repeatedly declared
that on several occasions during that
campaign he could have taken Rich
mond. Again, after the failure of Gen
eral Burnside at Fredericksburg, he is
believed to have so freely censured that
General's conduct, as to obtain for him
self a prominent place in the famous
Order No. 8, by which he, with others of
lesser note, was relieved from command.
While this extreme self-asserter may
have heightened the popular expectation
of the success of the new commander, it
exposed him to a severer judgment in
case of failure.
The Army of the Potomac — still on
the heights of the Rappahannock oppo
site to Fredericksburg — though tempo
rarily disheartened by its failure under
Burnside, seemed to recover its spirits
upon the assumption of command by

General Hooker, who immediately made
ready for an active campaign. The
cavalry forces of both sides entered
upon a series of expeditions preliminary
to a general engagement. The enemy,
presuming upon the discouragement of
the defeated Union troops, were espe
cially active and bold.
A large force of the enemy's cav
alry, under Fitz Hugh Lee and Hamp
ton, crossed the Rappahannock at Yob,
Kelly's Ford, broke through the 25.
line of Union outposts, and strove to
make their way in the rear, with the
view of destroying the communications.
The Union cavalry having, in the mean
time, concentrated in force, compelled
the marauders to retreat and recross
the river.
A cavalry officer, Captain Mosby,
signalized himself by an audacious raid
in the rear of the Union army, and
entering Fairfax Court House, cap- iflar,
tured General Stoughton, his staff, *•
escort, and baggage.
Mosby's superior in command, Gen
eral Stuart, chief of the enemy's cavalry,
deemed the exploit of his subordinate
worthy of "a recognition in general
orders." "Captain John S. Mosby," he said,
" has for a long time attracted the
attention of his generals by his boldness,
skill, and successes so signally displayed
in his numerous forays upon the in
vaders of his native State.
"None know his daring enterprise
and dashing heroism better than those
foul invaders, though strangers them
selves to such noble traits.

EXPLOITS OF MOSBT.

117

"His late brilliant exploit — the cap
ture of Brigadier-General Stoughton,
United States Army, two captains, thirty
other prisoners, together with their
arms, equipment, and fifty-eight horses
— justifies this recognition in general
orders. "This feat, unparalleled in the war,
was performed in the midst of the
enemy's troops, at Fairfax Court House,
without loss or injury.
" The gallant band of Captain Mosby
share the glory, as they did the danger,
of this enterprise, and are worthy of
such a leader."
Mosby, while engaged in another raid,
was surprised, but escaped capture by
Mar. quickly rallying his men and boldly
Sl« charging the Union troops. He
was on his way to Dranesville, and had
bivouacked upon a plantation, when a
squadron of the First Vermont Cavalry
came suddenly upon him.
" Mosby 's men were dismounted, and
received our cavalry," says a corre
spondent, " with a fire from behind
fences, which stampeded some of the
raw soldiers. The fight soon became
desperate. Mosby threatened his men
with death if they flinched, and himself
wounded Captain Flint five times with
his revolver before killing him. Lieu
tenant Grout, of the Vermont Cavalry,
and seven men were also killed. Our
loss was about sixty killed, wounded,
and prisoners.
" Mosby was in the house upon the
plantation when he was surprised ; but we
learn that he rallied his men with light
ning-like celerity, and when our squad

ron broke, he pursued. and hacked them
severely. The guerrilla chief received
a severe sabre cut on the forehead.
"We learn that the Vermont carbine
companies delivered their fire upon the
enemy with good effect, and then open
ed to the right and left to allow the
sabre companies to charge ; but they
did not come up to the work."
Captain Mosby, recovering from his
wound, and being again in the saddle,
soon made his name familiar as that of
one of the most audacious of the enemy's
guerrilla chiefs.
The Union cavalry was also actively
occupied. A detachment, under Feb.
Colonel Percy Wyndham, started 2.
from Centreville for Warrenton, which
was taken by surprise, and horse patrols
were sent forward to Sulphur Springs
and Waterloo, on the Rappahannock,
but the enemy had disappeared. Some
smugglers, however, were captured with
supplies of contraband goods, consisting
of "boots, silks, phosphorus, and treas
ury notes," intended for the rebels.
Early in March, a detachment of the
First Maine Cavalry, commanded by
Captain Wadsworth, scoured the neck
of land between the Rappahannock and
Mattapony rivers. In the course of the
expedition a thorough reconnoissance of
the district was made. Several boats
plying across the Rappahannock were
destroyed, and a " smuggling nest," filled
with boots, shoes, caps, blankets, horses,
and mules, was broken up.
A more imposing expedition of cav
alry, under the command of General
Averill, sent out to reconnoitre, forced a

118

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

passage across the Rappahannock be-
Mar. ycmd Kelly's Ford, in the face of
17. the enemy's defences, occupied by
a considerable body of sharpshooters.
"The ford," says a chronicler, "ad
mitted but a single horseman at a time,
and the stream, which was swollen, was
very rapid.
"Arriving at the south side of the
river, our cavalry charged the rebels in
their intrenchments, killing and captur
ing nearly the entire force, besides
securing a large number of horses
picketed near by.
" A short distance from the shore
General AveriU's command encountered
the rebel cavalry under Stuart and
Fitz Hugh Lee, who had hastened from
Culpepper to prevent our passage. They
made some dashing charges upon our
troops, who repulsed arid in turn charged
them with fatal effect, using sabres only
in the conflict. Whenever the enemy
made a stand, they were immediately
charged upon and routed from their
positions with great loss.
" The battle lasted five hours, and
was a series- of charges and hand-to-hand
conflicts, resulting in the falling back of
the enemy. The forces were about
2,000 on each side.
" The enemy at last took refuge
behind an intrenched battery, four miles
from the ford, flanked by rifle-pits and
abattis. General Averill, having accom
plished his object, and securing his
prisoners, the wounded on both sides,
and a large number of horses, recrossed
the river without attack or demonstra
tion on the part of the rebels, who were

so badly whipped that they could not
follow or aunoy him."
General Averill brought back with
him about eighty prisoners. Other
reconnoitring expeditions went and re
turned without meeting serious opposi
tion, but daily skirmishes, with varying
results, occurred between the small
cavalry detachments of both armies.
Captain Mosby, in the mean time, con
tinued his tormenting raids in the rear
of General Hooker's army, pouncing
now and then upon a supply train or a
line of suttlers' wagons.
General Hooker, having completed
a series of reconnoissances, determined
to advance and give battle to General
Lee, intrenched on the heights of
Fredericksburg. His plan was simply
to flank the enemy on the left. With
this object he determined to divert them
by an attack with a considerable force
on their right and front at Fredericks
burg, and a demonstration of cavalry in
their rear, while he moved his retain
body to their left.
On the 28th of April, the Union army
began to move, and before the opening of
the third day, the right being composed
of the fifth, eleventh, and twelfth corps,
having crossed Kelly's Ford on the
Rappahannock, and Ely's and Germania
Mills Fords on the Rapidan, encamped
at Chancellorsville. The enemy's sharp
shooters made some show of resistance
at the rivers, and their cavalry with
flying artillery slightly harassed the
flanks of the advancing column.
General Hooker was so well satisfied
with the result of the movement of his

BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.

119

right wing that he expressly compli
mented it.
" It is," he said in his order, April 30,
" with feelings of heartfelt satisfaction
that the Commanding General announces
to the army that the operations of the
last three days have determined that
the enemy must either ingloriously fly
or come out from behind his defences
and give us battle on our own ground,
where certain destruction awaits him.
"The operations of the fifth, elev
enth, and twelfth corps have been a
succession of splendid achievements."
General Hooker subsequently added
to his right wing the first and third
corps, leaving the sixth corps and one
division of the second to attack the
enemy on the front and the left of their
intrenchments at Fredericksburg.
While General Hooker was congratu
lating his troops on their achievements,
General Lee suddenly made a flank
movement, which gave him the advan
tages of position claimed by his adver
sary. Disregarding, for the moment,
the menace in his front and right, he
concentrated all his force on his left,
and leaving his intrenchments at Fred
ericksburg, attacked Hooker in his en
campment at Chancellors ville. On Fri
day, May 1, there was an exchange of
artillery and some severe skirmishing,
which seemed to result tojthe advantage
of the Unionists.
" About nine o'clock" (Saturday, May
2d), says a correspondent* describing
the attacks on the second and third
day, " a regiment was seen to come
" N. Y. Daily Times.

into the plank road, in front of the
Chancellor House, in column, and at
tempt to deploy. One or two closes of
canister caused them to deploy rather
irregularly, and more like skirmishers
on the retreat.
"Soon after, General Hooker and staff
began an inspection of our lines, which
occupied full two hours. Every portion
was visited, and the work of the night
was closely inspected. On the extreme
left new lines were chosen, and the
engineer officers soon marked out the
line and character of the defences to be
erected. When the inspection closed,
the intrenchments were pronounced to
be. of the very best character, especially
those on the right, where the columns
of Slocum and Howard were posted.
" There had been only slight disturb
ances during the night, as both forces
had been busy with their axes rather
than their muskets. From General
Howard's front came a report that the
enemy was engaged all the night in
cutting a road past his picket line to the
right. How much attention was paid
to this fact at the time I do not know,
but subsequent events proved that it
was very significant.
" The day continued to pass in a very
dull manner for a day of battle, and
only here and there was there anything
more than desultory skirmishing and
picket firing.
"About three o'clock the pickets on
the right of General Slocum's front
reported that from a certain position
wagons had been seen moving in a
westerly direction nearly all day. It

120

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

was at once surmised that this might be
a retreat, but subsequent events proved
that it was part of an affair of alto
gether another nature. To ascertain,
however, what it really was, General
Sickles, who was still in reserve, was
ordered to make a reconnoissance in
heavy force in that direction. This was
done with great promptness, and the
divisions of Generals Birney and Whip
ple, witli General Barlow's brigade,
from Howard's corns, were pushed out
to the front, Berdan's brigade of sharp
shooters having the advance, and sup
porting Randolph's battery. Our troops
moved rapidly, and very soon became
more or less engaged, especially the
artillery, and the sharpshooters as skir
mishers. Berdan soon sent in some
sixty prisoners, belonging to the Twenty-
third Georgia, including one major, two
captains, and three lieutenants. Being
upon the ground, I examined these
prisoners, and soon found that the
' wagon train' which we had seen mov
ing during the day was composed mainly
of ordnance wagons and ambulances,
and that Stonewall Jackson and staff
were at the head of a column of troops
which the wagons followed.
"Nothing more was needed to con
vince us that this daring opponent was
executing another of his sudden move
ments, and it was at once resolved to
checkmate him. General Sickles was
ordered to push on, and General
Williams' division of Slocum's column
was ordered to co-operate. Birney
pushed ahead with great vigor, and with
Randolph's battery soon sent to the rear

as prisoners of war the entire remnant
of the Twenty-third Georgia Regiment,
numbering over 400 officers and men.
The column of the enemy which had
been moving up this road was now
literally cut in two, and General Williams
had commenced a flank movement on
the enemy's right, which promised the
most auspicious results.
" But at five o'clock, a terrible crash
of musketry on our extreme right an
nounced that Jackson had commenced
his operations. This had been antici
pated, but it was supposed that after
his eolumn was cut, the corps of General
Howard (formerly General Sigel's), with
its supports, would be sufficient to resist
his approach, and finding that, he was
himself assailed in the rear, he would
turn about arM retreat to escape capture.
" But to the disgrace of the eleventh
corps be it said, the division of General
Schurz, which was the first assailed, al
most instantly gave way. Threats, en
treaties, and orders of commanders were
of no avail. Thousands threw down
their guns and streamed down the road
toward headquarters. The enemy press
ed his advantage. General Devens'
division, disaffected by the demoraliza
tion of the forces in front of him, soon
followed suit, and the brave General
was for the second time severely wound
ed in the foot while endeavoring to rally
his men. General Howard, with all his
daring, resolution, and vigor, could not
stem the retreating tide. The brigades
of Colonels Bushbeck and McDean only
remained fighting, and maintained them
selves nobly as long as possible. But

BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVLLLE.

121

they, too, gave way, though in good
order, before vastly superior numbers.
" General Hooker now sent to the
aid of General Howard the choicest di
vision of his army, the creation of his
own hand — the famous second division of
the third corps — commanded by Major-
General Berry. Captain Best soon mov
ed his batteries on a ridge running across
the road, and after a short but sanguin
ary contest the farther advance of the
enemy was stayed.
" Of course this disaster compelled
the recall of Sickles and Slocum, who
had been pursuing their work with re
markable vigor. General Williams' di
vision returned only to find a portion
of their works filled with the enemy.
Sickles' division could not communicate
with the rest of the army at all by the
way they advanced, and only at great
risk by any other route.
" This was the position at dark, and
it did not look very promising. But
our energetic commander was more
than equal to the emergency. New
dispositions to repair this disaster were
at once made with Generals Birney and
Whipple, and a night attack ordered,
to restore the connection of the lines.
General Ward's brigade, of General
Birney's division, made the attack at
eleven at night, aided by Captain Best's
guns, massed on the ridge in front of
the enemy. Birney's position was on
the extreme left of this new line of
battle, but Ward's terrific attack was
entirely successful, communication was
restored, and in a charge made by the
brigade, a portion of the artillery lost
184

by Howard was gallantly retaken by
General Hobart Ward.
" This night attack was the most
grand and terrific thing of the war.
The moon shone bright, and an enemy
could be seen at good musket range.
The air was very still, and the roar and
reverberation of the musketry and artil
lery past all conception. Malvern Hill
was a skirmish compared with this, save
in the degree of slaughter. But it was
successful — the enemy were driven back
nearly half a mile, and our tired men
once more slept on their arms. That
night's work was ended.
"Now I come to Sunday. It was
perfectly evident, from the position of
affairs on Saturday night, that there
must be a change of our lines, which
would throw the enemy out of our
rear and into our front again. It will
be seen by what skilful generalship the
enemy was fought and checked on front,
and flank, and rear while this was being
done. " General Reynolds' first army corps
arrived at United States Ford on Satur
day afternoon. It was immediately
put into position on our right, which
was withdrawn from the plank road to
the Ely's Ford turnpike. This line was
immediately formed by Generals Rey
nolds and Meade, the latter's position,
on the left, having been relieved
by General Howard's eleventh corps,
which, notwithstanding its disorganized
condition, was so far reorganized dur
ing the night as to be fit for duty again
this morning. They were assigned the
position on the left, where it was prob-

122

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

able there would be little or no fighting,
and were protected by the strong works
built the day before by General Meade's
corps. Our new line now assumed the
shape of a triangle, prolonged at the
apex, the right of the line being some
what longer than the left. As the por
tion of the line on the right was new,
time was necessary to fortify and in
trench it, and the work was carried on
vigorously by the fifth and first army
corps. " It was very evident at daylight this
morning that the day would bring forth
a terrific battle. We knew that the
enemy had been reinforcing his line all
night, at the expense, undoubtedly, of
the strength of his force on our left.
His intention was, evidently, to fight for
the possession of the plank road, which
it was perfectly apparent he must have,
as that portion of it which we then held
was subject to the enemy's assaults in
front and on both flanks.
" But the possession of this road was
not obtained by the enemy save at our
own time, at his severest cost, and after
one of the most desperate, tenacious,
and bloody conflicts, for its short dura
tion, of the whole war. At five o'clock
a.m. the rebels could be plainly seen up
the plank road, about a mile and a half
from the Chancellor House, which Gen
eral Hooker still retained as his head
quarters, though a shell had gone
through it the evening before, and
another had cut down a tree directly in
front of it.
" Our line of battle was formed with
General Berry's gallant division on the

right, General Birney next on the left,
General Whipple and General Williams
supporting. At half-past five a.m. the
advance became engaged in the ravine,
just beyond the ridge where Captain
Best's guns had made their terrific on
slaught the night before, and where
they still frowned upon the enemy and
threatened his destruction.
" The rattle of musketry soon became
a long continued crash, and in a few
moments, as battalion after battalion
became engaged, the roar surpassed all
conception, and indicated that the fight
would be one of the most terrible
nature. General Berry's division, which
had checked the enemy's advance the
night before, engaged him again, and if
it were possible for them to add more
laurels to their fame, then they did it
thrice over again. The enemy advanced
his infantry in overwhelming numbers,
and seemed determined to crush our
forces. But the brave men of Sickles
and Slocum, who fought their columns
with desperate gallantry, held the
rebels in check, and inflicted dread
ful slaughter among them. General
French's division was sent in on the
right flank of our lines at about seven
a.m., and in a short time a horde of
ragged, streaming rebels running down
the road indicated that that portion of
the enemy's line had been crushed. At
eight o'clock a.m., General French sent
his compliments to General Hooker,
with the information that he had charged
the enemy, and was driving him before
him. " Sickles sustained the attack upon

Join. B_ . Chapijx, i

GE2ir, SICKXES' DIVISION CCTVEBIUG- THE BJETIGLAT.

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BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVTLLE.

123

his line with great endurance. The
enemy seemed determined to crush him
with the immensity of his forces, and,
as subsequently shown from the state
ments of prisoners, five whole divisions
of the rebel army were precipitated
upon this portion of the line, for from
these five divisions we took during the
day an aggregate of over 2,000 prison
ers. "The exploits of our gallant troops
in those dark, tangled, gloomy woods
may never be brought to light ; but
they would fill a hundred volumes. It
was a deliberate, desperate hand-to-
hand conflict, and the carnage was
perfectly frightful. Cool officers say
that the dead and wounded of the
enemy covered the ground in heaps,
and that the rebels seemed utterly re
gardless of their lives, and literally
threw themselves upon the muzzles of
our guns. Many desperate charges were
made during the fight, particularly by
Berry's division. Mott's brigade made
fifteen distinct charges, and captured
seven stand of colors, the Seventh New
Jersey, Colonel Francine, alone captur
ing four stand of colors and 500 pris
oners. " General Couch's second army corps,
though only in part present, did excel
lent work. It was General French who
charged and drove the enemy on the
flank, and it was the indomitable Han
cock who gallantly went to the relief
of the hard-pressed Sickles.
" The engagement lasted without the
slightest intermission from half-past five
a.m. to a quarter to nine a.m., when

there was a temporary cessation on our
part, occasioned by getting out of am
munition. We held our position for
nearly an hour with the bayonet, and
then, being re-supplied, an order was
given to fall back to the vicinity of the
Chancellor House, which we did in good
order. Here the contest was maintain
ed for an hour or more, not so severely
as before, but with great havoc to the
enemy, and considerable loss to our
selves. " The vicinity of the Chancellor House
was now the theatre of the fight, and
my visits to that spot became less fre
quent. General Hooker maintained his
headquarters there until ten a.m., when
it was set on fire by the enemy's shells,
and is now in ruins. Chancellorsville is
no longer in existence, having perished
with the flames, but Chancellorsville is
in history, never to be effaced.
" Our new line was now so far estab
lished as to render it safe to withdraw
all our forces on that front, which was
accordingly done, and at half-past eleven
a.m. the musketry firing ceased.
"The engagement had lasted six
hours, but had been the most terrific
of the war. Our artillery had literally
slaughtered the enemy, and many of
the companies had lost heavily in men
themselves, but the guns were all saved.
"The enemy was no longer in our
rear, but had been shoved down di
rectly in our front, between us and our
forces in Fredericksburg, and we were
again in an intrenched and formidably
fortified position. The enemy has gain
ed some ground, it is true, but at the

124

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

sacrifice of the flower of his force, five
of his seven divisions having been cut
to pieces in the effort, and over two
thousand prisoners having fallen into
our hands.
" Our right wing under Generals Rey
nolds and Meade was not engaged, save
the division of General Humphreys,
which went into the woods on the
enemy's left flank, and fought valiantly
under their brilliant leader until their
ammunition was exhausted.
"During the afternoon the enemy
had made several attempts to force our
lines, particularly at the apex of our
position, near the Chancellor House,
but Captain Weed had massed a large
quantity of artillery in such a position
as to repulse with great loss everything
placed within its range. The enemy
tried several batteries and regiments
at that point at different times during
the afternoon, and they were literally de
stroyed by the fire of our terrible guns."
When General Lee had changed his
front and marched his main force in the
attack on General Hooker at Chancel
lorsville, General Sedgwick, who com
manded the sixth corps and the one di
vision of the second left to menace the
enemy in front, took the occasion to
cross the Rappahannock and assail their
rear, consisting of a single division under
General Early, guarding the intrench
ments upon the heights of Fredericks
burg. " Between four and five p.m. on Satur
day, May 2," says a correspondent,*
" the light brigade was thrown forward
0 N. T. Herald.

— the Thirty-first New Tork in the first
line as skirmishers, supported by the
Sixth Maine, the Fifth Wisconsin, and
the Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers,
drawn up in line of battle. This ad
vance was directly from the river, across
the open, level plain just over the point
at which the bridges spanned the stream,
and this little field of battle was bounded
on the right by the ravine that runs up
from one Bernard's house, and on the
left by the other Bernard's house.
Across the front of the field ran the
Bowling Green road, and the possession
of that road was the object of the
present advance.
"Briskly received by the enemy's
pickets, our line still went on, and in
twenty minutes had possession of the
road. As soon as the fire began on the
south side, all of our troops who remain
ed at this point on the north side of the
river were sent across and began to take
up positions. But there was so much
change in these positions, that it was
midnight before the men were in their
places or had a chance to eat their
supper. When once they were at rest,
no fires were permitted, and so but few
suppers were eaten ; for a soldier does
not care for a cold bite at that hour.
*****
" It was at half-past twelve o'clock in
the morning, on Sunday, May 3, that
we left the green plain on the river's
bank and marched to and up the Bowl
ing Green road. Shaler's brigade had
the advance ; behind it came Battery G,
Second United States Artillery, Lieu
tenant Butler ; then Wheaton's brigade,

SEDGWICK AT FREDERICKSBURG.

125

and the second brigade of Newton's
division, commanded by Colonel Brown.
'- Lieutenant- Colonel Joseph Hamblin,
with the First United States Chasseurs,
skirmished in advance of the whole line.
For the greater part of the distance our
march was unmolested ; but as the ad
vance was on the descent of a little hill
just south of the town, a fire of pickets
was opened upon them from an opposite
hill to the left. By this fire several
men were knocked down, and Major
Healy, of the Chasseurs, was wounded.
*****
" But the Chasseurs went on steadily,
and at about three o'clock entered the
town of Fredericksburg, and held it
until the remainder of the column came
up. It was a bold feat to enter thus a
place like this, where every house might
suddenly open upon us like a mine.
But the result justified the apparent
rashness of the venture.
' ' On we went through the toWn in a
direction nearly north until we came to
the railroad track, and then we turned
to our left and went fair west ; again we
went to our right in a northwesterly
direction. At this time no one knew,
perhaps, exactly where we were. But
here was Shaler's brigade massed in the
road ; in the same road Butler's battery,
men all mounted, caissons up, etc. We
were on the march. Shaler was ordered
to the left to feel, and discovered that
we were in dangerous proximity to the
enemy in position, and to what else it
was impossible to make out in the dark.
General Newton, wisely cautious, stop
ped this advance. * * *

"Day was just at peep when the
presence of the bad place in front was
made out, and we then had to look
around us. We occupied the town.
Our skirmishers held the ends of the
side streets, and the streets that ran
down to the river were enfiladed by the
enemy's fire. * * * ,
" Just after daylight, we received the
first fire from the enemy. A fierce
fusilade was begun from a rifle-pit fairly
in our front. Unfortunately, it so hap
pened that the Twenty-third Pennsyl
vania was in line of battle in the open
field, within range of the rifle-pits on
the hill. From those pits a fierce erup
tion of musketry suddenly broke forth,
and took the Twenty-third by surprise ;
but they stood there, bravely and
gloriously ; not a man moved a foot.
But when the fire held up for a
moment, then this magnificent Twenty-
third answered it — not with fire, but
with one magnificent cheer.
" This fire knocked down a number
of men and told us where the enemy
were. Immediately Battery G, Second
United States Artillery, Lieutenant But
ler, with .McCarthy's, Horn's, and Hex-
amer's batteries, unlimbered and opened
a fire on the position whence the
enemy's fire had come. This stopped
the musketry, as the enemy kept his
men covered, and commenced to shell
the town, in which our men were
massed. " On our advance up the Bowling
Green road we appeared to expose our
line of retreat. But we did not do so,
inasmuch as the line of retreat went

126

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

with us ; for as soon as we were over
the river, the pontoon bridges were
taken to pieces, and while we went up
the river on one side they went up the
river, and when we reached Fredericks
burg, there was our line of retreat all
handy if we should need it.
" Another use was also made of the
bridges ; for in a short time after the
sixth corps had occupied the town,
Gibbon's division of the second corps
crossed to participate in the struggle,
and that also was in the streets in the
lower part of the town.
" Brooks' division of the sixth corps
had not come with us. We had here
Newton's division, Howe's division, the
light division, and Gibbon's division of
the second corps, all massed in the town
and fairly in front of the very position
that Sumner had vainly endeavored to
carry last winter.
" General Frank Wheaton's brigade
was now thrown forward to the left,
and skirmished toward the enemy's
position in that direction. The enemy
was found to be there. Still farther to
the left, General Howe did the same,
and the enemy was there. Could it be
possible that this line was thus occupied
through its whole extent ? That seemed
incredible, but, occupied or not, we must
find a point somewhere, and pierce the
line. " After some examination, a point far
to our right was picked out, and Brig
adier-General G. K. Warren thought
that ' that was the place.' It was de
termined that there were neither artil
lery nor men at that point. General

Gibbon was sent there with his com
mand. First a battery was placed on a
hill at point blank range opposite a
work of the enemy's, so that guns should
not be brought there. Scarcely was the
battery — the Third Rhode Island, Cap
tain Hazard — in position, before two
guns opened upon it from the work in
front, to which Captain Hazard, on the
open field, responded handsomely.
" Hazard's battery was supported by
the Second Rhode Island.
"Meanwhile General Gibbon's in
fantry was in motion toward the sup
posed pregnable point of the enemy's
line. Far away to the right, across the
green plain and toward the hillside,
they moved in column, and at them also
the enemy began to throw shell. While
this infantry was in motion toward a
work that was thought to be undefend
ed, your correspondent, from a position
on the left of Hazard's battery, could
clearly see in these very pits swarms of
the enemy as they peered over the in
trenchments and gazed with malign in
terest upon our men on the plain.
" As Gibbon's line thus advanced to
the right, a bad place in the road caused
the Twentieth Massachusetts to become
somewhat massed, and the enemy sud
denly opened upon it a fire of grape and
canister, which proved very destructive.
" General Gibbon, soon after Hazard's
battery opened, got into action Captain
Adams' Rhode Island battery, across
the plain to the right, and in the road
that skirted the battle-field. Captain
Adams practised at the rebels, and was
also practised at, and well, too, by the

SEDGWICK AT FREDERICKSBURG.

127

battery on the hill to his left, and by
another which suddenly opened on his
right, nearer to him, while he endeavor
ed to get the range of the first. Be
tween this cross fire this battery was
severely cut up, and the position became
too hot for it.
" As General Gibbon went to the
right, the enemy's men were sent in
that direction to meet him. As they
had the shorter lines, the same men
could be employed at whatever point
we might threaten. Thus 10,000 men
should have been equal to at least
50,000, and we did not have more than
15,000 on the field.
" On the front, where General Gib
bon commanded, the Tenth Massachu
setts skirmished toward the enemy's
pits, and the fire demonstrated that
there were men there as well as cannon.
" Away on the left, Howe did just
what Gibbon did on the right, and
Newton did the same in the centre ; yet,
with all, though men were killed and
wounded plentifully, there was nothing
done. Every battle has these periods
of indefinite endeavor, from which some
one fact eventually shapes itself out and
becomes the fact of the occasion. So it
was here, and while in every direction
the artillery thundered at the enemy,
while Howe felt for a chance on the left,
and Gibbon found every point equally
difficult on the right, a plan of assault
was determined upon, to be made by
the third and eighth divisions under
General Newton, against the enemy's
centre. " Yet a distinguished officer had said,

only a short time before, that ' to at
tempt to carry the place by storm would
be a waste of life.'
" Attempts to storm were to be made
simultaneously by Gibbon on the right,
Howe on the left, and Newton on the
centre, and were so made ; but inasmuch
as Newton's was the successful attempt
— as he was the first to penetrate the
line, and as when the line was once
penetrated at one point it was no longer
tenable anywhere — Newton's assault
appears to deserve the especial honor.
" It was made on the centre against
'Marye's Hill. Directly west, out of the
town of Fredericksburg, runs a road
that finally reaches Chancellorsville.
Just in the outskirts of the town, at
much less than a mile from the main
street, this road ascends a hill that,
while it is sufficiently steep to render
the ascent toilsome, is not so steep as to
render any less effective the fire of artil
lery and musketry. This is Marye's Hill,
and at the summit of this hill is Marye's
House. Near the hill a road leaves the
Chancellorsville road, runs toward the
south across the front and right of the
hill at its base. The latter road has a
substantial stone wall on each side of
it, and these roads, with a little assist
ance from the spade, had been converted
into excellent breast- works. About the
centre of the first wall was a little house,
which made the position the stronger,
and this was only the base of the hill.
No artillery fire could touch those walls,
for it w£(,s a sunken road, and though
the walls were four feet high in the
road, in the fields their tops were level

128

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

with the surface. Thus, as seen by our
batteries, there were actually no walls
there. Behind the second line of pits
rises the hill, and around its whole crest
runs a well-constructed earth-work, in
which there was one large howitzer.
Both flanks of this hill were completely
swept by the fire of works of the same
character on either side.
" To the left (our left) of this position
was an open ploughed field, on the
farther side of which were the stone
walls. To the right was an open green
plain, and here there were no pits at
the foot of the hill ; so the way was
clear to the crest, though of course
every inch of it was under fire. Worst
of all, perhaps, was the central approach,
which was the road. Though, at ' its
exit from the town, this road is covered
by a few houses, it is fairly under fire
all the way, and at the ascent of the
hill it is a mere gulch, broken and
stony, and an awful place for men to be
packed in under a plunging fire of
grape and canister in addition to the
musketry fire.
' ' The right column was formed of the
Sixty-first Pennsylvania Regiment, Col
onel Spear, and the Forty-third New
York, Colonel Baker. It was supported,
as we have said, by two regiments in
line, the First Long Island, Colonel
Nelson Cross, and the Eighty-second
Pennsylvania, Major Basset. These two
regiments were part of Shaler's brigade,
and Shaler went with them.
"The left column of attack was formed
of the Seventh Massachusetts, Colonel
Johns, and the Thirty-sixth New York,

Lieutenant-Colonel Walsh. This column
was supported by two regiments in line
of battle and a regiment of skirmishers
in the open field to the left. These
skirmishers were the Forty-third New
York. The regiments in line were the
Sixth Maine and the Fifth Wisconsin.
These two columns and their supports
numbered in all about 3,000 men. They
moved out of the town to the assault at
about eleven a.m.
' ' As soon as they came well into the
enemy's field of fire, the terrible fusilade
began. Colonel Spear, at the head of
his regiment, was one of the first hit,
and his fall affected his men so that
they wavered and fell into confusion
and disorder, and communicated it to
the Forty-third, behind them, and much
of the ground already gained was lost.
For this column it Was so far a fair
repulse. Bui in this critical juncture
Colonel Shaler, with magnificent gal
lantry, rallied the column, brought it up
to the work once more, and took it on
up the hill.
"Meantime in the left column mat
ters were somewhat the same. The
colonel of the Massachusetts Seventh
was hit, and his regiment faltered also,
but was rallied handsomely by Colonel
Walsh, of the Thirty-sixth New York,
and with those glorious fellows it went
on once more. The supports in the
open plain drew the enemy's fire heavily ;
but they went on steadily from the^ first,
and went into the work with the rest.
Indeed, Colonel Burnham, of the Sixth
Maine, claims that the colors of his
regiment were first planted on the hill.

BATTLE OF SALEM HEIGHTS.

129

"Many of the enemy's men were
slain in their places in the pits, where
they stood till the last moment, and
resisted even as our men clambered
over the walls.
"Colonel Spear, of the Sixty- first
Pennsylvania Volunteers ; Major Bas
set, of the Eighty-second Pennsylvania
Volunteers ; Major Faxon, of the /Thirty -
sixth New York ; Major Haycock, of
the Sixth Maine, with Captains Ballings,
Young, and Gray, of that regiment,
were killed in this assault. Colonel
Johns, of the Seventh Massachusetts,
was wounded here.
" By this success the place was ours ;
the enemy's line gave way precipitately ;
our men entered at several points at
once, and we captured eight guns and
from 800 to 1,000 prisoners."
Lee's forces were thus, by this success
of General Sedgwick, placed between
two portions of the Union army, sepa
rated from each other by a distance of
ten miles. This position, however, was
entirely in favor of the enemy, who,
having by their victory over General
Hooker forced him to inactivity, were
enabled to detach a large force to over
whelm the victorious Sedgwick in their
rear. The latter was driving before
him the fugitives from the heights of
Fredericksburg, and marching to join
Hooker at Chancellorsville, where the
enemy, reinforced by Lee, turned and
met him. Thus was fought the severe
battle of Salem Heights, in which the
Unionists were beaten and forced to
retreat. Sedgwick fell back fighting
with the enemy at every step, to Banks'
185

Ford, where he recrossed the Rappa
hannock.*
° As there is no attainable official report of the battle
of Salem Heights, the reader must content himself with
the following account from the N. V. Herald :
" In the advance from the heights of Fredericksburg,
the division of General Brooks led the way, with Newton's
column upon the right and that of General Howe upon
the left. Skirmishers from the Sixty-first Pennsylvania,
Forty-third New York, Eighty-second Pennsylvania, and
Seventh Massachusetts were thrown out in front and on
both flanks, and the march for the first two miles was un
opposed by the retiring foe, toward whom our resolutely
advancing troops occasionally directed a volley of their
musketiy. At this distance, however, the rebel General
Early rallied his men, and posted a battery of flying artil
lery in such a position as for a time to annoy us, hut
nevertheless inflicting slight damage. An order to charge
upon this battery was obeyed with the greatest alacrity ;
but before our infantry, who went up on the double-quick,
could reach it, the rebels limbered up and hurried away.
"At four o'clock in the afternoon the corps had reached
a point four miles from the city, on the turnpike toward
Chancellorsville. Here they emerged from a wood which
extended some distance from either side of the road into
an open field of, I should judge, 300 acres in extent.
Beyond us was a belt of timbered land, commencing at
the foot of a gentle slope, and covering its side and
summit. In the midst of the grove, on the left of the
road as we advanced, stood a little edifice known as the
Salem Tabernacle. Two or three smaller buildings also
showed themselves through the trees a little farther
beyond. Midway between the church and our entrance
to the open field was a plantation mansion of moderate
pretensions, and nearer to the wooded heights beyond us
stood another dwelling. These constitute the hamlet of
Salem Heights. Across the field, and running diagonally
with the road on which we were advancing, was a ravine.
"As our troops emerged from the woods and entered
this open space, word was sent back from the skirmishers
that the rebels had a battery in position on the heights
opposite the church ; and almost simultaneously a shell
from one of the rebel guns exploded in the road, killing a
mounted orderly and his horse, and seriously wounding
Captain Peed, assistant adjutant-general on the staff of
General Brooks.
" The regiments of Colonel Pinrose's New Jersey bri
gade, together with the Sixteenth and One Hundred and
Twenty-first New York, from Bartlett's brigade, immedi
ately pressed forward and charged into the woods on the
right, while the brigade of General Eussell made a similar
movement on the left. A battery of artillery, under
Captain Williston, was also hurried forward, and began to
play with most excellent effect upon the intrenched
enemy. They were driven through the woods to the
summit beyond. But our ranks were fearfully thinned

130

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

General Hooker finding his position.
though sufficiently strong to resist im-
by the deadly musketry of the enemy ; and, exhausted by
their previous fighting, their subsequent march, and their
hurried charge, they were obliged to fall hack. They
found the enemy beyond the woods still stronger in
trenched, and prepared, by the arrival of reinforcements,
whom they had met while on the retreat, to dispute our
farther advance. As our troops withdrew from the
charge, the rebels pursued them. Again our artillery,
which had been brought still nearer, and was now posted
beyond the ravine on the right of the road, dealt death
and destruction among the foe, and they withdrew to the
cover of the trees.
" Nothing could exceed the coolness and intrepid bravery
with which our gallant soldiers of Brooks' division charged
upon the enemy. They were flushed with their glorious
success of the forenoon, and seemed determined to risk
every chance in order to dislodge the rebels. But the
latter, having regained their first line, shoved forward
their reinforcements and held the edge of the woods
despite every effort on the part of our brave men. Begi-
ment after regiment was pressed forward to the assault ;
but they fell like grass before the mower's scythe. The
fire was terrific, and for a time it appeared as if certain
destruction awaited the entire corps. ° ° °
" Being assured of the strong position of the enemy, and
of the arrival of a large body of reinforcements from their
rear, our troops were placed in the best possible position
for defence — General Newton holding the right, General
Brooks the centre, and General Howe the extreme left.
General Newton's division occupied a position near the
road, while the headquarters of General Sedgwick were in
the road, in front of the house. This disposition of our
force effected, the tired troops threw themselves upon the
ground, and, with only the sky above them, sought sleep
and rest upon the battle-field. They were up early the next
morning, and before ten o'clock on Monday forenoon, May
4th, the enemy were pressing in force upon our left flank,
succeeding in forcing it back, and cutting off all communi
cation with the city of Fredericksburg, thus gaming all
the hills we had taken the previous day. <* « •
" Thus threatened on both flanks, as well as in the
front, our communication with the city cut off, and certain
destruction seemingly looking us in the face, our position
was one of great peril. Only one door of retreat had been
left open to us, and that was at Banks' Ford. The
intention of the enemy was to annihilate or capture the
entire sixth army corps. Their plans were well laid, and
they were nearly repaid with success. The indomitable
energy of General Sedgwick and his division and brigade
commanders, and the obstinate bravery of their troops,
alone prevented this calamity.
' ' Closely followed by the enemy, the corps moved toward
Banks' Ford, which they reached shortly before six p.m.
The division of General Newton, with the light division

mediate attack, not convenient for a
basis of operations, and influenced by
of Colonel Burnham, occupied the right, resting on the
bank of the river but a short distance above the ford.
General Brooks held the centre, while General Howe
resisted the enemy's approach on the left. The forces
were arrayed in the form of a semicircle.
" A little after six o'clock the enemy moved out against
our centre, but were repulsed with very heavy loss hy a
concentrated artillery fire. They next essayed a move
ment against our left centre with great force. Regiments
followed each other undauntedly up to our lines ; but
when within close range were slaughtered like worms
before the fire of our batteries. They fell back in dis
order, relinquishing this attack.
"An occasional shot from the rebel artillery opposed to
our left, and brisk skirmishing at the same point, clearly
indicated that both the above attacks were feints, and
that their real attack would be upon General Howe's ex
treme left, which rested upon or near the river. But to
insure the deception, they next commenced an attack
upon our right, where two regiments of the light division,
under Colonel Burnham, and three regiments of Colonel
Shaler's brigade were stationed. This was repulsedr and
our troops held their position.
" All these attacks followed each other in quick succes
sion, so that one hardly ended before another began. For
a while the entire corps was encircled by a cordon of fire.
Then the real attack commenced on our extreme left. Gen.
Howe's troops behaved admirably. They held their ground
against fearful odds, determined not to yield an inch.
"General Wheaton's brigade, of Newton's division, was
in this emergency dispatched from the right to the left,
and rendered great assistance in repelling the enemy.
The Sixty-second New York, and the Ninety-eighth,
Ninety-third, and one Hundred and Second Pennsylvania,
all of General Wheaton's command, were actively engag
ed, and suffered heavily. The artillery of General Howe
was employed with rapid and fearful effect upon the
rebels, and for more than an hour the unequal contest
was maintained. © o o
' ' The movement was attended with unusual peril. The
light division suffered considerably at this time, the
enemy getting in the rear of their pickets and bagging
several entire companies, man by man. But owing
mainly to the skill of General Newton, to whom was con
fided the selections of points for defence and the general
supervision of the movement, it was attended with greater
success than the most sanguine had dared to look for.
Howe, on the left, persistently held his position, while the
other lines were withdrawn and safely concentrated on the
hills near the ford. Darkness having come on, and the
firing having ceased, he was enabled to fall back un
molested. At two o'clock on the following morning
(Tuesday) the corps was crossing the river, and at six
o'clock they were safely over."

STONEMAN'S CAVALRY EXPEDITION.

131

the defeat of General Sedgwick, deter
mined to withdraw. He accordingly,
jjlay taking advantage of a stormy night,
*• recrossed the Rappahannock and
encamped his army in its old position at
Falmouth, opposite to Fredericksburg.

The time was opportune, and the retreat
skilfully conducted. The enemy hardly
made an attempt to harass the retiring
troops. Thus ended General Hooker's
nine days' campaign across the Rappa
hannock.

CHAPTER XIV.
Success of Hooker's Cavalry. — Eeorganization of Cavalry. — General Stoneman in chief command. — Stoneman'a
Cavalry Expedition. — Its Force. — Crossing the Eappahannock. — In the rear of the Enemy. — Destruction. —
The Alarm of the Enemy. — The Enemy's Apology for their Cavalry. — The Losses in Hooker's Campaign. — Havoc
among Officers.— Wounds of General "Stonewall" Jackson. — Amputation. — Death. — Tribute to the Memory of
Jackson. — His Last Moments. — Congratulatory Orders of Hooker and Lee. — Contradictory Documents. — Who is to
reconcile them 1

1863.

The cavalry expedition sent to make
a raid in the rear of the enemy
was the only part of General
Hooker's plan of campaign which met
with success. It, however, proved of
no permanent benefit, since the other
movements to which it was subordinate
had failed.
General Hooker, upon assuming com
mand of the Army of the Potomac, re
organized and consolidated the cavalry
and formed it into a separate corps,
under General Stoneman, who so skil
fully conducted the expedition now to
be recorded. It was originally intend
ed to send out a force of 10,000, but
General Averill, who was to have joined
with his division, had been checked by
meeting with the enemy at Rapidan
Station, and failed to make a junction.
General Stoneman's force was thus re
duced to about 5,000. consisting of the
Sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, which

acted as his escort, two brigades under
General Gregg, four regiments of
regulars under General Buford, and a
battery of Second United States Artil
lery under Major Robinson.
" On the morning of the 28th of
April," wrote a campaigner,* "we cross
ed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford,
at the same time that the eleventh and
twelfth corps of infantry were crossing.
General Gregg's division crossed upon
the pontoons, while General Buford's
forces forded the river a short distance
above. A good portion of the day was
consumed in crossing, and at eleven
o'clock at night we bivouacked some
five miles from the Rapidan River. Up
to this time no one, with the exception
of the generals in command, was aware
of our destination ; but at twelve o'clock
that night the colonels of the various
regiments were assembled and informed
~ * N. Y. Herald.

132

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

of General Stoneman's plan, and received
their instructions. They were ordered
to send to the rear every description of
wagons, pack mules, led horses, and
such horses as would be unable to
march fifty miles a day ; to provide
themselves with eight days' rations, and
as much grain as each one could carry
upon his horse, and to be in readiness
to move at four o'clock in the morning.
* * * It was fairly daylight before
the train was in readiness to move, Gen
eral Stoneman being the first mounted,
and evidently annoyed at the delay ;
but to pack and start off several hun
dred refractory mules is a work of time,
and this had all to be seen to before we
could leave.
" Finally the last mule was started
and our march commenced. We were
obliged to move cautiously, being igno
rant of the exact locality of the enemy,
and it was eleven o'clock before we
arrived in sight of the Rapidan. We
struck the river at Morton's Ford, which
we found quite swollen, but still ford
able. General Buford crossed his bri
gade at this point, while General Stone
man, with the balance of his command,
continued on a few miles farther up to
Raccoon Ford.
" Here we learned that the enemy had
been encamped the night previous, some
1.600 strong, under General W. H. Lee,
with one piece of artillery ; but in
consequence of General Buford crossing
below, which they supposed he could
not do, thev were compelled to skedad
dle. " General Buford reached Raccoon

Ford in time to capture a lieutenant
and nine men belonging to the Fauquier
County Artillery ; but the balance of
the force escaped. The command of
General Gregg had all crossed by dusk,
and the whole force bivouacked till two
o'clock in the morning.
" Our course the next day was in a
southeasterly direction, General Buford
marching toward Orange Court House,
while General Gregg went to Orange
Springs. The advance guard, under
Major Beaumont, of the First New
Jersey Cavalry, reached Orange Springs
at one o'clock in the afternoon, where
they encountered a small force of the
enemy. The Major at once charged
them, capturing a major and one private,
and dispersing the rest in all directions.
We here ascertained from contrabands
that a large supply train passed there in
the morning in great haste, throwing
away large quantities of forage and
provisions, and that the rebels were
falling back from Culpepper Court
House toward Spottsylvania Court
House, taking with them as much of
their movable effects as possible, and
driving before them their negroes.
" In hopes of overhauling a portion
of the train, General Gregg sent Colonel
Wyndham, who commands the second
brigade of his division, after them with
one regiment, with instructions to follow
on for five miles, and if he then saw
nothing of them to return, as time was
too valuable to waste in further pursuit.
The Colonel went the five miles in
double-quick, but saw nothing of the
enemy. In the mean time our boys, to

STONEMAN'S CAVALRY EXPEDITION.

133

amuse themselves, instituted a search
of the different houses in the vicinity.
* * * " At six o'clock we resumed
our march in the direction of Louisa
Court House, where we arrived about
midnight. " This place we expected to find
defended, as the Virginia Central Rail
road, connecting Fredericksburg with
Gordonsville, passes through it. We
halted about a mile from the town, and
at once made preparations to destroy
the railroad. One squadron of the
Tenth New York, under Colonel Irwin,
was sent five miles above the town, and
another squadron, under Major Avery,
of the same regiment, five miles below,
who were to cut the road, while Colonel
Kilpatrick with the Seventh New York
(Harris Light) Regiment charged through
the town. Colonel Kilpatrick charged
into the town about two o'clock in the
morning, his boys yelling like demons,
but not a single ' grayback' did they
see. The inhabitants were much ter
rified at such unusual proceedings,
doubtless expecting that the Yankees
were about to murder them all in cold
blood ; but nothing was disturbed in
the town. Guards were stationed upon
all the avenues leading to the town, and
the work of destroying the railroad
commenced. The track was torn up a distance of
two miles, the ties burned, and the rails
so warped by fire as to be useless. The
bridges, culverts, switches, water tanks,
and everything appertaining to the road
of a destructive nature, were thoroughly
destroyed. It was the opinion of our

engineers that it would take at least
three weeks to get the road in running
order with all the force they could put
to work.
"In order to give our horses some
rest after their long march, and the men
an opportunity to catch a little sleep,
we did not resume our march till two
o'clock the next afternoon (Saturday).
Intelligence was then received that a
large force of rebel cavalry were ap
proaching on the Gordonsville road,
and were distant about four hours'
march. General Gregg at once got his
division out, passed through the town
and formed Colonel Wyndham's brigade
in line of battle on the brow of a hill
about half a mile south of the town.
Here he posted two guns, supported on
either side by the First Maryland and
Twelfth Illinois regiments, while the
First New Jersey was drawn up behind
the hill as a reserve. He waited here
till the time had expired when the
enemy should have made his appear
ance, and hearing nothing of him re
sumed his march, leaving a portion of
Companies B and I of the First Maine
Regiment, in all about fifty men, five
miles from the Court House, on the
Gordonsville road, to watch the move
ments of the enemy.
' ' Soon after our departure a regiment
of the enemy appeared in sight, when
the Maine boys gallantly charged them,
driving them back some distance ; but
losing in the charge one man killed, one
wounded, and twenty-eight taken pris
oners. * * *
" Our route still continued in a south-

134

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

easterly direction, and a few hours
brought us to Thompson's Cross Roads,
which point General Stoneman had
selected from which to send out expedi
tions in different directions to destroy
bridges, railroads, canals, etc. Upon
our arrival we found General Buford,
who had taken another road from Louisa
Court House, and with him a train of
twenty-six wagons, with four mules to
each wagon, which he had captured on
the route.
" We were now in the heart of the
enemy's country, and what was to be
done must be done quickly, as the
enemy were known to be concentrating
all the force they could scrape together
to effect our capture and prevent the
accomplishment of our plans.
" On Saturday morning, May 3, Col
onel Wyndham, with two regiments of
his brigade — the First New Jersey and
First Maryland — was directed by Gen
eral Stoneman to proceed to Columbia,
on the James River, cut the canal and
destroy as much as .possible everything
that could give aid and comfort to the
enemy. The party got off in high
spirits at two o'clock in the morning,
having had only two hours' rest, with an
intelligent negro boy for a guide, and
was expected to go there, a distance of
twenty-five miles, accomplish their mis
sion and return by three o'clock in the
afternoon. " The country through which we
passed was inhabited mostly by wealthy
farmers, who had never before had the
pleasure of seeing any of the detested
Yankee army, and as they were totally

ignorant of our presence in that vicinity,
their looks of wonderment and surprise
can be better imagined than described.
As many of our horses had given out,
and the best of them were in but a sorry
condition, the Colonel detailed a squad
of men to scour the country and take
every horse fit for service, and to leave
in its place one of ours, provided they
could not get it any farther. Very
many valuable horses were obtained in
this way, and as General Stuart set the
example and established the precedent
when he made his raid into Pennsyl
vania, they can find no fault ; but still
it did seem rather hard to go into a
man's yard, take his horses before his
eyes and ride off without as much as —
I thank you for it.
"We arrived in the vicinity of
Columbia about nine o'clock. As we
approached, the town, horsemen were
seen hovering about, watching our move
ments, and one of our vedettes reported
a large force of cavalry about a mile
ahead. Captain W. R. Robbins, of the
First New Jersey, was sent out with six
men to ascertain the facts in the case.
He scoured the country for a distance
of five or six miles, capturing two
prisoners, but discovered no force of the
enemy. Colonel Wyndham now made
a disposition of his forces. He stationed
the First Maryland outside of the town
and charged through it with the First
New Jersey, under Lieutenant- Colonel
Broderick. As we entered the town,
the rebels could be seen leaving on the
opposite side in great haste. Chase was
immediately given them by Captains

STONEMAN'S CAVALRY EXPEDITION.

135

Kester, Lucas, Gray, Boyd, and others,
but they only succeeded in capturing a
few of them.
" Parties were at once detailed to
cut the canal, destroy the locks, burn
the bridges, tow-boats, etc. In ten
minutes after we entered the town,
flames were issuing from five bridges
and three canal-boats loaded with forage,
bacon, whiskey, and other stores ; and
two parties, under the supervision of
Major Russell, of the First Maryland,
and Lieutenant-Colonel Broderick, were
engaged in cutting down the bank of
the canal and destroying the locks.
While this was being accomplished at
the canal, another party, under Captains
Thomas and Hick, of Colonel Wynd
ham's staff, were in the town destroy
ing an immense storehouse filled with
supplies of every description for the
rebel army. A large quantity of
whiskey, nicely bottled, labelled, and
boxed, from the medical purveyor's
office in Richmond, and what we could
not carry away, was demolished and
thrown into the canal.
' ' Immense numbers of ' ' contrabands"
flocked around, shouting, clapping their
hands, and fairly crazed with joy at our
arrival. We allowed them to help them
selves to as much sugar and other stores
as they could carry, and all those who
could raise an animal of any descrip
tion accompanied us when we left. The
town contains a white population of
some four or five hundred, and has the
dead and shiftless appearance so char
acteristic of all Southern towns. Col
onel Wyndham was fortunate enough

to capture a very valuable imported
horse called "Southerner," which was
the property of a lieutenant in the rebel
artillery service. The horse is valued
at 2,000 dollars.
" The inhabitants were much terrified
at our presence. One lady came run
ning out of her house as I was passing
up the street, and asked if we would be
kind enough not to murder the women
and children. I assured her that the
only object of the expedition was to
destroy government property. As far
as I saw, no house was entered, or
citizen insulted or molested in any way,
and the object of the expedition having
been accomplished, the troops quietly
left the town. The only part of the
expedition which they were unable to
accomplish, was the destruction of the
aqueduct where the canal crosses the
Rivanna River. This is built of solid
masonry, and is of immense strength,
and we had no means of destroying it.
After leaving the town, Major Beaumont
volunteered to return with a company
and again attempt its destruction, and
was permitted to do so by Colonel
Wyndham. He succeeded in finding
powder and fuse in Columbia, but in
consequence of the short time in which
he had to work, was unable to accom
plish it. This James River Canal runs
from Lynchburg to Richmond, and
nearly one-half of their supplies are
transported over it. I think they suc
ceeded in damaging it sufficiently to
stop all transportation for three or four
weeks. The command reached Stone-
man's headquarters in safety about dusk,

having marched between fifty and sixty
miles. " While this was in progress, another
party, under Captain R. S. C. Lord,
commanding the First Regiment of
regulars, was sent to Tolersville to
destroy the Virginia Central Railroad
at that point. Tolersville is situated
about six miles from Louisa Court
House. They tore up the track for
miles, burned the ties, destroyed bridges,
switches, culverts, etc., rendering the
road impassable for weeks. A portion
of the command, under Captain Eugene
Baker, then went six miles farther, to
Frederick Hall, and cut the railroad at
that point. They also destroyed the
telegraph instrument, cut the wire and
destroyed government property. At
sunset, Captain John Feelner, of the
same regiment, with thirty men, pro
ceeded on the road toward Fredericks
burg some six miles, where a bridge
eighty or ninety yards long crosses the
North Anna River. This bridge was
guarded by rebel infantry. The Captain
charged across it, driving the enemy
from it, and succeeded in burning it,
without the loss of a man, and captured
five prisoners.
" The length of time the regiment was
absent caused much uneasiness at head
quarters, and General Stoneman, fear
ing they were in trouble, sent out a
squadron of the Sixth regulars, under
Captain J. W. Claflin, to communicate
with them, which he did, and returned
with the command. * * *
. " Captain Harrison, commanding the
Fifth regulars, was sent with his regi

ment to destroy a bridge over the
James River at Cartersville, some twelve
miles south of Columbia. He started late
on Sunday night, and arrived at Shan
non, or, as the inhabitants call it, ' Flem-
ming's Cross Roads,' at tw^ o'clock,
and bivouacked till daylight. Two
hundred picked men were then selected
and placed under the command of Cap
tain Drummond, with instructions to
proceed to Cartersville and destroy the
bridge at all hazards. Captain Harri
son, with the balance of his command,
remained at Flemming's Cross Roads to
protect him from attack in that direc
tion. " Shortly after sunrise, as Lieutenant
Hastings, with fifteen men, was patrol
ling the road in the direction of Gor
donsville, he discovered a large party
of rebel cavalry approaching. He at
once perceived that the safety of Cap
tain Harrison depended upon his prompt
action. He immediately charged the
advance guard, driving them pell-mell
back upon their main column, thus
gaining sufficient time to rally upon his
reserves. Captain Harrison only had
thirty men all told, the remainder being
stationed on the various roads as pickets.
He drew them up across the road, pre
pared to resist to the best of his ability
the charge of the rebels, who were seen
approaching in solid column. He stood
their charge, checking them, and escaped
with all his men.
" The rebels captured the pickets,
consisting of Captain Owen, Lieutenant
Buford (a nephew of the General), and
fifteen men. Word was at once sent to

From, a Photograph, "by Brady.

*~ ^-/<

!:¦) Finrje X JTerston.Ln xJif cieriyis .if'Pc or'thAdixin^t r^ur,- ,:>f rhj- Lr>.

STONEMAN'S CAVALRY EXPEDITION.

137

General Stoneman of the proximity of
the rebels, and he came down with
General Buford's command at a double-
quick, with six pieces of artillery, but
did not arrive in time to meet the
enemy. I ascertained from the inhabit
ants who witnessed the skirmish, that
quite a number of rebels were wounded.
The enemy's force consisted of the
Ninth and Thirteenth Virginia and a
portion of the First and Second.
" While these events were in progress,
two other very important expeditions
were being carried out under General
Gregg and Colonel Kilpatrick. General
Gregg, with the Tenth New York and
First Maine, and two pieces of artillery,
was to proceed to Ashland, and, if
possible, destroy the railroad bridge at
that point, while Colonel Kilpatrick,
with the Harris Light and Twelfth
Illinois, was to go between Ashland and
Richmond, destroying bridges, railroads,
etc. " General Gregg destroyed the bridge
across the South Anna, on the road
from Columbia to Spottsylvania Court
House ; then struck east and destroyed
the road from Beaver Dam Station ;
then, turning north, struck the Rich
mond and Gordonsville pike. From
there he sent a detachment and burned
the Ground Squirrel Bridge. The
column then marched up the pike to
within eight miles of Ashland, where
they bivouacked Monday night.
" From here he sent a detachment of
the First Maine Cavalry, under Lieu
tenant-Colonel Smith, to Ashland, to
burn the bridge and destroy the track.
186

The bridge was defended by infantry,
and could not be destroyed, but he suc
ceeded in destroying the track for a
number of miles.
" Colonel Kilpatrick, of the New
York Cavalry, and Colonel Davis, of
the Twelfth Illinois, left the command
at this point.*
•» The following official reports of Colonels Kilpatrick
and Davis give in detail the work performed by them :
"Yorktown, Va., May 8, 1863.
"Major-General H. W. Halleck, Commander-in-Chief
of the United States Army :
' ' General — I have the honor to report that, by direction
of Major-General Stoneman, I left Louisa Court House the
morning of the 3d instant, with one regiment (the Harris
Light Cavalry of my brigade), reached Hungary on the
Fredericksburg Railroad at daylight on the morning of
the 4th, destroyed the depot, telegraph wires, and railroad
for several miles ; passed over to the Brook turnpike ;
drove in the rebel pickets down the pike, across the
brook ; charged a battery and forced it to retire to within
two miles of the city of Richmond ; captured Lieutenant
Brown, aid-de-camp to General Winder, and eleven men
within the fortifications ; passed down to the left to the
Meadow Bridge, on the Chickahominy, which I burned ;
ran a train of cars into the river ; retired to Hanovertown,
on the Peninsula ; crossed and destroyed the ferry, just in
time to check the advance of a pursuing cavalry force ;
burned a train of thirty wagons, loaded with bacon ;
captured thirteen prisoners, and encamped for the night
five miles from the river.
" I resumed my march at one a.m. of the 6th ; sur
prised a force of 300 cavalry at Aylett's ; captured two
officers and thirty-three men ; burned fifty-six wagons
and the depot, containing upward of 20,000 barrels of
corn and wheat, quantities of clothing and commissary
stores, and safely crossed the Mattapony, and destroyed
the ferry again, just in time to escape the advance of tha
rebel cavalry pursuit. Late in the evening I destroyed
a third wagon train and depot, a few miles above and
west of Tappahannock, on the Rappahannock, and from
that point made a forced march of twenty miles, being
closely followed by a superior force of cavalry, supposed
to be a portion of Stuart's, from the fact that we captured
prisoners from the First, Fifth, and Tenth Virginia cavalry.
"At sundown I discovered a force of cavalry drawn up
in line of battle above King and Queen Court House. The
strength was unknown ; but I at once advanced to the
attack, only, however, to discover that they were friends
—a portion of the Twelfth Hlinois Cavalry, who had be
come separated from the command of Lieutenant-Colonel.
DaviB, of the same regiment.

138

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

" From citizens who left Richmond
in the morning, and unwittingly came

" At ten o'clock a.m. on the 7th I found safety and rest
under our brave old flag, within our lines at Gloucester
Point. "This raid and march about the entire rebel army — a
march of nearly 200 miles — has been made in less than
five days, with a loss of one officer and thirty-seven men.
having captured and parol! ed upward of 300 men. ° ° °
"J. Kilpatrick, Colonel Commanding."
' ' Headquarters, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry,
Gloucester Point, Va., May 16, 1863.
" To Brigadier-General Euros King, commanding at York-
town :
" General— In compliance with your request, I have
the honor to submit the following report of the operations
of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry since leaving the main
body of the cavalry corps on the South Anna, on the
morning of Sunday last. My orders were to penetrate to
the Fredericksburg Railroad, and, if possible, to the
Virginia Central, and destroy communications. Should
we cross the Virginia Central, I was to make for Williams
burg, said to be in possession of our forces. >
"We marched before daybreak, passing down the bank
of the South Anna through a region never before occupied
by our forces. We burned one bridge, and dispersed a
party of mounted guerrillas, who made a poor attempt to
oppose us. We struck the first railway line at Ashland.
Lieutenant Mitchell, with about a dozen men, was sent
ahead to occupy the place. He dashed into the village
and took it without loss. There were but few of the
enemy there, and they escaped us. We captured their
arms, however, and destroyed them. Words cannot
describe the astonishment of the inhabitants at our ap
pearance. I assured them no harm would, be done their
persons or property, and we soon became better acquainted.
We cut the telegraph wires and tore up half a dozen
rails, and piling a quantity of hoards on some trestle-work
south of the town, made an immense fire, which soon
consumed the entire structure. While at this work a
train of cars approaching the town was captured and
brought in for inspection. It proved to be an ambulance
train from Fredericksburg of seven cars, filled with 250
sick and wounded officers and soldiers, with a guard.
Among them was an aid of Governor Letcher and general
officers of considerable rank. We received their version
of the late fight and parolled them and let them go, leav
ing the cars for the benefit of the poor fellows who were
more seriously injured. The engine and tender of the
train, together with another found in town, were ren
dered completely useless by a mechanic from the ranks.
We found here a stable filled with rebel horses and mules.
Some of them we took with us, but were obliged to leave
the most of them. We destroyed twenty wagons, with
harness, etc.
" We left Ashland at six o'clock p.m. A few miles from

within our lines, we learned that a
perfect panic existed in Richmond in
the town, word was brought in that a train of eighteen
wagons was camped in the woods near by. I sent Captain
Roder, with Companies B and C, to destroy them, which
he did. We struck the Central Railroad at Hanover
Station about eight p.m. Although wearied and exhausted
by our day's labor, I thought it best to complete the duty
assigned us, and break all the enemy's communications
before resting. Not an enemy opposed us. We captured
and parolled about thirty officers and men at the station.
They made no resistance. Captain Shears was ordered
to destroy the trestle-work, which reached about ten rods
to the south of the depot. The work was effectually done
by the same process as at Ashland, and by its blaze we
could clearly discern the rebel guards passively standing
at the other end. We also burned a culvert and cut the
telegraph wires, and burned the depot buildings, store
houses, stables, and a train of cars, aU belonging to the
Confederate Government, and filled with property. It
would be impossible to give a precise statement of the
damage here inflicted upon the enemy. It must have
been great. There were more than 100 wagons, 1,000
sacks of flour and corn, and a large quantity of clothing
and horse equipments. The buildings and cars were full
of property collected for the use of the Southern army.
All private property we respected, and I believe that none
whatever was damaged. By the light of the burning
buildings we left the station and marched for the
Court House, which had been previously occupied by
Captain Fisher, with Companies A and G, who had
placed pickets there and taken a captain and four men
prisoners. We passed through the Court House and
marched down to within seven miles of Richmond, where
we bivouacked till eight a.m. The next morning we
marched for Williamsburg. At Tunstall's Station (near
the White House and the Richmond and Yorktown Rail
road), a train of cars filled with infantry and a battery of
three guns was run out to oppose us. I thought it best to
make an effort to break through before the men could be
got out of the cars, or the battery in position. I therefore
brought up my two foremost squadrons and ordered »
charge, which was executed by them, Captain Reames,
with Companies D and F, taking the lead, and followed
by Captain Shears, with Companies H and I. This
charge was made most gallantly. The infantry filled the
embankment of the railway and poured upon us a severe
fire; but my men dashed up to the embankments in
splendid style, and with carbines and pistols responded to
the fire with equal effect. It was, however, impossible to
break through. There were formidable rifle-pits to the
left of the road, and the enemy soon filled them, and we
were forced to retire with a loss of two killed and several
wounded, among the latter Lieutenant Marsh, who was
among the foremost in the charge, and who received so
severe a wound in the right arm that we were obliged to

STONEMAN'S CAVALRY EXPEDITION.

iau

consequence of our close proximity ;
that all the stores were closed, and hasty
preparations were in progress for leaving
the city by many of the citizens and
office-holders under Jeff's government ;
that there were no guns mounted on
the fortifications guarding the approaches
to the city, and that all the soldiers
capable of bearing arms had been sent
to Fredericksburg to join Lee's army.
" On Tuesday, May 5, General Gregg
rejoined Stoneman, making a forced
march of about seventy miles. Gen
eral Stoneman having accomplished the
leave him in one of the neighboring houses. Failing to
penetrate the enemy's line at this point, I determined to
cross the Paraunkey and Mattapony rivers and make for
Gloucester Point. In this movement I had nothing to
guide me but a common map of the State of Virginia, and
I was in entire ignorance of the position of the enemy's
force, except that the line before me was closed. My
information was of that poor sort derived from contra
bands. I selected Plunkett's Ferry over the Pamunkey,
and occupied it after driving away a picket on the other
side, with whom we exchanged shots. We crossed in a
boat, holding fifteen or eighteen men and horses, which
was poled over the river. Our passage was not disputed .
In the same manner we crossed the Mattapony at Wolker-
ton, after driving away a picket, two of whom we
raptured. "Between these two ferries a portion of the command
under Major Bronson became detached, and did not join
us until the 7th instant. They captured fifteen rebels,
and destroyed a quantity of saddles at King and Queen
Court House.
' ' From Wolkerton we marched to Gloucester Point,
having travelled a distance of over 200 miles, much of it
through Southern lands never disturbed by the presence
of an enemy. Not far from Saluda we captured and
destroyed a train of eighteen wagons, loaded with corn
and provisions.
" Our total loss in the expedition has been two com
missioned officers and thirty-three enlisted men. We
brought with us 100 mules and 75 horses, captured from
the enemy. We captured in ,the course of our march a
much larger number, which we could not bring in. The
amount of property destroyed is estimated at over one
million dollars. Respectfully submitted,
"H. Davis, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding."

object of his raid made his arrangements
for returning. He ascertained that two
brigades of rebel cavalry, under Generals
W. H. Lee and Hampton, were within
two miles of him, but evidently afraid
to attack him in his present position,
but would doubtless pounce upon his
rear column at the first opportunity.
General Stoneman now displayed his
generalship. His object was to throw
the enemy off his track, and, by forced
marches, get beyond his reach before he
discovered his absence. On Tuesday he
had the whole of Gregg's division that
remained stationed at Yanceyville to
guard the bridge over the South Anna
River, and everything in readiness to
apply the torch as soon as the column
should have passed over. General Bu-
ford's brigade was still stationed at
Shannon, awaiting the action of Captain
Drummond. ' ' Captain Drummond reported during
the afternoon, having successfully per
formed his mission, and everything was
at once got in readiness for our march
homeward. The trains of mules and
horses which we had accumulated on
the trip, and which extended a distance
of three miles or more, were placed in
the centre of General Gregg's division.
General Buford was sent to make a
demonstration on Gordonsville, and by
dark the division of General Gregg had
safely crossed the South Anna River,
and the bridge burned. The weather,
which up to this time had been warm
and pleasant, suddenly changed to a
cold northeast storm, rendering the
prospect of a night's march over exe-

140

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

crable roads anything but agreeable
or charming.
" Both men and horses were worn
down with fatigue and loss of sleep, and
our rations had been exhausted for some
days, rendering it imperative for us to
forage upon the country. * * *
" Nothing of interest occurred during
the night. The mule train and contra
bands became separated at one time
from the head of the column, taking a
wrong road and going some miles on it
before they were missed, the rear-guard
of course following in their wake. This
caused a delay of some hours ; but by
the almost superhuman efforts of the
energetic officers comprising Generals
Stoneman's and Gregg's staff, the long
column got once more in motion, and
did not halt again until nine o'clock in
the morning. In the morning we found
General Buford waiting for us, he having
gone within three miles of Gordonsville,
but meeting no enemy.
"It still continued wet and cold, and
the roads in a terrible condition. On
the afternoon of Wednesday we again
moved on, marching without halting all
night, and reached Raccoon Ford at day
light. Many of the men became so
exhausted for want of sleep that they
laid down in the mud, and could not be
aroused either by persuasion or force.
" On Friday morning, at daylight, we
reached Kelly's Ford, and found the
stream so much swollen as to render it
necessary to swim the horses across.
" The country through which we
passed was the finest I ever saw in
Virginia. It had not been afflicted by

the visitation of troops of either army
until we passed through, and I am con
vinced that it is the earnest prayer of
the inhabitants that they may never be
so afflicted again. The whole State
looks like one vast field of grain, every
acre susceptible of cultivation having
been either sown with wheat or planted
with corn. If it is the policy of the
administration to starve them out, it will
certainly have to be done before the
next crop is harvested, for they will
then have grain enough to feed the
world. "The inhabitants are heartily tired
and sick of the war, and many of them
would gladly have peace upon any
terms. The female portion of the com
munity are by far the most bitter in
their hatred to the Yankees, and will
be the last to yield. Very much valu
able information was obtained by Gen
eral Stoneman from the contrabands,
who acted as guides and informed of the
whereabouts of rebels in the neighbor
hood. The prisoners we captured will
more than outnumber those taken from
us. Among our captures was a major
on Stuart's staff and a lieutenant on
Jackson's staff."
The enemy were not only greatly
alarmed by the near approach of Gen
eral Stoneman to their capital, but much
chagrined that their boasted cavalry had
failed to intercept him.
In the several battles of Hooker's
campaign, the losses on both sides were
very great, probably amounting to
40,000 men, about equally divided be
tween the two antagonists. The enemy

DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON.

141

lost more in killed and wounded, and
the Unionists in prisoners. Among the
officers killed were Major-General Berry,
of the Union army, and General Paxton,
of the Confederate service.
General " Stonewall" Jackson was
severely wounded, and subsequently,
after submitting to amputation, died.
His death was much bewailed by his com
rades, and his enemies even paid tributes
of reverence to his memory. General
Lee, upon being informed of Jackson's
severe wound, wrote to him — " I cannot
express my regret at the occurrence.
Could I have directed events, I should
have chosen for the good of the country
to have been disabled in your stead."
On hearing of his death, General Lee
thus made known the fact to his troops :
"With deep grief the Commanding
General announces to the army the
deaith of Lieutenant- General T. J. Jack
son, who expired on the 10th of May,
at a quarter-past three p.m. The daring,
skill, and energy of this great and good
soldier, by an all-wise Providence, are
now lost to us. But while we mourn
his death, we feel that his spirit still
lives, and will inspire the whole army
with his indomitable courage and un
shaken confidence in God as our hope
and strength. Let his name be a watch
word to his corps, who have followed
him to victory on so many fields. Let
the officers and soldiers imitate his in
vincible determination to do everything
in the defence of our beloved country."
Such was the impression that this
remarkable man had made upon the
world, by his disinterested devotion to

the cause he had adopted, his tenacity
of purpose, and his inexhaustible energy,
that all, even those most heavily smitten
by his Gideon-like blows, joined in
reverencing his memory, lingered fondly
upon the records of his life, and caught
eagerly every sound from his dying lips.
Biographies of "Stonewall" Jackson
were published, not only in Richmond,
but in London and New York, and sold
by tens of thousands.*
° The particulars of his wound, the events of his illness
and of his death, were thus given in the Richmond En
quirer of May 13th :
" General Jackson, having gone some distance in front
of the line of skirmishers on Saturday evening, was
returning about eight o'clock, attended by his staff and
part of his couriers. The cavalcade was in the dark
ness of the night mistaken for a body of the enemy's
cavalry, and fired upon by a regiment of his own corps.
He was struck by three balls ; one through the left
arm, two inches below the shoulder joint, shattering the
bone and severing the chief artery ; another baU passed
through the same arm between the elbow and wrist,
making its exit through the palm of the hand ; a third
ball entered the palm of the right hand about its middle,
passing through, and broke two bones. He was wounded
on the plank road, about fifty yards in advance of the
enemy. He fell from his horse, and was caught by Cap
tain Wormley, to whom he remarked, ' All my wounds
are by my own men.' He had given orders to fire at
anything coming up the road before he left the lines.
The enemy's skirmishers appeared ahead of him, and he
turned to ride back. Just then some one cried out,
'Cavalry, charge!' and immediately the regiment fired.
The whole party broke forward to ride through our line
to escape the fire. Captain Boswell was killed, and
carried through the line by his horse, and fell among our
own men. Colonel Couchfield, chief of staff, was wounded
by his side. Two couriers were killed. Major Pendleton
and Lieutenants Morrison and Smith escaped uninjured.
General Jackson was immediately placed on a litter, and
started for the rear. The fighting attracted the attention
of the enemy, and was resumed by both lines. One
litter-bearer was shot down, and the General fell from
the shoulders of the men, receiving a severe contusion,
adding to the injury of the arm and injuring his side
severely. ' ' The enemy's fire of artillery on this point was terrible.
General Jackson was left for five minutes, until the fire
slackened, then placed in an ambulance, and carried to

142

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

The narrative of General Hooker's
campaign would not be complete with-
the field hospital at Wilderness Run. He lost a large
amount of blood, and at one time tcld Dr. McGuire he
thought he was dying, and would have bled to death, but
a tourniquet was immediately applied. For two hours he
was nearly pulseless from the shock. As he was being
carried from the field, frequent inquiries were made by
the soldiers, 'Who have you there?' He told the
Doctor, ' Do not tell the troops I am wounded.'
"After the reaction, a consultation was held between
Drs. Black, Coleman, Walls, and McGuire, and amputation
was decided upon. He was asked, ' If we find amputation
necessary, shall it he done at once V He replied, ' Yes,
certainly, Dr. McGuire ; do for me whatever you think is
right.' The ^operation was performed while he was under
the influence of chloroform, and was borne well. He
slept on Sunday morning, was cheerful, and in every way
was doing well. He sent for Mrs. Jackson, asked minute
ly about the battle, spoke cheerfully of the result, and
said : ' If I had not been wounded, or had an hour more
of daylight, I would have cut off the enemy from the road
to the United States Ford, and we would have had them
entirely surrounded, and they would have been obliged
to surrender, or cut their way out. They had no other
alternative. My troops sometimes may fail in driving
the enemy from a position ; but the enemy always fail to
drive my men from a position.' This was said smilingly.
He complained this day of the fall from the litter, although
no contusion or abrasion was apparent as the result of the
fall. He did not complain of his wounds — never spoke of
them unless asked. On Sunday evening he slept well. On
Monday he was carried to Chancellor's House, near
Guiney's Depot. He was cheerful ; talked about the
battle and the gallant bearing of General Rodes, and said
that his major-general's commission ought to date from
Saturday, the grand charge of his old Stonewall brigade,
of which ho had heard ; asked after all his officers ;
during the day talked more than usual, and said : ' Men
who live through this war will be proud to say, I was one
of the Stonewall brigade, to their children.' He insisted
that the term ' Stonewall' belonged to them, and not to
him. "During the ride to Guiney's he complained greatly of
heat, and, besides wet applications to his wounds, begged
that a wet cloth be applied to his stomach, which was
done, greatly to his relief, as he expressed it. He slept
well on Monday night and ate with relish the next morn
ing. On Tuesday his wounds were doing very well. He
asked, 'Can you tell me, from the appearance of my
wounds, how long I will be kept from the field ?' He
was greatly satisfied when told they were doing remark
ably well. He did not complain of any pain in his side,
and wanted to see the members of his staff, but was
advised not. On Wednesday his wounds looked remark
ably well. He expected to go to Richmond this day, but

out including the congratulatory orders
of himself and his antagonist. Future
historians will be better able than a
contemporary chronicler to measure ihe
relative truth of these contradictory
documents.
" Headquarters op the Army of the
Potomac, May 6, 1863.
"The Major-General Commanding
tenders to this army his congratulations
on its achievements of the last seven
days. "If it has not accomplished all that
was expected, the reasons are well
known to. the army.
" It is sufficient to say they were of a
character not to be foreseen or pre
vented by human sagacity or resources.
was prevented by rain. This night, while his surgeon,
who had slept none for three nights, was asleep, he
complained of nausea, and ordered his boy Jim to place a
wet towel over his stomach. This was done. About
daylight the surgeon was awakened by the boy saying,
'The General is in great pain.' The pain was in the
right side, and due to incipient pneumonia and some
nervousness, which he himself attributed to the fall from
the litter. On Thursday Mrs. Jackson arrived, greatly to
his joy and satisfaction, and she faithfully nursed him to
the ond. By Thursday evening all pain had ceased. He
suffered greatly from prostration. On Friday he suffered
no pain, but prostration-increased.
" On Sunday morning, when it was apparent that he
was rapidly sinking, Mrs. Jackson was informed of his
condition. She then had free and full converse with him,
and told him he was going to die. He said : ' Very good-
very good. It is all right.' He had previously said, ' I
consider these wounds a blessing. They were given me
for some good and wise purpose ; I would not part with
them if I could.'. He asked of Major Pendleton : ' Who
is preaching at headquarters to-day.' He sent messages
to all the generals. He expressed a wish to be buried in
Lexington, in the valley of Virginia. During delirium
his mind reverted to the battle-field, and he sent orders
to General A. P. Hill to prepare for action, and to Major
Hawks, his commissary, and to the surgeons. He fre
quently expressed to his aids his wish that Major-General
Ewell should be ordered to command his corps. His con
fidence in General Ewell was very great, and the manner
in which he spoke of him showed that he had duly
considered the matter. ' '

CONGRATULATORY ORDERS.

143

" In withdrawing from the south
bank of the Rappahannock before de
livering a general battle to our adver
saries, the army has given renewed
evidence of its confidence in itself and
its fidelity to the principles it represents.
"In fighting at a disadvantage we
would have been recreant to our trust,
to ourselves, our cause, and our country.
Profoundly loyal and conscious of its
strength, the Army of the Potomac will
give or decline battle whenever its
interest or honor may demand.
"It will also be the guardian of its
own history and its own honor.
" By our celerity and secrecy of move
ment our advance and passage of the
rivers were undisputed, and on our with
drawal not a rebel returned to follow.
" The events of the last week may
swell with pride the hearts of every
officer and soldier of this army.
" We have added new laurels to its
former renown. We have made long
marches, crossed rivers, surprised the
enemy in his intrenchments, and when
ever we have fought we have inflicted
heavier blows than we have received.
' ' We have taken from the enemy
5,000 prisoners and fifteen colors, cap
tured and brought off seven pieces of
artillery, and placed hors de combat
18,000 of his chosen troops. We have
destroyed his depots filled with vast
amounts of stores, damaged his com
munications, captured prisoners within
the fortifications of his capital, and filled
his country with fear and consternation.
"We have no other regret than that
caused bv the loss of our brave com

panions, and in this we are consoled by
the conviction that they have fallen in
the holiest cause ever submitted to the
arbitrament of battle.
" By command of
" Major- General Hooker.
" S. Williams,
" Assistant- Adjutant General."
" Headquarters, Army op Northern Vir- i
ginta, May 1, 1863. '
" With heartfelt gratification the Gen
eral Commanding expresses to the army
his sense of the heroic conduct displayed
by officers and men during the arduous
operations in which they have just been
engaged. "Under trying vicissitudes of heat
and storm you attacked the enemy,
strongly intrenched in the depths of a
tangled wilderness, and again on the
hills of Fredericksburg, fifteen miles
distant, and, by the valor that has
triumphed on so many fields, forced him
once more to seek safety beyond the
Rappahannock. ' ' While this glorious victory entitles
you to the praise and gratitude of the
nation, we are especially called upon to
return our grateful thanks to the only
Giver of victory for the signal deliverance
He has wrought.
" It is, therefore, earnestly recom
mended that the troops unite on Sunday
next in ascribing to the Lord of Hosts
the glory due unto His name.
" Let us not forget in our rejoicing
the brave soldiers who have fallen in
defence of their country ; and while we
mourn their loss, let us resolve to
emulate their noble example.

144

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

" The army and the country alike
lament the absence for a time of one to
whose bravery, energy, and skill they
are so much indebted for success.
" The following letter from the Presi
dent of the Confederate States is com
municated to the army as an expression
of his appreciation of its success :
" ' I have received your dispatch, and
reverently unite with you in giving
praise to God for the success with which
He has crowned our arms.

" ' In the name of the people I offer
my cordial thanks to yourself and the
troops under your command for this
addition to the unprecedented series of
great victories which your army has
achieved. "'The universal rejoicing produced
by this happy result will be mingled
with a general regret for the good and
brave who are numbered among the
killed and the wounded.'
" R. B. Lee, General."

CHAPTER XV.
Lee assuming the Offensive.— Cavalry Scouts and Raiders.— Mosby's Exploits.— A Surprise and a Repulse.— Lee's Plan
of Campaign described by Himself.— Lee's Invasion of the North.— Lee's Report.— Lee makes light of the Attack
on his Rear-guard at Falling Waters — Kilpatrick's Account of it.— Hooker falls back to cover Washington.— His
Movements described.— Resignation of Hooker.— Appointment of General Meade.— His Report of the Preliminary
Operations and Battle of Gettysburg.— Numbers.— Losses.— Everett's Description of the Battle of Gettysburg.

General Lee, presuming upon the
depressing effects of defeat upon
the Army of the Potomac, soon
assumed the offensive. As usual, he
prefaced his campaign by sending out
cavalry scouts and stimulating the
guerrilla parties to increased activity.
The bold raider Mosby energetically
pursued his vocation of surprising picket
guards, attacking railway trains, and
capturing, army wagons and sutlers'
stores in the rear of the Union army.
Early in May he surprised a detachment
of the First Virginia Cavalry (Union)
near Warrenton Junction. The men
were dismounted and engaged in feeding
• and watering their horses, when Mosby

and his band made a sudden charge,
and after capturing some of them, drove
the rest to the cover of the neighboring
houses, where they manfully held out
and refused to surrender. Mosby now
ordered the torch to be applied. " At
this critical moment," says a campaigner,
" the Fifth New York, led on by Colonel
De Forest in person, came yelling and
charging into the rebel midst. For a
short time there ensued a hand-to-hand
encounter, when the rebels broke and
ran, entirely demoralized and panic-
stricken. . They left, without a thought
of our men, their prisoners, and leaving
behind them some twenty-seven of their
comrades, wounded and slain. Major

GENERAL LEE'S PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN.

145

Hammond, of the Fifth New York,
continued the pursuit, and parties were
dispatched in all directions to cut off
the scattered and fleeing rebels."
Though Mosby was reported wounded
in the shoulder and his band extinguish
ed, he and his men soon made their re
appearance and renewed their annoying
enterprises. The plan of campaign Lee had decided
upon is thus described by himself .
" The position occupied by the enemy
opposite Fredericksburg being one in
which he could not be attacked to
advantage, it was determined to draw
him from it. The execution of this
purpose embraced the relief of the
Shenandoah Valley from the troops that
had occupied the lower part of it during
the winter and spring, and, if practi
cable, the transfer of the scene of
hostilities north of the Potomac.
" It was thought that the correspond
ing movement on the part of the enemy,
to which those contemplated by us
could probably give rise, might offer a
fair opportunity to strike a blow at the
army therein commanded by General
Hooker, and that, in any event, that
army would be compelled to leave
Virginia, and possibly to draw to its
support troops designed to operate
against other parts of the country. In
this way, it was supposed that the
enemy's plan of campaign for the sum
mer would be broken up, and part of
the season of active operations be con
sumed in the formation of new combi
nations and the preparations that they
would require. 187

"In addition to these advantages,
it was hoped that other valuable results
might be attained by military success."
The movement of Lee's army began
on the 3d of June. Its advance, pro
gress, invasions of Maryland and Penn
sylvania, defeat at Gettysburg, and return
to Virginia, are thus briefly described
by General Lee in his report of July
1st, 1863.
" McLaws' division, of Longstreet'a
corps," he says, "left Fredericksburg
for Culpepper Court House, and Hood's
division, which was encamped on the
Rapidan, marched to the same place.
" They were followed on the 4th and
5th of June by Ewell's corps, leaving
that of A. P. Hill to occupy our lines at
Fredericksburg. " The march of these troops having
been discovered by the enemy on the
afternoon of the 5th, the following day
he crossed a force, amounting to about
one army corps, to the south side of the
Rappahannock, on a pontoon bridge
laid down near the mouth of Deep Run.
General Hill disposed his command to
resist their advance ; but as they seemed
intended for the purpose of observation
rather than attack, the movements in
progress were not arrested.
"The forces of Longstreet and Ewell
reached Culpepper Court House by the
8th, at which point the cavalry, under
General Stuart, was also concentrated.
" On the 9th, a large force of Federal
cavalry, strongly supported by infantry,
crossed the Rappahannock at Beverly's.
and Kelly's fords, and attacked General
Stuart. A severe engagement ensued,

146

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

continuing from early in the morning
until late in the afternoon, when the
enemy was forced to recross the river
with heavy loss, leaving 400 prisoners,
three pieces of artillery, and several
colors in our hands.
" General Jenkins, with his cavalry
brigade, had been ordered to advance
toward Winchester to co-operate with
the infantry in the proposed expedition
into the lower valley, and at the same
time General Imboden was directed,
with his command, to make a demon
stration in the direction of Romney, in
order to cover the movement against
Winchester, and prevent the enemy at
that place from being reinforced by the
troops on the line of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. Both of these officers
were in position when General Ewell
left Culpepper Court House on the 10th.
Crossing the Shenandoah near Front
Royal, he detached Rodes' division to
Berryville, with instructions, after dis
lodging the force stationed there, to cut
off communications between Winchester
and the Potomac. With the divisions
of Early and Johnson, General Ewell
advanced directly upon Winchester,
driving the enemy into his works around
the town on the 13th. On the same
day the troops at Berryville fell back
before General Rodes, retreating to
Winchester. On the 14th, General
Early stormed the works at the latter
place, and the whole army of General
Milroy was captured or dispersed. Most
of those who attempted to escape were
interrupted and made prisoners by Gen
eral Johnson. Their leader fled to

Harper's Ferry with a small party of
fugitives. " General Rodes marched from Berry
ville to Martinsburg, entering the latter
place on the 14th, where he took 700
prisoners, five pieces of artillery, and a
considerable quantity of stores. These
operations cleared the valley of the en
emy, those at Helper's Ferry withdraw
ing to Maryland Heights. More than
4,000 prisoners, 29 pieces of artillery,
270 wagons and ambulances, with 400
horses, were captured, besides a large
amount of military stores. Our loss
was small.
" On the night that Ewell appeared at
Winchester, the Federal troops in front
of A. P. Hill at Fredericksburg re-
crossed the Rappahannock, and the next
day disappeared behind the hills of Staf
ford. " The whole army of General Hooker
withdrew from the line of the Rappa
hannock, pursuing the roads near the
Potomac, and no favorable opportunity
was offered for attack. It seemed to be
the purpose of General Hooker to take
a position which would enable him to
eover the approaches to Washington
city. With a view to draw him farther
from his base, and, at the same time,
to cover the march of A. P. Hill, who,
in accordance with instructions, left
Fredericksburg for the valley as soon
as the enemy withdrew from his front,
Longstreet moved from Culpepper Court
House on the 15th, and advancing along
the east side of the Blue Ridge, occupied
Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps. His force
had been augmented while at Culpepper

INVASION OP MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA.

14Y

by General Pickett with three brigades
of his division.
" The cavalry, under General Stuart,
was thrown out in front of Longstreet
to watch the enemy, now reported to be
moving into Loudon. On the 17th his
cavalry encountered two brigades of
ours, under General Stuart, near Aldie,
and was driven back with loss. The
next day the engagement was renewed,
the Federal cavalry being strongly sup
ported by infantry, and General Stuart
was, in turn, compelled to retire.
" The enemy advanced as far as
Upperville, and then fell back. In these
engagements General Stuart took about
400 prisoners and a considerable number
of horses and arms.
" In the mean time, a part of General
Ewell's corps had entered Maryland,
and the rest was about to follow. Gen
eral Jenkins, with his cavalry, who ac
companied General Ewell, penetrated
Pennsylvania as far as Chambersburg.
As these demonstrations did not have
the effect of causing the Federal army
to leave Virginia, and as it did not seem
disposed to advance upon the position
held by Longstreet, the latter was with
drawn to the west side of the Shen
andoah, General Hill having already
reached the valley.
" General Stuart was left to guard
the passes of the mountains and observe
the movements of the enemy, whom he
was instructed to harass and impede as
much as possible, should he attempt to
cross the Potomac. In that event,
General Stuart was directed to move
into Maryland, crossing the Potomac

east or west of the Blue Ridge, as in his
judgment should be best, and take
position on the right of our column as
it advanced. " By the 24th, the progress of Ewell
rendered it necessary that the rest of
the army should be in supporting dis
tance, and Longstreet and Hill marched
to the Potomac. The former crossed at
Williamsport and the latter at Shep-
herdstown. The columns reunited to
Hagerstown, and advanced thence into
Pennsylvania, encamping near Cham
bersburg on the 27th.
" No report had been received that
the Federal army had crossed the
Potomac, and the absence of the cavalry
rendered it impossible to obtain accurate
information. In order, however, to
retain it on the east side of the mount
ains after it should enter Maryland, and
thus leave open our communication with
the Potomac, through Hagerstown and
Williamsport, General Ewell had been
instructed to send a division eastward
from Chambersburg to cross the South
Mountain. Early's division was de
tached for this purpose, and proceeded
as far east as York, while the remainder
ofthe corps proceeded to Carlisle..
" General Imboden, in pursuance of
the instructions previously referred to,
had been actively engaged on the left
of General Ewell during the progress of
the latter into Maryland. He had
driven off the forces guarding the Balti
more and Ohio Railroad, destroying all
the important bridges on that route
from Cumberland to Martinsburg, and
seriously damaged the Chesapeake and

148

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Ohio Canal. He subsequently took po
sition at Hancock, and after the arrival
of Longstreet and Hill at Chambersburg,
was directed to march by way of McCon-
nelsburg to that place.
" Preparations were now made to
advance upon Harrisburg ; but on the
night of • the 29th, information was
received, from a, scout that the Federal
army, having crossed the Potomac, was
advancing northwards, , and that the
head of the column had reached the
South Mountain. As our communica
tions with the Potomac were thus men
aced, it was resolved to prevent his
farther progress in that direction by
concentrating our army on the east side
of the mountains.. Accordingly, Long-
street and Hill were directed to proceed
from Chambersbufg to Gettysburg,- to
which point General Ewell was also
instructed to march from Carlisle.
" General Stuart continued to follow
the movements of the Federal army
south ofthe Potomac , after our own had
entered Maryland, and in his efforts to
impede its progress, advanced as far
eastward as Fairfax Court House.
Finding himself unable to delay the
enemy materially, he crossed the river
at Seneca and marched through West
minster to Carlisle, where he arrived
after General Ewell had left for Gettys
burg. By the route he pursued, the
Federal army was interposed between
his command and our main body, pre
venting any communication with him
until his arrival at Carlisle.
"The march toward Gettysburg was
conducted more slowly than it would

have been had the movements of the
Federal army been known.
" The leading division of Hill met the
enemy in advance at Gettysburg on the
morning of the 1st of July. Driving
back these troops to within a short
distance of the town, he there encount
ered a large force, with which two of
his divisions became engaged. Ewell,
coming up with two of his divisions by
the Heidlersburg road, joined in the
engagement. The enemy was driven
through Gettysburg with heavy loss,
including about 5,000 prisoners and
several pieces of artillery.
" He retreated to a high range of
hills south and east of the town. The
attack was not pressed that afternoon,
the enemy's force being unknown, and
it being considered advisable to await
the arrival of the rest of our troops.
Orders were sent back to hasten their
march ; and, in the mean time, every
effort was made to ascertain the num
bers and position of the enemy, and
find the most favorable point of attack
It had not been intended to fight a general
battle at such a distance from our base,
unless attacked by the enemy ; but,
finding ourselves unexpectedly confront
ed by the Federal army, it became a
matter of difficulty to withdraw through
the mountains with our large trains.
At the same time the country was un
favorable for collecting supplies while in
the presence of the enemy's main body,
as he was enabled to restrain our forag
ing parties by occupying the passes of
the mountains with regular and local
troops. A battle thus became, in a

-
is.
¦¦¦'

GENERAL LEE'S REPORT.

149

measure, unavoidable. Encouraged by
the successful issue of the engagement of
the first day, and in view of the valuable
results that would ensue from the defeat
of the army of General Meade, it was
thought advisable to renew the attack.
" The remainder of Ewell's and Hill's
corps having arrived, and two divisions
of Longstreet's, our preparations were
made accordingly. During the after
noon, intelligence was received of the
arrival of General Stuart at Carlisle,,
and he was ordered to march to Gettys
burg and take position on the left. * *
" The preparations for attack were
not completed until the afternoon of
the 2d of July.
" The enemy held a high and com
manding ridge, along which he had
massed a large amount of artillery.
General Ewell occupied the left of our
line, General Hill the centre, and Gen
eral Longstreet the right. In front of
General Longstreet the enemy held a
position, from which, if he could be
driven, it was thought that our army
could be used to advantage in assailing
the more elevated ground beyond, and
thus enable us to reach the crest of the
ridge. That officer was directed to
endeavor to carry this position, while
General Ewell attacked directly the high
ground on the enemy's right, which had
already been partially fortified, Gen
eral Hill was instructed to threaten the
centre of the Federal line, in order to
prevent reinforcements being sent to
either wing, and to avail himself of any
opportunity that might present itself to
attack.

"After a severe struggle, Longstreet
succeeded in getting possession of and
holding the desired ground. Ewell also
carried some of the strong positions
which he assailed, and the result was
such as to lead to the belief that he
would ultimately be able to dislodge the
enemy. The battle ceased at dark.
"These partial successes determined
me to continue the assault next day.
Pickett, with three of his brigades,
joined Longstreet the following morn
ing, and our batteries were moved for
ward to the position gained by him the
day before.
" The general plan of attack was un
changed, except that one division and
two brigades of Hill's corps were ordered
to support Longstreet.
"The enemy, in the mean time, had
strengthened his line with earth-works.
The morning was occupied in necessary
preparations, and the battle recommenc
ed in the afternoon of the 3d, and raged
with great violence until sunset. Our
troops succeeded in entering the ad
vanced works of the enemy and getting
possession of some of his batteries ; but
our artillery having nearly expended its
ammunition, the attacking columns be
came exposed to the heavy fire of the
numerous batteries near the summit of
the ridge, and, after a most determined
and gallant struggle, were compelled to
relinquish their advantage and fall back
to their original positions, with severe
loss. " The conduct of the troops was all
that I could desire or exp *;, and they
deserved success so far a& it can be

150

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

deserved by heroic valor and fortitude.
More may have been required of them
than they were able to perform, but my
admiration of their noble qualities, and
confidence in their ability to cope suc
cessfully with the enemy, has suffered
no abatement from the issue of this
protracted and sanguinary conflict.
'• Owing to the strength of the en
emy's position and the reduction of our
ammunition, a renewal of the engage
ment could not be hazarded, and the
difficulty of procuring supplies rendered
it impossible to continue longer where
we were. Such of the wounded as
were in condition to be removed, and
part of the arms collected on the field,
were ordered to Williamsport. The
army remained at Gettysburg during
the 4th, and at night began to retire by
the road to Fairfield, carrying with it
about 4,000 prisoners. Nearly 2,000
had previously been parolled, but the
enemy's numerous wounded, that had
fallen into our hands after the first and
second day's engagement, were left
behind. " Little progress was made that night,
owing to a severe storm, which greatly
embarrassed our movements. The rear
of the column did not leave its position
near Gettysburg until after daylight on
the 5th.
" The march was continued during
that day without interruption by the
enemy, except an unimportant demon
stration upon our rear in the afternoon,
when near Fairfield, which was easily
checked. Part of our train moved by
the road through Fairfield, and the rest

by the way of Cashtown, guarded by
General Imboden. In passing through
the mountains, in advance of the column,
the great lengfh of the trains exposed
them to attack by the enemy's cavalry,
which captured a number of wagons
and ambulances ; but they succeeded in
reaching Williamsport without serious
loss. " They were attacked at that place
on the 6th by the enemy's cavalry,
which was gallantly repulsed by Gen
eral Imboden. The attacking force was
subsequently encountered and driven
off by General Stuart, and pursued for
several miles in the direction of Boons-
boro'. The army, after an arduous
march, rendered more difficult by the
rains, reached Hagerstown on the after
noon of the 6th and morning of the 7th
of July.
" The Potomac was found to be so
much swollen by the rains that had
fallen almost incessantly since our en
trance into Maryland as to be un-
fordable. Our communications with the
south side were thus interrupted, and it
was difficult to procure either ammuni
tion or subsistence, the latter difficulty
being enhanced by the high waters im
peding the working of neighboring
mills. The trains with the wounded
and prisoners were compelled to await
at Williamsport the subsiding of the
river and the construction of boats, as
the pontoon bridge left at Falling Waters
had been partially destroyed. The
enemy had not yet made his appearance ;
but, as he was in condition to obtain
large reinforcements, and our situation,

GENERAL LEE'S REPORT.

151

for the reason above mentioned, was
becoming daily more embarrassing, it
was deemed advisable to recross the
river. Part of the pontoon bridge was
recovered, and new boats built, so
that by the 13th a good bridge was
thrown over the river at Falling Waters.
" The enemy in force reached our
front on the 12th. A position had been
previously selected to cover the Potomac
from Williamsport to Falling Waters,
and an attack was awaited during that
and the succeeding day. This did not
take place, though the two armies were
in close proximity, the enemy being
occupied in fortifying his own lines.
Our preparations being completed, and
the river, though still deep, being pro
nounced fordable, the army commenced
to withdraw to the south side on the
night of the 13th.
" E well's corps forded the river at
Williamsport, those of Longstreet and
Hill crossed upon the bridge. Owing
to the condition of the roads, the troops
did not reach the bridge until after day
light of the 14th, and the crossing was
not completed until one p.m., when the
bridge was removed. The enemy offer
ed no serious interruption, and the
movement was attended with no loss of
material except a few disabled wagons
and two pieces of artillery, which the
horses were unable to move through the
deep mud. Before fresh horses could
be sent back for them, the rear of the
column had passed.
" During the slow and tedious march
to the bridge, in the midst of a violent
storm of rain, some of the men lay down

by the way to rest. Officers sent back
for them failed to find many in the
obscurity of the night, and these, with
some stragglers, fell into the hands of
the enemy.
" Brigadier-General Pettigrew was
mortally wounded in an attack made by
a small body of cavalry, which was un
fortunately mistaken for our own and
permitted to enter our lines. He was
brought to Bunker Hill, where he ex
pired a few days afterward. He was a
brave and accomplished officer and
gentleman, and his loss will be deeply
felt by the country and the army.
" The following day the army marched
to Bunker Hill, in the vicinity of which
it encamped for several days. The day
after its arrival, a large force of the
enemy's cavalry, which had crossed the
Potomac at Harper's Ferry, advanced
toward Martinsburg. It was attacked
by General Fitz Lee, near Kearneys-
ville, and defeated with heavy loss,
leaving its dead and many of its wound
ed on the field.
" Owing to the swollen condition of
the Shenandoah River, the plan of
operations which had been contemplated
when we recrossed the Potomac could
not be put in execution, and before the
water had subsided, the movements of
the enemy induced me to cross the Blue
Ridge and take position south of the
Rappahannock, which was accordingly
done. * * *
"It is not in my power to give a
correct statement of our casualties,
which were severe, including many brave
men and an unusual proportion of

152

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

distinguished and valuable officers.
Among them I regret to mention the
following general officers : Major-Gen
erals Hood, Pender, and Trimble, se
verely, and Major-General Heth, slight
ly wounded.
" General Pender has since died.
This lamented officer has borne a dis
tinguished part in every engagement
of this army, and was wounded on
several occasions while leading his com
mand with conspicuous gallantry and
ability. The confidence and admiration
inspired by his courage and capacity as
an officer were only equalled by the
esteem and respect entertained by all
with whom he was associated for the
noble qualities of his modest and un
assuming character. Brigadier-Gen
erals Barksdale and Garnett were killed,
and Brigadier-General Semmes mortally
wounded, while leading their troops
with the courage that always distin
guished them. These brave officers
and patriotic gentlemen fell in the
faithful discharge of duty, leaving the
army to mourn their loss and emulate
their noble examples.
" Brigadier-Generals Kemper, Armi-
stead, Scales, G. T. Anderson, Hampton,
J. M. Jones, and Jenkins, were also
wounded. Brigadier-General Archer
was taken prisoner. General Petti-
grew, though wounded at Gettysburg,
continued in command until he was
mortally wounded near Falling Waters.
" The loss of the enemy is unknown,
but from observations on the field, and
his subsequent movements, it is supposed
rhat he suffered severely."

General Lee, in "his report, makes
very light of an attack on his rear-guard
at Falling Waters, saying : "The enemy
offered no serious interruption, and the
movement was attended with no loss of
material except a few disabled wagons
and two pieces of artillery, which the
horses were unable to move through
the deep mud." By the Union author
ities the affair at Falling Waters was
considered a more serious matter, as
will appear from the report of General
Kilpatrick. who led the cavalry in the
attack at that place.
" On the morning of the 14th of July "
he says, "I learned that the enemy's
pickets were retiring on my front.
Having been previously ordered to attack
at seven a.m., I was ready to move at
once. At daylight I had reached the
crest of hills occupied by the enemy an
hour before, and at a few minutes before
six General Custer drove the rear-guard
of the enemy into the river at Williams
port. Learning from citizens that a
portion of the enemy had retreated in
the direction of Falling Waters, I at
once moved rapidly for that point, and
came up with the rear-guard of the
enemy at half-past seven a.m., at a point
two miles distant from Falling Waters.
We pressed on, driving them before us,
capturing many prisoners and one gun.
When within one and a half miles of
Falling Waters the enemy was found in
large force, drawn up in line of battle
on the crest of a hill commanding the
road on which I was advancing. His
left was protected by earth-works, and
his right extended to the woods far on

EVERETT'S ADDRESS AT GETTYSBURG.

153

my left. The enemy was, when first
seen, in two lines of battle, with arms
stacked. Within less than 1,000 yards
of this large force a second piece of
artillery, with its support, consisting of
infantry, was captured while attempting
to get into position. The gun was
taken to the rear.
" A portion of the Sixth Michigan
Cavalry, seeing only that portion of the
enemy behind the earth-works, charged.
This charge, led by Major Weber, was
the most gallant ever made. At a trot
he passed up the hill, received the fire
from the whole line, and the next
moment rode through and over the
earth-works, passed to the right, sabring
rebels along the entire line, and returned
with a loss of thirty killed, wounded,
and missing, including the gallant Major
Weber, killed.
" I directed General Custer to send
forward one regiment as skirmishers.
They were repulsed before support
could be sent them, and driven back,
closely followed by the rebels, until
checked by the First Michigan and a
squadron of the Eighth New York.
" The second brigade having come
up, it was quickly thrown into position,
and after a fight of two hours and thirty
minutes routed the enemy at all points,
and drove him toward the river.
" When within a short distance ofthe
bridge, General Buford's command came
up and took the advance.
" We lost twenty-nine killed, thirty-
six wounded, and forty missing. We
found upon the field 125 dead rebels, and
brought away upward of fifty wounded.
188

" A large number of the enemy's
wounded were left upon the field in
charge of their own surgeons.
" We captured two guns, three battle-
flags, and upward of 1,500 prisoners."
While Lee was advancing through
Virginia, General Hooker was falling
back with his army from Fredericks
burg to cover Washington. When the
former crossed the Potomac, the latter
followed, still interposing between the
enemy and the capital. On the 28th of
June, General Hooker was suddenly
relieved of the command of the Army
of the Potomac, and General Meade ap
pointed to succeed him. The preliminary
movements of the -Army ofthe Potomac
while under General Hooker are well
narrated in this extract from Mr.
Everett's address at the consecration of
the national cemetery at Gettysburg,
November 19th :
" Unable to force the passage of the
Rappahannock, where General Hooker,
notwithstanding the reverse at Chancel
lorsville in May, was strongly posted,
the Confederate general resorted to
strategy. He had 'two objects in view.
The first was by a rapid movement
northward, and by manoeuvring with a
portion of his army on the east side of
the Blue Ridge, to tempt Hooker from
his base of operations, thus leading him
to uncover the approaches to Washing
ton, to throw it open to a raid by
Stuart's cavalry, and enable Lee him
self to cross the Potomac in the neigh
borhood of Poolesville, and thus fall
upon the capital. This plan of opera
tions was wholly frustrated. The design

154

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

of the rebel general was promptly dis
covered by General Hooker, and moving
himself with great* rapidity from Fred
ericksburg, he preserved unbroken the
inner line, and stationed the various
corps of his army at all the points
protecting the approach to Washington,
from Centreville up to Leesburg. From
this vantage ground the rebel general
in vain attempted to draw him. In the
mean time, by the vigorous operations
of Pleasanton's cavalry, the cavalry of
Stuart, though greatly superior in num
bers, was so crippled as to be disabled
from performing the part assigned it in
the campaign. In this manner General
Lee's first object, viz., the defeat of
Hooker's army on the south of the
Potomac and a direct march on Wash
ington, was baffled.
" The second part of the Confederate
plan, and which is supposed to have
been undertaken in opposition to the
views of General Lee, was to turn the
demonstration northward into a real
invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania,
in the hope that, in this way, General
Hooker would be drawn to a distance
from the capital ; that some opportunity
would occur of taking him at disadvan
tage, and, after defeating his army, of
making a descent upon Baltimore and
Washington. This part of General Lee's
plan, which was substantially the repeti
tion of that of 1862, was not less signally
defeated, with what honor to the arms
of the Union the heights on which we
are this day assembled will forever at
test. " Much time had been uselessly con

sumed by the rebel general in his
unavailing attempts to outmanoeuvre
General Hooker. Although General
Lee broke up from Fredericksburg on
the 3d of June, it was not till the 24th
that the main body of his army entered
Maryland, and instead of crossing the
Potomac, as he had intended, east of the
Blue Ridge, he was compelled to do it
at Shepherdstown and Williamsport,
thus materially deranging his. entire
plan of campaign north of the river.
Stuart, who had been sent with his
cavalry to the east of the Blue Ridge,
to guard the passes of the mountains,
to mask the movements of Lee and to
harass the Union general in crossing the
river, having been very severely handled
by Pleasanton at Beverly Ford, Aldie,
and Upperville, instead of being able to
retard General Hooker's advance, was
driven himself away from his connection
with the army of Lee, and cut off for a
fortnight from all communication with
it ; a circumstance to which General
Lee, in his report, alludes more than
once, with evident displeasure. Let us
now rapidly glance at the incidents of
the eventful campaign.
"A detachment from E well's corps,
under Jenkins, had penetrated, on the
15th of June, as far as Chambersburg.
This movement was intended at first
merely as a demonstration, and as a
marauding expedition for supplies. It
had, however, the salutary effect of
alarming the country, and vigorous prep
arations here in Pennsylvania and in
the sister States were made to repel the
inroad. After two days passed at

EVERETT'S ORATION AT GETTYSBURG.

155

Chambersburg, Jenkins, anxious for his
communications with Ewell, fell back
with his plunder to Hagerstown. Here
he remained for several days, and hav
ing swept the recesses of Cumberland
Valley, came down upon the eastern
flank of the South Mountain and pushed
his marauding parties as far as Waynes
boro'. On the 22d the remainder of
Ewell's corps crossed the river and
moved up the valley. They were fol
lowed on the 24th by Longstreet and
Hill, who crossed at Williamsport and
Shepherdstown, and pushing up the
valley encamped at Chambersburg on
the 27th. In this way the whole rebel
army, estimated at 90,000 infantry, up
ward of 10,000 cavalry, and 4,000 or
5,000 artillery, making a total of
105,000 of all arms, was concentrated
in Pennsylvania.
" Up to this time, no report of
Hooker's movements had been received
by General Lee, who, having been de
prived of his cavalry, had no means of
obtaining information. Rightly judging,
however, that no time would be lost by
the Union army in the pursuit, in order
to detain it on the eastern side of the
mountains in Maryland and Pennsyl
vania, and thus preserve his communica
tions by the way of Williamsport, he
had, before his own arrival at Chambers
burg, directed Ewell to send detach
ments from his corps to Carlisle and
York. The latter detachment, under
Early, passed through this place on the
26th of June. You need not, fellow-
citizens, of Gettysburg, that I should
recall to you -those moments of alarm

and distress, precursors as they were of
the more trying scenes which were so
soon to follow.
" As soon as General Hooker per
ceived that the advance of the Con
federates into the Cumberland Valley
was not a mere feint to draw him away
from Washington, he moved himself
rapidly in pursuit. Attempts, as we
have seen, were made to harass and
retard his passage across the Potomac.
These attempts were not only altogether
unsuccessful, but so unskilfully made as
to place the entire Federal army between
the cavalry of Stuart and the army of
Lee. While the latter was massed in
the Cumberland Valley, Stuart was east
of the mountains, with Hooker's army
between, and Gregg's cavalry in close
pursuit. Stuart was accordingly com
pelled to force a march northward, which
was destitute of all strategical character,
and which deprived his chief of all
means of obtaining intelligence.
" No time, as we have seen, had been
lost by General Hooker in the pursuit
of Lee. The day after the rebel army
entered Maryland, the Union army
crossed the Potomac at Edward's Ferry,
and by the 28th lay between Harper's
Ferry and Frederick. The force of the
enemy on that day was partly at
Chambersburg, and partly moving on
the Cashtown road, in the direction of
Gettysburg, while the detachments from
Ewell's corps, of which mention has
been made, had reached the Susque
hanna opposite Harrisburg and Colum
bia. That a great battle must soon be
fought no one could doubt ; but in the

156

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

apparent, and perhaps real, absence of
plan on the part of Lee, it was impos
sible to foretell the precise scene of the
encounter. Wherever fought, conse
quences the most momentous hung upon
the result.
" In this critical and anxious state of
affairs, General Hooker was relieved,
and General Meade was summoned to
the chief command of the army."
General Meade thus relates the move
ments of the Army of the Potomac
from the time he assumed its command
to its victory at Gettysburg and the
retreat of the enemy :
" On the 28th of June," he says, " I
received orders from the President,
placing me in command of the army.
The situation of affairs was briefly as
follows : The Confederate army, com
manded by General R. E. Lee, estimat
ed at over 100,000 strong; all arms, had
crossed the Potomac River, and advanc
ed up the Cumberland Valley. Reliable
intelligence placed his advance (Ewell's
corps) on the Susquehanna, between
Harrisburg and Columbia. Longstreet's
corps was at Chambersburg, and Hill's
corps between that place and Cashtown.
" The 28th of June was spent in
ascertaining the position and strength
of the different corps of the army, but
principally in bringing up 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 previously attached
to the defences of Washington. Orders
were given on that day to make General
French, commanding at Harper's Ferry,

move with 7,000 men to occupy Fred
erick and the line of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, and the balance of his
force, estimated at 4,000, to remove and
escort the public property to Washing
ton. " On the 29th the army was put in
motion, and on the evening of that day
was in position, its left at Emmettsburg
and its right at New Windsor. Buford's
division of cavalry was on the left flank,
with its advance at Gettysburg. Kil-
patrick's division was in front at Han
over, where he encountered this day
General Stuart's Confederate cavalry,
which had crossed the Potomac at Seneca
Creek, and passing our right flank was
making its way toward Carlisle, having
escaped Gregg's division, which was
delayed in taking its position on the
right flank by the occupation of the
roads by columns of infantry.
" On the 30th, the right flank of the
army was moved up to Manchester, the
left still being at Emmettsburg, in the
vicinity of which place three corps —
the first, eleventh, and third — were col
lected, under orders of Major-General
Reynolds. General Buford having re
ported from Gettysburg the appearance
of the enemy on the Cashtown road, in
some force, General Reynolds was
directed to occupy Gettysburg. On
reaching that place on the 1st of July,
General Reynolds found Buford's cavalry
warmly engaged with the enemy, who
had debouched his infantry through the
mountains on the Cashtown road, but was
being held in check in a most gallant
manner by General Buford's cavalry.

GETTYSBURG .AND ^.CINITY
CONSTRUCTED fflD ENGRftNED TO ILUTV,' PRATE THE ."WAR .WITH THJll .SOUTH"

SsniandiyisX'^wniUWJrlSM &3fa«m,, s^tUiaK. ,,/V„ .ijtrwr xunar^lM.aJ,Sm^Ar^ ™rf^ jutKOOnTbiW

A Topographical Map ofthe Battles of Gettysburg- July lst.2nd.ii: Srd.lBe^frox.i aa actual -.uiYeyhy aaEngme.er Officer on General Doubledays

REPORT OF GENERAL MEADE.

157

" Major-General Reynolds immediate
ly moved around the town of Gettys
burg, and advanced on the Cashtown
road, and without a moment's hesitation
deployed his advance division, and at
tacked the* enemy, at the same time
sending orders for the eleventh corps
(General Howard) to advance as promptly
as possible. Soon after making his dis
positions for the attack, Major-General
Reynolds fell mortally wounded, the
command of the first corps devolving
on Major-General Doubleday, and the
command of the field on Major-General
Howard, who arrived about this time
(half-past eleven a.m.) with the eleventh
corps, then commanded by Major-Gen
eral Schurz. Major-General Howard
pushed forward two divisions of the
eleventh corps to support the first corps,
now warmly engaged with the enemy
on the ridge to the north of the town,
and posted his third division, with three
batteries of artillery on Cemetery Ridge,
on the south side of the town. Up to
this time the battle had been with the
forces of the enemy debouching from
the mountains on the Cashtown road,
known to be Hill's corps. In the early
part of" the action success was on our
side— Wadsworth's division of the first
corps having driven the enemy back
some distance, and capturing numerous
prisoners, among them General Archer,
ofthe Confederate army.
" The arrival of reinforcements to the
enemy on the Cashtown road, and the
junction with Ewell's corps, coming on
the York and Harrisburg roads, which
occurred between one and two o'clock

p.m., enabled the enemy to bring vastly
superior forces against both the first and
eleventh corps, outflanking our line of
battle and pressing it so severely that at
about four p.m. Major-General Howard
deemed it prudent to withdraw these
two corps to Cemetery Ridge, on the
south side of the town, which operation
was successfully accomplished — not, how
ever, without considerable loss in prison
ers, arising from the confusion incident
to portions of both corps passing through
the town and the men getting confused
in the streets.
"About the time of the withdrawal
Major-General Hancock arrived, whom
I had dispatched to represent me on the
field on hearing of the death of General
Reynolds. In conjunction with Major-
General Howard, General Hancock pro
ceeded to post troops on Cemetery Ridge,
and to repel an attack that the enemy
made on our right flank. This attack
was not, however, very vigorous. The
enemy, seeing the strength of the posi
tion occupied, seemed to be satisfied
with the success he had accomplished,
desisting from further attack this day.
" About seven p.m., Major-Generals
Slocum and Sickles, with the twelfth
corps and part of the third, reached the
ground and took post on the right and
left of the troops previously posted.
" Being satisfied, from reports re
ceived from the field, that it was the
intention of the enemy to support, with
his whole army, the attack already made,
and reports from Major-Generals Han
cock and Howard on the character of
the position being favorable, I determ-

158

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

ined to give battle at this point, and early
in the evening of the 1st, issued orders
to all corps to concentrate at Gettys
burg, directing all trains to be sent to
the rear at Westminster.
" At eleven p.m. of the 1st of July
I broke up my headquarters, which till
then had been at Taneytown, and pro
ceeded to the field, arriving there at
one a.m. of the 2d. So soon as it was
light I proceeded to inspect the position
occupied, and to make arrangements for
posting several corps as they should
reach the ground. By seven a.m., the
second and fifth corps, with the rest of
the third, had reached the ground and
were posted as follows : The eleventh
corps retained its position on the cem
etery side, just opposite to the town.
The first corps was posted on the right
of the eleventh, on an elevated knoll,
connecting with the ridge extending to
the south and east, on which the second
corps was placed. The right of the
twelfth corps rested on a. small stream
at a point where it crossed the Baltimore
pike, and which formed on the right
flank of the twelfth something of an
obstacle. Cemetery Ridge extended in a
westerly and southerly direction, gradu
ally diminishing in elevation till it came
to a very prominent ridge, called Round-
top, running east and west. The second
and third corps were directed to occupy
the continuation of Cemetery Ridge, on
the left of the eleventh corps. The fifth
corps, pending the arrival of the sixth,
was held in reserve. While these dis
positions were being made, the enemy
was massing his troops on the exterior

ridge, distant from the line occupied by
us from a mile to a mile and a half.
"At two p.m. the sixth corps arrived,
after a march of thirty-two miles, ac
complished from nine a.m. the day pre
vious. On its arrival being" reported, I
immediately directed the fifth corps to
move over to our extreme left, and the
sixth to occupy its place as a reserve for
the right. About three p.m. I rode out
to the extreme left to await the arrival
of the fifth corps and post it, when I
found that Major-General Sickles, com
manding the third corps, not fully ap
prehending the instructions in regard to
the position to be occupied, had advanc
ed, or rather was in the act of advancing
his corps a half mile or three-quarters
of a mile in front of the line of the
second corps, on the prolongation of
which it was designed his corps should
rest. Having found Major -General-
Sickles, I was explaining to him that he
was too far in advance, and discussing
with him the propriety of withdrawing,
when the enemy opened upon him with
several batteries on his front and his
flank, and immediately brought forward
columns of infantry, and made a vigor
ous assault. The third corps sustained
the shock most heroically. Troops from
the second corps were immediately sent
by Major-General Hancock to cover the
right flank of the third corps, and soon
after the assault commenced, the fifth
corps most fortunately arrived, and took
position on the left of the third.
" Major-General Sykes' command im
mediately sending a force to occupy
Round-top Ridge, a most furious con-

GENERAL MEADE'S REPORT.

159

test was maintained, the enemy mak
ing desperate but unsuccessful efforts
to secure it. Notwithstanding the stub
born resistance of the third corps, under
Major-General Birney, Major-General
Sickles having been wounded early in
the action, the superiority in number of
corps in the enemy enabling him to out
flank its advance position, General
Birney was counselled to fall back and
re-form behind the line originally de
signed to be held. In the mean time,
perceiving great exertions on the part
of the enemy, the sixth corps (Major-
General Sedgwick's) and part of the first
corps (to the command of which I had
assigned Major-General Newton), par
ticularly Lockwood's Maryland brigade,
together with detachments from the
second corps, were all brought up at
different periods, and succeeded, together
with the gallant resistance of the fifth
corps, in checking, and finally repulsing
the assault of the enemy, who retired in
confusion and disorder about sunset,
and ceased any further efforts.
" On the extreme left another assault
was, however, made about eight p.m; on
the eleventh corps from the left of the
town, which was repulsed with the
assistance of the troops from the second
and first corps. During the heavy as
sault upon our extreme left, portions of
the twelfth corps were sent as reinforce
ments. During their absence, the line
on the extreme right was held by a very
much reduced force. This was taken
advantage of by the enemy, who, during
the absence of Geary's division of the
twelfth corps, advanced and occupied

part of the line. On the morning of the
3d, General Geary, having returned
during the night, was attacked at early
dawn by the enemy, but succeeded in
driving, him back and occupying his
former position. A spirited contest was.
maintained all morning along this part
of the line, General Geary, reinforced
by Wheaton's brigade, sixth corps,
maintained his position and inflicted
very severe losses on the enemy. With
this exception the quiet of the lines
remained undisturbed till one p.m. on
the 3d, when the enemy opened from
over 125 guns, playing upon our centre
and left. This cannonade continued for
over two hours, when our guns failing
to make any reply, the enemy ceased
firing, and soon his masses of infantry
became visible, forming for an assault
on our left and left centre. The assault
was made with great firmness, being
directed principally against the point
occupied by the second corps, and was
repelled with equal firmness by the
troops of that corps, supported by
Doubleday's division and Stannard's
brigade of the first corps.
"During the assault, both Major-
General Hancock, commanding the left
centre, and Brigadier-General Gibbon,
commanding, the second corps, were
severely wounded.
" This terminated the battle, the
enemy retiring to his lines, leaving the
field strewed with his dead and wound
ed, and numbers of prisoners fell into
our hands.
" Buford's division of cavalry, after
its arduous service at Gettysburg on the

160

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

1st, was, on the 2d, sent to Westminster
to refit and guard our trains. Kil-
patrick's division, that on the 29th,
30th, and 1st, had been successfully
engaging the enemy's cavalry, .was on
•the 3d sent to our extreme left, on the
Emmettsburg road, where good service
was rendered in assaulting the enemy's
line and occupying his attention. At
the same time General Gregg was en
gaged with the enemy on our extreme
right, having passed across the Balti
more pike and Bonaughtown road, and
boldly attacked the enemy's left and
rear. " On the morning of the 4th, a recon-
noissance developed that the enemy had
drawn back his left flank, but maintained
his position in front of our left, ap
parently assuming a new line parallel to
the mountain.
" On the morning of the 5th, it was
ascertained that the enemy was in full
retreat by the Fairfield and Cashtown
roads. The sixth corps was immediately
sent in pursuit on the Fairfield road,
and cavalry on the Cashtown road, and
by the Emmettsburg and Monterey
Passes. " The 5th and 6 th of July were em
ployed in succoring the wounded and
burying the dead. Major-General Sedg
wick, commanding the sixth corps, hav
ing pushed the pursuit of the enemy as
far as the Fairfield Pass and the moun
tains, and reporting that the Pass was
very strong — one in which a small force
of the enemy could hold in check and
delay for a considerable time any pursu
ing force — I determined to follow the

enemy by a flank movement, and ac
cordingly, leaving Mcintosh's brigade
of cavalry and Neil's brigade of infantry
to continue harassing the enemy, I put
the army in motion for Middletown, and
orders were immediately sent to Major-
General French, at Frederick, to re-
occupy Harper's Ferry, and send a force
to occupy Turner's Pass in South Moun
tain. I subsequently ascertained that
Major-Generai French had not only
anticipated these orders, in part, but
had pushed a cavalry force to Williams
port and Falling Waters, where they
destroyed the enemy's pontoon bridge
and captured its guard. Buford was, at
the same time, sent to Williamsport and
Hagerstown. The duty above assigned
to the cavalry was most successfully
accomplished, the enemy being greatly
harassed, his trains destroyed, and
many captures of guns and prisoners
made. " After halting a day at Middletown
to procure necessary supplies and bring
up trains, the army moved through
South Mountain, and by the 12th of
July was in front of the enemy, who
occupied a strong position on the heights
near the marsh which runs in advance
of Williamsport. In taking this position,
several skirmishes and affairs had been
had with the enemy, principally by the
cavalry and the eleventh and sixth corps.
The thirteenth was occupied in recon-
noissances of the enemy's position and
in preparations for an attack ; but on
advancing on the morning of the 14th,
it was ascertained that he had retired
the night previous by the bridge at

KILLED AND WOUNDED AT GETTYSBURG.

161

Falling Waters and ford at Williamsport.
The cavalry in pursuit overtook the rear
guard at Falling Waters, capturing two
guns and numerous prisoners. Previous
to the retreat of the enemy, Gregg's
division of cavalry was crossed at
Harper's Ferry, and coming up with
the rear of the enemy at Charlestown
and Shepherdstown, had a spirited con
test, in which the enemy was driven to
Martinsburg and Winchester, and pur
sued and harassed in his retreat.
" The pursuit was resumed by a flank
movement of the army crossing the
Potomac at Berlin and moving down
the Loudon Valley. The cavalry were
immediately pushed into several passes
of the Blue Ridge, and having learned
from servants of the withdrawal of the
Confederate army from the lower valley
of the Shenandoah, the army (the third
corps, Major-General French, being in
advance) was moved into Manassas Gap
in the hope of being able to intercept a
portion of the enemy in possession of the
Gap, which was disputed so successfully
as to enable the rear-guard to withdraw
189

by the way of Strasburg. The Con
federate army retiring to the Rapidan,
a position was taken with this army on
the line of the Rappahannock, and the
campaign terminated about the close of
July. " The result of the campaign may be
briefly stated in the defeat of the enemy
at Gettysburg, his compulsory evacuation
of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and his
withdrawal from the upper valley of the
Shenandoah ; and in the capture of 3
guns, 41 standards, and 13,621 prison
ers. 24,978 small-arms were collected
on the battle-field. Our own losses
were very severe, amounting, as will be
seen by the accompanying return, to
2,834 killed, 13,709 wounded, and 6,643
missing — in all 23,186."
The strength of the two armies after
the first day was about equal, the
amount of each available force being
computed at about 105,000 of all arms.
The loss of the enemy in the battle
has been estimated as high as 5,500
killed, 21,000 wounded, and 14,000
taken prisoners.

162

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER XVI.
Life of General Meade.-His Military Education, Career, and Services.-The Victory of Gettysburg gained under un
favorable circumstances.-Great credit due to Meade.-What would have been the Consequences of a Defeat at
Gettysburg.-The North ill-prepared for Defence.-Political Inquietude. -Alarm at the North at the Prospect of
Lee's Invasion. -The People Arming at last.-Action of Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania.-The People of Penn
sylvania slow to move.-Their Excitement and Alarm.-What was done by the Pennsylvauians.-President Lincoln
calls out the Militia.-His Proclamation—Proclamations of the Governors.-Prompt Besponse of New York and
New Jersey. — Their Militia early in the Field.

1863.

General Meade, who had so signally
illustrated his assumption of the
command of the Army of the
Potomac by the great victory of Gettys
burg, was born in Spain, in 1815. His
parents, who were Americans, were re
siding at the time of his birth in Barce
lona. After their return to the United
States, one of their sons entered the
navy, and the other, George C. Meade,
the present General, became, in 1831, a
cadet at West Point. He graduated on
the 30th of June, 1835, number nine
teen, in a large* class. On the 1st of
July, 1835, he was appointed a brevet
second lieutenant in the Third Artillery,
and in December following was promoted
to the full rank. On the 26th of
October, 1836, he resigned and engaged
in some civil occupation, in which he
remained until the 19th of May, 1842,
when he re-entered the U. S. military
service with the appointment of second
lieutenant of Topographical Engineers.
Serving during the war with Mexico,
he was honorably mentioned in the
official reports for his good conduct at
the battle of Palo Alto, and subse

quently, after bearing a distinguished
part in the battle of Monterey, was
brevetted a first lieutenant, dating from
September 23, 1846. In August, 1851,
he was promoted to a first lieutenancy,
and on the 19th of May, 1856, to a
captaincy, which rank he held at the
beginning of the rebellion. When the
call was made by the President for
300,000 volunteers, Captain Meade was
appointed one of the brigade command
ers of the division of Pennsylvania
troops under General McCall, and raised
to the rank of brigadier-general of
volunteers, with a commission dating
August 31, 1861. When McCall's divi
sion was organized at Tenallytown, near
Washington, General Meade commanded
the second brigade, and joined effectively
in the work.
In the advance of the Army of the
Potomac toward Manassas, in March,
1862, the division in which General
Meade commanded was attached to the
first corps, under General McDowell,
with whom it remained north of the
Rappahannock, until after the battle of
Hanover Station. The division now

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LIFE OF GENERAL MEADE.

163

joined McClellan's army, and forming
part of the right wing, occupied the
neighborhood of Mechanicsville. When
the famous flank attack was made on
the 26th of June, 1862, by "Stonewall"
Jackson, General Meade especially dis
tinguished himself by the firmness of
his resistance. At the battle of Gaines
ville, next day, he also did so well that
he was nominated for the brevet of
lieutenant-colonel in the regular army,
having previously been promoted to a
majority in the Engineer Corps.
At the battle of New Market Cross
Roads, General Meade was wounded,
and on his recovery he took command
of the division until the return of Gen
erals McCall and Reynolds, who had
been taken prisoners at the battle of
Mechanicsville. On the invasion of Maryland and
Pennsylvania by Lee, after the defeat
of Pope, General Meade was placed in
command of the division of Pennsyl
vania reserves, and led them in the
battles of South Mountain and Antietam.
When General Hooker was carried from
the field wounded, Meade became, tem
porarily, the commander of the ninth
corps. In the battle of Fredericksburg, on
the 13th of December, 1862, General
Meade greatly distinguished himself
with the Pennsylvania division, which
lost, during that disastrous conflict,
1,624 men.
On the 15th of December, 1862,
General Meade was appointed to the
command of the fifth army corps,
formerly under Fitz John Porter. In

January, 1863, the President having
previously appointed him a major-gen
eral of volunteers, his name was laid
before the Senate. His appointment,
however, was not confirmed until the
following March, but his commission
was dated November 29, 1862.
When General Hooker assumed the
command of the Army of the Potomac,
Meade was retained as the commander
of the fifth corps, which, in the advance
upon Chancellorsville, formed part of
the right wing. In the severe battles
which ensued, Meade's corps was among
the firmest to resist the enemy's repeated
attacks, and finally covered the retreat
of Hooker's whole army. The skill
with which General Meade handled his
troops on this occasion marked him out
as an able commander, and led to his
appointment as the successor of General
Hooker in the chief command of the
Army of the Potomac.
The victory he so soon after won at
Gettysburg was especially creditable to
him as a commander, for he had assumed
charge of the Army of the Potomac
when in the face of the enemy and on
the eve of a great battle, both of which
were circumstances singularly unfavor
able for a new leader. The issue, more
over, was one of the grandest ever haz
arded on the field, and fixes the success
of the arms of the Union on that occa
sion among the most memorable events
in its history.
The invasion of Maryland and Penn
sylvania by General Lee, if it had not
been checked by the victory won by
General Meade at Gettysburg, might

164

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

not have perhaps, as has been conjec
tured by some, led to the permanent dis
solution of the Union, but it would have
undoubtedly prevented its early restora
tion. The enemy had never, during the
war, concentrated such powerful means
of offence, and the North was never,
apparently, so ill-prepared for resistance.
The Army of the Potomac had been
dispirited by successive defeats, and
bewildered by a sudden change in the
chief command. The country, moreover,
was agitated by political dissension, and
depressed by a momentary distrust of
its leaders.
When it was first discovered that the
invasion of Pennsylvania and Maryland .
was the design of General Lee, great
alarm arose throughout the North. The
necessity of effort was at once recog
nized, but the excited state of public
feeling perplexed the general action.
Consequently, it was not until the en
emy had marched into the heart of
Pennsylvania and Maryland, and so con
centrated their forces as to render the
issue dependent upon the hazard of a
single battle, that the people arose in
their might. They were thus finally
able to bear a part, though a subordi
nate one, when it should have been the
principal, in driving back the invaders.
Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania,
had been among the first to anticipate
the design of General Lee, and strove

to arouse the people of Pennsylvania to
a timely defence ; but trusting to the
protecting power of the Army of the
Potomac, they were slow to move.
When the invaders, however, came, the
citizens throughout the State became
greatly alarmed. The people finally
mustered in great strength. The chief
cities, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Harris
burg, Carlisle, and others, responded
enthusiastically to the warm appeals of
their Governor, and offered their arms
and treasure for the defence of the
State. A large force of militia was at
last gathered in Pennsylvania, and was
being rapidly organized under General
Couch, the commander of the Depart
ment of the Susquehanna, when Gen
eral Meade marched to meet the enemy
at Gettysburg. The President of the
United States called out 100,000 militia,
conjointly from the States of Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Western Vir
ginia. The Governors of these States
promptly exercised their official author
ity and personal influence and energy
in arousing their fellow-citizens to efforts
worthy of the occasion. The neighborin g
States of New Jersey and New York,
though not called upon b}r the President,
volunteered their aid, and sent a consid
erable force of militia with such prompti
tude, that it was ready to take the field
as soon as, if not before, the aroused cit
izens of Pennsylvania and Maryland.

PAMUNKEY EXPEDITION.

165

CHAPTER XVII.
Subordinate and Co-operative Military Movements. — Western and Southeastern Virginia.— Activity of General Dix. —
Parker's Expedition up the Pamunkey. — The Co-operation of the Troops. — March to White House. — The Attack of
the Enemy on Suffolk.— Different Versions of the Affair. — Fight on the Blackwater. — Pryor's Account of it. — A
Union Narrative. — The Enemy holds the bank of the Blackwater on the Suffolk side. — Intrenchments dug. — An
Unsuccessful Attempt of the Unionists to carry the works. — The Enemy advance with increased force. — They reach
the Nansemond, and threateo Suffolk. — Siege of Suffolk. — Obstructions to Navigation. — Gun-boats disabled. — The
Unionists sally out. — Getty's Skirmish. — The Siege of Suffolk raised. — Beconnoissance of Getty, and severe engage
ment. — The Enemy pursued. — Loss of the Unionists during the Siege of Suffolk. — Expeditions. — Eailroads destroyed.
— Suffolk abandoned by the Unionists. — Dix's Operations on the Peninsula. — Keyes' Expedition. — The Advance
checked. — General Foster succeeds Dix. — His Activity. — Reconnoissance up the James River. — The Gun-boat Com
modore Barry struck by a Torpedo, and disabled. — Western Virginia. — A Succession of Raids. — Advance of the
Enemy under General Loring. — Attack on the Union Encampment at Fayette. — Retreat of Lightburn. — A Succinct
Account of the Invasion of the Valley of the Kanawha and Retreat of the Federal Forces. — Loring recalled. — Suc
ceeded by Echols.— Gillmore assigned to the command of the Union Troops in Western Virginia. —Advance of
General Cox. — The retirement of the Enemy. — Capture of Point Pleasant.— Retaken by the Unionists. — The Balti
more and Ohio Railroad damaged. — Exploits of Jenkins and Imboden. — The Union Troops regain the ascendancy
in Western Virginia. — Destruction of Wytheville. — Expedition of Averill. — The Enemy pursued and driven from
Western Virginia. — A Satisfactory Announcement.

1863.

Subordinate to the movements and
battles of the two great armies,
which were respectively covering
the capitals of Washington and Rich
mond, and contending for the possession
of central Virginia, there were military
operations, both in the western and
southeastern parts of that State, which
claim a record.
General Dix, from his headquarters
at Fortress Monroe, kept up a series of
scouts and reconnoissances, by which he
inflicted great damage upon the enemy,
and kept them in a constant state of
inquietude. On the 7th of January,
Commander Parker, in command of the
naval force on the York River, set out
on an expedition up the Pamunkey,
with three gun-boats and some trans
ports, carrying two squadrons of cavalry

and a company of infantry. The troops
having landed at West Point on the 8th,
under the cover of the gun-boats, took
up an immediate line of march. " I
proceeded," says Major Hall, their com
mander, " in the direction of Lanesville
and Indiantown, reaching the former
place at daylight, and in time to capture
a wagon train, containing ' blockade
goods' (en route for Richmond), consist
ing in part of block tin, gutta percha,
paints, medicines, shellac, and ordnance
stores, together with the agent in com
mand of the train. Leaving a strong
picket guard at Lanesville, I next pro
ceeded to Indiantown, and found two
wagons, loaded with meal, awaiting fer
riage to White House, and destined for
Richmond. After destroying the tele
graph and seizing the mails, I crossed

166

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

the Pamunkey to White House, where I
destroyed by fire the ferry-boat, two
sloops loaded with grain, two barges,
four pontoon boats, steamer Little
Magruder, the storehouse, containing
about 1,000 bushels of wheat, commis
sary stores, consisting of whiskey, soap,
candles, salt, etc., etc. The torch was
next applied to the railroad depQt (also
containing freight for Richmond), the
tank, the rolling stock, signal station,
sutlers' buildings and stores — remaining
until the demolition was complete.
" The object of the reconnoissance
being accomplished, I returned to West-
Point, arriving at five o'clock p.m.,
thence by steamer to Yorktown, arriv
ing at midnight, having sustained no loss
whatever during the expedition."
The enemy having, on the 9th of
January, crossed the Blackwater, made
an attack upon the right of the Union
force garrisoning Suffolk. ' ' General
Pryor," declared the Confederates, " en
countered Dodge's mounted riflemen
five miles from Suffolk, with two com
panies of cavalry, and routed them,
inflicting considerable loss. General
Pryor remained in line of battle until
Sunday morning, but the enemy would
not leave their strongholds. Learning
that 8,500 Yankees were at Carrsville,
General Pryor pushed across to inter
cept them. They fled on our approach,
escaping through Gates County."
Major-General Peck, however, the
Union commander at Suffolk, gave this
very different version of the affair :
" The enemy," he said, in his dispatch
of January 10th, "crossed the Blackwater

in considerable force, and attempted
yesterday to drive in our right wing at
Providence Church. Infantry, cavalry,
and artillery were employed by the
rebels ; but they were repulsed by
Major Wheelan's New York Mounted
Rifles. At dusk the enemy's advance
was charged upon and driven back upon
his supports. At intervals through the
night, shells were thrown from the rebel
batteries." General Pryor having again recrossed
the Blackwater with an increased force,
and menaced Suffolk, General Peck sent
out General Corcoran to resist him. A
battle ensued, the result of which, ac
cording to Pryor, was as follows :
" This morning, at four o'clock, the
enemy, under Major-General Peck, at
tacked me," wrote Pryor in his report
of January 30, at Kelly's Store, eight
miles from Suffolk. After three hours'
severe fighting, we repulsed them at all
points and held the field. Their force
is represented by prisoners to be be
tween 10,000 and 15,000. My loss in
killed and wounded will not exceed
fifty — no prisoners. I regret that Col
onel Poag is among the killed. We
inflicted a heavy loss on the enemy."
According to the Union accounts, the
enemy were driven from the field and
"followed up until they took another
position two miles beyond." The loss
of the Unionists was computed at twenty-
four killed and eighty wounded. The
rebels, notwithstanding their reported
discomfiture by Corcoran, succeeded in
holding the bank of the Blackwater
River, on the Suffolk side, where they

SIEGE OF SUFFOLK.

167

constructed intrenchments. On the 17th
of March, an attempt was made by
a Union* detachment, under Colonel
Spear, to carry these works. Several
assaults were spiritedly made, but proved
unsuccessful, with a loss on our side of
seventeen wounded and missing.
The enemy continued to advance with
increased forces. They finally reached
the Nansemond and threatened to cross
it and attack Suffolk. On this river
they established strong batteries in order
to cover the transportation of their
troops, with the view, apparently, of
getting into the rear of the town and
cutting off its communication with Nor
folk. With their works on the Nanse
mond, they were able to obstruct its
navigation and interrupt the water com
munications ' with Suffolk. The Union
gun-boats were frequently fired into
and occasionally disabled. In the mean
time, the Unionists were diligently
fortifying Suffolk, and finally made ready
to sally out and act on the offensive.
On the 19th of April, General Getty,
with the Eighty-ninth New York and
Eighth Connecticut regiments, aided by
the gun-boats, stormed one of the en
emy's batteries and captured six guns
and 200 prisoners. Several attempts
of the enemy to cross the Nansemond
having been defeated, principally by the
fire of the Union gun-boats, and a call
being made for the Confederate troops
to concentrate, in consequence of the
advance of General Hooker toward
Richmond, the siege of Suffolk was
raised. As the enemy prepared to retreat, a

reconnoissance, conducted by General
Getty, was made, which led to a severe
engagement. " The result of the affair,"
says a Union chronicler, " was, jjay
that our troops had driven the «*•
enemy about one mile and had captured
his first line of rifle-pits. The full ob
ject of. our reconnoissance was then at
tained." The enemy were followed to the
Blackwater on their retreat, in the
course of which several skirmishes oc
curred, with unimportant results.
The whole loss of the Unionists dur
ing the siege of Suffolk was computed at
44 killed and 202 wounded.
The retreat of the enemy was suc
ceeded, on the 15th of May, by a Union
expedition into the interior of South
eastern Virginia, for the purpose of
destroying the Seaboard and Roanoke
Railroad. This object was accomplished
after a severe skirmish with some de
tached parties near Carrsville. Not
withstanding that Suffolk had held out
so successfully against the repeated
efforts of the enemy, it was finally
thought advisable to withdraw the Union
garrison to a more defensible line, which
was not done, however, until a consider
able time after the besiegers had re
tired. General Dix now 'devoted his main
operations toward obtaining occupation
of the peninsula between the York and
James rivers. On the 7th of May, a
portion of the fourth army corps, under
the command of General Keyes, landed
at West Point. Having been conveyed
by a fleet of gun-boats, the troops sailed

168

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

up the York River and disembarked
without molestation. From West Point
General Keyes sent out a reconnoitring
party to White House, which destroyed
a bridge and captured a score of prison
ers. Again, a few days after (May 13),
the gun-boat Morse, Lieutenant-Com
manding Babcock, ascended the. Mat
tapony River to Indiantown, twenty-five
miles distant from West Point, destroy
ing considerable grain and other prop
erty by the way.
On the 4th of June, General Keyes
sent out a combined expedition of land
and naval forces, consisting of 400 in
fantry, three gun-boats, and a transport.
After some preliminary skirmishing with
the enemy's scouts, the force penetrated
to Ayletts, where an iron foundry, a
mill, and a quantity of grain and other
stores were destroyed. As the enemy
were in strength a short distance in
advance, the Unionists, after the suc
cessful raid, cautiously retired. General
Keyes now concentrated his whole force
at White House, and made a show of
more imposing operations. He accord
ingly marched his troops, after some
severe skirmishing, to a position four
miles south of the White House. The
enemy, by an attack upon the Union
juiy advance which forced it to fall
*• back, having shown themselves to
be in considerable strength, and General
Keyes having accomplished his main
object, which was to make a diversion
in favor of the Army of the Potomac
by threatening to advance to Richmond
by the peninsula, made no further at
tempt to go forward. Meanwhile the

enemy, under the command of General
Wise, retired beyond the Chickahominy.
On the 18th of July, Majof-General
Foster arrived at Fortress Monroe, and
assumed the command as the successor
of General Dix, who had been ordered
to New York. In the course of the
reconnoissances made by the new com
mander, he sailed up the James River
with three armed vessels. When within
six miles of Fort Darling, one of the
gun -boats, the Commodore Barney,
struck upon a torpedo. " The effect of
the explosion," testifies an observer,'
" was terrific in appearance. * * *
The vessel was lifted by the shock up
ward of ten feet out of water, and an
immense jet of water was hurled from
her bow fifty feet in the air at least,
falling over and completely deluging her
her and washing overboard thirty men."
Two only, however, were drowned.
The engines of the Commodore Barney
were disabled by the shock, and it was
found necessary to tow her down the
river. Western Virginia, during 1862 and
for most of the succeeding year,
continued to be a field of partisan
warfare. The enemy's cavalry, under
Jenkins and Imboden, made a succession
of raids, and often succeeded in taking
the Union garrisons by surprise, and
carrying off large quantities of plunder.
Buckhannon, Glenville, Weston, Spen
cer, Ripley, and Ravenswood were thus
surprised and sacked, in August and
September, 1862. "The raids of the
rebel guerrilla A. G. Jenkins, in West
ern Virginia, with his 800 bushwhack-

1862.

OPERATIONS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.

169

ers," says a correspondent, " sum up
pretty large : He defeated the Union
force at Buckhannon on the 30th of
August, entered the town, destroyed
large quantities of government stores,
broke up 5,000 stand of arms, and
carried off a number of horses and
Enfield rifles, besides allowing his men
to take what they wanted from the
private stores in the village. He then
proceeded to Weston, where he also
destroyed all the government supplies.
At Glenfield the same operations were
gone through with. The town of Spen
cer next surrendered to Jenkins, where
he took 150 of our men prisoners, and
captured and destroyed 100 guns. From
thence he visited Ripley and Ravens-
wood, where like scenes were enacted,
and where he captured Major B. H.
Hill, a mustering officer, having in his
possession 5,000 dollars government
money." A more regular force of the enemy,
computed at 5,000 men, commanded by
General Loring, entered Western Vir
ginia in September, ,1862, and getting
into the rear of a Union encampment at
Fayette, attacked it. A severe struggle
ensued, and the Unionists, whose orig
inal number was 1,200, cut their way
through to Gauley, with a loss of 100
killed and wounded. Another column of
the enemy approached Gauley Bridge, on
the Lewisburg road, and thus succeeded
in cutting off the small Union force at
Summerville. Gauley was in conse
quence evacuated by the Federal troops
under Colonel Lightburn, who, being
pursued, continued his retreat to the
190

Ohio River, though making an occasional
stand by the way and beating back his
pursuers. Gauley Bridge was destroyed
and Charleston shelled and burnt, to
gether with some of the salt-works and
government stores, by Colonel Light-
burn, as he retired. A correspondent
of the Cincinnati Commercial, of Sep
tember 18, 1862, gives this resume of
the invasion of the valley of the Kana
wha, and the consequent retreat of '' \
Federal forces :
" A report," he says, " has been sent
by the dispatches of the associated
press to the effect that the Federal
forces destroyed the salt-works near
Charleston in their retreat from the
Kanawha. This is a mistake. Only
two out of about twenty of the works
were destroyed, and they only partially.
It is much to be regretted that there
was a particle of machinery left un
broken, or a bushel of salt not consigned
to the river. But our men are not to
blame, as they were at the time closely
pursued by 13,000 rebels, whose every
energy was bent on cutting them off a
short distance below Charleston. The
salt-works are not, as is commonly sup
posed, in the town of Charleston, but
are scattered along the road for a space
of twelve miles, between that place and
Camp Piatt, where our forces were en
camped -last winter.
" An immense quantity of salt has
fallen into the hands of the rebels, with
the necessary facilities for supplying the
entire Confederacy, should they remain
in undisputed possession of the Kana
wha for a few months. The ' victory'

170

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

obtained over the Federal arms is
entirely overshadowed by this godsend,
and the name of General Loring will be
heralded by the chivalry for his success
in furnishing the material wherewith to
preserve the South. The Legislature
of Virginia was convened by Governor
Letcher a short time since for the
especial purpose of devising some means
for procuring salt. It is not improbable
that the rebel lawgivers saw in the
removal of the army of General Cox
from the Kanawha Valley their golden
opportunity, and that they determined
upon the course which has since proved
successful. * * *
" The salt-works are owned by men
who, even when within the Federal
lines, avowed their sympathy and affilia
tion with the rebels, and under the
circumstances which now surround them
will be disposed to use every exertion
in behalf of the Southern cause. They
will, however, be compelled to seek out
new 'help,' as the contrabands who
have heretofore performed all the labor
are at present located in Ohio, with the
determination never again to visit ' the
mother of Presidents.'
"Fifteen killed and seventy -five
wounded is a fair estimate of the Fed
eral loss at the battle of Fayette. The
Thirty-fourth Ohio, Colonel Toland,
were the principal sufferers in the con
test, on our side. The rebels, after
several unsuccessful attempts to take
the breast- works by storm, sought shelter
in the woods from the galling fire of the
Thirty-seventh Ohio, Colonel Siber in
command. Not less than 200 of the

enemy had fallen, and their efforts had
as yet been fruitless, when they took to
a thicket near by. The Piatt Zouaves
(there were only six companies of them
on the ground) were ordered to dislodge
the rebels, and boldly made the attempt.
To do this it was necessary to leave the
breast-works and expose themselves to
the fire of an ambushed enemy seven
times their number. It was here that
the long mortality list of the brave regi
ment was made.
"The rebels were completely foiled
and beaten back. The Zouaves returned
to the intrenchments, where they lay,
with the Thirty-seventh, expecting a
night attack— but the enemy made
none. * * *
"Colonel Lightburn, who, with his
command, the Fourth Virginia Infantry,
was at Gauley, hearing of the engage.
ment at Fayette, sent two companies of
his regiment to reinforce Colonel Siber.
Before they arrived, however, Colonel
Siber had determined to fall back to
Gauley. The retreat was commenced
about midnight, the detachment of the
Fourth Virginia acting as skirmishers
and guards for the wagon train. Gauley
was reached in safety by seven o'clock
p.m. on the 11th. Colonel Lightburn
deemed this post untenable, fearing that
the rebels would cut him off at Loop
Creek. The Forty-fourth and Forty-
seventh Ohio regiments, and a part of
the Second Virginia Cavalry, had just
arrived at Gauley from Camp Piatt, but
even with this reinforcement, Colonel
Lightburn feared he would not be able
to cut his way through the rebel ranks,

OPERATIONS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.

171

which had also been greatly increased
in numbers. The enemy did make the
effort to cut off our retreat, but arrived
at the desired point a few minutes after
our rear-guard had left it. They then
proceeded to Cotton Hill, where they
hoped to accomplish their purpose, but
failed again.
" Our forces burnt Gauley Bridge, a
structure which our Government paid a
heavy sum of money for, and retreated
on both sides the Kanawha, closely
pursued by the rebels, and skirmishing
with them all the time. They reached
Camp Piatt with the enemy hard upon
them. Here was another untenable
point, and nothing was now left for our
men but a retreat to the Ohio River.
On the road to Charleston our forces
destroyed two salt-works and all the
government stores they came across.
" Charleston reached, notice was given
to the citizens that the town would be
destroyed, and all non-combatants were
advised to leave. Our forces first de
stroyed the government commissary and
quartermaster's stores which they could
not easily remove, and then fired the
town in different places. The confla
gration was not complete. Before the
Federals had left, the Confederates ar
rived in the rear of the town and com
menced shelling it also. Between the
two fires, however, Charleston was not
destroyed. The snake was scotched,
not killed.
" There was considerable skirmishing
and fighting in and around Charleston.
Many of our men were shot at from the
windows of houses, and a few were

wounded in this way. We lost five men
killed and ten or twelve wounded during
the day. Added to our loss on the
10th, this makes a total of twenty killed
and eighty-seven wounded. The Second
Virginia Cavalry — a regiment which, by
the way, has rendered very effective
service since its organization — lost seven
men taken prisoners on the night of the
12th. They were on picket duty near
Charleston. " The value of the property lost to
the Government in the retreat from the
valley, is estimated by the post com
missaries and quartermasters in whose
charge it was, at $500,000. This in
cludes one small train of wagons which
was cut off near Gauley, and all the
commissary stores destroyed at Charles
ton. "It is impossible, of course, to make
an accurate estimate of the rebel loss at
Fayette and Charleston, but it may
safely be put down at four times that
sustained by our forces. In their as
saults upon the earth- works at Fayette,
and their subsequent skirmishes, it is
believed 100 of them were killed and
500 wounded. Save the possession of
the salt-works, they certainly gained
nothing by driving our men out of the
Kanawha Valley. They got no army
stores, for everything of that kind was
destroyed in time to prevent it from
falling into their hands ; and the country
they temporarily hold will not afford
any facilities for foraging parties, as it
has already been completely eaten out."
General Loring having been recalled,
the force of the enemy operating in the

172

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Kanawha Valley was placed under the
command of General Echols. The
Unionists, under Colonel Lightburn,
having retreated to Point Pleasant, on
the Ohio, fortified that place and awaited
the arrival of General Cox with rein
forcements. Brigadier-General Gillmore
was subsequently assigned to the com
mand of Western Virginia, but before
assuming it, was appointed to a more
important post. General Cox, in the
mean time, arrived at Point Pleasant,
and immediately advanced up the Kana
wha Valley, forcing the enemy to retire
before him, and finally to abandon the
district. Their cavalry detachments,
however, still continued to make incur
sions, which were by no means always
successful. On the 10th of November,
1862, the alert General Kelly attacked
Imboden's camp, eighteen miles south
of Moorefield, Hardy County, " routed
him completely," says the . official re
port, "killing and wounding many and
capturing his camp, fifty prisoners, a
quantity of arms, and a large number
of horses, cattle, hogs, wagons, etc. The
rebels were entirely dispersed, and fled
to the mountains."
A successful scout was made by Col
onel Paxton, with the Second Virginia
Cavalry (Union), in the neighborhood of
Lewisburg. The troops left Camp Piatt,
ten miles from Charleston, Va., on the
24th of November. " From that time,"
says a correspondent, "they marched
210 miles in 70 hours, passing over in
the route four spurs of the Gauley
Mountains — the Gauley, Cranberry,
Cherry, and Cold Knob. Part of the

march was through a pelting snow
storm. " Colonel Paxton came upon the
enemy in the vicinity of Frankfort,
attacked him with vigor, and after a
short fight defeated him, capturing two
commissioned officers, 108 non-commis
sioned officers and privates, and 100
horses, between 200 and 300 stand of
arms, burned his camp and all his equi
page, all his stores, and four wagons.
Colonel Paxton did not lose a man."
On the 29th of March, General
Jenkins, with 700 of his guerrilla m^
band, captured Point Pleasant.
The Unionists, however, soon came to
the rescue and drove away the enemy,
who suffered a loss of twelve killed and
fourteen prisoners, while the former had
but one killed and one wounded.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, so
often the object of the enemy's attack,
was again visited in April by a guerrilla
force, which damaged the large iron
bridge one mile east of Fairmont, five
bridges within thirty miles west of it, on
the main line, and three bridges on the
Parkersburg branch, within twenty miles
of Grafton. The telegraph communica
tions were destroyed at the same time.
Imboden thus boasted in a dispatch,
dated two miles north of Beverly,
April 24th, of one of his exploits :
" I attacked," he said, " the enemy in
a strong position, on the heights in the
rear of Beverly, to-day, defeated and
drove him from the town after a stub
born resistance of three hours, and pur
sued him till dark on the Philippi road.
I renew the pursuit in the morning.

OPERATIONS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.

173

He burned a considerable part of the
town and destroyed his stores, which
were very considerable — commissary's
alone over $40,000.
" I captured five new army wagons,
thirty-odd fine horses and mules, thirty-
four new Enfield rifles, a number of
good tents, a quantity of grain, a bogus
militia major, and a number of prisoners
— list not made up yet. I learn I will
procure over 1,000 head of fine cattle in
this and Barbour County, and large
quantities of bacon.
" It has been raining for four days —
roads a perfect mire.
" A few badly wounded on our side ;
none killed. Enemy's loss unknown, as
he removed all before he retreated.
The people are rejoicing at their de
liverance from the oppressor."
The Union troops in the summer
were enabled again to assume the
ascendancy in Western Virginia, and to
act in their turn on the offensive.
A cavalry expedition, under Colonel
Toland, of the Thirty - fourth Ohio
Mounted Infantry, and Colonel Powell,
of the Second Virginia Cavalry, having
been sent out by General Scammon,
from Charleston, Va., to cut the Virginia
and Tennessee Railroad, returned on
the 23d of July. They had succeeded
in capturing Wytheville after a severe
fight, and brought off 120 prisoners, two
pieces of artillery, and 700 stand of
arms. Their own loss was about sixty-
five killed and wounded, and that of the
enemy seventy-five killed, with many
wounded. As the citizens fired from
their houses upon the Union troops, the

town of Wytheville was totally de
stroyed. Another Union triumph is thus re
ported by General Averill on the 30th
of August, after an expedition through
the counties of Hardy, Pendleton, High
land, Bath, Greenbrier, and Pocahontas :
" We drove General Jackson out of
Pocahontas, and over the Warm Spring
Mountain in a series of skirmishes, de
stroying the salpetre works, burnt Camp
Northwest, and a large amount of arms,
equipments, and stores.
" We fought a severe engagement
with a superior force, under command of
Major-General Sam Jones and Colonel
Patten, at Rocky Gap, near the White
Sulphur Springs. The battle lasted
during two days. We drove the enemy
from his first position, but want of
ammunition and the arrival on the
second day of three regiments to rein
force the enemy, from the direction
whence the co-operation of General
Scammon had been promised, decided
me to withdraw. My command was
withdrawn in good order, with the loss
of only two men during the operation.
Our loss in the battle is probably over
100 officers and men killed and wound
ed, among whom are Captain Paul and
Baron Von Koenig, aid-de-camp, killed
while leading an assault upon the en
emy's right ; and Major McNally, of the
Second Virginia, and Captain Ewing,
of the artillery, dangerously wounded.
I have reason to believe the enemy's
loss greater than our own. One Parrott
gun burst the first day, and, becoming
worthless, was abandoned.

174

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

" Great efforts up to noon to-day have
been made by the combined forces of
Imboden and Jackson to prevent our
return, but without success. We have
brought in over thirty prisoners, includ
ing a major and two or three lieu
tenants ; also a large number of cattle,
horses, etc."
Another success of Averill is reported
by General Kelly, who writes from
Clarksburg, November 8, 1863 :
" General Averill attacked Jackson's
forces at Mill Point, Pocahontas County,
on the 5th instant, and drove him from
his position with trifling loss. Jackson
fell back to the summit of Droop Moun
tain, where he was reinforced by Gen
eral Echols with Patten's brigade and
one regiment from Jenkins' command.
The position is naturally a strong one,
and was strengthened by breast-works
commanding the road. General Averill
turned the enemy's left with his infantry,
and attacked him in front with cavalry
dismounted. " The victory was decisive, and the
enemy's retreat became a total rout, his
forces throwing away their arms and
scattering in every direction.

" The cavalry pursued till dark, cap
turing many prisoners and a large quan
tity of arms, ammunition, etc.
" The enemy's wounded have all fallen
into our hands. Our loss in killed and
wounded is about 100."
General Kelly added in a subsequent
dispatch :
"General Duffie entered Lewisburg
at half-past ten o'clock a.m. on the 7th
of November, the enemy having passed
through in retreat from Averill, who
gave him a severe whipping at Droop
Mountain on the 6th.
" Duffie captured the enemy's camp,
tents, knapsacks, provisions, etc., one
caisson, and upward of 100 head of
cattle." After the enemy had fled from Lewis
burg, they received reinforcements, and
turned back upon their pursuers.
Averill and Duffie had, in the mean
time, joined their forces, and giving the
enemy battle, again routed them.
On the 18th of November,- General
Kelly had the satisfaction to report,
" There is not, at this time,<an organized
force of rebels within the bounds of the
new State of West Virginia."

DRAFT PROCLAMATION.

175

CHAPTER XVIII

The President's Proclamation of a Draft. — The Draft commenced. — Distaste of the People. — The Draft quietly carried
out in some parts of the Country. — Expressions of Dissatisfaction, but a general Resignation. — The First Day of the
Draft in New York. — A Comical Prelude. — The Sunday after. — The Second Day of the Draft in New York. — The
First Stone thrown. — The Provost Marshal's Office attacked, sacked, and burnt. — Advance of the Mob to attack
the Arsenal. — Collision with the Soldiery. — Bloody Result.- -Burning of Bull's Head Hotel and Colored Orphan Asy
lum. — Destruction of Railroad. — More Conflagrations. — Suspension of the Draft. — Another Enrolling Office and a
Block of Buildings burnt. — Attack upon the Tribune Office. — New York without Troops. — Second Day of the Riot.
— Increased Violence of the Mob. — Governor Seymour to the Rescue. — Proclamation. — Its Effect. — The Efforts of
Civil and Military Authorities. — Guarding the Public Property. — New York in a State of Siege.— Continued Rage
of the Mob — Every man defending his Home. — Tragic Incidents. — Death of Colonel O'Brien. — Persecution of the
Negroes. — The lust for Blood and Plunder. — Sacking of Brooks's Clothing Store. —A Night of Anxiety. — Fire ! Fire!
— Third Day of the Riot. — More Proclamations. — Archbishop Hughes' Address to his Flock. — Appropriation of
§2,500,000 by the Aldermen of New York.— Continued Violence of the Mob. — Gloom of the City.— Fights between
the Populace and Military. — Continued Persecution of the Negroes. — Fourth Day of the Riot. — More Cheerfulness.
—Arrival of Militia Regiments —Occasional Fights. — Archbishop Hughes convokes an Assemblage of his People.—
The Effects of his Speech.— General Dix appointed to the command of New York.— 30,000 Federal Soldiers in New
York. — The Draft not officially suspended. —Mayor Opdyke Vetoes the $2,500,000 Ordinance. — Correspondence of
Governor Seymour and President Lincoln. — The Draft resumed.

1863.

"Washington, May 8, 1863.
"BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
"a pkoclahation.
"Whereas, the Congress ofthe United
States, at its last session, enacted a
law entitled ' An act for enrolling
and calling out the national forces, and
for other purposes,' which was approved
on the third day of March last ; and
" Whereas, it is recited in the said act
that there now exists in the United
States an insurrection and rebellion
against the authority thereof, and it is,
under the Constitution of the United
States, the duty of the Government to
suppress insurrection and rebellion, to
guarantee to each State a republican
form of government, and to preserve
the public tranquillity ; and

"Whereas, for these high purposes a
military force is indispensable, to raise
and support which all persons ought
willingly to contribute ; and
"Whereas, no service can be more
praiseworthy and honorable than that
which is rendered for the maintenance
of the Constitution and the Union, and
the consequent preservation of free
government ; and
" Whereas, for the reasons thus re
cited, it was enacted by the said statute
that all able-bodied male citizens of the
United States, and persons of foreign
birth who shall have declared on oath
their intentions to become citizens under
and in pursuance of the laws thereof,
between the ages of twenty and forty-
five years, with certain exceptions not
necessary to be here mentioned, are

176

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

declared to constitute the national forces,
and shall be liable to perform military
duty in the service of the United States
when called out by the President for
that purpose ; and
"Whereas, it is claimed in behalf of
persons of foreign birth within the ages
specified in said act, who have hereto
fore declared, on oath, their intentions
to become citizens under and in pursu
ance of the laws of the United States,
and who have not exercised the right of
suffrage or any other political franchise
under the laws of the United States, or
of any of the States thereof, are not
absolutely concluded by their aforesaid
declaration of intention from renouncing
their purpose to become citizens, and
that, on the contrary, such persons
under treaties or the law of nations
retain a right to renounce that purpose
and to forego the privilege of citizenship
and residence within the United States
under the obligations imposed by the
aforesaid act of Congress ;
" Now, therefore, to avoid all mis
apprehensions concerning the liability
of persons concerned to perform the
service required by such enactment, and
to give it full effect, I do hereby order
and proclaim that no plea of alienage
will be received or allowed to exempt
from the obligations imposed by the
aforesaid act of Congress, any person of
foreign birth who shall have declared on
oath his intention to become a citizen
of the United States under the laws
thereof, and who shall be found within
the United States at any time during
the continuance of the present insurrec-

tion and rebellion, at or after the expira
tion of the period of sixty-five days
from the date of this proclamation. Nor
shall any such plea of alienage be allow
ed in favor of any such person who has,
so as aforesaid, declared his intention to
become a citizen of the United States,
and shall have exercised at any time the
right of suffrage or any other political
franchise within the United States,
under the laws thereof, or under the
laws of any of the several States.
" In witness whereof I have hereunto
set my seal, and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed.
"Done at the city of Washington this
eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord 1863, and of the independence
of the United States, the eighty-
seventh. Abraham Lincoln.
" By the President,
"Wm. H Seward,
"Secretary of State."
In accordance with this proclamation,
the draft was commenced in the Eastern
and Middle States of the Union early
in the month of July. This process for
obtaining soldiers, however necessary,
was known to be distasteful to American
citizens, and more or less resistance to
its execution was anticipated, but, great
ly to the surprise of all, and much, per
haps, to the disappointment of some, the
draft was begun and completed in a
considerable portion of the country
without exciting any violent opposition.
There were, indeed, everywhere, from
those liable to suffer from its effects,
expressions of dissatisfaction, though a
general resignation to its necessity.

DRAFT IN NEW YORK.

177

Even in New York, on the first day
of the draft, Saturday, July 11th, there
was hardly any manifestation of public
discontent. The drawing in the 29th
Ward took place, under the guard of a
strong police force, at the office of the
provost marshal, No. 677 Third Avenue,
beginning at nine o'clock in the morning
and ending at four in the afternoon. A
large crowd assembled in the neighbor
hood and exhibited great interest in the
result, but no desire to interfere with
the process.
' ' Everything then went on as quietly
as possible during the entire day. The
people seemed to take it in more of a
jocular than a serious mood, as a smile
flitted frequently across the countenances
of several. When some familiar name
was announced, there was an ejaculation
of ' How are you, Brady ?' or ' How are
you, Jones ?' Then there were jocular
tokens of sympathy, such as ' Good
bye, Patrick,' or ' Good-bye, James,'
when the drawn name happened to have
either of these Christian prefixes to the
same." Such was the prelude, comical in its
extremes of good-humor, which preceded
the tragic week of civic anarchy. Dur
ing the Sunday which succeeded the
first day of the draft, there was evidently
great agitation among the poorer in
habitants of the city, who, gathering
about the streets in throngs, angrily de
nounced a compulsory system for ob
taining soldiers, that seemed to bear
most heavily upon the class to which
they belonged.
On Monday morning, July 13th, the
191

draft of the ninth district was resumed.
At nine o'clock the doors of the provost
marshal's office were thrown open, when
a large crowd immediately thronged in.
The drawing commenced at half-past ten
o'clock. Some fifty or sixty names had
been taken from the wheel and an
nounced, when, on the announcement of
Z. Shay, 633 W. Forty-second Street, a
stone was dashed through the window.
This was taken as the signal for a general
attack by the populace on the outside,
which had been gathering since the
opening of the day, and now numbered
several thousands.
" During the early part of the morn
ing," reports a journalist,* " the people
of the ninth district, consisting of a large
number of respectable workmen and
others, were seen to assemble at certain
specified spots, and between eight and
nine o'clock began moving along the
various avenues west of Fifth Avenue,
toward their appointed place of general
meeting. A large number of workmen's
wives, etc., began also to assemble along
the various avenues, and, if anything,
were more excited than the men, who
were armed with sticks, stones, adzes,
axes, saws, and some with even old
swords. As the assembled people moved
along, they stopped at the different
workshops and factories, and a deputa
tion entered the various buildings to
inform their proprietors that they would
not be answerable for the safety of their
premises unless the same were closed
and their men allowed to join them if
they so desired. In most cases the
« N. Y. Herald.

178

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

request was complied with at once, and
the assemblage moved on.
" They next arrived at their specified
meeting place, on an open lot near the
Park, and by their concerted action it
was evident that there had been some
degree of organization in their move
ments. Having arranged their plans to
their satisfaction, they began to move
down town again, by way of Fifth and
Sixth avenues, until they reached the
vicinity of Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh
streets, along which they proceeded in
an easterly direction.
" When they arrived at Fourth Ave
nue, along which the New Haven and
Harlem railroad tracks run, one of the
principals of the assembled people caught
sight of the telegraph wires and poles.
It was at once suggested that the au
thorities might telegraph to Albany for
troops. Scarcely were the words uttered
when the axes were laid at the feet of
the telegraph poles, and down they came.
That part of the wires that could not be
thus destroyed was divided by means of
men climbing the poles, and throwing
slings, stones, etc., until the wires were
severed and rendered completely use
less. Another branch wire, leading from
the railroad to Third Avenue, and that
along Third Avenue, were similarly dam
aged, and then the crowd again moved
on to the provost marshal's office."
On the first stone being thrown
through the window, the mob on the
outside rushed into the building. After
having dashed the wheel into pieces,
torn into shreds the draft list, and de
stroyed the furniture of the office, they

emptied out a can of turpentine, and
setting fire to it, the whole house was
soon in flames. The fire extended tp
three adjoining buildings, as the mob,
overpowering the police, would not allow
the firemen to extinguish it, and exulted
with loud shouts at the conflagration.
The crowd, still increasing in numbers
and becoming more excited, now turned
to go to the Arsenal, where, in the
mean time, a detachment of regulars
from Governor's Island had arrived and
were prepared to defend the building.
A small force, of only about forty
soldiers, being a part of the provost
guard, having been sent up from the
Park to awe the rioters, came into col
lision with them in the Third Avenue,
near Forty-second Street, and fired,
killing and wounding several persons.
This, instead of intimidating, aroused
the fury of the people, who attacked the
soldiers and forced them to fly. As
they fled, they threw away their muskets,
which were seized by their pursuers and
used against them. One being over
taken was "beaten almost into jelly,
and fainting from loss of blood and
exhaustion, was thrown into an alley
way and left to take care of himself as
best he might." Others were seized
and mangled to death. In Forty-second
Street, a policeman on duty having fired
into the crowd and unfortunately killed
a woman, was set upon with sticks and
stones, and after being thus cruelly
mauled, was shot in the back.
The rioters, in the course of their
morning's havoc, burnt the Bull's He'ad
Hotel in Forty-third Street and the Col-

NEW YORK DRAFT RIOT.

179

ored Orphan Asylum in Fifth Avenue,
and tore up a portion of the New Haven
railroad track. In the afternoon they
resumed their work of destruction, and
after killing and wounding half a dozen
of its defenders, destroyed a dep6t of
fire-arms at the corner of Second
Avenue and Twenty-first Street, and
burned two private houses in Lexington
Avenue in their rage at the escape of a
policeman who had sought refuge in one
of them.
The draft in the eighth district, in
cluding the 22d Ward, was, notwith
standing the disorder in other parts
of the city, persisted in until twelve
o'clock, when it was suspended. About
four o'clock in the afternoon, the mob
attacked the Enrolling Office, No. 1,190
Broadway, second door from the corner
of Twenty -ninth Street, and after rifling
it and the neighboring shops, burnt them
to the ground.
In other parts of the city there were
also riotous manifestations and some
acts of violence. A crowd thronging
about the Tribune Office broke the win
dows and tore down the doors. Dem
onstrations were also made against the
residences of Mayor Opdyke and others.
The civic • and military authorities
seemed perplexed how to act. The
usual proclamations and orders were
issued by the Mayor and the command
ers of the United States troops and
militia, but nothing effective was done
toward re-establishing order in the city
and rescuing it from the ruthless sway
of the mob. It is true that, in conse
quence of the call of the President for

troops to resist the invasion of the
enemy, New York had been deprived
of most of its armed defenders ; still,
with unanimity of action and timely pre
caution, it would not have been difficult
to organize the orderly citizens into effi
cient conservators of the peace.
On the second day, Tuesday, July
13th, the rioters, their audacity height
ened by impunity, and their lust of
blood and plunder increased by pre
vious license, recommenced their work
of rapine and murder. The Governor
of the State came to the rescue of the
helpless city with a proclamation.
" To the People of the City of New
York : A riotous demonstration in
your city, originating in opposition to
the conscription of soldiers for the
military service of the United States,
has swelled into vast proportions, direct
ing its fury against the property and
lives of peaceful citizens. I know that
many of those who have participated in
these proceedings would not have al
lowed themselves to be carried to such
extremes of violence and of wrong
except under an apprehension of in
justice ; but such persons are reminded
that. the only opposition to the conscrip
tion which can be allowed is an appeal
to the courts.
" The right of every citizen to make
such an appeal will be maintained, and
the decision of the court must be re
spected and obeyed by rulers and people
alike. No other course is consistent
with the maintenance of the laws, the
peace and order of the city, and the
safety of its inhabitants.

180

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTPI.

" Riotous proceedings must and shall
be put down. The laws of the State of
New York must be enforced, its peace
and order maintained, and the lives and
property of all its citizens protected at
any and every hazard. The rights of
every citizen will be properly guarded
and defended by the Chief Magistrate
of the State.
" I do therefore call upon all persons
engaged in these riotous proceedings
to retire to their homes and employ
ments, declaring to them that unless
they do so at once, I shall use all the
power necessary to restore the peace
and order of the city. I also call upon
all well-disposed persons not enrolled
for the preservation of order, to pursue
their ordinary avocations.
"Let all citizens stand firmly by the
constituted authorities, sustaining law
and order in the city, and ready to
answer any such demand as circum
stances may render necessary for me to
make upon their services, and they may
rely upon a rigid enforcement of the
laws of this State against all who
violate them.
"Horatio Seymour, Governor.
" New York, July 14, 1863."
The rioters gave little heed to words
however persuasively uttered, and in
spite of the Governor's proclamation,
continued to glut their instincts of rapine
and cruelty. The State, civic, and
military authorities (both Federal and
State), the navy, Governor Seymour,
Mayor Opdyke, the police commission
ers, Generals Wool, Brown, and Sand-.
ford, co-operated in efforts to protect

the city, but found that the forces at
their command were barely sufficient to
guard the public property. The custom
house, the sub-treasury buildings, and
arsenals were filled with marines and
sailors, the approaches and entrances
were covered by cannon, and the halls
lined with howitzers from the navy
yard. The ship-yards, gas-works, and
public institutions were guarded by the
few militia left in the city, and gun
boats anchored in the East and North
rivers with their broadsides menacing
Wall and other streets, which were
thought to be especially exposed to
attack. Notwithstanding these precautions,
and the suspension of the draft, which
was supposed to have provoked the pop
ular violence, the mob, on the second
day of the riot, continued to rage almost
without check. The city, thus at the
mercy of robbers and murderers, wore
an air of gloom and despair. Busi
ness was arrested, the stores and shops
were closed, and the promenades de
serted. The well-dressed women, the
fashionable loungers, and the dashing
equipages were absent from the streets,
and the occupant of every house bar
ricaded his windows and doors, and arm
ed himself with such weapons, as he
could procure.
Though the whole city was more or
less the scene of violence, the most
tragic incidents occurred in the Second
and Third avenues and neighboring
streets. "Early in the morning," wrote
a reporter,* " there might be seen sev-
• N. Y. Herald.

NEW YORK DRAFT RIOT.

181

eral hundreds of people congregated at
each of the corners in the vicinity of
Thirty-fourth Street and up to Forty-
sixth. There seemed to be no great
excitement pervading the masses of
persons who were here assembled, but
a settled and gloomy quiet hung over
their every movement. All canvassed
the exciting events which had transpired
the day previous with a good deal of
sober calmness, and no demonstration of
any description took place which might
be construed as an outbreak.
" Numbers were armed, but no at
tack upon person or locality seemed to
be determined upon. Several of their
friends addressed them, and they list
ened with comparative quiet. Father
Clowrey, the Catholic priest of that
district, spoke to them, and requested
that they would go to their homes and
keep quiet. This advice from the
venerated clergyman seemed to be re
garded with a good deal of interest, and
the crowd, for a few moments, seemed
to be deeply impressed with what was
so feelingly said to them. There ap
peared to be a general disposition to
keep quiet at this moment, and several
turned into the adjacent streets, as if
to wend their way homeward. Father
Clowrey, however, soon went away, and
the crowd commenced to clamor and
use emphatic gesticulations once more.
Propositions were made by several to
proceed to different localities and break
open premises. But these suggestions
seemed to meet with opposition.
" Some one of the multitude remarked
that the police and military were coming

up the avenue, as on Monday, and, like
a flash of electricity, the whole crowd
were moved with the most tremendous
excitement, and daring epithets were
freely indulged in. ' Let them come
on, and we will meet them like men,'
were the outcries which were now raised.
The crowd rushed into several houses,
and took therefrom every article which
might in any way be converted into a
weapon. Women also armed themselves
with whatever they could lay hold of,
expressing themselves in the strongest
language, both of encouragement to
their friends and relatives and disdain
for those who were coming up to dis
perse them.
" The crowd was at this time congre
gated between Thirty-fourth and Thirty-
seventh streets, in the Second Avenue,
and accessions to their ranks were flock
ing in from all directions. There was
not a single laborer in that locality who
did not leave his employment and join
the mass, until it must certainly have
numbered some 10,000 persons in all.
' ' The sight at this time was certainly
of a nature to excite fear in the stout
est heart. There was not much clamor
or noise of any description, but a settled
and determined appearance was the
peculiar characteristic of each individual.
All seemed imbued with one idea, that
of ' resistance,' and no matter what ob
stacle came in their path, they seemed
ready to encounter it.
" At about ten o'clock in the morn
ing a body of troops, about 400 in
all, accompanied by a number of police,
marched leisurely up Third Avenue.

182

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

The military were composed of Company
H, ofthe Twelfth Regiment, under com
mand of Captain Franklin ; and about
fifty of the Eleventh Regiment New
York Volunteers, under the command
of Colonel H. F. O'Brien. They brought
with them two small field-pieces.
" There were also about 400 police on
the march, led by Deputy Superintend
ent Carpenter and Sergeant Copeland.
They were well armed, and carried their
clubs in a firm grasp, as if determined
to do their part of the work.
" On arriving at the corner of Thirty-
fourth Street and Third Avenue, the
entire force marched down the street
into the avenue, the military passing
up some few minutes before. There
was no opposition whatever offered to
the military as they filed past ; but
as soon as the police made their ap
pearance, the fight commenced, and in
earnest. A shower of bricks came down
upon their heads from all directions,
and a hand-to-hand encounter immedi
ately followed. The police rushed into
the various houses on the route, and,
hurrying up stairs, used their clubs
against any person, young or old,
whom they met. In those encounters
it is impossible here to state how many
were killed and wounded ; but there
must certainly have been upward of ten
or fifteen clubbed to death.
" This assault did a great deal to
excite the people to the highest pitch,
and they now fought and acted like men
who did not care what they did, or what
was the consequence of their acts. The
police fought well, but in some cases

they acted in a manner calculated to
incite the people to increased violence.
Several were clubbed to death in their
own houses, and the stairs, rooms, and
hall-ways covered with blood, while the
furniture, glasses, etc., were broken to
pieces. The police evidently got the
best of it in this encounter, and suc
ceeded to a great extent in putting
down the disturbance, which was fast
spreading from street to street.
"The police, as they came from the
houses after inflicting summary punish
ment upon all who came in their way,
formed again in the streets. Here they
took up the line of march, and were
proceeding to another vicinity, when a
second attack took place ; and now the
real work commenced.
" There were two howitzers placed in
position, supporting which were two
companies of the Eleventh New York
State Volunteers, under command of
Colonel O'Brien, who was on horseback.
The military were formed on Second
Avenue, at the corner of Thirty-fourth
Street, with the crowd on either side of
them and a few in front, none express
ing the slightest trepidation at the
dangerous position in which they were
placed. Bricks flew like hail-stones
among the soldiers. Colonel O'Brien
rode up and down in the centre, and
then gave the command ' Fire !' to those
who had charge of the howitzers. Some
allege that these pieces were loaded
with grape and canister ; but however
this may be, there were several seen to
fall at this time. The two companies
of infantry of the Eleventh Regiment,

NEW YORK DRAFT RIOT.

183

which were under the immediate com
mand of Colonel O'Brien, also opened
a fire of Minie bullets and committed
some havoc among the crowd, which
was firmly massed together at this point.
Several fell upon the sidewalks and in
the middle of the street, and were car
ried into various houses, where their
wounds were attended to.
" The action of Colonel O'Brien, as
described by several who were within
hearing distance of him during the whole
time, is thus described from the com
mencement of the conflict. He urged
on the soldiers to fire into and attack
the people in all manner of ways. How
true this is cannot be determined; but
the fate which he met with is probably
one of the most horrible that the pres
ent generation ever witnessed.
" Colonel O'Brien, as has already
been stated, was on horseback, and had
the entire command of the military. It
was by his orders that they fired, and
also by his instrumentality, whether he
were right or wrong in the matter, that
the heart's blood of many a noble youth
was stopped in its Sowings.
1 ' A most heart-rending occurrence took
place during this fight. Colonel O'Brien
held a revolver in his hand, and was
riding up and down between either line
of the crowd. He, as it is stated, fired
his revolver into their midst, the ball
killing a woman and child, which she
held in her arms. After several rounds
had been fired, the people began to
disperse, and the police proceeded to
another part of the city. Colonel
O'Brien and his command, however,

remained. The Colonel dismounted
from his horse and walked into a drug
store. " Had he taken his departure at this
time, there is little doubt that his life
would have been saved. Colonel O'
Brien stayed in the drug store for some
few minutes ; it is thought that he went
in to get some refreshments. The crowd
were around the door at this time.
There was scarcely a word spoken, but
the lowering glances of 1,000 men look
ed down in vengeful spirit upon him as
he stood in the door. He then drew his
sword, and with the revolver in the other
hand walked out on the sidewalk in the
very centre of the crowd. He was imme
diately surrounded, and one of the men
came behind, and striking him a heavy
blow on the back of the head, staggered
him. The crowd then immediately sur
rounded and beat him in a most shock
ing manner.
' ' His almost inanimate body was taken
up in the strong arms of the crowd and
hurried to the first lamp- post, where it
was strung up by a rope. After a few
minutes the body was taken down, he
being still alive, and thrown, like so
much rubbish, into the street.
" The body lay in the middle of the
street, within a few yards of the corner
of Thirty-fourth Street. Nature shud
ders at the appalling scenes which here
took place. The body was mutflated in
such a manner that it was utterly im
possible to recognize it. The head was
nearly one mass of gore, and the clothes
saturated with blood. A crowd of some
300 persons surrounded the prostrate

184

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

figure. These men looked upon the
terrible sight with the greatest coolness,
and som-e even smiled at the gory ob
ject. Our reporter walked leisurely
among the crowd which surrounded the
body, and gazed upon the extended
mass of flesh which was once the cor
pulent form of Colonel H. F. O'Brien.
Notwithstanding the fearful process
which the soldier had gone through, he
was yet breathing. The eyes were
closed, but there was a very apparent
twitching of the eyelids, while the lips
were now and again convulsed, as if in
the most intense agony.
" After lying for about an hour in
this position,. several of the crowd took
hold of the body by the legs and drag
ged it from one side of the street to the
other. This operation was gone through
with several times, when the crowd
again left the body lying in its original
position. " Had Colonel O'Brien been a man
of weak constitution, he would certainly
have ceased to exist long before this
time. He was, however, a man of great
natural strength, and this fact probably
kept him breathing longer than would
any common person. The crowd re
marked this, and watched his every
slightest movement with the most in
tense anxiety. Now and then the head
would be raised from the ground, while
an application of a foot from one of the
crowd would dash the already mangled
mass again to the earth. This conduct
was carried on for some time, and when
our reporter left, the body was still
lying in the street, the last spark of

existence evidently having taken its
flight. " Probably the worst feature of the
affray in this neighborhood was the
death of the two or three unfortunate
women who happened to be on the
ground at the time. One woman's life
was saved by the timely services of Dr.
E. D. Connery, who extracted a ball
from her person. This gentleman's
valuable services were brought into re
quisition in other places where a number
of parties had been wounded. These
events, of course, inflamed the other
women of that ward, and they turned
out in large force to aid their relatives
and friends when any opportunity should
occur. " At four o'clock everything was com
paratively quiet where the real fighting
had taken place. An immense crowd,
however, still remained. They were not
congregated in one solid mass, but were
assembled in groups, a few yards apart,
of about 200 each. There was no
boisterous discussion. The people con
versed in tones of studied ease, and did
not make any remarks of a bloodthirsty
nature. Every brow had its frown,
every lip was compressed, some cheeks
were blanched — not with fear, but with
intense anger. There was not a word
uttered counselling cessation, but a vig
orous prosecution of the work in which
they were engaged was urged. Each
house of business was closed, and pri
vate dwellings had their doors and win
dows properly barred and locked. Dark
ness was rapidly stealing on, but the
crowd still lingered."

NEW YORK DRAFT RIOT.

185

The negroes of the city were the
especial object of the fury of the mob.
Their houses were sacked and burned,
and they themselves hunted out, tracked,
seized upon, and murdered. These poor
creatures became so terror-stricken, that
those who were able skulked out of the
city, and those who were left hid away
and did not venture to show themselves
in the light of day.
It was clear, whatever may have been
the original motive of the rioters, that
it had now degenerated into a lust for
blood and plunder. Houses and shops
were broken into for no other purpose
than to steal their valuable contents.
Thus, a throng of men, women, and
children sacked the clothing store in
Catherine Street, of Brooks Brothers,
who were not in any respect objects of
political odium.
The second day of the riot closed with
unabated gloom, and was followed by a
night of wakeful anxiety, for the constant
tolling of the fire-bells, telling of re
peated house burnings, foreboded a gen
eral conflagration.
On the next day, the third of the riot,
Wednesday, July 15th, the mob still
held the city in its cruel sway. The
suspension of the draft was officially
announced. Governor Seymour pro
claimed the city and county of New
York to be in a state of insurrection.
Mayor Opdyke hopefully declared that
the riot had "been in a good measure
subjected to the control of the public
authorities," and invited the citizens to
form voluntary associations to patrol
and guard the districts in which they
192

lived, against the " fragments of the
mob prowling about for plunder," and
to save " the military and police from
the exhaustion of continued movements."
He further declared, that "the various
lines of omnibuses, railways, and tele
graphs must be put in full operation
immediately," and promised that " ade
quate military protection against their
further interruption would be furnished
on application to the military authori
ties of the State."
The Roman Catholic Archbishop
Hughes addressed his flock, saying :
" In spite of Mr. Greeley's assault
upon the Irish, in the present disturbed
condition of the city, I will appeal not
only to them, but to all persons who
love God and revere the holy Catholic
religion which they profess, to respect
also the laws of man and the peace of
society, to retire to their homes with as
little delay as possible, and disconnect
themselves from the seemingly deliberate
intention to disturb the peace and social
rights of the citizens of New York. If
they are Catholics, or of such of them
as are Catholics, I ask, for God's sake —
for the sake of their holy religion — for
my own sake, if they have any respect
for the Episcopal authority — to dissolve
their bad associations with reckless men,
who have little regard either for Divine
or human laws."
The aldermen of New York unani
mously voted an ordinance by which
$2,500,000 were appropriated to relieve
those who might be drafted for com
pulsory service.
The city still wore the gloom of the

186

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

previous days. " General commerce,"
said a journalist, " appeared to stand
still. Storekeepers in neighborhoods
where a multitude of people sacked
dwellings, anticipated further attacks.
In the principal streets the shutters were
kept up, and the proprietors kept their
doors ajar, in order to suddenly close
them in case of danger.
" There were few, if any, jewellers'
marts open. The precious gems, gold,
and trinkets were prudently deemed too
costly a temptation to be exposed to
apprehended seizure."
The riot still raged. Crowds of ex
cited people gathered in the districts
which had been the scenes of violence,
and while in all they threatened to re
sume them, in some they actually did
so with increased fury. The Arsenal in
the Seventh Avenue, the constant object
of the popular menace, had been placed
in a state of military defence. Mountain
howitzers, brass field-pieces, and picket-
guards commanded the approaches, and
a body of troops, under Major-General
Sandford, encamped within the inclosure
and occupied the neighboring streets.
Close to the military line, a large crowd
gathered from an early hour in the
morning and threatened an attack.
" About eight o'clock the first engage
ment," reported a journalist,* "took
place in this part of the city between
the military and the people. News was
received that a large crowd had congre
gated in the neighborhood of Eighth
Avenue and Thirty-second Street. The
crowd numbered between 4,000 and
* N. Y. Herald.

5,000 men. They had been collected in
that vicinity for some time, apparently
in doubt where to move. A negro un
fortunately made his appearance, when
one of the men called him an opprobious
name.- The negro made a similar re
joinder, and after a few words the
indiscreet colored man pulled out a
pistol and shot the man. With one
simultaneous yell the crowd rushed
on him. He was lifted high in the air
by fifty stalwart arms and then dashed
forcibly on the pavement. Kicks were
administered by all who could get near
enough. Some men then took hold of
him by the legs and battered his head
several times on the pavement. Life
was now nearly extinct and a rope called
for. The desired article was in a mo
ment produced, and the black man's
body was soon after suspended from a
neighboring lamp-post. The passions of
the people were now fully aroused, and
an assault was made on the neighboring
houses to search for negroes. A scene
of this kind soon degenerated into one
of indiscriminate destruction. Word
was passed along to fire the houses and
burn the niggers out. At this time the
military, consisting of a strong detach
ment of infantry and one twelve-pounder
mountain howitzer, arrived on the
ground, under command of Colonel
Winslow. The people were too intent
on the work of destruction to heed their
arrival. The howitzer was unlimbered,
and poured a deadly charge of canister
into the crowd. Signs of resistance
were evinced, and an evident determi
nation to wrest the gun from the hands

NEW YORK DRAFT RIOT.

187

of the artillerists. The infantry received
the order to fire, and again a shower of
bullets thinned the crowd. No symp
toms were evinced of their retiring, and
the howitzer again thundered forth a
deadly discharge of canister. The fire
was by this time too hot for the crowd
to withstand, and with shrieks and yells
they commenced to scatter in all direc
tions. During the whole time the mili
tary had been under a strong fire of
stones, brickbats, pistol and gun shots,
not only from the crowd in their front,
but from the housetops. The crowd
dispersing, orders were given to the
soldiers to return. After cutting down
the body of the negro the military com
menced to fall slowly back. The crowd
at once reassembled and closed up in
their rear. Four separate times before
the crowd would desist from the pursuit,
was the order given to the infantry to
fire. After considerable difficulty Col
onel Winslow and his command re
turned to the Arsenal, after having suc
cessfully carried out the orders they
had received. * * *
" Shortly before twelve o'clock, Col
onel Magee was ordered to proceed to
Thirty-fourth Street, near Sixth Avenue,
to rescue eighteen colored men who
were momentarily in danger of being
assaulted by the people. The Colonel
went off with four men, and succeeded
in bringing the darkies to the Arsenal.
Nobody hurt.
"During the morning the crowd on
Seventh Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street
increased in numbers and boldness. The
pressure from the rear forced those in

front to press too closely on the pickets,
who were in momentary danger of being
surrounded and deprived of their arms.
Brickbats, stones, and occasionally pistol
and gun shots were fired at the troops.
When the advance was witnessed from
the Arsenal, the howitzers were planted
to sweep the avenue. A detachment
of the One Hundred and Seventy- eighth
New York Volunteers, under command
of Captain Gandolfo, and Lieutenants
Meding and Blackmire. were ordered
out to charge on the people. On reach
ing the crowd a volley was fired over
their heads, and a general stampede was
the result.
"About one o'clock another disturb
ance took place in Thirty-third Street,
between Sixth and Seventh avenues.
A large crowd had assembled- and com
menced sacking some of the houses in
that vicinity. Captain Doles, of General
Hunter's staff, who had volunteered his
services, was ordered to proceed to the
scene of the disturbance with a detach
ment of the Twentieth New York Artil
lery, armed with rifles. The crowd
dispersed on the appearance of the mili
tary, who then had orders to right-about-
face and return to quarters. The people
then commenced to hoot them. A
shower of brickbats, stones, and other
missiles were fired at them. In the
melee a number of negroes rushed by
to take refuge in one of the houses.
This sight maddened the crowd, and a
rush was made to intercept the darkies.
Captain Doles ordered his men to fire a
volley into them, which was done ; but
the crowd still pressed on ; the soldiers

188

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

became enraged at- their persistence,
and, without waiting for orders, another
volley was fired. This was an unfortu
nate occurrence, as one of the shots
wounded a fireman who was at the time
busily engaged in cleaning some hose.
" About two o'clock, information was
received at the Arsenal that a large
number of muskets were secreted in a
store on Broadway, above Thirty-third
Street. Colonel William Meyer was
ordered to proceed to the spot, with a
detachment of thirty-three men belong
ing to Hawkins' Zouaves, for the purpose
of seizing the arms to prevent their
falling into the hands of the people.
Colonel Meyer conducted his command
through Thirty-fifth Street, across Sixth
Avenue, thence to Broadway and Thirty-
second Street. The premises were en
tered, and, in spite of a large and con
stantly increasing crowd, the arms were
brought out. An Irishman, passing at
the time with his cart, was pressed into
the service, and obliged, much against
his will, to convey them to the Arsenal.
The people followed the cart and its
escort for some distance ; but no forcible
demonstration took place. The party
returned to the Arsenal after an absence
of about forty minutes, and reported the
successful conclusion of their mission.
" Many times during the day a scat
tering fire was heard from the pickets.
The troops then sprang to arms, while
the volunteer citizens were placed in
position to support the artillery. The
guns were wheeled round to command
the threatened point, and everything
seemed to indicate an immediate and

desperate attack. In most instances,
however, the demonstration was quelled
by the discharge of a volley into the air,
when the crowd, which in many instances
was largely composed of women and
children, instantly . disappeared after
firing a few stones at the soldiers.
"At five o'clock, Colonel Sherwood's
battery of rifled six-pounders and a
strong force of infantry, under command
of Colonel Meyer, were ordered to the
corner of Twenty-seventh Street and
Seventh Avenue to quell a serious dis-
•turbance which had broken out at that
point. On arriving there, they found
the people busily engaged in rifling
and gutting the stores and private
houses. Flames were issuing from the
windows, and the scene resembled close
ly many similar ones which our citizens
during the last few days have been
called to look on. Suspended from a
lamp-post was the body of a black man
who had been hung up a few minutes
before. The firemen made their appear
ance on the ground at the same time as
the military. The people who had been
engaged in the work of destruction re
tired behind the firemen, thus placing a
barrier of our brave firemen between
themselves and the military. It was
this circumstance only which prevented
the discharge of the rifled field-pieces.
From the housetops the usual sahfte of
brickbats and stones was showered down
on the military. Several citizens stepped
up to Colonel Meyer and informed him
that men were stationed on the house
tops with rifles in their hands ready to
fire on his men. The Colonel thereupon

NEW YORK DRAFT RIOT.

189

ordered his men to keep a sharp look
out, and if any shots were fired from the
housetops, to deliver a volley instantly.
At this time Judge McCunn appeared
on the scene, and entreated the Colonel
' to spare those innocent people.' The
Judge informed the Colonel that he had,
by authority from Governor Seymour,
been using his influence to quell the
disturbance. Colonel Meyer replied
that he, as a military man, had but to
obey orders, and if the people attempted
to advance or fire on his men, he should
certainly order it to be returned by a
volley. The infantry and artillery then
slowly retired, and had hardly reached
the Arsenal ere the disturbance broke
out with renewed violence, and word
was brought to General Sandford that
two more negroes were dangling in mid
air from the lamp-posts.
" The pickets brought in a large num
ber of prisoners, dirty, ragged, and
bloody in appearance, but sullen and
determined in demeanor. * * *
" The colored folks in the 20th Ward
suffered very severely. Numberless
were the atrocities perpetrated on them.
They were hunted from their houses by
the score. When caught, they were
hung up to lamp-posts or beaten, jumped
on, kicked, and struck with iron bars
and heavy wooden clubs. At one time
there were between fifty and sixty of
these people in the Arsenal. Many of
them were horribly maimed and dis
figured. No respect had been paid
either to sex, age, or condition. One
woman was burned out of her house
who had only been confined on Tuesday.

* * * Many affecting scenes took
place between different members of the
same family who had given each other
up as lost, and met unexpectedly in the
Arsenal. One poor fellow had been
obliged to run for his life, and in about
an hour his wife arrived in deep distress,
but when she saw her ' old man' alive
and all right, except a ghastly wound
on the head, her joy was boundless, and
could find no better vent for it than by
flinging her arms around her husband's
neck. " Between seven and eight o'clock
p.m.," says a newspaper reporter, " about
100 soldiers, dressed in citizens' clothes
and accompanied by a portion of
Hawkins' Zouaves, who were in uni
form, with one field-piece, marched up
the First Avenue. The crowd at the
time were congregated in the - street,
corner Nineteenth Street, not doing
anything very obnoxious. While the
soldiers were orderly marching along,
all at once the military were fired upon
by some man of the crowd in the rear.
The soldiers turned and killed the man
who had fired. The soldiers were then
fired upon by the crowd, and some
fifteen were killed in return, together
with the captain and lieutenant in charge
and the colonel in command, who was
seriously wounded. The soldiers then,
being much exasperated, fired several
rounds from the field-piece and several
discharges of musketry."
The negroes continued to be the
objects of the most cruel persecution.
The quarters in which they had lived
were devastated, and they themselves

190

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

tortured, hanged, and driven out of the
city. Before the close of the day it was
frequently remarked that not a negro
was to be seen in the streets.
Thursday, July 16th, opened more
cheerfully. Several of the militia regi
ments which had been absent on service
had returned to the city, and its in
habitants felt more confident of security.
The mob, though somewhat awed by
the arrival of fresh troops, was still
defiant and occasionally resisted the
soldiers, who, however, succeeded, after
several severe encounters in which many
lives were lost, in establishing their
ascendancy. On Friday, the 17th of July, Mayor
Opdyke proclaimed :
"The riotous assemblages have been
dispersed. Business is running in its
usual channels. The various lines of
omnibuses, railway, and telegraph have
resumed their ordinary operations. Few
symptoms of disorder remain, except in
a small district in the eastern part of the
city, comprising a part of the 18th and
21st Wards. The police is everywhere
alert. A sufficient military force is now
here to suppress any illegal movement,
however formidable."
Archbishop Hughes having on the
previous day invited the "men of New
York, who are now called, in many of
the papers, rioters, to assemble in their
whole strength" before his residence,
found before him on the afternoon an
immense assemblage, principally of Irish
Catholics, and addressed them in a
speech which seemed singularly adapted
to his hearers, for they listened calmly

and dispersed quietly and apparently in
good temper.
The Federal Government, in the mean
time, had prepared to vindicate its con
temned authority. Major-General Dix
was relieved of his command at Fortress
Monroe and ordered to New York, as
commander of the Department of the
East in place of General Wool, and
General Brown was superseded by Gen
eral Canby in the command of the
United States troops in the city and
harbor. A large force was, at the same
time, ordered to New York, and soon
some 30,000 Federal soldiers occupied
the city and neighborhood, when public
halls were turned into barracks and
parks into camping-grounds.
With its authority thus fortified, the
Government disclaimed all responsibil
ity for the suspension of the draft,
and declared its determination to pros
ecute it.
The civic authorities, too, became less
disposed to conciliate the violations of
the law, and Mayor Opdyke vetoed the
aldermanic ordinance. The supervisors
of the State and county, however, made
a compromise by voting a large sum to
relieve the families of conscripts and to
pay bounties to volunteers.
The President of the United States,
after a disputatious correspondence with
the Governor of New York, agreed to
modify the quotas, but refused to post
pone the draft until a decision might be
obtained in regard to its legality.
The draft accordingly took place in
New York during the month of August,
without the least attempt to resist it.

BLOCKADE-RUNNING.

191

CHAPTER XIX

The Enemy's efforts to establish a Naval Force.— Aid from Abroad.— Running the Blockade.— Immense number of
Blockade-Runners.— The Supplies thus obtained by the Confederate Government.— The Fingal.— Her History .—The
Fingal purchased by the Confederate Government.— Turned into an Iron-clad, and called the Atlanta.— Fight be
tween the Atlanta and Weehawken.— A short Fight, and a Union Victory.— Captain Rodgers' Report.— Downes'
Report.— Admiral Lee's Report.— Admiral Dupont's Report.— The Secretary of the Navy's comments.— Ericsson's
share of congratulations. -Capture of Steamer Boston.— Capture of the Vincennes, and sinking of Store-ship Re
lief.— Capture on the Rappahannock of the Reliance and Satellite.— Captures on the coast of Texas.— The continued
Depredations of the Alabama and Florida.— A new Expedient.— Arming prizes.— The Exploits of the Tacony among
the Fishermen.— Capture of a Revenue Cutter.— The men of Portland in pursuit.— Blowing up of the Caleb Cush-
ing. — Capture of the Privateers. — Imprisonment.

1S63.

The enemy persistently strove to
establish a naval force, and it may
be conceded that the result, though
small relatively to the great power on
the water of the commercial people of
the North, was large proportionately to
their own limited resources. This was
chiefly due to the indirect aid of a pro
foundly neutral foreign nation, without
which the insurgents of the South could
not have accomplished so much, though
it was by their own energy that the
means were thus obtained, and more or
less successfully applied.
Notwithstanding the blockade of the
Southern coast, sustained by hundreds
of Northern cruisers, commercial adven
turers, encouraged by the bounties of
the Confederate Government, and stimu
lated by their own eagerness for gain,
persisted in the hazardous trade with
the Confederate ports in spite of fre
quent captures. The profit of a suc
cessful venture was so great, that the
loss of two vessels was believed to be
compensated by the good fortune of a

third. The trade, thus commercially
justified, prospered, and the number of
vessels, principally small and swift-going
steamers, built in Great Britain, became
so great, that the arrivals and departures
of blockade-runners at and from Nassau,
an English colony, conveniently con
tiguous to the Southern coast, were an
nounced with the regularity of a line of
weekly packets.
The Confederate Government was
thus not only supplied with frequent
cargoes of munitions of war, but also
with occasional vessels suitable for equip
ment as privateers and cruisers. In
1861, an iron steamer called the Fingal,
built on the Clyde, near Glasgow, was
purchased to run the blockade. She
was accordingly loaded with a cargo
consisting of 200 pieces of artillery,
8,500 Enfield rifles, 20,000 army pistols,
15,000 sabres, 100,000 blankets, 65,000
pairs of army shoes, 2,000,000 of per
cussion caps, 2 tons of powder, a large
quantity of quinine, and other articles
needed by the insurgents. Thus freight-

192

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

ed, she sailed for Bermuda or Nassau,
and thence to Savannah, where, after
eluding the United States cruisers, she
entered the port on the 31st of July,
1862. The Fingal was now purchased
by the Confederate Government, and
turned into a vessel of war. Many
months were occupied in cutting her
clown, roofing her like the Merrimac,
covering her with iron armor, and
providing her with a beak or ram.
Though on several previous occasions
the Fingal, now called the Atlanta,
threatened to come out and try her
strength with the Federal cruisers, as
during the attack on Fort Pulaski, and
again on the unsuccessful attempt of the
Nashville to get to sea, she did not
venture to offer fight until the 17th of
June. Admiral Dupont, having pre
viously suspected her approach, had
sent two iron-clad gun-boats, the Wee
hawken, Captain John Rodgers, and
the Nahant, Commander J. Downes,
from Port Royal to Warsaw. These
vessels being in readiness, attacked her
as soon as she came within range of
their guns.
Captain Rodgers, in his report of
June 17th, 1863, says :
" This morning, at ten minutes past
four, an iron-clad vessel was discovered
coming down at the mouth of Wilming
ton River, also two other steamers, one
a side-wheel and the other a propeller ;
beat to quarters and commenced clearing
the ship for action. At twenty minutes
past four shipped the cable and steamed
slowly down toward the northeast end
of Warsaw Island. At thirty minutes

past four turned and stood up the sound,
heading for the iron-clad, which at this
time was discovered to have the rebel
flag flying. The Nahant, having no
pilot, followed in our wake. At five
minutes of five the enemy, being about
one and a half miles distant, fired a rifle
shot, which passed across our stern and
struck near the Nahant.
" At this time the enemy was lying
across the channel, waiting our attack.
At a quarter past five o'clock, being
distant from him about 300 yards, we
commenced firing. At half-past five
o'clock the enemy hauled down his
colors and hoisted the white flag, we
having fired five shots. Steamed near
the iron-clad and ordered a boat to be
sent alongside.
" At a quarter to six o'clock Lieuten
ant Alexander came on board to sur
render the rebel iron-clad Atlanta. He
reported the vessel aground on the sand-
spit that makes to the southeast from
Cabbage Island. Shortly afterward,
Captain W.' A. Webb came on board
and delivered up his sword. Sent a
prize crew to take charge of the vessel,
under the command of Lieutenant-Com
mander D. B. Harmony, of the Nahant.
Sent also Lieutenant-Commander J. J.
Cornwell, of ' this vessel, and Acting
First Assistant Engineer J. G. Young,
to take charge of the engine.
" On examination it was found that
the enemy had been struck four times —
first, on the inclined side by a fifteen-
inch coned shot, which although fired at
an angle of fifty degrees with her keel,
broke in the armor and wood backing,

CAPTURE OF THE ATLANTA.

193

strewing the deck with splinters, pros
trating about forty men by the concus
sion and wounding several by broken
pieces of armor and splinters. One man
has since died. The second shot (eleven-
inch solid) struck the edge of the over
hung knuckle, doing no damage, except
breaking a plate or two. The third shot
(a fifteen-inch coned) struck the top of
the pilot-house, knocking it off, wound
ing two pilots and stunning the men at
the wheel. The fourth shot, supposed
to be eleven-inch, struck a port stopper
in the centre, breaking it in two and
shattering it very much, and driving
many fragments in through the port.
" At twenty minutes past eight the
engine of the Atlanta was secured by
Engineer J. G. Young, and the vessel
backed off into deep water, when she
was brought to an anchor.
" The wounded, sixteen in number,
were rembved to the steamer Island
City, which had been kindly brought
over from Fort Pulaski by Colonel
Barton, United States Army. The
officers of the vessel were sent to the
tug Olender, and a portion of the crew
to the United States steamer Cimerone,
for transportation to Port Royal.
" The Atlanta was found to have
mounted two six-inch and two seven-
inch rifles, the six-inch in broadside and
the seven-inch working on a pivot either
as broadside or bow and stern guns.
There is a large supply of ammunition
for these guns, and other stores, said to
be of great value by some of the officers
of the vessel.
" There were on board at the time of
193

capture, as per muster roll, 21 officers
and 124 men, including 28 marines.
The captured rebel officers told me that
they thought we should find the speed
of the Atlanta reach ten knots. They
believe her the strongest iron-clad in
the Confederacy, and confidentially an
ticipated taking both the Nahant and
Weehawken. " The behavior of the officers and
crew was admirable. Lieutenant-Com
mander J. J. Cornwell did his duty
zealously and efficiently. Acting Master
Benjamin W. Loring, whom I recom
mend for promotion for gallant behavior
under the fire of Fort Darling, served
the guns admirably, as the result shows.
His energy and coolness were everything
that could be wished. Executive offi
cer Lieutenant-Commander J. J. Corn-
well informs me that on the berth-deck
the powder and shell divisions, under
Acting Master C. C. Kingsbury, wore
the aspect of exercise so completely, that
no one would have thought the vessel
was in action. The engine, under the
direction of Acting Assistant Engineer
James George Young, always in beauti
ful order, was well worked. Mr. Young
has, I hope, by his participation in this
action, won the promotion for which, on
account of his skill and valuable services,
I have already recommended him. In
a word, every man in the vessel did
his duty."
Commander Downes had no occasion
to fire a gun during this spirited en
gagement, but thus reports the action of
his consort, and the manoeuvres of his
own vessel, the Nahant :

194

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

" The Atlanta was first discovered at
early dawn, about three miles distant,
standing toward us, coming out from
the Wilmington River and rapidly ap
proaching. At first she was mistaken
for our usual visitor, a steamer that had
reconnoitred us daily at about this hour ;
but a few moments sufficed to show us
the true character of the vessel, and we
instantly commenced weighing anchor
and clearing ship for action.
" The Weehawken, slipping her cable,
passed us, standing out seaward. At
about a quarter to five a.m. cleared ship
for action, and in a few moments, our
anchor being weighed, we followed in
her wake. At this time the Atlanta
fired the first shot, which passed close
to our pilot-house. The Weehawken
having at this time turned, was ap
proaching the enemy, who continued,
however, to direct his fire upon us,
though without effect. At five a.m. the
Weehawken closed with the enemy, and
opened fire on him with accuracy, this
vessel approaching at the time with the
intention of running him aboard before
delivering fire ; but at the fourth fire
of the Weehawken the enemy struck,
and hoisted the white flag, the firing
ceasing after one more shot from the
Weehawken, this vessel not having the
satisfaction of expending one shot in
reply to the enemy's fire, which had
been directed exclusively at her.
" Lieutenant -Commander Harmony
proceeded on board the prize at half-
past five a.m., taking possession and
hoisting the American ensign.
" During the action, two of the enemy's

armed steamers were in sight up the
river, crowded with people, apparently
observing the progress of events, who
steamed up the river when the result
was attained.
"The behavior of officers and men
was, as usual, everything that could be
desired. Acting Ensign Clarke, though
quite sick, and under the doctor's charge,
proceeded to his station at the first call,
and remained there until the affair was
decided." The report of Admiral Lee gives some
interesting details.
"The engagement," he says, "was
exclusively between the Weehawken
and Atlanta. The latter mounted four
of the Brooke rifles — two of seven-inch
on the bow and stern pivots, and two
of six-inch on each end. She could
fight two of the former and one of the
latter on a side. Rodgers engaged the
rebel at close quarters. The first fifteen-
inch shot, fired by himself, took off the
top of the Atlanta's pilot-house and
wounded two of her three pilots. An
other fifteen-inch shot struck half way
up her roof, iron-plated, four inches
thick, killing one and wounding seven
teen men. Eleven shots were fired in
all— five by the Weehawken and six by
the Atlanta. The latter got aground
and surrendered. The fight was short
— the victory signal. The Weehawken
sustained no injury of any sort.
" The Atlanta steers well, and made
six knots against a head sea, going to
Port Royal. She was completely pro
vided with instruments and stores .for a
regular cruise. She had a ram, a saw,

CAPTURE OF THE BOSTON.

•195

arid a torpedo on her bow. Ex-Lieu
tenant W. A. Webb commanded her.
Her complement was 165 souls. The
Atlanta is said to have come down
confident of capturing the Monitors
easily, and her consorts, filled with
spectators, were prepared to tow them
to Savannah. She will soon be ready
for service under the flag of the Union."
Admiral Dupont, in his report, adds
some facts, and pays a well-merited
tribute to the gallantry of Captain
Rodgers and his officers and crew.
"The Fingal, in a dense fog," wrote
Dupont, "ran the blockade of Savannah
a few days after the Port Royal forts
were taken, in November, 1861. She
has been closely watched ever since, and
as in the case of the Nashville, the long
and ceaseless vigilance of my officers has
been rewarded. The Atlanta is now in
Port Royal, under the American flag,
having, unaided, steamed into this har
bor from Warsaw.
" The department will notice in this
event how well Captain Rodgers has
sustained his distinguished reputation,
and added to the list of the brilliant
services which he has rendered to the
country during the rebellion. * * *
" Commander Downes, with his usual
gallantry, moved as rapidly as possible
toward the enemy, reserving his fire un
til he could get into close action, but lost
the opportunity, from the brief nature
of the engagement, of using his battery.
" I have been told that the Confederate
Government considered the Atlanta as
the most efficient of their iron-clads.
" The officers and crew of the Atlanta,

with the exception of the wounded and
one of the surgeons, have been trans
ferred to the United States steamer
James Adger, to be conveyed to For
tress Monroe.
" I cannot close this dispatch without
calling the attention of the department
to the coolness and gallantry of Acting
Master Benjamin W. Loring, especially
recommended by Captain Rodgers. I
trust that the department will consider
his services as worthy of consideration."
The Secretary of the Navy deeming
the victory won by Captain Rodgers
worthy of especial comment, addressed
to him applauding words.
Mr. Ericsson, the inventor of the
Monitor, upon the model of which the
victorious Weehawken had been con
structed, received his share of the con
gratulations on the occasion in a com-
plimetitary dispatch from the Assistant
Secretary of the Navy.
Some daring and successful attempts
were made by detached parties of the
enemy from the shore to capture Federal
vessels on the Southern coasts. A
number of men, formerly pilots, who
had been for some time lurking in the
marshes at the mouth of the Mississippi,
started out on the 9th of June in an
open boat and hailed the tug steamer
Boston, towing the ship Jenny Lind,
laden with ice for New Orleans. A
rope being thrown to them, the Con
federates boarded the Boston, and point
ing their pistols, forced the captain to
surrender. The Jenny Lind was now
cut adrift, and the tug, in possession of
its captors, sailed on a marauding cruise.

196'

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Meeting with the bark Leonore, from
New York, with stores and a cargo,
she was first rifled and Jhen burned.
Soon after the Texana, another loaded
bark, being overtaken, met with the
same fate. The captors now took the
Boston into the port of Mobile.
Some time before, toward the end of
May, a couple of the enemy's iron-clad
boats, having come out of Mobile, cap
tured the man-of-war Vincennes and
sunk the store-ship Relief. Again, in
the month of August, a party of the
enemy captured, on the Rappahannock,
the gun-boats Reliance and Satellite.
An attempt was made by the Federalists
to recapture them, but though they
failed to regain possession of the vessels,
they rendered them, by a severe can
nonade, useless to their captors.
The Morning Light and the schooner
Velocity were captured on the Texan
coast by two Confederate steamers, com
manded by a Captain Fowler, a New-
Englander by birth, but long a resident
of Galveston. The following narrative
of his exploits is based on his own
statement :
" Captain Dillingham, ofthe Morning
Light, had expected an attack, and when
he saw the steamers with steam up, he
got under way, and attempted to get
off shore ; but it remained calm during
the night, and he made no progress.
For some reason the rebel steamers did
not come out till ten o'clock on the
following day, and about that time a
light breeze sprang up. Captain Fowler
ran directly for the Morning Light, and
the other steamer attacked the Velocity.

"The Morning Light endeavored to
obtain an offing, firing her broadsides,
and then running till again ready. She
fired first one broadside, and then the
other, till the steamer approached so
near that she could keep in her wake,
thus firing, according to Captain Fowler's
own account, upward of fifty rounds,
and Captain Dillingham says over sixty
rounds were fired.
"The rebel steamer had a fine rifle-
gun, with which Fowler says he should
have pelted the Morning Light at long
range had Dillingham attempted to. fight
him at anchor ; and he is confident he
could have taken or disabled the ship
in this manner. He also says, in his
opinion, Captain Dillingham fought his
ship as well as any one could have
fought her.
"When his vessel shot up alongside
of the Morning Light, his sharpshooters
rushed upon the breast-works or cotton
barricade, and the crew of the Morning
Light all ran below. The flag was then
hauled down, and Dillingham stood
coolly upon his quarter-deck, expecting
every moment to be riddled with rebel
bullets ; but Fowler shouted to his men
not to fire, and tumbled those within his
reach pell-mell down behind the breast
works — officers on top of the rest."
The British-built steamers Alabama
and Florida, to which was added, it
was suspected, a third — termed the Ja
pan when in the Clyde, where she had
her illegitimate birth, but afterward
called the Virginia — continued their
depredations upon Northern commerce
in every sea, and though pursued by

CRUISE OF THE FLORIDA.

197

the Federal cruisers, escaped capture.
By the expedient of arming some of the
fastest of their prizes and sending them
abroad on the sea to rob and destroy
like themselves, the original privateers
obtained several effective auxiliaries.
Thus Captain Maffit, of the Florida,
captured the brig Clarence, armed her
with a howitzer, supplied her with rifles,
revolvers, and pistols, and placing her
under the command of his lieutenant,
Charles William Reed, and a crew of
twenty-one officers and men, dispatched
her on a roving commission.
The Clarence was off St. Roque when
Reed assumed the command. His cruise
and subsequent fate are thus reported
by himself :
" Ran up north till June 6. When
off Cape Hatteras burned the bark
Whistling Wind, with coal for the United
States Navy. On the 7th instant cap
tured the schooner Alfred H. Partridge
and boarded her ; 9th, burned the brig
Mary Alvina, loaded with commissary
stores ; 12th, latitude 37° north, longi
tude 75° 30' west, captured the bark
Tacony ; finding her faster than the
Clarence, transferred everything and
burned the Clarence ; christened the
Tacony the bark Florida ; same day
captured the schooners M. A. Shindler
and Kate Stuart ; bonded the Kate
Stuart for $7,000 and sent all the
prisoners aboard — burned the M. A.
Shindler. Same day captured and
bonded the brig Arabella, with a neutral
cargo ; passed a gun-boat without being
noticed. June 15, latitude 37° 42', lon
gitude 70° 30', burned the brig Umpire.

June 20, latitude 40° 50', longitude 69°
64', bonded the ship Isaac Webb, with
750 passengers — wild Irishmen. At 3
p.m. burned a fishing sloop, name un
known. June 21, latitude 41°, longitude
69° 10', burned the ship Byzantium ; en
listed three men from her belonging to
New Orleans. Same, day burned the
bark Goodspeed. June 22, burned the
fishing schooner Marengo ; same day
captured the schooner Florence ; put all
the prisoners aboard of her, including
the crews of the schooners Elizabeth
Ames, Rufus Choate, and Ripple, which
were captured and burned the same
day ; 23d, burned the schooners Ada
and Wanderer ; 24th, latitude 43° 10',
longitude 67° 43', captured the packet-
ship Shatemuc, from Liverpool to Bos
ton, with 350 passengers ; was anxious
to burn her, she being loaded with iron
plates, etc. ; tried to catch schooners to
put the passengers aboard, but failed,
and had to let her go, bonding her in
$150,000 ; same day captured schooner
Archer ; chased the Statesman and put
the Archer's crew aboard ; hearing that
Federal cruisers were after the Taconv,
and fearing recognition, burned the
Tacony, transferring everything to the
Archer ; thence came direct to Portland ;
picked up two fishermen for pilots, but
they would not serve ; took the positions
from the coast survey charts ; got in at
sunset and anchored below ; had no
communication with the shore.
" Lieutenant Reed also says he waited
till half-past twelve a.m., when the moon
went down, then rowed directly to the
cutter Caleb Cushing in two boats, with

198

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

muffled oars ; boarded her with one
boat on each side, seized her crew with
out resistance, and ironed them ; cap
tured Lieutenant Davenport as he came
on deck, weighed anchor, being unable
to slip the cable, and started at three
a.m., going out by Hussey's Sound,
towed by two boats ahead, and followed
by the Archer, as fast as her limit would
permit. Laid to outside waiting for the
Archer. When the steamers attacked
us we could only fire five round shots,
and were obliged to fire stones and
pieces of iron."
Great excitement was produced in the
North when the havoc among the
fishermen of Nantucket was discovered.
It was believed at -first that the Florida
herself was the agent of all the mischief,
and was about entering into some of our
great commercial harbors. Active pre
parations for defence were made, and
the navy-yards became busy with fit
ting out and sending forth every dis

posable cruiser. The people of New
York and Boston held meetings and
urged the Secretary of the Navy to
extraordinary effort. The merchants
of Boston offered a reward of $10,000
¦for the eapture of the sea-rover, and
dispatched, at their own expense, an
armed vessel in search of her.
In the mean time, some of the citizens
of Portland, in Maine, whose pride had
been especially wounded by the capture
of a government vessel in their own
harbor, armed two trading steamers,
the Forest City and Chesapeake, and
went in pursuit of the Caleb june
Cushing. As they approached, 26.
several shots were exchanged, doing no
damage to either vessel. The priva-
teersmen discovering that they were
about to be overtaken by the steamers,
blew up the Caleb Cushing, and tried
to escape in an open boat to a small
vessel lying near, but were captured,
and imprisoned in Fort Preble.

DEBATE ON THE ALABAMA.

199

CHAPTER XX

Indignation in the United States in relation to the Alabama, Florida, and other vessels built in Great Britain. — Pro
tests of the Federal Government against the practical breach of neutrality. — Action of the English People favorable
to the Union cause. — Petitions of Emancipation Societies.' — Debate in Parliament on the Alabama, etc. — Memorial
presented by Mr. Cobden. — The remarkable Parliamentary Debate which followed. — Influences brought to bear
upon the English Ministiy. — Seizure of the Alexandra. — A Trial. — Verdict. — Motion for a new Trial. — Iron-clad
Rams building in England and Scotland. — Protest of Emancipation Society. — Indifference and Inaction of Earl
Russell. — Memorials and Answers. — Change of Tone of the British Ministry. — The Iron-clad Rams Monassir and
Toussoun described. — Seizure of the Rams. — English Opinion. — Effect of the Seizure upon the Feeling in England
and America. — Withdrawal of Mr. Mason from England.— Indiscretion of Mr. Adams. — English Pride wounded.
— Irritation in England in regard to Seizure of suspected Blockade-Runners. — A more conciliatory Feeling on
the part of the Ruling Glasses in England.— Earl Russell's Change of Tone.— Visit of Mr. Beecher to Europe.—
His Reception.

1863.

The- continued ravages on Northern
commerce by the British - built
steamers Alabama and Florida,
and the construction of similar and more
formidable vessels by English ship
builders for the service, as was believed,
of the Confederates, excited great indig
nation in the United States. The Fed
eral Government protested emphatically
against this practical breach of the
professed neutrality of Great Britain,
and that portion of the British people
friendly to the Northern cause joined
heartily in denouncing it. The various
Emancipation Societies of Great Britain
were naturally friendly to the Northern
people, as they believed that their suc
cess in the war would further the aboli
tion of slavery. They accordingly used
their powerful influence upon the popu
lar sentiment in checking sympathy with
a government of slave-owners, and in
restraining the British ministry and
people from every act in their favor.

These societies convened meetings
throughout Great Britain, and prepared
petitions against permitting ships to be
built for the Confederate Government.
The most remarkable of these was that
of the Union and Emancipation Society
of Manchester, which was presented to
Parliament on the 25th of March, 1863,
by Mr. Bright, that unwearied champion
of the Northern cause.
A similar petition from the Emanci
pation Society of Liverpool was pre
sented by Mr. Forster, another constant
friend of the United States. This
gentleman also opened the remarkable
debate in Parliament upon the case of
the Alabama. He rose, he said, " to ask
whether the attention of Her Majesty's
Government had been called to the
danger to our friendly relations with the
United States, resulting from the fitting
out in our ports of ships of war for the
service of the self-styled Confederate
States, in contravention of the Foreign

200

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Enlistment Act, and of the policy of
neutrality adopted by this country.
Some persons, most of whom were
British subjects, were, in defiance of the
Queen's proclamation and the statutes
of the realm, breaking the law, and
were engaged in acts which placed the
country in danger of being involved in
war." This proposition was ably sus
tained by a long argument based upon
the principles of international law and
by the citation of proofs, that the con
struction and departure of the Alabama
had been in contravention of these
principles. The Solicitor-General answered, de
fending the conduct of the Government
and disputing the law and proofs as
alleged by -Mr. Forster. Lord Palmer-
ston, the British prime minister, gave
the weight of his official authority to
the views and declarations of the So
licitor-General, saying, "He has de
monstrated that the Americans have
no cause to complain. He has shown
that the British Government have done,
upon representations made to them by
the American minister, everything which
the law of the country enabled them to
do. Although I can very easily under
stand that in the United States, where,
owing to the great irritation and ani
mosity produced by the civil war, men's
minds have been led to forget in a great
degree the obligations of war, they may
not give that credit which is due to the
arguments which we used — that he can
not go beyond what the law prescribes
and authorizes ; yet I think this House
will see at least that the statement of

my honorable and learned friend shows
that we have done, with regard to
the Foreign Enlistment Act, everything
which the law enabled and authorized
us to do. Gentlemen have argued as
if seizing a vessel were equivalent to
the condemnation of a vessel. It was
said, ' Why did you not seize the Ala
bama ? You were told that it was
known or believed that she was engaged
for warlike purposes on the part of the
Confederate States.' Well, in the first
place, you cannot seize a vessel under
the Foreign Enlistment Act unless you
have obtained evidence upon oath au
thorizing just suspicions. We did not
obtain such evidence. The American
minister said, ' I tell you this — I tell
you that — I am sure of this — I am sure
of that ;' but when he was asked to
produce the evidence upon oath, which
was the only ground-work for proceed
ing, he says, ' No ; the information was
given to the American consul, and I
cannot give you the evidence upon
oath ; but, nevertheless, you should act
upon my assertions and suspicions, which
I maintain are well founded.' What
would happen if you seized a vessel
unjustly and without good grounds?
There is a process of law to come after
ward— (Hear, hear) — and the Govern
ment would be condemned in heavy
costs and damages. Are we going to
undertake an illegal course" which would
lead to these consequences, simply to
please the agent of a foreign govern
ment? We say that if there is any
fault, that fault is on the part of those
who called upon us to do an act, but

ACTION OF MR. COBDEN.

201

would not give us the ground-work
upon which that act would have been
justified. I myself have great doubts
whether, if we had seized the Alabama
in the condition in which she was, we
should not have been exposed to con
siderable damages, because it was stated,
and generally known, that she sailed
from this country unarmed, apparently
unfit for war, and that her armament,
equipments, and crew were afterward
given to her in a foreign port. There
fore the probability is, that whatever
suspicions there may have been — and
well-founded, as the result proves — of
her intended destination, circumstances
would not have justified a court of law
in proceeding to take her from her
owners and prevent her from quitting
port." Subsequently, on the 23d of July,
Mr. Cobden, another British champion
of the Northern cause, presented a
memorial signed by " thirty of the most
respectable ship-owners of Liverpool,
respecting the evasion of the English
Foreign Enlistment Act. On calling
the attention of Parliament to this docu
ment, Mr. Cobden enumerated the vari
ous vessels which had been built and
were building, as was supposed, for the
Confederate service, and reminded the
British Government that all the damage
they had done or would do would be
charged to it.
" Every vessel seized and burnt," he
said, "was thus debited to the account
of England, and a formal claim made
for the amount. Her Majesty's Govern
ment had refused to acknowledge these
194

claims, but some day, when the demand
could be made most inconveniently for
the Government, the result would prob
ably be either humiliation or war."
Mr. Cobden closed with this emphatic
expression of confidence in the success
of the Unionists :
"He did not expect," he said, to live
to see two independent nations within
the United States. A great deal had
been said in that House on a contrary
assumption, but whatever the issue of
this dreadful war might be, let this
country keep clear of it. He desired
nothing more than that we should be
silent and sorrowful until this great war
was over."
The British ministry, partly influenced
by the opinion of the immense body of
English operatives and small tradesmen
who, under the guidance of their leaders,
Bright, Cobden, Forster, and others, had
become friendly to the Northern cause,
and partly by the fear of a war with the
United States, became convinced, in
order to secure popularity at home and
escape hostility from abroad, of the
necessity of action. The Government
accordingly seized the Alexandra, Aprn
a vessel building in Liverpool, sus- 6'
pected to be a gun-boat for the Con
federate Government. A trial ensued,
which resulted in a verdict for the
defendants, Messrs. Fawcett, Preston &
Co., who were the builders. The de
cision was based upon the want of
testimony to prove that the Alexandra
was being equipped for warlike pur
poses, and upon the fact that the Foreign
Enlistment Act contained no provision

202

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

which prevented the building in England
of ships which might afterward be em
ployed in carrying on hostilities under a
foreign flag. The Attorney-General
having tendered a bill of exceptions, the
Alexandra was still held by the British
Government, until the motion for a new
trial should be decided.
It had been for a long time rumored
that iron-clad rams were being built in
England and Scotland for the service
of the Confederate Government. The
attention of the British ministry had
been called to the circumstance, espe
cially by the Union and Emancipation
Society of Manchester, in repeated me
morials. These, at first, were little
heeded. In fact, Earl Russell seemed
disposed to regard them with contempt
uous indifference, and to treat their
authors as busy-bodies. To a memorial
of the Society, of the 3d of March, pro
testing against the building and fitting
out, in Great Britain, of armed vessels
for the Government of the so-styled
Confederate States, and calling upon
Parliament and Her Majesty's Gov
ernment to put an effectual stop to
such proceedings, Lord John Russell
answered through his secretary. " I
am, in reply," wrote the latter, "to
request that you will call the attention
of the Executive of the Society to the
provisions of the Act, 59 George III.,
Cap. 69. It will be observed in that
Act, that evidence on oath is required
to enable proceedings to be taken against
persons charged with contravening it."
Notwithstanding the rebuke implied
in this ultra official communication, the

Emancipation Society returned again to
the charge. His lordship, though still
showing an indisposition to yield, mani
fested a diminished power of resistance
and a more courteous regard to the sug
gestions of his unwelcome advisers. On
the 13th of August he thus personally
answered a second memorial of the
Society :
"Gentlemen — I have received your
letter, calling attention to a subject of
very grave and pressing importance —
viz., the fitting out or equipping two
powerful iron-plated steam rams, which
I am informed are intended to commit
hostilities against the Government and
people of the United States.
' ' My attention has long been directed
to these subjects. Both the Treasury
and Home Departments have, at my
request, made most anxious inquiries
upon the subject of these steam rams.
You are aware that, by the Foreign
Enlistment Act, a ship is liable to be
detained, and the owners are subject to
a penalty, when the ship is armed or
equipped for purposes of war, and the
owners intend to use her against some
state or community in friendship with
Her Majesty.
"It is necessary to prove both the
equipment and the intention. It is
necessary for conviction in a public
court, in justice, to have the evidence
of a credible witness.
"I was in hope, when I began to read
your memorial, that you would propose
to furnish me with evidence to prove
that the steam rams in question were
intended to carry on hostilities against

EMANCIPATION SOCIETY MEMORIAL.

203

the Government and people of the
United States ; but you have made no
proposal of the sort, and only tell me
that you are informed that so and so,
and it is believed that so and so.
" You must be aware, however, that,
according to British law, prosecutions
cannot be set on foot upon the ground
of violation of the Foreign Enlistment
Act without the affidavits of credible
witnesses, as in other cases of misde
meanor and crimes. Such, likewise, is
the law in use. Yours, etc. Russell."
The Union and Emancipation Society
rejoined with a third communication.
" The memorial of the Executive
Committee of the Union and Emanci
pation Society humbly showeth :
"That in the month of March last
your memorialists brought the subject
of ship-building for the so-called Con
federate States of America under the
notice of your lordship. That your
memorialists feel called upon, as loyal
British subjects, having regard to the
honor and best interests of their country,
again to implore your lordship's earnest
attention to a matter of the most grave
and pressing importance — the building
of vessels of war in British dock-yards
intended to prey upon the peaceful com
merce of a friendly nation, with whose
citizens and government we desire to
remain on terms of amity and good- will.
That your memorialists hailed with
hopeful satisfaction the steps taken by
Her Majesty's ministers, in the case of
the Alexandra, to put a stop to these
dangerous proceedings, believing that
such action would deter the offending

parties and others from their reckless
course, at least while the case was
pending final decision. That your me
morialists have been informed that on
Saturday last, the 29th of August,
a powerful iron-clad steam ram was
launched from the building yard of
Messrs. Laird, of Birkenhead ; that a
companion war vessel of similar con
struction was launched by the same firm
a few weeks since, and that both vessels
are now fitting out in the graving-docks,
and are nearly ready for sea. That the
circumstances under which these vessels
have been built and launched, together
with the open declaration of Mr. Laird
on the subject of ship-building for the
so-called Confederate States of America,
have created a strong conviction in the
public mind that such vessels are in
tended for the use of the said Confeder
acy. Another iron-plated war vessel,
your memorialists are informed, is being
completed in the Clyde, destined for the
same illegal service and purpose. In
view of the proceedings already taken
by Her Majesty's Government to vindi
cate our national good faith, and the
power of British law to suppress these
illegal and dangerous practices, your
memorialists cannot doubt but that
your lordship will take immediately the
necessary steps to detain these iron-clad
steam vessels, until full investigations
have been made respecting their desti
nation. Your memorialists venture to
say, that should these iron-clad war
ships be allowed to go to sea, and should
they eventually be employed either to
break the Federal blockade or prey upon

204

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

American commerce, the peace now
happily existing between this country
and the United States will be seriously
jeopardized. Your memorialists are
also convinced that if the course which
the builders of these ships are pursuing
can be continued with impunity, a most
dangerous precedent will be established,
which may be hereafter used against the
commerce of this country should we
ever be involved in a foreign war. May
it therefore please your lordship to order
a prompt investigation into the matters
referred to, and bring the law to bear
with vigor to prevent all such hostile
acts against a friendly power. And
your memorialists will ever pray.
"Signed on behalf, and by order of
the executive,
" Thos. Bayley Potter, President."
To this memorial the secretary of
Lord John Russell answered as follows :
"Foreign Office, September 14, 1863.
" Sir — I am directed by Earl Russell
to state to you, in reply to your me
morial of the 1st inst., that Her Majesty's
Government have long had their atten
tion turned to the question of building
and fitting vessels of war for the so-
called Confederate States, and the sub
ject will continue to receive their anx
ious consideration. I am, sir, your most
obedient humble servant, E. Hammond.
"T. B. Potter, Esq., 51 Piccadilly,
Manchester.'^ The two vessels specified in the me
morial were called the Monassir and the
Toussoun, Turkish names, by which it
was designed to confirm the impression
that they were intended, as was studi

ously promulgated by their builders, for
the navy of the Sultan. When launched,
both bore the English flag astern and
the French flag amidships.
The character of these vessels having
been well established, and the fear lest
if they should be allowed to reach their
suspected destination, Great Britain
might be involved in war with the
United States, made an impression on
public opinion favorable to their seizure.
The British ministry, always sensitive to
popular influences, now yielded to the
general sentiment, and seized the two
steam rams in the ship-yard of the Oct.
Messrs. Laird Brothers, at Birken- 9.
head, near Liverpool.
The seizure of the steam rams at
Liverpool served to allay the angry
feeling on the part of the North, and
proportionately to diminish the friendly
disposition of the South toward Great
Britain. The withdrawal of the Con
federate agent, Mr. Mason, which im
mediately followed, was attributed main
ly to this circumstance, though it was
partly due to the continued resistance
of the British Government to his solici
tations, and the manifestation by Parlia
ment, in the withdrawal of Mr. Roebuck's
motion for recognition, of its opposition
to such a measure.
Mr. Mason signified his determination
to depart, by this letter to Earl Russell :
" Seymour Street, Portman Square, )
London, September 21, 1863. j
"The Right Honorable Earl Rus
sell, Her Majesty's Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs :
" My Lord— In a dispatch from the

INDISCRETION OF MR. ADAMS

205

Secretary of State of the Confederate
States of America, dated the 4th day of
August last, and now just received, I
am instructed to consider the mission
which brought me to England as at an
end, and I am directed to withdraw at
once from this country.
The reasons for terminating this
mission are set forth in an extract from
the dispatch which I have the honor to
communicate herewith.
" The President believes that ' the
Government of Her Majesty has deter
mined to decline the overtures made
through you for establishing by treaty
friendly relations between the two gov
ernments, and entertains no intention of
receiving you as the accredited minister
of this government near the British court.
"'Under these circumstances, your
continued residence in London is neither
conducive to the interests nor consistent
with the dignity of this government,
and the President therefore requests
that you consider your mission at an
end, and that you withdraw, with your
secretary, from London.'
" Having made known to your lord
ship on my arrival here the character
and purposes of the mission intrusted
to me by my government, I have deemed
it due to courtesy thus to make known
to the Government of Her Majesty its
termination, and that I shall, as directed,
at once withdraw from England.
" I have the honor to be your lord
ship's very obedient servant, "J. M. Mason."
At the same time that Mr. Mason
withdrew from England, the British

consuls were ordered away from the
Confederate States.
An indiscretion of Mr. Adams, our
minister to the court of London, who
thoughtlessly gave, on application of a
British ship-owner, a safe-conduct to his
vessels trading to Matamoras, in Mexico,
greatly wounded English pride.
"I must say," declared Earl Russell
in Parliament, " that was a very extra
ordinary and, in my opinion, a most
unwarrantable act, and I cannot con
ceive that it can be proper for a person
holding a diplomatic position in this
country to issue such a permit to a
vessel ; that is, making a distinction
between vessels departing from the ports
of this country, and giving a security to
one vessel as distinguished from another.
(Cheers.) It is not possible, as it ap
pears to me, that he can bestow that
favor on one vessel without making an
invidious and perhaps dangerous dis
tinction as against other vessels. There
can be no doubt that the conduct of
Mr. Adams is entirely unwarrantable,
but I should not think of complaining
to Mr. Adams. I shall bring that con
duct before the consideration of the
United States Government. (Hear,
hear.) It is for them to say in what
manner such an act should be visited."
The act of Mr. Adams threatened, for
a moment, a rupture of diplomatic re
lations, but our minister having em
phatically declared that he had no in
tention of officially assuming any author
ity which did not belong to him, he was
reinstated in his former friendly position
at the British court.

206

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

The seizures by the United States
cruisers of various vessels suspected of
an intention to break the blockade, as,
for example, the arrest by Admiral
Wilkes of the Pitchoff, was also the
cause of irritation, in England and of
much diplomatic contention, but the
subsequent decisions in the Admiralty
courts of the United States compelled
by their obvious justice the acquiescence
of British opinion.
Notwithstanding the disposition of the
ruling classes in England to take an
unfavorable view of the motives and
* prospects of the North, they became
strengthened in the conviction that it
would be the safer policy to avoid every
provocation to hostility with a power
which had proved itself so capable of
carrying on war. They, accordingly,
showed a more conciliatory feeling, and
less inclination to tamper with their
neutral obligations.
Though indiscretions were committed
by writers and orators, both in America

and Great Britain, there seemed to be a
determination on the part of the more
prudent, to avoid for the future every
thing calculated to excite unfriendly
feeling between the two countries. Earl
Russell, in a speech in Scotland, took
occasion to deprecate the oratorical
and newspaper incitements to hostility
prevalent in America, and evinced by
his conciliatory words a change in his
own practice.
The visit of Mr. Beecher, and his ad
dresses, served to confirm the tendency
in Great Britain toward a juster ap
preciation of the cause and power of the
North. Though he met with little
courtesy from the ruling classes, and
with occasional opposition from a few
out of his multitude of hearers, he was
compensated by a warm welcome from
the great mass of the English people,
whose sympathy with the North was so
evident that it became manifest no Brit
ish Government would venture to dis
regard it.

POLICY OF LOUIS NAPOLEON.

207

CHAPTER XXI.
Increasing bias in favor of the South on the part of Louis Napoleon. — His Conquest of Mexico and Monarchical
Policy. — Their Effect upon the American Question. — Reception of Mr. Slidell by Louis Napoleon. — The Emperor's
Interview with Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Lindsay. — The Subject before Parliament. — Conquest of the Capital of Mex
ico. — A Remarkable Pamphlet by M. Chevalier. — A Confederate Loan negotiated. — The nature of the Loan. — Its
Credit in the Market. — The Confederate Cruisers in French Ports. — Their Character discussed by the French Journals.
• — Arrests and Government Decisions in favor of the Florida, Alabama, etc.— The fervor of French sympathy cooled.
— European Complications. — The French Government withdraws its Authorization for the Construction of Rams. —
The French Rams described. — Imperial Speech. — The " Yellow Book" on the American War.

While Great Britain was manifesting
a more sincere disposition to pre-
1863. . F * '
serve a genuine neutrality, the
Emperor of France gave indications of
an increasing bias in favor of the in
surgents of the South. The success of
his arms in Mexico, and the develop
ment of his monarchical policy in regard
to the occupation and government of
that country, awakened the suspicion
that Louis Napoleon was desirous of
permanently dividing the United States,
in order to secure his Mexican con
quests. These, he naturally feared,
might be endangered when the great
Western republic, on the settlement of
its domestic difficulties, should find oc
casion to insist upon its traditional policy
in regard to the interference of foreign
nations with the governments of the
American continent. Louis Napoleon,
conscious that the United States, once
restored to its integrity, would oppose
his design of establishing a European
dynasty upon the ruins of the Mexican
republic, seemed eager to secure the
independence of the South and the

alliance of the new nation. He might
thus not only weaken the power which
he had most reason to dread, but estab
lish a friendly people as a barrier be
tween it and his Mexican possessions.
The reception of Mr. Slidell, the Con
federate agent in France, by the Em
peror, immediately after the capture of
the city of Puebla by the French army,
and his repeated interviews with him,
becoming more frequent with the pro
gress of Mexican conquest, confirmed
the suspicion of negotiations or intrigue
between the insurgents and the Govern
ment of France.
Louis Napoleon, though his propo
sitions of joint mediation had been
resolutely rejected by England, was
singularly pertinacious in his attempts
to interfere in the American war. Mr.
Roebuck, in his notable speech in jime
the British Parliament introducing 30«
the motion, "that a public petition be
presented to Her Majesty, praying that
she will be graciously pleased to enter
into negotiations with the great powers
of Europe, for the purpose of obtaining

208

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

their co-operation in the recognition of
the independence of the Confederate
States of America," made a statement in
regard to the Emperor 'of the French
confirmatory of the fixedness of his idea
of interference. " He was told," said Mr. Roebuck,
"that the Emperor had changed his
mind, but all he could say, and he
pledged his word for it, that the Em
peror had authorized him to say, in the
House of Commons, that he had in
structed Baron Gros to propose negoti
ations to the English Government. The
Emperor also complained that his Con
federate commission to the English Gov
ernment, with respect to a mediation
last autumn, had been shown to Mr.
Seward, but stated that he desired to
act with England in all things, and
especially with respect to America. The
Emperor also said that he feared for the
state of his manufacturing districts next
winter." Mr. Lindsay, like Mr. Roebuck, an
inveterate opponent of the Northern
cause, and his companion, on the oc
casion of the visit to the Emperor,
gave a more detailed narrative of what
occurred. " I heard a rumor," said Mr. Lindsay,
" ten days or so before the motion was
to come on, that the Emperor of the
French had changed his mind on this
question. How that rumor originated I
know not, but it was very general. I did
not, however, pay any attention to it.
My honorable friend also heard it, and
dropped me a note asking me to ascer
tain, if I could, what truth there was in

it, because, as he said, it was very im
portant that he should know, lest when
he brought forward his motion some
member of the Government should rise
and ask, 'What is the good of this
motion, when one of the chief powers is
not prepared to join in a recognition of
the South ? My honorable friend added,
that he would like very well to see the
Emperor and learn the fact from him
self. (A laugh.) I wrote on the sub
ject to a friend in Paris, expecting, not
that my letter would reach the Emperor,
but only that my friend would make
inquiries and inform me of the result.
The letter did not get to His Majesty.
I received an answer stating that I
might give an unqualified contradiction
to the rumor. The Emperor said, 'I
have not changed my mind as to the
desirability of recognizing the South,
and if Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Roebuck
come to Paris, I shall be very glad to
see them.' I handed that note to my
honorable and learned friend, telling
him that he could read it if the rumor
were referred to in the House. My
honorable and learned friend, however,
thought that the note would not be
sufficient. 'I should like,' he said, 'to
ascertain the fact for myself — the House
will believe me.' (A laugh, and ' Hear,
hear.') That was upon the 19th of
June — a Saturday. I replied that, in
my opinion, the note would be enough,
and the House would* believe that it had
come from an authoritative source ; but
the honorable and learned gentleman
still persisted in his desire to go to
Paris. I had no wish to intrude my-

POLICY OF LOUIS NAPOLEON.

209

self upon the Emperor, but, as my
honorable and learned friend was anx
ious to learn his intentions from His
Majesty himself, and as I shared the
anxiety to see this motion carried, I
accompanied my honorable friend, at
great inconvenience, to Paris. An au
dience was at once granted to us ; but
I presume the House does not for a
moment suppose that I would make
public any conversation which the Em
peror of the French has been pleased to
hold with me, either at that interview
or any other, without his permission.
' (Hear, hear.) During that conversation.
which lasted a considerable time, my
honorable and learned friend pointed
out to the Emperor the importance of
having it clearly understood that if it
should be the pleasure of Her Majesty
to prepare to negotiate with him, he
would be prepared to enter into that
negotiation, and my honorable and learn
ed friend asked that he might be per
mitted to make a statement to that
effect. His Majesty replied, ' Take any
means you think proper to let it be
known that I am prepared to negotiate,
and that there is no truth in the rumor
prevalent in England.' All the Emperor
meant was, that if the House of Com
mons should pray Her Majesty to ad
dress * him on the subject of recognition
of the Southern States, he would be
only too happy to enter into negotiations
with that object, believing, as he did,
that if the great powers of Europe
thought it advisable to recognize the
Southern Confederacy, the moral effect
would be such as to stay the terrible
195

carnage now going on in America.
That is the substance of what took
place." The French army having, in the mean
time, crowned its Mexican triumphs with
the capture of the capital, the desire of
the Emperor to interfere in the. june
civil war of the United States 5»
became, it was believed, more importu
nate. This belief was confirmed by the
publication of a remarkable pamphlet
by M. Chevalier, the famous publicist.
The opinions of the author were sup
posed to be the sentiments of the Em
peror himself, who had frequently before
chosen a similar medium for casting the
shadows of his policy. " France," wrote
M. Chevalier, " must oppose the absorp
tion of Southern America by Northern
America ; she must, in like, oppose the
degradation of the Latin race on the
other side of the ocean ; she must estab
lish the integrity and security of our
West Indian colonies. It is the interests
which compel France to sympathize
with the Confederate States which have
led our banner's up to the walls of
Mexico. " The recognition of the Southern
States will be the consequence of our in
tervention — or, rather, our intervention
has prepared, facilitated, and made pos
sible a diplomatic act which will conse
crate the final separation and secession
of those States from the American
Union." Again he wrote, " The South proposes
to reconstitute its national system with
an eye to its own interests. Now, since ,
these interests conform to those of

210

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

France ; since the cause of the South is
not only just, but logical, France does
not hesitate to declare her sympathies,
and her first act of sympathy naturally
must be the recognition of the Con
federate States."
The negotiation of a loan by the
Confederate Government of 75,000,000
Mar, francs, or 15,000,000 dollars, with a
19* French banker, served to confirm
the impression that Louis Napoleon was
disposed to support the Southern cause.
Messrs. Erlanger, of Paris and Frank
fort, were the first to introduce the loan
to the financial market, but Mr. J. H.
Schroder, in London and Amsterdam,
and Messrs. Fraser and Trenholm, in
Liverpool, acted jointly with the French
bankers. The security to the holder of
each bond was cotton, to be delivered to
him at some Southern port at 5ld. per
lb., free of other expense, at his option,
either immediately or within six months
after the ratification of peace. The
price of the bonds at their issue was
ninety, with dividends payable in ster
ling. A sinking fund was established
for redemption at par in twenty years.
The loan became quite the " rage in
financial circles" at London and Paris,
where the bids, amounting to over
10,000,000 of pounds sterling, greatly
exceeded the amount offered. On the
first day the premium reached 51 per
cent., but the loan soon after, in conse
quence of the success of the Northern
arms at Vicksburg and elsewhere, de
clined to 25 or 30 per cent, discount.
The Confederate cruiser Florida hav
ing sought refuge at Brest, offered the

occasion for testing the question whether
this marauder of the seas was entitled
to the consideration of a national vessel.
The Journal des Debats, of Paris, a
warm advocate of the Northern cause,
did not hesitate' to brand the Florida as
an outlaw.
" The rights of belligerents," wrote
the editor on September 3, " have
doubtless been granted to the Southern
States, but evidently on condition that
they comply with international rights.
Now, if it be possible to maintain in the
strictest sense of the word that the
Southern States have the right to arm
privateers, since they did not subscribe
to the treaty of Paris, it is impossible to
admit that the privateers armed by the
South, and which are placed on a foot
ing by a too generous tolerance — its
effects are now apparent — with ships of
war, can validly transform themselves
into maritime tribunals, and become
their own judges of the legality of their
prizes. They have no right, as they do,
to stop vessels at sea, strip them of their
cargo, whether it belongs to the Federal
States or to neutrals, and to set the ship
on fire, while a captain of a naval power,
in the uniform of his country, in addition
to other guarantees of integrity and
impartiality, would be obliged to carry
his prize before a court of justice. This
is evidently intolerable. It is in vain
for Southerners to allege that their ports
are blockaded, and that they have no
maritime tribunals. That is their busi
ness, not ours. Let them attack the
Federal men-of-war and force them to
raise the blockade — it is their right ; but

POLICY OF LOUIS NAPOLEON.

211

to seize upon the property of others
without legal power, such an act, in
every language, is called a theft."
An application having been made by
the owners of a portion of cargo on
board of one of the vessels seized and
destroyed by her, for authorization to
arrest the Florida in any French road
stead, it was granted by the Tribunal
of Commerce of Marseilles. The Gov
ernment, however, having officially stat
ed* that the Florida was entitled to all
the privileges belonging to neutrals, the
courts rendered a decision based upon
this declaration, liberating the Florida.
The Alabama subsequently took refuge
in Cherbourg, when she was arrested on
a similar charge, and released like the
Florida by a decision in her favor.
The Florida and Alabama were ac
cordingly allowed all the privileges ac
corded to the national men-of-war of
friendly powers.
In the mean time, while the Florida
was repairing and making ready for
another raid upon the seas, the U. S.
Sept. cruiser Kearsarge, arrived at Brest,
16' and strove to prevent her depart
ure. The French admiral now inter
posed with the declaration that the
Kearsarge would not be allowed to leave
the port until twenty-four hours after
the Florida, which seemed to secure the
safety of the latter vessel, in case of an
effort to escape.
* This was the statement of the official Moniteur :
" The steamship Florida, now at Brest to repair damages,
is not a. privateer, as was at first believed. She forms
part of the military marine of the Confederate States ; her
officers are provided with regular commissions, and she
has all the qualities (caractires) of an ordinary ship of war. ' '

Notwithstanding the manifestation, by
various acts, of the Imperial Govern
ment of France, of a disposition to favor
the insurgents of the South, circum
stances occurred which apparently served
to cool the fervor of French sympathy.
The success of the Northern arms, the
more positive neutrality of the British
Government, the complication of Euro
pean affairs, in consequence of the Polish
insurrection, threatening a general war,
and perhaps the indication of friendli
ness between Russia and the United
States, were doubtless powerful induce
ments with Louis Napoleon to pause
in his suspected design of recognizing
Southern independence and forming an
alliance, offensive and defensive, with
the new nation.
Following the example of the British
ministry, the French Government with
drew its authorization for the con
struction of several vessels of war which
were building in the ship-yards of
France for the Confederate Govern
ment. The Imperial speech, at the opening
ofthe French Legislative Chambers, N0Vt
by its slight allusion to the war in -<
the United States, indicated, at least, a
politic reticence of expression, if not a
positive disinclination to action, in re
gard to it.
" Assuredly the prosperity of our
country," said Louis Napoleon, " would
advance still more rapidly if political
anxieties did not disturb it.; but in the
life of nations unforeseen and inevitable
events occur which must be boldly and
fearlessly faced and met without shrink-

212

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

ing. Of this number is the war in
America, the compulsory occupation of
Mexico and of Cochin China, the insur
rection of Poland. The distant expedi
tions which have been the subject of so
much criticism have not been the result
of any premeditated plan ; they have
been brought about by the force of
circumstances ; and yet they are not to
be regretted. How, in fact, could we
develop our foreign commerce if, on the
one hand, we were to relinquish all in
fluence in America? and if, on the
other, in presence of the vast territory
occupied by the Spaniards and the
Dutch, France was to remain alone
without possessions in the seas of Asia ?
We have conquered a position in Cochin
China which, without subjecting us to
the difficulties of the local government,
will allow us to turn to account the im
mense resources of those countries, and
to civilize them by commerce. In
Mexico, after an unexpected resistance,
which the courage of our soldiers and
of our sailors overcame, we have seen
the population welcome us as liberators.
Our efforts will not have been fruitless,
and we shall be largely rewarded for
our sacrifices,, when the destinies of that
country, which will owe its regeneration
to us, shall have been handed over to a
Prince whose enlightenment and high
qualities render him worthy of so noble
a mission. Let us, then, put faith in
our expeditions beyond sea. Com
menced to avenge our honor, they will
terminate in the triumph of our inter
ests ; and if prejudiced minds will not
see the good promise of the seed sown

for the future, let us not tarnish the
glory achieved, so to say, at the two
extremities of the world — at Pekin and
in Mexico."
In the official statement of the situa
tion of the Empire, composed of jy0Vl
the reports of the various minis- Ma
terial departments, and forming what is
known as the "Yellow Book," there
was a freer expression of opinion in
regard to our civil war.
" The sad previsions suggested by the
exasperation of the struggle carried on
during three years in the United States,
have been but too much realized.
Blood has continued to flow, while the
respective situations of the belligerents
do not allow us to anticipate a period
to this terrible crisis. In presence of
such an accumulation of ruins, and such
a sacrifice of life in a struggle hitherto
fruitless, we have felt profound regret
that the propositions which we made at
London and at St. Petersburg, to unite
in promoting an armistice, were not ac
cepted. Compelled to renounce that
project by a double refusal, we have,
however, declared that our desire to
contribute to the re-establishment of
peace in any form would not be the less
lively and sincere. We . have given
proof of this by suggesting the idea of
substituting for the project of an ami
cable intervention of the maritime pow
ers, the expedient of direct messages
between the Government of the United
States and the Confederates ofthe South.
This new attempt has not been more
fortunate than the preceding.
" From that time we have nothing left

REPORT OF GENERAL ROSECRANS.

213

but to follow out the line of conduct
adopted ever since the beginning of this
war by the Government of the Emperor.
This we have striven to do with scrupu
lous care under all circumstances. We
have remained neutral and well-dis
posed ; although it has often been diffi
cult for us to reconcile this part with
our duties toward our fellow-country
men. Independently of the sufferings
which, in our departments, are the con-
Sequence of the American crisis, hostil
ities on the territory of the Union itself
have occasioned considerable detriment
and loss to French residents. They
have often had occasion to make just
complaint of the abusive proceedings of
the civil and military authorities. Our
countrymen must understand that their

interests, like those of other foreigners,
cannot claim an exceptional security in
the midst of the tumult of arms, and
that in such cases all ordinary guaran
tees necessarily lose something of their
efficacy. Moreover, a state of war im
poses inevitable fetters on the commerce
of neutrals. If the progress of liberal
doctrines tends to relax them, it cannot
wholly suppress them.
" The Cabinet of Washington has
been able to satisfy itself that we have
made, in our reclamations, a large al
lowance for these difficulties. But the
Government of the Emperor cannot dis
guise its pain at seeing so many ag
grieved interests, well- deserving of its
care, making a vain appeal for protec
tion."

CHAPTER XXII,

The Union Army in Occupation of Middle Tennessee. — Subsequent Movements. — Advance of General Rosecrans.—
Rosecrans' Report. — Battle of Chickamauga. — The Army of the Cumberland rescued by General Thomas. — Thomas'
Report of his Manoeuvres. — Exultation of the Enemy. — A fruitless Victory. — Rosecrans at Chattanooga. — The
strength of his Position. — His Communications obstructed. — Activity of the Enemy's Cavalry. — Capture of McMinn
ville. — Operations of Wheeler and Forrest. — Wheeler routed at Shelbyville by Crook. — Crook's Report. — Efforts
of the Federal Government to hold Chattanooga. — Grant appointed to the command of the " Military Division
of the Mississippi." — Rosecrans relieved of his Command. — Thomas appointed his Successor.

1863.

The operations of the " Army of the
Cumberland" were traced in a pre
vious chapter to the occupation of
Middle Tennessee. General Rosecrans,
in an explicit report, narrates his subse
quent movements, closing in the battle
of Chickamauga. He says :
' ' The rebel -army, after its expulsion
from Middle Tennessee, crossed the

Cumberland Mountains by way of the
Tantallon and University roads, then
moved down Battle Creek, and cross
ed the Tennessee River ' on bridges,
it is said, near the mouth of Battle
Creek, and at Kelly's Ferry, and on the
railroad bridge at Bridgeport. They
destroyed a part of the latter, after
having passed over it, and retired to

214

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Chattanooga and Tyner Station, leaving
guards along the river. On their arrival
at Chattanooga, they commenced im
mediately to throw up some defensive
field-works at that place, and also at
each of the crossings of the Tennessee
as far up as Blythe's Ferry.
" Our troops having pursued the
rebels as far as supplies and the state of
the roads rendered it practicable, took
position from McMinnville to Winches
ter, with advances at Pelham and Ste
venson. The latter soon after moved to
Bridgeport in time to save from total
destruction a saw- mill there, but not to
prevent the destruction of the railroad
bridge. ' ' After the expulsion .of Bragg's forces
from Middle Tennessee, the next objec
tive point of this army was Chattanooga.
It commands the southern entrance into
East Tennessee, the most valuable, if
not the chief source of supplies of coal
for the manufactories and machine-shops
of the Southern States, and is one of
the great gateways through the moun
tains to the champaign counties of
Georgia and Alabama.
' ' For the better understanding of the
campaign, I submit a brief outline of the
topography of the country from the
barrens of the northwestern base of the
Cumberland range to Chattanooga and
its vicinity.
" The Cumberland range is a lofty
mass of rocks separating the waters
which flow into the Cumberland from
those which flow into the Tennessee,
and extending from beyond the Ken
tucky line, in a southwesterly direction,

nearly to Athens, Alabama. Its north
western slopes are steep and rocky, and
scalloped into coves, in which are the
heads of numerous streams that water
Middle Tennessee. Its top is undulat
ing or rough, covered with timber, soil
comparatively barren, and in dry seasons
scantily supplied with water. Its south
eastern slope, above Chattanooga, for
many miles, is precipitous, rough, and
difficult all the way up to Kingston.
The valley between the foot of this slope
and the river seldom exceeds four or
five miles in width, and, with the excep
tion of a narrow border along the banks,
is undulating or hilly.
" The Sequatchie Valley is along the
river of that name, and is a canon, or
deep cut, splitting the Cumberland
range parallel to its length. It is only
three or four miles in breadth and fifty
in length. The sides of this valley are
even more precipitous than the great
eastern and western slopes of the Cum
berland, which have just been described.
To reach Chattanooga from McMinnville,
or north of the Tennessee, it is necessary
to turn the head of this valley by Pike-
ville and pass down the valley of the
Tennessee, or to cross it by Dunlap or
Thurman. " That part of the Cumberland range
between Sequatchie and the Tennessee,
called Walden's Ridge, abuts on the
Tennessee, in high rocky bluffs, having
no practicable space sufficient for a good
wagon-road along the river. The Nash
ville and Chattanooga Railroad crosses
that branch of the Cumberland range,
west of the Sequatchie, through a low

REPORT OF GENERAL ROSECRANS.

215

gap, by a tunnel, two miles east of
Cowan, down the gorge of Big Crow
Creek to Stevenson, at the foot of the
mountain, on the Memphis and Charles
ton Railroad, three miles from the Ten
nessee and ten from Bridgeport.
' ' Between Stevenson and Chattanooga,
on the south of the Tennessee, are two
ranges of mountains, the Tennessee
River separating them from the Cum
berland. Its channel, a great chasm cut
through the mountain masses, which in
those places abut directly on the river.
These two ranges are separated by a
narrow valley, through which runs Look
out Creek.
" The Sand Mountain is next the
Tennessee, and its northern extremity
is called Raccoon Mountain. Its sides
are precipitous, and its top barren oak
ridges, nearly destitute of water. There
are but few, and these very difficult,
wagon-roads by which to ascend and
descend the slopes of this mountain.
" East of Lookout Valley is Lookout
Mountain, a vast palisade of rocks rising
2,400 feet above the level of the sea, in
abrupt, rocky cliffs, from a steep wooded
base.* Its eastern sides are no less pre
cipitous. Its top varies from one to six
or seven miles in breadth, is heavily
timbered, sparsely settled, and poorly
watered. It terminates abruptly upon
the Tennessee, two miles below Chatta
nooga, and the only practical wagon-
roads across it are over the nose of the
mountain at this point, one at Johnson's
Crook, twenty-six miles distant, and one
at Winston's Gap, forty-two miles dis
tant from Chattanooga.

" Between the eastern base of this
range and the line of the Chattanooga
and Atlanta or Georgia State Railroad
are a series of narrow valleys, separated
by smaller ranges of hills or low moun
tains, over which there are quite a
number of practicable wagon-roads run
ning eastward toward the railroad.
" The first of these ranges is Mission
ary Ridge, separating the waters of
Chickamauga from Chattanooga Creek.
" A higher range with fewer gaps, on
the southeast side of the Chickamauga,
is Pigeon Mountain, branching from
Lookout, near Dougherty's Gap, some
forty miles south from Chattanooga. It
extends in a northerly direction, bearing
eastward, until it is lost in the general
level of the country near the line of the
Chattanooga and Lafayette road.
" East of these two ranges and of the
Chickamauga, starting from Ottowah
and passing by Ringgold to the west
of Dalton, is Taylor's Ridge, a rough,
rocky range, traversable by wagon-roads
only through gaps generally several
miles apart.
' ' Missionary Ridge passes about three
miles east of Chattanooga, ending near
the Tennessee at the mouth of the
Chickamauga. Taylor's Ridge separates
the East Tennessee and Georgia Rail
road from the Chattanooga and Atlanta
Railroad. "The junction of these roads is at
Dalton, in a valley east of Taylor's Ridge
and west of the rough mountain region,
in which are the sources of the Coosa
River. This valley, only about nine or
ten miles wide, is the natural southern

216

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

gateway into East Tennessee, while the
other valleys just mentioned terminate
northwardly on the Tennessee to the
west of it, and extend in" a southwest
erly direction toward the line of the
Coosa, the general direction of which,
from the crossing of the Atlanta road
to Rome and thence to Gadsden, is
southwest. " From the position of our army at
McMinnville, Tullahoma, Decherd, and
Winchester, to reach Chattanooga, cross
ing the Tennessee above it, it was neces
sary either to pass north of the Se
quatchie Valley by Pikeville or Kings
ton, or to cross the main Cumberland and
the Sequatchie Valley by Dunlap or
Thurman and Walden's Ridge, by the
routes passing through these places, a
distance from sixty-five to seventy miles,
over a country destitute of forage, poor
ly supplied with water, by narrow and
difficult wagon-roads.
" The main Cumberland range could
also have been passed, on an inferior road,
by Pelham and Tracy City to Thurman.
" The most southerly route on which
to move troops and transportation to
the Tennessee, above Chattanooga, was
by Cowan, University, Battle Creek, and
Jasper, or by Tantallon, Anderson,
Stevenson, Bridgeport, and the mouth
of Battle Creek, to same point, and
thence by Thurman, or Dunlap, and
Poe's Tavern, across Walden Ridge.
The University road, though difficult,
was the best of these two, that by
Cowan, Tantallon, and Stevenson being
very rough between Cowan and Ander
son, and much longer.

" There were also three roads across
the mountains to the Tennessee River
below Stevenson, the best, but much
the longest, by Fayetteville and Athens,
a distance of seventy miles.
" The next, a very rough wagon-road
from Winchester, by Salem, to Larkins-
ville, and an exceedingly rough road by
the way of Mount Top, one branch lead
ing thence to Bellefont aad the other to
Stevenson. " On these latter routes little or no
forage was to be found, except at the ex
tremities of the lines, and they were also
scarce of water. The one by Athens
has both forage and water in abundance.
"It is evident from this description
of the topography, that to reach Chat
tanooga, or penetrate the country south
of it, on the railroad, by crossing the
Tennessee below Chattanooga, was a
difficult task. It was necessary to cross
the Cumberland Mountains with subsis
tence, ammunition, at least a limited
supply of forage, and a bridge train ; to
cross Sand or Raccoon Mountains into
Lookout Valley, then Lookout Mountain,
and finally the lesser ranges, Missionary
Ridge, if we went directly to Chatta
nooga ; or Missionary Ridge, Pigeon
Mountain, and Taylor's Ridge, if we
struck the railroad at Dalton, or south
of it. The valley of the Tennessee
River, though several miles in breadth
between the bases of the mountains,
below Bridgeport is not a broad alluvial
farming country, but full of barren oak
ridges, sparsely settled, and but a small
part of it under cultivation. •
" The first step was to repair the

REPORT OF GENERAL ROSECRANS.

217

Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, to
bring forward to Tullahoma, McMinn
ville, Decherd, and Winchester needful
forage and subsistence, which it was
impossible to transport from Murfrees-
bo'ro' to those points over the horrible
roads which we encountered on our
advance to Tullahoma. The next was
to extend the repairs of the main stem
to Stevenson and Bridgeport, and the
Tracy City branch, so that we could
place supplies in depSt at those points,
from which to draw after we had crossed
the mountains.
" Through the zeal and energy of
Colonel Innis and his regiment of Michi
gan Engineers, the main road was open
to the Elk River Bridge by the 13th of
July, and Elk River Bridge and the main
stem to Bridgeport by the 25th, and the
branch to Tracy City by the 13 th of
August. " As soon as the main stem was
finished to Stevenson, Sheridan's division
was advanced, two brigades to Bridge
port and one to Stevenson, and commis
sary and quartermaster stores pushed
forward to the latter place, with all
practicable speed. These supplies began
to be accumulated at this point in suffi
cient quantities by the 8th of August,
and corps commanders were that day
directed to supply their troops, as soon
as possible, with rations and forage
sufficient for a general movement.
"The Tracy City branch, built for
bringing coal down the mountains, has
such high grades and sharp curves as to
require a peculiar engine. The only
one we had answering the purpose
196

having been broken on its way from
Nashville, was not repaired until about
the 12th of August. It was deemed
best, therefore, to delay the movements
of the troops until that road was com
pletely available for transporting stores
to Tracy City.
" The movement over the Cumber
land Mountains began on the morning
of the 16th of August, as follows :
" General Crittenden's corps in three
columns, General Wood from Hillsboro'
by Pelham to Thurman, in Sequatchie
Valley. " General Palmer from Manchester,
by the most practicable route to Dunlap.
" General Van Cleve with two bri
gades from McMinnville, the third being
left in garrison there, by the most
practicable route to Pikeville, the head
of Sequatchie Valley.
" Colonel Minty's cavalry to move,
on the left, by Sparta, to drive back
Debrel's cavalry toward Kingston, where
the enemy's mounted troops, under
Forrest, were concentrated, and then,
covering the left of Van Cleve's column,
to proeeed to Pikeville.
" The fourteenth army corps, Ma
jor-General George H. Thomas, com
manding, moved as follows :
" General Reynolds from University,
by way of Battle Creek, to take post,
concealed, near its mouth.
" General Brannan to follow him.
" General Negley to go by Tantallon
and halt on Crow Creek, between
Anderson and Stevenson.
" General Baird to follow him, and
camp near Anderson.

218

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

" The twentieth corps, Major-General
A. McD. McCook commanding, moved
as follows :
" General Johnson by Salem and
Larkins' Ford to Bellefont.
" General Davis by Mount Top and
Crow Creek to near Stevenson.
" The three brigades of cavalry by
Fayetteville and Athens, to cover the line
of the Tennessee from Whitesbury up.
" On his arrival in Sequatchie Valley,
General Crittenden was to send a brigade
of infantry to reconnoitre the Tennessee
near Harrison's Landing, and take post
at Poe's Cross Roads. Minty was to
reconnoitre from Washington down, and
take post at Smith's Cross Roads, and
Wilder's brigacie of mounted infantry
was to reconnoitre from Harrison's
Landing to Chattanooga, and be sup
ported by a brigade of infantry which
General Crittenden was to send from
Thurman to the foot of the eastern slope
of Walden's Ridge, in front of Chatta
nooga. "These movements were completed
by the evening of the 20th of August.
Hazen's brigade made the reconnoissance
on Harrison's Landing, and reported the
enemy throwing up works there, and
took post at Poe's Cross Roads on the
21st. Wagner with his brigade sup
ported Wilder in his reconnoissance on
Chattanooga, which they surprised and
shelled from across the river, creating
no little agitation.
" Thus the army passed the first great
barrier between it and the objective
point, and arrived opposite the enemy
on the banks of the Tennessee.

" The crossing of the river required
that the best points should be chosen,
and means provided for the crossing.
The river was reconnoitred, the pon-'
toons and trains ordered forward as
rapidly as possible, hidden from view "in
rear of Stevenson, and prepared for use.
By the time they were ready, the places
of crossing had been selected, and dis
positions made to begin the operation.
" It was very desirable to conceal to
the last moment the points of crossing,
but as the mountains on the south side
of the Tennessee River rise in precipitous
rocky bluffs to the height of 800 or
1,000 feet, completely overlooking the
whole valley and its coves, this was next
to impossible.
" Not having pontoons for two bridges
across the river, General Sheridan be
gan tressel-work for parts of one at
Bridgeport, while General Reynolds'
division seizing Shellmont, captured
some boats, and from these and material
picked up, prepared the means of cross
ing at that point, and General Brannan
prepared rafts for crossing his troops at
the mouth of Battle Creek.
"The laying ofthe pontoon bridge at
Caperton's Ferry was very handsomely
done by the troops of General Davis,
under the direction of General McCook,
who crossed his advance in pontoons at
daylight, driving the enemy's cavalry
from the opposite side. The bridge was
ready for crossing by eleven o'clock a.m.
the same day, but in plain view from
the rebel signal stations opposite Bridge
port. " The bridge at Bridgeport was finish-

REPORT OF GENERAL ROSECRANS.

219

ed on the 29th of August, but an acci
dent occurred which delayed its final
completion till September 2.
" The movement across the river was
commenced on the 29th, and completed
on the 4th of September, leaving the
regular brigade in charge of the railroad
and depQt at Stevenson until relieved
by Major-General Granger, who was
directed, as soon as practicable, to re
lieve it and take charge of the rear.
" General Thomas' corps was to cross
as follows : One division at Caperton's,
and one at Bridgeport, Reynolds' at
Shellmont in boats, and one division
at Battle Creek, on rafts. All were to
use the bridge at Bridgeport for such
portions of their trains as they might
find necessary, and to concentrate near
Trenton, and send an advance to seize
Frick or Cooper's and Stevens' gaps,
on Lookout Mountain, the only practi
cable routes leading down the mountains
into the valley, called McLemore's Cove,
which lies at its eastern base, and
stretches northeastwardly toward Chat
tanooga. "General McCook's corps was to
cross ; two divisions at Caperton's Ferry
move to Valley Head and seize Win
ston's Gap, while Sheridan was to
cross at Bridgeport as soon as the
bridge was laid, and join the rest of his
corps, near Winston's, by way of Tren
ton. " General Crittenden's corps was
ordered down the Sequatchie, leaving
the two advanced brigades, under Hazen
and Wagner, with Minty 's cavalry and
Wilder's mounted infantry, to watch

and annoy the enemy. It was to cross
the river, following Thomas' corps, at
all three crossings, and to take post on
the Murphy's Hollow road, push an
advance brigade to reconnoitre the en
emy at the foot of Lookout, and take
post at Wauhatchie, communicating from
his main body with Thomas, on the
right, up the Trenton Valley, and
threatening Chattanooga by the pass
over the point of Lookout.
" The cavalry, crossed at Caperton's
and a ford near Island Creek, were to
unite in Lookout Valley, take post at
Rawlingsville, and reconnoitre boldly
toward Rome and Alpine.
"These movements were completed
by McCook's and Crittenden's corps on
the 6th, and by Thomas' corps on the
8th of September. The cavalry for
some reason was not pushed with the
vigor nor to the extent which orders
and the necessities of the campaign re
quired. Its continual movement since
that period, and the absence of Major-
General Stanley, the chief of* cavalry,
have prevented a report which may
throw some light on the subject.
" The first barrier south of the Ten
nessee being crossed, the enemy was
found firmly holding the point of Look
out Mountain with infantry and artil
lery, while our force on the north side
of the river reported the movement of
the rebel forces from East Tennessee
and their concentration at Chattanooga.
To dislodge him from that place, it was
necessary to carry Lookout Mountain,
or so to move as to compel him to quit
his position by endangering his line of

220

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

communication. The latter plan was
chosen. " The cavalry was ordered to advance
on our extreme right to Summerville, in
Broomtown Valley, and General McCook
was ordered to support the movement
by a division of infantry thrown forward
to the vicinity of Alpine, Avhich was
executed on the 8th and 9th of Septem
ber. "General Thomas was ordered to
cross his corps by Frick's or Cooper's
and Stevens' gaps, and occupy the head
of McLemore's Cove.
" General Crittenden was ordered to
reconnoitre the front of Lookout Moun
tain, sending a brigade upon an almost
impracticable path, called the Nickajack
Trace, to Summertown, a hamlet on the
summit of the mountain overlooking
Chattanooga, and holding the main body
of his corps, either to support these rec-
onnoissances, to prevent a sortie of the
enemy over the nose of Lookout, or to
enter Chattanooga in case the enemy
should evacuate it or make but feeble
resistance. Simultaneously with this
movement, the cavalry was ordered to
push, by way of Alpine and Broomtown
Valley, and strike the enemy's railroad
communication between Resaca Bridge
and Dalton.
" These movements were promptly
begun on the 8th and 9th of September.
The reconnoissance of General Critten
den on the 9th developed the fact that
the enemy had evacuated Chattanooga
the day and night previous, and his
advance took peaceable possession at
one o'clock p.m.

"His whole corps, with its trains,
passed around the point of Lookout
Mountain on the 10th, and encamped
for the night at Rossville, five miles
south of Chattanooga.
"During these operations, General
Thomas pushed his corps over the
mountains at the designated points, each
division consuming two days in the
passage. " The weight of evidence, gathered
from all sources, was, that Bragg was
moving on Rome, and that his move
ment commenced on the 6th of Septem
ber. . General Crittenden was, there
fore, directed to hold Chattanooga with
one brigade, calling all the forces on the
north side of the Tennessee across, and
to follow the enemy's retreat vigorously,
anticipating that the main body had re
tired by Ringgold and Dalton.
" Additional information, obtained
during the afternoon and evening of the
10th of September, rendered it certain
that his main body had retired by the
Lafayette road, but uncertain whether
he had gone far, General Crittenden
was ordered at one o'clock a.m. on the
11th to proceed to the front and report,
directing his command to advance only
as far as Ringgold, and ordered a recon
noissance to Gordon's Mill. His re
port and further evidence satisfied me
that the main body of the rebel army
was in the vicinity of Lafayette.
" General Crittenden was therefore
ordered to move his corps, with all
possible dispatch, from Ringgold to
Gordon's Mill, and communicate with
General Thomas, who had by that time

REPORT OF GENERAL ROSECRANS.

221

reached the eastern foot of Lookout
Mountain. General Crittenden occupied
Ringgold during the 11th, pushing
Wilder's mounted infantry as far as
Tunnel Hill, skirmishing heavily with
the enemy's cavalry. Hazen joined him
near Ringgold on the 11th, and the
whole corps moved rapidly and success
fully across to Gordon's Mill on the
12th. Wilder, following and covering
the movement, had a severe fight with
the enemy at Letts' tan-yard.
" During the same day, the Fourth
U. S. Cavalry was ordered to move up
the Dry Valley road, to discover if the
enemy was in the proximity of that
road on Crittenden's right, and open
communication -with Thomas' command,
which, passing over the mountain, was
debouching from Stevens' and Cooper's
gaps, and moving on Lafayette through
Dry Gap of the Pigeon Mountain.
" On the 10 th, Negley's division ad
vanced to within a mile of Dug Gap,
which he found heavily obstructed, and
Baird's division came up to his support,
on the morning of the 11th ; Negley
became satisfied that the enemy was
advancing upon him in heavy force, and
perceiving that if he accepted battle in
that position, he would probably be cut
off, he fell back after a -sharp skirmish,
in which General Baird's division par
ticipated, skilfully covering and secur
ing their trains to a strong position in
front of Stevens' Gap. On the 12th,
Reynolds and Brannan, under orders to
move promptly, closed up to the support
of these two advanced divisions.
"During the same day, General Mc

Cook had reached the vicinity of Alpine,
and, with infantry and cavalry, had re
connoitred the Broomtown Valley to
Summerville, and ascertained that the
enemy had not retreated on Rome, but
was concentrating at Lafayette.
" Thus it was ascertained that the
enemy was concentrating- all his forces,
both infantry and cavalry, behind the
Pigeon Mountain, in the vicinity of La
fayette, while the corps of this army
were at Gordon's Mill, Bailey's Cross
Roads at the foot of Stevens' Gap, and
at Alpine, a distance of forty miles from
flank to flank, by the nearest practicable
roads, and fifty-seven miles by the route
subsequently taken by the twentieth
army corps. It has already been ascer
tained that the main body of Johnston's
army had joined Bragg, and an accumu
lation of evidence showed that the
troops from Virginia had reached Atlanta
on the 1st of the month, and that rein
forcements were expected soon to arrive
from that quarter. It was therefore
a matter of life and death to effect the
concentration of the army.
" General McCook had already been
directed to support General Thomas,
but was now ordered to send two bri
gades to hold Dougherty's Gap, and t<*
join General Thomas with the remainder
of his command with the utmost celerity,
directing his march over the road on the
top of the mountain. He had, with
great prudence, already moved his trains
back to the rear of Little River, on the
mountain, but unfortunately, being igno
rant of the mountain road, moved down
the mountain at Winston's Gap, down

222

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Lookout Valley to Cooper's Gap, up the
mountain and down again, closing up
with General Thomas on the 17th, and
having posted Davis at Brooks', in front
of Dug Gap, Johnson at Pond Spring,
in front of Catlett's Gap, and Sheridan
at the foot of Stevens' Gap.
"As soon as General McCook's corps
arrived, General Thomas moved down
the Chickamauga toward Gordon's Mill.
Meanwhile, to bring General Crittenden
within reach of General Thomas, and
beyond the danger of separation, he was
withdrawn from Gordon's Mill on the
14th, and ordered to take post on the
southern spur of Missionary Ridge,
his right communicating with General
Thomas, where he remained until Gen
eral McCook had effected a junction
with General Thomas.
' ' Minty with his cavalry reconnoitred
the enemy on the 15th, and reported
him in force at Dalton, Ringgold, Letts,
and Rock Springs Church. The head
of General McCook's column being re
ported near the same day, General Crit
tenden was ordered to return to his old
position at Gordon's Mill, his line rest
ing along the Chickamauga via Crawfish
Springs.
• " Thus, on the evening of the 17th,
the troops were substantially within
supporting distance. Orders were given
at once to move the whole line north
eastwardly down the Chickamauga, with
a view to covering the Lafayette road
toward Chattanooga, and facing the
most practicable route to the enemy's
front. " The position of our troops and the

narrowness of the roads retarded our
movements. During the day, while
they were in progress, our cavalry under
Colonel Minty was attacked on the left,
in the vicinity of Reed's Bridge, and
Wilder's mounted infantry were attacked
by infantry, and driven into the La
fayette road.
" It became apparent that the enemy
was massing heavily on our left, crossing
Reed's and Alexander's bridges in force,
while he had threatened Gordon's Mill.
" Orders were therefore promptly
given to General Thomas to relieve
General Crittenden's corps, posting one
division near Crawfish Spring, and to
move with the remainder of his corps,
by the Widow Glenn's- house, to the
Rossville and Lafayette roads, his left
extending obliquely across it near Kelly's
House. " General Crittenden was ordered to
proceed with Van Cleve's and Palmer's
divisions, to drive the enemy from the
Rossville road, and form on the left of
General Wood, then at Gordon's Mill.
" General McCook's corps was to close
up on General Thomas, occupy the
position at Crawfish Springs, and protect
General Crittenden's right while holding
his corps mainly in reserve.
' ' The main cavalry force was ordered
to close in on General McCook's right,
watch the crossing of the Chickamauga,
and act under his orders.
" The movement for the concentration
of the corps more compactly toward
Crawfish Springs was begun on the
morning of the 18th, under orders to
conduct it very secretly, and was exe-

CHATTANOOGA ai:d its
COUSTPUCTEIi AMD ENGPviKED TO ILLUfcTKXrF,

DhAATOES.
THF.vVXR.WirK THE SOUTH'

-lit, TV Of.!- ' ifji

i'.. .: :.'- .-L^.'-sf.pe aiid Georsaa

-Ringgold -w^re lought for 3>: possession of the great I Gxurodcl tri.-

REPORT OF GENERAL ROSECRANS.

223

cuted so slowly that McCook's corps
only reached Pond Spring at dark and
bivouacked, resting on their arms during
the night. Crittenden's corps reached
its position on the Rossville road near
midnight. " Evidence accumulated during the
day of the 18th that the enemy was
moving to our left. Minty's cavalry
and Wilder's mounted brigade encount
ered the enemy's cavalry at Reed's and
Alexander's bridges, and toward evening
were driven into the Rossville road.
At the same time the enemy had been
demonstrating for three miles up the
Chickamauga. Heavy clouds of dust
had been observed three or four miles
beyond the Chickamauga, sweeping to
the northeast.
" Ifl view of these facts, the necessity
became apparent that General Thomas
must use all possible dispatch in moving
his corps to the position assigned it.
He was therefore directed to proceed
with all dispatch, and General McCook
to close up to Crawfish Springs as soon
as Thomas' column was out of the way.
Thomas pushed forward uninterruptedly
during the night, and at daylight the
head of his column had reached Kelly's
House, on the Lafayette road, where
Baird's division was posted. Brannan
followed, and was posted on Baird's left,
covering the roads leading to Reed's
and Alexander's bridges.
" At this point Colonel McCook, of
General Granger's command, who had
made a reconnoissance to the Chicka-
lauga the evening before, and had

mai

burned Reed's Bridge, met General

Thomas and reported that an isolated
brigade' of the enemy was this side of
the Chickamauga, and the bridge being
destroyed, a rapid movement in that
direction might result in the capture of
the force thus isolated.
" General Thomas ordered Brannan
with two brigades to reconnoitre in that
direction and attack any small force he
should meet. The advance brigade,
supported by the rest of the division,
soon encountered a strong body of the
enemy, attacked it vigorously, and drove
it back more than half a mile, where a
very strong column of the enemy was
found, with the evident intention of
turning our left and gaining possession
of the Lafayette road between us and
Chattanooga. ' ' This vigorous movement disconcert
ed the plans of the enemy to move on
our left, and opened the battle of the
19th of September.
" The leading brigade became engaged
about ten a.m., on the 19th, on our
extreme left, and extending to the right,
where the enemy combined to move
in heavy masses. Apprehending this
movement, I had ordered General Mc
Cook to send Johnson's division to
Thomas' assistance. He arrived op
portunely. " General Crittenden, with great good
sense, had already dispatched Palmer's,
reporting the fact to me, and received
my approval. The enemy returned our
attack, and was driving back Baird's
right in disorder, when Johnson struck
the attacking column in flank, and
drove it back more than half a mile,

224

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

until his own right was overlapped and
in imminent danger of being turned,
when Palmer, coming in on Johnson's
right, threw his division against the
enemy and drove back his advance
columns. " Palmer's right was soon overlapped,
when Van Cleve's division came to his
support, but was beaten back, when
Reynolds' division came in, and was
in turn overpowered. Davis' division
came into the fight then most oppor
tunely, and drove the enemy, who soon,
however, developed a superior force
against his line, and pressed him so
heavily that he was giving ground, when
Wood's division cam,e and turned the
tide of battle the other way.
"About three p.m. General McCook
was ordered to send Sheridan's division
to support our line near Wood and
Davis, directing Lytle's brigade to hold
Gordon's Mill, our extreme right.
Sheridan also arrived opportunely to
save Wood from disaster, and the rebel
tide was thoroughly stayed in that
quarter. "Meanwhile, the roar of musketry
in our centre grew louder, and evidently
approached headquarters at Widow
Glenn's house until musket-balls came
near and shells burst about it. Our
centre was being driven.
" Orders were sent to Gen. Negley to
move his division from Crawfish Springs
and above, where he had been holding
the line of the Chickamauga to Widow
Glenn's, to be held in reserve to give
succor wherever it might be required,
at half-past four p.m. He reported with

his division, and as the indications that
our centre was being driven became
clearer, he was dispatched in that direc
tion, and soon found the enemy had dis
lodged Van Cleve from the line, and
was forming there even while Thomas
was driving his right. Orders were
promptly given Negley to attack him,
which he soon did, and drove him
steaflfly until night closed the combat.
" General Brannan, having repulsed
the enemy on our extreme left, was sent
by General Thomas to support the
centre, and at night took a position on
the right of Reynolds.
" Colonel Wilder's brigade of mounted
infantry occupied during the day a posi
tion on the Lafayette road, one mile
north of Gordon's Mill, where he had
taken position on the afternoon previous,
when, contesting the ground, step by
step, he had been driven by the enemy's
advance from Alexander's Bridge.
" Minty's cavalry had been ordered
from the same position about noon of
the 19th to report to Major-General
Granger at Rossville, which he did at
daylight on the 20th, and was posted
near Mission Mills to hold in check the
enemy's cavalry on their right from the
direction of Ringgold and Greysville.
' ' The reserve corps covered the ap
proaches from the Chickamauga toward
Rossville and the extension of our left.
"The roar of battle hushed in the
darkness of night, and our troops, weary
with a night of marching and a day of
fighting, rested on their arms, having
everywhere maintained their positions,
developed the enemy, and gained thor-

BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA.

22.'

ough command of the Rossville and Dry
Valley roads to Chattanooga, the great
objects of the battle ofthe 19th of Sep
tember. " The battle had secured us these
objects. Our flanks covered the Dry
Valley and Rossville roads, while our
cavalry covered the Missionary Ridge
and the valley of Chattanooga Creek,
into which latter place our spare trains
had been sent on Friday the 18th.
"We also had indubitable evidence
of the presence of Longstreet's corps
and Johnston's forces, by the capture of
prisoners from each.
' ' And the fact that at the close of the
day we had present but two brigades
which had not been opportunely and
squarely- in action, opposed to superior
numbers of the enemy, assured us that
we were greatly outnumbered, and that
the battle the next day must be for the
safety of the army and the possession
of Chattanooga.
" During the evening of the 19th the
corps commanders were assembled at
headquarters at Widow Glenn's house,
the reports of the positions and condition
of their command heard, and orders
given for the disposition of the troops
for the following day.
" Thomas' corps, with the troops
which had reinforced him, was to main
tain substantially his present line, with
Brannan in reserve.
" McCook, maintaining his picket line
till it was driven in, was to close on
Thomas, his right refused, and covering
the position at Widow Glenn's house,
and Crittenden to have two divisions in
197

reserve near the junction of McCook's
and Thomas' lines, to be able to succor
either. "Plans having been explained, written
orders given to each, and read in the
presence of all, the wearied corps com
manders returned about midnight to
their commands.
"No firing took place during the
night. The troops had assumed position
when day dawned. The sky was red
and sultry. The atmosphere and all the
woods enveloped in fog and smoke. As
soon as it was sufficiently light, I pro
ceeded, accompanied by General Gar
field and some aids, to inspect the lines.
" I found General McCook's right too
far upon the crest, and General Davis in
reserve on a wooded hillside west of
and parallel to the Dry Valley road. I
mentioned these defects to the General,
desiring Davis' division to be brought
down at once, moved more to the left,
and placed in close column by division
doubled in the centre in a sheltered
position. " I found General Crittenden's two
divisions massed at the foot of the same
hill, in the valley, and called his atten
tion to it, desiring them to be moved
farther to the left.
" General Thomas' troops were in
the position indicated, except Palmer's
line was to be closed more compactly.
" Satisfied that the enemy's first at
tempt would be on our left, orders were
dispatched to General Negley to join
General Thomas, and to General Mc
Cook to relieve Negley. Returning to
the right, I found Negley had not moved,

226

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

nor were McCook's troops coming in to
relieve him. Negley was preparing to
withdraw his two brigades from the line.
He was ordered to send his reserve
brigade immediately and follow it with
the others, only when relieved on the
line of battle. General Crittenden,
Avhose troops were nearest, was ordered
to fill General Negley's place at once,
and General McCook was notified of this
order growing out of the necessity of
promptly sending Negley to Thomas.
" Proceeding to "the extreme right, I
felt the disadvantages of its position,
mentioned them to General McCook,
and when I left him, enjoined on him
that it was an indispensable necessity that
we should keep closed to the left, and
that we must do so at all hazards.
" On my return to the position of
General Negley, I found to my astonish
ment that General Crittenden had not
relieved him, Wood's division having
reached the position of Negley's reserve.
Peremptory orders were given to repair
this, and Wood's troops moved into
position, but this delay subsequently
proved of serious consequence. The
battle began on the extreme left at half-
past eight a.m., and it was half-past nine
o'clock when Negley was relieved.
" An aid arriving from General
Thomas, requesting that Negley's re
maining brigades be sent forward as
speedily as possible to succor the left,
General Crittenden was ordered to move
Van Cleve with all possible dispatch to
a position in the rear of Wood, who
closed in on Brannan's right. General
McCook was ordered to move up to

close in on Wood, and fill an opening in
the line.
" On my return from an examination
of the ground in the rear of our left
centre, I found to my surprise that
General Van Cleve was posted in line
of battle on a high ridge, much too far
to the rear to give immediate support
to the main line of battle, and General
Davis in line of battle in rear of the
ridge occupied by General Negley's re
serve in the morning. General Critten
den was ordered to move Van Cleve at
once down the hill to a better position,
and General Davis was also ordered to
close up the support of the line near
Wood's right.
" The battle, in the mean while, roar
ed with increasing fury and approached
from the left to the centre. Two aids
arrived successively within a few minutes
from General Thomas, asking for rein
forcements. The first was directed to
say that General Negley had already
gone and should be nearly at hand at
that time, and that Brannan's reserve
brigade was available. The other was
directed to say that General Van Cleve
would at once be sent to his assistance,
which was accordingly done.
" A message from General Thomas
soon followed, that he was heavily press
ed, Captain Kellogg, A. D. C, the bearer,
informing me at the same time that
General Brannan was out of line, and
General Reynolds' right was exposed.
Orders were dispatched to General
Wood to close upon Reynolds, and word
was sent to General Thomas that he
should be supported, even if it took

BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA.

227

away the whole corps of Crittenden and
McCook. " General Davis was ordered to close
on General Wood, and General McCook
was advised of the state of affairs, and
ordered to close his whole command to
the left with all dispatch.
" General Wood, overlooking the
direction to ' close up' on General Rey
nolds, supposed he was to support him,
by withdrawing from the line and pass
ing to the rear of General Brannan, who,
it appears, was not out of line, but was
in echelon and slightly in rear of Rey
nolds right. By this unfortunate mis
take a gap was opened in the line of
battle, of which the enemy took instant
advantage, and striking Davis in flank
and rear, as well as in front, threw his
whole division in confusion.
" The same attack shattered the right
brigade of Wood before it had cleared
the space. The right of Brannan was
thrown back, and two of his batteries,
then in movement to a new position,
were taken in flank and thrown back
through two brigades of Van Cleve, then
on the march to the left, throwing his
division into confusion, from which it
never recovered until it reached Ross
ville. " While the enemy poured in through
this breach, a long line, stretching be
yond Sheridan's right, was advancing.
Lerbold's brigade shared in the rout of
Davis. Sheridan's other two brigades
in movement toward the left, under
orders to support Thomas, made a gal
lant charge against the enemy's advanc
ing column but were thrown into dis

order by the enemy's line advancing on
their flank, and were likewise compelled
to fall back, rallying on the Dry Valley
road, and repulsing the enemy, but they
were again compelled to yield to superior
numbers, and retired westward of the
Dry Valley, and by a circuitous route
reached Rossville, from which they
advanced by the Lafayette road to sup
port our left.
" Thus Davis' two brigades, one of
Van Cleve's, and Sheridan's entire di
vision were driven from the field, and
the remainder, consisting of the divisions
of Baird, Johnson, Palmer, Reynolds,
Brannan, and Wood, two of Negley's
brigades, and one of Van Cleve's, were
left to sustain the conflict against the
whole power of the rebel army, which,
desisting from pursuit on the right, con
centrated their whole effort to destroy
them. " At the moment of the repulse of
Davis' division, I was standing in rear
of his right, waiting the completion of
the closing of McCook's corps to the left.
Seeing confusion among Van Cleve's
troops, and the distance Davis' men
were falling back, and the tide of battle
surging toward us, the urgency for
Sheridan's troops to intervene became
imminent, and I hastened in person to
the extreme right to direct Sheridan's
movement on the flank of the advancing
rebels. It was too late. The crowd of
returning troops rolled back, and the
enemy advanced. Giving the troops
directions to rally behind the ridge west
of the Dry Valley road, I passed down
it, accompanied by General Garfield,

228

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Major McMichael, and Major Bond, of
my staff, and a few of the escort, under
a shower of grape, canister, and mus
ketry, for 200 or 300 yards, and at
tempted to rejoin General Thomas and
the troops sent to his support, by pass
ing to the rear of the broken portion of
our line, but found the routed troops
far toward the left, and hearing the
enemy's advancing musketry and cheers,
I became doubtful whether the left had
held its ground, and started for Ross
ville. On consultation and further re
flection, however, I determined to send
General Garfield there, while I went to
Chattanooga, to give orders for the
security of the pontoon bridges at Battle
Creek and Bridgeport, and to make
preliminary disposition either to forward
ammunition and supplies, should we
hold our ground, or to withdraw the
troops into good position.
' ' General Garfield dispatched me from
Rossville that the left and centre still
held its ground. General Granger had
gone to its support. General Sheridan
had rallied his division, and was advanc
ing toward the same point, and General
Davis was going up the Dry Valley road
to our right. General Garfield proceed
ed to the front, remained there until
the close of the fight, and dispatched me
the triumphant defence our troops there
made against the assaults of the enemy.
" The fight on the left, after two p.m.,
was that of the army. Never, in the
history of this war at least, have troops
fought with greater energy and determi
nation. Bayonet charges, often heard of,
but seldom seen, were repeatedly made

by brigades and regiments, in several
of our divisions.
" After the yielding and severance of
the divisions of the right, the enemy
bent all efforts to break the solid por
tion of our line. Under the pressure of
the rebel onset, the flanks of the line
were gradually retired until they occupi
ed strong advantageous ground, giving
to the whole a flattened crescent shape.
" From one to half-past three o'clock
the unequal contest was sustained
throughout our line. Then the enemy,
in overpowering numbers, flowed around
our right, held by General Brannan, and
occupied a low gap in the ridge of our
defensive position,,, which commanded
our rear. The moment was critical.
Twenty minutes more and our right
would have been turned, our position
taken in reverse, and probably the army
routed. "Fortunately Major-General Granger,
whose troops had been posted to cover
our left and rear, with the instinct .of a
true soldier and a general, hearing the
roar of battle on our left, and being
beyond the reach of orders from the
general commanding, determined to
move to its assistance. He advanced,
and soon encountered the enemy's
skirmishers, whom he disregarded, well
knowing that, at that stage of the con
flict, the battle was not there. Posting
Colonel Daniel McCook's brigade to
take care of anything in the vicinity and
beyond the left of our line, he moved
the remainder to the scene of action.
reporting to General Thomas, who
directed him to our suffering right.

I i

BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA.

229

" Arrived in sight, General Granger
discovered at once the peril and the
point of danger — the gap, and quick as
thought he directed his advance brigade
upon the enemy. General Steadman,
taking a regimental color, led the
column. Swift was the charge and
terrible the conflict, but the enemy was
broken. A thousand of our brave men,
killed and wounded, paid for its posses
sion ; but we held the gap.
" Two divisions of Longstreet's corps
confronted the position. Determined to
take it, they successively came to the
assault. A battery of six guns, placed
in the gorge, poured death and slaughter
into them. They charged to within a
few yards of the pieces, but our grape
and canister, and the leaden hail of our
musketry, delivered in sparing but ter
rible volleys from cartridges taken, in
many instances, from the boxes of their
fallen companions, was too much even
for Longstreet's men. About sunset
they made their last charge, when our
men being out of ammunition rushed on
them with bayonet, and they gave way
to return no more.
" The fury of the conflict was nearly
as great on the fronts of Brannan and
Wood, being less furious toward the
left. But a column of the enemy had
made its way to near our left and to the
right of Colonel McCook's position.
Apprised of this, General Thomas direct-'
ed Reynolds to move his division from
its position, and, pointing out the rebels,
told him to go in there.
" To save time, the troops of Reynolds
were faced by the rear rank, and moved

with the bayonet at a double-quick, and
with a shout walked over the rebels,
capturing some 500. This closed the
battle of the 20 th. At nightfall the
enemy had been repulsed along the
whole line, and sunk into quietude,
without attempting to renew the com
bat. " General Thomas, considering the
excessive labor of the troops, the scarcity
of ammunition, food, and water, and
having orders from the general com
manding to use his discretion, deter
mined to retire on Rossville, where they
arrived in good order, took post before
morning, receiving supplies from Chat
tanooga, and offering the enemy battle
during all the next day, and repulsing
his reconnoissance. On the night of the
21st we withdrew from Rossville, took
firm possession of the objective point of
our campaign — Chattanooga — and pre
pared to hold it.
" The operations of the cavalry during
the battles on the 19th were very im
portant. General Mitchell with three
brigades covered our right flank along
the line of the Chickamauga, above
Crawfish Springs, against the combined
efforts of the great body of the rebel
cavalry, whose attempts to cross the
stream they several times repulsed.
" Wilder fought dismounted near the
centre, intervening two or three times
with mountain howitzers and Spencer
rifles very opportunely.
" On the 20th, Minty covered our left
and rear at Missionary Mills, and later
in the day on the Ringgold road.
" General Mitchell with his three

230

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

brigades covered our extreme right, and
with Wilder, after its repulse, extended
over Missionary Ridge, held the whole
country to the base of Lookout Moun
tain, and all our trains, artillery, caissons.
and spare wagons, sent there for greater
safety, retiring from the field. He was
joined by Post's brigade of Davis' di
vision, which had not closed on the
army, and was not in action.
"On the 21st the cavalry still covered
our right as securely as before, fighting
and holding at bay very superior num
bers. The number of cavalry combats
during the whole campaign have been
numerous, and the successes as numer
ous, but the army could not have dis
pensed with those of the nineteenth,
twentieth, and twenty-first.
" Our artillery fired fewer shots than
at Stone River, but with even greater
effect. I cannot but congratulate the
country on the rapid improvement evinc
ed in this arm of the service. Our loss
of pieces is, in part, attributed to the
rough wooded ground in which we
fought, and the want of experience in
posting artillery, and partly to the un
equal nature of the contest, our infantry
being heavily outnumbered.
"We expended 2,650,000 rounds of
musket-cartridges, 7,325 round of can
non ammunition. We lost 36 pieces of
artillery, 20 caissons, 8,450 stand of
small-arms, 5,834 infantry accoutre
ments, being 12,675 rounds less of artil
lery, and 650,000 rounds more of
musketry than at Stone River.
" We took 2,003 prisoners. Of the
missing, some 600 have escaped and

come in, and probably 700 or 800 are
among the killed and wounded. Of our
wounded, about 2,500 fell into the hands
of the enemy, swelling the balance of
prisoners against us to about 5,500.
"It is proper to observe that the
battle of Chickamauga was absolutely
necessary to secure our concentration
and cover Chattanooga. It was fought
in a country covered with woods and
undergrowth, and wholly unknown to
us. Every division came into action
opportunely, and fought squarely on the
19th. We were largely outnumbered,
yet we foiled the enemy's flank move
ment on our left, and secured our own
position on the road to Chattanooga.
The battle of the 20th was fought with
all the troops we had, and but for the
extension and delay in closing in our
right, we should probably have driven
the enemy, whom we really beat on the
field. I am fully satisfied that the
enemy's loss largely exceeds ours."
Though the enemy boasted that they
had taken " 7,000 prisoners, 40 pieces
of artillery, 15,000 stand of small-arms,
30 stand of colors, and driven their
opponents back to their fortifications on
the river," they soon discovered that
their victory was fruitless. The battle
they confessed to have been "the most
extensive and desperate struggle of the
Western campaign," but so far indecisive
'that "it was evident," they said, "that
we must have another before Rosecrans
is driven across the river." General
Rosecrans, in the mean time, having
retired within the intrenchments of
Chattanooga, declared, " I cannot be

RAID OF WHEELER AND FORREST.

231

dislodged from my present position."
Though protected against direct assault
by the natural strength of the place and
its fortifications, the communications
with his base were so commanded by
the enemy, who held Lookout Mountain
and Missionary Ridge, and so exposed
to the raids of their cavalry, which could
readily gain his rear, that the Union
general became anxious for the suste
nance of his troops.
The various attempts of the enemy
to disturb the Unionists within the in
trenchments of Chattanooga, by an artil
lery fire from the commanding position
of Lookout Mountain, proved of little
avail. Their efforts, however, to ob
struct the navigation of the river and
the land communications were so effec
tual, that the Union army could only
obtain, and with the greatest difficulty,
sufficient means to supply it with half
rations. The enemy's generals, Wheeler and
Forrest, with a cavalry force, were
especially enterprising. Getting into
the rear of Rosecrans' army they cap
tured McMinnville, an important depOt,
pounced upon and destroyed some
heavily laden wagon trains, and cut off
for awhile all regular communications
with Nashville.
" The expected blow at our com
munications was struck by Wheeler and
Forrest, with 2,500 picked men, on
Friday morning last," wrote a corre
spondent, October 7, 1863. "Prelimi
nary matters were, doubtless, arranged
immediately after their appearance in
front of Chattanooga, as soon as Bragg

brought himself to believe that he had
only half whipped Rosecrans, if, indeed,
he could claim so much. A cavalry
force, estimated at 5,000 men, crossed
the Tennessee River on Tuesday night,
October 1, at a ford near Decatur, and
advanced to Washington, about sixty
miles northeast from Chattanooga, where
they encountered Brigadier - General
Crook's command, inferior to them in
numbers, and drove them down the
river toward Chattanooga. Then, mov
ing with speed across Walden's Ridge to
Pikesville, the rebel column, it is be
lieved, was divided, one portion going
north toward McMinnville, the other
down Sequatchie Valley to Anderson's,
where they reached the road over which
our supplies from the rear are hauled.
Friday morning, the column under
Wheeler and Forrest in person, inter
cepted a train of 400 wagons and com
menced the work of destruction. The
scene of the rascally exploit was at the
farm of one Anderson, situated on the
Government road from Bridgeport to
Chattanooga, in the valley of Sequatchie
River, midway between the two towns.
Anderson, although a consummate rebel
rascal (as is believed), has a very pretty
and fertile farm, in a very romantic spot.
High mountains overshadow his valley
farm, and before the war he must have
been a happy husbandman. He could
be approached from the north only with
ease — that is, down the valley along the
foot of Walden's Ridge. Toward Chat
tanooga (twenty-two miles distant) the
road dived into the woods at the foot of
Walden's Ridge, a short distance from

oo; _4» > .

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Anderson's house, and wound its tor
tuous way two miles up the side of the
mountain — a laborious and often perilous
route — inasmuch as there are frightful
precipices and dark ravines on either
hand. In the captured train were
wagons which had been lying at Ander
son's two days, awaiting their proper
turn in the grand struggle for the sum
mit of the ridge. Thirty-five teams,
recent arrivals in the valley, had gone
eight miles up the Sequatchie for room
and forage, and these bore the first
brunt of the rebel attack at sunrise.
They were an easy prey, yet several
mule drivers managed to escape on their
saddle mules and bring the tidings of
the rebel advance to the camp at Ander
son's. Hurried preparations were made
to resist an attack, and couriers were
sent back toward Jasper for assistance.
At seven o'clock the rebel line of battle
appeared from the north, stretching
nearly across the valley, and with the
usual juvenile screech a furious charge
was made. Detachments of infantry, in
all not more than 600 or 700 men, serv
ing as train guard, could make no
effectual resistance to a force of 2,500
mounted demons gloating over the pros
pect of plunder and wild with fierce
delight in murder and robbery. A
stampede commenced. Excited and
terrified teamsters drove frantically for
the passage ofthe mountain, where, pres
ently, there was an inextricable ' snarl'
of wagons, mules, and yelling rebels.
Many of the muleteers were fortunate
enough to cut out a saddle mule at this
juncture and escape by forsaking the

beaten path altogether. Others were
ruthlessly shot in their saddles. The
first seventy-five wagons in the train
were loaded with ammunition, and
nearly all of them had gained the moun
tain road. They were fired by the
rebels commencing at the head of the
train, and the rifling of the commissary,
sutler, forage, and baggage wagons was
carried on amid the din of exploding
shells and small ammunition. The wag
ons were made a complete wreck, al
though a small portion of their contents
will be saved. The led mules of the
teams were cut loose from the wagons
as fast as possible by the rebels and
driven off with their hampers, but the
wheel animals were either shot or suf
fered to struggle before the burning
wagons, till death ended their torture
by the flames. I have been over the
ground since the outrage, and have seen
the carcasses of more than 600 of these
dumb beasts roasted alive or riddled
with bullets. The sickening stench of
burnt mules pervades the whole atmos
phere of that valley.
"There were many wagon-loads of
sutler goods in the train, the spoil of
which afforded the marauders particular
delight. Canned fruits, tobacco, cheese,
cigars, and thousands of little ' knick-
knacks' which would have realized the
' little one per cent.' went rapidly at less
than cost. Rebel troopers rode away
with their horses festooned with boots,
pickled oysters in cans, suspenders,
shirts, and so on, to the end of a good
assortment. Not a few encased them
selves in three or four distinct strata of

ROUT OF WHEELER.

233

clothing throughout, to economize trans
portation. Commissary whisky enough
to stupefy the entire force was carried
away in rebel canteens, and aided some
of the captives to escape from their
guards that night.
" The torch was carried down the line
of wagons till 230 were consumed, a
distance of three miles toward Bridge
port, when the rebels, fearing the ad
vance of Union cavalry, beat a retreat
up the valley."
A Union force of mounted men,
under General Crook, went in pursuit of
Wheeler, and overtaking him at Shelby
ville. to which he had set fire, attacked
and routed him. Crook gave this ac
count of his operations in his report of
October 10th :
" I have the honor," he says, "to in
form you that I have had three fights
with the enemy since I left the Se
quatchie Valley, whipping him very
badly each time. The last battle ended
at Farmington, Tenn., where I fought
Wheeler's entire command with only
two brigades. I cut his force in two,
scattering a large portion of it, capturing
4 pieces of artillery, 1,000 stand of
cavalry arms, and 240 prisoners, besides
the wounded.
"As I pushed on after the enemy
immediately, I have not been able to
ascertain the number of their killed and
wounded ; but it was very heavy. They
were scattered over a distance of fifteen
miles from this, and their retreat was a
perfect rout, their men deserting and
straggling over the country. I pursued
them with great vigor ; but their horses
198

being better than mine, I was only able
to come up with a couple of regiments
at Sugar Creek, left to detain me. I
made a charge on them, capturing some
fifty of them, and scattering the re
mainder in the mountains. When with
in eight miles of the river I struck the
gallop ; but when I reached the river, I
found they had all crossed at a ford
some three miles above Samp's Ferry,
where they commenced to cross twelve
abreast. " I never saw troops more demoralized
than they were. I am satisfied their loss
in this raid was not less than 2,000. No
fears need be entertained of their making
another raid soon."
While the Army of the Cumberland
was striving to hold Chattanooga, with
the enemy confronting it and making
desperate efforts by cavalry raids in its
rear to cut off its communications and
prevent it from being supplied or rein
forced, great efforts were being made
to secure its safety. The Government
acted with promptitude. Large rein
forcements were ordered to hasten to
Chattanooga ; and to give unity to mili
tary operations in the West, the Depart
ments of the Ohio, of the Cumberland,
and of the Tennessee were combined
into the " Military Division of the Missis
sippi," and placed under the com- Oct.
mand of General Grant, the con- I6,
queror of Vicksburg. Rosecrans was,
at the same time, relieved, and General
Thomas, who had arrested the ruin
threatened at Chickamauga, was ap
pointed his successor in the command
of the Army of the Cumberland.

234

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Army of the Cumberland in its Intrenchments at Chattanooga. — Inquietude in regard to its Communications.
— Relief at hand. — Marches of Hooker and Sherman. — The Army of the Cumberland reinforced. — New Communi
cations opened. — Hooker's Movement and Engagement with the Enemy described. — Enemy's Version. — The Enemy
confess themselves worsted. — General Grant prepared to advance. — General Bragg detaches a Force under Long-
street against Knoxville. — The Movements of Burnside. — Grant attacks Bragg. — Bragg beaten and driven from his
Position. — Disappointment of the Army vented upon their General. — Clamor against Bragg. — Bragg removed. —
Johnston appointed his Successor.

1863.

At the moment General Rosecrans
was relieved, and General Thomas
assigned to the command, the Army
of the Cumberland was, though securely
intrenched within the works and fast
nesses of Chattanooga, by no means free
from inquietude in regard to its com
munications. " Our position," says a campaign
er,* " was just about the town of
Chattanooga, which is situated in the
bend of a river. Both our flanks rested
upon its banks — our right at Chatta
nooga Creek; near the base of Lookout
Mountain, our left at Citico Creek. Our
picket lines followed these two creeks
for a distance, and then across the low
ground between, which lies also between
the foot of Missionary Ridge and the
higher grounds about Chattanooga, upon
which our works were constructed.
These works were connected with each
other by a strong line of rifle-pits, com
menced on the night the troops arrived
here from Chickamauga, and afterward
strengthened. Behind this line, and
around the town, the greater portion of
o N. Y. World.

the Army of the Cumberland was biv
ouacked — not encamped, for very little
camp equipage was to be had. This
small area comprised all that we held
south of the Tennessee River. The
north side we held entire, with troops
stationed to guard the fords above. Our
base was at Stevenson and Bridgeport,
and supplied from depQts at Louisville
and Nashville by a single line of badly-
worn railroad. The south side of the
river, from Lookout Mountain to Bridge
port, was held by the enemy, and the
river road on the north side was render
ed impassable by rebel sharpshooters
stationed on the opposite bank, thus
forcing us to bring all supplies over a
distance of fifty or sixty miles, taking
the road from Bridgeport up the Se
quatchie Valley, over the mountains,
into the 'Anderson' road, thence to
Chattanooga, crossing the Tennessee by
means of pontoon bridges, constructed
here from such materials as the forests
and this dilapidated town could afford.
" Rains had rendered the valleys a
bottomless mass of mud, and the moun
tain roads so many mountain torrents.

GENERAL GRANT AT CHATTANOOGA.

235

The line of supply was well marked by
the remains of wagons, mules, horses,
etc., for the entire distance. Add to
this that Wheeler, by his ' raid,' de
stroyed several hundred wagons loaded
With supplies, and also cut our single line
of railroad."
Relief, however, was* at hand. Gen
eral Hooker having been placed in com
mand of the eleventh and a portion of
the twelfth corps, detached from the
Army of the Potomac, was hastening
from the east, and General Sherman,
with a large force, from the west, to re
establish the communications of the
Army of the Cumberland and increase
its strength. Notwithstanding the ef
forts of the enemy to obstruct their
march, both Hooker and Sherman suc
ceeded in reaching the point proposed,
and their services were immediately put
into requisition by General Grant, who,
on arriving at Chattanooga, determined
at once to open a river and a shorter
land communication with his base. To
accomplish this, " a plan," says the
writer before quoted, " was proposed
by the chief engineer of the army, as
follows : The boats for a new bridge
over the river here were nearly com
pleted. He proposed to fill these boats
with armed men, the other bridge equi
page to be sent by land ; float them
down in the night past Lookout to a
point known as Brown's Ferry, and
effect a landing. Then it was proposed
to occupy, on the enemy's side of the
river, two hills, which would form a
complete tete-de-pont. Then recross the
boats, and with them ferry over more

troops to occupy, and then throw over
the bridge. Hooker was to move at the
same time up the valley, crossing the
river at Bridgeport, and unite with the
forces landed from here, thus opening
the river, the road to Kelly's Ferry, and
the direct road to Bridgeport, as well as
giving us the river road on the north
side of the river around its bend. Gen
erals Grant, Thomas, Smith, and Bran
nan went to the point proposed about
the 23d of October, and the move was
determined upon and executed on the
night ofthe 26th of October.
" Everything proved remarkably suc
cessful. The surprise was complete ;
the landing effected ; the hills gained
with but a slight skirmish with the
pickets which were at the point of land
ing, and a very feeble one from a
brigade of infantry and regiment of
cavalry stationed in the valley beyond
the hills forming the tUe-de-pont. The
majority of this force made the best of
its way to Lookout Mountain ; but a
portion was captured. The bridge, 900
feet long, was thrown in about five
hours, and communication established
with the south from the north side of
the river. The distance between this
bridge and the one at Chattanooga was
one and a half miles by land, while the
distance by water was about eight.
Hooker moved up the next day and
joined with the eleventh corps. A
portion of the twelfth corps was left at
Wauhatchie. Longstreet and Bragg,
from the top of Lookout Mountain,
looked down discomforted on all this,
and resolved to attack Hooker, thus

236

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

hoping to frustrate the end to be gained,
which was our holding of the two first-
named roads. An attack ensued the
following night, which resulted in the
complete thwarting of the enemy's de
sign and the forcing him to take up that
side of Lookout Creek next the moun
tain ; Hooker remained on this ground
until the battle of Mission Ridge, thus
covering the line of communication.
" This movement saved the army
from starvation. For although our
troops could repel any direct assault,
they might well have hesitated to make
a flank movement — and so leave Chatta
nooga — from military considerations,
aside from the fact that this point could
not be given up for any reason without
yielding all of Tennessee and Kentucky,
and falling back to the line of the Ohio
River, which of course could not be
thought of. In fact, Chattanooga must
be held at all hazards.
"Supplies now began to come through.
A steamboat had been built at Bridge
port ; another, captured here, had been
repaired, and was capable of carrying
200,000 rations. It ran the blockade
of Lookout Mountain (the point of which
between Chattanooga and Lookout
creeks, the enemy still held by pickets
and infantry force, while their batteries
on top commanded some distance each
way), arriving safely at Brown's Ferry.
It was passed through the pontoon
bridge ground until the battle of Mis
sionary Ridge, thus covering the line of
communications, and in connection with
the other boat ran regularly to Kelly's
Ferry from Bridgeport, thus giving us

about ten miles of wagon transportation
over good roads instead of sixty over
the worst of roads. An interior line of
defence sufficient to hold this place with
a small force was now constructed, and,
meanwhile, plans were matured for the
accomplishing of the main object of the
campaign here, which was the clearing
of East Tennessee."
General Grant, having securely re-es
tablished his communications, and plenti
fully supplied and largely reinforced his
troops, determined upon an advance.
General Bragg, in the mean time, ap
parently confiding in the strength of his
position, or not fully appreciating the
enterprise and resources of his antago
nist, ventured to weaken his army by
detaching a force of 20,000 men or more
under Longstreet, on an expedition
against Knoxville, then held by General
Burnside. The movements of Burnside
were so directed as to draw Longstreet
as far away as possible, and to involve
him in the delays of a siege. The farces
of the enemy were thus so widely sepa
rated, that the possibility of conveniently
reuniting them was prevented. Grant
now advanced to attack Bragg, weak
ened in numbers but strong in position.
" The enemy in our front," wrote the
correspondent* already quoted, " held
' Missionary Ridge,' the Chattanooga
Valley, and Lookout Mountain, his left
resting on the latter, his right on the
ridge near the tunnel on the Knoxville
and Chattanooga Railroad, while his
pickets occupied the south bank of the
Tennessee River for miles above us.
» N. Y. World.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.

237

His supplies came over the railroad from
Atlanta and Dalton. His heaviest force
was in the valley (Chattanooga) between
Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge,
and on that slope of Lookout Mountain,
thus placing it very nearly on his centre.
The ridge itself was heavily posted with
artillery. " In this condition of things, the plan
of attack was as follows : A division
of Sherman's troops was to be sent to
Trenton, threatening the enemy's left
flank. Under cover of this movement,
Sherman's main body was to march up
by Hooker's lines, crossing the Brown's
Ferry bridge mostly at night, thence
into a concealed camp on the north side
of the river, opposite South Chicka
mauga Creek. One division was direct
ed to encamp on the North Chicka
mauga ; about 120 pontoons were to be
taken, under cover of hills and woods,
and launched into the North Chicka
mauga ; these were to be filled with
men, to be floated out into the Tennes
see and down it until opposite the South
Chickamauga (about three miles below);
to effect a landing on that bank, throw
up works ; cross the remainder of the
command in the same boats, or a portion
of them ; to bridge the Tennessee and
South Chickamauga ; and then cross the
artillery and move at once to seize a
foot-hold on the ridge, taking up a line
facing the enemy's right flank near the
tunnel. Howard's corps, of Hooker's
command, was to cross into the town by
the two bridges, and fill the gap between
Sherman's proposed position and the
main body of Thomas' army. Hooker,

with the remainder of his force and the
division sent to Trenton, which should
return, was to carry the point of Look
out, and then threaten the enemy's left,
which would thus be thrown back, being
forced to evacuate the mountain and
take position on the ridge, and then our
troops being on both flanks, and upon
one flank threatening the enemy's com
munications, to advance the whole line,
or turn the other flank, as the chances
might dictate. Then to follow as far as
possible with a part of our force, while
Sherman destroyed the railroad from
Cleveland to Dalton, and then pushed
on to relieve Knoxville, and capture,
disperse, or drive off Longstreet from
before it. Such were the main points
of the plan proposed, matured, and
rounded into definite form by General
Grant and his coadjutors.
" General Smith, chief engineer, took
personal charge of the preliminaries
necessary for the move on our left flank.
The pontoons were put in the Chicka
mauga ; the men encamped ; the bridge
trains ready to debouch at the proper
point ; and so completely was every
thing arranged, that no confusion what
ever occurred. Artillery was posted on
our side of the river to cross-fire in front
of the point of landing, and force the
same, if necessary.
" On Monday, November 24, an armed
reconnoissance was made by General
Thomas on his left, whicli developed the
enemy's lines and gave to us a line of
battle in advance of our picket lines, at
the same time allowing the eleventh
corps (Howard's) to come into the posi-

233

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

tion assigned it. At midnight the men
entered the pontoons, floated down, and
effected a landing. At daylight the
pontoniers were at work, and at noon
the Tennessee River was bridged by a
pontoon bridge 1,400 feet long, and the
rest of Sherman's troops crossed and his
artillery was over. He then pushed out
to the ridge and took up his position,
and Howard communicated with him,
his force having marched there. Hook
er's forces formed a line of battle run
ning up and down the side of the moun
tain and swept around the point, and
at night the same day (the 24th) held
what he had gained, and communicated
with Thomas' right. That night the
enemy evacuated Lookout Mountain top
and fell back from his front to the ridge.
Thus, on Tuesday night, Bragg was
threatened on both flanks, and with
heavy line of battle in his front. It was
difficult for him to determine what our
move would be. His railroad must be
held at all hazards from Sherman. The
amount of Hooker's force he could dis
tinctly see. He reinforced his right
very heavily, leaving enough to hold his
left and front, as he supposed. On the
25th, Wednesday, Sherman commenced
to move. Two hills were taken. From
the third he was several times repulsed,
and he moved around more force, as if
to get in rear of Bragg's line, and the
latter then commenced massing against
him. The critical moment had now
arrived. Hooker moved his columns
along the Rossville road toward Bragg's
left, and this drew still more force from
the latter's centre.

" General Grant now ordered General
Thomas to advance and take the rifle-
pits at the base of the mountain. The
Army of the Cumberland, remembering
Chickamauga, and impatient by reason
of remaining spectators of the operations
of Generals Sherman and Hooker for
two days, went forward with a will ;
drove the enemy in disorder from his
lower works ; and went on, heedless of
the heavy artillery and musketry hurled
against them from the crest of the ridge.
Half way up they seemed to falter, but
it was only for breath. Without return
ing a shot they kept on, crowned the
ridge, captured thirty-five out of the
forty-four pieces of artillery on the hill,
turned some of them against the masses
in Sherman's front, and the routed line
fell back, while the rest of Bragg's army,
including Bragg and Hardee, fled, routed
and broken, toward Ringgold. Thou
sands of prisoners and small-arms and
quantities of munitions of war fell into
our hands. Hooker took up the pursuit,
and that night Missionary Ridge blazed
resplendent with our own camp fires.
The next day Hooker pushed the enemy
to Ringgold, where he made a show of
stubborn resistance, but was forced to
retire. Sherman and Howard pushed
for the above-mentioned railroad, which
they smashed completely. Thus Bragg
was badly whipped, and also cut off from
Longstreet. We captured in all about
GO pieces of artillery and 10,000 prison
ers, etc., etc. Bragg lost heavily by
deserters, who, coming from Kentucky
and Tennessee originally, were tired
of the war, and not wishing to be sent

BRAGG SUPERSEDED BY JOHNSTON.

239

back as exchanged prisoners of war,
kept away from our lines and got home
as best they could.
" * * * The Army of the Cum
berland fell back to its old camp, main
taining, of course, sufficient force in
front to keep Bragg's crippled army
from returning. We could not follow
him, because we had been so long at the
starving point, that animals enough could
not be found in the department to haul
our artillery, to say nothing of supplies."
The Confederates were greatly vexed
by their defeat, and vented their rage
upon the unfortunate general who com
manded their army.
" Despondency and gloom," wrote the
editor of the Richmond Enquirer, No
vember 27, " are fast settling down upon
the people, who see their cause sacrificed
by incompetent officers, without even
the hope of any change. The President,
we know, esteems General Bragg, and
reposes confidence in his military capac
ity ; but, unfortunately, the people do
not -, and unless they can see some pros
pect of a speedy change, they may
despair of the cause, and the mountain
region of East Tennessee, Western North
Carolina, Northern Georgia, and North
ern Alabama submit to the despotism
that incompetency has brought upon
them. For the sake of encouraging
popular hope, reanimating the popular
heart, and keeping alive the fire of

patriotism, we again implore the Presi
dent to yield to the well-ascertained
public desire, now demonstrated by an
other disaster, to be properly founded,
and dismiss incompetency from all com
mands. " General Bragg knows and feels the
complaints that are public against him,
and this fact causes him to be over-cau
tious — the responsibility oppresses his
military capacity, and no man, weighed
down as he is, can have that command
of all his faculties so necessary in the
trying ordeal of battle. We feel for
him the greatest sympathy, we know
him to be patriotic, and earnestly strug
gling to do his best ; but circumstances,
which perhaps he could not control, have
operated to impair his usefulness. Why
further compromise the cause and en
danger the Gulf States by retaining him
in command ? By consulting the public
wish, now almost an open outcry, the
President will start the struggle for
liberty with new impetus, and every
man, as one relieved from an oppressive
burden, will start fresh and buoyant in
the contest that is yet before us."
Jefferson Davis was forced at last by
public clamor to sacrifice his favorite
officer to the popular cry for a victim.
General Bragg was accordingly relieved
of the command of the " Army of the
Tennessee," and General Joe Johnston
appointed his successor.

240

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER XXIV.
General Burnsid* in Kentucky preparing to advance into Tennessee. -He marches.-The Disposition of his Force.—
He reaches Tennessee. -The Concentration of his Troops.-Advance to Cumberland Gap.-The Enemy summoned
to surrender, but refuse.-Arrival of Lurnside.-A second Summons.-The Enemy yield.-The Enemy vexed at
their Commander—Explanation of his Conduct. -A Small Disaster at Tilford.-Bumside establishes his Head
quarters at Knoxville.-Attack upon Wolford near Philadelphia.-Wolford loses his Battery. -Wolford is rein
forced, and tons upon the Enemy. -Wolford recovers his Battery.-The appearance of Longstreet m East lenncs-
see.-Longstreet captures two Union Outposts.-Advance of Enemy's Cavalry under Wheeler.-Capture of Mays-
ville -The Union Forces driven into Knoxville.-Advance of main body of the Enemy. -Pursmt of Burnside.-
Burnside checks the Enemy at Campbell Station. -Burnside retires to Knoxville. -Siege of Knoxville.-General
Grant detaches General Sherman to the relief of Burnside.-The siege of Knoxville raised. -Retreat of Longstreet.
—Pursuit.— Foster succeeds Burnside— National Thanksgiving.— Longstreet turns upon his Pursuers.

General Burnside was in Kentucky,
as described in a previous chapter,
making preparations for a march
into East Tennessee, in order to co
operate witli Rosecrans in wresting that
State from the enemy. On the 16th of
August he left Camp Nelson, on the
Kentucky River, with a large force
divided into three columns. One com
manded by himself marched via Loudon ;
a second, consisting of the twenty-third
army corps, under Major-General Hart-
suff, via Somerset ; and a third, under
General Julius White, via Jamestown.
On the 20th of August, Burnside,
marching by the way of Danville and
Stanford, reached Crab Orchard. On
the 22d he marched to Mount Vernon,
a distance of twenty miles, on the fol
lowing day to Loudon, twenty -five miles,
and on the 24th arrived at Williams
burg, thirty miles farther south. On
the 26th he was joined by General
Hartsuff at Chetwood, twenty- eight
miles from Williamsburg.

" The enemy being reported near,
General Burnside directed a cavalry
regiment to reconnoitre toward Jack-
boro'. It met a superior rebel force and
routed it, capturing forty-five prisoners.
From Chetwood the march was con
tinued across New River up the Cum
berland Mountains to Montgomery,
situated forty- two miles distant, on
the summit of the range, where the
column arrived on the 30th. Here
it was met by General White's com
mand. Colonel Burt having been sent
forward with a cavalry brigade, re
ported that General Pegram, with 2,000
cavalry, held a very strong position
at the gap near Emory Iron Works,
leading into Clinch River valley. Ad
ditional troops were sent forward, with
the expectation of a battle on the morn
ing of the 31st ; but with daylight it
was discovered that the enemy had fled.
" With the possession of this gap. the
road to Knoxville was open. Having
reached Emory River, seventeen miles

RECEPTION OF GENERAL BURNSIDE AT KNOXVILLE.

241

from Montgomery, General Burnside
ordered Colonel Foster, with a mounted
brigade, to make a forced march over a
direct road to Knoxville, while he ad
vanced with the main force to Kingston,
six miles farther. Being anxious to
save the most extensive and important
bridge over the Tennessee, at Loudon,
twenty miles from Kingston, General
Burnside directed General Shackelford,
with his cavalry brigade, to push on to
it as rapidly as possible. Upon arriving
within three miles of the bridge, a regi
ment was deployed as skirmishers, and
quickly drove the enemy beyond their
rifle-pits covering the approaches to the
bridge. They retreated hastily across
it, closing the gate behind them. The
entire structure being prepared with
turpentine and shavings for immediate
destruction, it was wrapped in flames in
a few seconds. General Shackelford,
finding it impossible to save it, moved
off toward Knoxville, after driving the
enemy from the opposite bank with
shells and musketry.
" Colonel Foster reached Knoxville
on the 1st of September, and General
Burnside left Kingston on the 2d, and
entered Knoxville on the 3d. Both
received perfect ovations upon their
entrance. The town was decorated with
flags hidden for more than two years,
and cheering people lined the streets.
A large meeting was held on a subse
quent day, and addressed by General
Burnside and several leading citizens.
The latter congratulated themselves in
the most enthusiastic terms upon their
deliverance from rebel oppression.
199

" On the day after Colonel Foster's
arrival, a procession of women, whose
husbands and relatives were mostly in
the Union service, came in from the
country. It was nearly a mile long.
All along the route of our troops the
same unmistakable evidence of almost
universal loyalty on the part of the popu
lation became manifest. Young men
seemed to be mostly absent, but old
ones and women by the hundred re
ceived our troops with flags and refresh
ments on the roads.
"A great number of men who had
lived in hiding-places for months cam>j
forth and joined their deliverers. Very
valuable machine shops and foundries
belonging to the rebel government were
found in Knoxville. Also 2,000,000
pounds of salt, a large quantity of wheat
(the fruits of the tithe tax), and many
thousand hogs. Three locomotives and
a number of cars were likewise captured.
General Burnside took for his head
quarters the residence of the fugitive
rebel leader."*
Before leaving Kentucky, Burnside
had ordered Colonel De Courcey, with
a brigade of infantry, to march upon
Cumberland Gap, by the direct route
through Loudon and Barboursville.
Having learned, while at Knoxville, that
the enemy were in force at the Gap,
Burnside dispatched, on the 5th of Sep
tember, General Shackelford with his
brigade to seize all the avenues of
escape to the south. On the 7th, he
himself followed with a force of infantry
and cavalry, and making a forced march
«> N. Y. Herald.

242

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

of sixty miles, arrived within four miles
of the Gap on the 9th of September.
De Courcey and Shackelford, who had
preceded him, had already demanded of
General Frazier, the rebel commander, a
surrender, but were refused. Burnside,
on his arrival, renewing the demand, he
was answered, that it would be granted
on the condition that his officers and men
should be parolled. Burnside insisting,
however, upon an unconditional surren
der, General Frazier at last yielded.
" A force composed of two regiments
of infantry and two regiments of cav
alry," said General Burnside in his dis
patch, Cumberland Gap, September 9th,
" I brought to this place in person, to
reinforce General Shackelford, who was
here with two regiments of cavalry,
Colonel De Courcey being on the Ken
tucky side with a brigade which I started
in that direction before leaving Ken
tucky. The infantry brigade marched
from Knoxville to this place — sixty
miles — in fifty-two hours. The garrison
here, consisting of over 2,000 men and
fourteen pieces of artillery, made an
unconditional surrender at three p.m. to
day without a fight."
The enemy, humiliated by the easy
capture of Cumberland Gap, strove to
extenuate the disgrace of the troops by
insinuations of treason against the gen
eral in command.
A disaster to a small detachment was
thus far the only exception to the gen
eral success of Burnside's campaign.
Lieutenant- Colonel Hayes, with 300
men of the One Hundredth Ohio Regi
ment, was attacked, about the middle of

September, at Tilford, by a superior
force, under General Jackson, and after
a spirited resistance for two hours, was
obliged to surrender.
General Burnside, establishing his
headquarters at Knoxville, sent out de
tachments from his army against the
enemy still lingering in East Tennessee.
" On the 8th instant," wrote the Gen
eral in a dispatch dated Knoxville, Tenn.,
October 17, 1863, "the enemy held
down as far as Blue Springs, and a
cavalry brigade of ours held Bull's Gap,
supported by a small body of infantry
at Morristown.
' ' I accordingly dispatched a brigade
of cavalry around by Rodgersville to in
tercept the enemy's retreat, and with a
considerable body of infantry and artil
lery moved to Bull's Gap.
" On Saturday, the 10th instant, I
advanced a cavalry brigade to Blue
Springs, where they found the enemy
strongly posted and offering a stubborn
resistance. "Skirmishing continued until about
five o'clock in the morning, when I sent
in a division of infantry, who charged
and cleared the woods, gallantly driving
the enemy in confusion until dark.
"During the night the enemy re
treated precipitately, leaving their dead
on the field, and most of their wounded
in our hands.
" We pursued in the morning with
infantry and cavalry. The intercepting
force met them at Henderson's ; but,
owing to some misunderstanding, with
drew, and allowed them to pass with
only a slight check.

ADVANCE OF LONGSTREET TOWARD KNOXVILLE.

243

" The pursuit was continued until
evening, when I withdrew most of my
infantry and returned to this place.
" General Shackelford, with his cav
alry and a brigade of infantry, continued
the pursuit, the enemy making a stand
at every important position ; but he has
driven them completely from the State,
captured the fort -at Zollicoffer, and
burned the long railroad bridge at that
place and five other bridges, and de
stroyed three locomotives and about
thirty-five cars.
" His advance is now ten miles be
yond Bristol.
" Our loss at Blue Springs and in
the pursuit was about 100 killed and
Wounded. " The enemy's loss was considerably
greater. " About 150 prisoners were taken."
The enemy having turned upon Col-
Qft, onel Wolford, near Philadelphia,
2l« Tenn., inflicted a loss upon him
of 1,00 men, and captured his battery of
mountain howitzers, with a portion of
his wagon train. On the next day,
Wolford, being reinforced, renewed the
fight and recovered his wagon train, but-
lost 300 men in the encounter. The
enemy met with about the same loss.
While Burnside was extending his
conquests in the northeastern part of
Tennessee, a large force of the enemy,
estimated at 30,000, under Longstreet,
appeared on the ground to dispute with
him the possession of that portion of the
State. Two of the Union outposts near
Rodgersville, about sixty miles from
Knoxville, were surrounded, on the 6th

of November, by the enemy's cavalry,
under Wheeler, and 500 men, four
pieces of artillery, and thirty-six wagons
captured. After this success, Wheeler advanced,
and on the 15th of November captured
at Maysville 300 men, and drove the rest
of the Union force into Knoxville.
General Saunders sallied out with his
cavalry brigade to give the enemy
battle, but finding them too strong, re
tired to a position three miles from
Knoxville, which, however, he was
obliged to abandon. The rebels now
attacked Rocksville, and forced the
Union outposts at that place also to
take refuge in Knoxville.
In the mean time, the main body of
the enemy, under Longstreet, Cheatham,
and Pegram, advanced by the way of
Loudon and Lenoir, causing Burnside
to fall back, which he did in good order,
vigorously resisting the pressure of his
pursuers. On the 15th of November
there was a series of brisk skirmishes,
and on the lGth, the enemy were kept
for the whole day in check at Campbell
Station. The loss of our troops was
about 250 ; that of the enemy not less,
probably more. Toward evening of the
16th of November, Burnside retreated to
Knoxville, and early on the next morn
ing (November 17th), formed his line of
battle around the city. The enemy
making their appearance at noon on the
Lenoir road, heavy skirmishing immedi
ately began. Both antagonists held
their ground firmly, and next morning
renewed the fighting, in the course of
which the Union General Saunders fell

244

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

mortally wounded. For the two suc
cessive days, the 19th and 20th, the
struggle was continued, but with greater
severity, as the artillery on both sides
was brought into service.
The enemy had gained considerable
advantage, but General Burnside, se
cure in the strength of the position and
expecting reinforcements, had no fears
of being driven from Knoxville.
While Longstreet was laying siege to
Knoxville, General Grant, gaining his
victory over Bragg, was enabled to dis
patch General Sherman with a large
force to its relief. The latter, with his
own corps, reinforced by the eleventh
and a part of the fourth, pushed on for
Knoxville. His original plan was to
pass through Cleveland and Athens to
Kingston, but finding that Longstreet
had anticipated this movement, General
Sherman marched to Loudon. The
eleventh corps crossed the Little Ten
nessee River at Davis' Ford, on a bridge
of captured wagons, and the fourth,
together with Sherman's own corps,
passed over at Morganstown on a trestle
bridge, built of materials at hand. The
eleventh corps marched in a single clay
to Louisville, a distance of thirty-one
miles. The rest of the troops proceeded
to Maysville and its neighborhood, on
the south side of the Holston River.
The advance cavalry of Sherman hurried
forward to Knoxville, where it arrived
during the night of the 3d of December.
Longstreet, finding himself flanked,
Dec. abandoned the siege of Knoxville,
4« and retreated toward Rutledge.
Before the arrival of Sherman, however,

he had made a desperate night assault
upon Knoxville, but was repulsed with
heavy loss.
"Between eleven and twelve o'clock
at night," wrote one who was present,*
" a general attack was made upon our
whole line, from our position on the
extreme left, south of the river, to the
right of our front, north of the railroad.
The moon was shining brightly at the
time, and betrayed the rebels in strong
line of battle. Heavy skirmishing en
sued, lasting until near daylight, and
resulting in the falling back of our
pickets. Our batteries opened upon the
rebels, and a desultory cannonade was
kept up throughout the night, the fire
of our guns being directed by the flashes
of their rifles and the line of their
bivouac fires in the rear. That the long
looked for attack was coming was
evident, but from what particular point
was a matter of doubt. The general
advance upon our skirmish line, though
intended to disconcert our plans of
defence and distract attention, had the
effect of putting every man at his post,
eagerly watching for the point from
which the enemy would come in force.
" The long, anxious watch, rendered
doubly severe by the crisp, frosty at
mosphere, came to a termination with
daylight and the appearance of the foe.
As night lifted her curtain from the
landscape, and in the dull dawn of the
morning, they were seen advancing in
three lines of battle in a direction
oblique to the Loudon road and toward
Fort Sanders. Quickly to his place
« N. Y. Herald.

LONGSTREET'S ATTACK ON KNOXVILLE.

245

sprang every man in the work, and in
less time than it requires to tell it, our
artillery had opened upon them with
shell and canister. At the same time a
battery which the rebels had constructed
upon a high hill across the river was
suddenly unmasked, and opened a flank
ing fire upon the rifle-pits and upon the
fort, which, however, was amply pro
tected by dense wings of earth and bales
of cotton. A few of their shells burst in
the cotton and set it on fire, but beyond
the wounding of one or two men, did no
further damage. Their batteries in
front and on the other flank of the fort
also took part in the cannonade, but
with the same ineffectuality. The battle
— for it could now be called so — became
deafening. The roar of the artillery on
all sides, the bursting of shells and the
rattle of musketry were grandly com
mingled. Despite the storm of canister
which howled around them, on came the
rebel host, with brigade front, slowly
pouring over the railroad cut, and anon
quickening in motion as the ground pre
sented less obstruction, until at last,
emerging from the nearest timber, they
broke into the charge.
" Across the open space which inter
vened between the timber and the fort,
and which was crossed with logs and
the stumps of felled trees, they now
came at impetuous speed. The first
check was given when the foremost of
the column stumbled over a line of
telegraph wires, which had been stretch
ed through the low brush and coiled
from stump to stump out of ordinary
view. As they halted here momentarily,

one falling over another, until the cause
of the obstruction was discovered, our
batteries in the fort had full play, and
Benjamin, Buckley, and Roemer poured
in their rounds thick and fast, while the
infantry of Ferrero kept up a galling
fire with musketry. The embrasures of
the fort and the whole line of the
parapet blazed at once with the dis
charges. Still the rebels pressed on,
their battle-flags of red with cross of
blue floating defiantly above their heads,
over the serried line of bayonets. Rally
ing over the temporary obstruction,
leaping the stumps and logs, and push
ing through the brush, they were within
pistol-shot of the fort. Our men, during
the last few minutes, had received orders
to reserve their fire until each could
single out his target at close range,
while Benjamin treble-shotted his guns
and Buckley loaded with his terrible
canister. " And now together all launched
forth. The effect was terrific. Broken
in their line, a few of the more desperate
of £he rebels sprang into the ditch,
clambered up the glacis, and almost
side by side with the flag of the Union
planted the banner of treason. But,
confused, panic-stricken, the rear of the
column gave way and retreated down
the hill ; others, again, afraid to advance
or retire in the face of what was certain
death, and appalled by the heaps of
slain which strewed the field, threw
down their arms and surrendered. The
most desperate — and a gallant band they
were — remained fast by their officers,
who valiantly kept the lead to the very

246

THE WAR WITPI THE SOUTH.

fort itself, and following them as they
jumped into the ditch, attempted to
scale the glacis, each to receive his
death-wound as his head appeared above
the parapet. A captain, in words which
Vould sound oddly at so thrilling a
moment, and in language more forcible
than polite, demanded the surrender of
the garrison as he pushed his body
through one of the embrasures and faced
the very muzzle of the cannon. His
answer was the discharge of the piece,
when, rent limb from limb, his mangled
corpse, or what was left of it, was hurled
outward into the air. His comrades,
still lurking around the corners of the
trench, essaying by every means to get
within the work, were now subjected to
the fire of hand-grenades, which Lieu
tenant Benjamin extemporized by cut
ting short his fuses, which he lit, when
he tossed the shells over the edge of the
parapet. Baffled at every point, and
finding themselves unsupported by the
rest of the charging column, they sur
rendered, and were hauled within the
fort, though not until the trench was
piled with the dead and dying.
' ' As the main body gave way and
fell back, the carnage among them was
fearful. Their disordered line — if in
deed line it could be called, where every
man seemed to act upon the motto,
' sauve qui petit,' and slunk behind each
stump and log, as volley after volley
rolled from the infantry, and gun after
gun belched out from the fort — at length
disappeared within the timber, while a
wild huzza went up from our victorious
boys. A few straggling shots around

the angle of the fort and in the trenches
mingled with the heart-rending moans
of the wounded and dying, and the
fight was over. The grand assault had
been made and repulsed • the storming
party which had advanced so lately in
all the pride and confidence of veterans
had met an enemy their equal at lea,st,
and was now a scattered mob in the
woods beyond. In short, Knoxville was
still ours.
" And now, how sudden the transfor
mation of man from fiend to angel !
The agonizing cries of the wounded and •
dying called out the better feelings of
humanity, and on the very spot where
an hour before the combatants were
struggling in deadly strife, they now
commingled in the offices of charity.
The wounded in the trenches were first
relieved by Captain Swinscoe and Lieu
tenant Benjamin, who went to their im
mediate assistance with canteens of
water and liquor. The trench presented
a ghastly sight, with the mangled bodies
and pools of blood, while the field be
yond was strewn with the same terrible
objects. Colonels Bowen and Babcock,
of General Potter's staff, soon after
made their appearance with a formal
flag of truce, and passed out upon the
Kingston or Loudon road, until halted
by the enemy's skirmish line. They
were met, after a brief delay, by Colonel
Serrell, of General Longstreet's staff,
when a cessation of hostilities was agreed
upon, to last until five p.m., to permit
the return of the dead who were lying
along our lines, and the exchange of the
wounded.

REMOVAL OF THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.

247

" The ambulances from both sides
now met on the neutral ground, and the
dead were carried back to the rebel line,
where they were buried by their late
comrades. The officers commingled,
from generals down to lieutenants, and
so also did the soldiers, until their
officers ordered them back to their
respective places. Nearly a hundred of
the rebel wounded had been carried
into the city and cared for at the hospital
of the ninth corps. By direction of Dr.
Wilder, our ambulances, with some of
those of the rebels driven by Union
soldiers, went back into the city, obtain
ed such of the wounded as were not fit
to be held as prisoners of war, and deliv
ered them on the dividing line, when our
ambulances — drivers being exchanged
in turn — went within the rebel line and
obtained our wounded. So much delay
ensued in doing all this, that the truce
was extended beyond seven o'clock, the
opposing officers still remaining together,
chatting in the most agreeable manner
upon every topic which suggested itself.
Finally, the last wounded Union soldier
was obtained, the last ambulance re
turned within our works, the officers of
the contending armies who had mutually
found and greeted many old friends and
classmates, shook hands with the utmost
cordiality and parted. In a few minutes
the firing of the pickets indicated the
resumption of hostilities. It may be
well to mention here that 'the wounded
returned to us were not injured in the
fighting of to-day. The rebel wounded
manifested the greatest unwillingness to
go back, preferring as they did the com

fortable wards of our hospitals to the
cold and shelterless woods. When the
flag advanced in the morning, thirty
rebels threw down their arms in their
rifle-pits and ran within our lines, where
they surrendered themselves prisoners.
" The force which assaulted the fort
consisted of three brigades of McLaw's
division — that of General Wofford, con
sisting of the Sixteenth, Eighteenth, and
Twenty-fourth Georgia regiments, and
Cobb's and Phillips' Georgia Legions ;
that of General Humphrey, consisting
of the Thirteenth, Seventeenth, Twenty-
first, Twenty-second, and Twenty-third
Missisippi regiments, and a brigade
composed of portions of Generals An
derson and Bryant's brigades, embrac
ing among others the Palmetto State
Guard, the Fifteenth South Carolina,
and Fifty-first, Fifty-third, and Fifty-
ninth Georgia regiments. Among their
killed was a Colonel Thomas, and
among the prisoners we have taken are
a lieutenant-colonel, five captains, and
seven lieutenants, exclusive of four
wounded officers who have been returned
according to the temporary cartel. That
this force confidently expected to take
the city, we have the best of proof. The
rebel wounded state that General Long-
street issued an address to the troops
last night, boasting that they would all
take dinner in Knoxville to-day. Their
repulse, when it was so unlooked for,
is therefore all the more disastrous and
demoralizing. Our own confidence in
the strength of our works for the defence
of the city has been, if possible, in
creased, especially as the immense force

248

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

which attacked the fort was driven off
by a few regiments in addition to the
artillery. The veteran Seventy-ninth
Highlanders held the post of honor and
danger here as they have on many an
other occasion, and were supported by
their not less valorous comrades of the
old Second Michigan, Twenty-ninth
Massachusetts, and the One Hundredth
Pennsylvania ' roundheads.' The flag
of the Seventy-ninth, lately sent them
from New York, was perforated with
six bullets.
"During the truce, our ambulances
delivered from within our lines ninety-
eight dead bodies and about as many
wounded. The rebels buried a number
of dead in addition, making in all not
less than 125 in killed alone. Now, al
lowing the unusually small ratio of three
or four wounded to one killed, and we
shall deduce a low estimate of their total
killed and wounded by placing the figure
at 600. We have over 200 prisoners
besides, so that the enemy's loss in the
battle of Fort Sanders, making every
allowance, is at least 800. Many do not
hesitate to put it as high as 1,000. The
rebel officers admitted a loss of at least
400 or 500.
" Our men, screened by the parapet
of the fort and the edges of the rifle-
pits, lost less than twenty in killed and
wounded. " The result of the battle may be
summed up as follows : The enemy at
tacked and were repulsed with a loss of
800 in killed, wounded, and prisoners,
besides three stand of colors and 500
stand of arms. Our loss is eighteen.

" While the main battle was in pro
gress at Fort Sanders, our line, farther
to the right, under Colonels Hartrauft,
Siegfried, and Schall, successfully charg
ed and drove the rebels from the posi
tion which they captured from us last
night ; and before the battle terminated,
our skirmishers at this point had re
sumed their old places.
"At the same time, and while our
skirmishers on the line of defence across
the river were being relieved, the enemy
made an attack, and in the confusion of
the moment drove our men from the
exterior to the interior line of rifle-pits.
Here, however, they were rallied by
General Shackelford, and after a brief
fight in turn drove the rebels out and
occupied their original position, with a
loss of about forty in killed and wounded.
The rebel battery on. the • hill opened
upon them, its . fire being now diverted
from the fort, where the assaulting
column was advancing. But Roemer
opened with his guns, and a brief artil
lery duel ensued, continuing until the
truce suspended operations."
On the coming up of the rest of Sherr
man's troops, and the discovery ^oy,
that the enemy had retreated, a 29(
pursuit was made by Burnside, in which
he was seconded by the cavalry division,
under General Foster, who had been
hitherto held in check, at Tazewell, by
the cavalry of Longstreet, during the
siege of Knoxville. The enemy having
had a start of thirty-six hours, were
enabled to escape their pursuers. Sher
man accordingly returned to Chatta
nooga, but General Foster, who had

BATTLE OP BEAN STATION.

249

been appointed the successor of Gen-
Dee, eral Burnside, continued to con-
H' duct the operations against -Long-
street. Such was the " high national conse
quence" of the success of our arms, that
the President recommended, by procla
mation, all loyal people, " in view of the
withdrawal of the insurgent force from
East Tennessee, under circumstances
rendering it probable that the Union
forces cannot hereafter be dislodged
from that important position," to render
thanksgiving for this great advancement
of the national cause. The enemy, at
the same time, grieved emphatically at
what they termed the " failure of Long-
street," who, however, still lingered
within the borders of Tennessee, and,
watchful of every chance, found an
occasion for inflicting a severe loss upon
his over-eager pursuers.
" Bushrod Johnson's division," as re
ported by the enemy, ' ' attacked a Fed
eral force of mounted infantry, about
4,000 strong, at Bean Station, on
Monday, December 14th, and gradually
drove them back, after a stubborn re
sistance and with heavy loss, in the
direction of Knoxville. The pursuit
was continued throughout Tuesday and
Wednesday, during which time we cap
tured a train of seventy wagons, laden
with stores and clothing, and many
prisoners. Our loss in killed and
wounded will amount to about 300."
A correspondent of the New York
Herald, writing from the scene of the
conflict, narrates the affair in detail.
"It may be well," he says, "to go
200

back in the history of the past week and
review facts which have contributed to
the origin of the fight. On Friday last,
December 11, General Parke, who is in
command of the column which pursued
Longstreet, was called back to Knoxville
to attend the meeting of Generals Burn
side and Foster, previous to the depar
ture of the former. During his absence
the column was halted, with the main
body resting at this point and the cav
alry nine miles in advance, at Bean
Station. General Shackelford skirmish
ed with the enemy on the various roads
leading from the station during this
delay ; and the enemy, ascertaining
through their spies, or other means,
that he was far in advance of the in
fantry, conceived the plan of capturing
him as well as the wagon trains en route
from Cumberland Gap, the road to
which he had uncovered by his occupa
tion of Bean Station.
" It was soon after two o'clock in the
afternoon of Monday, December 14th.
when our pickets upon the Rodgersville
road were driven in. Information was
at once sent to General Shackelford,
who immediately disposed his cavalry
corps in line of battle on the farther
side of the Cumberland Gap and Morris-
town road. The men were dismounted,
and fought as infantry would. The
horses were sent to the rear, out of the
range of bullets and under cover from
artillery. Colvin's battery was brought
into position on a knoll in rear of the
troops, and three howitzers located on a
spur of the mountain to the left of our
line. The battle-field was the valley

250

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

between the Clinch range of mountains
and the ridge of hills called the Richland
Knobs — the valley north of and next to
the main valley of East Tennessee.
"The First Kentucky, Wolford's regi
ment, performed the duty of skirmishers,
and fell back steadily before the Targe
force of the enemy, which was discovered
to consist altogether of infantry.
" It was near four o'clock when
the fighting became general. The reb
els poured on in a stubborn stream,
driving everything before them, and re
ceiving their first check only when the
howitzers of the Fourteenth Illinois
opened upon their right flank. A cedar
thicket on a knoll to the right of the
road was occupied by the Eleventh
Kentucky, much to the annoyance of
the enemy, who- finally drove them from
it by flanking their position on both
sides. The old hotel, a brick building
at the junction of the road, was the
extreme left of Wolford's line. The
Twenty-seventh Kentucky, of Penni-
baker's brigade, filled the windows, and
poured a galling cross-fire upon the
rebels as they assailed the hill of cedars, •
and as they advanced to our main line
upon the right. Colonel Bond, with his
brigade, had been in front. The rebels
compelled him to fall back, and he took
up position anew on the right of Colonel
Adams, whose brigade was next to that
of Colonel Pennibaker. In this position
the rebels continued the attack, and
pressed the whole of Wolford's division
back from the road.
" The impetuosity of the rebel ad
vance, together with the confusion into

which our line was thrown, threatened
a disaster to the whole column. Col
onel Pennibaker seized the opportunity.
Rallying the Eleventh Kentucky and
Forty-fifth Ohio as they were falling
back to get their horses, he formed them
in line on foot, and pointing to the
rebels shouted, ' Now, boys, go for 'em.'
Away they went, met, checked, and held
the rebels until Wolford was enabled to
form his division on the hill west of the
Morristown road and right of the main
road. The advantage gained by this
manoeuvre enabled Wolford to obtain
and hold a most desirable position.
"The brunt of the fight was, how
ever, borne by Colonel Foster's division,
which was in line to the left of the road.
A heavy force of the enemy pushed
down what is known as the Poor Valley
road upon his flank, and compelled his
gradual but steady retirement from hill
to hill and from line to line. On front
and flank he was assailed at once, and
in vain the gallant brigades of Graham
and Garrard endeavored to stem the
torrent. The enemy brought into play
two splendidly served batteries, the
shots from which struck with terrible
accuracy wherever directed. The fight
ing continued until nightfall, when the
enemy had driven us about half a mile.
Many of our dead and some of our
wounded fell into their hands.
" In connection with the movement
of the infantry in front, a large body of
rebel cavalry had moved down from Mor
ristown, by way of Chick's Cross Roads,
with the intention of crossing the Hol-
ston River at Tirley's Ford, and thence.

WAGON TRAIN CAPTURED.

251

by a side road, attack General Shackel
ford in the rear and cut off his retreat.
This part of the programme, however,
was interfered with by General Ferrero,
of the ninth corps, who detached a bri
gade and sent it to the ford. The rebels,
when they came up, discovered the ob
stacle, somewhat to their surprise, and
endeavored to revenge themselves by
vigorously shelling the camp of the
brigade, which they did until after night
fall, wounding a few, among them Cap
tain Barden, of the Second Michigan.
" Generals Parke and Potter happened
to be on a visit to General Shackelford
when the rebels opened the attack.
Colonels Bowen and Babcock, of the
latter general's staff, had narrow es
capes, the horses of both being wounded
by a shell. The entire loss will probably
not exceed 150.
" When the rebels finally got posses

sion of the station they detached a force,
which immediately moved up the road
to Cumberland Gap, and on a plateau
of Clinch Mountain captured a wagon
train that had gone into camp for the
night. The train was loaded with coffee
and sugar for the soldiers and stores for
the officers, and in all numbered twenty-
two wagons. The prize must have been
a very gratifying one to the rebels. A
detachment of Colonel Biddle's cavalry,
about thirty in number, also fell into
their hands. The One Hundred and
Sixteenth Indiana was encamped on the
roadside, near the top of the mountain.
Their retreat having been cut off by a
force which came down through Clinch
Valley, they made their escape by
travelling along the crest of the moun
tain — a rather perilous journey — until
they reached the vicinity of Rutledge,
when they descended."

CHAPTER XXV.

Consequences of the Capture of Vicksburg and Port Hudson. — Mississippi and Louisiana no longer tenable by the En
emy's Armies. — Their detached Cavalry on the Mississippi. — The Navigation of the Great Eiver obstructed. — Opera
tions of Guerrilla Bands. — Union Expeditions. — Their Success.— Operations of the Marine Brigade. — General Banks
sends an Expedition to Texas. — General Franklin in command — Object of the Expedition. — The Force. — Voyage.
—Unsuccessful Attempt to land. — Failure of the Expedition. — Reports of Naval Officers.— Return to New Orleans.
— Continued Operations of the Guerrilla Bands. — Daring Exploits. — The Enemy still lingering in Western Louisiana.
— Advance of the Union Forces against them. — Battle of Grand Coteau. — Good progress of the Unionists in Western
Louisiana. — Banks organizes another Expedition against Texas. — Its Object. — Force. — Voyage. — Successful Disem
barkation.— Capture of Boonsville. — Return of Banks to New Orleans. — Advance of the Union Troops in Texas.—
The Retreat of the Enemy. — Forts abandoned and Property destroyed. — Friendly Disposition of Texans.

The capture of Vicksburg and Port
Hudson, and the naval occupation
of the Mississippi River, had ren
dered the States of Louisiana and Mis-

1863.

sissippi no longer tenable by the armies
of the enemy. Their detached cavalry
and guerrilla bands, however, continued
to hover about the country and the

252

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

borders of the great river, the naviga
tion of which was greatly hindered.
Such was the annoyance produced by
these irregular bands, that it was found
necessary to send out a formidable ex
pedition against them.
" This expedition" — says a writer,*
" comprising the first and second bri
gades of the second division, thirteenth
army corps, Brigadier- General Vandever
and Colonel H. M. Day commanding ;
Batteries B and F, First Missouri Light
Artillery, and a battalion of cavalry,
under the command of Major Mont
gomery — succeeded in leaving Champ de
Mars on the morning of the 15th of
September. "Our whole force consisted of about
3,000. * * *
" We proceeded quietly on our way
without any adventure, and reached
Morganzia, twenty-five miles above Port
Hudson, on the evening of the 6th of
September. " Early on the morning of the 7th, a
force under the command of Colonel
Day, consisting of the first brigade
(1,200 men), two sections of artillery,
and a battalion of cavalry, Major Mont
gomery, started, with instructions to
proceed as far as practicable in the
direction of the Atchafalaya, and recon
noitre the country.
" This expedition was sent out to feel
the enemy and ascertain their where
abouts. They had proceeded but a
short distance when they encountered a
considerable body of guerrillas, consist
ing of mounted infantry, who, after
* N. Y. Herald.

firing a few volleys, retreated. An ex
citing cavalry chase now ensued. ' Our
boys' charged the flying rebels, and
pursued them several miles ; but the
enemy, from their superior knowledge
of the country, managed to escape, but
not before several of their number were
either killed, wounded, or taken prison

ers.

" We met with nothing from this time
to relieve the monotony of a inarch
until about three o'clock in the evening,
when, about five or six miles from the
Atchafalaya, we encountered the rebels,
who were evidently waiting for us.
" Our cavalry immediately charged
upon them, and as the Ninety-first and
Ninety-fourth (Colonel McNulty and
Major Day commanding) advanced in
line of battle, they were, after a brief
contest, repulsed.
" A series of skirmishes now ensued,
in which artillery was brought into play.
The enemy was chased a distance of five
miles, with varied success, which resulted
finally in driving the guerrillas across
the Atchafalaya to their main body.
*****
" Night put an end to the contest, and
our forces — being now within 100 yards
of the Atchafalaya, suffering for the
want of water, which could not be ob
tained from the river, so near at hand,
on account of the rebel sharpshooters,
who kept up an incessant fire — quietly
withdrew to the nearest point at which
water could be obtained. This was
some five miles back.
" The position of our little force under
Colonel Day was indeed precarious,

PURSUIT OF GUERRILLAS.

253

separated only by a narrow stream from
an enemy almost three times their num
ber, wearied and exhausted by their
march under a broiling sun and recent
fierce little fight, and uncertain as to
whether our communication was open
or not.
" Such, then, was the position of our
force on the night of the 7th, and had
the rebels attacked us then, it is impos
sible to predict what would have been
the result.
" In all these skirmishes the loss was
only one killed and seven wounded.
" On Tuesday morning, the 8th, Ma
jor-General Herron, with the main body
of our forces, about 1,600 men and ten
pieces of artillery, marched to the suc
cor of Colonel Day.
" After a tedious march he came up
with the latter's command. Our whole
force then moved forward, and halted
near the Atchafalaya, occupying the
same position held the day previous.
We now learned from reliable sources
that the main body of the rebels had
retreated, leaving a detachment to op
pose our crossing the Atchafalaya, if
attempted. " The question was now whether it
was policy to cross the river and pursue
the flying rebels, who were well mounted
and had the start of us, and were in their
own country. The order of the General
would safely guarantee no such move
ment, and the object of the expedition
was already accomplished.
" To cross the Atchafalaya it would
be necessary to bridge it, as we had no
pontoons ¦ and this would cause a con

siderable delay, and would necessarily
draw the fire of the enemy, and would
probably be attended with considerable
loss of life.
" Accordingly General Herron decided
that we should return, and at eight
o'clock on the morning of the 9th we
commenced a retrograde movement, and
reached our transports the same night.
Our loss on the 8th was only one killed.
"I am unable to state the enemy's
loss in the numerous skirmishes that
took place ; but I am satisfied that it
equals, if it does not exceed, our own.
We captured about thirty prisoners,
among them John A. Stevenson, an old
merchant and citizen of New Orleans,
known to be anything but loyal. He
left that city last winter as agent for
the Louisiana State Bank, for the pur
pose of investing the rebel notes be
longing to that bank in cotton within
the rebel lines."
On the banks of the Mississippi, op
posite to Memphis, 200 mounted men
of the enemy attacked a company gep.
of the Thirtieth Missouri, negroes, 17.
who were guarding a pontoon train.
" The Ninety-fifth Illinois, Company
C, Eleventh Illinois, the First Kansas
and Seventeenth Wisconsin were im
mediately ordered under arms, and
under the command of Colonel Hum
phrey, of the Ninety-fifth Illinois, pro
ceeded at once to cross the river.
"When the guerrillas saw the force
crossing the river they hastily left, leav
ing two of our men killed and four
wounded on the field.
" Colonel Humphrey chased them

254

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

fourteen miles, and coming up with a
portion of them, a skirmish ensued, in
which four of the rebels were killed and
a captain and several privates captured.
" Arriving at a bayou, over which
there was a bridge, the rebels crossed,
and burned the bridge before our troops
arrived, thus cutting off further pursuit.
" Here the enemy were reinforced
by from 2,000 to 2,500 men, who fired
a volley as we advanced.
" Skirmishers were thrown out, and
for nearly an hour firing continued,
when Colonel Humphrey, finding that
the enemy occupied a very strong posi
tion, and fearing that he would be out
flanked, fell back, and returned to
Natchez. " In this skirmish we lost one killed
and six wounded.
" The day previous to the attack 200
head of cattle had been sent to that
side of the river, as well as a large
number of mules, and it is supposed that
the attack was made for the purpose of
capturing the pontoon train, and com
pelling the negroes to go ahead and
drive the cattle and mules before them ;
but the bold stand made by the company
of Missourians materially interfered with
their plans, as it gave us time to send
reinforcements over the river before the
guerrillas could accomplish their pur
pose." The marine brigade, which had been
established to guard the Mississippi, did
occasional good service. On the 11th
of September, two vessels belonging to
it, the B. J. Adams and the Indiana,
" surprised and captured, at Catfish

Point, twenty miles above Napoleon,
Arkansas, on the Mississippi River, a
rebel paymaster with 1,200,000 dollars
in rebel bonds. Twenty of his body
guard and four captains were also taken
prisoners. The party numbered in all
about 175. The others escaped.
" The paymaster and his guard were
attempting to cross the river for the
purpose of proceeding to Little Rock,
Arkansas, where the former intended
paying off the rebel troops at that
point." General Banks, feeling secure in his
occupation of Louisiana, was enabled to
detach a large body of troops to operate
against the enemy in Texas. He ac
cordingly dispatched 4,000 men, gept,
under General Franklin, to effect a 4.
landing at Sabine Pass.
" The aim of the expedition," says
the correspondent* whose narrative we
quote, "was the occupation of Sabine
City, situated on the right bank at the
mouth of the Sabine River, the dividing
line of Louisiana and Texas, a point of
great strategic importance as a base of
operations against either western Louis
iana or eastern and central Texas. The
city is only forty to forty-five miles from
Galveston by land, and about sixty
miles by sea ; from Houston, the capital
of Texas, it is distant about sixty miles,
and is connected with it by a branch
railroad from Beaumont. This railroad
is not in operation at present, a portion
of the track having been torn up. The
distance from the mouth of the Missis
sippi is 280 miles. The strategic im-

c N. Y. Herald.

BATTLE OF SABINE PASS.

255

portance of the place can thus be com
prehended at a glance, and its occupa
tion was doubtless intended as the first
step in a campaigu the results of which
promised to be of the most brilliant and
lasting character.
" Accompanying the land force was a
naval force of four light-draught gun
boats, consisting of the Clifton, Arizona,
Granite City, and' Sachem, and the plan
was for these to silence the batteries,
drive back the enemy, and cover the
landing of the troops.
" At the last place of rendezvous, off
Berwick Bay, it was determined that
the entire fleet should endeavor to reach
the point of destination by midnight of
the 7th of September, and the attack
was to take place at three or four o'clock
on the morning of the 8th. With this
understanding the long line of vessels
moved on their way, piloted by the gun
boat Arizona, Captain Tibbets, which
was followed by the transport Belvi-
dere, Captain Fletcher, having on board
the veteran Brigadier-General Godfrey
Weitzel, commanding the first division
of the corps, and the gallant members
of his staff, the General being assigned
to that post of honor and of danger,
which he not only willingly accepts, but
modestly requests, the command of the
advance. The blockading vessel station
ed off Sabine Pass was now the object,
and the fleet steamed swiftly on, while a
bright look-out was constantly kept to
discover the vessel. Hour after hour
passed, and no vessel appearing up to
three o'clock on the morning of the 8th,
the fleet was hove to, and upon exami

nation it became apparent that the fleet
had run by the designated point quite a
distance, in consequence of the absence
of the blockader. It was, of course, too
late in the day to carry out the original
plan, and the consequence was. a delay
of an entire day was necessitated, thus
giving the enemy, if advised of the ex
pedition, an opportunity of receiving
reinforcements and making all necessary
preparations either for evacuation or a
more vigorous defence. I#would add in
this connection that the blockader was
absent on a cruise, from which she
returned before the battle.
" During Monday night, therefore, the
entire fleet were collected in the neigh
borhood of Sabine. The gun-boats and
lightest-draught vessels of the transport
fleet crossed the bar, and immediate
preparations were made for the attack,
the unavoidable delay necessitating some
changes in the mode. Captain Crocker,
of the Clifton, as gallant a sailor as ever
fought a ship, was to inaugurate the
action by feeling and uncovering the
enemy's batteries, ascertain the number
and disposition of the opposing force,
and drawing their fire, while Generals
Franklin and Weitzel personally ex
amined the shore of the pass and ascer
tained the most eligible point for dis
embarking the land forces. Accordingly
the Clifton steamed up the. pass, throw
ing a shell now and then from her huge
rifled guns at the only work visible (an
earth-work containing six heavy guns),
and making a careful reconnoissance of
the surrounding locality. She received
no response to her numerous shots, and

256

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

with daring bravery steamed within easy
range of the fort, turned about and
leisurely returned to her former position.
The face of the enemy's work was from
100 to 150 yards in length, and was
supposed to be open at the rear.
"On the return of the Clifton the
order of battle was immediately arranged
and rapidly perfected. The gun-boats
Clifton, Arizona, and Sachem were to
engage the enemy's works, while the
Granite City, which carried only a
broadside of small brass guns, was to
cover the landing of an advance force
of 500 men, of General Weitzel's divi
sion, selected from the heroes of Port
Hudson, and composed of two companies
of the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth New
York, four companies of the One Hun
dred and Sixty-first New York, and a
detachment from the Seventy-fifth New
York regiments, under command of
Captain Fitch, of the last-named regi
ment. The General himself came on
board at the last moment, to superintend
personally the operation of disembark
ing his troops.
"'All ready!' was the signal, and
about four o'clock p.m. the gun-boats
steamed slowly forward, the Clifton ad
vancing directly toward the fort, followed
by the Granite City, and she in turn by
the transport General Banks, having on
board the advance of the army. The
Sachem and Arizona steamed off .to the
right and ran up nearly opposite the
battery. The Clifton opened the ball
with a shell from one of her nine-inch
pivot guns", which explpded inside the
rebel works, throwing up a perfect

shower of debris, and instantly followed
it with a second shot of the same kind.
Soon the little Sachem, commanded by
Captain Johnson, opened her broadside
thirty-two pounder guns on the works,
and the next moment the Arizona also
paid her compliments to the foe. The
gunnery was magnificent, a few of the
shells only exploding prematurely and.
the pieces dropping in the water. Up
to this time, and until from thirty to
forty shell had exploded in the works,
not a shot had been returned by the
enemy. An ominous silence pervaded
the fort, and many were of opinion that
the works had been abandoned. Neither
soldiers nor inhabitants made their ap
pearance, and the only signs of life
apparent were the movements of a small
steamer in the river, which had run up
above the city and down as far as the
fort once or twice during the forenoon,
and which was joined by a second
steamer about the time the action com
menced. " The action of the enemy, however,
was the deceptive calm which often
precedes the storm, and the sudden
flash of flame which was plainly visible
from the deck of the General Banks with
the naked eye, and the cloud of white
smoke which floated lazily up from the
parapet of the enemy, were instantly
followed by a heavy shot thrown at the
Arizona, the largest boat of the fleet,
and which passed directly over her,
striking in the edge of the water beyond.
This was followed in quick succession
by a shot at the Sachem and another at
the Clifton, neither of which, however,

BATTLE OF SABINE PASS.

257

took effect. The engagement now be
came general and very warm, the Clifton
and Arizona moving very slowly forward
and back, while the brave little Sachem,
under a heavy fire, kept pushing steadily
forward, endeavoring to pass the battery
and engage in the rear, which was sup
posed to be unprotected. This move-
.ment the enemy divined, and redoubled
their fire at her, answered shot for shot
by the three boats, the huge shells every
instant bursting in their midst, carrying
destruction in their wake and knocking
great holes in the parapet, which 'ap
peared of sufficient size to admit the
passage of a carriage and horses. The
enemy acted with great bravery, how
ever, and if their fire slackened an in
stant after one of those terrific explo
sions, which seemed to shake the very
earth around them, it was instantly re
sumed with increased rather than di
minished determination. Gradually but
surely the little Sachem was gaining her
desired position, A moment more and
she would pass out of range, and the
day would be won. All eyes were bent
upon the noble little craft, when sudden
ly a shot was seen to strike her amid
ships, crushing in her sides and tearing
their iron-plating for the protection of
sharpshooters as a piece of paper, and
causing her to careen and tremble from
stem to stern. An instant more, and
she was enveloped in the scalding vapor
of escaping steam, and lay a helpless
wreck, at the mercy of the enemy. The
flag was lowered, and the enemy, ceas
ing their fire on her, now turned their
entire attention to the Clifton, probably
201

aware of the fact, that the draught of
the Arizona would not permit her to
advance near enough to become a very
formidable antagonist. The disabling
of the Sachem at the instant when vic
tory was within her grasp was the
second of those unfortunate accidents
referred 'to, and was, of course, of so
serious a character as to imperil the
success of the entire affair. The Clifton
was now the only effective boat engaged.
She was called upon to do double duty,
and not for one breath did her gallant
commander and brave crew hesitate, but
with three rousing cheers, which were
heard above the din of battle, they
poured in their fire, running in closer
and closer to the batteries, in face of the
concentrated fire of the entire rebel
fortification. " Putting on a full head of steam, the
Clifton ran swiftly down directly toward
the battery, with the intention, doubt
less, of delivering her broadside, giving
her sharpshooters an opportunity of
picking off the enemy's gunners and
thus silencing the works. At the same
time the Granite City and the General
Banks gradually followed in her wake,
for the purpose of reaching the point of
debarkation as soon as the Clifton had
effected her object, although the heavy
solid shot and hissing shell which were
intended for the Clifton, but which
passed her, came ricochetting along on
the water, almost reaching them. Just
as the Clifton gained the point she aimed
at reaching, and as her bow was thrown
round slightly in the act of turning, she
struck, the velocity with which she was

258

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

running driving her a long distance into
the thin mud at the bottom of the pass.
At the same time a hitherto undiscover
ed battery to the left of the main work,
and in easy range, opened upon her as
she lay, her broadside offering a target
of which the enemy took every advan
tage. The gallant Crocker still kept up
a constant fire from both bow and
broadside guns, the quick rifles, loaded
with double' charges of grape, being
poured into the main work, sweeping
the parapet clean at every discharge,
and killing the enemy by scores, while
with his broadside guns he administered
dose after dose of shell and solid shot to
the battery on the left. Lying as he
did, he would probably have succeeded
in silencing the main work, thus enabling
the troops to land, had it not been for
the broadside work ; for it was from
that his boat was disabled. Up to this
time she had sustained no material
damage. The shots which had struck
her had been harmless to the ship, and
but very few of his crew had been in
jured. But fate was against him, and
he was obliged to succumb. A shot
from the small battery struck his boat
about the centre, passing through her
side and entirely through the boiler,
leaving her a stranded wreck at the
enemy's mercy. The flag was instantly
lowered ; but the firing still continued,
both from the boat and the batteries.
It must have been lowered without the
captain's knowledge, or he may have
been killed and the crew left without a
leader. An instant more, and just after
a shower of grape from the enemy

was poured into the noble little craft,
the white flag was run up and the
firing ceased. The engagement was
concluded. Brave hearts and manly
forms had been sacrificed upon the altar
of their country, but without success.
There was but one available gun-boat
uninjured, the Arizona, and she was
incapable of offensive operations against
works of such strength. She was im
mediately withdrawn from the unequal
contest, and the order reluctantly issued
to the fleet to withdraw.
" Considering the number of the
forces engaged, it is doubtful if any
affair of the whole war can compare
with the battle of Sabine Pass in obsti
nacy of fighting, loss of life, and the
amount of interest involved. To the
enemy it was a matter of life and death,
and to the Union forces it was the open
ing battle of a most brilliant campaign.
The enemy retained their prize ; but
their loss ha,s been undoubtedly without
precedent in the annals of the war, and
they will, in the midst of their rejoicing,
tremble at the thought of a repetition of
the attack. There were on board the
Clifton, besides her crew, a party of
seventy-five sharpshooters and three of
the signal corps, and on the Sachem a
detachment of thirty sharpshooters. Of
the crew of the Clifton, five soldiers, one
sailor, and one signal-man escaped down
the beach, and were taken off by a boat
from the fleet. The number of killed
and wounded must have been large,
particularly on the Clifton, as she was
not only exposed to a cross-fire, but was
raked from stem to stern by grape. As

BATTLE OF SABINE PASS.

259

to the killed and wounded on the Sachem
nothing is known, but the loss is sup
posed to be light, and mostly from the
escaping steam, as but the one shot was
known to have struck her. The loss of
the enemy was undoubtedly enormous,
as the huge nine-inch shell apparently
searched every nook and corner of the
earth-work ; and when the Clifton was
aground, the same guns poured in a
murderous fire of grape, sweeping the
parapet from end to end. Their loss,
however, will probably never be known."
Acting Master Tibbets, in command
of the Arizona, which took part in the
engagement, but escaped the fate of
some of her consorts, gave this official
account of the operations of the fleet :
"At six o'clock a.m. on the 8th of
September the Clifton stood in the bay
and opened fire upon the fort, to which
no reply was made.
"At nine a.m. the Sachem, Arizona,
and Granite City, followed by the trans
ports, stood over the bar, and with
much 'difficulty, owing to the shallow
ness of the water, reached anchorage,
two miles from the fort, at eleven a.m.,
the gun-boats covering the transports.
" At half-past three p.m. the Sachem,
followed by the Arizona, advanced up
the eastern channel to draw the fire of
the forts, while the Clifton advanced up
the western channel, followed by the
Granite City, to cover the landing of
a division of troops under General
Weitzel. " No reply to the fire of the gun
boats was made until we were abreast
of the forts, when they opened with

eight guns, three of which were rifled,
almost at the same moment.
" The Clifton and Sachem were struck
in their boilers, enveloping the vessels
in steam.
" There not being room to pass the
Sachem, this vessel was backed down
the channel and a boat was sent to the
Sachem, which returned with Engineer
Munroe and Fireman Linn, badly scalded
(since dead).
" The Arizona had now grounded by
the stern ; the ebb tide caught her bows
and swung her across the channel, and
she was, with much difficulty, extricated
from this position, owing to the engine
becoming heated by the collection of
mud in the boilers.
" The flags of the Clifton and Sachem
were run down, and white flags were
flying at the fore.
" As all the transports were now
moving out of the bay, this vessel re
mained, covering their movements until
she grounded. She remained until mid
night, when she was kedged off, as no
assistance could be had from any of the
tugs of the expedition."
Commodore Bell, who commanded
the West Gulf blockading squadron
temporarily, and had supplied General
Banks with the naval force required,
exonerated himself from blame by the
following explanation :
" The attack, which was to have been
a surprise, and made at early dawn on
the 7th, was not made until three p.m.
on the 8th, after the entire expedition
had appeared off Sabine for twenty-
eight hours, and a reconnoissance had

been made on the morning of the 8th
by Generals Franklin and Weitzel and
Lieutenant-Commanding Crocker, when
they decided on a form of attack differ
ent from that recommended by myself."
The guerrilla bands continued, in spite
of the vigilance of the Union military
authorities, to infest the banks of the
Mississippi, and the bayous and passes
of the Gulf coast of Louisiana, One of
their most daring acts was the capture
Sept. 0I" tb-e Government boat Leviathan,
20. while lying in Southwest Pass, at
the mouth of the Mississippi. Eighteen
armed men boarded her from a small
boat, and compelled the surrender ofthe
vessel, which, however, before she had
got to sea, was recaptured by the gun
boat De Soto.
The enemy still lingered in the Teche
and Opelousas regions of Louisiana west
• of the Mississippi River in such formi
dable strength that they were enabled to
resist with vigor the advance of our
troops in their progress toward the
borders of Texas. Frequent skirmishes
occurred, and on the 3d of November a
battle was fought near Grand Coteau,
which is thus described by a cam
paigner :
' ' The Army of the Gulf, consisting
of two divisions of the nineteenth army
corps, the first division commanded by
Brigadier-General Weitzel, the third di
vision by Brigadier-General Grover ;
two divisions of the thirteenth army
corps, under Generals Washburne and
Burbridge, the entire force under Major-
General Franklin, marched to Opelousas
and Barre's Landing, encamped, and

subsequently sent forward a large cav
alry force, under Brigadier-General Lee,
which drove the enemy from these
points, and then scouted the country
in that vicinity. They overtook only
partisan bands of rebel troops, and they
captured, killed, and wounded some of
them. " The army remained in camp eight
or ten days, and orders were issued to
march, not forward, but back to Carrion
Crow Bayou and Vermilion Bayou ;
the thirteenth corps to take up quarters
at the former place, the nineteenth at the
latter. Burbridge's division, consisting
of the first brigade, under Colonel Owen
(the two other brigades having been
ordered, one — General Cameron's — to
Washburne's division, the other to New
Iberia), was ordered to camp at the
edge of the woods, the right resting on
the Opelousas road, with the prairie
in front. It was a dangerous position,
General Washburne's division being en
camped at Carrion Crow Bayou, three
and a half miles away, with excellent
cover of woods on the right for the
enemy to advance, and prairie front on
rear and around ; but the General post
ed his pickets strongly, and placed his
artillery in good positions, and disposed
of his cavalry so that they could act
promptly and effectively. The day fol
lowing (Tuesday, November 3), the en
emy's cavalry began skirmishing with
ours, but after a short time fell back.
Pickets upon the right were doubled,
and an hour before daylight the brigade
was ordered under arms.
" Colonel Owen, with his staff, rode

BATTLE OF GRAND COTEAU.

261

to the front to examine the position of
the enemy, and remained an hour, dur
ing which time Captain Friedly rode
with some men two miles to the front
of the pickets, and shelled the woods
with a section of the Seventeenth Ohio
battery, supported by the Eighty-third
Ohio Regiment, while the Sixtieth Indi
ana watched the right flank. The firing
ceased. A forage train, originally or
dered by General Burbridge to go with
an escort at nine a.m., was now started
by order of the General, and the Eighty-
third Ohio" was designated at eleven a.m.
to go with it. Scarcely had the train
emerged from the woods on our rear
when the pickets on our right began
firing. Colonel Owen then ordered the
regiment to hold themselves in readi
ness, at the same time informing Gen
eral Burbridge. A section of artillery
was now ordered to that point, sup
ported by the Ninety-sixth Ohio, and
the Sixtieth Indiana was sent to hold
the bridge and small bayou in the skirt
of the woods, and to throw out skirmish
ers in advance to feel for the enemy, his
force and position. Horse artillery was
sent out ; but our forces in the field
were in danger of the fire, and it was
called in, and shelled the woods where-
ever a man showed himself. Our cav
alry and pickets now fell into the woods,
and General Burbridge ordered the
Sixtieth Indiana to advance. Lieuten
ant Richardson, acting assistant adju
tant-general of Colonel Owen's staff,
remained with them until his horse was
shot under him, rallying the men, when
General Burbridge ordered him to bring

up the Ninety-sixth Ohio to their sup
port, the General bravely cheering on
the men. The enemy and our own men
were now. so close together that it was
impossible to use the artillery. Captain
Slick, brigade inspector, was to place a
section of the Seventeenth Ohio battery
in position on a slight eminence of the
prairie in our front, supported by the
Sixty-seventh Indiana.
" The Ninety-sixth Ohio were now
holding the road on the left and in front
of the Twenty-third Wisconsin, which
was on the left of the Sixtieth Indiana.
" Captain Leonard, of Company A,
Ninety-sixth Ohio, called attention to a
heavy cavalry force coming in on the
left flank to surround us ; but a section
of the Seventeenth Ohio battery had
been placed there to hold them in check.
The Sixtieth, being now hard pressed,
had to fall back, the enemy advancing
four ranks deep, the men previously fir
ing ten or fifteen rounds each. General
Burbridge now directed Colonel Owen to
rally them. The latter found it impos
sible to do so at once, they being cut up
so badly. Before succeeding, the Ninety-
sixth Ohio and Twenty-third Wisconsin
fell back, the latter losing its colonel,
after which it held its ground under a
disastrous fire, but making havoc in the
enemy's ranks. The gallant Colonel
Guppey, of the Twenty-third Wisconsin,
is a serious loss. He was esteemed by
his men, and was a brave officer. The
enemy's cavalry was now seen converg
ing from all points of the woods and
from the prairie in our front, on our
small force. The remnant of the brigade

262

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

fell back into the woods, and through
them 000 yards into open ground.
While rallying the men around the bat
tery, General Washburne rode up and
informed them reinforcements were com
ing. " The capture of the Sixty-seventh
Indiana was effected in front of a section
of the Seventeenth Ohio battery. The
enemy's cavalry were surrounding them,
when General Burbridge sent three
consecutive orders to the colonel to fall
back. He disobeyed orders, and thus
nearly the whole force was captured.
Meanwhile the General had dismounted
and personally handled one of the pieces,
and with such dexterity did he use
canister and grape that the enemy were
alarmed, apparently ; but they closed
round the Sixty-seventh, and it was im
possible to fire without killing our own
men. Captain Rice, commanding the
battery, was conspicuous for his bravery.
By this time the rebel cavalry had
nearly surrounded the battery, and the
order to limber up was given, and they
escaped into the woods, but subsequently
lost one of their pieces. General Bur
bridge now rode forward and ordered
the remnant to join General Cameron's
brigade in a forward movement, the
Twenty-third Wisconsin forming on the
right, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hill ;
Colonel Moore, Eighty-third Ohio, com
manding the centre, and the Ninety-
Sixth Ohio, Colonel Brown, on the left.
The remainder fell in under Captain
Walker, acting major, Captain Godger
being exhausted. A remnant of the
Sixty- seventh Indiana fell in under

Major Sears, Lieutenant-Colonel Bushier
having, with 200 men, surrendered to
the enemy's cavalry. A fresh supply
of ammunition and cannon arriving, the
brigade moved forward to the old posi
tion, threw out skirmishers, with a sec
tion of the Seventeenth Ohio battery,
our left being flanked by cavalry. They
swept the whole woods until halted by
General Burbridge, facing a lane in
which on the previous day we met and
skirmished with the enemy's cavalry.
Our battery took position, supported by
a remnant of the brigade, amounting to
400 men. The men went now into the
old camp to bury and care for the dead
and wounded.
" The enemy were five to one ; they
were 6,000 strong — 3,000 infantry, dis
mounted, and 2,500 mounted infantry
and cavalry — while the Union forces
only numbered about 1,000 infantry and
500 cavalry. We were superior to them
in artillery only, and this being used at
very short range, the canister and grape
made great slaughter in their ranks. It
is believed their loss in killed and
wounded was much greater than ours.
We lost more heavily in prisoners. The
following is our loss as far as ascer
tained :
Killed 18
Wounded 100
Missing, supposed captured, officers 28
Missing, supposed captured, men 531
Total 677
" Some regiments lost more than half
their number.
" The Sixtieth Indiana went in with
207, and lost 121 ; and the Ninety-sixth
Ohio went in with fewer, and lost 119.

OPERATIONS IN TEXAS.

263

The battery, out of 125 men, lost 25 in
killed, wounded, and missing.
" The cavalry force consisted of the
First Louisiana Cavalry, 300 men ;
Fourteenth New York, 80 men ; One
Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois mount
ed infantry, 80— Total, 460.
" First Louisiana — one commissioned
officer and three men killed, seven
wounded, and twenty-seven missing.
Fourteenth New York Cavalry — four,
two of them known to be wounded and
in the hands of the enemy. Lost twelve
horses killed and two wounded — Total,
forty-two." General Banks, having made good
progress toward the occupation of west
ern Louisiana, and thus secured the
advance by land to Texas, was prepared
to carry on his operations by sea. He
accordingly organized a formidable ex
pedition, composed of a large land force,
three war vessels, and a fleet of trans-
Oct. P0I"ts and tugs, which set sail on
27. the 27th of October from the mouth
of the Mississippi River. Major-Gen
eral Dana was the temporary commander
of the expedition, but General Banks
and his staff accompanied it to the coast
of Texas.
On the 3d of November the troops
disembarked at Brazos without meeting
any resistance from the enemy. Browns

ville was taken possession of without a
blow. The Confederates on evacuating
the town strove to burn it, but were
prevented by the inhabitants of the
place, with the aid of some advanced
Union troops.
General Banks now returned to New
Orleans, and General Washburne arriv
ing, and being placed in command of a
considerable force, advanced through
western Texas without meeting any
serious resistance from the enemy, who
generally abandoned their forts and
positions. Their plan of operation
seemed to be, to destroy and retreat,
with the hope of thus rendering the
country untenable. Indianola, at the
entrance of Lavacca Bay, was occupied
by the advance of the Union army,
under General Warren, on the 27th of
December. He reported that on his
arrival the inhabitants were greatly
alarmed, as pains had been taken by the
rebel General Magruder to impress them
with the idea that the Northerners
would ravish, burn, and destroy where-
ever they went. By thus acting on
their fears, he strove to induce them to
fly from their homes and destroy their
property, to prevent it falling into the
hands of the enemy. When disabused
of this error, they exhibited a more
friendly disposition to the Union troops.

264

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER XXVI.
Retreat of Lee in Virginia after the Battle of Gettysburg.— Cautious Pursuit of Meade.— General Pleasonton crosses the
Rappahannock. — Culpepper Court House evacuated by the Enemy and occupied by General Pleasonton. — Pleasonton
attempts to cross the Rapidan. — A spirited Resistance. — General Meade with his Army at Culpepper Court House. —
The two Armies confronting each other. — The Enemy assumes the Offensive. — Lee's Report of his Advance and of
the Battle of Bristoe Station.— Stuart's Cavalry Operations. — General Imboden's Operations in Western Virginia. —
Union Account of the Engagement at Bristoe Station. — The Campaign reviewed. — Lee's Retreat toward Richmond.
— Meade's Pursuit.— Follows Lee across the Rappahannock. — Congratulates his Troops upon their good conduct. —
Advances again. — Crosses the Rapidan. — High Hopes. — The Enemy strongly posted. — A Demonstration. — Meade
retires. — The two Armies in winter quarters.

1863.

After the battle of Gettysburg and
the escape of the beaten army
across the Potomac, General Lee
retreated toward Richmond. General
Meade followed cautiously. On the
13th of September, the Union cavalry,
under General Pleasonton, which was
hanging on the rear of the enemy,
crossed the Rappahannock, at Kelly's,
Rappahannock, and Sulphur Springs
fords. General Pleasonton was sup
ported in this movement by the second
corps. The Confederates were over
taken about two miles south of the
river, and their pickets pursued to Cul
pepper Court House, which the enemy
evacuated in great haste, leaving five
guns and forty-three prisoners in the
Sept. hands of Pleasonton, who took
1^' possession ofthe place.
On the next day, the 14th of Septem
ber, General Pleasonton continuing his
advance while skirmishing with the
enemy, reached the Rapidan at Raccoon
Ford, where he attempted to cross, but
was met by a spirited resistance from
the enemy. Meade soon after followed

the cavalry advance with his main body,
and encamped about Culpepper Court
House. The two armies remained con
fronting each other from the opposite
banks of the Rapidan until the 9 th of
October, when the enemy assumed the
offensive. " With the design of bringing on an
engagement with the Federal army,
which was encamped around Culpepper
Court House, extending thence to the
Rapidan, this army crossed that river
on the 9th of October," says General
Lee in his report, " and advanced by
way of Madison Court House. Our
progress was necessarily slow, as the
march was by circuitous and concealed
roads, in order to avoid the observation
ofthe enemy.
" General Fitz Lee, with his cavalry
division and a detachment of infantry,
remained to hold our lines south of the
Rapidan. General Stuart, with Hamp
ton's division, moved on the right of the
column. With a portion of his command
he attacked the advance of the enemy
near James City, on the 10th, and drove

MEADE'S PURSUIT OF LEE.

235

them back toward Culpepper. Our
main body arrived near that place on
the 11th of October, and discovered that
the enemy had retreated toward the
Rappahannock, ruining or destroying
his stores. We were compelled to halt
during the rest of the day to provision
the troops, but the cavalry, under Gen
eral Stuart, continued to press the
enemy's rear-guard toward the Rappa
hannock. A large force of Federal cav
alry, in the mean time, had crossed the
Rapidan after our movement begun, but
was repulsed by General Fitz Lee and
pursued toward Brandy Station.
" Near that place the commands of
Stuart and Lee united on the afternoon
of the 11th of October, and after a
severe engagement drove the enemy's
cavalry across the Rappahannock with
heavy loss.
" On the morning of the 12th of
October the army marched in two
columns, with the design of reaching
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad,
north of the river, and interrupting the
retreat of the enemy.
" After a skirmish with some of the
Federal cavalry at Jeffersonton, we
reached the Rappahannock at Warren
ton Springs in the afternoon, where the
passage of the river was disputed by
cavalry and artillery. The enemy was
quickly driven off by a detachment of
our cavalry, aided by a small force of
infantry and a battery. Early next
morning, 13th of October, the 'march
was resumed, and the two columns re
united at Warrenton in the afternoon,
when another halt was made, to supply
202

$he troops with provisions. The enemy
fell back rapidly along the line of the
railroad, and early on the 14th of Octo
ber the pursuit was continued, a portion
of the army moving by way of New
Baltimore toward Bristoe Station, and
the rest, accompanied by the main body
of the cavalry, proceeding to the same
point by Auburn Mills and Greenwich.
Near the former place a skirmish took
place between General Ewell's advance
and the rear-guard of the eneiny, which
was forced back and rapidly pursued.
" The retreat of the enemy was con
ducted by several direct parallel roads,
while our troops were compelled to
march by difficult and circuitous routes.
We were consequently unable to inter
cept him. General Hill arrived first at
Bristoe Station, where his advance, con
sisting of two brigades, became engaged
with a force largely superior in numbers,
posted behind the railroad embankment.
The particulars of the action have not
been officially reported, but the brigades
were repulsed with some loss, and five
pieces of artillery, with a number of
prisoners captured. Before the rest of
the troops could be brought up and the
position of the enemy ascertained, he
retreated across Broad Run. The next
morning he was reported to be fortify
ing beyond Bull Run, extending his line
toward the Little River turnpike.
" The vicinity of the intrenchments
around Washington and Alexandria
rendered it useless to turn his new
position, as it was apparent that he
could readily retire to thejn, and would
decline an engagement unless attacked

266

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

in his fortifications. A further advancg
was therefore deemed unnecessary, and
after destroying the railroad from Cub
Run southwardly to the Rappahannock,
the army returned, on the 18th of
October, to the line of that river, leav
ing the cavalry in the enemy's front.
" The cavalry of the latter advanced
on the following day, and some skir
mishing occurred at Buckland. General
Stuart, with Hampton's division, retired
slowly toward Warrenton, in order to
draw the enemy in that direction, thus
exposing his flank and rear to General
Lee, who moved from Auburn and at
tacked him near Buckland. As soon as
General Stuart heard the sound of Lee's
guns he turned upon the enemy, who,
after a stubborn resistance, broke and
fled in confusion, pursued by General
Stuart nearly to Haymarket, and by
General Lee to Gainesville. Here the
Federal infantry was encountered, and,
after capturing a number of them during
the night, the cavalry slowly retired
before their advance on the following
day. When the movement of the army
from the Rapidan commenced, General
Imboden was instructed to advance down
the valley and guard the gaps of the
mountains on our left. This duty was
well performed by that officer, and on
the 18th of October he marched upon
Charlestown, and succeeded, by a well-
concentrated plan, in surrounding the
place and capturing nearly the whole
force stationed there, with all their
stores and transportation. Only a few
escaped to Harper's Ferry. The enemy
advanced frflm that place in superior

numbers to attack General Imboden,
who retired, bringing off his prisoners
and captured property, his command
suffering very little loss, and inflicting
some damage upon the pursuing column.
In the course of these operations 2,436
prisoners were captured, including 41
commissioned officers. Of the above
number, 434 were taken by General
Imboden." The only serious conflict during this
advance of Lee and the retrograde move
ment of Meade was at Bristoe Station.
The foremost corps of the Union army
had reached Manassas, and the last (the
second corps), under General Warren,
was coming up to Bristoe when ©ct.
the enemy's advance, under Gen- l4,
eral Hill, made its appearance.
" The rebel force," reports a cam
paigner, " had reached Bristoe just
sufficiently in advance of the second
corps to allow of the formation of their
line of battle, which was done perpen
dicularly to the railroad. The rebels,
however, had neglected to take posses
sion of the cut and embankment of the
railroad, and Warren instantly detecting
the advantage their possession would
give him, jumped his men into those
ready made breast-works, and from
thence poured a murderous fire into the
advancing and presently retreating reb
els." Warren's victory was complete,
and the defeat of the enemy proportion
ately severe. Their loss amounted to
1,000 killed and wounded, 500 taken
prisoners, and the capture of five pieces
of their artillery.
General Lee, after receiving this check

CROSSING THE RAPPAHANNOCK.

267

to his " raid" at Bristoe Station, fell
back again toward Richmond. General
Meade followed, but was unable to over
take the enemy before they had crossed
the Rappahannock. On crossing the
river they made a stand, and seemed
disposed to resist further pursuit. Gen
eral Meade, however, persisted in fol
lowing them, and forced his way across
the Rappahannock.
" After the fight at Bristoe," writes a
campaigner, "we followed on Lee's re
treating army pretty briskly, but soon
found they had too rapidly fallen back,
and had thrown too many obstacles in
our way for us to overtake them. The
troops were then encamped in a kind of
semicircle, extending from Warrenton
via Auburn to the line of railway near
Catlett's Station. On the evening of the
6th of November a general order indi
cating the fine of forts was issued to the
corps commanders, and early on the
morning of the 7th, Saturday, the troops
fell back into column in the following
order : The sixth corps moved from
Warrenton to Rappahannock Station ;
the second, third, and fifth corps march
ed by Warrenton Junction along the
line of railway by way of Bealton, where
the first corps brought up our extreme
left. * * * From Bealton the fifth
corps continued in direct line of march
to form a junction with the sixth, while
the second and third deployed for Kelly's
Ford. " The third corps was in advance, and
as they neared the ford they threw out
strong lines of skirmishers and sharp
shooters. General Birney, who was in

command of the corps, advanced two
batteries, and placed Randolph on the
right, near Mount Holly church, and the
Tenth Massachusetts battery on the left.
Though the enemy shelled us all the
time while our batteries were getting
into position, still we suffered very little.
Our position now was a strong one.
*****
" Our battery now occupied a sweep
ing range of the extensive plateau on
the south side. Under shelter of the
guns, which were vomiting forth shot
and shell on them and forcing them back
from the river, the working parties ad
vanced to lay the pontoons. The first
division, commanded by General Ward,
was now massed, and the third brigade
ordered to lead the attack. They were
commanded by Colonel De Trobriand.
* * * ip^ p0ntoons were now laid,
the enemy's guns were silenced, and the
attacking party rapidly advanced across
the bridge. The First United. States
Sharpshooters, known as Berdan's Sharp
shooters, led by Lieutenant - Colonel
Trappe, were in front. Having gained
the opposite bank, the sharpshooters,
armed with Sharp's rifles, deployed and
charged the enemy's rifle-pits, and after
a brisk fire of musketry, the enemy,
finding themselves surrounded on all
sides, threw down their arms and sur
rendered. " Our regiments engaged were the
First United States Sharpshooters, the
Fortieth New York, the First and
Twentieth Indiana, the Third and Fifth
Michigan, and the One Hundred and
Tenth Pennsylvania, but the brunt of

268

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

the fight fell on the sharpshooters. We
captured Colonel Gleason, of the Twelfth
Viro-inia, who was in command ; one
surgeon, one major, two captains, several
lieutenants, and nearly 500 privates.
They mostly belonged to the Twelfth
Virginia, Thirtieth North Carolina, and
Ninth Alabama, and were skirmishers
selected from Ewell's corps. We lost in
killed and wounded about thirty-five ;
the enemy, I should think, the same.
* . * * * *
" The Rappahannock Station is pro
tected by several strong forts. On the
north side is a strong fort, two redoubts,
and several rifle-pits. These were pro
tected by a force of nearly 2,000 men
and a battery of guns, in command of
Colonel Godwin, of the Fifty-fourth
North Carolina. They were part of
Ewell's corps, Early's division. It was
about three o'clock when the head of
the column neared the station. A heavy
line of skirmishers and sharpshooters
was thrown out to cover the advance of
our batteries. There is a commanding
position to the rear of the forts, and
here Martin's and the first reserve artil
lery of heavy guns got into position and
opened on the fort. Just before dark,
the storming parties — Russell's and Up
son's brigades, and led by General Rus
sell in person — were formed. The fifth
corps was now advancing on the centre,
and threw out the first division in sup
port of the sixth corps and in order to
take up a position lower down the river,
so as to cover the advance and cut off
the enemy's retreat that way.
" The batteries now opened fiercely

and desperately on one another. Shot
and shell flew like hail across the river,
sweeping through the forts on both
sides. The storming party, comprising
the Sixth Maine, the Fifth Wisconsin,
and the Fourteenth New York, now
rushed on the forts, while a strong party
took possession of the pontoon, thus
cutting off the enemy's retreat and their
chance of succor. Our troops dashed
into the pits and forts on every side,
and one of the fiercest hand-to-hand
conflicts of the war commenced. * *
" This fierce and savage conflict con
tinued for about twenty minutes ; but
our supports were pouring in from every
side, and the enemy, finding longer re
sistance useless, surrendered. Our vic
tory was decisive, and no fewer than
four colonels — two of them commanding
brigades — 132 officers, and about 1,500
men, fell into our hands, besides four
guns, four caissons, and eight battle-
flags." General Meade expressed his satisfac
tion with the conduct of his troops in
this order :
" The Commanding General congrat
ulates the army upon the recent ^0y,
successful passage of the Rappa- 9.
hannock in the face of the enemy, com
pelling him to withdraw to his intrench
ments behind the Rapidan.
" To Major-General Sedgwick and the
officers and men of the fifth and sixth
corps participating in the attack, par
ticularly to the storming party under
Brigadier-General Russell, his thanks
are due for the gallantry displayed in
the assault on the enemy's intrenched

MEADE AT THE RAPIDAN.

269

position of Rappahannock Station, re
sulting in the capture of four guns,
2,000 small-arms, eight battle-flags, one
bridge train, and 1,600 prisoners. To
Major-General French and the officers
and men of the third corps engaged,
particularly to the leading column com
manded by Colonel De Trobriand, his
thanks are due for the gallantry dis
played in the crossing at Kelly's Ford
and the seizure of the enemy's intrench
ments, and the capture of over 400
prisoners. The Commanding General
takes great pleasure in announcing to
the army that the President has ex
pressed his satisfaction with its recent
operations." General Meade, after concentrating
his force on the south side of the Rap
pahannock, prepared to advance against
the enemy, now encamped beyond the
Rapidan. On the 26th of November, Meade
crossed the Rapidan, exciting high hopes
in the Army of the Potomac of a vigor
ous campaign. The enemy were found
in a strong position on the left bank of
Mine Run. In front they were covered
by an impassable marsh, and additionally
protected by earth-works, rifle-pits, and
abattis. So formidable was the ppsition,
that it was deemed imprudent to at
tempt to take it by direct assault. It
was accordingly determined that Gen
eral Warren should attack and turn the
enemy's right wing, and that Generals
Sykes and Sedgwick, with the fifth and
sixth corps, should attack their left
while the third and first corps made a
demonstration upon their centre.

"The reserves of artillery," says a
military critic,* " had all been brought
forward and positioned ready for action ;
but. for some reason General Warren
failed to connect, and night slipped in
upon us, all drawn up in line of battle.
That night a change was made in the
programme. General Warren did not
deem his force adequate to the task of
turning the enemy's right, so he was
still further reinforced by two divisions
of the third corps, under Generals Carr
and Prince, while Birney, with his divi
sion of the same corps, was to support
the artillery.
" Eight o'clock on Monday morning,
November 30th, was then set as the
hour for the great battle to open, and
we retired to our ground beds to rest
and dream. The night of Sunday was
the coldest we have yet experienced.
Ice formed in the streams an inch in
thickness, and several of our men froze
their limbs, and one or two their lives
out, while doing duty as pickets.
" At eight o'clock on Monday, No
vember 30th, the artillery began to play
upon the enemy, and for an hour, I
think, the firing was as constant and
heavy as I ever witnessed ; but the
infantry did not make any demonstra
tions whatever, and, after making a deal
of noise and wasting a large amount of
ammunition, the artillery was silenced
by an order from general headquarters.
" Nothing further was done during
the day, except to study strategy ; and
that study resulted in demonstrating that
the wisest plan to advance would be to
a N. Y. Herald.

270

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

go back to the line of the Rappahan
nock and take a fresh start. Accord
ingly we commenced moving back to
ward the river, and at night we crossed
in safety, having succeeded in losing
about 1,000 men in killed, wounded,
and missing, and generating a very un
kind feeling in the breasts of the rank

and file toward those in position who
had promised them so much and yielded
them so little."
The armies of Lee and Meade now
went into winter quarters, doing little
else than guarding their lines and oc
casionally harassing each other by cav
alry expeditions.

CHAPTER XXVII.

A Closing Chapter. — The Capital of Arkansas occupied by Union Troops.— The Enemy posted at Arkadelphia. — They
assume the Offensive. — Battle of Pine Bluff. — The Enemy beaten. — Sack of the Town. — Demoralization of the En
emy.— Mutiny. — Quarrel of Price and Holmes. — Reconciliation. — Retirement of the Enemy. — Arkadelphia occupied
by Union Troops.— Return to Loyalty in Arkansas. — Meetings. — Recruits for Federal Army. — The Indians abandon
the Enemy. — Shelby's' Raid into Missouri. — Its extent. — General Brown in pursuit. — Escape of Shelby. — General
AveriU's Expedition in Western Virginia. — A remarkable March. — Marching, Climbing, Sliding, and Swimming. —
Enemy's Account. — The Siege of Charleston. — Sumter still flies the Rebel Flag. — The. Bombardment of Charleston.
— Harbor closed.— The Affair of the Marblehead. — The Foundering of the Weehawken. — The cause explained. —
Grounding of the Lehigh. — Destruction of Salt-works in Florida. — General Butler in command of the Department
of Virginia and North Carolina. — His Action in Behalf of the " Contrabands." — The Union Prisoners in Virginia.
— Their Sufferings — Relieved through Butler. — Communication with Butler refused by the Confederate Authorities.
— Seizure of the Chesapeake. — Recapture. — The Prisoners handed over to the British Authorities. — Held for Trial.

In this closing chapter of the military
and naval operations of the year,
various incidents of the war, though
not associated by time or place, will be
grouped together for the convenience
of the writer and reader.
The enemy in Arkansas, after having
been dispossessed of Little Rock, the
capital, and driven from the centre of
the State, took post at Arkadelphia, in
the south, where, after concentrating
their forces, they ventured to assume
the offensive. With their cavalry, esti-
Oct. mated at 4,000, under the command
25. of Generals Marmaduke and Cabell,
they attacked the Union troops at Pine

Bluff. Colonel Clayton held the place
with a force of only about 700 mounted
men. As soon as he discovered that the
enemy, of whose approach he had "only
a half-hour's notice," were coming, he
made hasty preparations for defence.
Posting his eleven cannon in the court
house square, and barricading the streets
with bales of cotton, he succeeded in
repulsing several assaults of the enemy,
and inflicting upon them a severe loss.
Finally, Colonel Clayton, clearing his
barricades of cotton, charged upon his
assailants and drove them off. They
had, however, been sufficiently long in
possession of the undefended parts of

COLONEL SHELBY IN MISSOURI.

271

the city, to which they had gained ac
cess, to sack many of the houses and
burn a quantity of cotton. Three
hundred of ' their men were left dead
and wounded in the streets. The Union
loss was only eleven killed and thirty-
three wounded.
The enemy's force in Arkansas was
now reported to be much demoralized.
Numerous desertions occurred daily,
and the dissatisfaction at the supersed-
ure of General Price by General Holmes
exhibited itself in mutiny. The two
generals themselves quarrelled, and were
on the point of fighting a duel, when
their friends interposed and reconciled
them. To prevent the total dissolution
of their force, the enemy were obliged
to shift their quarters farther to the
south, and Arkadelphia being evacuated
by them was occupied by the Union
troops. Arkansas was thus almost en
tirely abandoned by the regular troops
of the Confederates, though their guer
rilla bands yet roamed over the country.
The citizens of the State, under Federal
influence, began to manifest a disposi
tion not only to return to the Union
but to fight for it. A convention of
" unconditional Unionists" assembled, at
which loyal speeches and resolutions
were made, and a candidate for Con
gress nominated, who was subsequently
elected. Numbers of citizens came for
ward and took the oath of allegiance to
the United States, while many united
themselves in companies for home de
fence or joined the Federal army.
The Indian allies of the enemy, more
over, seemed inclined to follow the good

example of their white brethren of
Arkansas. The Choctaw chieftain, Mc-
Curtain, and some of his braves, sur
rendered themselves to General McNeil
at Fort Smith, and expressed a desire
to take the benefit of President Lincoln's
amnesty. The much vexed Missouri was still
tormented by the enemy. Colonel Joe
Shelby, having gathered together the
remnants of the scattered cavalry in
Arkansas, made a dash into Missouri.
On the 3d of October he took un
disputed possession of Pineville, Mc
Donald County, and on the next day
captured two companies of the Missouri
State Militia at Acosho. Subsequently
Carthage was burned, Greenfield plun
dered, Dade County court-house de
stroyed, Hamansville, in Polk County,
turned into a camping ground, and
Warsaw and Osceola plundered.
From Warsaw the raiders made their
way to the Pacific Railroad, where they
did much damage. From the railway,
which they struck at Tipton, they pro
ceeded to Booneville, which they treat
ed without mercy.
"They entered the city," testifies one
of the sufferers, " about twelve o'clock
on Sunday, and remained till after dark
the same day, robbing and pillaging in
discriminately during their stay. They
asked no questions about politics* or
sympathies, but robbed all alike. Not
a single store in the place escaped. All
were plundered— some of them of large
amounts of dry goods, groceries, boots
and shoes. The saddlery shops, of which
there were two in the city, were objects

272

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

of particular attraction to the villains,
and were stripped of everything in them.
All the horses and mules of any value
they could find were seized and carried
off. The farmers in the country suffered
nearly as heavily as the merchants in
the city. It is estimated that the total
value of property stolen in the county
by the greedy rebel thieves is $200,000.
*****
" The vandals destroyed all the rec
ords they could find in the court-house.
Dr. Trigg, a prominent citizen, expostu
lated with them on this piece of wanton
destruction, and was told by the rebels
that it was their determination to destroy
all the records and archives of the
' Gamble dynasty.' " •
Shortly after the marauders left Boone-
ville, General Brown, who had been for
some time in pursuit, came up with their
rear-guard and commenced a series of
skirmishes which closed with a more
serious engagement. General Brown,
in his report of October 13, 1863, says :
" After following the enemy through
Cole Camp, Syracuse, and Booneville,
skirmishing with his rear all the distance,
he was forced to make a stand at Mer
rill's Crossing of Salt Fork, a point eight
miles southwest of Arrow Rock, and
about the same distance from Marshall,
and commenced a skirmishing fight at
six"b'clock on the evening of the 12th,
in the midst of a cold driving rain. We
fought him as long as we could see, and
lay down on our arms in the rain during
the night.
" At three o'clock this morning I dis
patched Lieutenant-Colonel Lazear, with

about 900 men, with orders to move to
the south, avoiding the route of the
enemy, and intercept him, if possible, at
Marshall, and bring on an engagement,
while I followed him (the enemy) with
the balance of my command. The re
sult was as I had hoped : Lieutenant-
Colonel Lazear drove in the balance of
the enemy, and an engagement com
menced at eight o'clock a.m. The enemy
had possession of the ford on my arrival,
and checked my advance for a few
moments ; but by making a detour to
the left, I found one of these crossings,
and gained position in their rear, on the
bank of the creek along which they
were formed. They soon gave way and
broke through the dense timber and
brush which for a mile and a half fringed
the borders of the creek. By throwing
a force through their centre their forces
were divided, part being driven east
toward Arrow Rock, and part, under
Shelby, to the northwest — both bodies
pursued by our victorious troops."
The Unionists, in the various engage
ments, lost, according to General Brown,
only thirty, while the loss of the enemy
he estimated at 200 or 300 men with all
their artillery, consisting of two guns.
Brown continued his pursuit, but
Shelby escaped finally with a remnant
of his marauders, though terribly har
assed in his flight. His trail was mark
ed by lines of dead and broken-down
horses which had been left by the
fugitives, who mounted in their stead
those they had stolen.
General Kelley, in his Department of
Western Virginia, being advised of Gen-

GEN. AVERILL IN SOUTIIWEST VIRGINIA.

273

eral Longstreet's repulse at Knoxville,
made an effort to harass him during his
retreat. He accordingly organized an
expedition to cut the line of the Ten
nessee and Virginia Railroad. General
Averill was placed in command, and
sent out with the Second, Third, and
Eighth Virginia Mounted Infantry, Four
teenth Pennsylvania, a battalion of cav-
pec, airy, and Ewing's battery. On the
16* 16th of December he commenced
his operations on the Virginia and Ten
nessee Railroad, at Salem.
" Three depOts," says General Averill
in his report, " were destroyed, contain
ing 2,000 barrels of flour, 10,000 bushels
of wheat, 100,000 bushels of shelled
corn, %ft,000 bushels of oats, 2,000
barrels of meat, several cords of leather,
1,000 sacks of salt, 31 boxes of clothing,
20 bales of cotton, a large amount of
harness, shoes, and saddles, equipments,
tools, oil, tar, and various other stores,
and 100 wagons. The telegraph wire
was cut, coiled, and burned for half a
mile. The water-station, turn-table, and
three cars were burned, and the track
torn up and rails heated and destroyed
as much as possible.
' ' In six hours five bridges and several
culverts were destroyed over an extent
of fifteen miles. A large quantity of
bridge timber and repairing materials
were also destroyed.
" My march was retarded occasionally
by the tempest in the mountains and
the icy roads. I was obliged to swim
my command and drag my artillery with
ropes across Crog's Creek seven times
in twenty-four hours. 203

" On my return I found six separate
commands, under Generals Early, Jones,
Fitz Hugh Lee, Imboden, Jackson,
Echols, and McCoustin, arranged in a
line extending from Staunton to New
port, upon all the available roads, to
prevent my return. I captured a dis
patch from General Jones to General
Early, giving me his position and that
of Jackson at Clifton Forge.
" I marched from the front of Jones
to that of Jackson at night. His out
posts were pressed in at a gallop by the
Eighth Virginia Mounted Infantry, and
the two bridges across Jackson's River
were saved, although fagots had been
piled ready to ignite. My column, about
four miles long, hastened across, regard
less of the. enemy, until all but my
ambulances, a few wagons, and one regi
ment had passed, when a strong effort
was made to retake the first bridge,
in which they did not succeed. The
ambulance and some sick men were lost,
and by the darkness and difficulties the
last regiment was detained upon the
opposite side until morning, when it was
ascertained that the enemy seemed de
termined to maintain his position up the
cliffs which overlooked the bridges. I
caused the bridges, which were long and
high, to be destroyed, and the enemy
immediately changed his position to the
flank and rear of the detachment which
was cut off, and sent orders to the
remnants to destroy our wagons and
come to me across the river or over the
mountains. They swam the river with
the loss of only four men, who were
drowned, and joined me.

274

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

" In the mean time the forces of the
enemy #were concentrating upon me at
Callaghan's, over every available road
but one, which was deemed impracti
cable, but by which I crossed over the
top of the Alleghanies with my com
mand, with the exception of four cais
sons, which were destroyed in order to
increase the teams of the pieces.
" My loss is six men drowned, one
officer and four men wounded, and four
officers and ninety men missing.
"We captured about 200 prisoners,
but have retained but four officers and
eighty men, on account of their inability
to walk. We took also about 150
horses. ' ' My horses have subsisted entirely
upon a very poor country, and the
officers and men have suffered cold,
hunger, and fatigue with remarkable
fortitude. My command has marched,
climbed, slid, and swam 355 miles since
the 8th of December."
The siege of Charleston still linger
ed. General Gillmore kept up a slow
fire upon the enemy's forts, with an oc
casional bombardment of the city. The
ruins of Sumter, though frequently can
nonaded, continued to harbor a garrison
and bear the rebel flag. Our troops had
secured an impregnable position, and the
iron-clad force so closed the harbor that
there was no ingress or egress for the
enemy's vessels.
"The U. S. steam gun-boat Marble-
head, Lieutenant-Commander Richard
W. Meade, Jun., of six guns and seventy-
two men (twelve men short of comple
ment)," reports a correspondent of the

Army and 'Navy Journal, " was attacked
at twenty minutes past six a.m., Decem
ber 25th, while anchored off Legare-
ville, S. C, by the rebels on John's
Island. " The attack was made by two bat
teries of field and siege pieces — one
posted in a thick wood, and masked
from view, and the other in the open
space to the southwest of the village
(where 100 Federal soldiers were quar
tered), and distant one mile from Legare-
ville, and 1,000 yards from the Marble-
head. " The rebels only fired two shots,
when the Marblehead slipped her cable
and replied. She then took a position-,
distant 700 yards from the ba|jfery in
the wood, and paying no attention to
the light battery in, the open, concen
trated a fire of four guns on the siege
pieces. The brass guns of the Marble-
head, from rapidity of fire, becoming
heated, broke adrift — the vessel wore
round, keeping up a rapid fire from the
two pivot-guns, and brought the port
broadside to bear. After a sharp and
bloody contest of an hour, the rebels
flinched from their guns and retired in
disorder, leaving behind them on the
field two eight-inch howitzer iron! guns
and caissons, six dead horses, seventy-
two shovels for intrenching, one dead
man, and accoutrements of every de
scription. The rebels fired over 300
rifled projectiles . at the Marblehead.
The Marblehead fired 256 shell and
shrapnel, nearly all of which went
straight to the mark. The loss of the
rebels in killed and wounded it is im-

LOSS OF THE WEEHAWKEN.

275

possible to ascertain ; it must have been
very great, as the ground is torn up in
every direction as if ploughed.
"The loss of the Marblehea*d was
three killed (cut almost in two by heavy
projectiles), and four wounded seriously.
Two other men were, wounded slightly,
but refused to report to the surgeon.
The commander also was struck on the
foot by an iron splinter from the star
board fore-bit, but uninjured, and Act
ing Ensign Harriman was knocked down
at his gun, but is also uninjured.
" The coolness and courage displayed
by the officers and men produced so
creditable a result to the navy.
" The Marblehead is badly cut up —
has twelve shot in the hull, eighteen
through the upper works and spars, and
has lost her main topmast. The run
ning rigging was all cut to pieces, and
some of the standing rigging was shot
away. The affair was decided by short
range and rapidity of fire.
" The U. S. steamer Pawnee at the
time the action commenced was anchor
ed in Stono Inlet, about two miles from
Legareville ; owing to a leaky boiler
and little speed, she did not get up until
the fight was almost over ; but by going
up the Hiawah River and enfilading the
rebels, she contributed greatly to their
demoralization. The rebels, however,
did not fire a shot at her, as they had
commenced to give way when the Paw
nee opened fire. The mortar schooner
C. P. Williams, Acting Master Freeman
commanding, although anchored nearly
five miles off in the Folly River, slipped
her cable at the sound of the first gun,

and came down gallantly under sail.
She arrived in time to open fire»on the
retreating enemy."
The foundering of the Weehawken
was a disaster which, with other dcc,
circumstances, created a distrust 6.
of the iron-clad monitors, of which so
much had been expected. She was
lying at anchor at the entrance of the
harbor of Charleston, when a storm
arose, which caused her to labor heavily,
to ship frequent heavy seas, and finally
to sink, and so suddenly as to carry
down with her most of her officers and
crew. "It is impossible," wrote a witness
of the scene, " to convey any idea of
the appalling nature of this disaster. It
came with the suddenness of a thunder
bolt. When the first signal of distress
was made, no one divined' how serious
was the danger, and when, at length,
the vessel went down, it was difficult
for those who saw her disappear to
credit even the evidence of their own
senses. The confusion on the flag-ship,
arising mainly from the difficulty of
launching her boats, and the desire of
both officers and men to be first in them,
was most intense and painful. The
wind was now blowing with great fury,
and the boats which hastened from all
sides to the scene encountered great
peril in picking up from the water the
few who had succeeded in getting away
from the Weehawken before she sank.
Almost at the moment she went down,
some twenty or more sprang to the
boats and succeeded in getting away.
As many others were rescued from the

276

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

surging waves by the launches of the
flag-ship, the South Carolina, and the
tug-boats Dandelion and Iris. Thirty
perished. " All day the Weehawken had labored
heavily in the sea, which kept her decks
constantly submerged, and which fre
quently swept in huge volumes into her
forward hatch. Toward noon the crew
commenced paying out chain, to ease
her ; but accustomed as they were, in
every gale, to the shipping of such seas,
it is believed that they had grown con
fident and careless of danger, and paid
no heed to the encroaching waters until
it was too late to resist them. They
dreamed of no peril till the waves had
fairly yawned to swallow them. Then,
when it was known for a certainty that
the vessel was to be lost, a panic of
fright and fear benumbed them, and the
terror-stricken crew below had little
power to help themselves. There were
men in irons between decks, and the
sergeant-at-arms rushed frantically away
to release them. Poor fellows, they
all went down. There were invalids in
the sick bay, and to their relief the
surgeon sent his steward, who never
returned. There were firemen at the
furnaces, to whom vain shrieks for a
helping hand at the pumps were made.
A few of the confident were rushing to
their quarters to save their effects, jos
tling the timid on their way to the deck
to save themselves. It was in the midst
of scenes like these that the Weehawken
went down."
On investigation, it was discovered
that a rupture between the " overhang"

and the hull of the vessel was the cause
of her foundering. So great was the
leak thus produced, that it was impos
sible fbr the pumps to keep her clear of
water. The grounding of the Lehigh was a
second serious disaster to the iron- i>ec,
clad fleet. She was on picket duty 18«
near Fort Johnson when she struck.
The enemy's batteries opened upon her
and did her great damage, but her con
sorts went to her relief and brought her
off. The Lehigh, however, was so much
injured, that it was found necessary to
tow her to Port Royal for repairs.
The destruction of the extensive salt
works at Lake Ocala and in St. pec,
Andrew's Bay, in Florida, by the 2,10.
blockading force under the command
of Acting Master William R. Browne,
was a serious blow to the enemy.
Kent's salt-works on the lake, which
produced about 130 bushels of salt daily,
were destroyed on the 2d of December,
and on the 10th, the Confederate Gov
ernment salt-works also, whose daily
product was 400 bushels. A large
number of buildings, twenty-two large
boilers, 200 kettles, with the capacity
of 200 gallons each, 5,000 bushels of
salt, and several storehouses containing
provisions, shared the same fate. Sub
sequently the expedition moved along
the coast and destroyed 198 private salt-
making establishments, and shelled and
burned to the ground the town of St
Andrews. The loss of the enemy was
estimated at $3,000,000.
General Butler, who, after being
superseded in Louisiana by General

SOUTHERN PRISONS.

277

Banks, remained for several months
without a command, was finally appoint-
Oet. ecl the successor of General Foster.
28. in the Department of Virginia and
North Carolina. With characteristic
energy he moved rapidly over his scene
of duty and thoroughly inspected every
post. Now an enthusiast in the cause
of emancipation, he strove to rally
the negro slaves, or " contrabands,"
as he himself called them, to the free
standard of the North. To secure the
good treatment of such, the General
issued a humane order which, in its
recognition of equal rights, showed how
thoroughly he had become converted to
the opinions of those he had once per
secuted. His humanity was also called into
exercise in behalf of the Union prison
ers in the hands of the enemy. In con
sequence of a disagreement between the
commissioners of exchange, a large num
ber of our captured soldiers remained
in Southern prisons, where they were
• greatly suffering. "If the- Government
wait much longer, very few will remain
for exchange ; cold, hunger, and creep
ing filth — these are our daily solace,"
wrote an officer from his place of cap
tivity in Richmond. The following re
port, drawn up by a number of surgeons
who had been prisoners, gives a detailed
account of the hardships to which they
had been exposed.
" United States Steamee Adelaide, ejst )
KOTJTE FOE BALTIMOEE, Md., JVOV. 26, 1863. )
" The committee appointed by the
United States army and navy surgeons
recently imprisoned in Richmond, Va..

to report the past and present condition
and treatment of Union prisoners, now
held at that place, submit the following
facts, derived from personal observation
and the statements of fellow-prisoners,
in whose veracity they have implicit
confidence :
" The officers, about 1,000 in all, and
representing nearly all grades of both
branches of the service, are confined in
seven rooms of the Libby Prison — a
building formerly used as a warehouse.
Each room is 43 feet wide and 102
feet long, with unplastered walls, par
titions, and ceilings. But few of the
windows are glazed, being open to the
full sweep of cold winds or closed, with
boards or canvas — either of the latter
rendering the rooms dark and cheerless.
One of the rooms is used exclusively as
a kitchen and dining-room, while por
tions of others are necessarily devoted
to the same purpose. But nine scantily
furnished and medium-sized cook-stoves
are supplied the entire prison. The
officers have to do their own cooking,
and the supply of wood for this purpose
is often insufficient, and occasionally for
half a day none at all is sent in. A
privy and. sink rendered foul and dis
gusting one end of each room, polluting
at times the air of the entire apartment.
None are permitted to leave this build
ing of accumulated and accumulating
horrors till borne to the hospital, or,
happily, exchanged.
" The enlisted men are confined in
various places. At the time the sur
geons left Richmond, there were about
6,300 soldiers held on Belle Island, in

278

THE WAR WITH* THE SOUTH.

James River, near the city, and about
4,000 soldiers and 200 sailors and
marines in buildings similar to and in
the immediate vicinity of the Libby. In
the buildings the men are in about the
same condition as the officers in the
Libby, only much more crowded ; but
the condition of those on the island is
much worse. An insufficient number
of tents are furnished to protect them
from cold and rain ; and no blankets or
any other bedding have been given them
by the rebels. Only one surgeon is
assigned to Belle Island, and he makes
but one visit a day, during which he
does not enter the inclosure where the
men are kept, to see those too sick to
walk, but attends to those only who are
able to come to him. When those
neglected men are sent to the hospital,
it is often too late.
" None of the privates in the prisons
about Libby are furnished bedding of
any kind. ' A member of this committee
received a letter from a man belonging to
the same command, and confined in the
building opposite Libby, worded thus :
' Doctor, we beg of you to try and get
us something, either clothes or blankets,
to keep us warm. We have no fires in
the building to warm us, have nothing
either to lie on or cover us, and suffer
greatly from the cold.' In Libby, stoves
for heating purposes have recently been
put up in some of the rooms, but no
fuel of any description has yet been
given to render them useful.
"At one time the rations issued con
sisted of about three fourths of a pound
of wheat bread, one-fourth of a pound

of fresh beef, two ounces of beans, and a
small quantity of vinegar and salt for
each prisoner per day. Subsequently
the same quantity of corn bread, made
of unsifted meal, was issued instead of
the wheat bread, and rice instead of
beans. More recently the rations-have
been corn bread, fresh beef and rice, in
the above quantities, or, in lieu of beef
and rice, - two or three small sweet
potatoes, and quite often, more particu
larly within the past two weeks, abso
lutely nothing excepting the three-
fourths of a pound of corn bread has
been issued to each prisoner to satisfy
the gnawing of hunger for twenty-four
hours. On the 10th of this month the
men on Belle Island did not get a morsel
of anything to eat till four o'clock p.m.
The committee unanimously agree that
the rations furnished Union prisoners
by rebel authorities at Richmond are
not sufficient to prevent those prisoners
from suffering from hunger, and thus
becoming debilitated and very suscep
tible to disease. Some of this committee •
have seen men brought from Belle
Island to the prison hospital literally
starving to death, and a United States
army officer, of high rank and undoubted
veracity, then and now a prisoner in
Libby, told a member of this committee
that while on a visit to Belle Island
recently, whither he went by permission
of the rebels, the prisoners there follow
ed him in crowds as he walked around
the inclosure, and cried to him with
eager voices, ' We are hungry ; send us
bread — send us bread!' Were it not
for supplies received from home, none

THE LIBBY PRISON.

279

of those confined in Libby and the other
prisons woukl escape the pangs of
hunger. " On arriving at the prison the officers
are searched, and in addition to articles
' contraband of war,' their money and
other valuables are taken from them.
A few get all, some the greater portion,
and others none of their money returned,
while all other articles are retained.
All money arriving in letters and ex
press packages for prisoners, from what
ever source, is taken and ' deposited'
with the rebel quartermaster of Rich
mond, and the owner is permitted to
draw it in limited amounts in rebel
paper, though they allow seven dollars
in ' Confederate currency' for one dollar
United States money. Some of the
surgeons released yesterday, on applying
for their money — taken from them in
various ways, but always with the
promise that if released while any re
mained ' on deposit' it would be return
ed in kind — were coolly told that the
aforesaid quartermaster had exchanged
all their money," and they must either
take ' Confederate' or wait.
" The txeatmeut received by our
privates is of the greatest severity. For
looking out of a window three nights
since, one was shot and instantly killed.
Those having trades, and also some who
have none, are taken out into the city
and compelled to work, guarded and
restrained from all liberty by sentries.
It was no uncommon sight to see gangs
of our men coming back to their prison-
house at night, carrying their implements
of labor, bespattered with white-wash,

or showing other signs of having been
at work. About thirty of our men are
now employed in Richmond making
shoes, supposed to be for the rebel
army. " Some officers have been, compelled
to scrub the floors, clean the water-
closets of the prison, and perform other
menial services. All are and have been
at all times since their imprisonment in
Libby subjected to insults and brutal
treatment on the part of prison sub
ordinates ; and 'the captain and inspector
of the prison, when appealed to, not
only does not rebuke these subordinates,
but encourages them to further offensive
conduct. Upon the most trivial charges
officers have been confined for from
twenty-four hours to several days in
damp dungeons under the jail, there fed
only on bread and water. An officer, for
doing that which certainly did not merit
the term offence, was put into one of
these dungeon cells, though at the time
convalescent from typhoid fever, and too
weak to do anything.
Not more than 200 blankets have
been given the prisoners in Libby by
the rebels. Were it not for those re
ceived from home and furnished by the
Sanitary Commission, all would suffer
very much.
" Twice within the past week the
floors of the prison have been scrubbed
at sundown, and thus through the cold
night following, with no fires to drive
off the moisture, officers have had to lie
on .those disease-engendering floors, or
walk the rooms till morning brought
relief by bringing sunlight. On two

280

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

other occasions the floors were scrubbed
nearly half an hour before the officers
were ready to arise from their resting-
places ; and thus in various ways do the
authorities seek to make our condition
not only uncomfortable but dangerous.
" After their arrival at the hospital.
the sick are not unkindly treated, and
the rations given them are a shade
better than those issued to them when
in the prisons ; but so enfeebled have
they become by the deprivation of food,
and so stricken by exposure previous to
their admission, that the mortality is
great. The number of deaths among
Union prisoners in Richmond, Va., and
on Belle Island, together, has reached
the startling number of fifty in one day.
All the prison hospitals are insufficiently
supplied with medicines for the proper
treatment of the sick. And finally, the
members of this committee individually
asseverate that no prison or penitentiary
ever seen by them in a Northern State
equalled in cheerlessness, unhealthiness,
and paucity of rations issued in them,
either of the military prisons of Rich
mond, Va. Respectfully,
" Committee : Daniel Meeker, Sur
geon, United States Volunteers ; 0. Q.
Herrick, Surgeon, Thirty-fourth Illinois
Volunteers ; William M. Houston, Sur
geon, One Hundred and Twenty-second
Ohio Volunteers ; H. J. Herrick, Sur
geon, Seventeenth Vermont Volunteers ;
John T. Luck, Assistant Surgeon, U. S.
Navy ; Augustine A. Mann, Assistant
Surgeon, First Rhode Island Cavalry ;
J. Marcus Rice, Surgeon, Twenty-fifth
Massachusetts Volunteers."

Permission having been obtained from
the enemy for the admission of supplies
to our prisoners, a large quantity of
food and clothing was sent by the Gov
ernment and some private persons to
Richmond for the benefit of the sufferers.
General Butler became the medium of
the preliminary negotiations and subse
quent transport of these supplies, the
Confederate authorities not hesitating to
accept this timely relief to their exhaust
ed commissariat from the impure hands
of a man they had denounced as un
worthy of human fellowship. On Gen
eral Butler, however, being authorized
to negotiate for the exchange of the
prisoners, the Confederate Government,
whose President had proclaimed him an
outlaw, refused all communication with
him. The » seizure of the Chesapeake, a
screw steam-packet plying between j>ec.
New York and Portland, in Maine, ?•
while on her passage to the latter place,
was one of the most daring acts of the
enemy. The perpetrators were sixteen
men, under the leadership of Osborne
and Braine, who had gone oh board the
vessel in the guise of passengers.
Captain Willets, the commander of
the Chesapeake, in his narrative of her
capture, said, " that at a quarter past
one o'clock on the morning of Monday,
the 7th of December, he was awakened
by Mr. Johnson, the mate, who told him
that the second engineer had been shot.
The captain supposed it was done by
the passengers, who afterward turned
out to be pirates. It appears, at the
time of the rising of the villains, that the

SEIZURE OF THE STEAMER CHESAPEAKE.

281

vessel was about twenty miles north-
northeast of Cape Cod, heading up for
Portland, and that the night was dark.-
The mate went to the pantry for some
purpose, when he saw one of the pirates
fire a pistol at Mr. Schaffer, the ball tak
ing effect under the right ear and in the
neck. Mr. Schaffer had been down be
low, oiling the engine, and had just
come up on the grating when he receiv
ed his first mortal wound ; but enough
of life • remained in him to reach the
deck, when he fell a corpse. Two more
balls were put into his head after he' was
dead. " Mr. Johnson, the mate, now fled to
warn the captain, while three or four of
the devils incarnate pursued him, firing
at him rapidly. No sooner had Captain
Willets reached the deck than he met a
volley of pistol balls. He went aft and
sought to regain his room, where he had
firearms ; but finding he was pursued
too closely, he endeavored to reach the
pilot-house, and just as he was about to
enter it he was seized, and with a pistol
held close to his face, was put in irons.
Strange to say, while he was at the
engine-room- door and in his run around
the deck, although over fifteen balls
passed close to him, and at one time two
men who were pursuing him were not
twelve feet from him, and while at the
pilot-house three or four persons fired at
him, yet he escaped harm. After being
ironed, Captain Willets was placed in his
room and a guard put over him.
" One pirate went down into the fire-
room and found a fireman at work,
busily engaged in attending to his duties ;
204

he let fly a shot at him, but missed his
mark. The poor fellow sought refuge
in a coal bunker, but was finally brought
out and put in irons, and kept below in
charge of this would-be murderer. It
seems that the pirates did not relish
much talking, as the second engineer,
who was killed, was not spoken to by
his murderer.
" Mr, Johnson, the chief engineer,
was shot in the chin ; and Mr. Johnson,
the chief officer, was wounded in the
arm and also on the knee-joint. These
gentlemen were put in irons ; and then
the sailors and firemen, who were below
and asleep at the time of the shooting,
and had been kept below by securing
the forecastle hatch, were brought up
and placed in irons.
"During this time, which occupied
only a few minutes, the ship had been
going ahead at her own will, the engines
at their usual speed, and the helm still
remaining in charge of the helmsman.
Osborne now took charge of the vessel,
put her on her course, and ordered the
body of Schaffer to be thrown overboard
and sunk by means of a large piece of
iron which was fastened to it. The
captain and the officers were now sent
to the cabin, and a guard placed over
them. "The five bona-fide passengers, who
were old sea captains, were not molested,
but were told if they interfered in any
manner they would be shot.
"The third assistant engineer was
now relieved of his irons and put in
charge of the engine, and one fireman
was released to keep the fires in order.

282

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Occasionally the chief engineer was
allowed to visit the engine-room to see
if everything was going on right, as they
feared the inexperience of -the junior
engineer might lead to some disastrous
results. "From two o'clock in the morning
until daylight Captain Willets had no
opportunity of learning what was going
on upon deck. At any rate, everything
was quiet. At sunrise, and occasionally
afterward, the prisoners were allowed
to come up to get the air.
"At the usual time the steward was
notified to prepare the breakfast, which
was conducted in the usual manner, save
that, for fear of being poisoned, the
cook was compelled to taste of every
thing in their presence, and he was
watched very closely after breakfast, of
which the pirates, the captives, and the
passengers partook of as if nothing had
happened. The captain was detained
aft, while his and the officers' rooms
were ransacked. Of the contents of the
cargo they knew full well, and did not
disturb it.
"Nothing unusual occurred on Monday
night ; but on Tuesday morning at seven
o'clock the Chesapeake was brought
to anchor in Seal Harbor, at the island
of Grand Menan. Colonel Braine then
ordered a boat to be lowered and
manned by the pirates. He then went
on shore to obtain further orders. He
returned at noon, when the steamer was
got under weigh, and stood off to the
southwestward of the island, then, enter
ing the river, headed up for St. John's,
N. B. On arriving at a given point the

American ensign was set union down,
and in response a St. John's pilot-boat,
commanded by one Captain Mullheron,
put off. The steamer was stopped, and
a boat came alongside, bringing a man
who gave his name as Smith. This
fellow conferred with Osborne and his
associates, and then returned to the
pilot-boat. ' Now Jno. Parker,' former
commander of the privateer Retribution,
came on board and assumed sole com
mand, leaving Osborne — who had been
kicking his pirate crew unkindly a little
while before — out in the cold.
"After Parker came on board, the
pilot-boat was taken in tow, Smith still
being on board of the pilot-boat, and
the steamer was headed for Dipper
Harbor, which is about twelve miles
from St. John's. At seven o'clock in
the evening she came to at' Dipper
Harbor, and the captives were allowed
just ten minutes to transfer themselves
and their allowance of baggage to the
pilot-boat. The captain, officers, and
men were robbed of half their clothing
and effects. Having embarked on the
pilot-boat, the Chesapeake towed her
up the river toward St. John's, say five
miles from Dipper Harbor, when she
cast her tow off and started off. She
then went off the same way she came,
picking up a schooner, which is supposed
to have had guns, ammunition, and a
few coals on board for the pirate
steamer." The Government promptly dispatched
a number of armed vessels in pursuit of
the stolen steamer, which was finally,
after a diligent search, found by. the

RE-CAPTURE OF THE CHESAPEAKE.

283

Dec, U. S. gun-boats Ella and Annie,
17* in Sambro Harbor, and recaptured.
The course of the Chesapeake after
leaving St. John's, where Captain Wil
lets' narrative closed, is thus related by
the chief engineer, Johnson, who had
been compelled to remain on board.
"After we left St. John's," he says,
" the first port we entered was Shel
burne, where we arrived on Thursday
night, December 10th. Here we took
in ten tons of coals and some wood. The
next morning we left for Lahave River.
Seeing a steamer off -the mouth of the
river we concealed the vessel as best we
could, and ascended the river on Friday
night, December 11th. We laid to at
this point until Tuesday night, December
15th, discharging part of the cargo, for
which we received 1,000 dollars. We
sold the sugar for three cents a pound,
the flour for three dollars a barrel, and
other articles for proportionate prices.
We left the river at three o'clock in the
afternoon, lying to at its mouth all night,
and loading a schooner with goods which
we had not disposed of. On the morn
ing of Wednesday we steamed for St.
Mary's Bay, about ninety miles ea,st of
Halifax. About nine o'clock on the fol
lowing morning we saw a steamer. Im
mediately we concealed the vessel by
hugging the shore. When the steamer
disappeared we started again. We
arrived off Sambro without meeting with
any further trouble, and were boarded by
a pilot named Flynn, who took the vessel
into Sambro Harbor. Captain Locke,

now satisfying himself that there was
not coal enough on board to complete
the voyage, concluded to anchor,, the
vessel, and he did so at two o'clock in
the afternoon.* In the mean time he
started for Halifax to procure coal and
engineers for the vessel. He told me
(Johnson) that as soon as he obtained
new engineers he intended to release
me, and I told him that I would not on
any account remain with the vessel any
longer. The captain returned about
two o'clock on the following morning,
having been successful in his expedition.
A schooner came with him. At about
six o'clock on the same morning the
pilot Flynn informed the captain that
Union gun-boats were entering the
harbor. The captain, satisfying himself
that this statement was correct, ordered
me (Johnson) to scuttle the vessel. I
replied that I could not do it. The
captain then hastily secured what plun
der he could, and he and his officers and
crew took to the boats as the Ella and
Annie appeared in sight."
The commander of the U. S. gun-boat
gave up the Chesapeake and the three
men who were found on board of her,
as they had been captured in English
territory, to the British authorities. On
landing the prisoners at Halifax, they
were rescued by a mob. They were,
however, retaken and held for trial, to
gether with their fugitive comrades, who
had been arrested.
** Locke had gone on board the Chesapeake at St. John's,
and assumed the command.

284

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Meeting of the Thirty-eighth Congress.— The President's Message.— Foreign Relations.— Finances.— Naval Operations.
—Negro Enlistments.— Good Policy of Emancipation Proclamations, etc.— Firmness of the President. — Proclama
tion of Amnesty.— Report of the Secretary of the Treasury.— Report of the Secretary of War.— Exchange of Prison
ers.— Power of Ordnance.— Report of the Secretary of the Navy.— Meeting of the Confederate Congress. — Message
of Jefferson Davis.— Report of Memminger, the Secretary of the Treasury.— Memminger's Confessions.— Immense
overflow of Currency. — The Effect. — Fatal to the Confederacy, if not remedied. — Action of Congress on the Con
scription. — Extraordinary Measures. — Signs of Exhaustion. — Bread Riots. — Confessions of the Authorities. — A
Redundant Currency the chief Mischief. — Destitution at Richmond. — Nothing left but the effort of Despair.—
Montesquieu's Opinion of the Strength of Despair. — Rumors of Peace Propositions. — Mission of Vice-President
Stephens. — Misconceptions. — Explanation by Davis.

On Monday, December 7th, the Thirty-
eighth Congress met at Washington.
The Senate and House of Repre
sentatives were organized, with Vice-
Dec,- President Hamlin as the official
?• president of the former, and the
Hon. Schuyler Colfax as the chosen
speaker of the latter.
The President's message and . the re
ports of the various departments were
duly laid before Congress. The Presi
dent said on the subject of our foreign
relations :
" We remain in peace and friendship
with foreign powers. The efforts of
disloyal citizens of the United States to
involve us in foreign wars, to aid an in
excusable insurrection, have been un
availing. Her Britannic Majesty's Gov
ernment, as was justly expected, have
exercised their authority to prevent the
departure of new hostile expeditions
from British ports. The Emperor of
France has, by a like proceeding, prompt
ly vindicated the neutrality which he
proclaimed at the beginning of the con

test. Questions of great intricacy and
importance have arisen out of the block
ade, and other belligerent operations,
between the Government and several of
the maritime powers, but they have
been discussed, and as far as was pos
sible accommodated, in a spirit of frank
ness, justice, and mutual good-will. It
is especially gratifying that our prize
courts, by the impartiality of their ad
judications, have commanded the respect
and confidence of maritime powers."
In regard to the finances of the Gov
ernment, Mr. Lincoln briefly stated :
" The receipts during the year from
all sources, including loans and the
balance in the treasury at its commence
ment, were $901,125,674 86, and the ag
gregate disbursements $895,796,620 65,
leaving a balance on the 1st of July,
1863, of $5,329,044 21. Ofthe receipts
there were derived from customs, $69,-
059,642 40 ; from internal revenue,
$37,640,787 95 ; from direct tax, $1,-
485,103 61 ; from lands, $167,617, 17 ;
from miscellaneous sources, $3,046,615

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

285

35 ; and from loans, $776,682,361 57 ;
making the aggregate $901,125,674 86.
Of the disbursements there were for
the civil service, $23,253,922 08; for
pensions and Indians, $4,216,520 79 ;
for interest on public debt, $24,729,846
51 ; for the War Department, $599,298,-
600 83 ; for the Navy Department, $63,-
211,105 27 ;.for payment of funded and
temporary debt, $181,086,635 07 ; mak
ing the aggregate $895,796,630 65, and
leaving the balance of $5,329,044 21.
But the payments of funded and tempo
rary debt, having been made from
moneys borrowed during the year, must
be regarded as merely nominal pay
ments, and the moneys borrowed to
make them as merely nominal receipts,
and their amount, $181,086,635 07,
should therefore be deducted both from
receipts and disbursements. This being
done, there remains as actual receipts,
$720,039,039 79 ; and the actual dis
bursements, $714,709,995 59, leaving
the balance as already stated."
Of naval operations the President
remarked :
" The duties devolving on the naval
branch of the service during the year,
and throughout the whole of this un
happy contest, have been discharged
with fidelity and eminent succe;ss. The
extensive blockade has been constantly
increasing in efficiency. If the navy has
expanded, yet on so long a line it has so
far found it impossible to entirely sup
press illicit trade. From returns receiv
ed at the Navy Department, it appears
that more than 1,000 vessels have been
captured since the blockade was institut

ed, and that the value of prizes already
sent in for adjudication amounts to over
13,000,000 of dollars. The naval force
of the United States consists at this time
of 588 vessels, completed and in the
course of completion ; and of these,
seventy-five are iron-clad, or armored
steamers. The events of the war give
an increased interest and importance to
the navy, which will probably extend
beyond the war itself. The armored
vessels in our navy, completed and in
service, or which are under contract and
approaching completion, are believed to
exceed in number those of any other
power ; but while these may be relied
upon for harbor defence and coast
service, others of greater strength and
capacity will be necessary for cruising
purposes, and to maintain our rightful
position on the ocean."
In regard to the experiment of enlist
ing negroes in the army, Mr. Lincoln
made the following satisfactory state
ment :
" Of those who were slaves at the
beginning of the rebellion, full 100,000
are now in the United States military
service, about one-half of which number
actually bear arms in the ranks ; thus
giving the double advantage of taking
so much labor from the insurgent cause,
and supplying the places which other
wise must be filled with so many white
men. So far as tested, it is difficult to
say they are not as good soldiers as any.
No servile insurrection, or tendency to
violence or cruelty, has marked the
measures of emancipation and arming
the blacks."

286

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

The President, convinced of the good
policy of his action in respect to the
emancipation of the slave, reiterated his
conviction of the beneficial results of the
laws and proclamations on the subject,
and declared his determination to abide
by them. He said :
"Those laws and proclamations were
enacted and put forth for the purpose
of aiding in the suppression of the re
bellion. To give them their fullest effect
there had to be a pledge for their main
tenance. In my judgment they have
aided and will further aid the cause for
which they were intended. To now
abandon them would be not only to
relinquish a lever of power, but would
also be a crUel and astounding breach
of faith. I may add, at this point, that
while I remain in my present position I
shall not attempt to retract or modify
the Emancipation • Proclamation, nor
shall I return to slavery any person who
is free by the terms of that proclama
tion, or by any of the acts of Congress.
For these and other reasons it is thought
best that support of these measures shall
be included in the oath ; and it is be
lieved that the executive may lawfully
claim it in return for pardon and resto
ration of forfeited rights, which he has a
clear constitutional power to withhold
altogether, or grant upon the terms he
shall deem wisest for the public interest.
It should be observed, also, that this
part of the oath is subject to the modi
fying and abrogating power of legisla
tion and supreme judicial decision."
The most important feature of the mes
sage was this proclamation of amnesty :

"Whereas, in and by the Constitution:
of the United States, it is provided that
the President shall have power to grant
reprieves and pardons for offences against
the United States, except in cases of
impeachment Y and, whereas, a rebellion
now exists, whereby the loyal State
governments of several States have for
along time, been subverted, and many
persons have committed and are now
guilty of treason against the United
States :
" And, whereas, with reference to
said rebellion and treason, laws have
been enacted by Congress declaring
forfeitures and confiscation of property
and liberation of slaves, all upon terms
and conditions therein stated, and also
declaring that the President was thereby
authorized at any time thereafter by
proclamation to extend to persons who
may have participated in the existing
rebellion, in any State or part thereof,
pardon and amnesty, with such excep-"
tion and at such time, and on such con
ditions as he may deem expedient for
the public welfare ;
"Whereas, the Congressional declara
tion for limited and conditional pardon
accords with the well-established judicial
exposition of the pardoning power ; and,
whereas,- with reference to the- said re
bellion, the President of the United
States has issued several proclamations
with provisions in regard to the libera
tion of slaves ; and, whereas, it is now
desired by some persons heretofore en
gaged in the said rebellion to resume
their allegiance to the United States,
and to reinaugurate loyal State govern-

AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.

287

ments within and for their respective
States ; therefore I, Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States, do pro
claim, declare, and make known to all
persons who have, directly or by impli
cation, participated in the existing re
bellion, except as hereinafter excepted,
that a full pardon is hereby granted
to them and each of them, with restora
tion of all rights of property, except as
to slaves, and in property cases where
the rights of third parties shall have
intervened, and upon the condition that
every such person shall take and sub
scribe an oath, and thenceforward keep
and maintain said oath inviolate ; and
which oath shall be registered for per
manent preservation, and shall be of the
tenor and effect following, to wit :
" I, , do solemnly swear in
presence of -Almighty God that 1 will
henceforth faithfully support, protect,
and defend the Constitution of the
United States and the Union of the
States thereunder, and that I will in like
manner abide by and faithfully support
all acts of Congress passed during the
existing rebellion with reference to
slaves, so long and so far as not repealed,
modified, or held void by Congress, or
by decision of the Supreme Court ; and
that I will, in like manner, abide by and
faithfully support all proclamations of
the President made during the existing
rebellion, having reference to slaves, so
long and so far as not modified or de
clared void by decision of the Supreme
Court. So help me God."
The persons excepted from the bene
fits of the foregoing provisions are all

who are, or shall have been, civil or
diplomatic officers or agents of the so-
called Confederate Government ; all who
have left judicial stations under the
United States to aid the rebellion ; all
who are, or shall have been, military or
naval officers of said so-called Confed
erate Government above the rank of
colonel in the army or of lieutenant in
the navy ; all who left seats in the
United States Congress to aid the rebel
lion ; all who resigned commissions in
the army or navy of the United States,
and afterward aided the rebellion ; and
all who have engaged in any way in
treating colored persons, or white per
sons in charge of such, otherwise than
lawfully as prisoners of war, and which
persons may have been found in the
United States service as soldiers, sea
men, or in any other capacity ; and I do
further proclaim, declare, and make
known, that whenever, in any of the
States of Arkansas, Texas. Louisiana,
Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Geor
gia, Florida, South Carolina, and North
Carolina, a number of persons, not less
than one-tenth in number of the votes
cast in such State at the Presidential
election of the year of our Lord 1860,
each having taken the oath aforesaid
and not having since violated it, and
being a qualified voter by the election
law of the State existing immediately
before the so-called act of secession, and
excluding all others, shall re-establish a
State government which shall be repub
lican, and in no wise contravening said
oath, such shall be recognized as the true
government of the State, and the State

288

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

shall receive thereunder the benefits of
the constitutional provision which de
clares that
»
"'The United States shall guarantee
to every State in this Union a republi
can form of government, and shall pro
tect each of them against invasion on
application of the Legislature, or of the
Executive when the Legislature cannot
be convened, against domestic vio
lence.' " And I do further proclaim, declare,
and make known, that any -provision
which may be adopted by such State
government in relation to the freed
people of such State which shall recog
nize and declare their permanent free
dom, provide for their education, and
which yet may be consistent, as a
temporary arrangement, with their pres
ent condition as a laboring, landless,
and houseless class, will not be objected
to by the national Executive.
" And it is engaged as not improper
that, in constructing a loyal State gov
ernment in any State, the name of the
State, the boundary, the subdivisions,
the constitution, and the general code
of laws as before the rebellion, be main
tained, subject only to the modifications
made necessary by the conditions here
inbefore stated, and such others, if any,
not contravening said conditions, and
which may be deemed expedient by
those framing the new State govern
ment. To avoid misunderstanding, it
may be proper to say that this Procla
mation, so far as it relates to State
governments, has no reference to States
wherein loyal State governments have

all the while been maintained ; and for
the same reason it may be proper to
say, that whether members sent to Con
gress from any State shall be admitted
to seats constitutionally, rests exclusively
with the respective houses, and not to
any extent with the Executive. And
still further, that this Proclamation is
intended to present the people of the
States wherein the national authority
has been suspended, and loyal State
governments have been subverted, a
mode in and by which the national
authority and loyal State governments
may be re-established within said States
or in any of them, and while the mode
presented is the best the Executive can
suggest with his present impressions, it
must not be understood that no other
possible mode would be acceptable.
" Given under, my hand, at the city
of Washington, the eighth day of De
cember, a.d. one thousand eight hun
dred and sixty-three, and of the in
dependence of the United States of
America the eighty-eighth. "Abraham Lincoln.
" By the President :
" William H. Seward,
"Secretary of State."
The Secretary of the Treasury pre
sented an elaborate report of the finan
cial condition of the Government for the
fiscal year, closing with the 30th of
June, 1863, and gave an estimate of
that of the ensuing year, ending on the
30th of June, 1864.
" He had estimated that the receipts
of the Government, apart from loans,
for the year ending June 30, 1863,

NATIONAL FINANCES.

289

would be 180 millions,* the amount was
actually 124 millions, the deficiency
arising from internal revenue, which
had been calculated to produce 85 mil
lions, while the receipts were only 37
millions. He had also estimated that
the actual expenditures of the year
would be 693 millions ; the amount was
714 millions ; of this sum 590 millions
were derived from loans, which form an
addition to the public debt. This debt
on the 1st of July, 1862, was 508 mil
lions ; the national debt was therefore
on the 1st of July, 1863, 1,098 millions.
The expenditures of the Government for
the present fiscal year, the Secretary
estimated at 749 millions ; of which 161
millions will be derived from customs
and taxes, and the remaining 588 mil
lions from loans. The debt of the
nation on the 30th of June, 1864, will
then be 1,686 millions. The actual
amount on the 30th of September, 1863,
was 1,228 millions. The estimates for
the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1864,
are only approximations, and are based
on the supposition that the war will still
continue. The revenue from ordinary
sources is put down at 206 millions, the
expenditures at 751 millions ; leaving
545 millions to be provided for by loans.
According to these estimates the entire
debt on the 30th of June, 1865, will be
about 2,232 millions. In order to make
the internal revenue bring in the sum
of 150 -millions, the Secretary recom
mends increased taxes and duties upon
various articles of luxury, prominent
among which are that the duty on dis-
• The sums are given in round numbers.
905

tilled spirits be fixed at sixty cents per
gallon ; on tobacco from five to twenty-
five cents per pound, on petroleum ten
cents per gallon ; and on cotton two
cents per pound."
The Secretary of War, in his report,
gave a summary of the military opera
tions of the year, the influence of which
he stated "in suppressing the rebellion
and restoring the authority of the Gov
ernment can scarcely be overestimated."
In the West, " the rebel territory has
been cut in twain, and .ihe States west
of the Mississippi no longer furnish
supplies to the rebels, 'while the people
of these States are showing such signs
of returning loyalty that a speedy re
storation of civil government may be
confidently anticipated. The operations
against Charleston have not accomplished
all that was anticipated ; but they have
exhibited great skill and bravery on the
part of our 'forces. By the recent ope
rations in Texas, the chief avenue of the
rebels for foreign commerce and foreign
aid is cut off. In the East, there has
been little material change. The armies
of Lee and Meade occupy nearly the
same relative positions as they did a
year ago ; the combats have been at
tended by about equal loss on both
sides, without material advantage to
either. Western Virginia is clear from
any rebel force. Nothing of importance
has taken place in the Departments of
Virginia and North Carolina. In the
Department of Missouri the enemy have
been driven across the Arkansas."
In regard to the exchange of prison
ers, the Secretary declared that the

290

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

agreement by which prisoners on either
side were to be released on parole has
been systematically violated by the
enemy. " At Vicksburg and Port Hudson we
captured and parolled about 35,000, not
a few of whom, without having been
exchanged, have since been found in the
Confederate armies ; and again, the
Confederate Government refuses to con
sider our colored soldiers or white
officers who command them, when cap
tured, as prisoners of war, but treats
them as criminals, refusing to exchange
them. They have 13,000 of our soldiers,
while we have 40,000 of theirs. They
refuse to exchange man for man, de
manding that we should give all of theirs
in exchange for all of ours. This can
not be acceded to. In the mean while,
our prisoners in their hands undergo
the utmost hardships, while theirs in our
hands are well cared for. IF necessary,
retaliation must be resorted to.
"The conscription has been enforced
in twelve States, bringing in 50,000
soldiers and $10,000,000 of money.
The question of abolishing the $300
exemption clause was commended to
the consideration of Congress. The
conduct of the colored troops in our
armies was lauded."
The following facts show the extra
ordinary increase in the Ordnance De
partment, the operations of which the
Secretary gives in detail.
"At the opening of the war we had
1,052 siege and coast guns, and have
since procured 1,064 ; of field-artillery
we had 231 pieces, and have procured

2.734 ; of infantry fire-arms we had
473,000, and have procured 1,950,000 ;
of cavalry fire-arms we had 31,000, and
have procured 338,000 ; of balls and
shells we had 363,000, and have procur
ed 2,562,000. At first we were com
pelled to rely on foreign countries for
our arms and munitions ; now we manu
facture them ourselves."
The Secretary of the- Navy, in his
report, dwelt upon the extraordinary
increase of our naval force.
" At the commencement of the present
Administration we had 76 vessels, of
which 'only 42 were in commission. At
the time of the last report of the Secretary
a year ago we had 427 vessels, with 3,268
guns, tonnage 340,036 tons. We have
now 588 vessels, with 4,443 guns, tonnage
466,967 tons ; an increase, exclusive of
losses, of 161 vessels, 1,175 guns, 126, t
931 tons. We have, meanwhile, lost 32
vessels, with 166 guns, tonnage 15,t)85
tons. Of these lost vessels 12 were
captured, 3 destroyed to prevent their
falling into the hands of the enemy, 4
were sunk in battle or by torpedoes,
and 13 lost by shipwreck, fire, and
collision. Of our present 588 vessels, 46
are iron-clad steamers for coast service ;
29 iron-clad steamers for inland service ;
203 side- wheel steamers ; 198 screw-
steamers ; and 112 sailing vessels.
"The number of vessels captured by
our blockading fleets, exclusive of a
large number destroyed on the Missis
sippi and other rivers, was 1,045 ; of
these 547 were schooners, 179 steamers,
131 sloops, 30 brigs, 26 barks, 15 ships,
and 117 yachts and small boats. The

MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT DAVIS.

291

value of the prizes sent into court for
adjudication amounts to $13,000,000."
The Congress of the so-called Con
federate States met in Richmond on the
7th of December, 1863. On the same
day President Davis delivered his mes
sage. After a review of the military op
erations of the year and a confession of
disaster, he still found " ground for con
gratulation on successes in Louisiana and
Texas. On the sea-co&st," said he, "the
enemy is exhausted by vain efforts to
capture our forts, while on the northern
frontier he has in turn felt the pressure,
and dreads the renewal of invasion."
In regard to the foreign relations of
the Confederate Government, he com
plained that the action of foreign nations
had in some cases assumed a character
positively unfriendly. He entered upon
a long argument to prove that the
blockade had been ineffectual, and charg
ed Great Britain with partiality in not
acknowledging the fact.
Mr. Davis recognized the disastrous
condition of the finances of his govern
ment, and stated that the issues of Treas
ury notes had been increased until the
currency in circulation amounted to more
than $600,000,000, or more than three
fold the amount required by the busi
ness of the country.
In regard to the army, Mr. Davis
said,, "The assertion is believed to be
fully justified, that, regarded as a whole,
for character, valor, efficiency, and patri
otic devotion, our army has not been
equalled by any like number of troops
in the history of war ;" but he confessed
the want of men, and declared that "no

effort must be spared to add largely to
our effective force as promptly as pos
sible." He could not, said Mr. Davis,
close his message "without again ad
verting to the savage ferocity which
still marks the conduct of the enemy in
the prosecution of the war. After their
repulse from the defences before Charles
ton, they first sought revenge by an
abortive attempt to destroy the city with
an incendiary composition, thrown by
improved artillery, from a distance of
four miles. Failing in this, they chang
ed their missiles, but fortunately have
thus far succeeded only in killing two
women in the city. Their commanders,
Butler, McNeill, and Turchin, whose
horrible barbarities have made their
names widely notorious and everywhere
execrable, are still honored and cherished
by the authorities at Washington. The
first named, after having been with
drawn from the scenes of his cruelties
against women and prisoners of war (in
reluctant concession to the demands of
outraged humanity in Europe), has just
been put in a new command at Norfolk,
where helpless women and children are
again placed at his mercy.
" Nor has less unrelenting warfare
been waged by these pretended friends
of human rights and liberties against the
unfortunate negroes. Wherever the
enemy have been able to gain access,
they have forced into the ranks of their
army every able-bodied man that they
could seize, and have either left the
aged, the women, and the children to
perish by starvation, or have gathered
them into camps, where they have been

292

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

wasted by a frightful mortality. With
out clothing or shelter, often without
food, incapable, without supervision, of
taking the most ordinary precautions
against disease, these helpless depend
ents, accustomed to have their wants
supplied by the foresight of their masters,
are being rapidly exterminated wherever
brought in contact with the invaders.
By the Northern man, on whose deep-
rooted prejudices no kindly restraining
influence is exercised, they are treated
with aversion and neglect. There is
little hazard in predicting that, in all
localities where the enemy have gained
a temporary foothold, the negroes, who
under our care increased six-fold in
number since their importation into the
colonies of Great Britain, will have been
reduced by mortality during the war to
not more than one-half their previous
number." The continuance of the war was attrib
uted to the ferocity of the enemy, whom
Mr. Davis, however, declared that his fel
low-insurgents were prepared to resist
to the last.
" The hope last year entertained of
an early termination of the war," said
he, "has not been realized. Could
carnage have satisfied the appetite of
our enemy for the destruction of human
life, or grief have appeased their wanton
desire to inflict human suffering, there
has been bloodshed enough on both
sides, and two lands have been sufficient
ly darkened by the weeds of mourning
to induce a disposition for peace.
" If unanimity in a people could dis
pel delusion, it has been displayed too

unmistakably not to have silenced the
pretence that the Southern States were
merely disturbed by a factious insurrec
tion, and it must long since have been
admitted that they were but exercising
their reserved right to modify their own
government in such manner as would
best secure their own happiness. But
these considerations have been power
less to allay "the unchristian hate of those
who, long accustomed to draw large
profits from a union with us, cannot
control the rage excited by the convic
tion that they have, by their own folly,
destroyed the richest sources of their
prosperity. They refuse even to listen
to proposals for the only peace possible
between us — a peace which, recognizing
the impassable gulf which divides us, may
leave the two peoples separately to re
cover from the injuries inflicted on both
by the causeless war now waged against
us. Having begun the war in direct
violation of their constitution, which
forbade the attempt to coerce a State,
they have been hardened by crime, until
they no longer attempt to veil their
purpose to destroy the institutions and
subvert the sovereignty and independ
ence of these States. We now know
that the only reliable hope for peace is
in the vigor of our resistance, as the
cessation of their hostility is only to be
expected from the pressure "of their
necessities. "The patriotism of the people has
proved equal to every sacrifice demanded
by their country's need. We have been
united as a people never were united
under like circumstances before. God

CONFEDERATE CONSCRIPTION BILL.

293

has blessed us with success dispropor
tionate to our means, and, under His
divine favor, our labors must at last be
crowned with the reward due to men
who have given all they possessed to the
righteous defence of their inalienable
rights, their homes, and their altars."
Mr. Memminger, Secretary of the
Treasury, acknowledged the great evil
of a redundant paper currency, which
had been issued to the amount of
800,000,000 of dollars. This he declar
ed was five times as much as the South
required for its trade. The Secretary
believed that this superabundant cur
rency, which had so depreciated that one
of its nominal dollars was worth only
ten cents of real money, would prove
fatal to the Confederacy, unless some
means were discovered and adopted for
diminishing its quantity and increasing
its value.
The earliest action of the Confederate
Congress was to report an extraordinary
conscription bill, with the following
clauses :
"I. All -white male residents of the
Confederate States between sixteen and
fifty-five shall be in the military service.
" 2. All between sixteen and eighteen,
and between forty-five and fifty-five,
shall belong to the reserve corps ; those
between eighteen and forty-five, to the
army in the field.
"3. All who hereafter arrive at the
age of sixteen shall belong to the reserve,
and those who hereafter arrive at the
age of eighteen shall be transferred from
the reserve to the army in the field.
"4. That the reserved corps shall be

used for local defence and garrison duty,,
and may be ordered beyond the limits
of their State for thirty days in cases of
great emergency. All details for "pro
vost and hospital guards, for commissary
and quartermasters' agents, etc., shall be
from this corps.
"5. Persons liable to duty in the
reserve corps failing to enroll, shall be
conscribed to the army in the field.
"6. The organization of the reserve
corps shall be the same as that pre
scribed by existing laws for the army in
the field, etc.
" 7. Any existing organization of non-
conscripts may be received into the
service, and form part of the reserve
corps. ,
"9. No person shall be relieved from
the operations of this law by reason of
having been heretofore discharged from
the army, when no disability now exists,
nor shall those who have furnished sub
stitutes be any longer exempted by
reason thereof, provided that those who
have paid into the public treasury the
amount specified by the act in relation
to exemptions, approved 11th of Octo
ber, 1862, and who may be held to
service under this act, shall be repaid a .
fair proportion of the amount so paid by
them, under rules to be prescribed by
the Secretary of War.
"10. All laws granting exemptions
from military service be repealed, and
that hereafter none be exempt but the
following :
"1. All who shall be held to be unfit
for military service under rules to be
prescribed by the Secretary of War.

294

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

"2. Ministers of religion, superintend
ents of asylums of deaf, dumb, and blind,
and of the insane ; one editor of each
newspaper and the employes in news
paper establishments ; physicians and
apothecaries, as now prescribed by law."
This bill was an indication of the
strain to which, in the Southern Con
federacy, the chief resource of war, that
of fighting men, had been subjected.
It is generally conceded that military
service to be effective must be confined
to the ages between eighteen and forty-
five. When this limit is overstepped, the
demand for soldiers is supposed to ex
ceed the natural supply, and is not only
a proof but a cause of weakness.
There were other indications, besides
the want of effective fighting men, of the
diminished resources of the South. The
" bread riots," which occurred in the
spring of 1863, at Richmond, Savannah,
Mobile, and other Southern cities, show
ed either a scarcity of food or of the
means of procuring it. The Confederate
Congress, by its public acts, confessed
not only a present deficiency in the means
of subsistence, but a solicitude in regard
to supplies for the future.
In an address to the Southern people,
April dated April 10, 1863, issued by
10* Mr. Davis, he complained that the
protracted droughts of the previous
year, more particularly in the northern
part of the Confederacy, had reduced
the harvests far below an average yield,
and appealed to them to lay aside all
thought of gain by devoting their fields
to the raising of grain and live-stock,
instead of cotton and tobacco.

The supply of meat for the army was
deficient at this time, as appears by a
letter from the Confederate Commissary-
General to the Secretary at War, j^pr|]
dated April 25, 1863, in which he 25.
states, that " unless something is done
immediately, the people and army must
starve next winter." One plan among
others suggested was, for the Governors
to convoke the farmers at numerous
points, and addressing them through
prominent speakers, to urge on this
class of citizens to avert the impending
danger. Fearing, however, that this
convocation would be disregarded, three
plans for preventing the threatened
famine were offered by General Bragg.
The first was, that the President, by pro
clamation, prohibit the raising of any
more cotton and tobacco or clearing of
new lands until further notice. The sec
ond, that by proclamation he order all
planters to seed a certain number of
acres of grain or other articles of neces
sary consumption, in proportion to the
quantity of cleared land and negroes
belonging to them. The third, for the
government to take possession of the
plantations, or such portion of them as
the owners did not intend to seed with
grain, etc., and employ the negroes
belonging thereto in raising such agri
cultural products as might be deemed
necessary. Officers and soldiers ren
dered by wounds and disease unfit for
further service in the field, could be
employed as superintendents and over
seers. " The last-mentioned plan," writes the
Commissary- General, " appears to me

SOUTHERN RESOURCES FAILING.

295

feasible, and entirely the best that can
now be adopted.
" The wheat harvests, it is easy to see
and learn from a trip through the
country, will not be half as bounti
ful as we have anticipated ; and the
belief into which the government has
been led, that there are large quan
tities of bacon in many parts of the
country, is erroneous. The inventory
ordered by Governor Brown of the
bacon and live-stock in Georgia (of
which you have by this time probably
received a copy), shows the well-nigh
exhausted condition of that State, and
yet, beyond peradventure, it is less
nearly exhausted than any other State
in the Confederacy.
" It will, therefore, be no easy matter
to keep our armies in the field without
causing suffering among the people till
the harvests are gathered next autumn.
From that time we shall be entirely
dependent on those harvests, and that
they may be rendered adequate to our
wants, I unhesitatingly recommend the
adoption of the third plan suggested by
General Bragg."
These documents prove undoubtedly
that there was either a scarcity, or the
fear of it, in the Southern Confederacy.
That there was suffering is shown by
this significant paragraph under the
heading " Bread Destitution," published
in the Richmond Whig of the 8th of
April :
" Lee Mallory, the lessee of Metro
politan Hall, has established a depSt at
the hall for the distribution of 2,400
loaves of bread per month to the needy

families of soldiers in the field. The
Ladies' Benevolent Society superintend
the distribution, which takes place on
Tuesday and\Friday of each week, the
beneficiaries being furnished with tickets
for the bread."
The main cause of the suffering which
existed was undoubtedly the currency,
which by its great abundance, its irreg
ular fluctuations of value, and its ex
treme depreciation, raised prices, per
plexed trade, and checked the distribu
tion of commodities.
That the South had, by a long war
with a people superior to it in every re
source, been strained almost to the ex
tent of its powers of resistance, was be
coming evident. With diminished men
and material, it had apparently, if unaid
ed by foreign powers, little left but the
effort of despair to rely upon ; but this,
says Montesquieu, has often made weak
ness the equal of strength.
With the evidences of the enemy's
diminished resources for carrying on the
war, came rumors of a disposition to
make concessions for the sake of peace.
Mr. Stephens, the Vice-President of the
Southern Confederacy, having presented
himself at the Union outposts of jujy
Fortress Monroe, and asked for 3.
admission to an audience of President
Lincoln (which was refused), it was con
jectured that he was charged with a
pacific mission.*
- This conjecture would seem to have been erroneous.
The true object of Mr. Stephens was subsequently disclosed
by the publication of his intentions.
" Tour mission," wrote President Davis, "is simply one
of humanity, and has no political aspect.
"If objection is made to receiving your letter, on the

296

THE WAR WITH THE SOUTH.

Peace, however, was still remote.
The Union arms had accomplished much,
but, though signs of decay in both the
military and political power of the Con
federacy had become marked, much re
mained to be accomplished. Though
the population of the South were in a
state of great destitution, and in some
parts said to be starving, the small but
powerful aristocracy, which had insti
gated the rebellion — whose members
held all the high military and political
positions, and would alone be benefited
by success — would not fail to feed its
soldiers. Some of the greatest victories have
been won by commanders whose armies
were destitute of everything but the
ground that it is not addressed to Abraham Lincoln as
President instead of commander-in-chief, etc., then you
will present the duplicate letter, which is addressed to
him as President and signed by me as President. To this
latter objection may be made, on the ground that I am
not recognized to be President of the Confederacy. In
this event you will decline any further attempt to confer
on the subject of your mission, as such conference is ad
missible only on the footing of perfect equality.
' ' My recent interviews with you have put you so fully
in possession of my views that it is scarcely necessary to
give you any detailed instructions, even were I at this
moment well enough to attempt it;
" My whole purpose is, in one word, to place this war
on the footing of such as are waged by civilized people in
modern times, and to divest it of the savage character
which has been impressed upon it by our enemies, in spite
of all our efforts and protests. War is full enough of
unavoidable horrors, under all its aspects, to justify, and
even to demand, of any Christian rulers who may be un
happily engaged in carrying it on, to seek to restrict its
calamities, and to divest it of all unnecessary severities.
1 ' Vou will endeavor to establish the cartel for the ex
change of prisoners on such a basis as to avoid the con
stant difficulties and complaints which arise, and to pre
vent for the future what we deem the unfair conduct of
our enemies in evading the delivery of the prisoners who
fall into their hands ; in retarding it by sending them on
circuitous routes, and by detaining them, sometimes for

first necessaries of life. Active mili
tary operations had almost ceased at
the close of the year 1863 ; but mo
mentous . issues hung on the coming
campaigns. The rebel leaders would be
compelled by the critical nature of their
position to carry into the future con
duct of the war all their vigor, energy,
and audacity. Though their resources
were drained, and three successive con
scriptions had gathered in nearly all the
fighting population, yet none could say
that they would not by faultless military
action make up for the want of material
means, and that the chiefs of the rebel
lion might not form such military com
binations as would turn back the tide
of victory.
months, in camps and in prisons, and in persisting in tak
ing captives non-combatants.
' ' Tour attention is also called to the unheard-of conduct
of Federal officers in driving from their homes entire com
munities of women and children, as well as of men, whom
they find in districts occupied by their troops, for no other
reason than because these unfortunates are faithful to the
allegiance due to their States and refuse to take an oath
of fidelity to their- enemies.
"The putting to death of unarmed prisoners has been a
ground of just complaint in more than one instance, and
the recent executions of officers of our army in Kentucky
for the sole cause that they were engaged in recruiting
service in a State which is claimed as still one of the
United States, but is also claimed by us as one of the
Confederates States, must ba repressed by retaliation, if
not unconditionally abandoned, because it would justify
the like execution in every other State of the Confederacy,
and the practice is barbarous, uselessly cruel, and can only
lead to the slaughter of, prisoners on both sides — a result
too horrible to contemplate without making every effort
to avoid it.
"On these and all kindred subjects you will consider
your authority full and ample to make such arrangements
as will temper the present cruel character of the contest,
and full confidence is placed in your judgment, patriotism,
and discretion, that while carrying out the objects of your
mission, you will take care that the equal rights of the
Confederacy be always preserved.''

RETROSPECT.

297

CHAPTER XXIX.
Retrospect. — Progress of Northern Arms. — Decaying Strength of the South. — Waste of War. — Number of Confeder
ate Troops in the Field. — General Lee's Army. — General Johnston's Army. — Confederate Forces in South Carolina,
Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, etc. — Military Exhaustion of the South. — Military Acts of the Richmond
Congress. — Classes of Persons exempt from Military Service in the South. — Number of Federal Troops in the Field.
— Positions of the Federal Armies. — General Inactivity at the Beginning of the Tear. — Movements in East Tennes
see.*- Johnston at Dalton. — Position of Longstreet. — Fight at Strawberry Plains. - General Vance's Raid. — Colonel
Palmer routs and captures Vance. — Another Fight at Strawberry Plains.— Longstreet at Strawberry Plains. — Ad
vance of General Schofield. — Defeat of General Rhoddy by Colonel Phillips.— Defeat of Rebel Cavalry by General
Sturgis at Fair Gardens. — Affairs at Cumberland Gap and Powell's Bridge. — General Palmer's Reconnoissance '
toward Johnston's Position at Dalton. — Fight near Dalton.— General Sherman's Mississippi Expedition. — Force em
ployed. — Generals Smith and Griersonto co-operate. — Object of the Expedition.— Big Black River crossed. — Fight
at Champion Hills. — Skirmish beyond Baker's Creek. — Rebels driven across the Pearl River at Jackson. — Rebel
Stores destroyed at Brandon. — Rebel Force falls back from Morton. --Railroad Stock destroyed at Lake Station. — ¦
Army encamps at Decatur. — General Chambers on the Big Chunkey River. —Occupation of Meridian. — Destruction
of Railroads. — No News of Generals Smith and Grierson. — Return of General Sherman from Meridian.— March
from Hillsboro to Canton. — Forage Wagons captured by the Rebels near Canton. — Locomotives and Cars de
stroyed, — General Sherman leaves for New Orleans. —Return of the Army to Vicksburg. — Attack on Yazoo City.
— Amount of Destruction effected by the Expedition. — Co-operative Movements of Generals Smith and Grierson. —
Fatal Delays. — Arrival at Okalona.— Destruction of Rebel Stores at Okalona and Prairie Station. — General Forrest
at West Point.— Generals Smith and Grierson defeated by Forrest near West Point.— Retrograde March of the
Column of Generals Smith and Grierson.— Fight at Okalona.— Rapid Ketreat of the Federal Troops.— Safe Arrival
at Colliersville.— Destruction effected.

1861.

At the commencement of 1864, the
situation of the Union and rebel
forces differed materially from what
it had been twelve months before.
Though the Army of the Potomac still
very properly retained its. name and had
as yet made very little progress toward
Richmond ; though Charleston continued
to hold out against every effort' of the
naval commanders ; though the blockad
ing fleets had not been able to prevent
the landing from Europe and elsewhere
of supplies and munitions of war at
various points along the Southern sea
board ; though the Confederates were
still in arms in every Southern State,
the victorious columns of the North had
206

nevertheless established themselves in
East Tennessee ; Vicksburg and Port
Hudson had fallen, and the Mississippi
had been opened from Cairo to the
Gulf ; the Confederacy had been cut in
two, and the States in rebellion west of
the Mississippi separated from those on
the east.
But great as had been the apparent
progress of the Union cause, that which
was not so apparent was still greater.
The relative power of the North was
rapidly increasing, not only by the actual
development of its many sources of
wealth and its uninterrupted industry,
but by the wasting numerical strength
and material exhaustion of the South,

298

NUMBER OF CONFEDERATE TROOPS IN THE FIELD.

where not only had the production of
wealth ceased, and its previous accumula
tions been almost consumed, and financial
ruin become nearly universal, but the
fighting material could no longer be
found to supply the waste of a gigantic
war, a waste almost unfelt in the North,
to which immigration alone went far to
make up its losses in men.
The number of Confederate troops in
the field at the beginning of the year
was somewhere near as follows : Gen
eral Robert E. Lee's army, counting in
the forces under Longstreet, and the
troops in the neighborhood of A.bingdon,
Lynchburg, and other parts of southwest
Virginia and East Tennessee, numbered
about 90,000 ; besides these there were
at Richmond and Petersburg, exclusive
of citizens and home-guards, 3,000
troops ; between Petersburg and Wel
don, 1,000 ; along the railroad between
Weldon and Wilmington, 6,000 ; under
General Pickett,, in North Carolina,
8,000 ; Mosby and Imboden had a guer
rilla force of about 4,000 men. The
total of rebel troops in East and West
Virginia and North Carolina amounted
therefore to 112,000 men.
General Johnston's army, comprising
all. the Confederate forces in Georgia,
Alabama, and Mississippi — except the
troops under General Forrest, who had,
including the commands of Lee, Chal
mers, and Richardson, 6,000 men, with
an independent roving commission — -and
those at Savannah and Mobile, num
bered about 54,000 men, composed of
two corps, each having six divisions of
infantry, amounting to 36,000 men, and

several divisions of cavalry, numbering
18,000 men, including the cavalry under
Wheeler, Wharton, and Morgan.
The Confederate forces in South Caro
lina and at Savannah under Beauregard,
with those in Florida under McCown,
amounted to 10,000. West of the Mis
sissippi — in various parts of Texas under
Magruder, and in Arkansas, under
Holmes — were about 12,000 men, under
the direction of General Kir by Smith.
Generals Maury and Claiborne at Mobile
had about 8,000 men. Besides these
there were 12,000 men engaged in im
portant prison guard, in hospitals, and
in commissary and quartermaster's de
partments ; to which ought to be added
about 2,000 guerrillas along the banks
of the Mississippi.
The total of veterans in the Confed
erate service amounted according to this
estimate to 216,000 men. To these
were shortly added 120,000 conscripts,
making the grand total of troops in the
Confederate armies, 336,000 men.
The military exhaustion of the. South
was apparent from the measures taken
by the Confederate Government to keep
up the strength of its armies, and from
the acts passed by the Richmond Con
gress revising the acts by which their
armies were formed. On the 28th of
December, 1863, it was enacted that no
person liable to military service should
be permitted to furnish a substitute ; on
the 5th of January, 1864, it was enacted
that no person liable to military service
should be exempted by reason of his
having furnished a substitute.
In February, a general military act

CONFEDERATE MILITARY ACTS.

299

was passed, according to the provisions
of which all white men between the ages
of seventeen and fifty were -to be in the
military service during, the war, and all
between the ages of eighteen and forty-
five were to be retained during the war
in the organization in which they were
serving at the time of the passage of the
act, unless regularly discharged or trans
ferred. All between the ages of seven
teen and eighteen were to constitute a
reserve corps, not to serve out of their
State ; but not to be employed in any
of the bureaus, departments, or hospi
tals, all which kind of work was reserved
for persons physically disqualified for
active service, or between forty-five and
fifty years of age. The President was
also authorized to make details of
artisans, mechanics, and persons of
scientific skill, to perform indispensable
duties in the different departments. All
previously existing exemption laws were
repealed, and according to this act, only
those were exempt from military service
who were incapable of performing it,
except the Vice-President, members of
the Confederate Congress, State legis
latures, etc., Governors, and such other
Confederate or State officers as the Pres
ident or Governors might certify to be
necessary for the proper administration
ofthe Confederate or State governments ;
clergymen regularly employed in the
discharge of ministerial duties ; superin
tendents and physicians of asylums ;
newspaper editors and indispensable
journeymen printers ; apothecaries, one
in each store ; physicians over thirty
years of age, hospital superintendents,

professors, teachers, etc., on certain con
ditions. One person, as owner or agriculturist,
was exempted on each farm or planta
tion upon which fifteen able-bodied
hands were employed, conditioned on
the execution of a bond on the part of
the exempt to deliver within twelve
months at such place as the Secretary
of War might designate, one hundred
pounds of bacon or pork and one hun
dred pounds of beef, for each able-bodied
slave on his plantation ; also to sell to
the government or the families of soldiers
all surplus of provisions and grain at the
prices fixed under the impressment act.
The Secretary of War was also em
powered to grant exemptions in certain
cases on the ground of public necessity,
and to such overseers, farmers, or plan
ters as would be more useful to the
country in the pursuit of agriculture
than in the military service.
In passing this act the Confederate
Congress showed a desperate determina
tion to maintain the war, and at the same
time exhibited in a striking manner the
exhaustion of the Southern fighting
element. Evidently, if the armies thus
recruited should fail, the Confederacy
must fail also.
The number of Federal troops in the
field at the beginning of the year was
somewhat less than 600,000 men, with
four and a half millions of males between
the ages of eighteen and forty-five from
which successive drafts might be made,
to supply the. waste of war, besides a
vast annual immigration from Europe.
The positions of the Federal armies

300

POSITIONS OF THE FEDERAL ARMIES.

at the beginning of the year were as
follows : The Army of the Potomac
under General Meade was near Culpep
per Court House, Virginia, north of the
Rapidan, confronted by the army of
General Lee near Orange Court House,
south of the Rapidan. Winchester,
Martinsburg, and Harper's Ferry, as well
as the line of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad in West Virginia, were held by
the Federal forces. General Early com
manded the Confederate troops in the
valley ot the Shenandoah ; his head
quarters at Staunton. General Burnside
was still at Knoxville, East Tennessee,
confronted eastward by General Long-
street. General Grant's army was at
Chattanooga, confronted by the army of
General Johnston at Dalton ; his lines
of communication extending through
Stevenson and Murfreesboro. Florence
and Corinth were also held by the
Federal forces at the beginning of the
year. Military posts, consisting of forti
fications with heavy guns, garrisoned
principally by colored troops, had been
established along the Mississippi at
Cairo, Columbus, New Madrid, Fort
Pillow, Memphis, Helena, Goodrich's
Landing, Vicksburg. Natchez, Port Hud
son, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and
!Forts Jackson and St. Philip. A large
force was in New Orleans, under the
command of General Banks, with de
tachments at Brashear City, and at
Brownsville on the Rio Grande. Gen
eral Steele had a considerable force at
Little Rock, Arkansas, and General
Rosecrans a small body of troops in
Missouri. Newbern, Washington, and

Plymouth, in North Carolina, were also
held by small Federal garrisons.
Little activity was displayed by either
the Federal or Confederate forces in the
early part of the year ; in the north and
along the seaboard the severity of the
season suspended operations to a great
extent. The earliest movements took
place in the Southwest. In East Ten
nessee the enemy had been compelled to
retire from attempts on Chattanooga and
Knoxville ; Bragg had been superseded
by Johnston, who had retired with the
main body of his army to Dalton, in
Georgia, twenty-eight miles southwest
of Chattanooga on the line of railroad
to Atlanta, at the junction of the Vir
ginia and Tennessee Railroad. Long-
street, remaining at the head of his v
division, had taken up a strong position
on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad
about forty miles northeast of Knoxville,
in the vicinity of Rutledge and Morris
town, a position in which, his communi
cations by the railroad being kept open,
he could at short notice retire and rejoin
Lee in Virginia, or — in view of the
probable inactivity of the Army of the
Potomac — receive large reinforcements
from him, and make a sudden attack
upon Knoxville, or seriously endanger
Grant's lines of communication should
he advance against Johnston in Georgia.
The main bodies of Grant's, Johnston's
and Longstreet's troops remained for
some time inactive, the severe weather
and the badness of the roads restricting
operations mostly to cavalry skirmishing
in the region intervening between tbe
armies. From time to time.Longstreet's

CAVALRY SKIRMISHES IN EAST TENNESSEE.

301

cavalry made dashes upon the Union
lines. One of these resulted, on the
10th of January, in a fight at Strawberry
Plains, on the south bank of the Holston,
twenty miles east-northeast of Knoxville,
in which the enemy sustained serious
loss. The rebel General Vance, on the 14th
of January, made a raid toward Tems-
ville, Tennessee, and captured a train
of twenty-three wagons, but on his re
turn was pursued and overtaken by
Colonel Palmer, who not only recaptured
the wagons and took an ambulance
loaded with medicines, 150 saddle-horses,
and a hundred stand of arms, but made
General Vance himself prisoner, together
with his adjutant-general and inspector-
general. Another demonstration on the part
Jan. 0I" the rebels at Strawberry Plains
21. resulted in the Union troops being
driven across the Holston and pursued
toward Knoxville, with the loss of four
hundred head of cattle and four thousand
hogs, captured by the rebels within four
miles of the city. Shortly afterward
Longstreet moved the main body of
his force to Strawberry Plains, to
which place the railroad had been put
in running order, and remained there
about a month, when he retired by way
of Bull's Gap, and the advance of Gen
eral Schofield, who had relieved General
Burnside, took a position forty miles
east of Knoxville.
The Confederate General Rhoddy
crossed the Tennessee at Florence, Ala
bama, a village on the north bank of the
river, just below Muscle Shoals, and at

the head of navigation, for the purpose
of making a raid through Middle Ten
nessee, but on the 24th of January was
driven to the south side of the river
again, by Colonel Phillips, who captured
all his trains, consisting of over twenty
mule teams, two hundred head of cattle,
six hundred sheep, and one hundred
horses and mules.
The straits to which they were driven
for forage led to an attempt -to get pos
session of the rich valley of the French
Broad, on the part of the rebel cavalry,
a considerable body of which, under
General Martin, crossed that river on
the 26th of January and advanced to
ward Sevierville, a village seventeen
miles east-southeast of Knoxville, near
which General Sturgis was posted with
his cavalry. General Sturgis withdrew
his force on the Newport road to an
advantageous position, and gave jan,
the rebels battle the next day at 27.
Fair Gardens, seven miles northeast of
Sevierville. The fight lasted from day
light till four in the afternoon, when the
rebels retreated, leaving two steel rifled
guns and one hundred prisoners, besides
losing sixty-five killed and wounded.
A battalion of the Eleventh Tennessee
Cavalry stationed on the Virginia road,
five miles east of Cumberland Gap, were
surprised and made prisoners on the
22d of February, and about the same
time the Union outposts at PoWell's
Bridge on the Tazewell road, five miles
south, consisting of fifty men under Cap
tain Pickering, were attacked, and hav
ing repulsed the enemy three times, were
withdrawn.

302

SHERMAN'S EXPEDITION TO MERIDIAN.

It having been suspected that General
Johnston had sent a large portion of his
force to assist General Polk in disputing
Sherman's advance into southern Ala
bama, a reconnoissance in . force toward
Johnston's position was determined on
by General Grant, and a column of
infantry of about six thousand men,
preceded by cavalry, under the com
mand of General Palmer, moved out of
Chattanooga on the 21st of February
and advanced toward Tunnel Hill, a
village six miles northwest of Dalton, on
the railroad, which, after heavy skir
mishing, was occupied on the 23d, and
the march continued with little opposi
tion to within three miles of Dalton,
where the enemy were found strongly
posted between two mountains, in a
gorge through which run the common
road and the railroad. A furious fire
of shot and shell from six pieces of artil
lery compelled the Federal skirmishers
to retreat. General Davis advanced
with Morgan's and McCook's brigades
and took a position at the mouth of the
gorge, when night came on and put an
end to the combat, and the next day, it
having become apparent that Johnston
had massed his forces at Dalton, it was
thought advisable to retire, and General
Palmer's column was back at Ringgold
on the 26th. The loss sustained- was
about thirty killed and two hundred
wounded. Early in February an expedition which
General Sherman had been for some
weeks organizing, consisting of the six
teenth and seventeenth army corps under
Generals Hurlbut and McPherson, com

prising a total force of twenty-one
thousand infantry and twelve hundred
cavalry, forty pieces of artillery, and a
train of eight hundred wagons, left camp
at Vicksburg, and commenced its march
toward Meridian, a village of about
three hundred inhabitants, one hundred
and twenty miles east of Vicksburg, at
the intersection of the Mobile and Ohio
and Vicksburg and Selma railroads.
It was intended that Generals Smith
and Grierson should move about the
same time from Memphis, with a force
consisting of about seven thousand cav
alry and a brigade of infantry, proceed
toward the same point, and effect a
junction, when the combined forces, it
was confidently believed, would be able.
to march without fear of successful op
position, either upon Mobile, one hun
dred and eight miles south, or upon
Selma, on the Alabama River and the
Alabama and Mississippi Railroad, eighty
miles east of Meridian, where were im
portant military magazines and quan
tities of war material, besides several
iron-clads in the stream.
Nothing was to be feared from the
inferior force under General Polk, unless
he should receive large reinforcements
from Johnston in Georgia, in which case
the Union armies at Chattanooga and
Knoxville would be able to overwhelm
Johnston and advance upon Atlanta. As
the Confederates could not know what
point General Sherman would strike,
they would be compelled to divide their
forces, and General Polk actually sent
back a number of his troops to Mobile,
which Admiral Farragut was at that

SHERMANS EXPEDITION TO MERIDIAN.

303

time threatening. The plan of the
expedition was evidently a good one ;
everything, however, depended on the
junction at Meridian of the cavalry force
under Generals Smith and Grierson with
the infantry under Sherman.
General Sherman's force left camp at
Feb. Vicksburg on the morning of the
3» 3d of February, in light marching
order, without tents, and with only
twenty days' provisions, as it was in
tended the troops should derive sub
sistence mainly from the country to be
passed through. The seventeenth corps
crossed the Big Black River at the rail
road bridge, twelve miles east of Vicks
burg, the sixteenth at Messenger's Ferry,
six miles above ; and the two corps
bivouacked at night on two roads about
five miles from the river. About seven
o'clock the next morning the march was
resumed. About one o'clock the ad
vanced cavalry guard of the seventeenth
corps was met at Champion Hills by a
superior force of rebel cavalry and com
pelled to retire, when the Fifteenth and
Sixteenth Illinois coming up, the enemy
were driven back and retired across
Baker's Creek. Both armies then rested
for the night, the pickets separated only
by the stream, a few yards in width.
The rebel force consisted of about seven
thousand men under General S. D. Lee.
On the morning of the 5 th another
skirmish took place with the rebel cav
alry, about three quarters of a mile
beyond Baker's Creek, when the enemy
resumed their retreat toward Jackson,
during which they lost one hundred and
fifty killed and wounded. On the even

ing of the same day the army entered
Jackson, forty miles east of Vicksburg,
on the west bank of the Pearl River,
and at the intersection of the Memphis
and New Orleans Railroad with the rail
road leading toward Selma, along which
the expedition was moving, and drove
the rebels across the river. so rapidly
that they had not time to destroy the
pontoon bridge by means of which their
retreat was effected. The 6th was oc
cupied by the Union troops in destroy
ing the stores and arms left by the
rebels, in tearing up the Mississippi
Central Railroad, and in repairing the
pontoon bridge over the Pearl River.
From dispatches found on the persons
of captured couriers, it appeared that
the rebel loss so far had been two
hundred and fifty killed and wounded.
On the 7th the army crossed the Pearl
River and resumed the march toward
Meridian. . At Brandon, a village twelve
miles east of Jackson, where the army
encamped for the night, a large quantity
of rebel stores was destroyed. On the
8th the march was continued without
any serious opposition, owing, according
to the stories of prisoners and deserters,
to demoralization and disaffection in the
rebel ranks.
On the morning of the 9th the army
was in motion at eight o'clock. At
Morton, on the railroad, about thirty
miles east of Jackson, the rebels were
seen drawn up in line of battle ; but
they fell back as the Union troops
advanced, leaving on the road evidences
of a precipitate retreat, in the shape
of dead horses and mules and large

304

SHERMAN'S EXPEDITION TO MERIDIAN.

quantities of stores. At Morton the
seventeenth army corps went into camp,
in order to allow the sixteenth to take
the advance. On the 10th the army
marched fifteen miles, and bivouacked.
On the 11th, Captain Foster, with cav
alry, was sent to Lake Station, twenty
miles east .of Morton, on the railroad,
where he destroyed three steam mills,
two locomotives, thirty-five ears, the
depot, and the machine shop.
On the 12th, about noon, the army
encamped at Decatur, north of the rail
road and sixty-three miles east of Jack
son, and destroyed there a large tannery.
Near that town the supply train of the
sixteenth army corps was attacked by
the enemy's cavalry, and twenty-six
mules shot. On the 13th, General
Chambers, commanding the Iowa brigade,
took the advance and encamped on the
Big Chunkey River, sixteen miles west
of Meridian, at half-past eight in the
evening. On the 14th the army ad
vanced twelve miles, with little skir
mishing, the trains having been left on
the Chunkey River with a strong guard
under General Chambers, and in the
afternoon the advance of the sixteenth
Feb. corps entered Meridian, General
**• Pdlk's forces having withdrawn
about half an hour before, and, having
command ofthe railroad eastward, were
soon beyond the Tombigbee, twenty
miles distant. The seventeenth corps
encamped that night five miles from the
town, and entered it in the morning
during a heavy storm of rain. The
Confederates had removed all their
stores and trains.

Detachments were immediately sent
out to destroy the railroads intersecting
at Meridian. For this work General
Hurlbut was appointed for the roads
running east and north, and General
McPherson for those running west and
south. The road east of Meridian was
destroyed as far as Cuba Station ; that
leading south toward Mobile had the
track torn up as far as Quitman ; that
leading north, as far as Lauderdale
Springs, and that leading west was de
stroyed all the way back to Jackson.
There was, according to General Sher
man, " the most complete destruction
of railroads ever beheld."
General Sherman remained at Merid
ian till the 20th, awaiting the arrival
of General William S. Smith, who had
been ordered to be there by the 10th,
of whose movements, however, he could
hear nothing ; and as any further prose
cution of the enterprise would be im
practicable without a large body of
cavalry to procure subsistence for the
infantry, he made preparations to return
to Vicksburg ; all the Confederate public
buildings and property, consisting of an
arsenal, extensive d6p6ts, warehouses,
machine shops, hospitals, etc., all new
and some unfinished, having been pre
viously destroyed.
The army returned by the route on
which it had advanced, as far as Hills-
boro, north of the railroad and thirty-
eight miles east-northeast of Jackson,
when it left the railroad in a north
westerly direction and moved toward
Canton, twenty-three miles north of
Jackson on the railroad to Memphis,

RAID OF GENERALS SMITH AND GRIERSON.

305

where it arrived on the 26th, and re
mained several days, again awaiting
news of General Smith's cavalry opera
tions. Near Canton, a. train of sixteen
forage wagons sent out by the sixteenth
army corps was captured by the rebel
cavalry. At this place twenty loco
motives, a large number of cars, etc.,
belonging to the rebels, were destroyed.
On the 27th, General Sherman left the
expedition under the command of Gen
eral Hurlbut, and, escorted by Colonel
Winslow with the Iowa Cavalry, returned
to Vicksburg, whence he sailed for New
Orleans on the 28th. The army again
took the road for Vicksburg on the 2d
of March, and arrived on the 4th. A
detachment was sent up the Yazoo
River against Yazoo City, but the Con
federates held it till reinforced.
In the course of the expedition com
plete destruction was made of one hun
dred and fifty miles of railroad, ten
thousand bales of cotton, two million
bushels of corn, twenty locomotives,
twenty-eight cars, sixty-seven bridges,
and seven thousand feet of trestle-work.
Two hundred prisoners, several thousand
horses and mules, and three hundred
wagons were captured. Eight thousand
negroes also were liberated. Many
dwelling-houses were burnt in the towns
passed through, the inmates having fired
on the troops. The total loss in killed,
wounded, and missing did not exceed
one hundred and seventy. The destruc
tion wrought in the enemy's country
had been enormous, but the main object
of the expedition had not been attained.
General Smith's column of cavalry,
207

which should have left Colliersville, a
village on the railroad twenty-four miles
east of Memphis, on the 3d of February,
the day on which Sherman's army left
Vicksburg, was detained till the 11th,
awaiting the arrival of General Waring's
brigade, composed of two regiments.
After the column started, other causes
of delay arose, so that on the 18th it.
had not got farther than Okalona, on
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, one
hundred miles north of Meridian — an
average of little more than fifteen miles
a day from Colliersville.
On the 19 th the march was continued
to Egypt, a station on the railroad seven
miles south of Okalona, where a large
quantity of rebel stores was destroyed.
The force was then divided into two
columns — one, under General Grierson,
marching on the east side of the railroad
and passing through Aberdeen, seven
miles east of Egypt, where considerable
opposition was encountered ; the other
took the west side of the railroad,
and united again about seventeen miles
south of Okalona, at Prairie Station.
where more rebel stores were destroyed.
On the 20th, General Forrest was re
ported to be at West Point, thirty miles
south of Okalona, on the Octibbeha.
General Polk, who with an inferior
infantry force had been driven across
the Tombigbee by Sherman, had sent
orders to Generals S. D. Lee and Forrest
to unite their forces, and at any cost
prevent the junction of Smith with
Sherman. General Lee, whose army
had been worn out in continual skir
mishing with the army of Sherman, did

306

RAID OF GENERALS SMITH AND GRIERSON.

not receive the order in time ; Forrest,
therefore, with a force said not to have
exceeded twenty-five hundred mounted
men, armed with rifles, advanced alone,
and awaited the Union troops on the
prairies near West Point. On the 21st
the conflict took place. When the
Union cavalry made their charge, For-
. rest's men slipped from their horses, and
each taking the best position the ground
afforded him, among the bushes and
scattered over the prairie, awaited the
nearer approach of their adversaries,
who had not advanced far before rapidly
repeated volleys from over two thousand
rebel rifles caused confusion in the
ranks of men whose sabres, their chief
reliance, were of no avail against an
enemy seventy-five or a hundred yards
distant. Scores of men and horses fell
at the first fire ; the onward movement
was checked. In vain were attempts
made to re-form ; volley after volley
produced similar effects. The Union
cavalry broke in confusion and fled.
The dead and many of the wounded
were left on the ground, besides three
four-pounder steel field-pieces.
General Smith began a retrograde
march, Forrest in pursuit. The advan
tage over the sabre and light carbine
which his men possessed in being armed
with the rifle, had enabled Forrest to
defeat a force of double his numbers.
The advantage was' retained in the pur
suit, which was continued to near Oka
lona, when Generals Smith and Grier
son prevailed on their men to make
another charge, but with no better suc
cess than before. The- line of retreat

was again taken up, the rebels, rein
forced by State troops under Gholson,
moving on each flank, with the design
of first reaching the Tallahatchie, where
they hoped to form a junction and pre
vent the Union troops from crossing.
A large number of negroes and refu
gees accompanied the army in its retreat.
"Picture to yourselves, if you can,"
says an eyewitness, "a living, moving
mass of men, negroes, mules, and horses,
of four thousand or five thousand, alien
masse, literally jammed, .huddled, and
crowded into the smallest possible space ;
night setting in ; artillery and small-
arms booming behind us ; cavalry all
around and ahead ; moving on, on, on,
over fences, through fields and brush,
over hills and across mudholes, streams,
and bridges, and still on, on into the
night, until the moon rises on the scene
and shows us some of the outlines of this
living panorama."
The rebels were disappointed in their
hope of getting first to the Tallahatchie ;
by forced marches and marching all
night, General Smith succeeded in pass
ing both flanking columns, and crossed ~
the river safely at New Albany, seventy-
five miles east- southeast of Memphis.
Skirmishing continued on the 23d and
24th, and on the 25th the expedition
was safe at Colliersville, having accom
plished the retreat in four days, though
ten were consumed in the advance. The
total loss in killed and wounded did not
exceed one hundred and fifty. Much
damage had been done to the enemy ;
every trestle on the railroad north of
Okalona was destroyed, besides many

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.

307

miles .of the track ; three thousand bales
of cotton and one million bushels of
corn had been burnt ; one hundred

prisoners and one thousand mules had
been captured, and a large number of
negroes liberated.

CHAPTER XXX.

Red River Expedition. — Shreveport. — Fleet of Admiral Porter. — Departure of General A. J. Smith. — The Atchafalaya.
— Landing at Simmsport — March on Fort de Russey. — Capture of Fort de Russey . — Occupation of Alexandria. —
Quantities of Cotton obtained.- Occupation of Natchitoches. — Departure of the Fleet and Army from Alexandria. —
General Banks at Natchitoches. — The March toward Shreveport. — Arrival at Crump's Hill. — Battle of Sabine Cross-
Roads. — Retreat to Pleasant Hill. — Battle of Pleasant Hill.— Defeat of the Confederates.— Retreat toward Grand
Ecore. — Losses and Gains.— Return of Admiral Porter from Springfield Landing.— Low Stage of Water.— Attack
of Infantry repulsed by the Fleet.— Rapid Retreat of the Army to Alexandria. — Battle at Cane River. — Fleet left
behind. — Gun-boat Eastport blown up and burnt. — Attack on the Cricket by Guerrillas. — Fleet run past a Battery.
— Fleet detained at the Falls above Alexandria.— Dam constructed by Lieut. -Colonel Bailey.— The Lexington got
over the Falls.— Escape of the entire Fleet.— Evacuation of Alexandria.— Burning of the Town.— Distress of the
Inhabitants.— Arrival of the Fleet and Army at Simmsport.— General Banks superseded by General Canby.— Move
ments of General Steele's Forces in Arkansas.— Confederate Force in Arkansas.— Capture of Camden by General
Steele.— Colonel Clayton's Expedition to Mount Elba and Longview.— Critical Position of General Steele.— Loss
of Wagons and Men by a Foraging Party at Poison Spring.— Large Wagon Train captured by the Rebels near the
Saline.— Evacuation of Camden by General Steele.— Battle at Saline's Landing. — Retreat to Little Rock.— Aban
donment of Federal Posts in Arkansas.— Operations of General Forrest.— Surrender of Union City by Colonel
Hawkins.— Occupation of Hickman by Forrest's Troops.— Forrest's Attempt on Paducah.— Description of Fort Pil
low.— Sudden Attack of Forrest on Fort Pillow.— Threats of Forrest.— Fort Pillow taken by Assault.— Horrible
Massacre of Colored Troops.— Savage Policy of the Rebel Government.— Rebel Hatred of "Home-made Yankees."
—Murder of Major Bradford.— Congressional Committee of Inquiry.— Language of President Lincoln with regard
to Retaliation. — Threats of General Buford at Columbus.

The plans of a formidable expedition
were matured early in the year,
'"' the professed object of which was
to obtain control of the cotton-growing
region along the Red River in western
Louisiana, and throw it open to com
mercial enterprise. It consisted of about
ten thousand men under General A. J.
Smith, a division under General Frank
lin, and a powerful fleet of iron-clads
and gun-boats under Admiral Porter ;
the whole under the direction of Major-
General Banks ; in addition to which a
column under General Steele was to
move from Little Rock through Arkan

sas, to Shreveport, the objective point
of all the forces.
The village of Shreveport is the capital
of Caddo Parish, Louisiana, one hundred
and fifty miles west of Vicksburg and
one hundred and fifteen miles northwest
of the mouth of the Red River, in direct
lines. It is situated on the west bank
of the Red River, at the head of naviga
tion for large steamboats, and is the
only accessible point on the west side
of the river for more than a hundred
miles. Before the war forty thousand
bales of cotton were annually shipped
from Shreveport, besides large numbers

308

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.

of cattle for the supply of the New Or
leans market.
Early in March, General Franklin with
his division moved from New Orleans
by the railroad to Brashear City, along
the Teche Bayou, and by way of Ope
lousas, toward Alexandria. Admiral
Porter had, in the mean time, collected
at the mouth of the Red River a power
ful fleet of armed steamers : the Ozark,
Osage, and Neosho, monitors ; the Ben
ton, Carondelet, Pittsburg, Mound City,
Louisville, Essex, and Chillicothe, iron
clads ; the Price, Choctaw, and Lafay
ette, rams ; the Black Hawk, Ouachita,
Champion, and Tyler, smaller and lighter
gun-boats, besides other vessels.
On the 10th of March, the force under
General A. J. Smith, consisting of the
first and third divisions of the sixteenth
army corps, and the first and fourth
divisions of the seventeenth, embarked at
Vicksburg in twenty transports, descend
ed the Mississippi to the mouth of the
Red River, and joined the fleet of Ad
miral Porter on the afternoon of the
11th. On the 12th the fleet moved up
the more southerly of the two arms of
the Red River, called Old River, and
entered the Atchafalaya, a navigable
outlet of the Red River, a portion of
whose waters flow southward by this
channel to Lake Chetimaches, whence
they subsequently find their way to the
Gulf of Mexico, passing Brashear City.
On the 13th a landing was effected
at the site of Simmsport, about ten miles
down the bayou, the town having been
destroyed during the siege of Port Hud
son, and some troops under General

Mower were sent to Bayou Glace, where
a rebel force, estimated at two thousand,
had been encamped in a strongly forti
fied position. The enemy had disap
peared from that point, as well as from
Yellow Bayou, where strong though in
complete earth-works indicated an in
tention on the part of the rebels to use
the Atchafalaya as a base of operations
— its shallowness during a great part of
the year rendering it comparatively safe
from naval attacks. General Smith im
mediately decided to march overland
against Fort de Russey, distant about
thirty-five miles from Simmsport, leav
ing the fleet to follow as soon as the
obstructions in the river could be re
moved. Fort de Russey, situated at Gordon's
Landing, on the south bank of the Red
River, seventy miles from its mouth,
was a formidable quadrangular work
with bastions, and bomb-proofs covered
with railroad iron, connected" with a
water battery, the casemates of which
appeared to be capable of withstanding
the heaviest shot and shell. The posi
tion of the fort was such that its guns
commanded the approaches by the river,
both above and below, so' that Admiral
Porter's gun-boats might have found it
a serious obstacle. Fortunately the
garrison had been recently reduced from
one thousand to little over three hun
dred ; it was important, therefore, that it
should be attacked before reinforcements
could be thrown into it.
At daybreak on the 14th the army
set out in light marching order for the
fort, the brigade of General Mower in

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.

309

the advance. The enemy's cavalry, a
part of the force of General Dick Taylor,
kept up a series of harassing demonstra
tions during the entire march, and more
than once the rear division had to form
line of battle. About three o'clock in
the afternoon the advance arrived in the
woods surrounding the open space about
the fort, from which a fire of shell and
shrapnel was opened from four guns.
A brisk cannonade was immediately
commenced on the fort from two bat
teries, and continued for two hours ;
then followed an advance of skirmishers,
a heavy fusilade, and a charge led by
the Fifty-eighth Illinois and the Eighth
Wisconsin. When the ditch was reached
the garrison surrendered, and within
twenty minutes from the time the assault
Mar. was ordered, the color-sergeant of
14* the Fifty-eighth Illinois planted the
flag of the Union on the enemy's works.
In the mean time the fleet had re
turned to the Red River, demolished a
formidable barricade which it had cost
the rebels five months to construct, and
two vessels, the Neosho and the East-
port, arrived opposite the fort while the
attack was going on. The Eastport
opened her batteries, but suspended fire
when the assault commenced.
The loss was trifling on both sides,
that of the Federals being nine killed
and thirty-nine wounded ; that of the
rebels five killed and four wounded.
Ten guns were taken, a large number
of small-arms, two thousand barrels of
gunpowder, and a quantity of ammuni
tion and commissary stores. The im
mediate destruction of the fort was

ordered, but on the 17th it was acci
dentally blown up.
The capture of Fort de Russey opened
the Red River to Alexandria, about a
hundred and fifty miles above, on the
south bank, and that portion of General
Smith's force which had been engaged
at the fort was immediately embarked
on transports, sent up the river, and
occupied the town, shortly after- juar>
ward followed by the remainder 16.
ofthe troops and the fleet. The enemy's
forces retired, as well as several of their
gun-boats, toward Shreveport.
On the 19th, General Stone, General
Banks' chief of staff, arrived at Alex
andria, and on the 20th General Lee,
with the cavalry of General Banks' di
vision, after marching from Franklin
across the Teche country. During the
first week after the occupation of Alex
andria four thousand bales of cotton
were obtained, besides large quantities
brought in by negroes. General Banks
declaring that the occupation of the
country would be permanent, hundreds
of citizens, among whom were a number
of permanent residents of Alexandria,
came forward and took the oath of
allegiance to the United States ; a re
cruiting office was opened, and a large
number of white men enlisted in the
Federal service.
General Mower ascended the river as
far as Natchitoches* eighty miles above
Alexandria on the west bank of the
river, and on the 21st defeated a body
of the enemy, captured 282 prisoners
and a battery of four guns, and took
possession of the town.

310

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.

On the 26th, General A. J. Smith left
Alexandria and commenced a march
toward Natchitoches, to be followed by
the troops. of General Banks as they
arrived. Twelve gun-boats and about
thirty transports having succeeded, after
extraordinary exertions on the part of
Admiral Porter, in passing the shoals
above Alexandria, also moved up the
river, their co-operation with the land
force being deemed essential to the suc
cess of the expedition. Some of the
larger vessels were detained below till
the water should rise in the river.
On the 4th of April the column of
General Banks reached Natchitoches,
and remained there two days, when the
march for Shreveport was resumed by
the Mansfield road. This road runs
south of and at a considerable distance
from the river, through pine woods and
a barren sandy country, without water
or forage ; it was desirable, therefore,
that the army should spend as little time
as possible in traversing it. General
Lee, with the cavalry, had the advance,
followed by the thirteenth army corps
under General Ransom ; after which
moved the first division of the nineteenth
army corps under General Emory, a
brigade of colored troops under Colonel
Dickey bringing up the rear. A division
of the sixteenth army corps, under Gen
eral A. J, Smith, followed two days
later. On the night of the 6th the cavalry
rested at Crump's Hill, twenty-one miles
west of Natchitoches, and the infantry
four miles in the rear. On the morning
of the 7th the cavalry advanced skir

mishing till it arrived two miles beyond
Pleasant Hill, thirty miles west-north
west of Natchitoches, when about twenty-
five hundred of the enemy's cavalry,
under General T. Green, were found
drawn up in line in the edge of a wood
with open fields in front. Heavy skir
mishing ensued for two hours and a half.
The Confederate troops were finally
driven back into the woods, and on the
following day, the movement having been
continued, and the enemy's advanced
cavalry driven about seven miles, their
main body, consisting of the united
forces of Generals Kirby Smith, Price,
and Taylor, was discovered in a strong
position, on high ground near April
Sabine Cross Roads, east of Mans- 8.
field, partly concealed in a thick pine
wood with an open space in front, the
Shreveport road running through their
lines. At this time the nineteenth corps,
under General Franklin, was in camp
nine miles in the rear, and the force
under General A. J. Smith twenty miles
in the rear.
General Lee had in the morning, as
well as on the preceding day, deemed
the opposition of the enemy such as to
warrant his demanding infantry support.
He had, however, anticipated no serious
attack, and carried with him his supply
and artillery trains. In compliance with
his request he was reinforced by the
fourth division of the thirteenth corps
under Colonel Landrum, and later in the
day by General Ransom with the re
maining brigade of the thirteenth corps
— a total of twenty-six hundred men.
Colonel Landrum's brigade took a posi-

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.

311

tion on the right and centre, General
Ransom's on the left. With Colonel
Landrum's brigade were all the batteries,
except Nim's, which was with General
Ransom's, supported by Colonel Dudley's
cavalry brigade. Colonel Robinson's
cavalry protected the wagon train. The
skirmishers were driven in by the enemy
advancing in force, when the engage
ment became general on the right and
on the centre, to strengthen which the left
was weakened ; this being observed by
the enemy, they massed their forces
against the left, which was soon driven
back, and four guns of Nim's battery
were lost. The right and centre being
then heavily pressed, were soon after
ward compelled to give way, when the
Chicago and Indiana batteries also were
lost. General Cameron, who had come
up with a brigade ofthe thirteenth corps,
advanced to the front, but was over
powered. About two o'clock General Banks
and staff had come upon the ground,
and found General Lee's cavalry, as well
as the infantry, seriously engaged with
the enemy, the artillery of little use, and
forming rather, with the long supply
trains, an encumbrance on the road.
Orders were sent early in the engage
ment to General Franklin to send for
ward Emory's division immediately ;
but before they eould arrive a panic had
occurred, and the cavalry of General
Lee and the infantry of General Ran
som had become utterly demoralized,
and had fallen into irretrievable rout ;
the road had become blocked up with
wagons, a train of which, as well as

twenty pieces of artillery, was aban
doned. This disorderly flight continued
more than three miles, when the ap
proach of General Emory's division
checked the career of the enemy for the
day. General Banks lost about two thousand
men in killed, wounded, and missing —
about a fourth of his force on the field.
General Ransom was 'severely wounded
in the knee. The loss of the Confed
erates, who had about twenty thousand
men on the field, was estimated at fifteen
hundred. This disaster to General Banks' army,
fatal to the expedition as it proved,
resulted altogether from its extreme
attenuation on the line of march, the
advance under General Lee being kept
so far ahead of the main body that it
could be overwhelmed by a sudden
attack before assistance could come up.
After mature deliberation General Banks'
determined to fall back to the better
position of Pleasant Hill, at which point
General A. J.- Smith had arrived with
troops of the sixteenth army corps.
This movement was one of considerable
difficulty, as it was important that it
should be concealed from the enemy,
who were in such close proximity that
the pickets of the opposing forces were
in constant conversation. The entire
army, however, silently took up the line
of march in the night, the rear being
intrusted to the care of General D wight's
brigade, and moved off so quietly as to
attract no attention from the enemy,
and General Dwight brought in the
rear-guard safely at Pleasant Hill at nine

312

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.

in the morning. So well had the retreat
been managed, that it was not discovered
by the enemy till they commenced, soon
after sunrise, shelling the locality aban
doned. Preparations were immediately made
at Pleasant Hill to receive another attack
from the Confederates, who had received
reinforcements, and hoped now to over
whelm the force of General Banks, the
whole of which they supposed to have
been routed on the previous day. The
battle-ground of Pleasant Hill was a
field nearly surrounded with woods.
The Federal troops were drawn up in
expectation of an attack, Emory's divi
sion in front on. the slope of a hill,
General A. J. Smith's out of sight
April behind the crest of the hill. Shir
s' mishing continued all day, but no
large body of the enemy came in sight
till about five in the afternoon. At
'twenty minutes past five the Confederate
troops entered the plain at the edge of
the woods, and marched to the attack at
the double-quick under an artillery fire
of case shell.
Emory's division received the attack,
but being pressed at all points by over
whelming numbers was compelled to
fall back toward the lines of General
Smith. He allowed the rebels to ap
proach till they were nearly up -to the
muzzles of his cannon, when he opened a
fire of musketry along his whole line,
and of artillery with grape and canister.
This was immediately followed by an
infantry charge of seven thousand men,
aided by Emory's division, which was
easily rallied, upon the broken and

wavering ranks of the Confederates, who
were driven rapidly down the hill into
the woods, where they broke and fled in
confusion, and were pursued till night
fall. Five hundred prisoners were taken.
Taylor's battery, which had been lost in
the early part of the action, was re
covered, as well as two guns of Nim's
battery, lost on the 8th.
The troops slept on the field- of battle,
and early in the morning commenced
the march back toward Grand Ecore, a
few miles -above Natchitoches, on the
west bank of the river, to obtain rest
and rations, worn out with three days'
fighting and heavy marching. The fur
ther prosecution of the enterprise was.
deemed impracticable, especially as the
unusually low stage of water in the Red
River rendered doubtful the effective
co-operation of the fleet.
The losses sustained in the campaign
up to this time were 3,400 men, of
which 2,816 were lost in the battles of
Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant Hill ;
20 pieces of artillery, 130 wagons, and
1,200 horses and mules. Prisoners f.o
the number of 2,300 had been taken,
and 25 pieces of artillery, chiefly by the
fleet. Five thousand negroes followed
the army. The rebels also lost heavily
in the battles of Sabine Cross Roadrand
Pleasant Hill.
Admiral Porter arrived at Grand
Ecore with his fleet at the time when
the land forces were about leaving
Natchitoches on the march for Shreve
port. The water was rising so slowly
that it was determined not to risk the
larger vessels by taking them higher up

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.

313

the river, and the advance was continued
with six only — the Gricket, Fort Hind-
man, Lexington, Osage, Neosho, and
Chillicothe, accompanied by twenty trans
ports, with stores and a portion of Gen
eral A. J. Smith's division. Springfield
Landing, the point at which communica
tions were to have been reopened with
the army, was reached on the third day,
in accordance with the plan of operations.
At that point the enemy had sunk a
large steamer across the river, with the
ends resting on each bank. Before
operations for its removal could be com
menced, news came to the Admiral that
the army had met with a reverse, and
at the same time orders arrived for the
immediate return of the troops and
transports. The fleet on its return was much har
assed by the enemy on the river banks.
The vessels had to be moved slowly and
cautiously, to avoid the innumerable
dangers from snags and shoals in the
river, which had begun to fall again.
The rebels were consequently able to
keep up with them and choose the time
of attack. On the 12th a detachment
of rebel infantry, with two pieces of
artillery, made a desperate but ineffectual
attempt to capture the iron-clad Osage
while aground. This affair, which lasted
two hours, was decided by a cross-fire
of canister from the Lexington. By the
time the fleet had got back to Grand
Ecore, preparations had been made on
the part of the army for the retrograde
march toward Alexandria, and it became
necessary that the fleet should follow.
The march from Grand Ecore com-
208

menced on the afternoon of the 21st of
April, and at two o'clock the following
morning the entire army silently evacu
ated its position, General A. J. Smith
bringing up the rear. After marching
thirty miles the army rested for the
night. Next morning, on approaching
Cane River, six miles farther, the enemy
were found in a strong position, pre
pared to dispute the passage, but by a
movement through a thick wood, the
enemy were flanked and driven from
their position, and the crossing secured.
The army resumed its march, and though
harassed by the enemy in pursuit, arriv
ed at Alexandria on the 27th.
The march of the army was so rapid
that the vessels were left many miles
behind, exposed to constant attacks' from
the enemy on both banks of the river.
Besides these difficulties, the gun-boat
Eastport had been badly injured by a
torpedo exploding under her bow, which
caused her to sink to the gun- deck.
Much time was lost in attempts to save
this vessel by the use of pumps and
taking out her guns, but on the 26th of
Aprfl, six days having been consumed
in towing her sixty miles, the increasing
difficulties of navigation, arising from
the want of water in the river, made it
necessary that the vessel should be
blown up and burnt.
Just previous to this, an attack had
been made upon the fleet by a body of
twelve hundred guerrillas, who appeared
suddenly on the river side and made an
attempt to board the Cricket, which
had been tied up to the bank. The
attempt failed, however, the Cricket

314

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.

moving quickly out into the stream, and
the rebels retreated rapidly under her
fire of grape and canister and a cross
fire from two other vessels.
Twenty miles below the place where
the Eastport was blown up, when round
ing a point above Cane River, the vessels
in close order and ready for action, a
body of the enemy was discovered on
the right bank, with a battery of eight
een guns, upon which fire was immedi
ately opened. The Admiral's own vessel
was the first to attempt passing the bat
tery, but in doing so received a shower
of shot and shell, which cleared the deck
in a few minutes. The after gun was
struck and disabled, and every man at
it killed or wounded ; at the same
moment the men at the forward gun
were swept away by the explosion of a
shell, and in the fire-room all except
one man were wounded. The chief
engineer was killed, and a shot had
passed through the pilot-house and
wounded one of the pilots. The Admiral
himself took charge of the vessel, and
ran her past the battery, under a fire
which he declares in his report to have
been the heaviest he ever witnessed.
Before the other vessels got through
they suffered severely ; the Juliet was
badly injured in hull and machinery,
and had fifteen men killed or wounded ;
the Cricket was struck thirty-eight
times with shell and solid shot, and had
twenty-three men killed and wounded ;
the Fort Hindman had seven men killed
and wounded.
The Admiral was unable to keep up
communications with the land forces,

whose rapid march toward Alexandria
had left him many miles in their rear,
and without the protection from guer
rillas which their presence would have
afforded. On the arrival of his vessels
at the falls above Alexandria, the season
was so far advanced that there was no
hope of resuming offensive operations
with any prospect of success, and it was
determined by General Banks to aban
don the Red River country altogether,
although he had on entering it pro
claimed his intention and ability to
occupy it permanently.
Here, however, was a serious diffi
culty ; ten vessels, the best part of
Admiral Porter's Mississippi squadron —
the Fort Hindman, Osage, Neosho, Lex
ington, Mound City, Carondelet, Pitts
burg, Ozark, Louisville, and Chillicothe
— were lying above the falls awaiting a
rise of the river, of which there was no
probability. There seemed no help for
it but to destroy the vessels to prevent
their falling into the hands of the enemy.
The expedition had been already suffi
ciently unfortunate. Provisions and
forage were almost exhausted, and the
army would be compelled to leave Alex
andria in ten days. In this emergency
Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey, acting engi
neer of the nineteenth army corps, who
had had much experience as a lumber
man on the shallow rivers and streams
in Wisconsin, proposed a plan for build
ing a series of dams across the rocks at
the falls, by means of which the water
might be accumulated till it was -deep
enough to permit the passage of vessels.
Notwithstanding that other engineers

THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.

315

pronounced against the plan as utterly
impracticable, Admiral Porter saw that
the project was feasible, and requested
General Banks to have the attempt
made. Three thousand men and two
or three hundred wagons were immedi
ately set to work ; two or three regi
ments of Maine men began to fell trees ;
all the neighboring steam mills were
torn down for materials ; flat-boats were
built to bring down stones from above,
and every one entered heartily into the
undertaking, though many had little
faith in its success, the falls being a mile
in length over a bed of rugged rocks,
and six hundred feet wide from bank to
bank, the current running nine miles an
hour. The work was commenced by running
out three hundred feet from the left
bank, a dam made of the trunks of large
trees, brush, brick, and stone, cross-tied
with heavy timber, and strengthened in
every possible way. Four large coal
barges filled with brick were sunk at the
end of it. From the right bank cribs
filled with stone were built out to meet
the barges. The dam had nearly reach
ed completion in eight days, and the
water had risen sufficiently- on the upper
falls to enable the Fort Hindman, Osage,
and Neosho to move down and be held
in readiness to pass the dam. In an
other day all the vessels might have
done the same. On the morning of the
9 th, however, the pressure of the water
increasing with its rise, two of the stone
barges were swept away. The water
began to fall again rapidly, and the
Lexington,, lying above the upper falls,

was ordered to pass them immediately,
if possible, and make the attempt to go
through the gap in the dam. The Lex
ington succeeded in getting over the
falls, and steered under a full head of
steam directly for the opening in the
dam, through which the water was rush
ing furiously, rolled, hung for a jjjay
moment on the rocks, and then, 9.
swept into deep water by the current,
rounded to safely amid the cheers of
thirty thousand spectators. The Neosho
followed, but did not fare so well as the
Lexington, her pilot having become
frightened. She disappeared for a mo
ment under water, and it was thought
she was lost. She rose, however, and
was found to have received but slight
injury. The Fort Hindman and Osage
also got over safely.
Three days later, Colonel Bailey had
succeeded in repairing the dam, so that
by the 12th of May the remaining six
vessels were got through safely, in the
presence and amid the cheers of all the
troops. For his important services on
this occasion, Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey
was voted thanks and a medal by Con
gress, and was made a brigadier-general.
A further difficulty anticipated in
crossing bars in the lower part of the
river, where the depth of water was
reported as being only five feet, was
fortunately obviated by a rise in the
Mississippi, which caused a back-water
of several feet in the Red River.
Alexandria was evacuated on the
13th. About ten in the morning, fires
broke out in several places at once, and
spreading with great rapidity, ha spite of

316

OPERATIONS OF GENERAL STEELE IN ARKANSAS.

the utmost efforts of Generals Banks
and Smith, consumed a large part of
the town. To add to the distress of
the inhabitants, the protection which
had been guaranteed to them by Gen
eral Banks was about being withdrawn.
Many of the citizens had entered the
Federal service, and had been sent off
toward Simmsport. Their wives and
children, now helpless and homeless,
begged in vain for passage in the trans- -
ports to New Orleans.
The army and fleet both began to
arrive at Simmsport on the 16th. On
the next day the Atchafalaya was bridged
by means of twenty-two steamboats
lashed together side by side, and by the
night of the 20th the last of the division
of General Smith, who brought up the
rear, had passed over. Some opposition,
easily overcome, was met with on the
march to the Mississippi. General Banks
with his troops returned to New Orleans,
and was soon afterward superseded by
Major-General Canby in the command
of the Trans-Mississippi Department.
The fleet resumed its station on the
Mississippi. The withdrawal of the army of Gen
eral Banks from the Red River country
left the Confederate forces, amounting
to about twenty-five thousand men, at
liberty to march into Arkansas, where
General Steele, in accordance with the
general plan of the campaign, had been
operating in the endeavor to reach
Shreveport, and unite there with the
forces of Generals Banks and Smith.
General Steele, in command of the
seventh army corps, left Little Rock on

the 23d of March, with a force of twelve
thousand infantry, and three thousand
cavalry under General Carr. Gene
ral Thayer, with the Army of the Fron
tier, consisting of about five thousand
men, advanced on the 24th from Fort
Smith, on the Arkansas, opposite Van
Buren, with the intention of forming a
junction with General Steele, and about
the same time Colonel Clayton, with a
small force, left Pine Bluff, on the south
bank of the Arkansas, forty miles south-
southeast of Little Rock, on an expedi
tion against Mount Elba and Longview,
on the Saline. It was intended that the
commands of Generals Steele and Thayer
should unite at Camden, on the south
bank of the Washita, eighty-seven miles
south by west of Little Rock and
about ninety-six miles north-northeast
of Shreveport, and at the head of navi
gation on the Washita, which flows south-
southeast to the Red River, and which
might therefore afford a means of com
munication with the forces in Louisiana.
The main body of the Confederate
forces in Arkansas opposed to General
Steele consisted of about twelve thou
sand men under General Price, who held
a line extending from Camden to Wash
ington, in Hampstead County, about forty
miles west of Camden. On the 14th of
April, General' Steele had advanced as
far as the Little Missouri, sixteen miles
west of Camden, when he encountered a
column of cavalry under General Mar
maduke, and on the 16th was joined by
General Thayer. In order to conceal
his real object, which was the capture
of Camden and to draw off the enemy

OPERATIONS OF GENERAL STEELE IN ARKANSAS.

317

from the defence of that place, which
was well fortified, General Steele crossed
the Little Missouri and advanced some
distance on the Shreveport road, passing
the point at which it is intersected by
the road leading to Cam'den. Acting on
the belief that he was marching for
Shreveport, the Confederates took up a
strong position in advance of Steele on
the Shreveport road. From this they
were driven by a flank movement, and
pursued for some distance, when General
Steele -turned suddenly and marched
directly for Camden, pursued and har
assed by the cavalry of the enemy, who,
having discovered their error, hoped to
detain the Federal troops long enough
to permit their own infantry to regain
the town. In this, however, they were
disappointed ; General Steele succeeded
in getting possession of Camden.
Colonel Clayton's expedition from
Pine Bluff to Mount Elba, on the north
bank of the Saline River, twenty-five
miles south, was successful ; he destroy
ed the pontoon bridges at Longview,
sixty miles south ; burnt a train of
thirty -five wagons loaded with camp and
garrison equipments, ammunition, stores,
etc., and took over three. hundred pris
oners ; routed General Docking at Mount
Elba, with twelve hundred men from
Monticello, pursued him ten miles, and
took many wagons, three hundred horses
and mules, and two colors.
As soon as General Steele received
information of the ill success of General
Banks, he became aware that his own
position was full of danger, and made
preparations for a retrograde march to

Little Rock. On the day following his
occupation of Camden, a Confederate
force appeared six miles to the south.
A body of the enemy's .cavalry crossed
the Washita thirty miles below, and
began to intercept his supplies. Trees
were felled and thrown across the stream.
A foraging party, sent out by General
Steele on the 21st to a point sixteen
miles west, with' a hundred and fifty
wagons and an escort of nearly a thou
sand men, were attacked at Poison
Spring, twelve miles west of Camden,
on their return, and after a fight of
several hours' duration, lost all the
wagons, four guns, and two hundred and
fifty men.
Another train, of two hundred and
fifty wagons and six ambulances, with an
escort of two hundred cavalry and twelve
hundred infantry under Lieutenant-Col
onel Drake, sent on the 23d of April to
Pine Bluff for supplies, was attacked
on the 25th, within six miles of the
Saline River, by a force of Confederate
cavalry under General- Fagan, and cap
tured, together with nearly the entire
escort and four brass guns ; two hundred
and fifty men being killed or wounded,
as well as most of the officers,
Under th,ese circumstances General
Steele determined to evacuate Camden
at once. Before daylight on the 27th
of April, the army crossed to the north
side of the Washita and pushed forward
as rapidly as the ill condition of the
roads would permit; on the 28th en
camped at Princeton Crossing, and on
the next day at Salines Crossing. Dur
ing the night the enemy were found to

318

MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL FORREST.

be immediately in the reaf, and Gen
eral Steele made preparations to with
stand the attack of a large force. Heavy
rain, the badness of the roads, and the
darkness made the crossing of the Saline
impracticable during the night. The
pontoon bridge, however, was laid and a
few troops passed over, the great body
encamping on the bottom land by the
river. In the morning heavy rain still
poured down. Soon after daylight skirm
ishing began in the rear, quickly fol
lowed by a general engagement, in which
were united, on the part of the enemy,
all their forces in1 southwestern Arkansas,
with some from Louisiana, commanded by
Generals Kirby Smith, Price, Churchill,
Walker, and others. On the side of the
Federals the commands engaged were
those, of Generals Saloman, Thayer, Rice,
Ingleman, and Colonel Benton.
The contest lasted about seven hours,
April an^ resulted in the repulse of the
29» enemy, though with a loss to the
Federals of seven hundred killed and
wounded ; notwithstanding which several
colors were captured, besides three pieces
of artillery. The Confederate forces also
sustained severe losses. General Steele
secured a safe retreat to Little Rock, and
arrived at that point on the 2d of May.
The Federal posts held within the State
were successively surrendered, except
Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Duvall's Bluff,
and Fort Smith. An opportunity was
thus afforded, by the gradual withdrawal
of the Federal troops, for the invasion
of Missouri by General Price.
The absence from Mississippi and
West Tennessee of a large part of the

forces of General Sherman, withdrawn
to take part in the Red River expedi
tion, left the rebel forces in those States
at liberty to concentrate and move north
into Kentucky, for the purpose of sur
prising the Federal posts there as well
as in West Tennessee. On the 23d of
March, General Forrest having gathered
a force of about five thousand men at
Jackson Station, seventy-five miles east-
northeast of Memphis, on the railroad
leading north to Columbus, moved rapidly
toward Union City, also on the railroad,
and fifty-six miles north of Jackson, and
from which branch railroads extend to
Hickman on the Mississippi and to Pa-
ducah on the Ohio. The garrison of
Union City consisted of four hundred
and fifty men of the Eleventh Tennessee
Cavalry, under the command of Colonel
Hawkins. After several ineffectual at
tempts upon the works, Forrest, whose
time was precious, demanded a surrender,
threatening bombardment as the alter
native. General Brayman was in the
mean time marching from Cairo with a
large force to the relief of the garrison,
and had arrived on the 24th within six
miles ofthe town, when Colonel Hawkins,
against the wishes of the officers and
soldiers, surrendered, only one man hav
ing been wounded in the defence. Gen
eral Brayman then retired.
General Forrest, immediately after
the surrender of Union" City, took pos
session of Hickman, ten miles northwest.
Then continuing his march rapidly north
east, appeared on the afternoon of the
25th of March before Paducah, at the
confluence of the Tennessee with the

MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL FORREST.

319

Ohio, thirty miles east of Cairo, and
demanded its immediate surrender. This
was refused by Colonel Hicks, the officer
in command, who had withdrawn with
his troops into Fort Anderson, and an
attack was at once commenced. The
garrison consisted of the Fortieth Illinois
Infantry, a battalion of two hundred and
twenty negroes, -and some other troops,
aided by the guns of the two tin-clads
Peosta and Pawpaw. This force proved
sufficient for the repulse of the assaulting
troops of General Forrest, who then again
demanded a surrender, stating that his
force was fully adequate to the reduc
tion of the works, but that in order to
avoid the effusion of blood, he would be
willing, in case of immediate surrender
of the fort, troops, and stores, to treat
the garrison as prisoners of war, but
that if he took the fort by assault no
quarter might be expected. Colonel
Hicks having again refused to surrender,
the attack was renewed. In the course
of the contest a large part of the town
was destroyed, partly by the enemy and
partly by the Union troops, who burnt
a number of houses to prevent their
being used as cover by the rebel sharp
shooters ; also, while the fight was in
progress, many stores in the town were
plundered by the enemy's troops. Four
successive assaults having proved un
availing, Forrest retired from the town
in the evening, but on the following
morning sent a request for an exchange
of prisoners, which being declined by
Colonel Hicks, he marched off in the
direction of Columbus, having sustained
a loss of about a hundred and fifty in

killed and wounded. The Union loss,
besides the injury sustained by the town
and the destruction of a steamboat on
the marine ways, was fourteen killed
and forty-six wounded.
On the 12th of April an attack was
made by General Forrest on Fort April
Pillow, on the Mississippi, seventy 12-
miles above Memphis. This fort was
situated on the First Chickasaw, a bluff
which descends precipitously one hun
dred feet to the river's edge. The ridge
of the bluff toward the river was covered
with trees, bushes, and fallen timber.
Above and below the bluff ravines run
down to the river, in the lower of which
were several private stores and dwellings,
and down by the river's edge some
government buildings with commissary
stores ; the ravine above the fort was
known as Cold Bunk Ravine, the ridge
of which was covered with trees and
bushes. On a piece of high level ground
near the fort were some log huts occu
pied by white troops, used also for
hospital or other purposes. Tents had
been erected within the fort itself for
the colored troops. The armament of
the fort consisted of two six-pounder
and two twelve-pounder howitzers and
two ten-pounder Parrotts. The troops
which had formerly constituted the gar
rison had been withdrawn to accompany
General Sherman in his expedition to
Meridian, and their place had been sup
plied by others from Memphis. At the
time of Forrest's attack the garrison
consisted of nineteen officers and about
six hundred men ; of whom about three
hundred were colored. The officers in

320

CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW.

command were Major L. F. Booth, who
had charge of the fort, and Major W. T.
Bradford, of the Thirteenth Tennessee
Cavalry. The first intimation the garrison had
that the attack was about to take place
was that the pickets were driven in just-
before sunrise. About nine o'clock all
the troops were retired within the fort
from advanced intrenchments previously
occupied. Forrest extended his columns
till the works were invested from river
to river. The rebels had obtained no
decisive advantage up to two o'clock in
the afternoon. The Federal troops, both
black and white, fought well and cheer
fully ; and a tin- clad gun-boat, the New
Era, commanded by Captain Marshall,
took part in the contest, shelling the rebels
as opportunity offered, but no important
assistance was derived from its fire, as
the enemy, when exposed to it in one of
the ravines, immediately transferred their
operations to tbe other. About one
o'clock the fire had slackened on both
sides, and the gun-boat, from which had
been fired nearly three hundred rounds
of shell, shrapnel, and canister, moved
out into the river to cool and clean her
guns, her supply of ammunition also
being nearly exhausted.
General Forrest then sent a flag of
truce with a demand for unconditional
surrender. To this Major Bradford re
plied — Major Booth having been killed
— and asked to be allowed an hour to
consult with his officers and those of the
gun-boat. A second flag of truce from
Forrest soon returned, with a demand
for immediate surrender, accompanied

with the threat, that if in twenty minutes
the troops did not evacuate the fort, an
assault would be ordered. Immediately
after the return of the second flag of
truce with the announcement of Major
Bradford's refusal to surrender, the
assault was made on opposite sides of
the fort by two bodies of the enemy, one
headed by Forrest, the other by General
Chalmers, from advantageous positions
gained while the flags of truce were
passing. The two assaulting parties entered the
works at the same time, raising the cry
of "No quarter." Little resistance was
made. The fort was carried by assault ;
there was no formal surrender ; an in
discriminate slaughter took place ; many
of the Federal troops threw down their
arms ; most sought to escape by running
down the sides of the bluff to the cover
of the gun-boat, or by hiding in the
brush and among trees and logs, and
some in the river itself, leaving their
heads only above water. All power or
disposition to resist was gone, but the
slaughter was continued. Three hundred
Union troops, mostly colored, were killed
after the rebels got possession of the
fort, many of them in the most deliberate
manner ; numbers were gathered to
gether in lines or groups and shot ;
others were shot in the river, or hunted
out of their places of concealment and
made to stand up and be shot at. A
number of negroes were buried alive.
The huts and tents, in which wounded
men had sought refuge, were set on fire,
and those of their inmates whose wounds
prevented their getting out without

CAPTURE OF FORT PILLOW.

321

assistance, perished in the flames. Some
were shot or had their brains beat out
while escaping from the burning huts.
On the morning after the massacre,
search was made by the rebels among
the bodies of the dead for any that gave
signs of life ; all such were killed, and
their remains in some instances horribly
mutilated. Six guns were taken in the
fort and a quantity of stores. The loss
of the Confederates was about seventy-
five killed and wounded. They soon
afterward abandoned the fort, which had
little strategic value for either side.
The Confederate Government had in
timated its determination to deal severely
with negroes found in arms, as well as
with any white men acting as their offi
cers. At Fort Pillow the rebel troops
had but carried out the threats of their
government, while savagely acting on the
plan of sparing no negroes or "home
made Yankees," as they called the
Southern Unionists. The intensity of
their dislike to this latter class is illus
trated in the fate of Major Bradford,
who though a Southerner by birth re
mained loyal to the Union. He was made
prisoner, and while on the march with
other prisoners in charge of two com
panies of rebel troops, was led about
fifty yards from the line of march by five
soldiers, one of them an officer, and
deliberately shot. He died almost in
stantly, three balls having entered his
body. The massacre at Fort Pillow was made
the subject of inquiry by a special Con
gressional committee, who proceeded to
the scene and made thorough investiga-
209

tion into every attendant circumstance,
and examined many witnesses, but with
out any other result than to establish
beyond question that the published
accounts of the horrid cruelties and
murders perpetrated had a fearful foun
dation in fact. Retaliation was out of
the question. There was nothing to be
done but to let the narrative go forth to
the world and excite in the minds of
Christian and humane men everywhere
a detestation of the cause that could
require, and of the men who could adopt,
such measures for its support. To those
who urged wholesale retaliation, Presi
dent Lincoln said : " Would it be right
to take the life of prisoners in Washing
ton, in Fort Delaware, or elsewhere, in
retaliation for acts in which they had
not shared ? Would it be right to take
the prisoner captured say at Vicksburg
and shoot him for acts of which he was
not guilty, and which it will probably
be found were the ordering of only a
few individuals, or possibly of only one
man ?"
After the capture of Fort Pillow, a
party of rebels under General Buford
marched against Columbus. Buford on
the 13th of April summoned its garrison
to surrender, declaring his ability to take
the place by force, promising in case of
unconditional surrender to return the
negroes found in arms to their masters,
but threatening that if he took the place
by assault he would give them no quarter
— evidently intending a repetition of the
Fort Pillow massacre. The demand
was refused, and the Confederates re
tired without making any attack. About

322

GENERAL SEYMOUR'S OPERATIONS IN FLORIDA.

the same time a body of rebels appeared
in a threatening manner in the vicinity
of Paducah. Their entire forces, how

ever, soon afterward withdrew to the
neighborhood of Bolivar, Trenton, and
Grand Junction.

CHAPTER XXXI.
Proposed Reorganization of Florida.-General Gillmore's Plans—Florida as a source of Supplies for the Confederates.
-Occupation of Jacksonville by General Seymour.-Blockade Runner St. Mary's sunk.-Advance of Colonel Henry.
-Arrival at Baldwin.-Capture of Prisoners, Artillery, etc. -Fight near Barber's Station. -Advance to Sanderson
and Lake City.-Forces withdrawn to Baldwin.— Advance of General Seymour.-Recall of General Seymour.-
March into the Interior.-Battle of Olustee.-Death of Colonel Abbott.-Behavior of Negro Troops.-Death of
Colonel Fribley.-Artillery lost.-Charge of the Eebels.-The Retreat.-Destruction of Stores by General Seymour.
-Losses -Arrival of the Army at Jacksonville. -Federal Posts in North Carolina.-Capture of Bachelor's Creek.
-General Pickett's Advance toward Newbern.-Siege of Plymouth.-Attack on Fort Gray.-Defences of Plymouth.
-Attack on Forts Wessels and Williams. -Defence of Plymouth by General Wessels. -Sudden Appearance of the
Ram Albemarle.-Plans for capturing the Albemarle. -Gun-boat Southfield sunk by the Albemarle. -Death of
Lieutenant-Commander Flusser.-Flight of the Gun-boats. -The Ram remains Monarch of the Waters. -Fall of
Plymouth.-Evacuation of Washington.— Condition of the Inhabitants of Washington.-Marines and Soldiers firo
the Town.-Great destruction of Property and Stores. - Garrison of Newbern reinforced.-" Double-enders" to
look after the Ram Albemarle. -Appearance of the Ram.-Fight with seven Gun-boats.-Contest between the
Sassacus and the Albemarle.

1S64.

Major-General Gillmore, in com
mand of the Department of the
South, who had been urged by
President Lincoln to do all in his power
to promote some attempts about being
made to reorganize the State of Florida,
and who had been authorized by Gen
eral Halleck as early as the 22d of
December to undertake such operations
in his department as he might deem
best, wrote on the 15th of January to
the War Department proposing the
occupation, with an adequate military
force, of the west bank of the St. John's,
and recommending the establishment
there of small depQts, preliminary to a
series of movements into the interior of
the State. The reply of the General-in-
Chief left the matter discretionary with

General Gillmore ; at the same time
General Halleck said that he was unable
to see the advantages of the proposed
expedition, and expressed his doubts of
its practicability ; adding, with regard to
such expeditions in general, that " if
successful, they merely absorb troops in
garrisons to occupy the places captured,
but have little or no influence upon the
progress of the war." General Gillmore
urged in reply, that the occupation of
Florida would also afford an outlet for
its cotton, lumber, timber, etc. ; that it
would enlarge the recruiting ground for
his colored regiments ; and would at the
same time cut off an important source
of commissary supplies from the Con
federates. The belief that the vast droves of half-

GENERAL SEYMOUR'S OPERATIONS IN FLORIDA.

323

wild cattle on the glades in the interior
of Florida were becoming a main de
pendence for the supply of the Southern
armies, was in a measure confirmed by
a curious circular subsequently found
there, addressed by Major P. W. White,
chief commissary in Florida, to his sub
ordinates throughout the State, in which
he urged the positive necessity of gather
ing together as many cattle as possible
and forwarding them promptly to the
respective Confederate armies, in which,
according to the circular, the utmost
scarcity was beginning to be felt. It
was also known that the quartermasters
throughout the Confederacy had been
compelled to slaughter milch cows and
working oxen.
On the 5th of February, General Gill
more directed Brigadier -General Truman
Seymour to proceed to Jacksonville, on
the west bank of the St. John's near its
mouth, effect a landing there, and push
forward his mounted men to Baldwin, a
village twenty-four miles west of Jack
sonville, on the railroad to Tallahassee,
at the point where it is intersected by
the railroad from Fernandina to Cedar
Keys. On the next day the expedition,
consisting of about forty-five hundred
infantry and four hundred cavalry, left
Hilton Head in twenty steamers and
eight schooners, convoyed by the gun
boat Norwich, arrived in the St. John's
River on the 7th, and on the afternoon
of the same day effected a landing at
Jacksonville. At this time the Con
federates had no force in East Florida,
except the scattered fragments of Gen
eral Finnegan's command, who had lost

all his artillery. The town was deserted
except by a few rebel pickets, who
rapidly disappeared, and about twenty-
five families, consisting chiefly of women
and children. On the approach of the
expedition to Jacksonville, an iron
steamer, the St. Mary's, loaded with
cotton ready for a run to Nassau, was
scuttled and sunk in a creek about eight
miles above the town, the cargo, two
hundred and seventy bales, having been
previously put on shore and burnt.
On the night of the 8th the advance
of the army, under Colonel Guy V.
Henry, pushed forward into the interior,
passed a small body of the enemy drawn
up in line of battle at Camp Vinegar,
seven miles from Jacksonville, surprised
and captured a battery three miles in
the rear of the camp about midnight,
and reached Baldwin at sunrise. In the
evening General Gillmore and staff and
General Seymour arrived. Up to this
time one hundred prisoners had been
taken, eight pieces of artillery, and a
large amount of other property, without
any loss on the part of the Federals.
Next day Colonel Henry continued his
advance toward Sanderson, and encount
ered a small body of Confederate troops
at the crossing of the South Fork of
the St. Mary's, a little beyond Barber's
Station and twelve miles west of Bald
win. The bridge had been destroyed,
and about one hundred and fifty rebels,
concealed in the woods, opened fire
upon the advance of the cavalry, but
were soon driven from their position ;
not, however, till several had been killed
and wounded on both sides.

324

GENERAL SEYMOUR'S OPERATIONS IN FLORIDA.

Sanderson, a village and railroad
station twenty-three miles west of Bald
win, was reached about four o'clock in
the afternoon. The rebels had set fire
to large quantities of turpentine and
rosin, and about three thousand bushels
of corn. Here the column rested for a
part of the night, and at half-past two in
the morning the march was resumed,
and continued to within a short distance
of Lake City, where the enemy were
found in greatly superior force, and Col
onel Henry, after a skirmish with their
cavalry, returned to Sanderson.
Telegraphic communication was estab
lished between Jacksonville and Baldwin
on the 11th, and on that day General
Gillmore telegraphed to General Sey
mour not to risk a repulse by advancing
on Lake City, but to hold Sanderson,
and in case his advance met with any
serious opposition, to concentrate there
and at the South Fork of the St. Mary's,
near Barber's Station. On the 12th,
General Gillmore telegraphed to Gen
eral Seymour to bring all his advanced
forces back to Baldwin. With these
directions General Seymour complied,
sending Colonel Henry, however, to cap
ture some trains on the Fernandina and
Cross Keys Railroad, and joined General
Gillmore at Jacksonville on the 14th.
After giving general directions for the
construction of defences at Jacksonville,
Baldwin, and the South Fork of the
St. Mary's, General Gillmore on the 15th
left Jacksonville for Hilton Head, sup
posing it well understood by General
Seymour that no offensive movements
should be undertaken till the proposed

defensive works were well advanced,
and having received a letter from Gen
eral Seymour on the 18 th, stating that
he intended to advance without supplies
to destroy the railroad near the Suwanee
River, one hundred miles west of Jack
sonville, immediately dispatched General
Turner with a letter to General Sey
mour to stop the movement. Owing to
bad weather, however, the steamer which
conveyed General Turner did not reach
Jacksonville till after considerable delay,
and General Turner learned on his
arrival that a battle was actually in
progress at Olustee.
In the mean time General Seymour
had been making preparations for peb,
his proposed expedition, and on 20.
the 20th advanced with his entire force
from Barber's Station at seven in 'the
morning, by the main road, hoping to
reach Lake City on the following day.
The army marched in three columns,
keeping near the railroad, thick pine
woods on both sides ; reached Sanderson
about noon, and immediately pushed on
toward the little village of Olustee, ten
or twelve miles west of Sanderson, at
which point a considerable force, subse
quently discovered to be largely superior
to that of General Seymour, and vari
ously estimated at from ten to fifteen
thousand men, had been concentrated by
General Finnegan. The right column
of the Union army was led by Colonel
Barton ; that in the centre by Colonel
Guy V. Henry ; the left by Colonel Mont
gomery ; the cavalry moved in advance,
the artillery being distributed along the
line of infantry.

GENERAL SEYMOUR'S OPERATIONS IN FLORIDA.

325

The enemy's pickets were met about
five miles east of Olustee, and immedi
ately fell back on their main body, which
occupied a position admirably chosen,
their right resting on a slight earth-work
protected by rifle-pits, their centre de
fended by an impassable swamp, their
cavalry on the left, drawn up on a
rising ground with a grove of pines in
front ; their camp intersected by the
railroad, which was commanded by a
rifled gun mounted on a truck, and by a
battery so placed that it might be turned
against either the left or centre of Gen
eral Seymour.
To attack this strong position and
greatly superior force, the Federals were
compelled to occupy a piece of ground
with swamps in front and rear, the
artillery in a position within a hundred
yards of the enemy's line of battle and
exposed to a deadly fire from the rebel
sharpshooters. After some skirmishing
the troops advanced to the attack. The
Seventh New Hampshire, of Colonel
Hawley's brigade, led by Colonel Abbott,
was the first to come under fire. Many
men of this regiment were inexperienced
soldiers, and a portion of them, those
composing the left flank, had been
recently deprived of the rifles with which
they had been previously armed, and
had received instead inferior muskets,
without bayonets, some of them so de
fective, that they could not be fired at
all. As they advanced the rebel sharp
shooters poured into their ranks a rapid
and destructive fire. In less than twenty
minutes Colonel Abbott fell, and three
hundred and fifty of his men were killed

or wounded. The left flank, unable to
return an effective fire, gave way and
could not be rallied. The men compos
ing the right flank, armed with the Spen
cer repeating rifle, stood their ground
till their ammunition was exhausted.
The Confederates now made persistent
and vigorous attacks on the right and
centre, and leaving their position pushed
down toward the Federal line in great
force, a regiment of cavalry moving on
each flank. Colonel Barton's brigade
and the artillery, with the Eighth United
States Volunteers, a colored regiment,
received them with firmness, and for a
little while held them in check. The
colored troops, though they had never
been under fire before, behaved well,
till Colonel Fribley, their commander,
and several other officers fell, when,
suffering severely from the concentrated
fire of a superior force, and about three
hundred out of five hundred and seventy
being killed or wounded, they fell back
in confusion, and in doing so exposed
the artillery to a heavy flank fire on the
left. The artillerymen were shot down
at their guns, and those who stepped
forward to fill their places quickly shared
their fate. The batteries of Captains
Hamilton and Langdon suffered severely,
and toward the close of the engagement
were compelled to suspend firing. Most
of the horses were killed and two of the
guns had to be abandoned.
When Barton's brigade began to wa
ver in consequence of their ammuuition
giving out, the First Carolina, a colored
regiment, was sent to the front, and suc
ceeded in holding the enemy in check

326

GENERAL SEYMOUR'S OPERATIONS IN FLORIDA.

though suffering severely ; Lieutenant-
Colonel Reid was mortally wounded and
Major Boyle killed. An attempt was
made by the enemy to flank the retiring
force on both sides with cavalry, but
in this they were thwarted by the dis
positions of Colonel Henry. The centre
held its ground till a new line was formed
in a position about a hundred yards in
the rear, soon after which the enemy
advanced in double column, closed en
masse with cheers, and were about to
deploy in line and crush the centre,
when Elder's battery opened upon them
with canister at short range. Three
times the colors of the rebels went down
and three times they were raised again ;
but the fire was too much for them,
cutting lanes through their masses be
fore they had time to deploy. They
fell back in confusion and advanced no
more in force. About sundown their
fire suddenly ceased. But the numer
ical superiority of the Confederates had
become evident, and the Federal line
was gradually withdrawn, the dead and
badly wounded being left in the hands
of the enemy.
The retreat was conducted for a time
in successive lines of battle, but as the
enemy seemed indisposed to follow, was
changed into a movement in column,
and proceeded in an orderly manner,
with no stragglers except the footsore
and wounded, though the troops were
much fatigued with their long march
and a battle of three and a half hours'
duration. The retreat was continued as
far as Barber's Station that night, and
the next morning to Baldwin, where the

enemy again appeared in pursuit. Many
of the wounded were sent on to Jack
sonville from that place in cars drawn
by mules. General Seymour ordered
the destruction of about sixty thousand
dollars' worth of commissary stores, and
the army resumed its march to Jackson
ville, where it arrived on the afternoon
of the 22d of February, having sustained
a loss of not less than twelve hundred
men and five pieces of artillery besides
the stores destroyed, while that of
the enemy, according to the statement
of General Finnegan, did not exceed
two hundred and fifty men killed and
wounded. General Finnegan took up a position
at Camp Finnegan, about eight miles
from Jacksonville on the road to Baldwin.
General Seymour with all his forces
occupied Jacksonville, whither reinforce
ments soon began to arrive in such
numbers as to make the town perfectly
secure against any force that was likely
to be brought against it.
A small Federal force remained several
months at Jacksonville, but no important
military operations took place. All
attempts at the reorganization of the
State ceased after the battle of Olustee.
On the 1st of April the stern-wheel
transport Maple Leaf was blown up on
the St. John's by means of a torpedo
while on her way down the river from
Pilatka, as was also the General Hunter
on the 15th in the same locality.
Pilatka, an advanced post up the St.
John's, about fifty miles south of Jack
sonville, was evacuated, everything of
value being carried away.

THE SIEGE OF PLYMOUTH.

327

To the history of reverses sustained
by the Northern arms in Louisiana,
Florida, and elsewhere, must now be
added details of those which occurred in
North Carolina. The three important
seaports on the east coast of North Caro
lina — Newbern, Plymouth, and Wash
ington, which had been held by Federal
garrisons since their capture by General
Burnside in 1862 — became in the spring
the objects of a series of operations on
the part of the Confederates. The
presence of Union troops in these towns
had been for some time operating on
public opinion to the prejudice of the
authority of the Confederate Govern
ment, and it was therefore considered
by the rebels of great importance to
restore them without delay to the Con
federate flag.
Batchelor's Creek, a Union outpost
eight miles from Newbern, was attacked
on the 1st of February by a force under
General Pickett, and captured. Pickett
then advanced to within a mile and a
half of Newbern, where every prepara
tion was made to receive an attack, but
soon afterward retired to Kinston. The
gun-boat Underwriter, however,, was
captured. She was at the time lying
aground in such a position as to cover
a portion of the fortifications between
Forts Anderson and Stephens, near
Newbern, and was attacked by the rebels
at three o'clock in the morning, in
barges, which they had brought over
land from Savannah by railroad, and
which the commander of the Under
writer allowed to approach under the
supposition that they were a boat's crew

returning, which had been sent out a
short time before on a reconnoissance.
As the rebels could not get the Under
writer afloat, they set her on fire, and
she blew up.
On the 17th of April, General Hoke,
with about ten thousand men, appeared
in the vicinity of Plymouth, and on the
same day, about half-past five o'clock,
commenced the siege by an attack on
Fort Gray, on the Roanoke River, about
a mile above the town. This was one of
the four forts which with some smaller
redoubts had been erected, during the
Federal occupation, for the defence of
Plymouth ; the other three, Forts Wil
liams, Wessels, and Comfort, were in
the immediate vicinnVv of the town. In
addition to these defences were five gun
boats, the Bombshell, Southfield, White
head, Miami, and Ceres. Upon these
gun-boats the town depended also for
the preservation of its communications,
and for reinforcements should they be
needed. Fire was opened upon Fort Gray
from a battery of six guns, planted on a
sand-bank in the Roanoke, one thousand
yards above the fort. A.t early dawn
on the morning of the 18th, two despe
rate assaults were made on the fort, but
both were repulsed with heavy loss to
the enemy. The Bombshell, a small
gun-boat, steamed up the river to com
municate with the fort, but received
several shots from the rebel battery,
which damaged her badly, so that on
her return to Plymouth she sunk at the
wharf. Later in the day the enemy appeared

328

THE SIEGE OF PLYMOUTH.

in force in rear of the town, and Forts
Wessels and Williams were vigorously
attacked near sunset, but in three suc
cessive charges the rebels were repulsed
by the garrison, aided by the gun-boats,
from which shells were thrown into the
rebel columns. The defence promised
to be successful. General H. W. Wes
sels, a West Point officer who had seen
much service, was in command, with
twenty-five hundred men. He had for
some days been expecting the enemy,
and sent away a number of non-com
batants to Roanoke Island. The rebels
had sustained severe loss in the several
attempts to take the forts by storm,
and though four times as numerous as
the garrison, would easily have been
kept at bay till the arrival of rein
forcements, which were already on their
way. These were not destined to arrive,
however. At three o'clock in the morning of the
April l9t]l the reDel ram Albemarle,
19. accompanied by the sharpshooter
battery Cotton Plant, when the moon
had disappeared, quietly left her moor
ings and stole down along the left bank
of the river, in the shadow of the trees,
using no steam, but, floating down with
the stream, slipped through the piles
and other obstructions which had been
placed six miles up the river, passed the
batteries, and suddenly made her ap
pearance on the scene. This vessel was
built on the plan of the Merrimac, one
hundred and fifty-two feet long, forty
feet in breadth of beam, twelve feet in
depth of hold, and heavily iron plated,
moved by an English-built low-pressure

engine, with two screws. Her armament
consisted of only two guns, twenty-
pounder Whitworths, the chief depend
ence on her power for mischief being
placed in her ability to run an an
tagonist down, for which purpose she
was provided with a beak fifteen feet
long under the water line. She was
commanded by Captain James S. Coke,
formerly a lieutenant in the United States
navy. The approach of the ram had been
expected, and preparations had been
made for a contest with her by Lieu
tenant-Commander Flusser, who com
manded the Federal vessels, by lashing
together two gun-boats, the Miami and
Southfield, in the hope of attacking her
in such a way as to get her between the
bows of his vessels and thus run her
aground. In the working of this plan
he was disappointed ; his arrangements
were only partially complete when the
ram appeared within a hundred yards.
The united boats were nevertheless ad
vanced at full speed against the ram.
The result was, instead of the capture
of the Albemarle, the sinking of the
Southfield, which received the beak of
the ram in her starboard bow and went
to the bottom in fifteen minutes. This
vessel had formerly been employed as a
ferry-boat between New York and Staten
Island. A part of her officers and crew
were picked up by the Miami ; some
were made prisoners, and a few were
lost. Both vessels had been shortly before
engaged in shelling the troops on shore,
and the guns had been left loaded with

EVACUATION OF WASHINGTON, N. C.

329

shell, which there had been no time to
draw. On approaching the ram, Lieu
tenant-Commander Flusser fired the first
gun from the Miami. The shell exploded
on striking the ram, making no impres
sion on it, however ; but, upon its burst
ing, some fragments, either from this or
the Southfield's shells, rebounded, and
instantly killed Lieutenant-Commander
Flusser, pieces of shell piercing his chest
face, and skull, besides wounding several
officers and six or eight men. The
Miami herself received no injury, and as
soon as she was disentangled from the
Southfield, retired, firing solid shot at
the ram.
The surrender of Plymouth was a
necessary consequence of the superior
power of the rebel ram ; two out of the
five gun-boats, the Bombshell and the
Southfield, had been sunk ; the other
three were compelled to withdraw or be
sunk also. The ram remained monarch
of the waters, and not only shelled the
town and forts, and thus materially aided
in bringing about the final surrender,
but would have sunk any vessel bringing
reinforcements from Newbern or else
where. Prolonged resistance on the part of
General Wessels would have had no
other result than to swell the lists of
killed and wounded ; accordingly at half-
past ten on the morning of Wednesday,
the 20th of April, he pulled down the
flags from Forts Williams and Comfort.
Fort Wessels had been evacuated the
day before. Fort Gray held out for a
time. The rebels took possession of
Plymouth, together with twenty-five
210

hundred prisoners, thirty pieces of artil
lery, among which was a two-hundred
pounder Parrott gun, subsequently trans
ferred to the Albemarle, several hun
dred horses, a large amount of provisions,
stores, etc. The Federal loss in killed
and wounded was about a hundred and
fifty, that of the Confederates about five
hundred. The fall of Plymouth was followed by
the evacuation of Washington, a beauti
ful little town at the mouth of the Tar
River, thirty-two miles north of New
bern. The place was strongly fortified,
and had a garrison of four thousand
troops commanded by General Palmer.
This step was taken for strategic reasons ;
for though under ordinary circumstances
the place might have been held against
any force the Confederates could afford
to send against it, its communications by
sea were now liable to be interrupted at
any moment by the appearance of the
ram Albemarle, against which the gun
boats were supposed to be totally unable
to contend. In addition to these con
siderations, the garrison was needed to
reinforce that of Newbern, which it was
determined to hold at all hazards. Ac
cordingly, on the 28th of April, the April
evacuation was commenced, and 28.
was so well managed that no information
of- the movement was received by the
enemy, who were in the neighborhood,
though in greatly inferior force.
Though Washington was of little im
portance in a strategic point of view, its
abandonment was much to be regretted
on account of its inhabitants and those
of the surrounding district ; a great

330

FIGHT BETWEEN GUN-BOATS AND THE ALBEMARLE.

portion of whom were sincerely attached
to the Union, or, having been assured
that the Federal occupation would be
permanent, had returned to their allegi
ance. All these were under the neces
sity of leaving their property behind
them, if they went away, or, if they
remained, were in danger of becoming4
the objects of rebel vengeance.
But this was not all : when the evacu
ation was nearly completed, some strag
gling marines and soldiers fired the
town ; and it would appear that this
was done for purposes of plunder, for in
the language of General Palmer, their
commander, "the vandals did not even
respect the charitable institutions, but-
bursting open the doors of the Masonic
and Odd Fellows' lodges,, pillaged them
both, and hawked about the streets the
regalia and jewels." A number of stores,
both public and private, were plundered,
and much property was wasted and
destroyed. The fire spread rapidly, and
got beyond control. The entire town
was laid in ashes. Vast quantities of
naval, commissary, ordnance and quarter
masters' stores were destroyed, besides
private property, the whole estimated at
a value of several millions of dollars.
As in the case of Alexandria, abandoned
by General Banks under a similar bitter
military necessity, their sufferings were
without remedy; in the midst of the
great storm of war they could obtain no
hearing for the story of their wrongs.
The abandonment of Washington set
at liberty a number of troops, and made
it possible to strengthen the garrison of
Newbern to such an extent that the

Confederates were deterred from making
any attack on that town. By this time,
too, the war was beginning to take such
a shape in Virginia that the Confederacy
could ill spare troops for North Carolina.
The disasters caused by the ram Albe
marle, and the fact that she was sup
posed to be about going round to
Pamlico Sound, to aid in an attempt
upon Newbern, called for vigorous
measures to restore the Federal naval
supremacy in the North Carolina sounds.
Several double-enders were added to
the fleet in Albemarle Sound, with
directions to attack the ram at all
hazards, and to use every means to
destroy or disable her.
On the afternoon of the 5th of May
the three side-wheel gun-boats, Matta-
besett, Sassacus, and Wyalusing, were
lying at anchor in Albemarle Sound,
twenty miles below the mouth of the
Roanoke, watching an opportunity to
make an attack upon the ram, which
was lying a little distance up the
Roanoke, to the mouth of which river
several smaller gun-boats had been sent,
with the design of provoking an attack
from the ram, and decoying her into the
open waters of the sound. The plan
succeeded. Soon after three in the
afternoon, signals were made that the
ram was out ; the " double-enders" had
already got under way ; at four o'clock
the picket-boats were seen retreating be
fore the Albemarle, and soon afterward
she was discerned, accompanied by the
Cotton Plant, cotton-clad and manned
by two hundred sharpshooters and
boarders, and the Bombshell, a small

FIGHT BETWEEN GUN-BOATS AND THE ALBEMARLE.

331

one-gun vessel which had been attached
to Bumside's expedition, and which had
fallen into the hands of the Confederates
at the surrender of Plymouth. The
Cotton Plant soon put back hastily for
Plymouth. The ram came on, accom
panied by the Bombshell. The latter,
after receiving a broadside from the
Sassacus, surrendered, and was ordered
to drop out of fire and anchor, which
she did.
The contest was now between the ram
alone and a fleet of seven vessels of
various sizes. Owing, however, to the
rapid and indiscriminate fire of the
smaller vessels, and their neglect of
signals from the flag-ship, it became
impossible for the larger ones to take up
advantageous positions. Their round
shot rebounded from the armored sides
of the ram like " dried peas" and
•"India-rubber" balls. The ram threw
one-hundred pounder Brooks rifle shot
and shell. About five o'clock the com
mander of the Sassacus, finding his posi
tion favorable for the attempt, ordered
his vessel, then about eight hundred
yards from the ram, to be headed directly
for her, with the design of running her
down or disabling her. While going
nine or ten knots, the Sassacus struck
the iron-plated monster fairly amidships.
The stem of the Sassacus, was forced
over the side of the ram, and headway
being kept up, the ram was pushed on
and careened down under the weight of
her antagonist till the water rushed over
her deck and casemate. The two vessels

remained in- this position for about ten
minutes, the crew ofthe Sassacus throw
ing hand-grenades down the deck-hatch
of the Albemarle and trying to throw
powder into her smoke-stack. Could
another of the gun-boats at this juncture
have attacked the ram, she might have
been disabled or caused to surrender.
Shots were being constantly exchanged,
but without much effect, till a hundred-
pound ball pierced the starboard boiler
of the Sassacus, when the vessel became
enveloped in steam and many of the
crew were badly scalded. The contest
nevertheless continued for a few minutes
between the two vessels, the consorts
of the Sassacus fearing to fire lest they
should injure their friends. When the
cloud of steam lifted, the Albemarle had
got clear of the Sassacus, and begun to
retire up the sound toward the Roanoke
—but kept up a general engagement
with the gun-boats till half-past seven.
Though not destroyed or disabled, the
ram was to some extent injured. She
had her boats knocked to pieces, her
smoke-stack riddled, and one of her guns
partially disabled; but her machinery
remained intact, and the rifle projectiles
of her antagonists, even when fired at
short range, rebounded harmlessly from
her sides. The result of the contest
was, that she was prevented from leaving
the sound for Newbern, and that she
was no longer considered invincible or
even very formidable. She remained
idle in the Roanoke till sunk the follow
ing October by Lieutenant Cushing.

332

OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA.

CHAPTER XXXII.
Inactivity in Virginia. — Position of the Armies of Generals Meade and Lee. — Camp Life. — Desultory Operations. — Loss of
Supply Trains in Western Virginia. — Fight near Williamsport. — Evacuation of Petersburg, Hardin Co., by Colonel
Thoburn. — Rebels driven back.— Reoccupation of Petersburg. — Plan for the Surprise of Richmond. — General Sedg
wick crosses the Rapidan. — General Lee deceived. — General Wistar's March up the Peninsula. — Retreat of General
Wistar. — Alarm and Confusion in Richmond. — Another Plan for taking Richmond by Surprise. — Movements of Gener
als Sedgwick, Birney, and Custer. — March of General Custer toward Charlottesville. — Stuart's Cavalry encountered.
— Retreat of General Custer. — Pursuit by Stuart's Cavalry.— Return to Madison Court House. — General Kilpatrick's
Raid. — Colonel Dahlgren sent toward Frederickshall. — Destruction of Railroads, Mills, Bridges, etc. — Narrow Escape
of General R. E. Lee. — Destruction of Railroads, etc., effected by Kilpatrick. — Kilpatrick's Force near Richmond.
— First Line of Defences taken. — No News of Dahlgren. — Retreat of Kilpatrick. — His Camp shelled. — Colonel
Dahlgren misled by his Negro Guide. — Negro Guide hung. — Destruction of Mills, etc., on the James River and
Canal. — Dahlgren near Richmond. — Fight with Rebel Infantry. — Death of Dahlgren. — Co-operative Force sent too
late by General Butler. — Papers said to have been found on Dahlgren's Body. — Life of Colonel Dahlgren. — General
ill success of Northern Arms in the early part of the Tear. — Drafts of March and April ordered by President Lincoln.

1S64.

In Virginia the armies remained in
active through the winter ; rain and
mud made the movement of large
bodies of troops impracticable. The
Federal forces were no nearer Richmond
than they were at the same date in the
preceding year. The headquarters of
the Army of the Potomac, commanded
by General Meade, were at Culpeper
Court House, on the Orange and Alex
andria Railroad, north of the Rapidan,
seventy miles north-northwest of Rich
mond in a direct line ; the headquarters
of General Lee, at Orange Court House,
south of the Rapidan, on the same
railroad. The pickets of the respect
ive armies, if they did not hold much
friendly intercourse, made no hostile de
monstrations on each other. Some of
the officers built themselves comforta
ble log houses ; the Masons in the army
held their meetings in regular form,
and the soldiers were permitted to

amuse themselves in any way not in
consistent with their military duties.
Neither army feared an attack in force,
or a surprise, the roads being in such a
condition as to make the movement of
large bodies of infantry, and especially
of artillery, utterly impracticable. Nev
ertheless military vigilance was not re
laxed, as parties of guerrillas from time
to time made dashes upon exposed points
of the Union lines.
This inactivity of the armies in Vir
ginia continued till the appointment of
General Grant to the position of Lieu
tenant- General, broken only by a few
desultory operations which had little
effect on the general course of the war.
Among these was an attempt, on the part
of General Early, in Western Virginia,
in the department of General Kelley, to
cut the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in
the early part of January, in which he
failed, as well as in another to capture

OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA.

333

the Union garrison at Petersburg, in
Hardin County, which was surrounded
on the 8th by a force of three brigades
under General Fitz Hugh Lee. A sup
ply train consisting of thirty-five wagons,
mostly empty, was captured by his
forces on its return from Petersburg, in
Hardin County, to New Creek. On
the 28th of January a train of eighty
wagons, sent from New Creek, heavily
laden with commissary stores for the
garrison at Petersburg, with an escort
of eight hundred men under Colonel
Snyder, was suddenly attacked about
three miles south of Williamsport by a
superior force, under General Rosser,
with four pieces of artillery. A severe
fight ensued, which lasted from three in
the afternoon till dark, when the contest
was given up, and the rebels got pos
session of the train; This event rendered
it necessary that Petersburg should be
evacuated. This was so quietly managed
by Colonel Thoburn, in command of the
forces there, that he got off with all his
men, guns, and stores, unknown to the
enemy, who cautiously approached and
shelled the town on the following morn
ing, made regular approaches, and finally
charged, to find nothing more offensive
than a few dead mules and the remains
of a camp. The Union troops retreated
northward, toward the line of the Balti
more and Ohio Railroad, closely followed
by the rebels, who advanced as far as
Burlington and some distance toward
New Creek, but were soon afterward
driven back by Colonel Mulligan, and
Petersburg was again occupied by Fed
eral troops.

In the early part of February a bold
attempt was made to surprise Richmond,
which it was supposed had been rendered
temporarily defenceless by the with
drawal of a large part of its garrison to
reinforce General Pickett in North Caro
lina. The scheme originated with Gen
eral Butler, and for a time promised to
be a brilliant success. It was a part of
the plan that General Lee should be
induced to withdraw his reserves from
Richmond, and in order to accomplish
this, a large body of troops under Gen
eral Sedgwick, as well as cavalry under
General Kilpatrick, crossed the Rapidan
on the 6th of February, as if preliminary
to a movement of the entire Army of the
Potomac, which some pleasant weather
and the temporarily good condition of
the roads seemed to make practicable.
General Lee appears to have been actu
ally deceived, and ordered up his reserves
from Richmond and other points to
await the expected attack. A little
fighting occurred at Morton's Ford and
elsewhere, but the whole of the Federal
troops had recrossed the Rapidan on
the 7th.
In the mean time a large force of cav
alry and mounted infantry under Gen
eral Wistar moved rapidly up the penin
sula. Leaving New Kent Court House
on the 5th, Wistar's force arrived at Bot
tom's Bridge, on the Chickahominy, about
ten miles east of Richmond, at half-past
two on the morning of the 6th, having
marched forty-seven miles in sixteen and
a half hours. The obstructions at the
bridge, however, and the force defending
it, were such as in the opinion of General

334

OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA.

Wistar could not be overcome, and after
waiting till noon he determined to re
turn, and at once commenced his retreat.
A large infantry force had in the mean
while come up to his support, but the
retreat was nevertheless continued. The
enemy made an attack on the rear, but
were easily beaten back. Great alarm
prevailed for some time in Richmond
when the approach of General Wistar's
force became known. The alarm bells
were rung ; the Home Guard was assem
bled and marched out of the city to the
defences. The liberation of the Union
prisoners was apprehended, and the ex
citement and confusion were such that
there can be little doubt had General
Wistar succeeded in crossing the Chicka
hominy and dashed on at once, he might
have succeeded in capturing the city and
holding it till large reinforcements came
up and made its possession secure.
The most important movement of
this comparatively inactive period was
the cavalry expedition of General Kil
patrick from the Army of the Potomac
to the vicinity of Richmond. This was
made in furtherance of another attempt
to capture that city by surprise, by means
of combined movements of cavalry from
General Meade's army and a body of
infantry to move up from the peninsula,
so arranged that the co-operating forces,
it was hoped, would fall from different
directions at the same time upon Rich
mond, which it was believed was still
comparatively defenceless.
The portion of the forces to be de
tached from General Meade's army
commenced moving on the 25th of Feb

ruary. On the 27th a body of infantry,
under General Sedgwick, left camp near
Culpeper Court House for Madison Court
House, fifteen miles southwest of Gen
eral Meade's headquarters, followed on
the 28th by a division under General
Birney. Madison Court House was oc
cupied, but the main body encamped on
the heights along Robertson's River,
from which position pickets were sent
out to the right and left. General
Birney's division occupied James City, a
village west of Culpeper Court House.
A force consisting of fifteen hundred cav
alry, with two guns, under General
Custer, was pushed forward on the 28th,
by way of Madison Court House, toward
Charlottesville, at the junction of the
railroad from Lynchburg with the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad, thirty-six miles
south-southwest of Culpeper in a direct
line. The capture of this place, and the
destruction of the railroads centring
there, would have broken Lee's com
munications with the west, and in con
junction with the destruction of other
railroad tracks effected by Kilpatrick
and Dahlgren, would have completely
isolated his army, the common roads
being at that time not in a condition to
permit the movement of wagon trains.
General Custer arrived within four
miles of Charlottesville in ten hours, and
at that point surprised a camp of Gen
eral Stuart's cavalry with horse batteries.
These were charged upon at once, all
the camp equipage destroyed, and six
caissons blown up. The cannon were
not spiked, for want of the necessary
implements. In the mean time the

enemy rallied rapidly. It soon became
evident that they were in greatly superior
force, and several pieces of artillery
were turned upon the assailants. The
enemy also telegraphed to Orange Court
House for assistance, which came toward
evening by railroad in the shape of five
car loads of infantry. Speedy retreat on
the part of General Custer's command
became a matter of prudence. The
Ravenna was recrossed about sunset and
the bridge burned. Several mills in
the neighborhood were also destroyed.
General Steedman, with five hundred
men, took the advance in the retreat.
The night was very dark and much rain
fell mingled with sleet. General Custer,
with his thousand men and two cannon,
missed his way and came upon a deep
and muddy ravine through which the
cannon could not be taken; he therefore
determined to bivouac in the woods.
General Stuart in the mean wliile, with
two thousand men, was approaching his
rear. The next morning, about nine
o'clock, the right road was found, and
pursued to near Stannardsville, about
fifteen miles southwest of Madison Court
House, when the hostile cavalry were
seen drawn up across the road. Gen
eral Custer ordered a charge, which he"
led himself, and the two guns opening
upon the rebels, they fled hastily. Gen
eral Steedman, on hearing the firing,
turned to the relief of Custer. The
whole command got back to Madison
Court House on the 29th without the
loss of a man, bringing in about fifty
prisoners, a large number of negroes and
some three hundred horses.

Gen. Kilpatrick left Culpeper Court
House on the 28th of March at the head
of about eight thousand cavalry and
horse artillery, for the Rapidan, by way
of Stevensburg, crossed at Germania and
Ely's fords, pursued the road toward
Robertson's Tavern, and encamped eight
miles south of the Rapidan, at Old
Verdiersville, on the Fredericksburg and
Orange Court House plank road. At
three o'clock in the morning of the 29th,
General Kilpatrick took up the line of
march toward Spottsylvania Court House,
and arrived in the evening about dark.
At this point Colonel Dahlgren was
detached with about five hundred men,
to proceed in a southwesterly direction
toward Frederickshall, on the Virginia
Central Railroad, about midway between
Sexton's Junction and Gordonsville,
where a large number of guns were in
store, and which it was hoped he might
succeed in destroying or spiking. But
finding the position defended by a large
body of infantry, and his orders pro
hibiting all but defensive fighting, he
contented himself with tearing up the
railroad track, demolishing bridges, burn
ing mills, etc. About an hour before
Colonel Dahlgren's arrival at this point,
General Lee had passed over it on his
way to headquarters. Colonel Dahlgren
then pushed on, with the design of arriv
ing in the vicinity of Richmond in time
to co-operate with Kilpatrick in the
attack on that city.
General Kilpatrick made his way,
wasting and destroying as he went,
mills, forage, stores, and everything that
might be made available by the enemy

336

GENERAL KILPATRICK'S RAID.

in the way of supplies, from Spottsyl
vania Court House to the Richmond and
Fredericksburg Railroad, which he struck
near the bridge over the Mattapony, and
from that point as far as the Pamunkey
tore up the railroad track. He then
moved along the railroad by way of
Ashland toward Richmond, still continu
ing the destruction of railroad and tele
graph, mills, etc., and early in the
morning of the 1st of March arrived in
the vicinity of Richmond, on its west side,
by the road running along Brook Creek.
The authorities there had, however, re
ceived warning by telegraph from an
operator south of Sexton's Junction, and
had made such good use of their time as
to throw up a new intrenchment and
put a dozen pieces of artillery in posi
tion. As the spires and houses of the city
Mar. came in view' claeer after clieer
!• went up from Kilpatrick's men,
who dashed through the first line of
defences, making prisoners of the troops
there; but on approaching the second
line found such an array of artillery
as would have made persistence on the
part of the attack a mere waste of life
without any hope of a favorable result.
Kilpatrick then withdrew his men, and
hearing nothing of Dahlgren, marched
round the north side of the city toward
Mechanicsville, not, however, before
throwing a few shells into the city, and
learning from the loud whistle of ap
proaching locomotives, that reinforce
ments for the enemy were rapidly arriv
ing by the railroad, from Bottom's Bridge
and elsewhere. At Mechanicsville he

was not allowed to rest ; his camp was
shelled by the rebels, and he was com
pelled to move away during the night.
In the mean time misfortune had
overtaken Colonel Dahlgren, upon whose
co-operation General Kilpatrick had
largely counted. Moving rapidly across
the country, but, misled by his guide,
Dahlgren arrived, not in the vicinity
of Richmond, but at Goochland Court
House, on the James River and Canal,
twenty-five miles west of Richmond.
On the discovery of his treachery the
negro was immediately hanged on the
nearest tree. Resuming his march, Col
onel Dahlgren moved along the river
road toward Richmond, destroying a
vast amount of property on the canal,
including six grist-mills in full operation,
a saw-mill, six canal boats loaded with
grain, several canal locks, and the coal
works at Manakin's Bend. Everything
in the shape of stores, supplies, or store
houses was left in flames.
Colonel Dahlgren arrived within three
miles of the city late in the afternoon
of the day on which Kilpatrick had left
for Mechanicsville, and found every one
on the alert since Kilpatrick's attack.
After a brisk skirmish with a body of
rebel infantry, which he found too strong
for him, he turned back in search of
Kilpatrick's column. But in the fight
he, with Major Cook and about a hun
dred men, had become separated from
the main body of his command, and in
attempting to make his way to Glou
cester Point, fell into an ambush on.
the night of the 2d of March, at a
point on the Mattapony between Mantua

COLONEL DAHLGREN.

337

Ferry and King and Queen Court House,
where he was killed, and the greater part
of his comrades made prisoners. The
main body of his command rejoined
Kilpatrick's force in safety.
On Sunday, the 29th, a day too late,
General Butler received orders to send
out a force to meet Kilpatrick and assist
him if necessary. A large body of in
fantry with cavalry was immediately
sent forward to New Kent Court House,
and on the morning of the 3d was joined
by Kilpatrick's command, and the entire
force retired down the peninsula. The
total loss sustained by the expedition
was about a hundred and fifty men
killed and wounded.
Subsequently the newspaper press of
Richmond published an " address" and
" special orders and instructions," said to
have been found on the body of Colonel
Dahlgren, according to which, if Rich
mond should be captured, the released
Union prisoners were to be exhorted to
" burn the hateful city." " Once in the
city," also said the pretended order, "it
must be destroyed, and Jeff. Davis and
his cabinet killed." The friends of Col
onel Dahlgren denied in the most positive
manner his connection with these papers.
They were not in his handwriting, and
his father, the Admiral, pronounced them
forgeries. Colonel Ulric Dahlgren, son of Rear-
Admiral John A. Dahlgren, was born
in Pennsylvania in 1842. He entered
the navy as a midshipman before the
outbreak of the rebellion. At the time
of the attack on Fort Sumter he was
travelling in the Southwestern States,
211

and efforts were made on the part of his
Southern friends to induce him to adopt
the cause of the rebellion. Hastening
home, he found employment for a time
with his father in the ordnance depart
ment. The Admiral having received
orders to place a naval battery on Mary
land Heights, at the time when General
Saxton was in command at Harper's
Ferry, sent his son, who had received
thorough instructions in gunnery, to
place the pieces in position and take
charge of the battery. When General
Sigel relieved General Saxton, he took
young Dahlgren upon his staff, and
subsequently obtained his appointment
as aide-de-camp, with the rank of captain.
In this capacity he served also some
time with Fremont in his mountain
campaign, and distinguished himself at
Cross Keys. He served also through
Pope's campaign, and acted as chief of
artillery under General Sigel at the
second battle of Bull Run. In the
autumn of 1862 he served under Gen
eral Stahel in his reconnoissances and
raids ; was with the Army of the Poto
mac in that year, when it moved toward
the Rappahannock ; and for gallantry
displayed at the head of General Sigel's
body-guard, he was detailed by General
Burnside as 'special aid upon his staff.
When the army went into winter quar
ters he rejoined General Sigel, and when
that General was relieved of his com
mand, was transferred to the staff of
General Hooker. He distinguished him
self at the battle of Chancellorsville ;
was with General Pleasonton in numer
ous cavalry fights in the Bull Run

338

COLONEL DAHLGREN.

mountains and Alclie, and joined General
Stahel's expedition to Warrenton as a
volunteer. When General Meade suc
ceeded General Hooker in command of
the Army of the Potomac, he requested
Captain Dahlgren to come upon his staff.
Before the battles at Gettysburg, having
obtained from General Pleasonton a
hundred picked men, with a roving
commission, besides rendering other im
portant services, he captured a bearer
of dispatches from President Davis to
General Lee, together with his escort,
and succeeded, though not without con
siderable difficulty, in reaching the tent
of General Meade with these important
papers, after the first day's battle. He
subsequently,, when the rebels were re
treating, led a charge into Hagerstown,
in which he received a severe wound in
the leg, which made amputation neces
sary. For his gallantry on this and
other occasions he was made colonel.
His wound proved to be more than
usually dangerous, inflammation setting
in to such an extent as to make five
operations necessary before the limb
would heal ; and even when he joined
Kilpatrick's expedition he was not in a
proper condition to take the field. His
commiseration, however, for the unfor
tunate Union soldiers confined in the
Libby and Belle Isle prisons at Rich
mond, many of them his comrades, whom
he hoped to liberate,, induced him to en
ter with enthusiasm into the plans of
Kilpatrick, who intrusted to him the ex
ecution of the most difficult part of the

enterprise. It has been seen how this
expedition ended in failure.
Thus far in 1864 the war had been
little more than a series of failures or
serious disasters. Sherman's Mississippi
expedition had not attained its object ;
in Florida, the zeal of General Seymour
had led him to tempt fortune in the
swamps and pine forests of the interior,
far from his base, and a disastrous reverse
had been the result ; in Louisiana and
North Carolina the Union arms had
been disgraced not only by defeat, but
by the abandonment of large' numbers
of loyal people to whom protection had
been guaranteed. The whole country
and the world had been horrified by
the Fort Pillow massacre. Two at
tempts to surprise Richmond had failed
only through mismanagement. Never
theless there had been great waste of
men. It was necessary that the strength
of the armies should be not only
kept up but increased, otherwise the
work of putting down the rebellion
would apparently be indefinitely drawn
out, or the Union arms be disgraced by
disasters still more serious. Recruiting
went on but slowly ; and on the 1st of
February the President issued the order
for another draft of five hundred thou
sand men, in case that number should
not be procured by voluntary enlistment
by the 10th of March ; and on the 14th
of March still another draft was ordered,
of two hundred thousand men, in case
that number should not have volunteered
by the 15 th of April.

NEW MILITARY POLICY.

339

CHAPTER XXXIII

New Military Policy. — Revival of the Grade of Lieutenant-General. — Grant made Lieutenant-General. — General Hal
leck relieved. — Sherman assigned to the Military Division of the Mississippi. — Grant assumes Command of all the
Armies. — Grant joins the Army of the Potomac. — Consolidation of Corps. — Preparations for the Campaigns against
Atlanta and Richmond. — Corps Commanders of the Potomac Army. — Butler's Command. — Foster assigned to the
Department of the South. — Hundred Days' Men offered. — Movements against the Virginia and Tennessee
Railroad and Lynchburg. — Proposed Occupation of Petersburg. — The Army of the Potomac crosses the Rapidan. —
Positions of the Corps south of the Rapidan. — Grant's Plan of the Campaign. — Lee sets his Army in Motion.—-
General Griffin feels the Enemy. — Battle of the 5th of May. — Bumside's Corps called up. — Battle of the Gth. —
Disaster to Grant's Right Wing. — Heavy Losses of Men. — Cavalry Fight. — Retreat of General Lee from Mine Run.
—Fredericksburg occupied. — Pursuit of Lee to Spottsylvania Court House. — Battle at Alsop's Farm. — Death of
General Sedgwick.— General Wright succeeds Sedgwick in the command of the Sixth Corps. — Life of General Sedg
wick. — Battle of the 9th. — Battle of the 11th. — General Rice killed. — Grant's famous Dispatch. — Losses.

It now became obvious that a new
military policy must be inaugura
ted j the small, desultory, indecisive,
and fruitless operations which had so
long prevailed over the whole theatre
of the war, it was now acknowledged,
must cease. Instead of this system, so
expensive in men and material, and
contributing so little toward the great
ends of the war, a system of concentra
tion and combination was resolved upon.
To carry on the war with unity of
design ; to carry it on so that all army
movements, however widely separated,
should form parts of one grand scheme
of war, and should each be calculated so
that it might contribute to the grand
result, as do the distinct parts of a com
plicated piece of mechanism, it was ne
cessary that one mind should control all
the armies. Instead of the lamentable
looseness which had heretofore prevailed
in the supreme management of army
operations — the directing power being

exercised sometimes by General Halleck,
sometimes by the Secretary of War,
sometimes by the President, and some
times by the generals in the field, so
that it might be safely said no one knew
exactly what was beiug done— it was
wisely determined that one master mind
should direct the whole, and be abso
lutely supreme in everything relating
to the conduct of the war.
On the 29th of February an act to
revive the grade of Lieutenant-General
received the approval of the President.
He immediately named Major-General
Grant for the office, and sent his nomi
nation to the Senate for confirmation.
It was confirmed by that body on the
3d of March. General Grant was at
that time in command of the Army of
the Tennessee ; he was at once sent for,
and arrived in Washington on the 8th.
On the afternoon of the 9th the President
formally presented to him his commission
as Lieutenant-General, in the presence

340

GRANT MADE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL.

of the entire cabinet, Generals Halleck
and Rawlins, General Grant's staff, Col
onel Comstock, General Grant's son,
Mr. Lovejoy, and Mr. Nicolay.
The President said : " General Grant
Mar> — The nation's appreciation of what
9. you have done, and its reliance
upon you for what remains to be done
in the existing great struggle, are now
presented with this commission consti
tuting you Lieutenant-General in the
army of the United States. With this
high honor devolves upon you a corre
sponding responsibility. As the country
herein trusts you, so, under God, it will
sustain you. I scarcely need to add
that with what I here speak for the
nation, goes my own hearty personal
concurrence." General Grant said, in reply : " Mr.
President — I accept the commission
with gratitude for the high honor con
ferred. With the aid of the noble armies
that have fought on so many fields for
our common country, it will be my
earnest endeavor not to disappoint your
expectations. I feel the full weight of
the responsibilities now devolving on
me, and I know that if they are met, it
will be due to those armies, and above
all to the favor of that Providence which
leads both nations and men."
On the 11th of March, General Grant
returned to Nashville. On the 12th an
order was issued from the War Depart
ment at Washington, according to which
Major-General Halleck was, at his own -
request, relieved from duty as general-
in- chief, and assigned to duty as chief
of staff of the army, under the direction

of the Secretary of War and the Lieu
tenant-General. By the same order
Major-General Sherman was assigned to
the command of the military division of
the Mississippi, comprising the depart
ments of the Ohio, the Cumberland,
the Tennessee, and the Arkansas; and
Major-General McPherson to the com
mand of the Department and Army of
the Tennessee.
On the 17th of March, General Grant
issued, at Nashville, an order in which
he assumed command of the armies of
the United States ; his headquarters to
be at Washington and with the army in
the field, and, till further orders, with
the Army of the Potomac. With the
appointment of General Grant there was
an end of desultory operations, and of
great disasters, except such as resulted
from expeditions before undertaken-
The " scatteration" policy was reversed,
and with it the results of campaigns.
On the 19th, General Grant left Nash
ville for Washington, whence he pro
ceeded to his headquarters with the
Army of the Potomac. On the 24th,
General Meade issued an order according
to which the five corps composing the
Army of the Potomac were consolidated
into three — the second, fifth, and sixth —
and the troops of the first and third
corps distributed among them. The
staff and officers of the second corps
were to be assigned to vacancies in the
other corps. Those for whom there
were no vacancies were to cease to be
considered as officers of the general staff
of army corps. Several general officers
were detached from the Army of the

REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMIES.

341

Potomac, with instructions to report for
orders to the adjutant- general. These
were Major-Generals Sykes, French,
and Newton, and Brigadier-Generals
Kenly, Spinola, and Meredith. According
to General Meade, the reduced strength
of all the regiments rendered this con
solidation of five corps into three im
peratively necessary.
The month of April was passed in the
work of reorganization, and in making
preparations and concentrating for the
campaigns to be undertaken against
Richmond by the Army of the Potomac,
under General Meade, and for that
against Atlanta by the Army of the
Tennessee, under General Sherman.
Both these commanders were under the
direction of the Lieutenant-General,
whose presence, however, with the Army
of the Potomac, naturally led to his
exercising a more direct supervision of
its movements, though his orders to
General Meade were of the most general
character, the manner of carrying them
out being left to that General's own skill
and judgment. Nine months had elapsed
since the Army of the Potomac had
fought a general battle, and seven since
the Army of the Tennessee had marched
into Chattanooga.
About the middle of March, Major-
General Sherman assumed command of
the military division of the Mississippi,
and the command of the Department of
the Tennessee was soon afterward as
sumed by Major-General McPherson.
General Sherman went to work vigor
ously to strengthen and improve his
communications between his primary

and second bases, Nashville and Chatta
nooga, accumulating in the latter large
supplies of provisions and military stores.
By the end of April this preliminary
work had been completed, and the army
of General Sherman was ready, in ac
cordance with the plans of General
Grant, to move simultaneously with the
Army of the Potomac, whose reorgan
ization and preparations had also been
completed. The Army of the Potomac, as before
stated, had been rearranged into three
corps, the second, fifth, and sixth, each
when full numbering about forty thou
sand men ; the second corps under the
command of Major-General Hancock ;
the fifth corps under Major-General
Warren, and the sixth under Major-
General Sedgwick. The cavalry corps
was placed under the command of Gen
eral Sheridan, General Kilpatrick having
been transferred to the command of the
cavalry in the Army of the Cumberland
under Sherman. The ninth army corps
at Annapolis was filled up, partly with
colored troops, and restored to the
command of Major-General Burnside.
About the 23d of April this corps was
moved to Washington, passed in review
before the President, and then marched
to Culpeper Court House to join the
Army of the Potomac.
Large additions were made to the
forces under Major-General Butler at
Fortress Monroe. The eighteenth corps
was placed under the command of
Major-General W. F. Smith, from the
Western army, and the tenth corps under
Major-General Gillmore, from the De-

342

MOVEMENTS AGAINST LYNCHBURG AND PETERSBURG.

partment of the South, to which depart
ment was assigned Major-General Foster,
previously commanding in North Caro
lina. The Governors of Ohio, Indiana, Illi
nois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, in order to
favor the concentration of veteran troops
with the armies of Grant and Sherman,
offered to the President the services of
one hundred thousand men for one hun
dred days, to occupy forts and garrison
towns which it was necessary should be
held, but for which experienced soldiers
could be ill spared ; the troops so furnish
ed to be " clothed, armed, equipped, sub
sisted, transported, and paid, as other
United States Infantry Volunteers, and
to serve in fortifications, or wherever
required within or without their respec
tive States." This proposition was ac
cepted by the President on the 23d of
April. General Grant's plan of the campaign
embraced other movements than that
of the Army of the Potomac upon Rich
mond. One of these was to be made
by General Sigel, with nearly twelve
thousand men, up the Valley of the
Shenandoah toward Staunton, in the en
deavor to get possession of the Virginia
Central Railroad ; another was to be
made by General Averill, with twenty-
five hundred cavalry, from northwest
ern Virginia toward the Virginia and
Tennessee Railroad, so as to strike
it, if possible, near Salem or Wythe
ville ; another was to be made toward
Dublin Depot, on the same railroad,
by General Crook, with four thousand
men, from Charleston, on the Lower

Kanawha ; yet another movement was
to be made along the east side of the
Big Sandy River, by General Burbridge,
with twelve thousand men, toward Ab-
ington, on the same railroad. These
forces, amounting in the aggregate to
more than thirty thousand men, it was
intended should strike the Virginia Cen
tral and Virginia and Tennessee railroads
about the same time, and then unite and
march upon Lynchburg, of which the
strategic value was very great, situated
as it is on the James River and at the
intersection of the Virginia and Tennessee
and Orange and Alexandria railroads.
It was another part of General Grant's
plan, that General Butler, with an ade
quate force, should march against Peters
burg, on the railroad leading south from
Richmond to Wilmington. The occupa
tion of these two positions would in a
great measure cut off General Lee from
his communications with the south and
west, and leave him almost isolated.
On Tuesday the 3d of May, the Army
of the Potomac broke up its camp, jjay
and was put in motion in light 3.
marching order, carrying only six days'
rations. General Gregg with his cavalry
division and a portion of the canvas
pontoon train, marched toward Ely's
Ford, on the Rapidan, and was engaged
till late at night mending the roads
to facilitate the movement of the infan
try, soon to follow. A little after mid
night two pontoon bridges were thrown
across the stream. About the same time,
General Wilson, with the third division
of cavalry, moved toward Germania Ford,
about six miles above, and threw pon-

GENERAL GRANT'S ARMY IN "THE WILDERNESS."

343

toon bridges across. Just before mid
night Major-General Hancock, with the
second corps, moved out of camp and
down the Stevensburg and Richardsville
road to Ely's Ford, and crossed soon
after daybreak. Nearly at the same
time General Warren with the fifth corps
moved toward the Germania Ford, fol
lowed four hours later by General Sedg
wick with the sixth corps. The entire
army had crossed the Rapidan without
opposition by Wednesday night, except
the ninth corps under General Burnside,
which was retained in reserve on the
north side of the river. The wagon
trains also remained on the north bank
for the present. The road leading
toward Fredericksburg having been first
examined by General Gregg, and that
in the opposite direction leading toward
Parker's Store and Orange Court House,
the headquarters of General Lee, by
General Wilson, the three corps took up
positions — the sixth at Germania Ford
and the Old Wilderness Tavern, the fifth
at the Old Wilderness Tavern, and the
second on the old battle-ground near
Chancellorsville. The region now entered upon, known
as " the Wilderness," is a broken, sterile
tract of country in Spottsylvania County,
commencing a little south of the Rapidan
and extending ten or fifteen miles in a
southerly direction, and about the same
distance westward from Chancellorsville.
It is intersected in every direction by
gullies and ravines,- with swamps inter
spersed, and covered with a thick growth
of stunted pines, dwarf oaks, and under
brush, so dense as to be in many

parts almost impenetrable, the roads
traversing it being a labyrinth of mere
straggling paths, impracticable for wagons
and converted into quagmires by a few
hours' rain. The whole tract is almost
without inhabitants ; here and there
may be seen, at the intersection of the
roads, a tavern or a store, with half a
dozen rude dwellings grouped around it.
It will be readily seen that neither cav
alry nor artillery could be brought into
play on this ground.
Early in the morning of Thursday the
5th of May, the army again took jjav
up the line of march. The plan 5.
of General Grant in his advance upon
Richmond was, not to march directly
upon General Lee's strong position at
Orange Court House and the intrench
ments on Mine Run, but to move in a
southerly direction, to the east of Gen
eral Lee, who would thus be compelled
to come out of his intrenchments and
fight a force supposed to be superior, or
run a race with General Grant toward
Richmond. General Warren with the fifth corps
proceeded along the Orange Court House
roads toward Parker's Store, about
twenty miles east of Orange Court
House ; General Sedgwick with the sixth
followed him on the plank road ; Gen
eral Hancock with the second corps
took a position on the Pamunkey road,
extending from Chancellorsville in a
southwesterly direction toward Shady
Grove Church, and General Sheridan
was directed to effect a reconnoissance
on the left, in search of Stuart's cavalry.
General Lee, however, was not willing

344

BATTLES OF "THE WILDERNESS."

to be outflanked. He had already set
his columns in motion, and before Gen
erals Hancock, Warren, and Sedgwick
had completed their dispositions, the
enemy was found to be approaching in
great force. The corps of General
Ewell was moving along the turnpike
from Old Verdiersville, and that of Gen
eral A. P. Hill along the same plank
road on which General Warren was
advancing. The Fifth New York Cav
alry, skirmishing on the plank road in
the advance, was soon driven back with
considerable loss. The Federal line was
to have extended about five miles in a
direction approaching to northwest and
southeast, the corps of General Warren
in the centre on the plank road east of
Parker's Store, that of General Sedgwick
on his right, General Hancock's on the
left. About noon General Griffin was
ordered to push his division out on the
left and right of the road to feel the
enemy. Within a mile he came in con
tact with a. part of Ewell's force well
posted on a wooded hillside, and a
sharp engagement ensued, which lasted
about an hour, when the Federal troops
were compelled to fall back, leaving two
guns in the hand of the enemy, besides
sustaining a loss of about one thousand
in killed and wounded.
About three in the afternoon the
enemy endeavored to press in between
the corps of Warren and Hancock, but
the latter by a rapid march succeeded in
closing the dangerous gap which existed
between the two corps, though he com
pleted the movement only just in time.
Lee was repeating his favorite movement

of hurling his troops in masses upon what
appeared to be the weakest part of his
antagonist's lines. A contest of the may
most terrific character ensued ; the 5-
massed troops of the enemy poured in a
deadly hail of musketry. The second
corps, however, held its ground for two
hours, when reinforcements came up,
and an advance of the whole Federal
line was ordered. The fighting continued
far into the night, and the battle closed
without decisive results. The losses in
killed and wounded were about equal.
The Confederates had taken about a
thousand prisoners and had lost three
hundred. The troops lay on their arms
on the field of battle. General Grant
had, however, learnt that the force of
General Lee was all before him, and had
no longer any doubt as to the policy of
calling up Burnside from the north side
of the Rapidan.
Early in the morning of Friday the
6th, fighting was resumed. Gen- jjay
eral Sedgwick had been ordered to *»•
attack at five in the morning, but the
enemy, who had been strengthened by
Longstreet's corps, were upon film
fifteen minutes earlier. They repeated
the tactics of the preceding day, in which
they were favored by a more intimate
knowledge of the ground, making re
peated attacks with large masses of men,
as did also Grant's troops upon the Con
federates, and the lines of the two armies
swayed hither and thither, with the
shifting fortunes of the fight ; if either
army gained a little ground, it was soon
lost again, or if, after a desperate struggle,
an advance was made, it was only to

BATTLES OF "THE WILDERNESS."

345

come upon lines of intrenchments which
it would be rashness to attack. The
last and most successful of these efforts
was made by the enemy just at night
fall, upon the extreme right, where were
posted the brigades of Generals Seymour
and Shaler, which for several hours had
been comparatively at rest. Such was
the suddenness and impetuosity of the
attack, that notwithstanding all was done
by General Seymour that could be ex
pected of skill and daring, both brigades
were swept off and made prisoners,
together with their officers. The whole
right wing, and indeed the whole army,
was for a little while in imminent peril.
The enemy then retired without per
ceiving the advantage they had gained.
A little perseverance with the same
energy would have enabled them to cut
off the Army of the Potomac from
Germania Ford. The loss sustained by
the right wing during this day was little
short of six thousand, of which four
thousand occurred in the last assault.
The losses of the second corps came
near three thousand. The total loss in
the two days' fighting was about fifteen
thousand. There was in these " wilder
ness" battles an unusual proportion of
wounded, owing to the absence of artil
lery. Among the Federal officers killed
were Generals Hays, Wadsworth, and
Webb ; among those of the Confederates,
Generals Jones, Jenkins, and Pickett.
Generals Longstreet, Pegram, and Hunter
were severely wounded. The contest
of this day, like that which had preceded
it, was indecisive. The rebels passed
the night within their formidable in-
212

trenchments in the edge of the woods ;
the Federal troops lay along their
hastily constructed line of rifle-pits,
while the intervening space was left to
the dead and wounded of both armies.
During Thursday and Friday the cavalry
of Generals Wilson and Gregg had held
an important point known as Todd's
Tavern, at the intersection of the Brock
and Carparthin roads, and had rendered
valuable service in preventing flanking
demonstrations on the part of the
enemy's cavalry.
At daybreak on Saturday the 7th, the
fighting was recommenced on the jiay
part of the Federals by a fire of 7.
shot and shell from artillery planted the
night before for the protection of the
right wing, which had been drawn back
and strengthened. The cannonade call
ing out no reply, skirmishers were
thrown out and a general movement
followed. About noon it became ap
parent that General Lee had abandoned
his intrenchments at Mine Run, and was
retreating toward Spottsylvania Court
House and his second defensive line on
the North Anna. Pursuit was at once
ordered by General Grant. A cavalry
engagement occurred about three in the
afternoon at Todd's Tavern, in which
each side sustained a loss of about two
hundred and fifty men. General Lee
retired in perfect order, and turned
again and again on Saturday and Sunday
when pressed by the Union forces.
About this time Fredericksburg was
occupied by Union troops, and a depSt
established there for supplies and for
the reception of wounded men.

346

MAJOR-GENERAL SEDGWICK.

Generals Burnside and Sedgwick
moved on the old Chancellorsville road
and arrived near Spottsylvania Court
House about noon on Sunday ; General
Warren, after marching all night, arrived
in the same vicinity, and about the same
time the corps of General Ewell and a
portion of tha.t of Longstreet. A sharp-
May ty contested action ensued here in
8« a field- extending eastward from the
Brock road toward the Spottsylvania and
Fredericksburg road. The country was
rolling, with here and there thick groves
of cedar and pine. Shells were thrown
at the advance of General Warren as it
passed down the Brock road, but the
enemy soon fell back. Their artillery
was found posted at Alsop's Farm, a tri
angular clearing of about a hundred
acres, beyond which was Ny Run, one
of the four small head-streams of the
Mattapony, but forming no obstacle to
the passage of troops. The Union artil
lery having been stationed to the right,
so as to command that of the rebels, the
infantry advanced through the clear
ing and came upon three lines of the
enemy, the last of which was behind
earth-works, and a fierce struggle took
place, which continued some hours,
and it was not till a brigade of the sixth
corps came to his assistance that Gen
eral Warren succeeded in driving the
rebels from their position. The Federal
loss was about thirteen hundred men,
among whom was General Robinson,
shot in the knee. Several brigades lost
their commanders. The Fourth Michi
gan at the close of this engagement was
commanded by a first lieutenant, and

the First Michigan, which went into
action two hundred strong, came out
with only twenty-three men unhurt.
On Monday the 9th of May there was,
in the early part of the day, com- May
parative quiet, followed by can- 9>
nonading and skirmishing, but no general
battle. On this day General Sedgwick
was killed by a rebel sharpshooter while
superintending the mounting of artillery,
and General Wright succeeded to the
command of the sixth corps.
Major-General John Sedgwick was
born in Connecticut about the year 1815,
and graduated at West Point, the twenty-
first in a class of fifty, among whom
were Hooker, Arnold, and French, and
Bragg, Early, and Pemberton. He
served in the Mexican war as first lieur
tenant, and was brevetted successively
captain and major, for gallant conduct
at Contreras, Churubusco, and Chepul-
tepec. He also distinguished himself at
the San Cosmo gate, in the capture of
the city of Mexico. At the outbreak
of the rebellion he was lieutenant- colonel
of the Second United States Cavalry,
became colonel of the Fourth Cavalry
April 25th, 1861, and on the 31st of
August was commissioned brigadier-
general of volunteers, and received a
brigade in the Army of the Potomac,
which at the reorganization of the army
was assigned to the second corps under
General Summer, and General Sedgwick
was placed in command of the third
division of that corps. He took part in
the siege of Yorktown, and in the pur
suit up the peninsula, distinguished him
self at the battle of Fair Oaks, took part

Photographs "by Tirady

Engraved by J.Rogers

UK1D©W GEKlEffiALS, ©EPAKTTMlEWTSerTiE EASTT,

T.nfrrel axccnluuf W are of ' fongrts* J). 1666 by Virtue £Mr-.-f,<,i in Ih. rlr~7.~.i .;'.ir-

BATTLES AT SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE.

in all th«

347

ie seven days' battles — promi
nently at Savage Station and Glendale
— and was twice wounded at Antietam.
On the 23d of December, 1862, he was
nominated major-general of volunteers
by the President, and in the following
February assumed command of the sixth
army corps, at the head of which he car
ried Marye's Heights, in the rear of Fred
ericksburg, in the Chancellorsville cam
paign. He commanded the left wing
of the Army of the Potomac during the
movement from the Rapidan into Mary
land in June, 1863, also at the battle of
Gettysburg in the second day's fighting.
During the passage of the Rapidan in
November, 1863, he captured an entire
rebel division and a number of guns, of
which brilliant achievement mention was
made by General Meade in a general
order. Always remarkable for gallantry
and courage, he never allowed the con
sideration of personal safety to interfere
with the performance of duty, and at
times exhibited a hardihood approaching
to recklessness. One of the oldest and
ablest soldiers of the Army of the Poto
mac, both officers and men had the most-
entire confidence in his judgment and
skill, and he several times held command
of the army during the temporary
absence of General Meade.
During the 9th an attack directed on
Wilson's division of the ninth corps was
repulsed. The position of the three
corps had now changed, so that the fifth
corps was in the centre, the second on
the right, and the sixth under General
Wright on the left. Late in the day
another advance was ordered by Gen

eral Grant. The right, with the divisions
of Generals Birney and Gibbon in the
advance, followed by General Carroll's
brigade, crossed to the south bank of a
branch of the Po. Another severe
battle ensued, in whicli both artillery
and infantry were engaged, Federals and
Confederates alternately charging. At
the close of the engagement General
Hancock's corps, which had fought so
well and suffered so severely in the
" wilderness" battles, had sustained
heavy loss and the enemy still held
Spottsylvania Court House.
On Tuesday the 10th occurred the
fiercest battle of the campaign. jjjay
The Federal army occupied nearly 10t
the same position as on Monday. On
the preceding night Hancock's corps had
crossed the Po, and now held a line
nearly parallel with the road from Shady
Grove Church to Spottsylvania Court
House ; Warren's corps held the centre
on the east side of the Po, and the sixth,
under Wright, the left, facing the town ;
farther on the left was the ninth corps ;
batteries covered the right and the left
centre ; in front was a dense forest.
The Confederates held the village and
the region north of it ; their left resting
on Glady Run and extending with a
curve northward, sheltered by strong
works ; as did also the right from the
Ny, well supported by breast-works
made long before in anticipation of this
emergency. In front of their centre
was the strip of forest and underbrush.
The battle was opened with a heavy
fire of artillery, now for the first time
in this campaign brought into full

348

BATTLES AT SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE.

operation, and continued through the
forenoon, directed against the advancing
lines of the Confederates. The ninth
corps then skirmished cautiously for a
time on the extreme left. Mott's fourth
division of the second corps was trans
ferred to the left and the advance con
tinued for some distance. A vigorous
attack was then made by the fifth corps,
and by the divisions of Generals Gibbon
and Birney from the second corps, on
the centre of General Lee's army, and
repeated charges were made, lasting
several hours, in which the enemy was
driven to his rifle-pits. In one of these
charges General Rice was killed. The
enemy attacked and turned General
Barlow's division of the second corps,
but its withdrawal was effected without
great loss. Toward the close of the day
a vigorous assault was made along the
whole line, in the course of which Gen
eral Upton's first brigade of the first
division of the sixth corps, with General
Russell's third brigade of the third divi
sion, moving steadily forward through a
destructive fire without firing a shot,

scaled the enemy's works and took more
than a thousand prisoners and several
guns, but General Upton, finding him
self far in advance, had to fall back,
taking his prisoners with him, however.
Night closed as usual, on a bloody but-
indecisive field. Each army had lost
ten thousand men in killed and wounded.
It was on this occasion that General
Grant wrote his famous dispatch : " We
have now ended the sixth day of very
hard fighting. The result to this time
is much in our favor. Our losses have
been heavy as well as those of the
enemy. I think the loss of the enemy
must be greater. We have taken over
five thousand prisoners in battle, while
he has taken from us few except strag
glers. I propose to fight it out on this
line if it takes all summer."
Up to this time the Federal losses in
this campaign amounted to not less than
thirty-five thousand men. The enemy
had lost about as many ; brave and
skilful officers had fallen on both sides,
but neither army had lost much in guns
or trains, or in military ardor.

GENERAL SHERIDAN'S RAID.

319

CHAPTER XXXIV.
Position of the Armies.— Sheridan's Raid. — Depot at Ashland Station burned. — Cavalry Fight near Richmond. Gen
eral Stuart mortally wounded.— Famous Charge of Hancock's Corps. — Battle of the 12th of May. Heavy Rain
and Muddy Roads. — Wounded sent to Fredericksburg. — Reinforcements. — Torbert at Guinney's Station. — Another
Flank Movement. — Attack of Ewell repulsed by Tyler's Division.— Grant at the Worth Anna. — Taylor's Bridge
carried by Assault. — Battle at Jericho Ford.— Strong Position of the Enemy. — Grant recrosses the North Anna.—
Hanover Ferry and Hanovertown occupied. — Lee at Hanover Court House. — Battle near Mechanicsville. — Grant
reinforced by the Eighteenth Corps.— Battle-fields of 1802 again occupied.— Battle of Cold Harbor.— Attempt to
drive the Enemy over the Chickahominy.— Strength of the Enemy's Works. — Friendly Intercourse. — Reorganiza
tion.— Parallel Lines of Earth-works. — Attack on the Ninth Corps.— Armistice. — Both Armies moving Eastward. —
Army of the Potomac transferred to the South Side of the James.

On the morning of Wednesday the
11th of May, the position of the
Army of the Potomac and of that
of the Confederate army was nearly the
same as at the close of the battle of
Tuesday. Hancock's corps was on the
Federal right ; to the left of Hancock's
was Warren's corps, then Wright's, then
Bumside's. Ewell's corps held the
central position of the enemy's line,
A. P. Hill's the right, Longstreet's the
left. Their centre was very strong,
having rifle-pits in front, and covered
by a strip of forest, guarded by lines of
skirmishers, and with artillery posted
wherever it could be used to advantage.
Sharp skirmishing occurred during the
forenoon. Assaulting columns from the
sixth and second corps were prepared,
but no attack was made ; this prepara
tion, however, induced the enemy to
shift artillery from the right to the left,
to protect the point threatened. About
noon the skirmishing died away ; in the
afternoon there was occasional artillery

and infantry firing. The first rain since
the commencement of the campaign fell
during the afternoon ; and the news of
Sheridan's raid came and was received by
the Union troops with enthusiastic cheers.
General Sheridan, in command of the
cavalry of the Army of the Potomac,
had rendered important service during
the late movements of the main army,
in establishing the crossing at Germania
and Ely's fords, making reconnoissances,
and scouring the roads in various direc
tions. He had also twice fought with
the cavalry of Stuart, who was threaten
ing Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg,
which it was essential should be covered
to protect the trains and ambulances
there. The sudden departure of Lee,
however, to his defences near Spottsyl
vania Court House, relieved General
Sheridan to a great extent of the duty
of protecting the rear ; and he was able
to undertake a raid on the enemy's
communications with Richmond.
At daylight on the morning of Monday

350

GENERAL SHERIDAN'S RAID.

the 9th, his column moved, first toward
May Fredericksburg, but when within
9. about three miles of the town,
turned down and followed the road
leading to Childsburg, passed round the
enemy's right flank at Spottsylvania
Court House, went through Childsburg,
and about dusk crossed the North Anna
at Anderson's Bridge, two miles below
Beaver Dam Station, on the Virginia
Central Railroad, which was occupied
by General Custer's brigade. Here a
train of cars was captured, containing
nearly four hundred wounded men and
prisoners, on their way to Richmond
and the Libby Prison. Two locomotives
and three -heavy trains were destroyed,
together with a large quantity of bacon,
meal, flour, and other supplies for Lee's
army. The railroad was also destroyed
for eight miles, the rails being twisted
and the ties and bridges burned. While
this was going on in the advance, the
rebel cavalry got in the rear and rough
ly handled the Sixth Ohio, but were soon
driven off when the First New Jersey
came up. The column bivouacked on
both sides of the North Anna. In the
morning the enemy began to shell the
camp, and Sheridan's force moved off
toward the south. The advance was con
tinued, annoyed more or less by the en
emy, across Little River and the South
Anna, where Ground Squirrel Bridge was
destroyed. The troops rested for the
night at Goodall's, somewhat molested
by the enemy's sharpshooters. At three
o'clock in the morning the brigade of
General Davies was dispatched to Ash
land Station, seven miles east, on the

Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad,
arrived there at daylight, fired the
depot, burnt a considerable quantity of
stores, tore up six miles of railroad,
destroyed three culverts, several govern
ment buildings, a locomotive, and three
trains of cars. On their return they
were fired upon from houses in the
town, and lost about thirty men.
The advance had pushed on farther
on the same road toward Richmond, and
tore up more of the railroad track.
Approaching Richmond, the column met
with a more resolute opposition. The
advance was attacked at Yellow Tavern
by a body of cavalry under General J.
E. B. Stuart, and a severe contest en
sued till support came up, when the
enemy were driven toward Ashland.
Meanwhile a force led by General
Custer, moving down the Brook Run
road, penetrated the outermost defence
of Richmond, where about one hundred
prisoners were taken and a section of
artillery. Here the noted Confederate
General Stuart was mortally wounded,
as was also Colonel Pate. Next morn
ing the column turned and marched
toward Meadow Bridge, on the Chicka-
hominy. The bridge had been destroy
ed, but was rebuilt under a galling fire.
The march was then continued to Me
chanicsville, Cold Harbor, and Gaines'
Mills, where the command enca.mped
for the evening. On the 13th of jnay
May, the column arrived at Bot- 13,
tom's Bridge, and proceeded thence to
Turkey Bend, where supplies were ob
tained from General Butler, four miles
distant, at Haxall Landing.

-Vi/" A
¦ .7 J~f S£-r. ¦rfj^-l'^sK.

GRANT AT SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE.

351

General Grant having determined to
assault the enemy's lines before Spott
sylvania Court House on the morning
of the 12th, the second corps was select
ed to make the attempt on the left, and
not long after midnight, favored by
storm and darkness, was shifted from
the extreme right to the left, to occupy
a space between the corps of Wright
and Burnside, commanded by the en
emy's batteries, and from which conse
quently an advance would have to be
made with the utmost celerity. At
dawn, therefore, under cover of a thick
mist, the second corps moved from its
position and quietly approached the
enemy's lines. Barlow's and Birney's
divisions formed the first line, Gibbon's
and Mott's the second. As they made
their way over the rough and wooded
intervening ground without being dis-
Bfav covered, the enthusiasm of the men
12« rapidly rose, till finally they broke
into a run, leaped the intrenchments with
loud cheers, charged with the bayonet,
and surrounded and made prisoners of
an entire division, officers and men, in
cluding two generals, Major-General E.
Johnson, commanding the division, and
Brigadier- General G. H. Stewart, besides
thirty or forty guns. The surprise was
so complete that the officers were still
at breakfast when the Federal troops
came upon them.
This charge of Hancock's corps was
followed by a heavy artillery fire from
the whole line of Grant's army, which
quickly moved up to support the second
corps. The ninth corps pressed in on
the extreme left and succeeded in join

ing its right to Hancock's left. The
sixth and fifth corps became also actively
engaged, and the contest raged along the
whole line, notwithstanding the com
mencement of a heavy ^ain storm.
About nine o'clock the enemy began to
make efforts to recover the lost position,
and made repeated desperate charges
with this view on the second and ninth
corps. For three hours the rebel col
umns continued to rush against Grant's
lines, exposed to cross and enfilading
fires of cannon and musketry. About
noon they desisted from further attempts
to recover their lost ground ; but they
could not be driven any farther, and
the captured artillery they so covered
with a fire of sharpshooters that the
guns could not be carried off. Their
right had been charged with great gal
lantry by Grant's right and centre, but
their front was found to be impregnable,
every approach to it being swept by
artillery. Early in the afternoon, with the view
of turning the enemy's right, Grant
bega/n massing his troops against it.
General Lee also massed troops on his
right. Stubbornly the rebels resisted ;
and all afternoon and till nightfall the
carnage went on. Neither the heavy
rain nor the mire to which the battle
field had been changed, abated the fury
of the combatants. When night fell the
battle had lasted fourteen hours, and
with a severity unsurpassed in the 'war.
Each army had lost ten thousand men
in killed and wounded. Of the large
number of cannon captured, only eight
een were actually brought in.

352

GRANT AT SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE.

On the morning of Friday the 13th,
it was discovered that the enemy, whose
reduced numbers had made the contrac
tion of their lines necessary, had with
drawn their right to a new position, which
thus was hard at work fortifying. The
ground they had abandoned was occu
pied by Grant's troops ; but the continu
ed heavy rains had rendered the ground
impracticable for wagons and artillery.
Both armies rested a little on Friday.
Another attempt to turn the enemy's
right was determined on, in the hope
of another success like that which had
attended Hancock with the second corps.
Accordingly at nine o'clock in the even
ing of Friday, the march of the two corps
on the Federal right was begun, and was
continued all night, through mud ankle-
deep and in some places knee-deep,
with the intention of placing them before
morning opposite the enemy's right, and
accomplishing another surprise ; but the
troops could not be got through the
mud to their new position till too late.
The line, as now established, stretched
continuously at right angles across the
Fredericksburg and Spottsylvania Court
House road from the Ny to the Po —
Hancock's corps on the right, Bumside's
on the right centre, Wright's on the left
centre, and Warren's on the left. About
eight o'clock Generals Grant and Meade
removed their headquarters to Gaile's
House, about two miles from Spottsyl
vania Court House, on the Fredericks
burg road, and at about the centre of
the line of the army. Field-works were
commenced, and the army of General
Grant went to work industriously with

the spade, as did also that of General
Lee. There was some fighting on the
extreme left in the latter part of the
day, however, and General Meade nar
rowly escaped capture.
During the 15th, 16th, and 17th of
May, both armies remained compara
tively inactive, the late heavy rains
having rendered the roads impassable.
The troops also needed rest. The op
portunity was taken to clear the camp
of wounded ; long trains of ambulances
passed daily and nightly along the Fred
ericksburg road, and multitudes of the
less seriously wounded marched slowly
and painfully in the same direction.
Very large reinforcements also came in,
as well as supplies of commissary stores
and ammunition. Rations were full ;
bands played in the evening, and news
of successes in Georgia and elsewhere
contributed to raise the spirits and im
prove the health ofthe men.
General Lee's army also benefited
much by the respite from incessant
marching and fighting ; he also had his
wounded to care for, and his commis
sary department to attend to, Sheridan's
raid having caused some interruption to
his supplies. He constructed also new
rifle-pits and abattis, and added to his
already almost impregnable fortifications
around Spottsylvania Court House.
An attempt was made on the morning
of the 18th to turn the enemy's may
left. About five o'clock the three 18«
corps in the right of Grant's army made
the assault ; the ninth corps also attacked.
The whole line was so massed that the
corps closely joined each other ; but in

GRANT AT THE NORTH ANNA.

353

whatever direction the enemy were ap
proached, an impenetrable abattis pre
sented itself. By eleven o'clock the
assault was abandoned and all the troops
recalled to their original position. Cor-
coran's Irish Legion, a part of the late
reinforcements from Washington, be
haved well and lost heavily, but every
effort to pierce the enemy's chain of
earth-works and abattis was in vain.
A .loss of twelve hundred killed and
wounded was sustained in this affair.
General Grant, now satisfied that
direct attempts on the enemy's position
were too costly to be continued, put
other measures in train. On Wednesday
night. General Torbert, with a force of
cavalry, was sent to Guinney's Station,
on the Fredericksburg and Richmond
Railroad, about ten miles southeast of
Spottsylvania Court House, and destroy
ed buildings, supplies, telegraph appa
ratus, etc., and on Thursday the 19th a
portion of the right of Grant's army was
quietly moved to the left, preliminary to
a grand movement of the entire force.
Meanwhile both camps were unusually
quiet, and the opposing lines of skir
mishers ceased to fire upon each other ;
friendly conversation was even ventured
upon, and tobacco and coffee were ex-
jjay changed as well as jests. A little
19« past noon, however, General Ewell
marched a part of his corps over the Ny
River, passed the Federal right, and about
five o'clock got in the rear of the Fed
eral right flank, on the Fredericksburg
road, on which trains of wagons with
ammunition and commissary stores were
passing. Fortunately General Tyler's
213

division of heavy artillery, lately arrived
from Washington, was at hand, and the
enemy's progress was bravely arrested,
though Tyler's troops were mostly for
the first time under fire. When the
whole of his division arrived on the
ground, the enemy were soon driven
from the road into the woods, and rein
forcements coming up, Ewell's force re
crossed the Ny and retreated to their
camp. The movement toward Guinney's Sta
tion of Torbert's division of cavalry,
spoken of above, was followed on Friday
night by that of the second corps, which,
as before stated, had been moved to the
Federal left. The fifth corps followed
on Saturday morning at ten o'clock ; the
sixth and ninth corps then also broke
camp, and the entire army left the
vicinity of Spottsylvania Court House.
The movement had been anticipated by
the enemy, and it soon became apparent
that General Lee also had left his posi
tion and was moving as fast as possible
toward Hanover Court House. Grant
pushed his army forward at a rapid rate,
and on Monday at two in the afternoon
reached the North Anna, the second
corps at Taylor's Bridge, the fifth at
Jericho Ford. The bridge was com
manded at its entrance by a redan, and
its flank swept by artillery in field-works
on the opposite bank, as well as by
infantry in rifle-pits. A broad, open
space, which an assaulting column would
have to cross under fire, intervened
between the redan and the Federal
troops. About six o'clock the second
corps prepared to assault. Birney's

354

GRANT AT THE NORTH ANNA.

division was placed in the advance, sup
ported by Barlow's and Gibbon's divi-
May sions, Tyler's division being held in
23. reserve. In face of a galling fire
from artillery and rifles, Birney's divi
sion rushed on the works and carried
them at the point of the bayonet. A
part of the second corps was immediately
thrown across the river by the bridge,
to menace the retreating enemy — a part
of McLaw's division of Longstreet's
corps. Only a portion of Hancock's
corps crossed that night. A part of the
fifth corps had crossed the river several
hours before, at Jericho Ford, wading
through the water waist deep ; pontoons
also had been thrown across, and prep
arations made to intrench, when, about
five o'clock, the enemy, who had been
bringing up forces from points lower
down on the river, attacked furiously
with musketry and artillery, but were
finally compelled to retire. The Federal
loss at the bridge and at the ford was
about one thousand men, that of the
enemy not so great, probably, in killed
and wounded, but greater in prisoners,
of which they lost several hundred.
On the 24th, in spite of considerable
further opposition from the enemy, the
entire army had crossed the North
Anna. On the morning of Wednesday
the 25th, all the troops were in good po
sition, and during the day General Sheri
dan with his cavalry rejoined the army.
Reconnoissances now showed that the
enemy were strongly posted within two
miles of Grant's lines. The ground they
occupied was in the form of a triangle,
with the apex approaching the North

Anna between Taylor's Bridge and
Jericho Ford. The position, naturally
strong, was so fortified with elaborate
intrenchments, to which others were
being rapidly added, that it soon became
evident an attempt to carry it by assault
would prove disastrous in the extreme.
General Grant's determination was soon
taken. He decided to recross the North
Anna and march eastward. The swell
ing of the stream from the recent rains
made it advisable to carry out this
design without delay. To cover the
movement, a demonstration was made
on Thursday on the enemy's left, while
the third division of Sheridan's cavalry
moved up the Virginia Central Railroad
and began to tear up the track. In the
evening the sixth corps quietly with
drew to the north bank of the river,
followed by the other corps in quick
succession, and marched toward the
Pamunkey, the rear protected by Gen
eral Hancock, a strong line of skirmishers
being left to lull suspicion.
At nine o'clock on the morning of
Friday the 27th, Sheridan's cavalry
took possession of Hanover Ferry, and
Hanovertown on the south side of the
Pamunkey, fifteen miles northeast of
Richmond and sixteen miles from White
House, which was now to become the
base of the army, and toward which
transports with army supplies were
already on their way. The whole army
followed during the 28th, and on the
29th had crossed the Pamunkey. A
portion of General Lee's army had in
the mean time occupied Hanover Court
House, whence his lines extended south-

MOVEMENTS NEAR COLD HARBOR.

355

ward, his centre in front of Atlee's
Station on the railroad to Richmond,
his extreme right holding Shady Grove
and Mechanicsville. The right of Gen
eral Grant's army, consisting of General
Wright's corps, extended in the direction
of Hanover Court House, General Han
cock's held the right centre on the Shady
Grove road, General Warren's the left
centre on the Mechanicsville road, and
General Bumside's held the left a little
in the rear. The right and rear were
covered by the third division of cavalry
under General Wilson ; the cavalry of
Generals Torbert and Gregg was ad
vanced on the left flank. General Tor
bert held the Old Church Tavern Cross
Road, with a picket force extending on
the road toward Cold Harbor. About
noon his pickets were driven in, and a
brisk engagement followed, in which the
enemy were driven back on the Cold
Harbor road. About five in the after
noon, Warren's corps, which was moving
out to the left on the Mechanicsville
road, was suddenly attacked by a portion
of General Ewell's corps, with two
brigades of cavalry. For some time
General Warren's flank was in danger,
and General Meade ordered an attack
along the whole line. General Hancock
alone received the order in time to
attack before dark, and advanced upon
the enemy's skirmish line, captured their
rifle-pits, and held them all night. Gen
eral Warren held his position near Me
chanicsville, about seven miles from
Richmond. General Lee at once moved
down troops to prevent any further
concentration of force on his right.

On Tuesday the 31st of May, General
Grant's force was increased by the
arrival of the eighteenth corps under
General W. F. Smith, a part of the
army under the command of General
Butler. This corps had been embarked
on transports at City Point and conveyed
rapidly down the James River and up
the York to White House. About the
same time the army of Lee was rein
forced by the troops of Generals Beau
regard and Breckinridge. At this date
the headquarters of General Grant were
about five miles southeast of Hanover
Court House ; his line extending six
miles across Tolopatamay Creek, facing
west on its right and southwest on its
left, the position of the several corps
being, from right to left — Wright's, Han
cock's, Bumside's, and Warren's. The
enemy's line closely followed that of
General Grant : General A. P. Hill held
their right, Longstreet the centre, and
Ewell the left, covering the Chicka-
hominy — the outer line of defence for
Richmond — and the Virginia Central
Railroad, with cavalry thrown out on
their left toward Hanover Court House
and on their right toward Bottom's
Bridge. The armies again occupied the
battle-fields of 1862. All through the
day there was desultory firing along the
whole line. General Grant now made
preparations for a movement by the left
upon the enemy's right, and sent Gen
eral Torbert with the first division of
cavalry to reconnoitre in the vicinity of
Cold Harbor, with directions to hold his
ground there at all hazards for the oc
cupation of infantry. A fight ensued

356

BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR.

with a body of the enemy's cavalry, but
General Torbert remained master of the
position. On Wednesday the 1st of June, an
attempt was made by the enemy to get
possession of Cold Harbor. Sheridan's
orders were to hold it, and Hoke's divi
sion sent to make the attack was re
pulsed by Sheridan's cavalry, who were
dismounted and fought with carbines.
Hoke was then reinforced by McLaw's
division and other portions of Long-
street's corps. Soon after this, Wright's
corps, which had been marched from its
position on the right the night before,
arrived at Cold Harbor Cross Roads
and deployed into line, and about three
o'clock General W. F. Smith, with the
eighteenth corps, for whose arrival
Wright had been waiting, came upon
the field, after a march of about twenty-
five miles, having made a detour by
june mistake. The line of battle was
!• formed with the eighteenth corps
on the right of the sixth, and without
giving the men any time to rest, a
charge was ordered. In front was a
field two-thirds of a mile wide, beyond
which the enemy were intrenched in a
strip of pine woods. About six o'clock
the line dashed forward on the run,
Deven's brigade of the eighteenth corps
and Rickett's of the sixth corps in the
centre. A heavy musketry and artillery
fire was directed upon them, but the
men rushed over the rebel earth-works,
took the first line of rifle-pits, and
captured about six hundred prisoners.
Farther to the right also, a lodgment
was effected in the enemy's lines, but

the position proved to be completely
commanded by a redoubt in their second
line, and was given up. During the
night desperate efforts were made on
the part of the enemy to recover their
position, but without success. The
Union loss in this engagement was over
two thousand ; that of the enemy must
have been- much' less in killed and
wounded, as they fought under cover.
Grant's line now extended from Be-
thesda Church to Cold Harbor, the
several corps being in the order, from
right to left, of Hancock's, Bumside's,
Warren's, Smith's, and Wright's. The
whole line was not less than eight miles
in length. Fighting had been going on
all day along the entire line. Several
charges were made by the enemy, but
were repulsed. The losses on both sides
were heavy. The result of the day's
fighting was the acquisition by General
Grant of the position of Cold Harbor,
valuable as commanding the road to the
White House, and as facilitating the
crossing of the Chickahominy. On
Wednesday night it was determined to
make an attempt to drive the enemy
across the Chickahominy, and establish
a fording place ; with this end in view
the second corps was marched from its
position on the right to the extreme left,
where it arrived at noon on Thursday.
The attack was to have been made the
same evening, but was deferred, on
account of a thunder-storm, till the
morning of Friday, at dawn. There
had been heavy skirmishing all day.
On the morning of Friday the 3d of
June, the Union line extended from

REPULSE AT THE CHICKAHOMINY.

357

Tolopatamay Creek across the road
from Cold Harbor to the Chickahominy,
Bumside's corps being on the right,
Warren's, Smith's, and Wright's nTthe
centre, and Hancock's on the left, the
Confederate lines still being in a strip
of woods parallel with the river. At
half-past four the skirmishers of Grant's
army advanced, and very soon the whole
june line was engaged. The brigades
3- of Generals Gibbon and Barlow,
from Hancock's corps, under a fire of
shot and shell, moved up to and ascend
ed the acclivity in their front, where the
enemy had concentrated their men and
artillery, gained the position, and had
actually captured and turned against the
enemy one of the batteries, but being
much in advance of their line, were
exposed to a most destructive enfi
lading fire, and the second line of the
enemy approaching rapidly, they were
compelled to withdraw, but not till they
had secured and sent to the rear a color
and three hundred prisoners. They
then intrenched themselves under partial
cover of a ridge about fifty yards from
the enemy's breast-works, and in this
position remained all day. Smith's
and Wright's corps had assaulted at the
same time with their entire force, and
succeeded in carrying the first line of
intrenchments, but to no purpose ; ex
posed to an enfilading fire., though long
obstinately contending for the position,
they were ultimately compelled to retire
with great loss, but nevertheless held
and intrenched a position near the
enemy's works. The fifth and ninth
- corps also, on the right, made a charge

about noon. The entire line had ad
vanced close to that of the enemy, a
great portion of it within fifty yards, in
which perilous proximity both armies
kept close to their breast-works. About
eight o'clock an assault was made by
the enemy upon the troops of Gibbon
and Barlow on the extreme left, and
on the cavalry beyond them, but the
attacking columns were raked with a
fire of musketry and artillery as effec
tive as that which had driven back
the Union troops in the morning, and
with the same result. On the extreme
right there was severe fighting between
General Wilson's division of cavalry
and the command of General Hampton,
but without important results. Firing
broke out at various times during the
day. The works of the enemy were
found too strong to be carried, and it
became apparent that the attempt to
cross the Chickahominy at that point
must be given up. Grant's loss during
the day was not less than seven thousand
men in killed, wounded, and prisoners.
The loss ofthe enemy, who fought behind
their defences for the most part, was
not so great.
The positions gained on Friday were
held, and on Saturday, June 4th, they
were strengthened by the construction
of breast-works. At nine o'clock at
night the enemy made an attack on the
corps of Hancock, Smith, and Wright,
but were repulsed. Pretty constant
skirmishing occurred for a week after
the great assault on Friday,- the hostile
lines being separated only by a distance
varying from fifty to two hundred yards.

358

MOVEMENTS EASTWARD.

The picket firing was more than usually
fatal, and many a man who had come un
hurt out of numerous pitched battles, fell
by the bullet of a sharpshooter. Staff
officers, the signal corps, artillery men,
and others whose peculiar service made
exposure necessary, were frequently hit.
Nevertheless here and there along the
lines a tacit agreement to suspend use
less and indecisive firing occurred among
the men, indicating the absence of ani
mosity, notwithstanding they had so
often met in bloody strife. This sus
pension of arms led occasionally to an
intercourse not unfriendly, in which
salutations were exchanged, and tobacco,
a drug with the Virginians, was gladly
bartered for coffee, which, thanks to the
blockade, was scarce among them, but
which was abundant in the well-pro
vided camps of the Federal troops. It
was found, however, that the intercourse
was becoming a means of exchanging
intelligence of movements intended to
be kept secret, and was finally prohibited
altogether. The comparative quiet af
forded opportunity for the transporta
tion of the wounded from the camp to
hospitals, for bringing up reinforcements
of new troops and convalescents, and for
the consolidation and reorganization of
divisions, brigades, battalions, and regi
ments, reduced by the unusual fatality
of the campaign. New earth-works
were constructed along the line of the
Chickahominy toward White House,
everywhere followed up by parallel lines
constructed by the enemy at only a few
hundred yards, distance.
On Tuesday the 7th there was an

attack on the ninth corps on the right.
About four o'clock several batteries of
the enemy opened from concealed posi
tions ; the skirmishers were driven in,
but when the attacking column ap
proached, it was soon repulsed by a
rapid fire of musketry and artillery. At
six o'clock in the evening an ar- jme
mistice, which had been arranged 7«
for the purpose of removing the dead
and the wounded, took place, to last
two hours. Only surgeons and their
attendants, pioneers, and stretcher-
bearers, were allowed upon the field.
Before dawn in the morning, Griffin's
and Cutter's divisions of the fifth corps
had moved rapidly down toward Sum
ner's Bridge, on the Chickahominy,
nearly south of Cold Harbor. The
enemy, however, were not to be taken
by surprise, and opened with heavy ar
tillery as the column approached. The
Eighteenth Massachusetts carried the
bridge, but the rebels still commanded
it with artillery. During Wednesday
and Thursday there was no change of
position, except that the cavalry of
Generals Gregg and Torbert was pushed
farther toward the left. During Friday
and Saturday, the work of intrenching
going on, both armies worked slowly
eastward, the enemy carefully con
fronting General Grant's army as far
as Bottom's Bridge. On Friday, the
railroad to White House, which had
lately been so carefully repaired, was
again subjected to the tearing-up pro
cess, and the rails conveyed back to
White House. This and the other late
operations were only preparatory to

CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENTS.

359

another grand movement, or change of
base, of the entire army to the south
side of the James — another " flank
movement in the face of the enemy."
On the night of Sunday the 12th of
June the army began its march along
the Chickahominy. The enemy's line
extended as far as Bottom's Bridge.
There were two other bridges — Long
Bridge, about six miles below Bottom's
Bridge, and Jones' Bridge, ten or twelve
miles below. Wright's and Bumside's
corps marched to Jones' Bridge, crossed,
and moved rapidly to Charles City Court

House, near the James and about nine
miles from Jones' Bridge ; at the same
time Hancock's and Warren's corps
moved to Long Bridge, crossed, and
took the road to Wilcox's Wharf, on the
James, about twelve miles south, by
road, and a little west of Charles City.
Smith's corps marched to White House,
took transports to Fortress Monroe, and
without delay proceeded up the James
to Bermuda Hundred. On Tuesday the
crossing of the James commenced, and
the entire army was on the south side of
the river on Wednesday the 15th of June.

CHAPTER XXXV

Co-operative Movements against Petersburg and Lynchburg. — General Butler's Movement up the James. — Kautz's
Raid from Suffolk. — Colonel West's Operations. — Movement against the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad. —
Operations against Fort Darling. — Kautz's Expedition against the Danville Railroad. — General Butler on the Defen
sive at Bermuda Hundred. — Searching for Torpedoes. — Destruction of the ''Commodore Jones. — Movement of Gen
eral Foster. — Butler attacked at Bermuda Hundred. — Attack on Wilson's Wharf. — General Sigel's Operations. —
Inaction of General Burbridge . — Movements of Generals Averill and Crook. — General Sigel superseded by General
Hunter. — Condition of the Army at Cedar Creek. — March of Hunter from Cedar Creek toward Staunton. — Confed
erate Force in Western Virginia. — Defeat of General Jones. — Occupation of Staunton. — Sheridan's co-operative
Movement. — Battle near Lynchburg. — Retreat of General Hunter. — Morgan's Raid in Kentucky. — Defeat of General
Hobson. — Burning of Cynthiana. — General Early in the Shenandoah Valley. — Retreat of General Sigel from Mar-
tinsburg.— Panic in Maryland and Pennsylvania. — Hagerstown ransomed. — Call for Militia.— Contribution levied
on Frederick. — Battle of Monocaey.— Movement on Washington.— Arrival of the Nineteenth and Sixth Army
Corps.— Railroads cut.— Governor Bradford's House burnt. — Washington isolated.— Rebels recross the Potomac-
Battles at Island Ford and Ashby's Gap.— Battles at Winchester.— Another Panic in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
—Chambersburg fired.— Mosby's Raid.— Governor Curtin convenes the Pennsylvania Legislature.— March of the
Sixth Corps.— Rebel Raid toward Cumberland.— Defeat of the Raiders by General Averill.— General Hunter super
seded by General Sheridan.

1864.

The two great simultaneous co-opera
tive movements, essential parts of
General Grant's plan of campaign
—that of Sigel and others against
Lynchburg and the Virginia and Ten
nessee Railroad, and that of General
Butler against Petersburg and the south

ern railroad communications of Rich
mond — were only partially successful,
and large bodies of rebel troops under
Breckinridge and Beauregard, which
Grant had hoped would have been at
least kept employed in the vicinity of
Lynchburg and Petersburg, were set at

360

GENERAL BUTLER'S OPERATIONS.

liberty to join the army of Lee after his
retreat from Spottsylvania Court House.
The army of Major-General Butler,
consisting of the eighteenth corps under
Major-General W. F. Smith, and the
tenth corps under Major-General Gill
more, had been moved from Fortress
Monroe and concentrated at Yorktown
and Gloucester, as if a design were
entertained of moving up the York
River. Still further to deceive the
enemy and to strengthen the impression
that he was about to operate in that di
rection, General Butler sent a brigade
up to West Point, where the construction
of wharves was commenced. In the
mean time transports had been collected
and complete preparations made to
May move the entire army, and on the
*• 4th of May, in accordance with
General Grant's plan for the simultane
ous movement of all the armies, Gen
eral Butler's force was embarked on the
transports, which, after dark on the 5th,
steamed down the York River, passed
around Fortress Monroe, and began the
ascent of the James River, preceded
by three army gun-boats under the
command of General Graham, the double-
enders Eutaw, Mackinaw, and Osceola ;
the four monitors, Tecumseh, Canonicus,
Saugus, and Onondaga ; the iron-clad
Atlanta, and seven smaller gun-boats,
the Commodore Morris, Hunchback,
Commodore Jones, Dawn, Delaware,
Putnam, and Shoshonee.
A regiment of General Wilde's negro
troops was landed at Wilson's Wharf,
on the north side of the river a little
below Charles City Court House, to aid

in securing communications by water ;
and with the same object two regiments
of the same brigade were landed on the
south side of the river at Fort Powhatan
Landing, a little above. The expedition
then pushed on to City Point, where the
division of General Hinks and a battery
were landed. The remainder of General
Butler's force was put on shore at Ber
muda Hundred, a little above the mouth
of the Appomattox, on the south side
of the river. So far no opposition had
been experienced. The troops on land
ing immediately intrenched, in a posi
tion covered by the guns of the fleet.
On the 5th of May, General Kautz,
with three thousand cavalry, left Suffolk,
forced a passage over the Blackwater,
advanced to the Petersburg and Weldon
Railroad, and burnt the bridge over
Stony Creek. His farther progress
toward Petersburg was prevented by a
portion of Beauregard's troops, just
arrived, on the way to Richmond.
Kautz then made his way through Surry
and Prince George counties to City
Point, where he arrived on the 8th.
On the 5th of May also, Colonel West,
with two regiments of colored cavalry,
made a demonstration from Williams
burg, advanced to White House on the
Pamunkey, and returned to Williamsburg
on the night of the 6 th. On the 7th he
went over the same ground again. His
force was subsequently put on trans
ports and added to Butler's main body
at Bermuda Hundred.
On the 7th, General Butler, having
on the day before had reconnoissances
made toward the enemy's position, sent

GENERAL BUTLER'S OPERATIONS.

361

forward five brigades under General
Brooks to cut the Petersburg and Rich
mond Railroad. When within about
two miles of the road, the advance cav
alry came upon the enemy in a strong
position, and fell back to the infantry
line, which, deploying as skirmishers,
slowly advanced with a strong support
in line of battle. The enemy were
driven back to their main line in front
of the railroad, where a sharp contest
took place. But large reinforcements
coming up for the enemy, General
Brooks was finally compelled to retire
with a loss of 250 men, leaving his dead
and wounded on the field, not, however,
before a portion of the railroad had been
torn up, and a railroad bridge, over a
small stream flowing into the Appomat
tox, set on fire and totally consumed.
About the same time General Heckman,
with one brigade, had made an unsuc
cessful attempt to reach the railroad.
Another advance was made on the
railroad on the 9th. The troops formed
on the battle-field of the 7th, Gillmore's
on the right, General Smith's on the
left, and at four o'clock in the morning
began to feel their way cautiously
through the woods. Contrary to expec
tation, they made their way to the rail
road without opposition, and struck it
simultaneously about nine o'clock, Gen
eral Smith at Walthall, six miles from
Petersburg, and General Gillmore at
Chester, three miles farther north.
Several miles of the railroad were de
stroyed before noon, and the column
began to move toward Petersburg. The
enemy were met five miles west of the
214

railroad at Swift Creek, and an action
ensued in which artillery was used, jjay
and which resulted in the enemy 9«
being driven across the creek to their
batteries. The Federal troops retained
possession of the north bank of the
stream, where they were attacked in the
night by a rebel column, as well as on
the right and left flanks, in the morning
and afternoon of the following day.
About this time General Butler learned
that General Lee was retreating before
General Grant toward Richmond, and
drew back all his forces within their
intrenchments. On the 12th, General Butler moved
out with a heavy force under Generals
Gillmore and Smith, ostensibly to cover
a cavalry expedition under General
Kautz against the Danville Railroad,
but really to undertake the siege of
Fort Darling. Leaving a force under
General Ames to watch the enemy at
Petersburg, General Gillmore advanced
on the left up the railroad toward Rich
mond. General Smith, taking the same
direction on the right, along the turn
pike between the railroad and the James,
met the enemy's skirmishers near Wer-
bottom Church, and drove them back
about a mile to a strong position, from
which, after a sharp engagement, they
retired to a new position ; but from
this they also fell back. The skir
mishing continued till dark, by which
time General Smith had advanced to
Proctor's Creek, within about three
miles of Fort Darling. General Gill
more had in the mean time advanced as
far as Chesterfield Court House, west

362

GENERAL BUTLER'S OPERATIONS.

of the railroad, on the right of the
enemy. Continuing his advance still
farther on the enemy's right, he came
upon a formidable earth-work, stretch
ing across the railroad eastward nearly
to the James River. This was the
outer fine of defence of Fort Darling.
The enemy having concentrated on their
left to oppose General Smith, General
Gillmore found that the part of the
works before him was inadequately
defended, and, occupying the enemy's
attention in front with sharpshooters
and skirmishers, and several pieces of
artillery, sent the brigade of Colonel
Hawley through the woods to take the
earth-work on the right flank. This
movement succeeded. The position of
the enemy was turned, and on the
morning of the 14th they abandoned
the whole line of works and retired to a
second and stronger line about three
quarters of a mile distant. The redoubts
into which the enemy retired command
ed the outer line of works, and in order
to make secure the ground already
gained, intrenchments should have been
thrown up, but this precaution was neg
lected by General Butler, though he
succeeded in silencing the enemy's guns
by means of his artillery aided by sharp
shooters. About nine at night the en
emy advanced on the portion of Butler's
line near the Petersburg turnpike, but
withdrew after a short engagement.
The next day they again advanced and
attacked General Heckman's brigade,
but after a musketry fight which lasted
about an hour, again withdrew.
Early on the morning of the 16th of

May, under cover of a thick fog, a sud
den attack was made by the enemy,
with cavalry, artillery, and infantry, on
the right of Butler's . line, held by the
corps of General Smith, in which Heck
man's brigade was on the extreme right,
next the James River. General Gill
more's corps held the left and left centre
of the line. The line of battle extended
along the captured earth-works, and for
some distance beyond them on the ex
treme right toward the river. Next the
river were two squadrons of colored
cavalry, on their left- the Ninth New
Jersey, then the Twenty-third, Twenty-
fifth, and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts
regiments. Favored by the fog and
darkness, the advance of the enemy may
got in the rear of the Ninth New !*•
Jersey Regiment before the. attack was
made. General Heckman finding his
position untenable began to fall back.
A terrific contest ensued. Borne down
by overwhelming numbers, Heckman's
brigade was broken and driven from the
field, and he himself made prisoner.
The right of the eighteenth corps having
been thus broken, a heavy attack was
made along its whole line, and after
several hours' severe fighting the en
tire corps was driven back. The
enemy then massed their forces and
directed them against the tenth corps
under General Gillmore, but in repeated
charges they were repulsed at all points.
Then, abandoning their dead and wound
ed, they again massed on the front of
General Smith's line and attacked his
left. General Gillmore immediately
ordered General Turner to attack the

GENERAL BUTLER'S OPERATIONS.

363

enemy on the flank, but the attack had
hardly been commenced when an order
came from General Butler to retire and
strengthen General Smith's corps by
forming in his rear. The troops fell
back slowly and in order. About half-
past two o'clock the fighting ceased, and
General Butler prepared to withdraw
his forces from the field. The ambu
lances loaded with wounded, and the
supply trains, were dispatched to the
rear. Soon afterward the entire army
fell back, and reached its intrenchments
at night, having sustained a loss in
killed, wounded, and prisoners of about
five thousand men.
General Kautz's expedition was suc
cessful. Its object was the destruction
of the stations and bridges and as much
as possible of the track of the Richmond
and Danville Railroad. His command
arrived about ten o'clock on the night
ofthe 12th, the day on which the expe
dition set out, at Coalfield Station, on
the railroad, about twelve miles west of
Richmond, and destroyed there the
d6"p6t building and water tank, pulled
down the telegraph wire, and tore up
several hundred feet of the railroad
track. Thence he advanced to Pow
hatan Station, on the railroad, twenty-
two miles from Richmond, where he
arrived at eight o'clock on the morning
of the 13 th. Here also the water tank
and d§p6t were destroyed. The iron
bridge over the Appomattox, between
Mattoax Station and Chula, was found
strongly guarded, and the column made
a circuit eastward, crossed by Goode's
Bridge, about four in the afternoon, and

arrived at Chula Station, thirty miles
from Richmond, at ten o'clock at night,
after destroying as much as possible of
the enemy's stores and other property.
The column on the morning of the 14th
returned, and recrossing by Goode's
Bridge, approached Mattoax ; but the
enemy being found in a strong position,
after a fight, in which Kautz sustained
trifling loss, he retired southward, and
crossing the Appomattox at Bevil's
Bridge, a part of the command proceed
ed to the junction of the South 'Side
and Danville railroads, and the main
body moved on to Wellville and Wilson's
Station on the South Side Railroad,
where considerable damage was effected.
The column arrived at Blacks and
Whites at ten o'clock at night, where
large supplies of forage and rations
were found, and the railroad track and
government property destroyed. At
seven in the morning of the 15th the
column set out in a southerly direction
for Lawrenceville, in Brunswick County,
and passing through Jonesboro and Ed
monds, arrived there at dusk. Much
property was destroyed there, and at
daylight on the morning of the 16th
the march was resumed, with the inten
tion of striking the Petersburg and
Richmond Railroad at Hicksford, about
forty miles south of Petersburg, but
finding a large force at Stony Point,
turned northward, and at five in the
afternoon arrived at Jarrett's Station,
where the railroad track was again torn
up and the water tank destroyed.
Freeman's Bridge was reached at mid
night, and, moving by way of Belcher's

364

GENERAL BUTLER'S OPERATIONS.

Mills and Heart's Station, the command
arrived at City Point on the 17th, soon
after General Butler's army got back to
its intrenchments. The damage done to
the enemy's communications by this bold
raid of General Kautz, though consider
able, was easily repaired. No perma
nent stoppage of supplies to the enemy
from the south or southeast was effected.
Nothing short of the occupation of
Petersburg and of the lines of railroad
could effect this, and this it has been
seen General Butler had been unable to
accomplish. His entire force was now
on the defensive. Beyond occupying the
attention of the enemy and detaining
a large force for the defence of Peters
burg, Fort Darling, and the approaches
to Richmond, he had contributed noth
ing toward carrying out Grant's plan of
the campaign.
The powerful fleet which accompanied
General Butler's expedition up the
James also had effected little beyond
keeping open the river and searching
for torpedoes. In order to remove these,
the banks near where they were sup
posed to be were first shelled, to drive
away any lurking body of the enemy.
A boat's crew was then sent on shore to
cut the strings by means of which they
were intended to be exploded. A large
one was taken out of the water opposite
Turkey Bend. A lauding for this pur
pose was made under the bluff on which
stands the house of General Pickett. A
boat's crew was stationed on the bluff
to act as sharpshooters, on the watch
for any persons who might attempt to
pull the strings, while another party

searched, up to the armpits in water,
for the torpedoes. At this place six
were taken up, each containing seventy-
five pounds of gunpowder.
Notwithstanding all the precautions
against torpedoes, a small gun-boat, the
Commodore Jones, while engaged in
searching for torpedoes, was totally
destroyed by one on the 6th of May.
The string was pulled by a party on
shore, and the annihilation of the vessel
was entire and instantaneous. The tor
pedo was immediately under the vessel
amidships. Amid a cloud of smoke and
steam, the body of the hull and upper
works, and numbers of her unfortunate
crew, were thrown high into the air, as
if from the crater of a volcano, and fell
again in innumerable fragments and
splinters. When the cloud drifted away
nothing remained of the vessel but the
sunken framework and ribs. Of the
officers and crew twenty were killed,
forty-eight were wounded, and twenty-
six escaped uninjured. Two other boats,
the Shoshonee and the Brewster, were
destroyed by explosions occurring on
board. As has been said, General Butler's
force arrived within the intrenchments
at Bermuda Hundred on the night of
the 16th, after the disastrous operations
against the outer works of Fort Darling.
On the following day it was reported by
scouts that two columns of troops with
large trains were on their way by the
turnpike from Richmond toward Peters
burg. To intercept these, General
Foster, with a body of cavalry and
infantry, moved out of camp at nine in

GENERAL BUTLER'S OPERATIONS.

365

the morning, and cautiously proceeded
along the road leading to the turnpike.
He soon encountered the enemy's pickets,
and shortly afterward the force behind
them, and receiving a heavy fire, made
an attack on another part of their line,
but with no better success, and soon
returned to camp. The evidence thus
obtained of a large force in his immedi
ate neighborhood led General Butler to
strengthen his defences as rapidly as
possible, and, protected on the river
side by the gun-boats under Admiral
Lee, he was soon in a condition to resist
a force not very greatly superior.
General Butler's fears of an attack
were not without foundation. On the
morning of the 18th, at daylight, a force
under Beauregard approached and drove
in the picket line within a few hundred
yards of the breast-works. The enemy
then began throwing up a line of earth
works directly opposite those of General
3iay Butler, and on the 19th began to
19. shell his lines, but no assault was
made, and in the latter part of the day
their fire ceased. At midnight they
advanced in force nearly along the whole
of General Butler's line, but after a
sharp fight, which lasted nearly an hour,
retired, having sustained considerable
loss.- At daylight on the 20th they
again shelled the lines and the camp,
and forced back the pickets of General
Ames from their rifle-pits, as well as the
line of General Terry. The rifle-pits
were however retaken by Colonel Howell,
after heavy fighting, in which much loss
was sustained on both sides. The attack
was renewed by the enemy on the 21st,

but with no better success. In the mean
while General Butler actively pushed on
the work of fortification, and cleared
away all cover for hostile sharpshooters.
His position was assailable only in front,
both flanks being covered by impassable
wooded ravines as well as by gun-boats
in the river. His communications and
supplies were perfectly secure, and little
fighting occurred in connection with his
command after the 20th.
An attack made by a body of cavalry
under General Fitz Lee, on the 24th of
May, on the post at Wilson's Wharf,
held by two regiments of negro troops
under General Wilde, was repulsed after
three desperate charges had been made.
Subsequently the force under General
Butler's command was diminished by
the withdrawal of the eighteenth corps,
under General W. F. Smith, to reinforce
Grant, as before stated.
That portion of General Grant's plan
of campaign which comprehended a
simultaneous movement by Generals
Sigel, Crook, Averill, and Burbridge
upon Lynchburg, in the early part of
May, had failed in the execution as
entirely as that of Butler against Peters
burg. General Sigel, about the 4th of
May, with twelve or fifteen thousand
men, commenced his march up the
Valley of the Shenandoah, and on the
13th had advanced nearly as far as New
Market, on the west side of the Mas-
sanutten Mountains, about forty miles
north-northeast of Staunton, when his
advance encountered that of General
Breckinridge, under whom were united
the forces of Echols and Imboden.

366

MOVEMENTS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.

Skirmishing ensued, and was continued
on the 14th and on Sunday the 15 th.
Sigel, however, continued to advance,
and got part of his forces into position
near New Market, leaving one division
in the rear, the attenuation of his line
of march and his long train preventing
him from confronting the enemy with
his entire force, so that, according to his
own statement, he had not on the field
besides his cavalry and artillery more
than six regiments, while the enemy
attacked with seven thousand men.
The battle commenced at three o'clock
May on Sunday afternoon, and though
!&• the field was hotly contested, Sigel
sustained a severe defeat, and fell back
in disorder, losing seven hundred men,
a thousand stand of small-arms, and six
pieces of artillery, abandoning his hos
pitals and destroying a portion of his
train. He retreated to Cedar Creek,
near Strasburg, but the enemy did not
pursue in force.
The movement of General Burbridge,
by way of the Big Sandy River, upon
Abington, on the Virginia and Tennessee
Railroad, 12 miles southwest of Saltville,
intended to prevent the advance of the
enemy from the southwest, did not take
place, as General Burbridge did not suc
ceed in getting his force ready in time.
General Averill, with his cavalry force
of twenty-five hundred men, left Charles
ton, on the Kanawha, for Wytheville, in
order to cut the railroad there, on the
1st of May, and moved by forced marches,
day and night, over mountain paths,
until the evening of the 8th, when he
encountered a body of the enemy's cav

alry near Jeffersonville, and made a
detour by way of Princeton and Taze
well Court House. Arriving on the
10th at Cove Mountain Gap, near
Wytheville, he found that place already
occupied by a hostile force under Gen
eral Morgan, who, by making a forced
march from Saltville, had arrived there
before him. A conflict ensued, the
result of which was that General Averill
was prevented from arriving at Dublin
Station before General Crook had
thought it advisable to retreat from
that vicinity.
General Crook had moved from
Charleston, on the Kanawha, with three
brigades, comprising a force .of four
thousand men, intending to strike the
railroad at Dublin Station, 25 miles
east of Wytheville. He made his way
without opposition nearly to Princeton,
where some infantry and cavalry of the
enemy were met and driven off. About
four miles from Dublin Station, near the
southwest foot of Lloyd's Mountain, a
considerable force of the enemy under
General Jenkins was found. After some
manoeuvring for position, the enemy
were attacked in flank and front, and
driven from Dublin Station to New
River Bridge, with severe loss, including
that of General Jenkins, who was badly
wounded, and whose command was then
assumed by McCausland. The Union
loss was 126 killed and 585 wounded.
On the following day the enemy were
attacked in their new position and the
bridge over the New River destroyed.
General Crook advanced as far as New-
berne, on the Virginia and Tennessee

GENERAL HUNTER'S OPERATIONS.

367

Railroad, when the approach of a supe
rior force under General Morgan, decided
him to give up the attempt to reach
Lynchburg, and he withdrew to Meadow
Bluff, in Greenbrier County.
Notwithstanding the failure of the
attempt against Lynchburg, General
Grant determined to carry out his origi
nal plan of campaign, and organized
other expeditions to cut off General Lee's
communications by the Virginia and
Tennessee Railroad, and if possible to
occupy Lynchburg. Against Peters
burg, after the transfer of the Army of
the Potomac to the south side of the
James, the operations were about to be
conducted under his own eye.
General Hunter was appointed in
place of Sigel to command the Depart
ment of Western Virginia. Proceeding
rapidly from Washington to Cedar Creek,
he assumed command of Sigel's beaten
army, which he found much demoralized
and in bad condition. A thousand men
were without arms, having thrown them
away in their flight, and two thousand
of the infantry were without shoes.
After receiving reinforcements, and some
time spent in reorganization, he issued
a general order, according to which all
tents and superfluous baggage were to
be sent back to Martinsburg ; but one
wagon was to be allowed to each regi
ment, and each soldier was to carry in his
knapsack one hundred rounds of am
munition and provisions for eight days.
Then advancing from Cedar Creek, he
passed through Woodstock, Mount Jack
son, and New Market, to Harrisonburg,
meeting with no opposition, but annoyed

by guerrillas in his rear, who partially
succeeded in destroying his' communica
tions. At Harrisonburg the army was
divided into two columns, one of which
moved southeastward for Port Republic,
the other directly toward Staunton.
The Confederate force in Western
Virginia at this time seemed to be quite
inadequate to oppose the combined
forces of Hunter, Crook, Averill, and
Burbridge. The force under Breckin
ridge, after the defeat of Sigel, had been
withdrawn to reinforce Lee, and a few
small brigades of cavalry, two regiments
of infantry, and a small brigade of dis
mounted troops acting as infantry were
all that remained. General McCaus-
land, with a small force, and General
W. E. Jones, with all the troops he
could move from southwestern Virginia,
had marched to the vicinity of Staunton.
On Sunday the 5th of June, near
Mount Crawford, on the North june
River, about fifteen miles northeast 5»
of Staunton, General Hunter encountered
and defeated the force of General Jones,
taking fifteen hundred prisoners, three
thousand stand of arms, three pieces of
artillery, and a large quantity of stores.
The loss of the enemy in killed and
wounded was very severe, including
General Jones, who was killed. The
remainder of the Confederate force re
treated rapidly southeastward toward
Waynesboro, under the command of
General Vaughn. General Hunter im
mediately occupied Staunton, where on
the 8th fie was joined by the forces
under Generals Crook and Averill, who
after reorganizing at Meadow Bluff, had

368

GENERAL HUNTER'S OPERATIONS.

moved on the 31st of May, and marching
by way of Lewisburg and White Sul
phur Springs, had struck the Virginia-
Central Railroad at Gaston Dep6t on
the 5th of June, and had torn up the
track for ten miles, destroying the
bridges and culverts. Thence they made
their way over North Mountain to
Staunton. After a cavalry demonstration toward
Waynesboro, which was repulsed by
Imboden, and the destruction of several
millions' worth of property at Staunton,
including railroad buildings and govern
ment factories, the consolidated force
under General Hunter, now about six
teen thousand strong, General Crook in
the advance, moved out from Staunton
by the road leading through Middle-
brook to Lexington, the capital of Rock
bridge County. A small force of the
enemy under McCausland retreated
before the advance as far as the North
River, where, having burnt the bridge
at Lexington, they took a position on
the south bank. From this they were
driven off with artillery, and McCaus
land, finding his force inadequate to a
successful defence of the place, fell back
toward Balcony, on the James, near the
Natural Bridge. The river was forded
and the town occupied by the troops of
General Hunter on the 11th of June.
Next day the Military Institute and the
dwelling of Governor Letcher were
burned ; a number of canal-boats and a
quantity of ammunition were seized,
and a bronze statue of Washington was
taken down. This was subsequently
transferred to Wheeling.

General Hunter remained at Staunton
till the 13th, waiting for the promised
co-operation of Sheridan from Gordons
ville. General Sheridan, whose object
was the destruction of the railroad
between Gordonsville and Charlotteville
— a very important link in Lee's com
munications with Staunton and Lynch
burg — had crossed the Pamunkey on
the 7th of June, marched rapidly by
way of Childsburg and New Market,
crossed both branches of the North
Anna, and was approaching the Virginia
Central Railroad, when he encountered
the enemy's cavalry at Buck Childs,
three miles northeast of Trevilian Station.
Oh the morning of the 11th, after an
obstinate contest, the enemy were driven
from successive lines of breast-works,
back upon Trevilian Station. In the
mean time General Custer with his
brigade proceeded by a country road so
as to reach the station in the rear. On
his arrival the enemy broke into a june
complete rout, leaving their dead !'•
and many of their wounded, and a
number of prisoners. Sheridan en
camped at Trevilian Station, seven miles
southeast of Gordonsville, and on the
12th destroyed the railroad southeast
ward, as far as Louisa Court House.
An advance was then made on the
enemy's position toward Gordonsville,
but it was found too strong to be as
saulted. Next day Sheridan learned
that heavy reinforcements were advanc
ing for the defence of Gordonsville ; he
therefore gave up the expedition, and
withdrew his command over the North
Anna, taking with him 370 prisoners, but

GENERAL HUNTER'S OPERATIONS.

369

having sustained a loss of 575 men, of
whom 490 were wounded. Some of
these he was obliged, for want of am
bulances, to leave in the enemy's hands.
Nothing being heard of Sheridan's
movements, General Hunter's advance,
under Averill, marched to Buchanan,
followed on the 14th by the entire force.
Liberty was reached on the 16th, and
seven miles of the railroad destroyed.
At ten on the morning of the 17th, the
advance under General Crook arrived
within eight miles of Lynchburg, and
halted till three o'clock, awaiting the
arrival of the main body. The entire
force then moved on about two miles,
when the first position of the enemy
was reached. They were driven back
two miles farther, to a line of breast
works, both sides sustaining considerable
loss, when General Hunter rested for
the night.
In the mean time reinforcements were
rapidly arriving at Lynchburg from the
east. All night the whistles of loco
motives bringing troops from Richmond
warned General Hunter that Lynchburg
was a prize the value of which was well
understood by General Lee, whose ad
vantage in holding the " interior lines"
was once more made apparent. On the
18th the enemy appeared in force and
attempted to turn General Hunter's
right, but were driven back to their
breast-works. Their numbers, however,
appeared to be so great, and their de
fences so strong, that General Hunter
June became convinced his force was en-
18. tirely inadequate to operate with
success against Lynchburg. A retreat
215

was therefore determined on, and by
the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad,
instead of by the Shenandoah Valley by
way of Staunton.
General Hunter's reasons for this
course were, that if he should attempt
to move toward Staunton, the enemy
would get there in superior force before
him, having railroad communications
between that place and Lynchburg by
way of Waynesboro ; that his ammuni
tion was nearly exhausted ; and that he
was entirely out of supplies, which he
would not be able to replenish from the
country passed through, in the presence
of the enemy, and that therefore he
might sustain disastrous defeat, or be
compelled to surrender his entire army.
On the other hand, retreating by the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, it was
hoped that the army would be able to
obtain supplies at Meadow Bluff, more
than a million of rations having been left
there by Generals Crook and Averill,
under the charge of two regiments of
Ohio militia.
On the night of the 18th, at nine
o'clock, the army began its march along
the line of the railroad, General Crook
bringing up the rear, and the enemy in
close pursuit.. Bonsack's Dep6t was-
reached at nine in the morning of the
20th. The march was continued through
the whole of the following night. On
the 21st several pieces of artillery were
captured by the pursuers. On the night
of the 25th the retreating army arrived
in great destitution at Meadow Bluff,
to find that the stores left there had
been destroyed; but on the 27th, rations

370

MORGAN'S RAID ON KENTUCKY.

were obtained, and on the following
day General Hunter arrived at Loup
Creek, his command in great need of
rest and reorganization, and soon after
ward at Charleston, on the Kanawha,
whence his force subsequently returned
by another route and took part in the
contest with Early's force in Maryland
and the Shenandoah Valley.
General Burbridge was to have co
operated in the movements against
Lynchburg, by preventing any advance
of forces from the extreme southwest of
Virginia. To divert him from this, the
rebel General Morgan undertook a raid
into Kentucky with two thousand cav
alry, and entering the State by way of
Pound Gap, advanced successively to
Paintsville, Hazel Green, Owingsville,
Flemingsburg, Maysviile, and Mount
Sterling, destroying railroads and bridges,
and gathering as he went, horses, forage,
provisions, money, and every kind of
June portable plunder. On the 11th
H' of June he attacked, defeated, and
captured the entire force of General
Hobson, consisting of two entire regi
ments, numbering sixteen hundred men,
at Cynthiana, on the railroad from Lex
ington to Cincinnati, and burnt a large
part of the town. The next day, how
ever, General Burbridge, who had fol
lowed him rapidly from southwestern
Virginia, attacked Morgan near Cynthi
ana, and routed him after an hour's
sharp fighting, with a loss of three
hundred killed and wounded and as
many prisoners. A thousand horses
and a hundred men of Hobson's com
mand were recaptured. Burbridge re

ported that Morgan's command fled in
all directions, throwing away their
arms and becoming utterly demoralized.
General Burbridge was however of no
further service in southwestern Virginia,
which by his absence was secured to
the enemy— the rest and reorganization
required by his command detaining him
in Kentucky.
When the enemy in Western Vir
ginia had succeeded in driving General
Hunter's army over the mountains, the
Valley of the Shenandoah was left open
to them. General Lee could at that
time, thanks to his impregnable earth
works, very well spare a considerable
number of troops from the defence of
Richmond and Petersburg. Accord
ingly, a force of fifteen thousand infantry
and five thousand cavalry, comprising
two corps— that of Breckinridge, includ
ing the divisions of Echols and Ramseurj
and that of Rhodes, including his own
division and Gordon's— together with
Ransom's division of cavalry, including
the brigades of McCausland, Imboden,
Jackson, and Johnson, and three bat
teries of artillery, was placed under the
command of Major-General Early, who
marched rapidly down the valley.
On Saturday, the 2d of July, the
Confederate force suddenly made its
appearance at North Mountain, west of
Martinsburg, where Sigel was. in com
mand. Sigel determined immediately
to evacuate the town and fall back upon
Harper's Ferry. He succeeded in re
moving a part of the stores, including
the rolling stock of the railroad and
heavy trains of supplies intended for

EARLY'S INVASION.

371

General Hunter. At Leetown he was
attacked and driven from his position.
At Harper's Ferry he united his force
with that of General Stahel, but soon
afterward retired to Maryland Heights,
which he held. From Martinsburg and
North Mountain the main body of the
enemy marched for the Potomac in the
direction of Hagerstown. Leaving about
five thousand men to guard the rear,
Early crossed the . Potomac with the
remainder. An extraordinary panic
spread over the invaded region, and the
inhabitants fled eastward toward Balti
more. The roads were filled with
pedestrians, droves of cattle, and every
species of wagon laden with household
valuables. At Frederick, on the 5th,
the railroad trains were loaded with
government stores, and preparations
made for immediate evacuation. Hagers
town was visited by the enemy's cav
alry, the stores plundered, and a requi
sition made on the town for the sum
of $20,000, which was paid, and the
raiders went elsewhere. On the same
day the President issued a call for
militia— 12,000 from New York. 12,000
from Pennsylvania, and 5,000 from
Massachusetts. General Hunter's forces
were returning from Western Virginia.
The sixth corps was also sent for from
the lines before Petersburg, to aid in
the defence of Washington. It was
supposed that one of the principal
motives which actuated General Lee in
planning this invasion of Maryland, was
the hope of inducing General Grant to
retire with his whole army from before
Richmond to protect the Federal capital.

General Grant considered one corps
enough for the purp'ose.
In the mean time General Lewis
Wallace, commanding the Middle De
partment, had collected what force he
could, and having been joined by Rick-
etts' division of the sixth corps, moved
out from Frederick southward to Mo-
nocacy Junction, and at sunrise on the
following morning, the 9th, the enemy,
fifteen thousand strong, under Early,
entered the town and levied a contribu
tion of $200,000 on the inhabitants.
About nine o'clock they advanced against
General Wallace, who had taken up on
the east side of the Monocacy River a
position in which his guns protected
the railroad and the turnpike. His jH]y
left, under General Ricketts, was 9.
first attacked, and after a contest of
some hours' duration was compelled to
give way. The right was at the same
time outflanked and about six hundred
men and officers swept off, including
General Tyler, who subsequently escaped.
General Wallace then drew off his force
toward Ellicott's Mills, pursued for some
distance by the enemy, having sustained
a loss of about twelve hundred men and
six guns. The enemy immediately sent
a column of about ten thousand men
southeastward toward Washington. After
the defeat of Wallace they had every
thing their own way till they chose to
return to Virginia. Small plundering
parties traversed the country in any
direction without opposition, collecting
forage, grain, and army supplies of all
sorts. Great alarm was caused in Wash
ington and Baltimore by the defeat of

372

EARLY'S INVASION.

General Wallace. Washington appeared
to be in imminent peril. Fortunately
the nineteenth army corps, which had
been sent round by sea from New
Orleans to reinforce General Grant, had
just arrived in the Chesapeake, and was
at once ordered up to Washington. The
remainder of the sixth corps also arrived
from Petersburg.
Immediately after the battle of Mo-
nocacy, a party of the enemy tore up a
portion of the railroad leading to Balti
more, and a detachment of cavalry was
sent to cut the railroad leading north
ward from that city, twenty-five miles
of which they destroyed. A small party
burned the house of Governor Bradford,
in retaliation for the destruction of
Governor Letcher's house by Hunter at
Lexington. On the 11th, a detachment
of cavalry, about a hundred men in all,
appeared on the railroad running north
eastward from Baltimore, and captured
and set on fire several trains at Magnolia
Station, eighteen miles northeast of the
city. In one of these General Franklin
was captured, but subsequently escaped.
This small party of cavalry, on returning,
approached within six miles of Balti
more, and then moved southward to join
the main body, which had proceeded in
that direction after the battle of Mo-
nocacy. Railroad and telegraphic com
munication between Washington and
the North was suspended, and the
national capital was for a short time
isolated. Provisions began to rise in
price. Every able-bodied man in the
city was required by proclamation to
turn out and serve as militia. Men

employed in the government workshops
and departments, who had been previ
ously organized and drilled, formed a
body several thousand strong. To these
were added three thousand convalescent
soldiers from the hospitals. In the
mean time the numbers of the veteran
troops were constantly increased by
fresh arrivals.
On the 12th, the skirmishers of the
enemy approached within four miles of
the north side of the city, immediately
in front of Forts Stevens and De Russey,
and toward evening their sharpshooters
became so annoying and their audacity
so humiliating, that General Augur dis
patched a brigade of veterans by the
Seventh Street road to drive them off.
They were soon completely routed, and
moved away, leaving about a hundred
dead and wounded on the field. In the
mean time the main body of the enemy's
force had retreated, and had already
begun to cross the Potomac, carrying
off a large amount of spoils, including
many hundred head of cattle and not
less than five thousand horses. The in
vasion had ended.
General Wright began the pursuit on
the 13th, with the sixth corps and
Emory's division of the nineteenth corps.
Moving northwestward from Washington
to Poolesville, he crossed the Potomac
just below Edward's Ferry, and marched
to Leesburg, where he was joined by
General Ricketts. In the mean time
Duffle's cavalry, of General Crook's
command, had overtaken and captured
a portion of the enemy's train at Snick
er's Gap, near the Shenandoah, and

EARLY'S INVASION-.

373

Crook himself coming up soon afterward,
the enemy were driven through the gap
after a sharp fight. They held the ferry,
however, on the west side of the river,
where they planted two guns and put a
stop to the pursuit for a while. On the
18th, the whole of Wright's and Crook's
forces had passed through Snicker's
Gap, except Duffle's cavalry, sent north
ward to Ashby's Gap to guard against
an attempt of the enemy to flank the
Federal right. A little after noon the
infantry crossed at Island Ford, two and
a half miles below Snicker's Ferry,
the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts in the
advance and driving the enemy. Crook's
force also was soon over the river, and
line of battle was formed, Colonel Wells
with the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts on
the left and Colonel Thorburn's brigade
July on the right. A sharp engagement
!§• ensued. The sixth corps also had
commenced crossing, when the enemy,
under Breckinridge, finding the rear
attacked, returned quickly, and changed
and drove back Colonel Thorburn's
brigade, compelling it to recross the
river. Colonel Wells then withdrew
his force in good order, and the enemy
retained possession of the west bank.
Duffie had no better fortune at Ashby's
Gap. He had driven Imboden through
the gap and across the river, but had
been himself compelled to retreat by
the enemy returning in force. A loss
of about five hundred was sustained in
these two fights, and some of the
wounded were left in the hands of the
enemy, who was then allowed to pursue
his way leisurely toward Winchester and

Strasburg. The column under General
Wright crossed the river, but soon
returned and marched back to Leesbunr.
where it was divided, General Crook
with his portion of the force going to
Harper's Ferry, and General Wright
with the sixth corps to Washington.
On the 19th, General Averill, moving
up the Shenandoah Valley from Martins-
burg on the turnpike road leading
toward Winchester, encountered and
drove back a body of cavalry at Darkes-
ville. Next morning he continued his
march in the same direction. On his
approaching Winchester, General Early
came out of his old intrenchments there
to meet him. The battle which jujy
ensued lasted three hours, when 19 •
the rebels, after losing about three
hundred men in killed and wounded,
retired to their intrenchments, leaving
Averill master of the field, with four
cannon, several hundred small-arms,
and about two hundred prisoners cap
tured. AveriU's loss was about 250.
Soon afterward General Averill was
rejoined by General Crook with his
infantry, just returned from the unfor
tunate affair at Island Ford. The force
under General Crook was now about
ten thousand men, consisting of AveriU's
and Duffie's cavalry and two divisions
of infantry. On the 23d, after some
skirmishing at Kearnstown, four miles
south of Winchester, the cavalry was
driven back by the enemy oh the main
body, and on the following day was
driven through Winchester in con- jUjy
fusion toward Bunker Hill, com- 23i
pletely uncovering the flanks of the

374

EARLY'S INVASION.

infantry. General Crook had drawn up
his force in line of battle, but was com
pelled to retreat when his cavalry broke.
The enemy, who had received reinforce
ments, and were, in much superior force,
were able completely to outflank Gen
eral Crook's line. The retreat con
tinued on the Bunker Hill road till
night. The Federal loss was not less
than twelve hundred, including prisoners.
Among the killed was Colonel Mulligan,
the defender of Lexington, Missouri,
whose brigade covered the retreat.
On the 25th, General Crook halted at
Martinsburg, to gain time for getting
off bis trains by road and railroad, but
after a sharp artillery engagement again
fell back, and on the following day
crossed the Potomac into Maryland, and
the Confederates obtained possession of
the west bank of the river from Will
iamsport to Shepherdstown. Another
panic seized the people of Maryland and
southern Pennsylvania. Fugitives again
hurried northward and eastward with
what valuables they could carry off.
On the 28th^ General Kelley crossed the
Potomac and reoccupied Martinsburg,
which the rebels had already evacuated.
On the morning of the 30th, a force of
two or three hundred cavalry under
McCausland crossed the Potomac and
marched toward Chambersburg. The
inhabitants having obtained warning of
his approach, packed up and sent off
their valuables and merchandise. Mc
Causland on his arrival offered to allow
the ransom of the place for the sum of
$500,000, but as this was not forthcom
ing, set fire to the town, and two-thirds

of it were laid in ashes. Notwithstand
ing Chambersburg had a population of
six thousand, no resistance was made to
this handful of raiders. McCausland
withdrew about eleven o'clock-, and
immediately afterward Averill with his
cavalry rode into the town, and set out
rapidly in pursuit. He had been re
treating from Hagerstown toward Car
lisle, but on the night of the 29th the
enemy left pursuing him and proceeded
by another road toward Chambersburg,
and Averill in his turn became the
pursuer ; but the small body of rebel
raiders easily escaped him, as they were
well mounted, and his horses were badly
jaded from their late rapid marches.
On the 1st of August another panic
occurred in the neighborhood of Fred
erick, Monocacy, and Poolesville. Mosby
with about fifty men crossed the Poto
mac at Cheat's Ferry, galloped up the
towpath to Adamstown, drove away the
picket force of thirty or forty cavalry,
cut the telegraph wire, robbed a few
stores, and retired. The alarm caused
by this irruption did not subside so
easily ; all the railway trains in the
neighborhood were stopped, and a re
port obtained circulation that Early had
invaded Pennsylvania with forty thou
sand men. General Couch telegraphed
to Pittsburg : "It is believed Breckin
ridge is marching west ;" and a great
public meeting was held there on Sunday,
the 2d of August, with a view to taking
measures for the defence of the city.
Pennsylvania was at last thoroughly
aroused. Governor Curtin convened
the Legislature for the 9 th of August.

EARLY'S INVASION.

375

In the mean time the sixth corps was
marching rapidly from Georgetown to
the points supposed to be threatened.
On the 31st it had reached Halltown,
three miles west of Harper's Ferry. On
the following day, orders were received
to move in pursuit of Early, who was
said to be ravaging Pennsylvania, and
the whole force, now consisting of the
sixth corps, part of the nineteenth corps,
and the infantry of General Crook's
command, with a great wagon train,
marched for two clays during weather
so hot that some men were lost by sun
stroke, in the direction of Frederick,
where the army rested, no enemy having
been found.
The light brigade of General Johnson,
which was the only portion ofthe enemy's
force actually in Maryland, had in the
mean time been raiding on the road from
Hancock toward Cumberland, unpur-
suecl by AveriU's command, which had
been obliged to remain a while at Han
cock to rest. On the 1st of August, at
four in the afternoon, General Kelley,
who was protecting Cumberland with
his cavalry force, was attacked at Folck's
Mill, three miles from the town. Skir
mishing continued till after dark, but
about eleven at night the enemy re
treated to Oldtown, where Colonel
Stough, who had been posted there
with five hundred men, was attacked

and routed, himself captured, and his
force driven toward Cumberland. On
the 4th, the Confederate force marched
against New Creek, where there was a
Federal garrison of about a thousand
men, who made good 'their defence ; and
at about eight in the evening the enemy
retired southward by the Romney road
toward Moorefield, where General Averill
overtook them on the 7th, and routed
them, taking all their artillery, four
pieces, many wagons and small-arms,
and five hundred prisoners, and kept up
the pursuit for many miles, till the
enemy were driven over the mountains.
A panic occurred on the 4th at Harris
burg, occasioned by another report of
an invasion by Early in force, and
Governor Curtin issued a proclamation
calling out thirty thousand militia ; but
the alarm soon subsided.
Thus ended Early's "second inva
sion." During its progress he had with
the whole of his infantry remained
quietly in the Valley, of the Shenandoah
getting in the crops.
On the 7th of August, General Hunter
was superseded by General Sheridan, to
whom was assigned the command of the
Middle Military Division, comprising the
departments of Washington, the Middle
Department, and the departments of
the Susquehanna and southwestern Vir
ginia.

376

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
Sherman's Atlanta Campaign.— Numbers of his Armies.— General Johnston^ Army— Description of Atlanta.— Oper
ations against Dalton.— Buzzard Roost.— Snake Creek Gap. —Kilpatrick wounded.— Johnston evacuates Dalton.—
Operations against Resaca.— Johnston crosses the Etowah.— Occupation of Rome.— Johnston falls back on Alla-
toona Pass.— The March upon Dallas.— Battles of Pumpldn Vine Creek and New Hope Church.— AUatopna Pass
turned.— General Blair joins Sherman with the Seventeenth Corps.— Garrisons left.— March to Big Shanty.— Kene-
saw, Pine, and Lost Mountains.— Rebel Defences.— Georgia Militia.— Operations against Pine Mountain.— Death
of General Polk.— Lost Mountain taken.— Continuous Rain.— Battle of Kulp House.— Assault on Kenesaw Mount-
aim— Death of General Harper.— Johnston abandons Kenesaw Mountain. — Occupation of Marietta.— Nickajack
Creek.— Advance to the Chattahoochee.— Johnston's Position again turned.— His Defences on the Chattahoochee.
— Mills destroyed at Roswell. — Sherman crosses the Chattahoochee.— Johnston retires upon Atlanta.

1864.

In accordance with General Grant's
grand plan of operations, General
Sherman had got ready ip the
beginning of May to move from Chat
tanooga simultaneously with General
Meade from Culpeper Court House.
The total force under his command,
numbering 98,797 men of all arms, with
254 guns, was composed as follows :
1. The Army of the Cumberland,
commanded by Major-General Thomas,.
comprising the fourth corps under Gen
eral Howard, the fourteenth corps under
General Palmer, and the -twentieth corps
under General Hooker, and containing
60,773 men, including 3,828 cavalry.
2. The Army of the Tennessee, com
manded by Major-General McPherson,
comprising the fifteenth corps under
General Logan, the sixteenth corps
under General Dodge, and later in the
campaign the seventeenth corps under
General Blair, and containing 24,465
men, including 624 cavalry.
3. The Army of the Ohio, commanded
by Major-General Schofield, comprising

the twenty-third corps, and containing
13,559 men, including 1,679 cavalry.
On the morning of the 6th of May
the position of the three armies was as
follows : the. Army of the Cumberland „
was at Ringgold, on the Western and
Atlantic Railroad, twenty-three miles
southeast of Chattanooga ; the Army of
the Tennessee was at Gordon's Mill, on
the Chickamauga, eight miles west of
Ringgold ; and the Army of the Ohio
near Red Clay, about ten miles north
east of Ringgold.
The Confederate army, commanded
by Lieutenant-General Joseph E. John
ston, lay in and about Dalton, fifteen
miles south of Ringgold, on the railroad.
his advance at Tunnel Hill, about mid
way between Ringgold and Dalton.
The force under Johnston, consisting
mostly, of veteran troops, comprised the
corps of Generals Hardee, Hood, and
Polk, and General Wheeler's division
of about 10,000 cavalry, numbering in
all not more than 60,000 men.
In some respects the campaign before

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

377

General Sherman resembled that of
General Grant from the Rapidan against
Richmond. Its objective point was
Atlanta, the possession of which it was
believed was hardly of less importance
to the Confederacy than the capital of
Virginia. Atlanta had been before the
war an important centre of railroad
communication for the Western, Atlantic,
and Gulf States, and a -principal manu
facturing town of the South, with a
population of about fifteen thousand.
Laid out in a circle two miles in dianie-
ter, in its centre was the passenger
depot of four railroads, radiating to
Chattanooga, Augusta, Macon, and Mont
gomery. Here also were railroad ma
chine-shops, an extensive rolling mill,
foundries, manufactories of gun-carriages,
pistols, tents, caps, cartridges, shot and
shell, shoes, clothing, and other military
supplies, Under the direction of the
Confederate government. The popula
tion had risen during the war, by the
accession of persons employed under the
government and the arrival of refugees,
to not less than twenty thousand. - It
was supposed that the capture of Atlanta,
with its vast military stores and costly
machinery, would be a blow to the
resources of the Confederacy hardly less
fatal than the capture of Richmond.
The utmost efforts were put forth by
the Confederate authorities to make
Atlanta secure. The line of approach
was made as difficult for Sherman as the
nature of the country — in itself easy of
defence — and the resources of Johnston
would admit. Should Sherman succeed
in making his way over the mountain
216

region and in crossing the rivers, both
of which afforded many strong defensible
positions for Johnston's army, he would
still have his hardest task before him in
the formidable works around Atlanta,
with an army depleted by many battles
and the necessity for leaving garrisons
at various points ; his line of communi- "
cation at the same time lengthened and
exposed, while Johnston in falling back
upon Atlanta would be approaching his
base and his supplies.
A reconnoissance of General John
ston's position at Dalton satisfied Gen
eral Sherman that it could not be carried
by an attack in front, even should the
enemy abandon their works at Tunnel
Hill. Immediately south of Tunnel Hill
is a valley about three miles long and
about three-quarters of a mile wide,
bounded by Rocky Faced Ridge, a
thickly wooded, steep, and rugged
mountain, which commands the railroad
and other approaches to Dalton, and
extends southward many miles on the
west side of the railroad and of the
Oostenaula. A narrow mountain pass
called Buzzard Roost, about midway
between Tunnel Hill and Dalton, is the
outlet to the valley, and through this
pass runs the railroad to Dalton. By
means of abattis, formidable batteries,
and a line of rifle-pits at its northern
entrance, this pass had been rendered
impregnable, so that Dalton was abso
lutely secure against attack from the
northwest ; on its northeast side the
town was protected by strong works on
Mile Creek. General McPherson was
therefore directed to move rapidly south-

578

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

ward with the Army of the Tennessee
from his position at Gordon's Mill, by
way of Ship's Gap, Villanow, and through
Snake Creek Gap— a pass in Rocky
Faced Ridge farther south — -upon Re-
saca, a station about eighteen miles
south of Dalton, where the railroad from
that place crosses the Oostenaula. The
object of this movement was to compel
General Johnston to evacuate his posi
tion at Dalton, when McPherson would
be in a jjosition to harass his flank,.
while the main body of the Federal
army pushed him southward. While
McPherson's flanking movement was in
progress, General Thomas was to make
a show of attacking in force in front of
Buzzard Roost, and Schofield with the
Army of the Ohio was to close up with
Thomas' left. Accordingly on the 7th,
General Thomas advanced from Ring
gold to Tunnel Hill, which was easily
carried by the fourteenth corps under
General »P aimer, the enemy retiring to
their stronger position at Buzzard Roost.
The same evening the Federal Tine was
established about a mile south of Tunnel
Hill. A demonstration in force was
made on the 8th against Rocky Faced
Ridge and Buzzard Roost. The fourth
corps under Howard succeeded in carry
ing the ridge, but its crest was found
too narrow to permit of an attack being
made from it on the pass with any pros
pect of success. General Schofield in
the mean time brought up the Army of
the Ohio and closed with the left of
Thomas, which was held by Howard.
On the same day McPherson suc
ceeded in passing through Snake Creek

Gap, surprising a force of rebel cavalry
there, and approached within a mile of
Resaca, which, however, proved too
strong to be carried by assault. He
therefore fell back to a strong position
at the west end of Snake Creek Gap.
General Sherman finding that McPher
son's flank demonstration had failed of
its intended effect, set the whole of his
army in motion for Snake Creek Gap,
with the exception of two divisions of
Howard's corps and some cavalry, left
to threaten the front of Buzzard Roost.
The Federal loss on the 8th and 9th
was about 750 killed, wounded, and
missing, the greater number being only
slightly wounded.
Resaca is situated on a peninsula
formed by the junction of the Conasauga
with the Oostenaula, across which, from
river to river, the rebels had constructed
a continuous line of rifle-pits with strong
field-works, their flanks being protected
by the two rivers. A line of retreat
southward was left open across the
Oostenaula. On the 13th of May the army of
General Sherman passed through Snake
Creek Gap ,and got into position in
Sugar Valley, a tract on the east side
of the ridge much broken by hills covered
with a dense undergrowth. In covering
the movement, while pressing the enemy
toward Resaca, General Kilpatrick re
ceived a severe flesh-wound, which un
fitted him for active duty for several
months. The Federal- lines were ad
vanced during the day toward Resaca,
so that the right, under McPherson.
rested on the Oostenaula about two miles

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

379

below the town, and extended north to
the centre under General Thomas — the
left, under Schofield, extending from
Thomas' left to the Conasauga, near
Tilton, a railroad station about midway
between Resaca and Dalton.
In the mean time General Johnston
had observed Sherman's movement and
detected its object, and considering his
position at Dalton no longer tenable,
had moved southward on the 12th, a.nd
having the shorter line of march, reached
Resaca with his entire force before the
army of Sherman had got through Snake
Creek Gap. Dalton was immediately
occupied by the divisions of Howard's
corps left before Buzzard Roost, which
following in the rear of Johnston joined
the Federal left on the 14th near Tilton.
Sherman, in thus compelling Johnston
to evacuate a position of such extra
ordinary strength as that of Dalton,
demonstrated his ability to make his
way to Atlanta, between which and
Dalton no position was likely to be held
by the enemy which might not be as
easily turned.
On the morning of the 14th the rebels
were in complete readiness to receive
an attack, having spent the previous
night in strengthening their already
formidable earth-works. General Har
dee held their right, General Hood their
centre, and General Polk their left. At
an early hour skirmishing commenced.
A body of infantry with cavalry was
sent across the Oostenaula to threaten
Calhoun in the rear, farther south on
the railroad, by which movement Gen
eral Sherman hoped to turn Johnston's

left, and thus cut off his retreat, but this
the nature of the ground rendered im
possible. At noon there was heavy fljay
firing along the whole line. About !*•
one o'clock an attempt was made by
Palmer's corps from the left centre to
break the enemy's line and force them
from an elevated position in the im
mediate front. To reach the point
aimed at, it was necessary to descend
the slope of a hill commanded by the
enemy's artillery, to ford a stream
bordered with a thick growth of bushes
and vines, and then to cross a space in
tersected by ditches and otherwise ob
structed. Under a murderous fire of
musketry and artillery the hill was
descended and the stream crossed, but
the troops becoming confused among
the ditches and obstructions, and finding
no shelter from which the plunging fire
of the enemy might be returned, were
forced to retire, after losing a thousand
of their number. Farther to the left,
about the same time, General Judah's
division of the twenty-third corps and
Newton's division of the fourth, drove
the enemy from an important position
on their outer line. By this means,
though the position taken was not held,
the Federal line was advanced. Artil
lery was also got into a position which
prevented the enemy from occupying
the works. At both extremities of the
fine heavy skirmishing took place, the
density of the woods and undergrowth
preventing the use of artillery.
About three in the afternoon, General
Johnston massed a heavy force on the
road to Tilton with the view of turning

380

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN,

the Federal left flank, held by Stanley's
division of the fourth corps. The attack
was made with overwhelming numbers,
who rushed on with loud yells, and with
such impetuosity that Stanley's troops
were forced in confusion, from the hill
on which they were posted. The move
ment ordered by Johnston had been
detected early enough to permit of
Hooker's corps being moved from the
centre to reinforce the Federal left.
The enemy's advance was soon checked,
and Stanley's troops having been rallied,
the rebels were, about dusk, driven
back to their lines with severe loss.
While this movement was going on,
General McPherson sent the fifteenth
corps with a portion of the sixteenth
across Camp Creek, to carry a hill and
rifle-pits on the enemy's left in front of
Resaca. This was effected, and with
little loss. As this position commanded
the works, the railroad, and the trestle
bridges across the Oostenaula, desperate
efforts were made by the enemy after
dark to retake it, but in vain. Heavy
columns with fixed bayonets moved up
to the very crest of the hill, but were
compelled to retire in confusion before
the steady fire of the Federal troops.
At ten o'clock fighting was over for the
day. Both armies strengthened their posi
tions during the night, and on the
morning of the 15th, under cover of
severe skirmishing, preparations were
made by General Sherman for an assault
upon two fortified hills, on the enemy's
extreme right, the key of the whole
position. General Hooker's corps was

moved to the extreme left, Howards,
Schofield's, and Palmer's to the right.
Soon after one o'clock, General Hooker
sent Butterfield's division forward as the
assaulting column, supported by the
divisions of Geary and Williams. May
After several attacks the enemy W.
were driven from a portion of their lines,
and a lodgment secured under the pro
jecting works of a lunette mounting four
guns. Farther advance, however, was
found impossible, owing to a severe fire
from neighboring rifle-pits, and the
troops seeking such shelter as was avail
able, contented themselves with holding
the position gained. Toward the close
of the afternoon General Hood's corps
made an unavailing effort to dislodge
them. Later, under cover of night, the
ends were dug out of the works and the
guns hauled out with ropes, under a
sharp fire from the rebels. As soon as
a breach was made the troops rushed in,
and after a desperate struggle made
themselves masters of the lunette.
General Johnston abandoned his posi
tion during the night, leaving behind an
other four-gun battery and a quantity of
stores, and retreated toward Kingston,
thirty-two miles south of Resaca, on the
railroad. Resaca was immediately oc
cupied by the troops of General Thomas,
who succeeded in saving the wagon road
bridge. The railroad bridge had been
burnt. Johnston's army owed its escape
from Sherman at Resaca to the imprac
ticable nature of the valley between the
town and Snake Creek Gap, which
greatly retarded the passage of troops,
and afforded the rebel army time to

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

381

"L 'U

march from Dalton by comparatively
good roads, which Johnston with wise
foresight had kept in order. Had the
Union army arrived first at Resaca,
nothing could have saved the army of_
the Confederates ; once in their strong
position at Resaca, it cost much severe
fighting to make them abandon it. The
total Federal loss in the two days' fight
ing was not less than 4,000 killed and
wounded, while that of the rebels prob
ably did not exceed 2,500, as they fought
for the most part behind earth-works.
They lost, however, about 1.000 prison
ers. The whole army started in pursuit of
Johnston, General Thomas, directly on
his rear, crossing the Oostenaula at
Resaca, General McPherson at Lay's
Ferry, a few miles to the southwest,
while General Schofield, making a wide
detour to the left of Thomas, marched
by obscure roads across the Conasauga
and Coosawattee rivers, which unite
near Resaca to form the Oostenaula.
On the 17th the march was continued
southward by as many roads as could
be found, in a direction parallel with
the railroad, but no enemy was seen till
within the vicinity of Adairsville, thirteen
miles south-southwest of Resaca, be
tween the railroad and the Oostenaula.
There, about sunset, the advance divi
sion under General Newton had a sharp
skirmish with the rear-guard of the
rebels, who on the next morning had
disappeared, but were found again in
force four miles beyond Kingston, on
ground comparatively open and well
adapted for a grand battle. They held

strong works at Cassville, five miles
east of Kingston, and on the 19th
dispositions were made for a general
engagement ; but while Sherman's forces
were converging on the position of
Johnston, he retreated in the night
across the Etowah, burning the bridges
at Cartersville, thus leaving the country
north of the Etowah in the posses
sion of General Sherman : it had, how
ever, been completely stripped of sup
plies. General Sherman now gave his
troops a few days' rest, the army of
General Thomas lying near Cassville,
McPherson's about Kingston, and Scho-
field's at Cassville Depot and toward the
Etowah Bridge. In the mean time the
railroad, which had received but little
injury, was restored to running order.
Trains laden with supplies arrived at
Kingston on the 20th, and the wounded
were sent back to Chattanooga, with
which place telegraphic communication
also was kept up as the army advanced.
General Jefferson C. Davis had on
the 17th marched toward Rome, at the
confluence of the Oostenaula and Etowah,
fifteen miles west of Kingston, and after
a sharp fight on the 19th got possession
of the town, several forts, eight or ten
large guns, and large quantities of stores,
as well as valuable mills and foundries.
General Johnston retired upon Alla-
toona Pass, an almost impregnable posi
tion on the railroad, about five miles
south of the Etowah River. General
Sherman determined not even to attempt
the pass in front, but to turn it. Ac
cordingly, on the 23d, leaving garrisons
at Rome and Kingston, and carrying

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

with him in wagons supplies for twenty
days, he put the army in motion for
Dallas, a town about fifteen miles south-
southwest of Allatoona Pass, and eight
een miles directly west of Marietta,
hoping by thus threatening Marietta to
compel Johnston to evacuate the pass.
The roads through the rugged and dense
ly wooded region to be traversed were
few and bad, and the march was neces
sarily slow. The movement and its
objects were soon detected by Johnston,
who also set his troops in motion toward
Dallas, to protect the approaches to
Marietta. In the march upon Dallas,
General McPherson, holding the Federal
right, made a detour southwestward by
Van Wert, about fourteen miles west
of Dallas, while General Thomas moved
nearly due south, with Schofield on his
left. On the 25th, Hooker's corps, the
advance of General Thomas, moving on
the main road to Dallas, when near
Pumpkin Vine Creek, met portions of
Hood's and Hardee's corps, and a severe
jfay contest took place for a position at
25. ]^"ew Hope Church, where three
roads meet, from Ackworth, Marietta,
and Dallas, but the enemy, having hastily
thrown up earth-works, and night com
ing on accompanied by heavy rain, re
tained possession of the roads. General
Hooker lost six hundred men in this
affair. Next morning the rebels were
found well intrenched, substantially in
front of the road leading from Dallas
to Marietta. It was necessary, therefore,
to make dispositions on a larger scale.
General McPherson was moved up to
Dallas, the force of General Thomas was

deployed against New Hope Church,
and General Schofield moved toward the
left so as to strike and turn the enemy's
right. Owing to the difficult nature of
the country, these movements occupied
two days, and were attended with heavy
skirmishing ; but as the vicinity was for
the most part densely wooded, artillery
could not be used, and the casualties
were comparatively few. On the 28th,
just as General McPherson was closing
up to General Thomas in front of New
Hope Church, he was repeatedly and
desperately attacked by a large rebel
force, and the contemplated movement
was temporarily checked, but the enemy
were finally driven back with a loss of
two thousand killed and wounded.
After the delay of a few days the
movement toward the left was resumed,
General McPherson taking up the posi
tion in front of New Hope Church which
Thomas had previously occupied, and
Generals Thomas and Schofield positions
still farther to the left. This movement
was effected on the 1st of June. All
the roads leading back to Allatoona
and Ackworth were occupied. General
Stoneman's cavalry pushed into the east
end of Allatoona Pass, and General
Garrard's marched around by the rear
to its west entrance. All this was
effected without opposition, and Alla
toona Pass fell into Sherman's posses
sion. He found it admirably adapted
for use as a secondary base, and gave
the necessary orders for its defence and
garrison, and for the reconstruction of
the railroad bridge over the Etowah,
thus restoring his communications by

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

383

railroad, by which stores were again
brought to his camps. Still working
toward the left, General Sherman deter
mined on the 4th to leave Johnston in
his intrenched position at New Hope
Church, and moved toward the railroad
above Ackworth, which was reached on
the 6th of June. Here the army re
mained several days, and here on the
8th General Blair arrived, with two
divisions of the seventeenth corps, and
Colonel Long's brigade of cavalry of
General Garrard's division, which had
been awaiting horses at Columbia. This
addition to Sherman's forces about made
up for his losses in battle and for the
diminution of his numbers by garrisons
left at Resaca, Rome, Kingston, and
Allatoona Pass. On the 9th, communi
cations in the rear being secure and
supplies abundant, the movement was
resumed and the march continued to
Big Shanty, the next station on the
railroad east of Allatoona Pass.
Between Big Shanty and Marietta
intervenes a mountainous district full
of defensible positions, covering perfectly
the town of Marietta, and the railroad
as far as the Chattahoochee. Three
conical peaks in this region, though links
in a continuous forest-covered chain,
form prominent features in the landscape.
These are Kenesaw Mountain, Pine
Mountain, and Lost Mountain. Kene
saw Mountain, a double-peaked emi
nence, and hence sometimes called the
Twin Mountain, about twelve hundred
feet high, lies immediately northwest of
Marietta and west of the railroad. Lost
Mountain lies west of Marietta. Pine

Mountain, a rugged cone-shaped peak,
about half a mile to the north of these
and opposite the space between them,
forms the apex of a triangle of which
the others form the base. On each the
enemy had signal stations from which
Sherman's camps could be seen and his
movements noted. Their summits were
covered with batteries, and on the spurs
leading from them might be seen great
numbers of men busy felling trees,
digging rifle-pits, and in other ways
preparing for a desperate defence. The
rebel lines extended about two miles
westward from the railroad, on which
their right rested. Their works, which
comprised several successive lines of
intrenchments, consisted of log barricades
with earth thrown against them, and a
formidable abattis, to which was added
in many places a chevaux-de-frise of
sharp-pointed fence-rails. The parapet
thus formed was from six to eight feet
thick at the top, for the infantry, and,
where field-guns were posted, from
twelve to fifteen feet thick. The force
at the disposal of General Johnston at
this time was, according to the reports
of prisoners, deserters, and scouts, nine
divisions of seven thousand men each,
in addition to which Governor Brown
had sent to his assistance an auxiliary
force of fifteen thousand Georgia militia,
who, though undisciplined, were capable
of good service behind earth-works and
as laborers in the construction of fortifi
cations. Hardee's corps held the en
emy's right, Polk's the centre, Hood's
the left. The enemy's cavalry, to the
number of about fifteen thousand, op-

384

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

erated on their right and left flanks and
on the Federal rear.
The Federal lines were gradually
advanced toward the rebel positions.
General McPherson's command, now
transferred to the extreme left, moved
toward Marietta, his right on the rail
road ; General Schofield, shifted to the
right, moved on Lost Mountain ; Gen
eral Thomas, remaining in the centre,
moved on Kenesaw and Pine Mountains.
General Garrard's cavalry covered the
left wing, and General Stoneman's the
right. General McCook guarded the
rear, the railroad communications, and
the de"p6t at Big Shanty. By the 11th
the lines were close up, and dispositions
were then made to break the enemy's
line of defence between Kenesaw and
June Pine Mountains. On the 14th,
14* during a heavy cannonade by the
fourth corps, General Polk, who com
manded on Pine Mountain, was struck
by the fragment of a shell and killed ;
and the same night, Hooker's corps,
moving round its base to cut off their
retreat, the enemy abandoned their
works on Pine Mountain, carrying off,
however, their guns and war material.
On the morning of the 15th, Stanley's
division of the fourth corps quietly oc
cupied the position.
After the abandonment of Pine Moun
tain, General Johnston drew back his
centre to a strong line of intrenchments
connecting Kenesaw and Lost Mountains.
The 15th, 16th, and 17th were occupied
with incessant skirmishing. On the
afternoon ofthe 15th, General Schofield
carried the first line of the rebel works

at the foot of Lost Mountain. During
the 17th, the left and centre, which were
so far advanced that a general engage
ment would otherwise have resulted,
remained quiet. The right and left
centre were advanced more than a mile
to a line of defensive works which the
rebels had evacuated. Toward evening,
after heavy skirmishing, the enemy's left
was dislodged from the intrenchments
at Lost Mountain and the long line of
breast- works connecting it with Kenesaw
Mountain. The enemy were pressed at
all points, and skirmishing continued in
dense forest and across difficult ravines,
until they were again found strongly post
ed and intrenched, with Kenesaw Moun
tain as a salient, their right wing thrown
back to cover Marietta, and their left
behind Nose's Creek, covering the rail
road back to the Chattahoochee. They
were thus enabled to contract and
strengthen their lines. During these
operations the rain fell almost continu
ously for three weeks, making the
narrow wooded roads mere mud gulleys
and a general movement impossible.
But every opportunity was taken to
advance the lines closer and closer to
the enemy, and the men kept up an
incessant galling picket fire.
On the 22d the enemy made a sudden
attack on portions of Hooker's and jHne
Schofield's corps on the Federal 22.
right near the Kulp House. The blow
fell mostly on the divisions of Generals
Williams and Hascall. The ground was
comparatively open, but though the
skirmish lines and an advanced regi
ment of General Schofield's— sent out to

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

385

hold the enemy in check till some pre
parations for his reception could be
completed — were driven in, yet when
the enemy reached the Federal line of
battle they received a terrible repulse.
Many prisoners were taken, and the reb
els were compelled to abandon their dead
and wounded. The Federal centre was
now established in front of Kenesaw
Mountain ; but so many men were
required to hold the railroad and the
line along the base of the mountain,
that only a small force was left with
which to attempt a flank movement to
the right. There was, however, now
no alternative but to assault the enemy's
lines or turn their position. Either
course had its difficulties and dangers.
Both the enemy and his own officers
expected Sherman to "outflank." Gen
eral Sherman determined to assault.
His reason for a departure from the
course which had hitherto been so suc
cessful was, that an army to be efficient
must not settle down to one single mode
of offence, but must be prepared to exe
cute any plan likely to result in success.
The part of the enemy's lines selected
to be assaulted was the left centre. A
strong column, if thrust through at that
point, and pushed on boldly two and a
half miles, would reach the railroad
below Marietta and cut off the enemy's
right and centre from the line of retreat,
which could then be overwhelmed and
destroyed. On the 24th of June, there
fore, General Sherman ordered that an
assault should be made at two points
south of Kenesaw Mountain on the 27th,
thus affording three days for preparation
211

and reconnoissance. One of these as
saults was to be made near Little Kene
saw by General McPherson's troops,
the other about a mile farther south by
those of General Thomas. On the junc
morning of the 27th of June, at 27.
the hour and in the manner prescribed,
the assaults were made, but both failed,
and many valuable lives were lost, in
cluding that of General Harker. At
six in the morning, General Blair's corps,
holding the extreme left of General
McPherson's line, moved on the east
side of the mountain, while the corps of
Generals Dodge and Logan assaulted
the adjoining northern slope. The brunt
of the attack was borne by three brigades
of Logan's corps, which pushing impetu
ously up the hill scattered the enemy's
skirmishers and captured some of their
rifle-pits, making also some prisoners.
These troops pressed forward till they
arrived at the foot of a precipitous cliff
thirty feet high, from which the enemy
poured a plunging fire and rolled down
huge stones. Here the line retired and
fortified on the extreme right. For the
second and more important attack, por
tions of the divisions of Generals Newton
and Davis were selected. When the
signal was given, the troops charged up
the slope of the mountain in face of a
murderous fire from a battery on the
summit, penetrated two lines of abattis,
carried a line of rifle-pits beyond, and
reached the works ; but a destructive
fire of musketry and artillery from the
enemy soon made it necessary to recall
the men. General Newton's troops
returned to their original line, while

386

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

General Davis' brigade threw up breast
works between those they had carried
and the main line of the enemy. The
entire contest lasted little more than an
hour, but cost General Sherman three
thousand men in killed and wounded,
while the enemy, fighting behind well-
formed breast -works, suffered little.
During the day there was some sharp
skirmishing with the enemy's left wing,
and General Cox's division pushed for
ward to a point nine miles south of
Marietta and not more than three from
the Chattahoochee. From his elevated
position on Kenesaw Mountain, General
Johnston had been able to watch Sher
man's movements and to judge correctly
at what point the main attack would
fall, and had been ready to receive it
with his main force. Though General
Sherman admitted that this attempt was
a complete and costly failure, he yet
took upon himself the entire responsi
bility, but claimed that it was not al
together without good fruits, inasmuch
as it satisfied Johnston that he would
assault, and that boldly, when an assault
appeared to be the surest means of
success. General Sherman could not rest long
under the imputation of defeat or failure.
He almost immediately commenced pre
parations to turn the enemy's left. On
the 1st of July, Generals Hooker and
Schofield advanced about two miles to
the right, and McPherson was ordered
to shift rapidly his whole force from the
extreme left to the extreme right of the
Federal lines and push on to Nickajack
Creek, which falls into the Chattahoochee

four miles below N the railroad bridge.
General Garrard with his cavalry was
sent to occupy McPherson's place in
front of Kenesaw, while General Stone
man moved on his flanks to strike the
river near Turner's Ferry, two and a
half miles below the railroad bridge.
McPherson commenced his movement
on the night of the 2d. The effect was
instantaneous. The object of the move
ment was at once detected by General
Johnston, who without further delay
prepared to evacuate Kenesaw Mountain
and fall back to the Chattahoochee.
Simultaneously with McPherson's move
ment, Johnston's rear-guard abandoned
the works which for three weeks had
been so resolutely defended, and before
dawn on the morning of tbe 3d the jujy
Federal pickets occupied the crest 3.
of* Kenesaw. General Thomas' whole
line was then moved forward to the
railroad and thence southward to the
Chattahoochee, and General Sherman
entered Marietta at half-past eight in
the morning, just as the enemy's cavalry
left the town. General Logan's corps,
which had not moved far, was ordered
back to Marietta by the main road, and
Generals McPherson and Schofield were
instructed to cross Nickajack Creek,.
attack the enemy in flank and rear, and,
if possible, harass them while crossing
the Chattahoochee. But Johnston was
too good a general to be caught thus,
and had covered his movement well.
He had constructed a strong tUe-du-pont
at the Chattahoochee with an advanced
intrenched line across the road at Smyrna
camp:meeting ground, five miles from

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

387

Marietta, where' General Thomas found
him, his flanks protected by Nickajack
and Rottenwood Creeks. In his retreat,
Johnston left behind about two thousand
men, principally stragglers, who were
made prisoners.
General Johnston was obliged to leave
his new position by another flank move
ment, and on the night of the 4th he
fell back to the Chattahoochee, which
he crossed with the main body of his
army, leaving Hardee's corps on the
right bank. General Sherman left a
garrison in Marietta and moved up to
the Chattahoochee. On the evening of
the 5th, the troops of Generals Thomas
and McPherson occupied a line extend
ing from a short distance above the rail
road bridge to the mouth of Nickajack
Creek, while those of General Schofield
were posted in the rear of Smyrna as a
reserve. The enemy lay behind a line
of unusual strength, covering their pon
toon bridges and the railroad — and
beyond the river. Heavy skirmishing
during the 5 th along the entire front
demonstrated the strength of the enemy's
position, which it became apparent could
be turned only by crossing the river, a
deep and rapid stream, passable only by
means of bridges, except at one or two
difficult fords.
General Sherman judged that it would
be easier to cross the river at once,
before the enemy had time to make a
more thorough preparation and regain
confidence. Accordingly, General Scho
field was ordered to move eastward
from his position near Smyrna, to cross
near the mouth of Soap's Creek, eight

miles north of the railroad bridge, and
effect a lodgment on the east bank.
This was most successfully and skilfully
accomplished on the 7th of July, Gen
eral Schofield completely surprising the
guard and capturing a gun, and im
mediately afterward laying pontoon and
trestle bridges, and taking up a strong
position on high and commanding ground
from which good roads led eastward.
At the same time General Garrard
moved rapidly on Rosewell, a town near
the Chattahoochee, nearly due north of
Atlanta, and about seven miles above
the point where Schofield crossed, and
destroyed there some woollen and cotton
mills, from which the Confederate armies
had been long supplied. General Gar
rard was then ordered to secure the
ford at Rosewell and hold it till relieved
by infantry. As General Sherman in
tended transferring the Army of the
Tennessee from the extreme right to
the left, he ordered General Thomas to
send his nearest division of infantry to
Rosewell to hold the ford till General Mc
Pherson could send up a corps from the
neighborhood of Nickajack Creek. Gen
eral Newton's division was sent, and
held the ford till the arrival of Dodge's
corps, which was soon followed by Gen
eral McPherson's whole army. On the
9th a crossing was effected at Rosewell
and a good bridge constructed, while
the enemy were amused by feints, ex
tending from Power's Ferry, four miles
above the railroad bridge, to Turner's
Ferry, three miles below it. Under
cover of the same demonstrations Gen
eral Howard also built a bridge at

388

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

Power's Ferry. Thus during the 9th
three good points of crossing were
secured above the position of the enemy,
with good roads leading to Atlanta.
General Johnston then took the alarm,
and on the night of the 9th withdrew
Hardee's corps to the left bank, aban
doned his tete-du-pont, burnt his bridges,
and left Sherman, on the morning of
the 10th of July, master of all the
country north and west of the Chatta

hoochee. The rebel army then fell
back to the outer fortified lines around
Atlanta, abandoning the whole line of
the river, except the left wing, which
remained a short time in the neighbor
hood of Turner's Ferry, expecting an-
attack in that quarter. General Sher
man, however, rapidly and quietly moved
the remainder of the Army of the Ten
nessee to its old position on the extreme
left.

CHAPTER XXXVII

Approach to Atlanta. — General Rousseau's Raid. — Johnston superseded by Hood. — Battle of Peach Tree Creek. — Hood
abandons his Outer Line of Defences.— Battle of July 22d.— Death of General McPherson. — Wheeler's Attack on
Decatur.— Attack on the Fifteenth Corps.— Biographical Sketch of General McPherson. — General Garrard's Oper
ations at Covington.— Expeditions against the Macon and Western Railroad. — General Stoneman's Raid.— Destruc
tion effected at Gordon. — Defeat and Capture of Stoneman.— General McCook's Raid. —General Howard succeeds
General McPherson.— Sherman's Lines extended southward.— Attack on the Fifteenth Corps.— Resignation of
General Hooker.— Change in important Commands.— Hood's Defences.— The City shelled.— New Plans of General
Sherman.— Wheeler's Raid.— Kilpatrick's Attempt on the West Point and Macon Railroads. —Movement of
Sherman's entire Army toward the Railroads.— Battle of J'onesboro. — Hood evacuates and General Slocum enters
the City.— Repulse of General Wheeler at Dalton.— Defeat of General Sturgis.— Depopulation of Atlanta.

One of the objects of General Sher
man's campaign, the advancement
of the Federal lines from the Ten
nessee to the Chattahoochee, had now
been attained, and Atlanta was only
eight miles distant. The main armies
remained quiet in their camps on the
Chattahoochee from the 10th of July to
the 16'tb. In the mean time stores were
collected at Allatoona, Marietta, and
Vining's Station ; the railroad guards
and garrisons were strengthened, and
the bridges and roads leading across the
river were improved. The railroad was

in complete order, and stores had been
brought by it as early as the 8th within
a mile of the bridge. A sufficient force
was detailed to go to the left bank of
the river to occupy the works of the
enemy. These were' found to be of the
most formidable character, extending
more than five miles along the river,
with almost impenetrable lines of abattis.
In anticipation of the present position
of affairs, General Sherman had collected
a well-appointed cavalry force, about
two thousand strong, at Decatur, Ala.,
with orders, on receiving notice by tele-

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

389

graph, to push rapidly southward, cross
the Coosa at the railroad bridge or the
Ten Islands, and to push on thence by
the most direct -route to Opelika, with
the object of destroying effectually the
railroad running westward from that
place, and thus cutting off from John
ston's army an important source of
supplies and reinforcement. The com
mand of this expedition was given to
General Rousseau, commanding the dis
trict of Tennessee. As soon as Johnston
was well across the Chattahoochee, and
Sherman had commenced manoeuvring
on Atlanta, the requisite notice was
given, and on the 10th of July General
Rousseau commenced his march. He
passed through Talladega, reached the
railroad on the 16th about twenty-five
miles west of Opelika, and broke it up
all the way back to that place, as well
as several miles of the branch railroads
leading toward West Point and Colum
bus. Then turning northward he ar
rived at Marietta on the 22d, his loss
not having exceeded thirty men.
The sudden abandonment of his for
midable line of defences on the left bank
of the river, by General Johnston, oc
casioned the utmost dissatisfaction with
his conduct of the campaign, especially
in Atlanta, where it was expected he
would make a stand on the Chattahoo
chee, which it was argued he could easily
do, being in the immediate neighborhood
of his supplies. His retreat from the
Chattahoochee was- the crowning offence
with the enemies of this able general,
whose inferiority of force had made it
impossible to avoid Sherman's outflank

ing movements, but who had neverthe
less kept his army in a compact body,
with insignificant losses of guns or
material of war. His removal was
loudly demanded, and on the 17th, in
accordance with orders from the Con
federate War Department, he turned
over his command to General Hood.
With this change in commanders com
menced a change in the character of the
campaign in accordance with the differ
ence in the genius of the two generals,
which it was hoped would have an
important influence on the morale of
the troops, discouraged by a long suc
cession of retreats from fortified posi
tions. The whole of General Sherman's army
crossed the Chattahoochee on the 17th,
with the exception of General Davis'
division of the fourteenth corps, left to
watch the railroad bridge and protect
the rear, and preparations were made
to move upon Atlanta. The Army of
the Cumberland, now occupying the
right and right centre, rested on the
river just above the railroad bridge.
The left centre was occupied by the
Army of the Ohio, the left by the Army
of the Tennessee. The line thus formed
made a grand right-wheel march, of
which the Army of the Cumberland was
the pivot, and on the evening of the
17th came into a position along the Old
Peach Tree road, about northeast of the
railroad bridge. On the 18th, the left
wing, swinging round rapidly, struck the
Georgia Railroad about two miles west
of Stone Mountain, a huge mass of
granite fifteen miles northeast of Atlanta.

390

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

General McPherson, with the aid of
Garrard's cavalry, which moved on his
flank, broke up about four miles of this
road, while General Schofield occupied
Decatur, six miles east of Atlanta, and
General Thomas moved his troops up
toward Peach Tree Creek, a small stream
flowing southwestward t)the Chattahoo
chee, a little above the railroad bridge.
The enemy, believing that their left was
the real point of attack, and that Sher
man would approach Atlanta from the
southwest, had opposed these movements
with an inadequate force of infantry and
a few cavalry. Thus Generals McPher
son and Schofield were able on the
19th to pass eastward of Decatur within
the naturally strong defensive lines of
Nance's and Peach Tree Creeks, and on
the same day General Thomas, moving
more directly from the north, though
meeting with more opposition, succeeded
in crossing Peach Tree Creek in front
of the enemy's intrenched lines. The
Federal armies then lay in a curved
line north and northeast of Atlanta,
extending from the railroad which runs
between Atlanta and the river to the
Georgia Railroad and some distance
south of it.
On the 20th, the Federal lines moved
still nearer Atlanta ; but as a gap existed
between the lines of Generals Schofield
and Thomas, two divisions of Howard's
corps of General Thomas' army were
moved to the left to connect with Gen
eral Schofield. By this movement Gen
eral Newton's division of Howard's corps
was left alone to hold an important
position on the road leading from Atlanta

to Buckhead. General Hood soon de
tected the weak point, and wp,s not slow
in taking advantage of the opportunity
thus afforded him, so soon after his
assumption of the chief command, of
striking a blow which might go far
toward retrieving many disasters. Gen
eral Sherman had, however, sent orders
to General Newton and the rest of the
Army of the Cumberland to close up
rapidly toward the left. General New
ton accordingly moved to a prominent
ridge, where his troops stacked arms
and made a temporary halt, but, beyond
throwing up piles of logs and rails,
made no defensive preparations, no
attack being apprehended, prisoners just
brought in having reported that there
was no considerable force of the enemy
within a mile and a half. General
Hood had in the mean while been
massing his forces in the woods immedi
ately in front of the position of General
Newton and of General' Hooker's force,
which was approaching from the right,
hoping to fall upon his adversaries while
in motion and cut the Federal army in

two. At four o'clock in the after-

July

noon he advanced suddenly from 20.
the woods, without skirmishers, directly
on the position of General Newton. His
appearance was altogether unexpected ;
nevertheless the Federal troops instantly
sprang to arms, and from behind their
log and rail breast-works poured a
deadly fire into the dense masses of
the enemy. Well-served batteries also,
which General Newton had posted on
his flanks, aided to keep the Confeder
ates in check.

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

391

General Hooker's whole corps was
uncovered, and had to fight on compara
tively open ground. General Geary's
division was thrown back in some con
fusion, but rallying quickly recovered
its ground and kept the enemy in check
till Ward's division came up. General
Ward met the enemy's charge by a
counter- charge, and after a brief but
fierce struggle they, were driven back.
The division of General Williams, farther
to the right and next to that of General
Geary, though desperately attacked,
repulsed every onset with heavy loss.
The battle had lasted four hours, when
Hood drew his forces rapidly back to
their intrenchments, leaving on the field
600 dead, 1,000 severely wounded, a
number of prisoners, and seven regi
mental flags— his total loss being esti
mated by General Sherman at not less
than 5,000. The Federal loss was 1,900,
sustained principally by the corps of
General Hooker, upon which fell the
brunt of the battle. General Johnson's
division of Palmer's corps had also been
engaged, but being well defended its loss
was comparatively light.
The enemy kept within their in
trenched position during the 21st, their
right beyond the Georgia Railroad and
their left extended toward Turner's
Ferry, at a general distance of four
miles from Atlanta. In the course of
the day a strongly fortified hill in front
of the extreme Federal left, which
completely commanded Atlanta and the
July ^w0 Prmcipal roads leading north
21. and south from the city, was carried
by General Leggett's division of the

seventeenth corps, though with a loss
of 750 men. Two desperate but unsuc
cessful attempts to regain this position
were made by the enemy, who when
they finally retired left their dead and
wounded on the slope of the hill.
On the morning of the 22d, the whole
of the advanced line of the enemy was
found abandoned, which led Sherman to
suppose that Hood was about to give up
Atlanta without further contest. He
was, however, only preparing to repeat
on a larger scale the experiment of the
20th. Pretending to be falling back
upon the city, he hoped to decoy Gen
eral Sherman into a rapid advance, and
then suddenly, with all his force, strike
the Federal army while in motion, at
such weak points as should offer. Un
suspectingly General Sherman pushed
his troops beyond the abandoned works,
but found the enemy occupying a line
of finished redoubts completely covering
the approaches to the city, and actively
engaged in connecting these redoubts
with curtains, strengthened by rifle-
trenches, abattis, and chevaux-de-frise.
Satisfied that Hood meant to fight,
General Sherman immediately resumed
the dispositions for pressing toward the
city on its east and northeast i>onts.
The Federal line by these movements
became so contracted, that the sixteenth
corps, under General Dodge, which
formed the right of the Army of th.3
Tennessee, was crowded out of its posi
tion, and was directed to march to the
extreme left of the line, to aid in the
defence of the hill carried by the seven
teenth corps on the day before, and

392

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

which was still held by General Leggett's
division. At about ten in the morning, near
the time when this movement com
menced, General Sherman in company
with General Schofield, was examining
the enemy's lines, when he was joined
by General McPherson, who described
the condition of things on his flank and
the disposition of his troops. General
Sherman explained to him that if serious
resistance were met in Atlanta, as seemed
probable, he should extend to the right,
and did not want much distance gained
on the left. General McPherson then
described the hill occupied by General
Leggett's division as essential to the
occupation of any ground to the east
and south of the Augusta Railroad.
General Sherman therefore ratified Mc
Pherson's disposition of his troops, and
modified a previous order sent him in
writing to employ General Dodge's corps
in breaking up the railroad, and sanc
tioned its going, as already ordered by
General McPherson, to his left, to hold
and fortify the position there. McPher
son remained with General Sherman till
noon, when reports arrived indicating a
movement of the enemy toward the left
flank. He then mounted his horse and
rode away with his staff.
General Sherman had the day before
sent General Garrard's cavalry to Cov
ington, on the Augusta Railroad, forty-
two miles east of Atlanta, with instruc
tions to send out detachments from that
point to destroy the two bridges across
the Yellow and Ulcofauhatchee rivers,
tributaries of the Ocmulgee. General

McPherson had also left his wagon train
at Decatur, under a guard of three regi
ments commanded by Colonel Sprague.
Soon after the departure of General
McPherson, sounds of musketry to the
left and rear, rapidly growing into
volume and accompanied by the roar of
artillery, were heard, and about- the
same time the reports of guns in the
direction of Decatur. There could be
no doubt now as to what the enemy was
about. Hood was throwing a superior
force on the Federal left flank while he
held the Federal forces with his forts in
front, the only question being as to the
amount of force at his disposal. Orders
were immediately sent to all parts of
the right and left centre to give full
employment to the enemy along the
whole line, and for General Schofield to
hold as large a force as possible in
reserve awaiting developments. Not
more than half an hour had elapsed
after General McPherson had parted
from General Sherman, when his adju
tant-general, Colonel Clark, rode up
and reported him killed or a prisoner.
He had ridden to General Dodge's
column, moving as before described,
and had sent off nearly all his staff and
orderlies on various errands, and taken
a narrow road that led through the
woods to the left and rear of General
Giles A. Smith's division, which was on
General Blair's extreme left. A few
minutes after he had entered the woods
a sharp volley was heard from the
direction in which he had gone, and his
horse had come out riderless, with two
wounds. General Sherman immediately

Fruni a_ Photo graph ~bj Brdtly

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

393

dispatched a staff officer to General
Logan, commanding the fifteenth corps,
directing him to assume command of
the Army of the Tennessee and hold the
ground already chosen, especially the
hill occupied by General Leggett's di
vision. Already the whole line was engaged
in battle. General McPherson upon
reaching the left had found the sixteenth
corps going into position to prolong the
flank, and at that time facing to the left
in a direction perpendicular to the main
line. Between the right of the sixteenth
corps and the left of the seventeenth
was a wooded space of about half a mile.
July Shortly after twelve o'clock the
22. enemy emerged from the woods in
front of these corps in three columns,
and attacked the sixteenth corps. Three
desperate assaults were repulsed by
General Dodge, in the last of which the
enemy suffered severely from the Federal
batteries. It was during the lull in the
battle that now occurred that General
McPherson had attempted to ride
through the woods to General G. A.
Smith's division on the left of the seven
teenth corps, it having been reported
that the enemy were about attempting
to push a force through the gap above
mentioned between the two corps.
After sending the only remaining mem
ber of his staff with orders to obtain a
brigade from General Logan's command
and throw it across the gap, with a
single orderly he struck into the road
before mentioned. The enemy's skir
mish line, however, had already advanced
close up to the road, and before he was
128

aware he was within fifty feet of it. A
volley brought him to the ground,
mortally wounded.
Wangelin's brigade, the one ordered
up from General Logan's command,
arrived in time to partially check the
enemy, but not soon enough to prevent
a portion of their force getting in the
rear of the seventeenth corps, while
other masses of troops were pushed
against the hill held by General Leggett,
whose division, as well as that of Gen
eral Smith, was attacked in front and
rear, and obliged to fire alternately from
behind their own breast-works and an
abandoned parapet of the enemy. Gen
eral Leggett's troops held firmly a forti
fied angle at the top of the hill, against
which the rebels threw their columns
with desperate but fruitless energy. In
the mean time General Smith, who had
been compelled to draw back his more
exposed lines, and in doing so to abandon
two guns, took up a new line, whose
right connected with General Leggett,
his left drawn back and facing toward
the southeast. The enemy could make no
impression on this new formation of the
corps, whose deadly fire compelled them
to recoil again and again, mowing down
whole ranks at a time and covering the
ground and ditches with dead and
wounded men. A portion of the force
that had penetrated the gap before
mentioned, renewed the attack on the
right flank of the sixteenth corps, and
captured on its first advance a six-gun
battery which was moving unsupported
along a narrow road through the woods.
They were soon checked, however, by

394

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

the divisions of Generals Sweeney and
Fuller, and driven back with the loss of
many prisoners. Several of General
Sweeney's regiments had expended their
ammunition, but charged with the bay
onet, when the enemy broke and fled.
At about half-past three the rebels
desisted from their attack on the left
flank, having sustained very heavy loss
and gained no ground.
In the mean time two divisions of
Wheeler's cavalry, with a section of
artillery, had taken a wide circuit to the
eastward and fallen upon Decatur un
opposed — as General Sherman had sent
General Garrard's cavalry to Covington,
as before stated — and attempted to cap
ture the wagon trains ; but Colonel
Sprague covered them with great skill
and success, sending them to the rear
of Generals Schofield and Thomas, and
not withdrawing from Decatur till every
wagon was safe, except three which the
teamsters had abandoned.
A pause in the battle occurred about
four o'clock. General Hood was massing
troops for an attack on the fifteenth
corps, now commanded by General M.
L. Smith, which, immediately adjoining
the seventeenth corps, held the right of
the Army of the Tennessee, behind
strong breast-works. At half-past four,
while the attention of the extreme left
was occupied by a pretended attack, a
heavy force of the enemy, two lines
deep, marched directly on the left of the
fifteenth corps, driving in two regiments
of skirmishers and capturing two guns.
General Lightburn's brigade, whicli held
this part of the line protected by breast

works, kept the enemy at bay by well-
directed discharges of twenty-pounder
Parrott guns. Presently a second strong
column of the enemy appeared, and
rapidly and steadily approached, heed
less of the fearful furrows made in its
ranks by well-directed artillery. The
attack had now become sufficiently for- *
midable ; but when a third column of the
Confederates was seen pouring in on the
rear through a deep cut in the Georgia
Railroad, General Lightburn's troops, to
avoid certain capture, retired in confu
sion to the second line of breast-works
five hundred yards from the main line,
and the abandoned works with two
batteries fell into the hands of the
enemy. The position lost was one of
the utmost importance, and General
Sherman sent orders to General Scho
field— .which, however, he had anticipated
— to make the fifteenth corps regain its
ground at any cost. To aid the move
ment, batteries from Schofield's corps
were so posted that by means of them
the enemy and their works beyond
might be shelled, and the approach of
reinforcements prevented. The enemy
were on the point of turning the cap
tured Parrott guns upon the inner
Federal line, when the fifteenth corps,
supported by some of Schofield's troops,
advanced with loud cheers to the attack.
After a fierce struggle, in which the
fight was sometimes hand to hand across
the narrow parapet, the enemy were
driven out of the works and the guns
retaken. Repeated discharges of grape
and canister into their retreating masses
caused fearful carnage. Thus ended the

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

395

battle, by far the bloodiest that had been
yet fought in Georgia. The rebels were
defeated at all points. Their dead left
in front of the Federal lines numbered
2,200 from actual count, of which 800
were delivered to them under flag of
truce. Their total loss in killed was
computed by General Logan at 3,240.
Besides these they lost 3,000 prisoners,
including 1,000 wounded and many
commissioned officers. Owing to the
closeness and desperation of the conflict,
the proportion of killed was unusually
large, and the 'enemy's loss in wounded
probably did not exceed 6,500, while
their total loss in killed and prison
ers was not less than 5,500 men —
losses Hood could ill afford, as his force
was originally smaller than ' Sherman's.
The total Federal loss was 3,722, of
which much the greater part were killed
or wounded. But Sherman's army had
sustained an irreparable loss in the
death of General McPherson, of whom
General Sherman said: "He was a
noble youth, of striking personal ap
pearance, of the highest professional
capacity, and with a heart abounding in
kindness that drew to him the affections
of all men." His body was recovered
and carried in the heat of battle to
General Sherman, who sent it, in charge
of his personal staff, back to Marietta,
on its way to his Northern home.
General James Birdseye McPherson
was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, on
the 14th of November, 1828, and entered
the Military Academy at West Point in
1849. He graduated at the head of his
class on the 30th of June, 1853, and

was then appointed brevet second lieu
tenant of engineers and assistant in
structor of practical engineering at the
Academy, in which position he remained
till 1854, when he was appointed assist
ant engineer on the defences of New
York harbor. In January, 1857, he
was placed in charge of the construction
of Fort Delaware, and afterward of
fortifications on Alcatras Island, in San
Francisco Bay. In 1861 he received
charge of the fortifications in Boston har
bor. In the same year he was made cap
tain, and in November became aide- de
camp to General Halleck in the Western
Department, with the rank of lieutenant-
colonel. He was chief engineer of the
Army of the Tennessee in the expedi
tions against Fort Henry and Fort
Donelson, and also at the siege of
Corinth, with the rank of colonel. On
the 15th of May, 1862, he was appointed
brigadier-general of volunteers, and in
the following June general superintend
ent of military roads in West Tennessee.
In September of the same year he was
placed on the staff of General Grant,
and for services at Corinth made major-
general of volunteers. Subsequently,
at the recommendation of General Grant,
he was appointed brigadier-general of
the regular army, his rank dating from
August 1st, 1863. Two months later
he led a column into Mississippi, and
defeated the rebels at Canton. In
General Sherman's expedition to Merid
ian he was second in command, and in
the Atlanta campaign commanded the
Army of the Tennessee. General Mc
Pherson was distinguished for bravery,

396

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

industry, and indefatigable energy. In
the language of General Grant, he was
"one of the ablest engineers and most
skilful generals."
On the 24th, General Garrard return
ed from Covington, having been com
pletely successful in his mission to
destroy the bridges over the Yellow and
Ulcofauhatchee rivers, besides burning
a train of cars, two thousand bales of
cotton, and the d6p6ts at Covington and
Conger's Station. He also broke up
the railroad between those two places
for seven miles, and brought in 200
prisoners and some good horses, having
lost in the expedition only two men.
The Georgia Railroad being now un
available to the enemy, General Sher
man turned his attention to the railroad
connecting Atlanta with Macon, the
only avenue left by which supplies could
be brought to the rebel army. For
this purpose he organized his cavalry
into two large bodies, to move in concert
from each wing of the army, while the
Army of the Tennessee was to be shifted
at the same time by the right to East
Point, a station six miles southwest of
Atlanta, at the junction of the Macon
and West Point roads. General Stone
man was transferred to the left flank,
and Garrard's cavalry added to his own,
making an effective force of 5,000 men.
On the right flank General McCook, to
whose command was added the cav
alry brought by General Rousseau, had
an aggregate force of 4,000 men. These
two well-appointed bodies of cavalry,
which General Sherman considered more
than a match for General Wheeler, were

directed to move in concert, General
Stoneman's by the left around Mc-
D on ough, McCook's by the right on
Fayetteville, and on the night of the
28th to meet on the Macon Railroad,
near Lovejoy's, thirty miles south of
Atlanta, and break up the track thor
oughly. The enemy's communications
would then be all destroyed, and it was
hoped the speedy evacuation of Atlanta
would follow.
Just before starting on the expedition,
General Stoneman requested permission
to proceed, after accomplishing the pro
posed destruction of the railroad, to Ma
con and Andersonville, and release the
Union prisoners there. To this, as there
was a possibility of success, and, to use
General Sherman's words, "something
captivating in the idea," consent was
given by General Sherman, on the con
dition, however, that Wheeler's cavalry.
should first be defeated, and that Stone
man should make the attempt with his
own cavalry only, that of General Gar
rard to return immediately to his own
flank of the Union army.
The two expeditions set out on the
27th, General Stoneman marching as
proposed toward McDonough, and send
ing General Garrard to Flat Rock to
cover his movement. General McCook
moved down the west bank of the
Chattahoochee. But General Stoneman,
instead of proceeding to Lovejoy's,
turned off almost immediately toward
the Georgia Railroad, followed it as far
as Covington, and then struck due south
to the east of the Ocmulgee, for Macon,
sixty miles distant, and arrived in the

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

397

vicinity of that place on the 30th. A
detachment was sent eastward to Gordon,
on the Georgia Central Railroad, where
eleven locomotives and several trains
loaded with stores were destroyed, and
several bridges between that place and
Macon. But having learned that on the
previous day the prisoners in Macon had
been sent away to Charleston, General
Stoneman decided to return at once,
without attempting to reach either
Macon or Andersonville. He accord
ingly turned northward in the evening,
July but on the following morning, when
31- about twenty miles from Macon,
encountered a heavy force. Dismount
ing a portion of his command, as the
country was unfavorable for cavalry
operations, he threw them forward as
skirmishers. He soon found himself sur
rounded, however, by a superior force.
He then gave directions to the greater
part of his troops to cut their way as
well as they could through the enemy's
lines, while he with several hundred
men and a section of artillery occu
pied .their attention. He was finally
compelled to surrender. One of his
three brigades was captured with him ;
one, under Colonel Capron, was sur
prised and scattered on its way back,
and the third, under Colonel Adams,
arrived almost intact within the Federal
lines. General Garrard remained at
Flat Rock till the 29th, awaiting orders
from Stoneman, when he marched to
ward Covington ; but learning there that
he had gone southward, returned to his
position on the left flank of the army.
General McCook, who marched along

the wrest side of the Chattahoochee, on
arriving at Rivertown, crossed on pon
toons and marched to Palmetto Station,
on the West Point Railroad, twenty-five
miles south of Atlanta, and destroyed
the track there. He then moved east
ward upon Fayetteville, and burnt 500
army wagons, killed 800 mules, and
made prisoners of several hundred
quartermasters' men. He reached the
appointed rendezvous at Lovejoy's on
the night of the 28th, burnt the depQt
and tore up a section of the railroad ;
but his work of destruction being inter
fered with by an accumulating force of
the enemy, and hearing nothing of Stone
man, he turned off toward the south
west and marched to Newman, a station
on the West Point Railroad. Here he
encountered a rebel infantry force on
its way from Mississippi to Atlanta,
which had been delayed by the break
he had effected on the road at Palmetto.
This force, with the pursuing cavalry,
hemmed him in, and he was compelled
to drop his prisoners and cut his way
out, in doing which he lost some 500
officers and men. The total -losses of
Stoneman's and McCook's commands
amounted to not less than 1,500 men.
Owing to General Stoneman's failure to
co-operate with General McCook at
Lovejoy's, the damage done to the^
Macon Railroad was not effectual, and
the communications of General Hood in
the direction 'of Macon were soon re
stored. Atlanta obtained a respite of
at least a month.
While these raids against the Southern
railroad communications of Atlanta had

398

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

been going on, the Army of the Tennes
see, now under the command of Major-
General Howard — appointed by the Pre
sident to succeed General McPherson —
had, in accordance with the plans of
General Sherman, been drawn out of
its intrenchments on the left flank, and
moved, during the 27th, behind the rest
of the army, to a position on the extreme
right, the right flank being held by the
corps of General Logan. The line of
the army was thus prolonged southward
beyond Proctor's Creek, and facing
eastward. About ten in the morning
all the army was in position, and the
men busily engaged in throwing up the
usual defence ©f logs and rails. General
Davis' division of the fourteenth corps
had been ordered by General Sherman,
on the day before, to move down to
Turner's Ferry, and thence toward White
hall or East Point, and if possible to reach
the flank of General Howard's new line,
so that in case General Hood should
attempt to repeat the experiment of the
22d, and attack any part of the army
while in motion, his force might be
taken in flank at an unexpected mo
ment. Hood was not long in finding out
that the army of General Sherman was
swinging round toward the Macon Rail
road, and massed troops in the same
july direction to oppose the movement.
28. About noon on the 28th, the enemy
moved out of Atlanta by the Bell's Ferry
road, formed in the open fields behind a
rising ground, and advanced in parallel
lines directly against the fifteenth corps,
expecting to find it detached and unsup

ported. Fortunately General Logan's
troops had thrown up breast-works, and
though the advance of the rebel columns
was " magnificent," as General Sherman,
who witnessed it, said, it was only to
be followed by a recoil before steady
volleys of musketry and incessant dis
charges of grape and canister ; in spite
of the efforts of their officers the men
broke and fled, and though rallied again
and again, at some parts of the line as
often as six times, they were, about
four o'clock in the afternoon, compelled
to retire, abandoning their killed and
wounded, and having sustained a loss
estimated by General Sherman at not
less than 5,000, while that of General
Logan's corps was reported at less than
600. Had General Davis' division come
up at any time before four o'clock, this
complete repulse of the enemy might
have been made a disastrous rout ;
owing to the difficult nature of the
country through which his march lay,
and the absence of roads, it was un
fortunately delayed. This was the last
attempt of the enemy to check the
extension of Sherman's lines by the
flank ; and though the extensions south
ward were met by well-constructed forts
and rifle-pits between the Federal army
and the railroad to and below East Point,'
the defensive was strictly adhered to.
The Federal line was prolonged on the
1st of August still farther southward be
yond East Point, by transferring General
Schofield's army and General Palmer's
corps to the right,
About this time several changes in
important commands took place. Gen-

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

399

eral Hooker, offended at the appoint
ment of General Howard as the successor
of McPherson instead of himself, resigned
his command of the twentieth corps, and
General Slocum was appointed in his
place ; but he was at Vicksburg, and
till he arrived the command devolved
on General S. H. Williams. ' General
Palmer- also resigned his command of
the fourteenth corps, and was succeeded
by General Jefferson C. Davis. The
command of the fourth corps, vacated
by the promotion of General Howard,
was given to General D. S. Stanley.
From the 2d to the 15th of August,
the Federal line was extended still
farther to the right, in the hope of
flanking Hood in that direction. The
twenty-third corps, supported by the
fourteenth, was transferred from the
left to a position below Utoy Creek1 —
a small stream flowing westward to
the Chattahoochee — where.it joined on
Logan's right and formed the right
flank. General Reilley's brigade of
Aug. General Cox's division made an
5i attempt on the 5th to break through
the enemy's line about a mile below
Utoy Creek, but failed, losing about 400
men. On the next day, however, the
position was turned by General Hascall,
and General Schofield advanced his
whole line close up to and facing the
enemy below Utoy Creek. Still he
could get no foothold on either the West
Point or Macon Railroad. The enemy's
line, in which was now a large body of
Georgia militia, at this time was about
fifteen miles long, extending from near
Decatur to East Point and beyond,

and his positions were so masked by
the hills and woods that the weak parts
of the line could not be discovered.
Along the west side of the railroad
from Atlanta to East Point, a distance
of six miles, the enemy had an admirably
constructed line of defences, within which
was a second line, consisting of a series
of redoubts of great thickness of parapet
connected throughout by a continuous
infantry parapet, covered by abattis,
chevaux-de-frise, and other impediments.
The inner line of works completely
surrounded the city, and extended south-
westward as far as and around East Point,
thus covering the point of junction of
the West Point and Macon railroads.
The Federal army had been so shifted
by successive movements from its first
position, in which it had threatened the
city on the north and northeast, that
now, while the northern approaches were
covered by its extreme left, the extreme
right lay southwest of Atlanta, and in a
line parallel with the railroad, at an aver-v
age distance of two and a half miles, the
intervening space being a narrow belt
of rough wooded country, the scene of
constant skirmishing. Hood's position
seemed to be impregnable ; and though
his numbers were inferior to those of
Sherman — notwithstanding he had been
reinforced by a considerable force of
Georgia militia, and had organized a
number of laborers, teamsters, and
quartermasters' men, whose place had
been supplied by negroes — yet his ad
vantage in holding the interior lines
made up in a great measure for his want
of men, and the contest seemed likely

400

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

to be indefinitely protracted. General
Sherman became satisfied that the en
emy's lines could be carried by assault
only at a fearful sacrifice of life, and
determined to adopt another plan of
operations. His object now was to get
possession of the Macon Railroad, the
only line left by which Hood's army
could be reinforced, and on which it was
wholly dependent for supplies. This
effected, Hood might be compelled to
evacuate the city or surrender. To
accomplish this object Sherman deter
mined to move his entire army. But
before beginning this movement, he had
a battery of four four-and-a-half-inch
rifled guns put in position, and a steady
fire from them directed on the city night
and day, thus impressing the enemy
with a belief that regular siege opera
tions were now commenced, and at the
same time by this means to some extent
prevented their observing the prepara
tions for the new movement. Several
extensive fires were also thus caused in
the city, and the running of trains on the
Macon Railroad was interrupted ; but
the enemy resolutely held the forts,
willing, apparently, to see the city laid in
ashes rather than abandon them. Gen
eral Sherman therefore commenced his
new movement, which amounted to noth
ing less than raising the siege of Atlanta
and taking the field with his main force,
and using it against the communications
of Atlanta instead of against its intrench
ments. By the 16th of August, General Sher
man had completed his plans, according
to which the twentieth corps, under

General Williams, was to be moved back
to the intrenched position at the Chatta
hoochee Bridge, and the main army was
to march to the West Point Railroad,
near Fairburn, and afterward to the
Macon road at Jonesboro, the wagons
loaded with provisions for fifteen days.
But before putting these plans in execu
tion, General Sherman learned that
General Wheeler, with a large force of
cavalry, variously estimated at from six
to ten thousand men, had passed around
by the east and north, and made his
appearance on the Federal lines of com
munication, had captured nine hundred
head of cattle, and made a break on the
railroad near Calhoun. Sherman, there
fore, thinking that in the absence of
Wheeler's cavalry, the task he had
marked out for the whole army might
be accomplished by a strong mounted
force, suspended his orders for the grand
movement by the right flank, and dis
patched General Kilpatrick — who had
now recovered from the wound he re
ceived at Resaca — with a force of 5,000
well-appointed cavalry to tear up the
railroads. He set out from his camp.
near Sandtown on the 18th, and struck
the West Point Railroad at Fairburn,
the Macon Railroad at Lovejoy's ; but
being a good deal harassed by a body
of infantry and by Ross's cavalry, was
not able to effect any permanent damage
on the roads — not enough to interrupt
their use for more than ten days. He
then returned northward and eastward.
and reached Decatur on the 22d.
It now became apparent to General
Sherman that his original plan must be

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

401

carried out. All the army commanders
were at once notified to send their
surplus wagons, the sick and wounded,
and incumbrances of all kinds, back to
the intrenched position at the Chatta
hoochee Railroad bridge, and that the
movement must commence on the night
of the 25th. The twentieth corps
marched back to the bridge. The
fourth corps, under General Stanley,
was drawn out of its line on the extreme
left, and marched to a position below
Proctor's Creek. The movement was
continued on the night of the 26th, the
"Army of the Tennessee being drawn out
and moved rapidly by a circuit toward
Sandtown and across Camp Creek ; the
Army of the Cumberland south of Utoy
Creek. The Army of the Ohio remained
in its position. A third movement
placed the Army of the Tennessee on
the West Point Railroad above Fairburn,
the Army of the Cumberland above Red
Oak, and the Army of the Ohio near
Digs and Mins. The whole front of the
city was thus uncovered, much to the
astonishment of the rebels, who, for a
short time, not being able in any other
way to account for these strange opera
tions, supposed thgt General Sherman
had begun a retreat.
The 28th of August was devoted by
juo.# General Sherman to the destruction
28° 0f the West Point Railroad, be
tween Fairburn and Red Oak, and for
some distance above. The work was
thoroughly done ; the road was destroyed
for twelve and a half miles. The ties
were burnt ; the rails were made red-
hot, and twisted so as to make them
219

utterly useless. Several deep cuts were
made across the road and filled up with
logs, trunks of trees, fragments of rock,
and earth, among which were placed
shells prepared as torpedoes, and so
arranged that any attempt to remove
the obstructions would, cause them to
explode. General Sherman, after having
personally inspected this work, and seen
that the destruction was so complete
that it would be very difficult to restore
the road to working condition, ordered
the whole army to move next day
eastward by several roads — General
Howard, on the right, toward Jonesboro ,-
General Thomas, in the centre, by Shoal
Creek Church to Couch's, on the Decatur
and Fayetteville road ; and General
Schofield, on the left, about Morrow's
Mills. General Hood now began to under
stand the object of these movements,
but still unaware that Sherman's whole
army was marching on his communica
tions, contented himself with sending
only a part of his force, the corps of
Generals Hardee and S. D. Lee, to
Jonesboro, remaining himself in Atlanta
with General Stewart's corps and the
Georgia militia.
The several columns of Sherman's
army were again in motion in a south
easterly direction on the 30th. General
Thomas, in the centre, encountering
little opposition, attained his position at
Couch's early in the afternoon ; General
Schofield, being near the enemy, moved
cautiously on a circle around East Point,
and came into position toward Rough
and Ready ; General Howard, who had

402

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

the outer circle, and therefore a greater
distance to move, met with some opposi
tion, which, however, he easily overcame,
passed Renfro's, on the Decatur road,
the point indicated for him in the orders
of the day, and halted within half a mile
of that place at. dark. He then rested
for the night. On the morning of the
31st, finding himself in the presence of
the heavy force under Generals Hardee
and Lee, he deployed the fifteenth corps,
and disposed the sixteenth and seven
teenth on its flank.
General Sherman had in the mean
time, as soon as he learned that General
Howard had passed Renfro's, directed
General Thomas to send to that place a
division of General Davis' corps, also to
move that of General Stanley in con
nection with General Schofield's force,
toward Rough and Ready, and then to
send forward a strong detachment to
feel ^br the railroad. General Schofield
was also ordered to move boldly forward
and strike the railroad near Rough and
Ready. These movements were pro-
Au°'. grossing during the 31st, when the
31* enemy moved out of their works at
Jonesboro, and attacked the position of
General Howard, but were steadily and
repeatedly repulsed, and after a contest
of two hours' duration, withdrew, losing,
in killed, wounded, and captured, three
thousand men, besides general officers,
including Major-General Anderson, mor
tally wounded. General Howard's loss
was slight, as his men fought behind
breast-works. It was observed on this
occasion that the rebel troops had begun
to lose the enthusiasm and dash which

had previously characterized their at
tacks. General Sherman hearing the sounds
of battle about noon, renewed his orders
to push the other movements on the left
and centre, and about four o'clock re
ceived reports that General Howard
had thoroughly repulsed the enemy at
Jonesboro ; that General Schofield had
reached the railroad a mile below
Rough and Ready and was busy break
ing it up ; that General Stanley was on
the road below General Schofield, and
was also breaking it up, and that General
Davis' corps had struck the road within'
four miles of Jonesboro. Orders were
then given for the whole army to move on
Jonesboro ; General Thomas from the
north, with General Schofield on his left.
General Howard was directed to hold
the enemy in their fortifications till the
rest of the army could close in upon
them. The troops were also ordered to
continue the destruction of the railroad
as they moved along it. General Garrard
was charged to watch the roads north
ward, and General Kilpatrick was sent
southward along the west bank of the
Flint River, to threaten or attack the rail
road below Jonesboro. It was expected
that the whole army would be able to close
in on Jonesboro by noon on the 1st of
September ; but the corps of General
Davis alone, having a comparatively
short distance to travel, was up in time,
and was deployed facing southward, its
right in connection with the corps of
General Howard, its left on the railroad.
Generals Stanley and Schofield were
moving along the Rough and Ready

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

403

road, breaking it up at the same time,
and General Sherman fearing that night
would come on before their arrival,
and that the enemy would then be
able to escape him without a . fight,
ordered the corps of General Davis
to assault the enemy's works at once.
The troops advanced to the attack
across open fields under a withering
artillery and musketry fire, and after
a desperate fight, which lasted two
hours, drove the rebels from their works,
capturing two four-gun batteries— one
of them Loomis', lost at Chickamauga —
* some battle-flags, and a large number of
prisoners, including the greater part of
Govan's brigade, with its commander,
which had formed part of the celebrated
" fighting division" of General Cleburne.
Repeated orders were sent, urging the
rapid advance of Stanley and Schofield,
but the want of roads and the difficult
nature of the country prevented their
coming up and getting into position for
attack before further operations were
rendered impracticable by the approach
of night. Had they, been able to close
in upon Hardee a few hours earlier,
his entire force would in all proba
bility have been captured. As it was,
he had to evacuate the place during the
night and fall back seven miles to
Lovejoy's, where he intrenched in a
naturally strong position. About two
o'clock in the morning the watchers in
Sherman's camp heard in the direction
of Atlanta, about twenty miles distant,
the sounds of heavy explosions, followed
by a succession of minor reports re
sembling the rapid firing of cannon and

musketry. About four o'clock similar
sounds were heard, indicating a night
attack on the city by General Slocum,
or that Hood was blowing up his
magazines and preparing to evacuate.
Nevertheless, when the approach of day
made it clear that Hardee had aban
doned his works at Jonesboro, General
Sherman moved his army in pursuit.
Hardee was found in his intrenched
position at Lovejoy's, his flanks pro
tected by a branch of Walnut Creek to
the right and a small confluent of the
Flint River to his left.
In the mean time, in Atlanta the
utmost consternation and excitement
had arisen when it became known that
the main army of Sherman had got
between Hardee's force and the city.
General Hood immediately gave orders
for the evacuation of his works and the
removal of as much of the ammunition
and stores as was possible with his
limited means of transportation, and for
the destruction of the rest. Large
quantities of provisions in the public
storehouses were distributed to the in
habitants and to the troops. The rolling
stock of the railroads, consisting of
about a hundred cars and six locomotives,
were gathered together near the rolling-
mill in the evening, by which time all
the troops except the rear-guard had
got away, and were then laden with the
surplus ammunition, and, as well as the
d6p6ts, storehouses, and every thing
which could be of use to the Federal
army, set on fire about midnight. This
occasioned the series of explosions that
had been heard in Sherman's camp.

404

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

General Slocum, at the Chattahoochee
bridge, also hearing these sounds, sent
Sept. out early in the morning of the
2- 2d of September a strong recon
noitring column, which pushing forward
without meeting with any opposition,
arrived at Atlanta about nine o'clock,
when the mayor made a formal sur
render of the city, only requesting the
security of private property and pro
tection for non-combatants, which were
readily guaranteed. General Ward's
division then marched into the city with
drums beating and colors flying, and the
Stars and Stripes were raised over the
court-house amid hearty cheers from
the troops. Eleven heavy guns were
found in the fortifications, and a number
which had been buried were subse
quently dug up. There were also found
three locomotives uninjured, three thou
sand muskets in good order, and a
quantity of tobacco and other stores.
Of the valuable machinery in the Con
federate Government workshops, part
had been removed to Augusta and
Macon, and part destroyed.
The object of General Sherman's
movement against the Macon Railroad
being now attained, in the surrender of
Atlanta, he gave up the pursuit of
Hardee's force, to follow which, through
a country covered with forests, Would
have been useless, and issued orders on
the 4th for the return of the army by
slow marches toward Atlanta. On the
5th it was back at Jonesboro ; on the
7th it moved to Rough and Ready, and
on the 8th camps were selected — for
the Army of the Cumberland around

Atlanta ; for the Army of the Tennessee
about East Point, and for the Army of
the Ohio at Decatur.
Sherman's final success in compelling
the evacuation of Atlanta was owing in
a great degree to the mistake made by
Hood in sending off his cavalry under
General Wheeler to operate against the
Federal communications far beyond the
reach of recall, thus enabling Sherman's
cavalry, followed quickly by his main
army, to fall upon the railroads south
of Atlanta. Up to the time of Wheeler's
raid, Sherman's railroad communications
between Atlanta and Chattanooga had,
owing to his skilful dispositions, been
scarcely interrupted. In Chattanooga
had been accumulated a sufficient quan
tity of stores to render the army inde
pendent of Nashville, and when Sherman
heard of Wheeler's departure, which
took place soon after the unfortunate
raid of Stoneman, he felt no uneasiness,
as it left him superior in cavalry to his
adversary. Wheeler struck the railroad
at Adairsville, midway between Atlanta
and Chattanooga,, and captured there
nine hundred head of beef cattle ; pro
ceeding then northward, he did some
damage at Calhoun. On the 14th he
made his appearance at Dalton, and
demanded, in order "to prevent the
effusion of blood," an immediate and
unconditional surrender, to which Col
onel Siebold, who was in command of
the garrison of five or six hundred men,
replied in the negative, and sending
word to General Steedman, commanding
at Chattanooga, held out against the
rebels till the following day, when rein-

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

405

forcements arrived from General Steed
man, and they were driven off. Wheeler
then went to East Tennessee, and the
railroad between Atlanta and Chatta
nooga was immediately restored to
running order. Subsequently he de
stroyed a large part of the railroad
between Chattanooga and Knoxville,
and during the latter part of August
and , the first week in September en
deavored to break up the railroad and
interrupt telegraphic communications be
tween Chattanooga and Nashville, but
was compelled to retire southward, pur
sued by Generals Rousseau, Steedman,
and Granger, toward Florence, in north
ern Alabama.
During the Atlanta campaign, expedi
tions were sent out from Memphis and
Vicksburg to prevent any movements
of the enemy in Mississippi on Sherman's
communications. These were under the
management of Generals A. J. Smith,
Washburne, Slocum, Mower, and Sturgis,
and it has been seen that the communi
cations were substantially preserved.
General Sturgis, however, sustained a
severe defeat near Guntown, in Mis
sissippi. He left Memphis on the 1st
of June with a force of 3,000 cavalry
and 5,000 infantry, eighteen pie'ces of
artillery, and a train of about 240
wagons, for the purpose of cutting the
rebel communications with Corinth by
the Mobile' and Ohio Railroad. Little
-opposition was met with till the vicinity
of Guntown was reached, forty miles
southwest of Corinth, on the 10th of
June, when the enemy, under Forrest,
S. D. Lee, and Rhoddy, were found, in

about equal force, well-intrenched in a
position on the west side of the town,
on the Fulton and Ripley road. After
some preliminary movements Gen- jnne
eral Sturgis ordered the cavalry !*•
forward at a brisk charge, but they
wrere soon compelled to fall back, which
they did in good order, as far as Old
Town Creek, a distance of three miles,
when they were joined by McWilliams'
brigade of infantry, which had been
hurried up six miles to their support.
The creek, fordable only in one place,
and having only one bridge in that
vicinity — where the Fulton and Ripley
road approaches it — became the scene
of a severe fight, which lasted two hours.
The troops of Sturgis were driven across
the stream and the enemy took posses
sion of the east bank, which being
several feet higher than the west bank,
gave them a considerable advantage.
The Federal force was again compelled
to fall back, but slowly and i fighting
obstinately, a distance of eight miles,
until a swamp was reached near Ripley,
on the Fulton road, when another stand ,
was made. Here, however, the road
being very narrow and the mud deep,
so that the movement of wagons and
artillery became almost impossible, con
siderable confusion arose, and the enemy
at the same time making a charge — by
which the cavalry were driven' back
upon the infantry, and these again upon
the artillery, now inextricably mired —
a panic ensued. The mules were cut
loose from many of the wagons, and the
horses from the gun-carriages and ambu
lances. Fourteen pieces of artillery

406

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

were abandoned to the enemy, about a
hundred wagons, six ambulances, and
some ordnance stores. The Federal loss
in killed, wounded, and missing, which
fell chiefly on the infantry and artillery,
was about 2,000 men. The rest of the
command made its way back to Colliers
ville and Memphis.
General Sherman determined to re
move all civilians from Atlanta and
retain the town for ' military purposes
Sept. exclusively. On the 5th he issued
&• an order according to which all
families living in Atlanta whose male
representatives were in the Confederate
service, or had gone south, were to leave
the city within five days. All northern
citizens not connected with the army,
unless they obtained from General Sher
man or General Thomas permission to
remain, were to leave the city in five
days or be liable to imprisonment. To
facilitate the removal of the inhabitants,
the number of whom had greatly dimin
ished during the progress of the siege,
General Sherman proposed to General
Hood, still remaining at Lovejoy's, a
truce of ten days, which he agreed to,
at the same time protesting against the
measure, in his letter to General Sher
man as one of unnecessary cruelty.*

s " HEADQUARTERS AKMY OF TIIE TENNESSEE,
"Office Chief of Staff, Sept. 9, 1864

ee, ]

" Major-General Sherman, commanding United States
Forces in Georgia ¦:
" General — Your letter of yesterday's date, borne by
James W. Ball and James E. Crew, citizens of Atlanta, is
received. You say therein, 'I deem it to be to the
interest of the United States that the citizens now residing
in Atlanta should remove,' etc. I do not consider that
I have any alternative in the matter I therefore accept
your proposition to declare a truce of ten days, or such
time as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose

General Sherman replied in a character
istic letter to General Hood, showing
that the conduct of General Johnston
and other Confederate commanders
afforded abundant precedent for his
action.* The small remnant .of the

mentioned, and shall render all the assistance in my
power to expedite the transportation of citizens in this
direction. I suggest that a staff officer be appointed by
you to superintend the removal from the city to Rough
and Ready, while I appoint a -like officer to control their
removal farther south ; that a guard of one hundred men
be sent by either party, as you propose, to maintain order
at that place, and that the removal begin on Monday
next. "And now, sir, permit me to say, that the unprece
dented measure you propose transcends, in studied and
ingenious cruelty, all acts ever before brought to my
attention in the dark history of war.
" In the name of God and humanity I protest, believing
that you will find that you are expelling from their homes
and firesides the wives and children of a brave people.
" I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient
servant. J. B. Hood, General."
* ' ' Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, )
"And in the Field, Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 10, 1864. j
' ' General J. B. Hood, commanding Army of the Tennes
see, Confederate Army :
" General — I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of this date at the hands of Messrs.
Ball and Crew, consenting to the arrangements I had
proposed to facilitate the removal south of the people of
Atlanta who prefer to go in that direction. I inclose you
a copy of my orders, which will, I am satisfied, accomplish
my purpose perfectly. You style the measure proposed
' unprecedented,' and appeal to the dark history of war
for a parallel as an act of ' studied and ingenious cruelty.'
It is not unprecedented, for General Johnston himself very
wisely and properly removed the families all the way
from Dalton down, and I see no reason why Atlanta
should be excepted. Nor is it necessary to appeal to the
dark history of war when recent and modern examples
are so handy. You yourself burned dwelling-houses
along your parapet, and I have seen to-day fifty houses
that you have rendered uninhabitable because they stood
in the way of your forts and men. You defended Atlanta
on a line so close to the town that every cannon-shot and
many musket-shots from our line of investments that
overshot their mark, went into the habitations of women
and children. General Hardee did the same at Jonesboro,
and General Johnston did the same last summer at Jack
son, Miss. I have not accused you of heartless cruelty,
but merely instance these cases of very recent occurrence,

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

407

inhabitants of Atlanta were very un
willing to be sent away, and the mayor,
James M. Calhoun, addressed a letter
of remonstrance to General Sherman,*
and could go on and enumerate hundreds of others, and
challenge any fair man to judge which of us has the heart
of pity for" the families of a ' brave people.' I say it is a
kindness to these families of Atlanta to remove them now
at once from scenes that women and children should not
be exposed to ; and the brave people should scorn to
commit their wives and children to the rude barbarians
who thus, as you say, violate the laws of war, as illustrated
in the pages of its dark history. In the name of common
sense, I ask you not to appeal to a just God in such a
sacrilegious manner — you, who, in the midst of peace and
prosperity, have plunged a nation into civil war, 'dark
and cruel war ;' who dared and badgered us to battle,
insulted our flag, seized our arsenals and forts that were
left in the honorable custody of a peaceful ordnance
sergeant ; seized and made prisoners of war the very
garrison sent to protect your people against negroes and
Indians, long before any overt act was committed by the
(to you) hateful Lincoln Government ; tried to force
Kentucky and Missouri into the rebellion in spite of them
selves ; falsified the vote of Louisiana, turned loose your
privateers to plunder unarmed ships, expelled Union
families by the thousand, burned their houses, and declared
by act of your Congress the confiscation of all debts due
Northern men for goods had and received. Talk thus to
the marines, but not to me, who have seen these things,
and who will this day make as much sacrifice for the peace
and honor of the South as the best-born Southerner among
you. If we must be enemies, let us be men, and fight it
out as we propose to-day, and not deal in such hypocriti
cal appeals to God and humanity. God will judge us in
due time, and He will pronounce whether it be more
humane to fight with a town full of women and the
families of a ' brave people' at our back, or to remove
them in time to places of safety among their own friends
and people.
"I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"W. T. Sherman, Major-General Commanding."
° " Atlanta, Georgia, September 11, 1864.
"Major-General W. T. Sherman :
" Sir— The undersigned, .Mayor and two members of
Council for the city of Atlanta, for the time being the
only leading organ of the people of the said city to express
their wants and wishes, ask leave most earnestly, but
respectfully, to petition you to reconsider the order requir
ing them to leave Atlanta. At first view, it struck us
that the measure, would involve extraordinary hardship
and loss ; but since we have seen the practical execution
of it, so far as it has progressed, and the individual con
dition of many of the people, and heard the statements as
to the inconveniences, loss, and suffering attending it, we

to which the latter replied, showing in
clear and forcible language the propriety
of the measure he had determined on,
at the same time demonstrating that the
are satisfied that the amount of it will involve in the
aggregate consequences appalling and heart-rending.
" Many poor women are in the advanced state of
pregnancy ; others having young children, whose hus
bands, for the greater part, are either in the army,
prisoners, or dead. Some say : ' I have such a one sick
at my house ; who will wait on them when I am gone ?
Others say : ' What are we to do ? we have no houses to
go to, and no means to buy, build, or rent any ; no
parents, relatives, or friends to go to. ' Another says :
' I will try and take this or that article of property ; but
such and such things I must leave behind, though I need
them much.' We reply to them : ' General Sherman
will carry your property to Rough and Ready, and then
General Hood will take it thence on.' And they will
reply to that : ' But I want to leave the railroad at such
a plaoe, and cannot get conveyance from thence on.'
' ' We only refer to a few facts to illustrate in part how
this measure will operate in practice. As you advanced,
the people north of us fell back, and before your arrival
here a large portion of the people hero had retired south ;
so that the country south of this is already crowded, and
without sufficient houses to accommodate the people, and
we are informed that many are now staying in churches and
other buildings. This being so, how is it possible for the
people still here (mostly women and children) to find
shelter, and how can they live through the winter in the
woods — no shelter or subsistence — in the midst of strangers,
who know them not, and without the power to assist
them much, if they were willing to do so ?
"This is but a feeble picture of the consequences of this
measure. You know the woe, the horror, and the suffer
ing cannot be described by words. Imagination can only
conceive of it ; and we ask you to take these things into
consideration. We know your mind and time are con
tinually occupied with the duties of your command, which
almost deters us from asking your attention to the
matter ; but thought it might be that you had not con
sidered the subject in all of its awful consequences, and
that, on reflection, you, we hope, would not make this
people an exception to all mankind ; for we know of no
such instance ever having occurred— surely not in the
United States. And what has this helpless people done
that they should be driven from their homes, to wander as
strangers, outcasts, and exiles, and to subsist on charity ?
"We do not know as yet the number of people still
here. Of those who are here, a respectable number, if
allowed to remain at home, could subsist for several
months without assistance ; and a respectable number for
a much longer time, and who might not need assistance
at any time.

408

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

hardships of war so much complained
of had been, brought upon the Southern
people by their own action.* The truce
" In conclusion, we most earnestly and solemnly peti
tion you to reconsider this order, 01 modify it, and suffer
this unfortunate people to remain at home and enjoy what
little means they have. Respectfully submitted,
James M. Calhoun, Mayor.
>Councumen.
s, )

¦E. E. Rawson,
'S. C. Wells,

•pi, )
4. i

"In the Field, Atlanta, Georgia, Sept. 12, 1864,
"James M. Calhoun, Mayor, E. E. Rawson and S. C.
Wells, representing City Council of Atlanta :
"Gentlemen — I have your letter of the 11th, in the
nature of a petition to revoke my orders removing all the
inhabitants from Atlanta. I have read it carefully, and
give full credit to your statements of the distress that will
be occasioned by it, and yet shall not revoke my order,
simply because my orders are not designed to meet the
humanities of the case, hut to prepare for the future
struggles, in which millions, yea, hundreds of millions of
good people outside of Atlanta, have a deep interest. We
must have peace, not only at Atlanta, but in all America.
To secure this, we must stop the war that now desolates
our once happy and favored oountry. To stop war, we
must defeat the rebel armies that are arrayed against the
laws and Constitution, which all must respect and obey.
To defeat these armies, we must prepare the way to reach
them in their recesses, provided with the arms and the
instruments which enable us to accomplish our purpose.
"Now, I know the vindictive nature of our enemy, and
that we may have many years of military operations from
this quarter, and therefore deem it wise and prudent to
prepare in time. The use of Atlanta for warlike purposes
is inconsistent with its character as a home for families.
There will be no manufactures, commerce, or agriculture
here for the maintenance of families, and sooner or later
want will compel the inhabitants to go. Why not go
now, when all the arrangements are completed for the
transfer, instead of waiting till the plunging shot of con
tending armies will renew the' scene of the past month 1
Of course, I do not apprehend any such thing at this
moment ; but you do not suppose that this army will be
here till the war is over. I cannot discuss this subject
with yon fairly, because I cannot impart to you what I
propose to clo ; but I assert that my military plans make
it necessary for the inhabitants to go away, and I can only
renew my offer of services to make their exodus in any
direction as easy and comfortable as possible You cannot
qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty,
and you cannot refine it ; and those who brought war on
our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a
people can pour out. I know I had no hand in-maldng
this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day

agreed upon extended from the 12th
of September to. the 22d, and- was
subsequently prolonged. The Federal
than any of you to secure peace. But you cannot have
peace and a division of our country. If the United States
submits to a division now, it will not stop, but will go on
till we reap the fate of Mexico, which is eternal war. The
United States does and must assert its authority wherever
it has power ; if it rela.xes one bit to pressure, it is gone,
and I know that such is not the national feeling. This
feeling assumes various shapes, but always comes back to
that of Union. Once admit the Union, once more
acknowledge the authority of the National Government
and instead of devoting your houses and streets and roads
to the dread uses of war, I and this army become at once
your protectors and supporters, shielding you from danger,
let it come from what quarter it may. I know that a few
individuals cannot resist a torrent of error and passion,
such as has swept the South into rebellion ; but you can
point out, so that we may know those who desire a Gov
ernment, and those who insist upon war and its desolation.
' ' You might as well appeal against the thunder-storm
as against these terrible hardships of war. They are
inevitable ; and the only way the people of Atlanta can
hope once more to live in peace and quiet at home is to
stop this war— which can alone be done by admitting that
it began in error, and is perpetuated in pride. We don't
want your negroes, or your horses, or your houses, or
your land, or anything you have ; but we do want and
will have a just obedience to the laws of the United States.
That we will have ; and if it involves the destruction of
your improvements, we cannot help it. You have here
tofore read public sentiment in your newspapers, that live
by falsehood and excitement, and the quicker you seek
for truth in other quarters, the better for you.
" I repeat, then, that, by the original compact of gov
ernment, the United States had certain rights iu Georgia,
which have never been relinquished, and never will be ;
that the South began war by seizing forts, arsenals, mints,
custom-houses, etc., etc., long before Mr. Lincoln was
installed, and before the South had one jot or tittle of
provocation. I myself have seen, in Missouri, Kentucky,
Tenriessee, and part of Mississippi, hundreds and thousands
of women and children fleeing from your armies and
desperadoes, hungry and with bleeding feet. In Memphis,
Vicksburg, and Mississippi we fed thousands upon thou
sands of the families of rebel soldiers left on our hands,
and whom we could not see starve. Now that war comes
home to you, you feel very different ; you deprecate its
horrors, but did not feel them when you sent car-loads of
soldiers and ammunition, and moulded shell and shot, to
carry war into Kentucky and Tennessee, and desolate the
homes of hundreds and thousands of good people, who
only ask to live in peace at their old homes, and under
the Government of their inheritance. But these com-

SHERMAN'S ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.

409

Government furnished transportation as
far as Rough and Ready, for such of the
inhabitants as wished to move south
ward, and for those desiring to move
northward, as far as Chattanooga. All
were allowed to take with them their
movable property, for which also trans
portation was furnished. Negroes who
chose to do so were allowed to go with
their masters. Of those who remained,
the men were put in government em
ploy, and the women and children were
sent outside the lines. During the truce
there were removed to Rough and
Ready 446 families, comprising 705
parisons are idle. I want peace, and believe it can only
be reached through Union and war, and I will ever
conduct war purely with a view to perfect and early
success. "But, my dear sirs, when that peace does come, you
may call on me for anything. Then I will share with.
you the last cracker, and watch with you to shield your
homes and families against danger from every quarter.
Now, you must go, and take with you the old and feeble ;
feed and nurse them, and build for them in more quiet
places proper habitations, to shield them against the
weather, until the mad passions of men cool down, and
allow the Union and peace once more to settle on your
old homes at Atlanta. Yours, in haste,
" W. T. Sherman, Major-General."
220

adults, 860 children, and 470 servants.
The amount of household goods removed
was an average of 1,651 pounds to each
family. That no unnecessary harshness
was exercised in removing the inhab
itants of Atlanta, was proved by the
testimony of Major Clan, of General
Hood's staff, who at the termination of
the truce addressed a letter to Colonel
Warner,* to whom had been intrusted
the business of removal — a difficult and
delicate task, which, as might be ex
pected, was not effected without charges
of cruelty and peculation against the
Federal officers on the part of the
Southern press. ° "Rough and Ready, Sept. 21, 1864.
" Colonel — Our official communication being about to
close, you will permit me to bear testimony to the uniform
courtesy you ha.ve shown on all occasions to me and my
people, and the promptness with which you have corrected
all irregularities arising in our intercourse. Hoping at
some future time to be able to reciprocate your courteous-
ness, and in many instances your positive kindness,
' ' I am, with respect, your obedient servant,
"W. T. Clan,
" Major and A. A. G. of General Hood's Staff.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Willard Warner,
of General Sherman's Staff."

410

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

Demonstrations against Mobile.— Description of Mobile Bay.— The Defences of Mobile.— Fort Morgan.— Fort Gaines.—
Fort Powell.— Obstructions and Torpedoes.— Description of the Rebel Ram Tennessee.— Plan of Operations against
the Mobile Forts.— Admiral Farragut' s Fleet.— Preparation of the Sloops and Gun-boats.— Order of Sailing.— Sloops
and Gun-boats lashed together two and two.— Passing the Forts.— Admiral Buchanan's Fleet dispersed.— The Te-
cumseh sunk by a Torpedo.— Captain Craven and the Crew go down with the Ship.— Effect of the Catastrophe on
the Fleet.— The Admiral takes the Lead in the Hartford. —The Water Batteries silenced by the Fire of the Hartford
and the Brooklyn.— A favoring Wind.— The Boilers of the Oneida penetrated by a Shot.— The Rebel Fleet dispersed.
—Capture of the Selma by the Metacomet.— The Gaines run ashore.— Escape of the Morgan.— Unexpected Reap.
pearance ofthe Tennessee.— The Ram attacks in succession the Hartford, the Brooklyn, the Richmond, etc.— The
concentrated Fire of the Fleet leaves the Tennessee uninjured.— The Admiral adopts a new mode of Fighting.—
Terrible Confusion on board the Tennessee.— Her Crew become demoralized.— A good Shot from the Manhattan.—
Damage done to the Ram by the Fire of the Chickasaw.— Buchanan badly wounded.— The Ram's rudder-chain
broken.— Buchanan raises the White Flag.— Biographical Sketch of Captain Craven.— The Guns of Fort Gaines
silenced by General Granger.— Evacuation of Fort Powell.— Surrender of Fort Gaines.— Siege of Fort Morgan.—
The Bombardment.— The Citadel on Fire.— Surrender of Fort Morgan.— Guns found spiked.— Guns, War Material,
etc., captured.— The Results of Farragut' s Twenty Days' Work.— His Fleet at Liberty for Service elsewhere.

1864.

As a part of the grand plan of cam
paign for 1864, General Grant had
projected an attack upon Mobile,
with the design of weakening General
Johnston in Georgia, by compelling him
to send a portion of his forces for the
defence of that city ; and as early in the
year as the expedition of Generals
Sherman and Smith toward Selma, Ad
miral Farragut had reconnoitred the
approaches to Mobile, and had offered,
with the assistance of some iron-clads
and a few thousand troops, to get pos
session of the bay. A sufficiently large
co-operating land force, owing to the
exigencies of the service in other quar
ters, could not be spared for the purpose
at that time, and the Admiral was
obliged to content himself with threaten
ing demonstrations, although, as he
privately informed the Navy Depart
ment, should the rebel iron-clads come

out to attack his wooden fleet, the contest
would necessarily be a doubtful one.
After the return of General Banks' army
from the Red River country, and the
appointment of General Canby to the
command of the Western Military Di
vision, preparations began to be made
for an expedition against Mobile. The
rebels in the mean time constructed
several armed vessels, and talked of
raising the blockade by means of them.
Admiral Farragut kept his fleet in readi
ness to withstand any such attempt, and
expressed his willingness to measure his
strength with Admiral Buchanan when
ever he should feel disposed to offer
battle. At length, toward the end of July,
an addition of four monitors, the Te-
cumseh, Manhattan, Chickasaw, and
Winnebago, was made to the fourteen
wooden vessels composing the fleet of

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

411

Admiral Farragut, and a co-operative
land force was promised by General
Canby. Mobile is situated at the head
of Mobile Bay, which stretches thirty
miles northward from the Gulf of
Mexico, and the object of the proposed
expedition was not to attack the city,
but to get possession of the forts which
command the entrances to the bay, and
thus put an end to the career of the
blockade-runners. Mobile had been
considered by the Confederate author
ities too near the sea to be safe as a
naval dep6t. This was therefore locat
ed at Selma, many miles up the Ala
bama, and there a flotilla, consisting
of one ram, the Tennessee, and five
gun-boats, had been constructed under
the direction of Admiral Buchanan.
The bay is well land-locked, a narrow
peninsula about fifteen miles long ter
minating in Mobile Point, near which
is Fort Morgan, shutting it in on the
south. About three-quarters of a mile
southwest of Mobile Point is Sand
Island, appropriately named, covering
the principal mouth of the harbor.
This little island is of a triangular
shape, about half a mile long from east
to west, and is a mere mass of sand
rising a little above the level of the
sea. A reef called West Sand Island
stretches out westward from Sand Island
for a distance of three miles. Pelican
Island, in connection with a chain of
shoals and banks, continues the line of
barriers thus formed in a northwesterly
direction to Dauphine Island, the most
easterly of the chain of low sandy islands
which separate Mississippi Sound from

the Gulf of Mexico. Dauphine Island
is twelve miles long from east to west,
though its western extremity is little
more than a narrow sand beach. Toward
the east end the island gradually widens
till it attains a breadth of a mile or
more. It is composed of sand hills on
its south side, back of these timbered
with small pines and palmettoes. On
the north side a shallow pass, so narrow
that the rebels threw a bridge over it,
separates this island from Little Dauphine
Island, which may have been at some
period not very remote a part of the
main island. The shores of these two
islands run in a northwesterly direction,
inclining gradually northward toward
the mainland at Cedar Point. The
water intervening between the north
point of Little Dauphine Island and
Cedar Point is very shallow and easily
fordable, except at the channel known
as Grant's Pass, which is so narrow as
not to permit of the passage of two
vessels abreast, and never has a depth
of water of more than seven feet. The
main channel into Mobile Bay, and the
only one by which vessels drawing more
than eight or ten feet of water can enter,
runs close along the east shore of Sand
Island, from that point taking a direct
course to Mobile Point, whence it turns
northwestward, in which direction, at
the distance of from eight to ten miles,
is the lower anchorage ground, where
heavy draught vessels, not being able
to ascend farther, are obliged to dis
charge their cargoes into lighters, the
city being approachable only by vessels
drawing less than eight feet of water.

412

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

The main channel to this anchorage
ground has not less than three and a
half fathoms at any point. The Swash
Channel, leaving the main channel at
the^end of the spit, half a mile from
Mobile Point, with a depth of six feet
at low water, lies close ¦ around by the
shore. This was a favorite route for
inward-bound blockade-runners. The
Pelican, or middle channel, runs north
eastward between West Sand and Pelican
Islands. This channel in high tides is
practicable for vessels of ten feet draught,
and such vessels, on reaching Pelican
Bay, make their way into the main
channel south of Mobile Point. Vessels
drawing only six or seven feet of water
can pass into the main harbor around
the east end of Dauphine Island close
under Fort Gaines. Light draught
vessels can enter the harbor bjr this
route without passing nearer than two
miles to Fort Morgan. Pelican Channel
proper has been closed up by the action
of storms, which have so changed the
shape of Pelican Island, that what was
formerly its west end is now merely a
spit of sand jutting out from Dauphine
Island. ^ The principal forts commanding the
entrances to Mobile Bay were Fort
Morgan and Fort Gaines. These were
old works, built by the United States
Government before the war, on the
most approved plans for harbor defence,
and vast sums of money were expended
in their construction. They had bastions,
walls, ditches, glacis, traverses, bomb-
proofs, and every other appliance of
modern defensive science which could

add to their strength and security.
They were also fully garrisoned and
stocked with boundless stores of am
munition. Fort Morgan, a much stronger
and older work than Fort Gaines, is
situated on Mobile Point, around which
runs the Swash Channel, on the site of
Fort Bowyer, noted in the war of 1812.
Having been built for the defence of the
entrance of the bay against a foreign
enemy, like Fort Sumter it was most
vulnerable on the land side. This fort
mounted 136 guns, two tiers in case
mates and one tier en barbette. Fort
Gaines, on the eastern extremity of
Dauphine Island, commanding the middle
channel and the passage up the bay,
mounted fifty guns. In addition to
these two powerful forts, the rebels had
constructed a work of sand, called Fort
Powell, commanding Grant's Pass. It
was of pentagonal form and without
ditches, but surrounded by a row of
piling, which served also the purpose
of a breakwater. The narrow channel
itself also was obstructed by rows of
piling placed across it. Fort Powell
mounted eighteen guns ; but being
directed only against an enemy ap
proaching from sea, the work ceased to
be tenable after Farragut's ships got
into the harbor. There were also two
other sand batteries, mounting together
nineteen guns.
From Fort Morgan there extended
across the Swash and Middle channels
a long row of piles, so placed that vessels
entering the bay could not avoid passing
under the guns of one or other of the
forts, near which narrow passage-ways

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

413

had been left for the accommodation of
blockade-runners. These openings were
carefully watched over at night by small
picket boats. Torpedoes also, without
number, of which the location was
known only to the rebels, were placed
in all the channels. These completed a
formidable range of defences, extending
in a line of not less than eighteen miles
in length, of forts, batteries, obstructions,
and infernal machines.
Behind this line were five gun-boats,
carrying the heaviest armament which
the Confederate resources could afford,
one. of them the ram Tennessee, perhaps
the most formidable vessel afloat, and
deemed, alone and unaided, adequate to
the defeat of Farragut's fleet. Two
years had been consumed in the con
struction of this vessel, under the super
intendence of Admiral Buchanan, who,
with unlimited means at his disposal,
and with many years' experience as a
naval officer, to which was added his
practical knowledge of the defects of the
Merrimac, which he had commanded,
was able to produce a vessel of extra
ordinary strength, speed, and security.
Her length was exactly 209 feet, her
breadth of beam forty-eight feet, her
draught of water fourteen feet. . The
hull, constructed on the man-of-war
pattern, was of the best materials, and
put together in the strongest possible
manner. The" main deck was about a
foot above the water-line amidships, and
rose two feet forward and aft. The hull
was plated with iron three inches thick
down to eighteen inches below the water-
line. There was a berth-deck about

six feet below the main deck. The
ca,semates extended out flush with the
sides of the vessel, and over all, except
about twenty-five feet of the bow and
stern. These casemates were construct
ed of alternate layers of pine and oak,
sixteen inches of pine and three of oak,
over which were laid perpendicularly
three inches of iron in plates eight inches
in width. Over this was another layer
of iron crossing the first, two inches
thick, the plates being of the same
width. Finally there was a top layer
of iron one inch thick, laid perpen
dicularly, making in all six inches of
iron and nineteen inches of wood, the
whole securely bolted together. The
roof of the casemates Tvas formed of a
heavy iron grating, for the purpose of
affording ample ventilation during action,
when the ports would necessarily be
closed the greater part of the time.
The casemates had ten port-holes, four
on each broadside, two at the bow and
stern. These were covered with iron
shutters, worked on pivots in the centre
of one of their sides, and revolved by
means of a cog-wheel inside. They
were very liable, however, to get out
of order if struck by a shot, especially
when open. The armament of the Ten
nessee consisted of six rifled guns ofthe
Brooke pattern — two of six-and-three-
quarter inches bore on each broadside,
and two of seven inches bore at the bow
and stern. These last were pivoted, so
that they might be worked also on
either broadside. The decks outside
of the casemates were covered with iron
plates two inches thick. The casemates

414

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

overhung the sides of the vessel, and
thus aided in protecting the hull. The
boilers were in the hold below the berth-
deck, and at least six feet below the
water line. The two engines were
placed fore and aft amidships, a small
portion only being above the water-line,
and that portion protected by the case
mates. They were high pressure, and
were not made for the vessel, having
been taken from the Alonzo Child, a
boat that formerly ran on the Alabama
River, but were of great power and
finish. The pilot-house and the lookout
for the commanding officer in action
were under the casemates forward, and
were distinguishable only by the greater
height of the casemates there. The
most defective arrangement about the
ship was in connection with the rudder-
chains, which passed under the grating
that covers the casemates to their after
end, and then went down to the main
deck under the iron that covered that
end of the casemates. They then ran
along the decks, protected only by an
inverted trough of cast iron about an
inch thick. The quarters for the officers
and crew were all on the berth-deck
below the water line, and though
ill ventilated, were spacious and well
arranged. This vessel is said to have
cost the Confederate Government two
million dollars in gold.
On the 8th of July, Admiral Farragut
had an interview with Generals Canby
and Granger on board his flag-ship
Hartford, at which it was arranged that
General Canby should send a body of
troops of about ten thousand men of all

arms to co-operate with the fleet in an
attack on Forts Morgan and Gaines.
The command of these troops was to be
intrusted to General Granger, and it
was designed that he should invest both
forts. But General Canby subsequently
found that he could not send so large a
force, and Admiral Farragut suggested
that Fort Gaines alone should be invested,
and engaged to cover the landing of troops
on Dauphine Island. Accordingly Gen
eral Granger, with less than 2,500 men,
embarked at New Orleans on the 31st
of July, with instructions to rendezvous
in Mississippi Sound, opposite the east
end of Petit Bois Island. On the 1st
of August he had another interview
with Admiral Farragut on board the
Hartford, and the 4th of August was
fixed upon as the day for landing the
troops and for the entrance of the fleet
into the bay. The landing of the troops
was effected at the time agreed upon,
but the naval operations were delayed
by the non-arrival of the monitor
Tecumseh, which did not come up till
evening. The fleet with which Admiral Farra
gut was about to force his entrance into
Mobile Bay, exclusive of the squadron
which remained outside as a reserve,
consisted of the four monitors Tecumseh,
Manhattan, Winnebago, and Chickasaw,
carrying in all six eleven-inch and four
fifteen- inch Dahlgren guns ; three first-
class sloops of war, with an aggregate
armament of six one-hundred-pounder
Parrotts, six thirty-pounder Parrotts,
and fifty-four nine-inch Dahlgrens ; six
sloops of the second and third class,

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

415

with an aggregate armament of about
twelve one-hundred-pounder Parrotts,
and seventy-two nine-inch guns>; and
five gun-boats, carrying hundred-pound
er Parrotts, with nine-inch and eleven-
inch Dahlgrens, besides a few rifled guns
of less calibre — in all eighteen vessels,
four of iron and fourteen of wood,
carrying an aggregate of about two
hundred guns of heavy calibre and of
the most approved patterns.
All the sloops in this squadron were
propelled by screws in addition to their
sails. Their engines and portions of the
boilers of some of them were above the
water-line, and the better to prepare
them for the tremendous fire to which
it was expected they would be exposed
in passing the forts, they were sent to
Pensacola to undergo certain changes
before going into action. The top-gal
lant masts and yards were removed,
as well as all superfluous rigging.
Their starboard sides, which would be
exposed to the fire of Fort Morgan, in
order to protect the engines and boilers,
were covered with chain plating, as had
been done with Farragut's ships before
passing the forts on the , Mississippi
below New Orleans, and with the Kear
sarge before her memorable fight with
the Alabama. The gun-boats that were
to accompany these sloops into the bay,
being all side-wheel vessels and ill cal
culated to bear the heavy fire of land
batteries, it was resolved to protect by
lashing them to the unexposed sides of
the sloops, in which position they would
be covered from the shot and shell
thrown from the fort, and in case of the

sloops being disabled, would be able to
tow them out of fire.
It was determined that the movement
of the fleet toward the forts should
begin at three o'clock on the morning
of the 5 th of August, so that the ships
might arrive opposite Fort Morgan by
daylight. The monitors were to lead
the way, and the sloops with their con
sorts were to follow, each vessel keeping
about one-third of a mile astern of its
predecessor. On passing Fort Morgan,
the heaviest fire practicable was, to be
directed on it, and then all the wooden
vessels were to steer for the lower
anchorage, beyond the range of any of
the guns of the forts, leaving the moni
tors to fight the rebel fleet. The design
was then to capture the forts in succes
sion, beginning with Fort Powell. The
squadron remaining outside the bay
was to make a diversion on the south
and southeast sides of Fort Morgan,
while four gun-boats in the Mississippi
Sound occupied the attention of Fort
Powell. Efforts had been made to
ascertain the number and position of
the torpedoes. For this purpose Flag-
Lieutenant Watson and others had made
nightly trips for two or three weeks,
sounding the channel and making ob
servations of all obstructions, and en
deavoring to make out a route that
would be practicable and free from
unseen dangers.
Circumstances arose that prevented
the start of the fleet before dawn, and
it was not till twenty minutes before
six that the ships moved, two abreast,
and in the following order : the Brook-

416

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

lyn with the Octorara, the Hartford with
the Metacomet, the Richmond with the
Port Royal, the Lackawanna with the
Seminole, the Monongahela with the
Kennebec, the Ossipee With the Itasca,
and the Oneida with the Galena. By
thus lashing his vessels together two
and two, the Admiral secured several
advantages : should the exposed ships
be disabled, those which they protected
might still go in with little injury ; the
line of battle was not so liable to be
deranged by any vessel dropping out
or getting entangled with another ;
should one of the exposed vessels be
sunk, her consort, being close at hand,
could save the crew and render other
assistance at once ; by this arrangement
also the line of battle was shortened
one half.
The monitors anchored in Sand Island
\n<r, Channel, and waited there till the
5» rest of the fleet arrived opposite
Sand Island, when they moved into the
main channel and took position in
advance of the sloops, in a line, five
hundred yards apart. Every vessel was
decked out with all its bunting. The
Stars and' Stripes waved from peak,
mast, and flagstaff, except the fore of
the Hartford, from which flew the broad
pennant of the Admiral. The Tecumseh,
leading the monitors, having given the
signal by firing a shell from one of her
fifteen-inch guns, which exploded in the
shore battery of the fort, the whole line
moved steadily forward, the ships pre
serving their distance well. The moni
tors, contending with the ebb tide,
owing to their want of speed and bad

steering qualities, had some difficulty in
making the headway that was desired.
As the' sloops came within range, they
let off occasionally a hundred-pounder
from their bows. These brought no
answer from the fort. But at seven
o'clock precisely, the monitors being
then all within range of the fort, the
Tecumseh close under it, and the whole
fleet past Sand Island, the fort opened
fire. The first shell, directed at the
monitors, fell into the . water in their
midst and exploded harmlessly. All
the vessels now opened their batteries.
The Tecumseh fired one shot as she
approached, another when abreast of
the fort, and then reserved her fire.
The other monitors loaded and fired as
rapidly as possible, their heavy shells
having a marked effect on the water
battery, and preventing its being work
ed except occasionally. The wooden
ships farther astern kept their bow guns
at work on the traverse guns and cur
tain batteries of the main fort, which
responded vigorously.
In the mean time the rebel fleet
under Admiral Buchanan had been
getting into position and preparing for
action. It was now drawn up in a line
facing southward across the main channel
about a mile northwest of the fort. On
the right toward the fort was the ram
Tennessee, Buchanan's flag-ship, next
to it the Gaines, then the Morgan, an'
iron-clad, and then the Selma, an im- ,
provised gun-boat, which had been
formerly employed as a tow-boat, and
had now six Brooks guns mounted on
her open deck, with no armor, case-

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE

417

mates, or cover of any kind for her
crew of ninety men. The Huntsville, a
small light draught vessel, and one or
two tenders, got quickly out of the way.
Two blockade-runners, loaded with cot
ton, lying in the bay, returned swiftly
to Mobile, as did also some other small
craft. It was intended by Admiral Farragut
that the monitors alone should dispose
of the re.bel fleet. The wooden vessels
were not expected at present to do more
than pass the fort and get as far as the'
lower bay. Accordingly, as soon as the
Tecumseh reached the point abreast of
the fort where the channel turns north
westward, keeping close to the eastern
bank of the channel, as did also all the
fleet, she made directly for the rebel
fleet and fired her third shot, aiming at
the Tennessee. She had, however, pro
ceeded but two or three lengths, when,
at twenty minutes before eight, she
struck a torpedo. A few minutes suf
ficed to terminate her career. Only the
guns' crews and those in the pilot-house
succeeded in getting out before she
went down. Almost instantly, on being
struck, she appeared on her port beam,
bows well up, rolled over till bottom
up, so as to show the whole of her hull,
and then went- down, carrying with her
Captain Craven and the greater part of
her crew. Only twenty escaped. Ten
of these were rescued by a. small boat
from the Metacomet ; thre'e swam ashore
and were made prisoners. The remain
der got into a small boat belonging to
the vessel, and after an hour's rowing
made their way to a tug-boat near Sand
221

Island. The catastrophe was most dis
couraging. Fortunately only the com
manders and pilots of the other monitors
saw it. Upon the crew of the Brooklyn,
the leading sloop, who were in full view
of the terrible scene, it had a most
demoralizing effect. The vessel was
stopped, and the whole fleet were conse
quently for a short time brought to a
stand at the moment the guns of the
fort were playing on that ship and the
Hartford. The Admiral, however, who
had lashed himself in the main top,
whence he gave his orders through
speaking tubes, signalled " Go ahead,"
and pressing all steam on his own ship,
himself took the lead, steering between
the buoys where the torpedoes were
supposed to have been sunk. Mean
while the firing from the ships and fort
had continued without abatement, as if
no unusual calamity had occurred. The
Brooklyn had stopped a little south of
the fort, but as the Hartford passed her,
had started forward again, and both
ships came exactly opposite the fort,
when they simultaneously discharged
their full broadsides of nine-inch guns
into the water battery, and with such
effect that this battery, the one most'
feared, was effectually silenced. The
rebel gunners fled from their pieces, nor
could they during the fight be induced
to resume their places. Signals were
then made for the other ships to follow
the example of the Hartford and the
Brooklyn, and these two vessels steamed
'away up the channel, relieved in a great
measure from the fire of the fort. A
fortunate circumstance for Farragut's

418

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

ships at this time was, that the wind,
though light, blew the smoke from their
guns directly upon the fort, where it
hung in thick clouds and prevented the
rebel gunners from seeing the vessels,
thus compelling them to fire in great
measure at random, so that, after all,
none of the ships were injured by the
fire of the fort, with the exception of
the Oneida, whose boilers were pene
trated by a shot, which completely dis
abled her ; but her consort, the Galena,
towed her safely through, thus illustrat
ing the value of the precaution adopted
of moving two vessels abreast. On the
other hand, the ships' gunners could
hardly fail to hit the fort, and each
sloop as it came up poured in its broad
side and passed on under cover of the
smoke. Two of the monitors for some
time hugged the shore close under the
fort, pouring in heavy discharges of
grape and canister, while the Manhattan
kept steadily on her course toward the
rebel fleet, opening her guns upon it
as soon as she passed the fort. The
Hartford, being a faster sailer, soon
overhauled and passed the Manhattan,
letting go at the same time her bow
guns at Buchanan's ship. The other
vessels, following, also opened on her,
each ship now separated from her con
sort. For a few minutes the rebel ships
held, their position, but when it became
evident that, contrary to the confident
expectation of the Confederates, the
forts had not succeeded in destroying
or even s in detaining any portion of
Farragut's magnificent array of fighting
ships, they presently fell back, occasion

ally firing. About eight o'clock Admiral
Farragut, finding that the rebel gun
boats were raking his ship, sent Captain
Jouett in the Metacomet in pursuit of
the Selma. After an exciting chase of
about an hour, the Selma crowding
steam to get across Dog River bar, the
Metacomet came up within easy range
and opened upon her with a hundred-
pounder Parrott, the shell from which
exploding on the deck of the rebel craft,
killing and wounding a number of men,
she was under the necessity of hauling
down her colors at once. Her decks
were found covered with dead and
wounded and her scuppers running with
blood. Her executive officer, Lieuten
ant Comstock, and eight of the crew
were killed in the action, and her com
mander, P. N. Murphy, formerly of the
United States navy, and seven or eight
men, were wounded. By skilful ma
noeuvring the Morgan and the Gaines
managed to get away from the monitors
and sought safety under the guns of
Fort Morgan. The Gaines had been so
much injured that she had to be run
ashore and destroyed. The night after
the action the crew escaped to Mobile
in her small boats and in those of the
Tennessee, which had been left near the
fort. The Morgan, which sustained but
little injury, escaped to Mobile during
the night, though chased and fired upon
by the Federal cruisers. The Tennes
see alone for a short time contended at
long range with the fleet as it defiled
into the bay, and then she also retired,
apparently seeking the protection of
Fort Morgan.

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

419

' Thus the forts- were passed and the
rebel fleet dispersed. Admiral Farra
gut had ordered most of the vessels to
anchor, and just one hour and twenty
minutes after the first shot was fired
from Fort Morgan the crews of the ships
were piped to breakfast within the bay.
But they were not .allowed to partake
of it quietly. The Tennessee, which
was remarkable for speed as well as for
strength, had got away from the moni
tors,- and was now seen bearing down
upon the wooden fleet, making directly
for the Hartford, evidently designing
the destruction of that ship. The
Admiral was not long in making out
Buchanan's intentions. He immediately
ordered the monitors and such other
vessels^ as were best adapted for the
purpose, to attack the ram, not only
with their guns, but to run into her,
bows on, at full speed. The Hartford
remained awhile apparently awaiting
the onset of the ram, when suddenly
her helm was put hard-a-port, her
machinery started, and instead of the
Tennessee striking her amidships and
cutting her in two, the Hartford struck
Buchanan's ship a blow on the port
quarter forward that knocked every
man off his feet. T^he headway of both
vessels was checked, though the blow
given by the Hartford was a glancing
one. The two vessels now came up
side by side, and the Hartford let go
her broadside, but her heavy nine-inch
solid shot, though th.e muzzles of the
guns were scarcely more than ten feet
from the ram, rebounded from her sides
in all directions, merely making an

indentation in her iron sides sufficiently
deep to show where they had struck.
At the same time Buchanan threw open
his iron ports and discharged his broad
side of four Brooks rifles. Their shot
passed entirely through the Hartford,
and expended the remainder of their
force in the water beyond. The Ten
nessee then put on steam again and
headed for the Brooklyn. A collision
took place and a discharge of broadsides,
and the ram went on and .encountered
in the same manner and with the same
results, the Richmond, the Lackawanna,
the Oneida and others, and then turned
to run back through the fleet. She had
sustained no damage as yet, though her
sides were somewhat bruised. She was
apparently invulnerable. In the mean
time the monitors had come up, and
Buchanan seemed' disconcerted for a
moment. He had so far avoided them,
and by his greater speed and skilful
manoeuvring had managed to keep them
at a distance. Now, in whichever way
the ram turned, a monitor was ready to
meet her. The tremendous armor of
his ship enabled Buchanan to disregard
the heavy armaments of the wooden
vessels, which he could riddle with ease.
The appearance of the monitors seemed
to make him irresolute, and he finally
began to run back toward Fort Morgan.
But Farragut checked this movement.
He ordered all the available ships to
approach the ram and form a circle
about her, and the monitor Manhattan,
carrying the only fifteen-inch guns in
the fleet, to head her off. A terrible
fire was then concentrated upon her,

420

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

but she stood it unharmed, returning
the fire as fast as she could with her six
guns. She was a match for them all ;
they were evidently getting the worst
of it. Every shot from the rebel that
struck at that short range — which made
great accuracy of aim -possible — told
fearfully on the wooden ships, as was
evidenced by the great holes in their sides
and by their bloody decks, while the
Tennessee, manoeuvring so as to present
her most invulnerable parts toward the
monster guns of the Manhattan, remained
uninjured, every shot that struck her
glancing off like an india-rubber ball.
The wooden ships were suffering too
much to be able long to continue such a
conflict. In this emergency the Admiral
adopted a new and, as it proved, effectual
mode of dealing with his invulnerable
adversary. All the vessels were put in
motion in a circle around her, and the
sloops and monitors were directed to
ram her every time they came round.
This order of battle was quickly adopted,
each vessel throwing its broadside at,
and, whenever the chance offered, ram
ming the Tennessee. The Monongahela
was the first vessel that struck her, but
in doing so her own iron prow was
carried away, together with her cut
water, without any perceptible injury
having been sustained by the ram. The
Lackawanna was the next vessel to
strike her, and did so at full speed, and
though sustaining considerable damage
herself, her blow apparently had no
other effect upon the ram than to give
her a heavy lift. The Hartford then
made full speed for the ram, but as that

vessel quickly shifted her helm, the
blow became only a glancing one. The
Hartford, however, again discharged her
whole port broadside of nine-inch solid
shot within ten feet of the ram's case
mate. The Admiral directed his ship
immediately to be borne down upon
her, and she was again approaching at
full speed, when the Lackawanna un
fortunately ran into her just forward of
the mizzen mast, cutting her down to
within two feet of the water's edge.
Every time the sloops struck the Ten
nessee her men were thrown off their
feet, and the scene on board of her was
subsequently described by her officers
as having become at this time terribly
confused. Finally, the rapidly repeated
ramming and the continuous concentrat
ed fire of heavy guns had such an effect
upon her crew that they became quite
demoralized. Though none as yet had
been hurt, they were desirous of sur
rendering, and, fearing that their vessel
by some shock more violent than the
rest might be sent to the bottom, could
no longer be kept at the guns. Besides
this, the confusion was such that they
could no longer get the range at Farra-
gut's ships, and the damage inflicted by
their fire after the butting mode of
fighting was adopted was but trifling.
Buchanan could now do little more than
remain passive, firing an occasional
broadside. The Manhattan at this time
got one good shot at her, and the only
one in the whole combat that penetrated
her armor. It was from a fifteen-inch
gun, and struck fairly at the lower angle
of her heavy casemates. It broke

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

421

through the iron plating and thick
wooden backing, causing a ragged pro
trusion of splinters, but did ho further
injury, not entering the vessel. The
Tennessee was still nearly as good for a
fight as when the combat commenced.
But the crisis had arrived. The action
had now lasted a little over an hour,
when the monitor Chickasaw made a
dash at the ram with the intention of
striking her amidships ; this blow, how
ever,, the .Tennessee avoided by moving
ahead, so. that the Chickasaw, instead
of striking her, passed close under her
stern, and while so passing fired the two
eleven-inch guns in her bow turret, and
with terrible effect ; one shot carried
away the smoke-stack of the ram close
to the deck ; the other struck the
shutter of the stern port-hole, which
was half open, and jammed it so that it
became immovable. By some means
the shutters of two other port-holes had
also become jammed, so that of the six
guns of the Tennessee only three could
now be used. This disaster being re
ported to Buchanan, he ran aft with his
chief engineer to direct repairs. The
Chickasaw having in the mean time
moved on a little, discharged the guns
of her after-turret. One shot entered
the stern port-hole, knocking to pieces
a man who was at work there, and
scattering splinters in all directions, one
of which struck Buchanan in the right
leg, shattering the bones just below the
knee. The same shot struck the case
mate directly over the point where the
tiller chain passed down, jamming the
chain so that it became immovable. It

was broken in the efforts that were
made to release it, and the ram then
became unmanageable and lay at Farra-
gut's mercy. The Hartford was now
again bearing down upon her, as were
also the Ossipee, the Monongahela, and
the Lackawanna, determined upon her
destruction. The Ossipee was just about
to strike her, when Buchanan hoisted
the white flag, and the Ossipee stopped
her engine, though not in time to pre
vent a glancing blow. Commander
Johnston, formerly of the United States
navy, who had commanded the Tennes
see during the action, went on board
the flag-ship to surrender his sword and
that of Admiral Buchanan. Twenty
officers and about 170 men were made
prisoners on the Tennessee.
The Chickasaw received one plunging
shot through her deck. The other
monitors received no injury ; neither
were any men killed or' wounded on
board of them ; but all their turrets,
except one, refused to revolve during
the action, and in firing they had to be
worked, like other vessels, by yawing.
The aggregate Federal losses in the
battle were 149 killed and wounded,
besides 125 who went down with the
Tecumseh, including Captain Craven.
The wounded of both fleets, including
Admiral Buchanan, were sent to Pen-
sacola. Captain Tunis Augustus Craven was
a native of New Hampshire. He enter- "
ed the navy as a midshipman, on the
2d of June, 1829, and served on different
vessels till 1837, when, at his own re
quest, he was placed on the Coast

42ii

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

Survey. In 1841 he was promoted to
a lieutenancy, and served in the sloop
of war Falmouth till 1843, when he was
transferred to the receiving- ship North
Carolina at New York, and soon after
ward to the store-ship Lexington. From
1844 till 1847 he was on furlough. He
was subsequently connected with the
Pacific squadron, and from 1850 till
' 1859 was again employed on the Coast
Survey, in which service he acquired an
enviable reputation as an hydrographer.
In 1859 he was appointed to command
the steamer Mohawk, of the home
squadron, stationed off the coast of
Cuba to intercept slavers. When the
rebellion broke out he was placed in
command of the Crusader, and rendered
important aid in securing the fortress
of Key West. In September, 1861, he
was transferred from the Crusader to
the new screw-sloop Tuscarora, which
was sent across the Atlantic to look
after Confederate cruisers. Though he
unfortunately failed to overtake the
Alabama, he yet did good service in
blockading the Sumter at Gibraltar, and
in finally compelling the rebels to aban
don that vessel. Early in 1864 he was,
at his own request, placed in command
of the monitor Tecumseh, and sailed in
that vessel for Hampton Roads, where
he joined the James River flotilla., and
arrived among the first at City Point.
After some stay there he was ordered
with the Tecumseh to join the squadron
of Admiral Farragut.
General Granger with the land force
on Dauphine Island had not been idle.
His engineers planted a battery of

Rodman guns on a sand hill within
three-quarters of a mile and elevated
several feet above the escarpment of
Fort Gaines. This battery was served
under the direction of Captain Classen,
and with such effect that a ten-inch
columbiad, the rebels' best gun, was
disabled, and the works so completely
swept, that the enemy were unable to
man a single gun. It had been a part
of Buchanan's plan when he undertook
to fight Farragut's fleet, 'to .draw his
ships as near as possible to this work
and Fort Powell, in order that he might
have the assistance of their batteries.
But there was not water enough for
Farragut's vessels within two miles of
Fort Powell, and though the vicinity of
Fort Gaines could not be so well
avoided, General Granger's operations
prevented the guns of that work from
annoying the fleet.
Fort Powell was blown up and evacu
ated by the rebels on the evening of the
5th, and the obstructions being removed
at Grant's Pass, which the fort had
commanded, Farragut was relieved from
any apprehensions on the score of
supplies. Colonel Anderson, alsd, in
command at Fort Gaines, seeing the
fleet in full possession of the bay, came
to the conclusion that- further resistance
would be useless, and on the evening
of the 7th signified his willingness to
surrender, and, notwithstanding that.
General Page, commanding Fort Morgan,
telegraphed to him repeatedly to hold
out, surrendered unconditionally \na-,
on the 8th, with his garrison of 8»
818 men. The surrender of Fort

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

423

Gaines placed the western channel
also under the control of the Federal
fleet. It was at first supposed that Fort Mor
gan would prove an easy capture after
the surrender of Fort Gaines, but it
soon became evident that regular siege
operations would be necessary, and Gen
eral Granger sent at once to New Orleans
for heavy siege artillery and engineer
troops. General Richard Arnold, chief
of artillery of the Department of the
Gulf, came in charge of these and
assumed command of the investing
forces. The siege material was landed
on the 17th of August, three miles to
the rear of Fort Morgan, and during
the night the greater part of it, includ
ing shells, was floated by means of a
barge along the beach to within eight
hundred yards of the fort, and there
placed in depot behind some sand hills
which afforded an excellent cover for
that purpose. Batteries were rapidly
constructed, and by the afternoon of
the 20th all the guns were in position.
These were four nine-inch Dahlgrens
on naval gun carriages, eight thirty-
pounder Parrotts, and sixteen mortars,
of which twelve were ten-inch and four
eight-inch. There were also in position,
about four hundred yards from the fort,
four Napoleon guns and two three-inch
rifles, which proved valuable against the
rebel sharpshooters. The 21st was
devoted to instructing the men and
supplying deficiencies in the various
batteries, and in the evening General
Granger notified Admiral Farragut that
he would be ready to open fire next

morning at daylight. The Admiral
took position with his fleet that night.
In the morning at five o'clock the bom
bardment commenced on the part of the
land forces, and shortly afterward three
monitors opened fire with eleven-inch
and fifteen-inch shells, as well as several
wooden vessels with rifled thirty-two
pOunders. The bombardment was con
tinued with great vigor and accuracy
till dark, when the ships withdrew, but
the land batteries continued to fire at
intervals of half an hour.
In the course of the afternoon, smoke
had been observed ascending in a steady
volume from a point inside the fort, and
it was supposed tha.t some part of it was
on fire, though very little attention was
paid to the circumstance ; but about
nine at night a broad sheet of flame
burst forth. The bombardment was
immediately recommenced with great
vigor, and continued for two hours, in
order to prevent the rebels from extin
guishing the fire, and it continued slowly
to increase in magnitude. At five in
the morning of the 23d the bombard
ment was resumed. At twenty minutes
before seven an officer with a white
flag, accompanied by about forty men
carrying a small boat, marched out at
the main sally-port, and was preparing
to push off to the Admiral's flag-ship
with a note from General Page propos
ing surrender, when General Bailey, of
the Union land force, approathed and
took the. note, which was handed to
General Granger, who promised to com
municate its contents immediately to
the Admiral, and to dictate the terms

424

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE.

of surrender when his answer should be
received. Not long afterward General
Arnold and Captain Drayton of the
Hartford appeared at the fort with a
demand for its immediate and uncon
ditional surrender, with the garrison
and all public property. General Page
wished to stipulate for the removal of
his sick and wounded to Mobile, but
this was not permitted. The formal
surrender took place at two o'clock,
jVU<r, when the garrison, numbering six
23. hundred, marched out at the main
sally-port and stacked arms, and the
flag of the Union was again planted on
Fort Morgan.
More than a thousand shells had
exploded in the fort ; the brick walls
were much battered and the citadel wa*s
a mass of ruins. The surrender had
been hastened by the fire which broke
out in the citadel, and which it had been
found impracticable to extinguish during
the bombardment. An explosion of
the magazine had been feared, and it
was flooded with water. Large quan
tities of powder also were thrown into
the wells, and of course it became im
possible to return the besiegers' fire.
On taking possession of the fort it was
found that twelve of the best guns had

been spiked, and General Page was
charged with having had this done after
the surrender. The spikes were, how
ever, all drawn without injury to the
guns. There were captured within the
fort forty-six heavy guns— thirty-five
smooth-bores and eleven rifles, including
three Blakely eight-inch rifles, two
Brooks seven-inch rifles, six eight-inch
and two ten-inch columbiads ; the re
mainder of the guns were mostly thirty-
two pounders, some of 'which had been
banded and rifled. A large number of
small-arms and a vast amount of muni
tions of war were also found in the fort,
and provisions enough to have supplied
the garrison for six months.
Thus in twenty days from the landing
of troops on Dauphine Island, Forts
Powell, Gaines, and Morgan had been
taken, the Confederate fleet had been
dispersed, and the formidable ram Ten
nessee captured — so little injured that
she was put in fighting trim again in a few
days. Entire control had been obtained
of the waters of Mobile Bay to within a
few miles of the city itself. Blockade-
running in that quarter was put an end
to, and Admiral Farragut's powerful
fleet was at the disposal of the Govern
ment for service elsewhere.

THE KEARSARGE AND THE ALABAMA.

425

CHAPTER XXXIX
The Alabama at Cherbourg. — Mr. Dayton telegraphs for the Kearsarge and St. Louis. — The Alabama ordered to leave
Cherbourg. — Captain Semmes challenges the Kearsarge.— Descriptions of the Alabama and Kearsarge. — Biograph
ical Sketches of Captains Winslow and Semmes. — Numerous Spectators. —The Chain Armor of the Kearsarge. —
The Fight.— The Surrender. — The Alabama goes to the Bottom. — The English Steam-yacht Deerhound. — Efforts to
save the Crew of the Alabama.— Killed and Wounded.— Conduct of Captain Semmes. --Capture of the Georgia by
the Niagara. — Cruise of the Florida.— Capture of the Electric Spark.— Armament of the Florida. — The Florida and
Wachusett at Bahia. — Captain Morris refuses the Challenge of Captain Collins to go outside the Harbor and fight.
— Half of the Florida's crew ashore. — Captain Collins seizes the Florida and tows her out to Sea. — Unsuccessful
Pursuit by the Brazilian Admiral. — The Florida sunk in Hampton Roads. — Apology and Reparation made to the
Brazilian Government. — The Crew of the Florida set at Liberty. — Escape of the Tallahassee from Wilmington. —
Description of the Tallahassee. — Her Armament. — Her short and destructive Career. — She puts into Halifax.—
Makes her way back to Wilmington.

1861.

During the year 1864 the three
English-built Confederate cruisers,
the Alabama, Georgia, .and Florida,
which during two years had almost
paralyzed the American carrying trade,
roaming the seas, robbing and destroy
ing peaceful merchantmen, but carefully
shunning all armed antagonists, too
often finding refuge and protection, and
even supplies and other assistance, in
neutral ports, terminated their predatory
career. The most prominent of these,
the Alabama, commanded by Captain
Raphael Semmes, having had an un
usually prosperous run in the South
Atlantic and Indian Oceans, returned
early in June, after a remarkably short
voyage of one hundred days from the
China Seas, to northern waters, and on
the_I0th of June put into the harbor of
Cherbourg, bringing with her the crews
of two vessels which she had destroyed
on the way.
As soon as Mr. Dayton, the American
222

minister at Paris, was informed of her
arrival, he telegraphed to Captain Win-
slow, commanding the United States
corvette Kearsarge, then lying at the
Dutch port of Flushing, and for the
sailing frigate St. Louis, supposed to be
at Cadiz, to proceed at once to Cher
bourg and watch the Alabama, and take
the first opportunity after her leaving
French waters to capture or sink her.
He also made a protest to the French
Government against the admission of
the Alabama, and reminded the foreign
secretary of a promise which he* had
previously given with regard to this
vessel. The result of the protest was,
that the French maritime prefect noti
fied Captain Semmes that he must leave
Cherbourg as soon as he had taken in
provisions and coal, and that he would
not be allowed to have repairs made on
his ship as he had designed. Mr.
Dayton having succeeded in procuring
this order for the departure of the

426

THE KEARSARGE AND THE ALABAMA.

Alabama, sent instructions to Captain
Winslow to get his vessel in readiness
for a fight. Captain Winslow repaired
at once to the vicinity of Cherbourg,
and on the 14th was lying off at some
distance from the harbor with the
Kearsarge, on the watch for his antag
onist. Captain Semmes, who had been fre
quently taunted with his unwillingness
to meet a vessel of war, and who had
possibly begun to be a little ashamed of
his long inglorious career against de
fenceless merchantmen, now finding that
it would be difficult to get away from
ChSrbourg without a fight, announced
his intention to meet the Kearsarge, and
on the 13th Captain Winslow^ received
a note from him, begging that he would
not go away till the two vessels had an
opportunity of trying their strength
against each other. As this opportunity
was precisely what Captain Winslow
was seeking, he willingly complied with
the request of Captain Semmes, and
patiently awaited his movements.
The dimensions, power of engines,
and tonnage of the two vessels were as
follows :

Alabama. • Kearsarge.
220 feet. 214 J feet.
210 " 198 J "
32 " 33 "
17 " 16 "
300 each. 400 h. p.

Length over all
Length on water-line
Beam
Depth
Horse-power, two engines of. .
Tonnage 1,150 1,031
The armament of the Alabama consisted
of one seven-inch Blakely rifle, one eight-
inch smooth-bore sixty-eight pounder,
and six thirty-two pounders ; that of
the Kearsarge was two eleven-inch
smooth-bore guns, one thirty-pounder

rifle, and four thirty-two pounders.
The Alabama was a screw propeller.
The heaviness of her rig, and the great
size and height of her masts, made her
seem much larger than her antagonist,
whose masts were disproportionately
low and small. The Kearsarge, which
was built at Portsmouth, New Hamp
shire, and named after Kearsarge Moun
tain, in Merrimac County, never carried
more than topsail yards, and depended
for speed upon her machinery alone.
She had twenty-two officers and about
one hundred and forty men. The
Alabama had about one hundred and
fifty officers and men, mostly British
subjects. Her gunners had many of
them been trained as artillerists on the
British practice-ship Excellent.
Captain Winslow, born in Wilming
ton, North Carolina, in 1811, was the
twentieth on the list of active captains
on the Navy Register for 1864, and had
been thirty-seven years in the navy, of
which eighteen had been passed at sea,
cruising on the coasts of Africa and
Brazil, in the Pacific, and elsewhere
He was seriously wounded while aiding
General Grant in the Vicksburg cam
paign, and on his recovery was appointed
to command the Kearsarge.
Captain Raphael Semmes, a native of
Maryland, entered the United States
navy in 1826, and was promoted to the
rank of commander in September, 1855,
for several years previous to which he
had seen no sea service, and from that
time till his resignation on adopting the
cause of the Confederacy, when he was
the fifty-eighth commander on the list,

THE KEARSARGE AND THE ALABAMA.

427

he was not employed at sea. During
his connection of thirty-four years and
nine months with the United States
navy, he was in active service at sea
only eleven years and one month. He
commanded the brig Somers, which sunk
off Vera Cruz in 1846, during the
Mexican war, and is the author of a
book entitled "Ashore and Afloat."
Five days sufficed Captain Semmes
to get his vessel ready for action, and
on the morning of Sunday, the 19 th of
June, the Alabama steamed out of the
harbor of Cherbourg in search of the
Kearsarge. So much publicity had
been given to the announcement that a
sea fight was coming off near the French
coast, between the Federal and Con-,
federate war steamers, that on the day
appointed, as soon as it was "known that
the Alabama was leaving port, and
before the first gun was fired, hundreds
of spectators made their way to the
tops of the neighboring cliffs and hills.
Special excursion trains brought numer
ous visitors from Paris, and many had
come over even from England. The
first sound of cannon, which was dis
tinctly heard in Cherbourg, brought out
thousands of spectators, to gaze from
the heights over the open sea where
the two war steamers were entering
upon a deadly contest. There was just
enough of a breeze to ruffle the sur
face of the water ; the day was bright
and clear, and the movements of the
vessels could be distinctly observed with
the naked eye. All the naval and
military authorities of the port were
among the excited observers, with spy

glasses in their hands, anxious to witness
the first single combat in European
waters between steam-propelled vessels.
Fifty years had elapsed since the French
and English navies had contended for
supremacy in the Channel, and curiosity
was naturally excited to the utmost as
to the result. A genuine sea fight ha'd
become one of the rarest of novelties.
The efficiency of modern ordnance was
now also about to be tested in skilful
hands — the British trained gunners of
the Alabama with the Blakely gun
against the eleven-inch Dahlgrens of
the Kearsarge, manned, it is true, by
sailors taken principally from merchant
ships, but with several years' experience
in the national service.
Captain Winslow had, when at Fayal,
early in May, for the purpose of ar
moring his ship, and particularly for
the protection of his boilers, adopted
the simple expedient — of which the
utility was first proved by Captain
Farragut in 1862, when running his
ships past Forts Jackson and St. Philip,
on the Mississippi — of hanging all his
spare anchor cable over the midship
section of the vessel on both sides. The
chains were then boxed over in a sort
of case formed of inch deal boards,
which served at once to conceal the
armor thus obtained and to make the
appearance of the ship less unsightly.
This defence, which was completed in
three days by the ship's crew without
assistance, was so thoroughly concealed
that Captain Semmes knew nothing of
it till after the action.
At about twenty minutes past ten

428

THE KEARSARGE AND THE ALABAMA.

o'clock, the officers of the Kearsarge
June descried the Alabama coming out of
19. the west entrance of the harbor,
accompanied by the French iron-clad
frigate Couronne, which had been ordered
to see her beyond the limits of French
jurisdiction. As soon as this limit was
reached, the Couronne returned to port.
Immediately preceding the Alabama
was the Deerhound, a three-masted
steam yacht belonging to a Mr. Lan
caster, an English gentleman, who had
come out with his family on board,
ostensibly to* witness the combat, but
whose subsequent conduct gave ground
to the belief that his object was rather
to use his vessel as a tender to the rebel
steamer. As soon as Captain Winslow
saw the Alabama approaching — in order
to get well beyond French jurisdiction,
and also for the purpose of drawing the
Alabama so far from shore that, if dis
abled, she would not be able to return
to port — he steamed out to sea until a
distance of six or seven miles from the
Cherbourg breakwater was obtained,
when he rounded to and steered for the
Alabama. When within twelve hundred
yards, the Alabama opened fire and
discharged two or three broadsides from
her starboard battery before receiving a
reply. None of her shots took effect
upon the Kearsarge beyond doing a
little damage to the rigging, one or two
passing over and the rest falling short
of her opponent. The gunners of the
Kearsarge were eager to return the fire,
but were restrained by Captain Winslow,
who wished to choose his time and
distance so as to give the greatest effect

to his shot. When within about nine
hundred yards, Captain Winslow, appre
hensive that another broadside from the
Alabama, nearly raking as it would be
in the relative positions of the vessels
now attained, might prove disastrous,
ordered the Kearsarge to be sheered,
and opened fire on the Alabama. The
position of the vessels was now broad
side to broadside, but it soon became
apparent that Captain Semmes did not"
seek close action, and Captain Winslow
became fearful that after some fighting
he would seek the shore. To prevent
this, full speed was kept on the Kear
sarge, with a port helm, so as to run
under the stern of the Alabama and
rake her if Captain Semmes did not
sheer his vessel and continue to present
his broadside. This, however, he did,
and the Alabama was thus forced with
a full head of steam into a circular track.
The two vessels moved in this relative
position, about seven hundred yards
apart, during the remainder of the
engagement. The effect of this ma
noeuvre was that, at the conclusion of the
action, when the Alabama would have
made off, had it been possible, she was
nearly five miles from the shore. Had
the action continued to the end in
parallel lines, heading toward the shore,
the line of French jurisdiction would
have been reached by the Alabama and
she would have made her escape.
During the hour in which the vessels
continued to move in this circular track,
the Kearsarge received some twenty-
five or thirty shots, twelve or thirteen
of which took effect on her hull.

THE KEARSARGE AND THE ALABAMA.

429

A rifle shot passed entirely through
the smoke-stack. A rifle shell passed
through the starboard side below the
main rigging, bursting and wounding
three men, the only casualties to the
crew of the Kearsarge during the fight.
Another rifle shell struck under the
stern, and lodged in the rudder-post
without exploding ; another carried away
the starboard life-buoy ; another scratch
ed the hammock netting aft. Three
thirty-two pound shots passed through
the port side opposite the ward-room
hatch. One of the cranes over the
ward-room hatch was carried away by
a shot which afterward passed through
the cutter on the port side. A rifle
shot struck the top of the engine-room
skylight. Several shots struck the star
board light, but their force was broken
by the chains hung over the side, and
they caused no damage. The firing of
the Alabama was at first rapid and wild,
but toward the close of the action
became better. Captain Winslow had
cautioned his men against rapid firing
without direct aim, and they were much
more deliberate. The instructions given
also to point the heavy guns below
rather than above the water-line, and
to endeavor to clear the enemy's deck
with the lighter ones, were fully ob
served. The first shot from the Kearsarge
that appeared to produce any effect on
the Alabama struck her amidships in
her upper works, making a very per
ceptible gap, but doing no serious
damage. About the middle of the
action an eleven-inch shell from the

Kearsarge exploded on the deck of the
Alabama, near one of the divisions,
killing or wounding fifteen of the nine
teen men there, cutting one man fairly
in two, and scattering the bones and
flesh of the others in all directions. It
could now be plainly seen from the deck
of the Kearsarge that her fire was
having a destructive effect, and at every
shot i which struck her antagonist loud
cheers went up from her crew, now
made enthusiastic by the prospect, of
speedy victory. Nearly every shot told
fearfully on the Alabama ; one carried
away a blade of her screw ; another
injured her steering apparatus ; her
rigging also was much cut up. Three
shells burst between decks ; another
entered the coal bunkers and set the
fuel on fire. Shells which exploded in
the sides and between the decks made
large apertures through which the water
rushed rapidly. The vessel sunk so far
that the water reached her engine-room,
and the fires were extinguished in the
furnaces. -
About twelve o'clock, after the en
gagement had lasted rather more than
an hour, on the seventh rotation in the
circular track, the Alabama "winded,"
setting her fore try-sail and two jibs,
and stood in toward the shore. Cap
tain Semmes was evidently desirous of
getting as soon as possible within the
"marine league" and French jurisdic
tion. The Kearsarge followed, the
Alabama continuing to fire her stern
gun. The speed of the Alabama now
became less, and her port broadside
being presented, in consequence of her

430

THE KEARSARGE AND THE ALABAMA.

having been compelled to resort to her
sails, with only two guns bearing, Cap
tain Winslow saw that she was at his
mercy, and a few more well-directed
shots brought down her flag, though it
was not clear whether it had been
hauled down or shot away, but a white
flag having been displayed over the
stern, the crew of the Kearsarge ceased
firing. Not more than two minutes
had elapsed before the Alabama opened
fire, again with the two guns on her
port side. The Kearsarge was immedi
ately steamed ahead, and laid across the
bows of the Alabama for raking, but the
white flag was flying and fire was re
served. Shortly afterward boats were
seen lowering from the Alabama, and in
one of them an officer, an Englishman,
went alongside of the Kearsarge, a.nd
stating that his ship had surrendered,
and was sinking fast, requested the aid
of boats to rescue the men. Of the
boats of the Kearsarge only two had
not been disabled in the action, and
these were immediately lowered, and as
the Alabama, at this time about five
hundred yards distant, was evidently
settling fast, the officer who had come
from her was permitted to go also with
his boat ,to afford what assistance he
could. But at ten minutes before one
o'clock, before any boats could reach
the Alabama, she went down, her main
mast, which had been struck by a shot,
breaking near the head, and her bow
rising high out of the water as her stern
rapidly settled. When her stern had
sunk completely under water, Captain
Semmes ordered the men to save, them

selves as they best could. Such as could
swim jumped into the sea, and made for
the boats which had put off for their
rescue. The wounded and others were
put into the quarter-boats, the others
having been destroyed.
The English steam-yacht Deerhound
was at this time near the Kearsarge,
and as Captain Winslow had but two
available boats he hailed her, and begged
Mr. Lancaster to run down to the
Alabama and assist in picking up the
men. Mr. Lancaster complied with the
request and steamed off for the purpose,
but the Alabama sunk almost immedi
ately afterward. The Deerhound, how
ever, sent her boats, which engaged
actively in picking up the men. The
Kearsarge's boats rescued seventy, six
officers and sixty-four men, of whom
seventeen were wounded, three mortally.
The Deerhound, after picking up forty-
two persons, among whom was Captain
Semmes — who was slightly wounded,
and had thrown his sword into the sea
a£ter surrendering — and fourteen other
officers, steamed off toward the English
coast, and landed the rescued men at
Southampton. In the hurry and con
fusion of the moment, the departure of
the Deerhound thus was not observed
till she had got too much the start to be
overhauled. She was said to have
received on board all the valuable
personal effects of Captain Semmes the
night before the engagement. Twelve
men were picked up by two French
pilot-boats and carried into Cherbourg.
The Alahama, which fought seven
guns to the Kearsarge's five, is said to

CAPTURE OF THE GEORGIA.

431

have discharged 370 shot and shell
during the engagement without doing
any serious damage to the Kearsarge, on
which, though she was struck fourteen
times in and about the hull and sixteen
or seventeen times about the masts and
rigging, only three men were wounded
and no lives were lost. The Kearsarge
fired 173 projectiles, of which one alone
killed or wounded fifteen men and dis
abled a gun. The total loss on the
Alabama is unknown ; according to the
statement of Captain Semmes, there
were nine killed and thirty-one wounded ;
probably more than thirty were killed
or drowned, of whom some must have
gone down with the ship, as the number
of her officers and crew landed on the
shores of England and France, including
those on board the Kearsarge, who
were all parolled at Cherbourg, was
only 115. The conduct of Captain
Semmes, in allowing himself to be
carried to England, and throwing his
sword overboard after surrendering his
ship, became the subject of severe com
ment, and it was directed by the United
States Government that he should be
considered a prisoner of war till properly
exchanged. The Confederate war steamer Georgia
put into Cherbourg in February, 1864,
and proceeded thence shortly afterward
to Liverpool, where she underwent a
thorough overhauling at the Birken
head docks. Being then put up for sale
at public auction, Mr. Edward Bates, a
well-known Liverpool ship-owner, be
came the purchaser. She was chartered
by the Portuguese Government for the

purpose of carrying passengers between
Lisbon and the west coast of Africa,
and was regularly fitted up for this
traffic, with accommodations for thirty
first-class and twenty second-class pas
sengers. There still remained a mystery
about the vessel, however, as she was
generally considered to be anything but
a merchant ship, and she was' to be
commanded by Captain Withycombe, a
well-known blockade-runner. Never
theless the owner stoutly maintained
that she was a bona-f.de merchantman.
Not long before she sailed, the Federal
war steamer Niagara entered the Mer
sey, and her commander, Commmodore
T. T. Craven, obtained a knowledge of
the Georgia's destination. On the 6th of
August, the day the Georgia was to sail,
the Niagara left Liverpool and went to
sea. The Georgia was just leaving dock
as the Federal cruiser passed down the
river, but immediately put back, and
did not leave the river till the 8th,
when she left with a very valuable cargo
for Lisbon, and saw nothing more of the
Federal cruiser till the 15th of August,
when off Berlingos Point, twelve or
fifteen miles north of Lisbon, when the
Niagara was descried apparently wait
ing for her. Captain Withycombe did
not deviate from his course till brought
to by a couple of shots fired across his
bows. He was shortly afterward board
ed by an armed boat's crew and re
quested to go on board thp. Niagara,
which he did, when Commodore Craven
stated that it was his duty to seize the
Georgia, but at the time promised that
in doing so he would cause as little

432

THE CONFEDERATE CRUISER FLORIDA.

inconvenience as possible to the officers
and crew. The ship's papers were then
taken possession of and the crew made
prisoners. A fresh crew was put on
board the Georgia, and she was headed
for New York, while the Niagara steered
for Dover, where she landed thirty-five
of the crew, the other twenty choosing
to remain in the Niagara. The seizure
was justified in England as in accordance
with international law, and the British
Government had, previous to the sale
of the Georgia, warned the public
against purchasing any vessel which had
been owned by the Confederate Gov
ernment. In February the Confederate war-
steamer Florida, commanded by Captain
Morris, after having been for some time
kept shut up in the port of Brest by the
Kearsarge, taking the opportunity af
forded by a dark night, made her- escape
to sea, and after cruising about with
various success, made her appearance in
June at the port of St. George's, Ber
muda, where she remained nine days,
and took in a sufficiency of coal and
supplies for a long cruise. Leaving St.
George's on the 27th of June, she
remained several days in the vicinity of
the island, boarding all vessels that
approached. On the 8th of July she
made her appearance on the American
coast near the mouth of the Chesapeake
and the Maryland shore, and captured
in the course of three days two schooners,
six barks, a whale ship, and a brig laden
with lumber, all of which, except one
which was ransomed, were burnt. On
the 11th she captured the steamer

Electric Spark, bound for New Orleans.
Her total captures up to this time
amounted to thirty-four, including eleven
ships, eight brigs, seven barks, and
seven schooners. Among the prisoners
taken on board the Electric Spark
was Acting-Master W. P. Gibbs, ac
cording to whose report the armament
of the Florida at that time was, four
rifled sixty-eight-pounders, in broadside
abaft the mainmast, a one-hundred-and-
twenty-pounder rifle in pivot, and four
small rifles in pivot broadside forward,
with a crew of about two hundred men.
Several vessels were dispatched by the
Navy Department in pursuit of her, but
she escaped them all, and was next
heard from at Teneriffe, whence she
sailed on the 4th of August. On the
28th of September, when off Pernam-
buco, she captured and burned the bark
Mondamon, from Rio Janeiro, and on
the 4th of October, after a cruise of two
months, arrived at Bahia, Brazil, in
quest of coal and provisions, and anchored
in the offing. The United States war-
steamer Wachusett, Commander Napo
leon Collins, had been several days
lying in the port of Bahia. Captain
Morris was visited on the morning of
the 5th by a Brazilian officer, to whom
he stated his wants, and was informed
by him that till the answer of the
president, of the province was received,
he would not be allowed to have any
communication with the shore. At an
interview with the president, he was
informed that forty-eight hours would
be allowed for refitting and repairs, but
that should the president's chief engi-

THE CONFEDERATE CRUISER FLORIDA.

433

neer deem that time too short, it might
be extended. The president was most
urgent in his request that Captain
Morris would observe the laws of neu
trality, and at the same time stated that
he had received the most solemn assur
ances from the United States consul
that the Federal steamer Wachusett
would do nothing in violation of the
laws of nations and Brazil. The same
assurances were required of Captain
Morris. The Brazilian admiral, who was
present at the interview, then invited
Captain Morris to move his vessel farther
1 into the harbor, and take a position
between his ship and the shore, which
he did, and anchored in the midst of the
Brazilian fleet, close under the guns of
the principal fort, situated on an island
in the middle of the harbor. The
Brazilian engineer informed Captain
Morris that it would require four days
to repair the pipe of the condenser.
Feeling now no apprehension that any
difficulty would occur with the Wachu
sett while in port, and wishing to gratify
the crew with a short liberty, Captain
Morris' determined to permit, one watch
at a time to go ashore for twelve hours,
and sent the port watch off that after
noon. Several American residents and others
interested in American affairs now sought
to bring about an engagement between
the two vessels, and about half-past seven
in the evening a boat appeared alongside
the Florida bearing a letter addressed to
Captain Morris, of the "sloop Florida."
This contained a challenge from Captain
Collins to Captain Morris to move out-
223

side of Brazilian jurisdiction and fight
the Wachusett. Captain Morris, how
ever, refused to receive the letter, and
returned it unopened, on account of its
being addressed to the "sloop Florida"
instead of to the "Confederate States
steamer Florida." The next day Mr.
De Vidiky, a Hungarian citizen with
Federal sympathies, resident in Bahia,
waited on Captain Morris, bearing a
letter from the United States consul, in
which was inclosed one for the com
mander of the Florida. This also Cap
tain Morris declined to receive, object
ing that it was improperly addressed.
Mr. De Vidiky, however, made known
the object of his visit by reading the
consul's letter addressed to himself,
which was a request that he would be
the bearer of a challenge to Captain
Morris. Captain Morris declined the
challenge, but expressed his entire
willingness, in case he should fall in
with the Wachusett during a cruise, to
engage in a contest with her, but at the
same time said that no consideration
should induce him to leave a safe
harbor for the express purpose of fight
ing. That afternoon, the port watch
having returned, Captain Morris sent
the starboard watch, the other half of
the crew, ashore on liberty, going also
himself, in company with several officers.
The departure of the sailors could easily
be seen by the Wachusett, which was at
no great distance.
Captain Collins, finding all his efforts
to bring about an engagement without
success, called a council of his officers
in the evening, and asked them to con-

434

THE CONFEDERATE CRUISER FLORIDA.

sider a proposition which he then made
to seize the rebel cruiser at her anchor
age. To this all the officers, with one
exception, assented. The considerations
which induced the council to come to
this decision were, that the harbor of
Bahia, by its peculiarities, offered un
usual opportunities for the escape of the
rebel cruiser, and that the Florida, so it
was alleged, had repeatedly seized and
burnt American ships within three miles
of the American coast, in defiance of the
neutrality laws, without any objection
being made by the authorities of Brazil.
The plan being once formed was soon
put in execution.
About three o'clock in the morning
Oct. °f Friday, the 7th of October,
7* the cables of the Wachusett were
slipped, and she bore down upon the
rebel vessel under a full head of steam.
As has been said, half of the Florida's
crew, including Captain Morris, were on
shore, and the remainder, having but
just returned from a similar leave of
absence, were in no condition to repel
an attack. As the Wachusett approach
ed, the Florida's officer of the deck,
seeing a collision imminent, but suppos
ing the near approach of the hostile
vessel the result of carelessness or acci
dent, cried out, "You will run into us
if you don't look out." Then, receiving
no answer, he called all hands to quar
ters, but before the officers and crew
were all on deck the collision took place.
The intention of Captain Collins was,
with full steam on, to strike the Florida
amidships, crush in her side and send
her at once to the bottom. The Wa

chusett, however, did not hit her adver
sary in the manner intended, but on the
starboard quarter, cutting her rail down
to the deck and carrying away her
mizzen-mast and main yard. The Florida
was not seriously injured by the collision,
but the broken spar fell across the awn
ing over her hatchway in such a manner
as to prevent a number of the crew
getting on deck from below. Several
pistol shots were exchanged, and a
charge of canister was fired from the
forecastle pivot-gun of the Wachusett.
The Wachusett, after striking, was carried
back a few yards by the recoil. There
was then more -firing from both vessels ;
but no one was wounded on either side.
Captain Collins now demanded a sur
render. Seeing that resistance was use
less, Lieutenant Porter, the officer in
charge of the Florida, replied : " Under
the circumstances I surrender." Fifteen
of the crew immediately jumped over
board to escape capture. Armed boats
were then sent from the Wachusett to
take possession of the ^Florida, and with
out an instant's delay the prize was
boarded and made fast by means of a
hawser to the Wachusett, which immedi
ately steered down the bay toward sea
with the Florida in tow. The Brazilian
vessels challenged her as she moved off,
but received no reply. Shortly after
ward the heavy guns of the fort, under
the very muzzles of which the capture had
been made, opened fire on the Wachusett.
Three shots were fired, but they all
passed harmlessly far above her pennant,
striking the water beyond; and as the
dawn was still far off, she was soon out

THE CONFEDERATE CRUISER TALLAHASSEE.

435

of sight. All this took place within
half an hour.
The Brazilian admiral's vessel was
immediately got ready to set out in
pursuit as soon as steam could be raised
on a small vessel belonging to the fleet.
His ship, a sloop of war, being a sailing
vessel, was then taken in tow by the
little steamer, and went out of the
harbor after the Wachusett, but returned
in the afternoon without having been
able to overtake her. Captain Collins,
when safe out at sea, ordered the ships
to heave to, and examined his prize.
Neither vessel had been materially
damaged by the collision, and there had
been no injury to life or limb from the
confused firing which followed. Twelve
officers and fifty-eight men of the
Florida's crew were captured, with what
remained of her stores. All her papers
and records were found undisturbed in
the cabin. Captain Collins then steered
for St. Thomas, and arrived there on the
29th with his prize.
There can be no doubt that in his
mode of capturing the Florida, Captain
Collins violated one of the clearest and
most necessary rules of the law of
nations, to the prejudice of the rights
of Brazil, and that the president of the
province of Bahia was fully justified in
declining any further intercourse with
the American consul, Mr. T. F. Wilson,
as being implicated in the affair. The
Florida finally arrived in Hampton Roads
during the month of November, in a
leaky and shattered condition, and while
at anchor, pending the settlement of the
questions of international law involved

by her seizure in a neutral port, was, on
the 19th, run into accidentally by the
army transport Alliance, and received so
much farther damage that she sank a
few days afterward, near the wreck of
the Cumberland.
The Brazilian Government officially
represented that the capture of the
Florida in Brazilian waters was a gross
outrage on neutral rights, and demanded
apology and reparation. The Secretary
of State replied that jealousy of foreign
intervention was a cardinal principle in
the policy of the United States, and that
therefore the President regretted and
disavowed the action complained of,
and would suspend Captain Collins and
direct him to appear before a • court-
martial. It was promised also, on the
part of the President, that the consul at
Bahia, having admitted that he had
advised and incited Captain Collins,
would be dismissed ; that the flag of
Brazil should receive from the United
States navy the honor customary in the
intercourse of friendly powers, and that
the crew of the Florida should be set at
liberty. A very swift Confederate cruiser,
the Tallahassee, commanded by Captain
John Taylor Wood, which had been
formerly a blockade runner, steamed out
of Wilmington on the 8th of August, in
spite of the vigilance of Admiral Lee's
blockading squadron, and on the 11th
appeared off New York harbor. She
was a London-built iron steamer, painted
of a light lead color, with two smoke
stacks and two screws ; was about 230
feet long, with twenty feet beam, and

436

THE CONFEDERATE CRUISER TALLAHASSEE.

drew about nine feet of water. She was
fore-and-aft-schooner rigged, and mount
ed three guns — a small one on the top
gallant forecastle, a long thirty-two
pounder amidships, and a twenty-four
pounder aft. Her crew, including offi
cers, consisted of about 120 men of all
nationalities, described by persons who
had the misfortune to be captured by
her, as being a very rough set dressed
in rags and tatters. A great number
of vessels, mostly coasting schooners,
were captured and afterward scuttled or
burnt by this cruiser, among them the
ship Adriatic, with emigrants on board,
and the New York pilot-boat James
Funk — which she used for some time
in' boarding other vessels — and the
William Bell, another pilot-boat. After
effecting all the destruction she could
with safety in the neighborhood of New
York, she proceeded northward, captur
ing and destroying more vessels on her
way, and on the 18th put into Halifax
for coal. Her departure from that port
being hastened by the British Admiral
Hope, she left again early on the morn

ing of the 20th, with only a partial
supply of coal ; but again, in spite of the
vigilance of the Federal vessels of war,
no less than thirteen of which had been
sent in search of her in various directions,
got off to sea again in safety. Her
success was almost entirely owing to the
fact that her appearance was1 altogether
unexpected. During the short time that
she was permitted to commit her depre
dations unmolested, the utmost excite
ment existed in the towns along the
Northern seaboard, and the most exag
gerated stories respecting the number
of her captures obtained currency. But
the great number of vessels sent in
pursuit making a continuance in the
northern waters .very hazardous, she
soon departed southward, and again
succeeded in getting through the line
of blockading ships, though not without
exchanging a few shots with the gunr
boat Monticello, off New Inlet, and was.
safe back at Wilmington on the 26th of
August, having captured no less than
thirty-three vessels in a cruise of eighteen
days.

THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

437

CHAPTER XL.
The Army of the Potomac. — Description of Petersburg. — Movement on Petersburg under Generals Gillmore and Kautz.
—Reconnoissance on the North Side of the James.— The outer Defences of Petersburg taken.— Movement of Gen
eral Terry against the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad.— Army pf the Potomac before Petersburg.— Four Days
of unsuccessful Assaulting. — The Confederate Troops reoccupy their Lines in Front of Butler's Position. — Attack
on Sheridan's Wagon Train at White House. — Movement against the Weldon Railroad.— Skirmish at Davis' Farm.
— Fire directed against the Appomattox Bridges. — Deep Bottom occupied by General Foster. — The Movement against
the Weldon Railroad resumed. — The Federal Line broken through. — Disastrous Consequences. — Heavy Losses in
Prisoners. — Advance of General Wright toward the Weldon Railroad. — The Vermont Brigade driven back. — Attack
on the Tenth Corps. — Sheridan's Cavalry attacked while on the March from White House. — Friendly Intercourse
between Pickets. — Petersburg Bombarded. — Sanitary and Christian Commissions. — March of the Sixth Corps to the
Relief of Wilson's Cavalry.

The Army of the Potomac, without
the loss of a wagon or a single
piece of artillery, had been trans
ferred from the north bank of the
Chickahominy' to the south side of the
James. The enemy were aware that a
move was intended, but had hardly
counted on its being executed with
such celerity. As the wearied soldiers
marched along the dusty roads, they
met with little annoyance except such
as arose from the heated atmosphere
and the burning sun. The column
which moved from Long Bridge to Wil
cox's Wharf it is true had a sharp
engagement with the enemy near White
Oak Bridge, on the borders of the
swamps, but Wilson's cavalry and Craw
ford's advanced division of the fifth
corps, with a loss of not more than two
hundred men, drove them back. Allow
ing in addition to these for stragglers,
and for a skirmishing line cut off at
Cold Harbor, the entire loss attending
the movement did not exceed four hun

dred men. In the conduct of the cam
paign thus far, General Grant had been
equal to his word. He had proposed to
approach Richmond overland by the
road from Fredericksburg. He had
declared his determination to "fight it
out on this line though it should take
all summer." He had fought it out,
and there remained the greater part of
the summer. The marching had been
rapid, the fighting bloody, and sometimes
terrific ; the changes of position to meet
exigencies as they occurred, promptly
conceived and swiftly executed. It had
been Grant's first intention to fall upon
Lee's army again and again from the
Rapidan to the Chickahominy, and by a
succession of heavy blows to break it
up, or so weaken it, that when it should
at last fall back upon Richmond, that
city would prove an easy conquest for
his victorious legions. His scheme failed.
The numerical strength of the enemy
proved greater than had been supposed,
and General Lee was careful in his

438

DESCRIPTION OF PETERSBURG.

retrograde movements never to fight
except in impregnable positions. Driv
en back from Mine Run to Mechanics
ville, sustaining heavy losses, Lee's army
proved at Cold Harbor that, though
inferior in numbers, it yet had the
strength and the spirit to hold its own
within defensive lines. Its inferiority in
the open field, not less perhaps than
the enemy's perplexity as to the object
of the movement, accounted for Grant's
being allowed, almost unmolested, to
transfer the Army of the Potomac to the
south side of the James.
Grant's attention was now turned to
Petersburg. In any attempt to approach
Richmond from the south, the occupation
of Petersburg must be an important
preliminary step. The holding of that
city would sever the enemy's communi
cations southward, and afford many
material advantages in the investment
of Richmond. General Grant had wished
to gain possession of it in the outset,
and in his grand plan of campaign had
arranged that it should be taken and
held by the Army of the James, which,
however, had proved inadequate to the
task. Petersburg, before the war an exceed
ingly handsome and flourishing post-town
and port of entry, is situated on the
right, or south bank of the Appomattox,
at a distance of twenty-two miles south
of Richmond, and ten miles southwest of
the James at City Point. In population
— which was 18,266 according to the
census of 1860 — and in commercial
advantages, with facilities for rapidly
increasing trade, it ranked as the third

town in Virginia. From ten to fifteen
thousand hogsheads of tobacco were
annually exported. It had some im
portant public buildings and numerous
churches, among them two Episcopalian,
two Presbyterian, one Baptist, and one
Roman Catholic, with others principally
for the colored population. It had also
several cotton factories, an iron furnace,
and a number of mills of various kinds ;
also several educational establishments.
Three newspapers were published there.
Around the falls, just above the town,
which afford unlimited water power, a
canal has been constructed, by means
of which boats of light draught can
ascend the Appomattox -nearly a hundred
miles. Vessels of a hundred tons burden
can approach the town from City Point ;
larger ones are obliged to discharge their
cargoes at Walthal's Landing, six miles
below. Five railroads diverge from
Petersburg : the one running northward
to Richmond ; the Weldon Railroad,
running southward to the Carolinas ;
the South Side Railroad, running west
ward to Lynchburg ; the Norfolk Rail
road, running southeastward to Suffolk
and thence to Norfolk, and the short
railroad running northeastward to City
Point. Immediately east of the town is
the decayed village of Blandford, said to
have been formerly superior in many
respects to Petersburg. A destructive
fire occurred at Blandford in 1815, by
which a large amount of property, in
cluding four hundred houses, was con
sumed. Petersburg was defended by
meahs of a series of skilfully constructed
earth- works, consisting not only of square

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

439

redoubts, but also of well-established
rifle-trenches, extending around the city
in a semicircle, of which the two ends
rested on the river, their northern
extremity strengthened by batteries on
the opposite side ofthe stream.
Before Grant's army crossed the
James, a demonstration had been made
against Petersburg by the force under
General Butler. He had been frequently
informed by deserters that the garrison
was much weakened by the withdrawal
of troops to reinforce Lee, and early
in the month of June made prepara
tions for sending a force in that
direction. A pontoon bridge was con
structed, to be thrown across the Appo
mattox, and gun-boats were sent up the
river to reconnoitre. The expedition
was placed under the charge of General
Gillmore, who led the infantry column,
about 3,500 men, consisting of Hawley's
" brigade of the tenth corps, and a brigade
of colored troops under General Hinks.
The cavalry, 1,400 strong, was com
manded by General Kautz. It was
arranged that General Gillmore, having
crossed to the east bank of the Appo
mattox by the pontoon bridge, should
proceed by the turnpike road toward the
town, and attack it from that direction,
while General Kautz, also crossing the
river, should fetch a wide circuit and
make his attack on the south or south
west side of the town ; the movements
of the two bodies of troops to be so
timed that they might enter the place
simultaneously at different points., It
was hoped that the qity might thus be
captured, and if s not held, that at" least

all its supplies and stores of ammunition
might be destroyed. General Butler
engaged to make a demonstration in the
mean time against Fort Clifton.
After dark on the 8th of June, the
pontoon bridge was laid down near
Point of Rocks, and about midnight
General Kautz's cavalry crossed by it,
quickly followed by Hawley's brigade,
which was soon afterward joined by the
brigade under General Hinks. Before
eight o'clock "in the morning, Follett's
battery was brought up in front of the
woods near Point of Rocks, and began
to shell the rebel lines near Fort Clifton.
The gun-boats Commodore Perry, and
General Putnam also opened fire on the
same position. A brisk fire was kept
up thus till noon. A battery which the
enemy brought down, and which threw
thirty-pounder shells at General Weitzel's
signal station, was soon silenced. In
the mean time" Generals Gillmore and
Kautz had pressed on, making a june
detour so as to avoid the fire of ®«
Fort Clifton, and were rapidly approach
ing Petersburg. The infantry met with
no serious opposition till within about
two miles of the town, when the enemy's
skirmish lines were encountered, but
quickly driven back. Having arrived in
front of the town, and sufficiently near
to be able to examine the fortifications
critically, General Gillmore came to
the conclusion that they were too strong
to be attempted ' by the force under his
command, and accordingly withdrew his
troops about noon, and got back to
camp the same evening. In the mean
time General Kautz on his side had

440

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

forced the intrenchments and actually
engaged the enemy in the city streets.
But the rebels concentrated against him
what force they had, and he was com
pelled to retire, though he carried off
with him forty prisoners. His loss was
only about twenty men in killed and
wounded. A cavalry reconnoissance made on the
15th on the north side of the James,
toward Malvern Hill, intended partly as
a feint in the hope of detaining the
enemy on that side, revealed the fact
that the region southeast of Richmond
was still held by a strong force under
General A. P. Hill, showing' evidently
that the enemy suspected Grant might
after all attempt to get to Richmond by
1 the Newmarket road. Nevertheless
General Lee made preparations to de
tach large bodies of troops for the
defence of Petersburg.
In the mean time iirlportant move
ments were going on on the south side
of the river. At one o'clock on the
morning of the 15th, the eighteenth
corps, which had arrived at Bermuda
Hundred on the previous evening, in
transports, by way of Fortress Monroe,
set out for Petersburg. Kautz's cavalry
in the advance crossed the Appomattox
by the pontoon bridge near Point of
Rocks. Brooks' and Martindale's divi
sions followed, together with General
Hinks' two brigades of colored troops.
The route taken was the same as that
pursued a week previous by Generals
Gillmore and Kautz. Soon after daylight
General Kautz, advancing along the City
Pojnt road, encountered skirmishers, and

drove them out of a small earth-work.
The troops of Generals Hinks and Brooks
followed rapidly, and soon afterward,
near Harrison's Creek, a line of rifle-
trenches with two twelve-pounders was
discovered, from which solid shot flew
over the head of the column. General
Hinks deployed skirmishers, scattered
the enemy through some neighboring
woods, and finally secured a position
near Baylor's Farm, from which the
twenty-fifth and fifth colored regiments
carried the enemy's works, capturing
one of the guns and turning it on the
retreating rebels. The division of Gen
eral Brooks now moved up, with Burn-
ham's brigade in the advance, and
entered a strip of woods which concealed
the main outer line of the defences of
Petersburg, about two miles from the
town. General Hinks then moved his
division toward the left, on the Jourdan
Point road, while General Martindale, '
with Stannard in the advance, moved on
by the river road. A line was thus
formed in front of the Petersburg in
trenchments, in which General Martin-
dale held the right, General Brooks the
centre, and General Hinks the left.
Active skirmishing went on while these
positions were being taken, and the fire
of the rebel sharpshooters told severely -
on the troops. Just before sunset, june
the order was given to carry the l5,
enemy's works by assault, and the whole
line rushed forward, swept the entire
range of rifle-pits in spite of a heavy
artillery fire, and drove the enemy from
the intrenchments. Sixteen guns, a
battle-flag, and three hundred prisoners

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

441

were taken/ Had an adequate support
ing force been at hand, the second line
of works might have been taken with
comparative ease. These works were |"
strongly and neatly built, but were
incompletely manned by a portion of the
force under General Wise. Had it not
been for the feint toward Malvern Hill,
a stronger force would probably have
been thrown into them, and they would
have been more obstinately defended.
The Federal loss was about five hundred
men. The second corps began to arrive
in the evening, and before morning the
whole of it had reached the scene of
action. During the night General Bir
ney's division held the captured earth
works, against which the enemy, know
ing their value, made demonstrations,
but in vain. While the infantry were
thus operating toward Petersburg from
the northeast, General Kautz, on the
extreme left, with Spear's brigade in the
advance, moved against the enemy's
works near the Norfolk Railroad and on
the Baxter road. After a brisk cannon
ade on the position, which was well
fortified with artillery, a charge was
made by Kautz's men, armed with
carbines, but the work proved too strong
to be carried, and General Kautz was
compelled to retire. So far Petersburg
had been defended by its local garrison,
but the rebel troops in the neighborhood
were rapidly concentrating to its aid.
On the morning of the 16th, General
Butler having learned that a portion of
the rebel forces in front of his intrench
ments at Bermuda Hundred had been
hurried to Petersburg, sent out General
224

Terry with a part of the tenth corps to
reconnoitre. His skirmishers soon jmie
drove in the enemy, and the **>•
reserves coming up, their line was
broken through, and finally the railroad
was reached near Walthal Junction.
While a working party tore up the track
and pulled down the telegraph wires for
about two miles, the main body of
General Terry's force moved along the
road by which it was supposed General
Lee's advance was approaching. But
the enemy at length came down upon
them in force and compelled a retreat.
The result of the movement was, that
travel by the railroad was interrupted
for about a day.
In the mean time the Federal troops
were gathering around Petersburg. Its
outer line of defences had been carried
on the evening of the 15th, as has been
said, before the enemy had been able to
send down troops enough to fully man
the works. Early on the morning of
the 16th, General Birney sent Colonel
Egan's brigade against a redoubt on his
left, which was carried and held, with
the loss of about a hundred men. An
attempt was made to push forward the
picket lines, when skirmishing and artil
lery firing ensued. But reinforcements
for the rebels were now rapidly arriving
from various quarters, and in such
numbers that it was thought advisable
not to push the troops forward till the
arrival of Bumside's corps. In the
mean time General Kautz moved out
with his cavalry to the left across the
Norfolk Railroad, to occupy ground for
the ninth and fifth corps. In the after-

442

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

noon Burnside came up with the ninth
corps, after a severe forced march from
Charles City Court House, having crossed
the James by the pontoon bridge. Line
of battle was then formed, with the
second corps in the centre, the eighteenth
corps on the right, and the ninth corps on
the left. General Birney's division held
the right of the second corps, General
Barlow's the left. To the left of Barlow
was General Potter's division of the
ninth corps. The ground between the
opposing lines, though broken and
rugged, was rather open, with here and
there fields of grain. At six o'clock the
attack was commenced and kept up for
three hours. General Birney's division
carried the crest in its front, and held it.
Barlow's- advanced brigade found more
difficulty, the enemy being somewhat
concentrated in its front. At length
Miles' brigade of Barlow's division and
Griffin's' of Potter's division, charging
in face of a destructive artillery fire,
succeeded in gaining a foothold in the
rifle-pits outside of the stronger works.
The troops being here annoyed by the
enemy's fire, General Barlow determined
to make an assault on their main works,
and General Burnside prepared a column
to make the attempt in connection with
him. But the enemy opened a severe
fire upon Bumside's troops, and cut off a
skirmish line of three hundred men in
Barlow's front, and the assault was
deferred till morning. General Birney's
loss during the three hours' fighting was
about five hundred men ; General Pot
ter's division in its charge on the rifle-
pits lost about the same number. The

right had not taken an important part
in the contest and had suffered but little.
The total Federal loss since the begin
ning of the action was between 1,500
and 2,000, while that of the- enemy,
owing to their advantage of position,
was comparatively small.
On the morning of the 17th, at four
o'clock, General Burnside ordered jUHC
Potter's division to take the works 17.
in its front, and Griffin's brigade, sup
ported by Curtin's, carried it with a
rush, capturing six guns, sixteen officers,
four hundred men, and a stand of colors.
A pause then occurred in the assault,
but brisk skirmishing was carried on by
the picket lines, and the artillery on
both sides kept up a steady fire. In the
afternoon Potter's division was relieved
by the divisions of Wilcox and Ledlie.
An advance by Ledlie's division was
then ordered, and the charge was gal
lantly made, covered by a brisk artillery
fire. The intrenchments were reached,
and after a bloody but short contest
over the breast-works, the rebels were
driven out of them and the position
was carried ; and though several attempts
were made by the enemy to recover the
lost ground, it was firmly held. Gen
eral Burnside was now about a mile and
a half from the city, and threw some
shots into it. The other portions of the
line had, during the day, been engaged
in skirmishing, but without attempting
any decisive assault. The enemy's posi
tion opposite the second corps — tempo
rarily commanded by General Birney,
in the absence of General Hancock, who
was suffering from an old wound — was

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

443

deemed too strong to be- attacked with
any hope of success. General Barlow's
division, on the left of the second corps,
had taken part in Bumside's charge- in
the morning, and rendered efficient
service. On the right, the greater part
of the eighteenth corps, under General
Smith, was relieved from the position it
had carried, and recrossing the pontoon
bridge over the Appomattox at night,
regained the intrenchments at Bermuda
Hundred in the morning. The divisions
of Hinks and Martindale, on the extreme
right, remained, as they could not be
withdrawn to advantage. The fifth
corps, under General Warren, came up
on the left, and was massed there in the
rear of Burnside. About nine o'clock
at night the enemy appeared in force on
General Birney's front, but were driven
back. Somewhat later, under cover of
a vigorous shelling from the rebel bat
teries, the enemy suddenly reappeared
in two columns, one in front, the other
in flank, and made a desperate and
finally successful effort to recover the
works taken by Burnside during the
afternoon. Leaping the defences in the
dark, they succeeded in driving out the
Federal troops.
On this same day, early in the morn
ing, a body of the enemy, consisting of
parts of the divisions of Generals Pickett
and Fields, attacked the Federal lines
near the James. General Foster's divi
sion of the tenth corps, which held a line
extending from near Ware Bottom
Church toward the Appomattox, was
pushed back a little, but nothing im
portant occurred.

On the morning of the 18th, the
Federal line in front of Petersburg jline
lay as follows, from right to left : 18.
two divisions of the eighteenth corps,
under Generals Martindale and Hinks ;
the sixth under General Wright ; the
second under General Birney ; the ninth
under General Burnside, and the fifth
under General Warren. It had been
intended to make another assault at four
o'clock in the morning, but skirmishers
having been sent out, it was found that
the enemy had abandoned the works
immediately in front for an inner series
of defences. New combinations there
fore became necessary. Sharp skirmish
ing and artillery firing went on while
the enemy's new defensive line was
being reconnoitred. A general advance
of the three corps on the left was
ordered at noon. General Gibbon
pushed up an assaulting column of three
brigades, while the remainder of the
corps threw out double lines of skir
mishers to divert the enemy's attention.
The troops of General Gibbon moved
promptly up toward the works to be
assaulted, which were near the railroad
to City Point ; but when they got out
from under cover they were suddenly
struck by a murderous enfilading fire on
their left. Nevertheless the men went
desperately through it for a while ; but
their ranks were swept by incessant
volleys, and at last even the veterans
recoiled. The breast-works were not
even reached when the men began to
retire, leaving their dead and wounded
on the field. In the afternoon another
storming party was organized. It con-

444

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

sisted of General Mott's division, with
detachments from the two other divisions.
A little before five in the afternoon,
General Mott moved out his force in
two columns, and the two leading
brigades burst upon the enemy in gallant
style ; but in spite of an exhibition of the
most resolute bravery, they were forced
back with terrible loss, by a concentrated
artillery and musketry fire. This charge
also failed.
General Bumside's corps, on the left
of the second, was not idle. Wilcox's
division, with Curtin's brigade of Potter's
division, was pushed to the front to fill
up the space between the second and
fifth corps. Ledlie's division was held
in reserve. Brisk skirmishing continued
through the day, but no decisive advan
tage was gained. During the afternoon
the line was well established across the
Norfolk Railroad. General Wilcox's
division for a time pushed the enemy
from point to point over the rugged
ground in its front, with a sharp
musketry fire ; but the column was
caught by a battery in flank, and the
assault in this direction also ceased at
night, without the enemy's main line
having been penetrated. On the part
of the fifth corps, in position to the left
of the ninth, an advance was made early
in the morning, and the enemy's with
drawal to his inner line of defences
discovered. Preparations were then
made for a new advance, and in the
mean time a sharp artillery and musketry
fire was kept iip. A determined and
vigorous attack was made at noon simul
taneously with that by the second corps.

The ground in front was slightly rolling
and generally open, here and there
obstructed by abattis, as well as by a
natural undergrowth. . The movement
was directed against the south side of
the Norfolk Railroad, but was only
partially successful. Again, in the even
ing, simultaneously with General Mott's
attack from the centre, the divisions of
Griffin and Crawford assaulted vigor
ously, but to little purpose. In every
direction the enemy held their own. On
the right, Martindale's division of the
eighteenth corps, and Neill's division of
the sixth, had no better fortune than
was experienced iii other parts of the
line. The fighting was continued into
the night, but gradually died away in
picket firing. The losses during the day
had been very heavy, especially on the
part of the second corps. In the entire
series of operations, from the 15th to
the 18th of June, it was estimated that
the loss in killed, wounded, and missing
was not less than ten thousand men.
Four days of serious assaulting, though
the defences of Petersburg were as yet
manned only, or principally, by the
troops of Wise and Beauregard, had had
little other result, than the decimation
ofthe storming columns.
No movements of importance took
place in the vicinity of Petersburg on
the 19th and 20th. During the 19th,
arrangements were made under a flag
of truce for burying the dead and carry
ing off the wounded between the lines.
The sixth corps, which had been on the
north side of the Appomattox, near
Port Walthal, was relieved by the

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

445

eighteenth corps, and moved into line on
the right. General Ferrero's division
of the ninth corps also arrived, and was
posted in the front. Three rebel rams
descended the James nearly as far as
Dutch Gap, but were soon driven back
by the fleet. The enemy continued to
intrench on the west side of the Appo
mattox as industriously as the Federal
troops did on the east side ; but having
now no apprehensions of immediately
losing Petersburg, made some move
ments in other directions. Beauregard
in his hurry to reinforce Petersburg had
hastily deserted his old lines in front of
Bermuda Hundred, and the tenth corps,
as has been said, made use of the oppor
tunity to cut the Petersburg and Rich
mond Railroad ; but when they were
driven back, the enemy re-occupied their
works, and from these lines made a
slight demonstration in front and some
. raiding movements in the neighborhood
of the James.' On the night of the 19th
they succeeded in destroying the wharves
at Wilcox's and Westover Landings, and
sent small bodies of troops along the
river to do whatever other mischief they
could. They also threw up earth-works
near Turkey Bend, but were easily
shelled out of them by the gun- boats. ¦*
On the 20 th, early in the morning, a
strong force of rebel cavalry, with some
artillery, moved rapidly down upon
White House, where General Aber-
crombie, with about two thousand men,
of whom about a third were convales
cents, was guarding the wagon train of
General Sheridan, then absent on his
raid toward Gordonsville. The wagons

were parked behind breast-works. The
enemy drove in the skirmishers in the
neighborhood of Cold Harbor, but on
approaching White House, the gun-boats
in the river and two field batteries
opened on them with a fire of shells.
Skirmishing continued with little loss to
either side till the afternoon, when
Sheridan's forces arrived, and the rebels
withdrew from the vicinity of White
House, though they remained some days
in the region of the Pamunkey.
On the 21st, active movements were
again commenced by the main junc
army, and once more by the left 21.
flank, with the object of severing the
communications to the south of Peters
burg by the Weldon Railroad. On the
previous night the second corps had
been moved from its position in the
right centre of the line to the left, the
gap thus formed being closed up by the
extension of the ninth corps and part of
the eighteenth. The second corps then
struck across the Norfolk Railroad, and
marched rapidly southward, though
under an intensely hot sun and through
clouds of stifling and blinding dust, with
the steadiness which had so often char
acterized that corps during flank marches
in presence of the enemy. Griffin's di
vision of the fifth corps was detached to
follow ; the sixth corps was also moved
out in support. Before noon the main
column halted ; but in the afternoon Bar
low's division, with sharpshooters skir
mishing in advance, was sent forward,
and struck the enemy's lines in the
neighborhood of the Jerusalem road,
which runs southward from Petersburg,

446

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

about midway between the Norfolk and
Weldon railroads. The division was
then halted and put into position, and
skirmishers were advanced. These met
a stout resistance from dismounted cav
alry pickets, and presently infantry were
discovered in force with artillery planted
in earth-works — making it manifest
that the enemy understood the value of
the Weldon Railroad, and were pre
pared and determined to defend it
energetically. After a severe skirmish
General Barlow's advanced line was
withdrawn and rejoined the main column.
General Gibbon had in the mean time
reconnoitred toward Petersburg, but
without result. On the extreme left the
enemy's movements were so threatening
that a squadron of cavalry was sent
round to protect that flank. The corps
was then retired to form in position for
the night, with General Barlow's division
on the left, General Mott's in the centre,
and General Gibbon's on the right.
Beyond Gibbon's division was Griffin's
of the fifth corps. The sixth corps was
intended to be posted between the
second corps and the Weldon Railroad.
Ricketts' division came up and took a
position on Barlow's left, and the other
division followed. There was a little
cavalry skirmishing on the extreme left,
and the rebel scouts made a slight dash
in the evening toward the Federal posi
tion, but the day closed without any
more important movement. The fight
in the afternoon took place on what was
known as the Davis' Farm, two and a
half miles from the city and within a
mile of the railroad.

The day was comparatively quiet in
the lines east of Petersburg. The rebels
early in the morning opened fire toward
the headquarters of the sixth corps,
which had not at that time moved out,
and there was more or less firing during
the day, especially toward the right.
The bridges over the Appomattox con
necting Petersburg and Pocahontas now
underwent a daily shelling from the
Federal batteries. The fire on the rail
road bridge was particularly annoying
to the enemy, as it tended materially to
obstruct the passage of cars.
To the north of Petersburg there had
been during the day some important
movements. Early in the morning Gen
eral Foster, with his division of the tenth
corps, crossed to the north side of the
James River by a pontoon bridge laid
by General Weitzel on the previous
evening, to a' point between Aiken's
Landing and Four Mile Creek. He
advanced then toward the Kingsland
road, drove in the enemy's pickets and
intrenched at Deep Bottom, about ten
miles from Richmond, the approaches to
which he threatened to some extent.
On the opposite side of the river was
the battery of the enemy known, as
Hewlett's. Near this point a fight
between the monitors and the rebel
rams took place, but though the latter
were aided by the battery, they were
driven back to their usual position on
the west side of Dutch Gap. The heavy
Dahlgren guns soon silenced the battel y,
and in the evening were opened on the
enemy manoeuvring in front of Foster.
He was thus enabled to hold his own for

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

447

some time without molestation. In the
mean time the eighteenth corps again
left its camp near Bermuda Hundred,
once more crossed the pontoon bridge,
marched to the lines in front of Peters
burg, and took the position vacated by
the sixth corps. The result of the
various army movements on the 21st
was, that at night the different commands
lay as follows : General Foster's division
of the tenth corps was north of the
James at Deep Bottom ; the remainder
of the tenth corps being with General
Butler at Bermuda Hundred. In the
intrenchments east of Petersburg, the
right was held by the eighteenth corps,
the centre by the ninth, the left by the
fifth. Three or four miles to the south,
threatening the Weldon Railroad, were
the second and sixth corps, with Griffin's
division of the fifth corps.
The movement against the Weldon
June Railroad was resumed early on the
22. 22d. Now that the capture of
Petersburg had come to be considered
out of the question for the present, the
severance of the Weldon Railroad be-
. came a primary object. This once made
permanent, the value of Petersburg to
General Lee would be very much dimin
ished. It was intended that the present
movement should partake of the nature
of a surprise, but the enemy were found
everywhere on the alert. It had been
arranged that, simultaneously with the
movement of the infantry, the cavalry
under Generals Wilson and Kautz should
make a detour southward and cut the
railroad about ten miles from Peters
burg. This was done, but the damage

accomplished was easily repaired. The
sixth corps, the whole of which had
come up during the night, prepared to
move, in conjunction with the second
corps, directly against the railroa.d. The
position of the second corps was near
the Jerusalem road, the right of Gen
eral Gibbon's division resting on the left
of the road, with General Griffin's
division of the fifth corps on the farther
side. Gibbon's troops were already well
up to the enemy's works and needed
only to go into position and intrench, as
any farther advance on their part might
bring on a general engagement before
the line was properly established. The
left of the line, therefore, consisting of
the sixth corps with the divisions of
Generals Barlow and Mott of the second
corps, was ordered to advance, the
movement to commence at daybreak.
But by some misunderstanding the
march was delayed. At last the two
corps began 'to move at the same time,
though independently of each other,
each commander having been cautioned
to protect his flank well in case connec
tion were not made with the other
corps. The line had been deployed in
a rather open style, and covered a wide
extent of ground, which being difficult
and intricate, and the movement being
made in presence of the enemy, it was
thought desirable to mass more closely.
Accordingly General Barlow, on the left
of the second corps, pressed well in to
the right and threw two brigades into
reserve, the remainder of his troops
forming the advance line. But on
entering the woods a gap began to be

448

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

formed between his left and the right
of the sixth corps, and he placed regi
ments to guard his flank. In the mean
time General Mott had, without diffi
culty, attained the position indicated for
him and had begun to intrench ; Gen
eral Gibbon was already in position ;
and General Barlow having moved for
ward sufficiently was also about to in
trench, when the startling sound was
heard of musketry on his flank, and
soon, afterward toward his rear. The
corps of the rebel General Hill advanc
ing to check the movement against the
railroad, was approaching in several
solid columns, preceded by a dense
cloud of skirmishers. The sixth corps
was far distant on the left and rear.
There was consequently a wide gap in
the Federal line, like that which oc
curred between the fifth and second
corps in the Wilderness, but which was
happily filled up in time to prevent
fatal results. In the present case the
enemy were so situated as to be able to
take full advantage of the mistake com
mitted. An entire division, with Ma-
hone's brigade in the advance, rushed
into the intervening space. The skir
mishers of General Barlow's division
were quickly driven in, and the enemy's
column sweeping all before it, almost
instantaneously rolled up Barlow's flank,
capturing several hundred prisoners.
The sudden recoil of Barlow's division
uncovered the left flank of Mott's divi
sion, and exposed it to the same disad
vantage. Mott fell back in his turn
also, with the loss of several hundred
prisoners, and thus exposed the left of

Gibbon's division. In the mean time
the remainder of Hill's corps had come
up, and having captured Mott's entire
line of intrenchments, pressed Gibbon
not only in front but in rear, so that his
left brigade was almost encircled by the
enemy's fire. McKnight's four-guii bat
tery was well handled, but its support
ing troops were driven back and Gib
bon's intrenchments had already been
carried. Such was the suddenness and
impetuosity of the attack, and so great
was the confusion resulting from it, that
several whole regiments were swept off
and captured almost without a fight.
McKnight's battery was then surrounded
and captured entire. But the career of
the enemy was now checked by the
firmness of the Twentieth Massachusetts
regiment, commanded at that time by
Captain Patten, who executed a change
of front with remarkable coolness,
courage, and skill. The \ broken corps
was at length rallied. Miles' reserve
brigade of General Barlow's division
was brought up ; Clark's New Jersey
battery on the right of the Jerusalem.
road withstood successfully the concen
trated fire of the enemy ; Gibbon's divi
sion, or rather what was left of it, was
also rallied, and the beginning of a new
line was soon formed. The enemy had
by this time become exhausted with
their own efforts, and . an attempt on
their part to disperse the few brave
troops in Gibbon's former front signally
failed. Toward evening, efforts were
made by General Gibbon to retake the
lost battery, but without success. Gen
eral Meade having now got his force

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

449

again under control, and seeing that the
enemy's troops were not in sufficient
number to be able to cope with his o-wn
if well handled, again sent forward the
second and sixth corps. The sixth met
with little opposition, and attained the
position aimed at earlier in the day.
The second corps went through the
woods in strong skirmishing lines, and
succeeded, though not without some
effort, in regaining a part of the ground
from which it had been driven. It then
went into intrenchments, and passed the
night in throwing up works and placing
batteries for the protection of the line.
The division of General Griffin also
came up and covered the right. The
loss sustained in this unfortunate and
unskilfully managed affair was principally
in prisoners, two thousand having been
taken by the enemy, including fifty or
sixty officers ; the number of killed
and wounded was only about five hun
dred. Four guns also were lost and
several colors. Picket firing was kept
up all night, as the last advance had
placed the opposing lines in close prox
imity. A reconnoissance and advance
at daylight disclosed the fact that the
rebels were strongly intrenched along
the east side of the Weldon Railroad.
After dark the enemy opened a sharp
artillery and musketry fire on the ninth
corps to the east of Petersburg, which
was answered by a similar fire. This
was kept up during a great part of the
night, but no advance was attempted
from either side.
On the 23d, General Wright moving
out to the extreme left, found that the
22s

enemy's lines did not extend far in
that direction, and sent a recon- jnne
noitring force to the railroad, which 23.
was reached without opposition and the
telegraph wires cut. The Vermont
brigade, consisting of three regiments,
was at once dispatched to the railroad,
with instructions to hold it, but the
troops had hardly reached the road
when a division of the enemy under
General Anderson came down upon
their flank and drove them back, captur
ing several hundred prisoners, and then.
flushed with success, after pushing back
the Vermont brigade to the main body,
commenced a general attack, the result
of which was that General Wright with
drew his line toward evening to the
cover of breast-works. Little else of
importance occurred during the day.
On the 24th the enemy opened a
furious artillery fire in front of the
eighteenth -corps. At its close a charge
was made by a brigade of General
Hoke's division" on General Stannard's
division of the tenth corps. The attack
fell chiefly on the brigade of Colonel
Henry, who observing that the attacking
force was not large, drew in his skir
mishers ; the enemy then running over
his rifle-pits, he caused the Fortieth
Massachusetts, armed with the Spencer
repeating-rifle, to open fire upon them.
This with artillery in flank easily sep
arated the enemy's skirmishing line from
their reserve, and about 150 prisoners
fell into Colonel Henry's hands. On
the evening of the same day, Sheridan's
cavalry was attacked while on the march
from White House to rejoin the main ¦

450

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

army. A brigade of infantry was sent
June to his relief, but the affair was very
24. bloody, and the rear-guard suffered
severely. The enemy were beaten off
at length, and the wagon train, several
miles in length, was saved, but not
before a loss of five or six hundred men
had been sustained. Sheridan's force
crossed the James in safety on the 25th,
four or five miles above Fort Powhatan,
at a point where the pontoon bridges
could be guarded by gun-boats.
During the 25th the enemy were busily
engaged in repairing the Weldon Rail
road, and the Federal forces in strength
ening their positions. All along the
line, owing to the proximity of the
"opposing pickets, there was skirmishing,
with occasional artillery firing, but no
serious fighting. About ten o'clock at
night a sharp attack was made on the
right of the fifth corps and on the left
of the ninth. It was commenced by a
heavy artillery fire, which lasted about
an hour, followed by the advance of a
strong skirmish line up to the Federal
breast-works ; but the enemy were easily
repulsed, and the loss was not great on
either side.
From the 26th to the 29th, compara
tive quiet prevailed in the camps, broken
occasionally by picket firing, skirmishing
near the working parties, and desultory
, cannonading. From the front of Gen
eral Smith's corps a thirty-pounder Par
rott shell was thrown into the city every
five minutes, and with such regularity
that it came to be called the ' ' Peters
burg express." The earth-works along
the Federal lines underwent constant

improvement till they became almost
impregnable. About eleven o'clock on
the morning of the 27th, the enemy,
much annoyed by the regular fire of the
thirty-pounder Parrott on the city,
opened from their hqavy guns on the
west side of the Appomattox. The
batteries in General Smith's front, where
many guns were now in position, opened
in reply, and shelled the city, as well as
the enemy's batteries beyond the river,
till noon. The opposing pickets along
some parts of the line entered into an
agreement not to fire upon each other,
and the result was an unusual degree of
quiet for a little while ; but General
Birney found it necessary to prohibit .the
more intimate intercourse which this
state of things had a tendency to bring
about. In the second corps on the left,
some movements were made with the
view of guarding against hostile demon
strations on the flank. General Han-
cock, now convalescent, resumed com
mand of this corps in the evening. At
one o'clock in the morning of the 28th
there was a false alarm, and the eight
eenth corps got under arms. About
this time some very heavy siege guns
were got into position, and a bombard
ment of the city was commenced by
bursting a shell over it every quarter
of an hour during the night. This fire
was continued for some time, and on the
night of the 30th caused a conflagration
within the town. The weather, which
for many days and nights had been
intensely hot, causing great suffering to
the men, whether on the march or in
camp, now grew a little cooler. The

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

451

excessive heat had been severely trying
to the wounded, and had even prevented
recovery in some cases. The agents of
the Sanitary and Christian Commissions
availed themselves of the opportunity
afforded by these days of comparative
quiet to distribute vegetables and other
luxuries among the troops, and in other
ways to contribute to their comfort.
June On the 29th, a new earth-work for
29. a siege battery, which General
Ledlie had thrown up in front of his
position, became the target for a fierce
artillery and musketry fire on the part

of the enemy. In the forenoon of this
day the news arrived in camp that
General Wilson's cavalry, after cut
ting the Weldon Railroad, as detailed in
the next chapter, had gone on to the
Danville Railroad, and been intercepted
on its return ; so, early in the afternoon
the sixth corps, in the lightest marching
order, moved out to its assistance,
Gibbon's division taking the position in
the line thus vacated. General Sheri
dan also, with his two divisions, pro
ceeded as rapidly as possible in the same
direction.

CHAPTER XLI

Raid of Generals Wilson and Kautz against the Weldon and Danville Railroads.— The Weldon Railroad cut.— Railroad
Destruction at Burkesville and on the Danville Road.— Battle at Staunton Bridge.— Fight at Stony Creek and Reams'
Station.— Disastrous Rout of Wilson's Column.— Escape of Kautz's Command.— Long Route taken by Wilson.—
Losses.— The Weldon Railroad cut hy the Sixth Corps.— A Demonstration by General Smith frustrated.— Rebel As
sault on a Federal Earth-work.— The Fourth of July in the Lines before Petersburg.— A sudden Attack by the Rebels
repulsed.— A Dead Lock.— Effect on the Troops of incessant hard Fighting.— Grant retains Butler in his Command.
—Change in Corps Commanders. — Federal Occupation of Strawberry Plains.— Description of the Mine at Petersburg.
The Feint at Deep Bottom.— Demonstrations toward Richmond. — General Lee hurries large numbers of Troops to
the north side of the James. — Explosion of the Mine. — Advance of the Storming Column. — Delay.— The Repulse. —
Rout of Ferrero's Colored Division.— The Fort recaptured by the Rebels.— Delay in burying the Dead and caring for
the Wounded.— Causes of Failure.— Explosion of a Rebel Mine.— Deserters.— Terrific Explosion at City Point.

1864.

About two o'clock in the morning of
the 22d of June, General Wilson,
having been joined the day before
by the brigade of General Kautz, set
out from his camps on Blackwater Creek,
a little south of Prince George Court
House, on an expedition against the
Weldon and Danville railroads. The
united force under his command num
bered six or eight thousand men, with
three batteries of four guns each, half

rifled ordnance and half light twelve-
pounders, besides a battery of four small
mountain howitzers. The column struck
the Weldon Railroad at Reams' Station,
tore up and burnt the track for several
hundred yards, and destroyed the water
tank, depQt, and public buildings, as
well as a saw-mill at Dutch Cross-Roads
near by. Then, after moving westward
as far as Dinwiddie Court House, the
command proceeded northward to the

452

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

Petersburg and Lynchburg Railroad,
which it struck at Sutherland Station,
and marched thence westward to Ford's
Station, about twenty-two miles from
Petersburg, the brigade of General
Kautz being in the advance. At this
point, which was reached before evening,
several miles of the track were destroyed
as well as two locomotives and sixteen
cars ; the depot and some stores were
also burnt. All this was accomplished
before midnight, when the command
bivouacked. In the, morning, about two
o'clock, General Kautz again set out in
advance, and by rapid marching soon
left a wide gap between his portion of
the column and that under General
Wilson. His course lay along the rail
road in the direction of Burkesville, the
point of intersection of the Lynchburg
and Danville railroads. He reached
Wilson's Station about four o'clock,
Blacks-and-Whites about seven o'clock,
and Nottoway at noon, whence he
hurried on to Burkesville. At this
place the depoTs, cars, and similar prop
erty were destroyed, as well as several
miles of the track eastward and west
ward. The railroad here was constructed
of " strap" rails laid on longitudinal
stringers of dry yellow pine. While the
rear was engaged in burning and other
wise destroying the depOts and other
buildings along the road, advanced
parties collected dry rails, piled them
up against the stringers and set the
whole on fire. This was done with so
much method and celerity that miles of
the railroad were burning at once.
The main part of the column, some

miles in the rear, near Nottoway Court
House, encountered about three o'clock
in the afternoon a rebel force on its
right flank, consisting of two regiments
under Colonel Barringer and General
Dearing. The second brigade, under
Colonel Chapman, was formed in line,
and a sharp fight ensued, which june
lasted till nightfall, when the en- 23.
emy withdrew, carrying with them thirty-
four prisoners. The loss on each side
was about sixty. General Wilson's
troops bivouacked at Nottoway ; Gen
eral Kautz's not far from Burkesville.
Both commands marched toward Meher-
rin in the morning, Wilson's across the
country, Kautz's along the railroad,
formed a junction there, and moved on
to Keysville, where the column bivou
acked for the night, General Kautz's
men having worked hard all day on the
railroad, of which they destroyed eight
een miles of the track besides other
railroad property. The march and the
work of destruction were resumed early
on the 25th, and the whole column
pressed rapidly forward till, about three
o'clock in the afternoon, the advance
came up to the covered bridge over the
Staunton River. From Burkesville to
this bridge, a distance of about thirty-
five miles, the railroad track had been
thoroughly destroyed, which with the
track torn up eastward of Burkesville
made an aggregate of railroad put out
of running order of not less than fifty
miles. It was very desirable that the
bridge also should be destroyed, as it
would consume much time to replace it.
But the enemy were well aware- of its

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

453

value, and while Wilson's and Kautz's
men had been destroying the track, had
collected in the neighborhood of the
bridge a considerable force of Virginia
and North Carolina militia, «ome of
whom had been brought up from Dan
ville. They had also made such good
use of their time as to throw up in
trenchments in front of the bridge, and
construct earth-works, in which they
had placed some artillery. They had
also a piece of ordnance mounted on an
armored car, which could be moved on
the railroad. On the approach of the
Federal troops the enemy opened fire
June with grape and canister. General
25. Kautz's four regiments immediately
deployed on the right and left of the
main road. Sharp skirmishing, with
considerable loss on the side of General
Kautz, was kept up for some time, but
it soon became evident that under the
circumstances the Federal troops could
accomplish nothing without suffering
disastrously, and they were compelled
to withdraw, after having burnt the
railroad d6p6t. The principal object of
the raid had however been now accom
plished, and at night the column moved
eastward toward Weylsburg, which was
reached about daylight on the 26th.
After an hour's halt the line of march
was' again taken up, the route chosen for
the return lying through Christianville
and across Meherrin Creek, and thence to
Double Bridges on the Nottoway. The
enemy's cavalry brigade again appeared,
this time on the left flank, and some
unimportant skirmishing followed. The
Nottoway River was reached about noon

on the 28th at Double Bridges, and the
pickets stationed there were easily driven
across the bridge by Mcintosh's second
brigade, which was in the advance. It
had been intended to cross the Weldon
Railroad at Jarrett's Station, but infor
mation being received that a large force
composed of militia and troops from
Weldon had been collected there, the
route was .changed to Stony Creek,
about midway between Jarrett's and
Reams' stations. Mcintosh's brigade.
with' the Second Ohio and Third Indiana,
dashing across the bridge, met at once a
spirited resistance. Nevertheless the
men all got over, and Mcintosh formed
line of battle ; but a considerable rebel
force was found lying on the road to the
station. After some skirmishing, the
Federal troops found that it was their
part to act on the defensive, and they
got • together as rapidly as» possible a
breast- work of rails, logs, and earth, in
the usual manner. It was not long
before they had to repel several charges.
General Wilson, now fearing that
if he remained long in that vicinity
the enemy might gather about him a
force from which he could not escape,
determined to vwithdraw, and about
eleven at night sent off the command of
General Kautz with the wagons and
ammunition trains, and between one
and two thousand negroes, collected on
the march, toward Reams' Station. He
himself followed before daylight with
the remainder of his force, with the
exception of three regiments left in the
intrenchments to do what they could
toward detaining the enemy. General

454

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

Kautz, on approaching Reams' Station,
found the rebels strongly posted there,
and was at once pressed in front and
rear by both cavalry and artillery.
June When General Wilson came up
29. with the bulk of his force, he
attempted to form line of battle ; but he
was very soon attacked and defeated,
and his entire force thrown into confu
sion. Of course the detachment left at
Stony Point could not long hold out ; it
was flanked and partly cut off. The
situation of General Wilson's column
now became extremely critical; it was
almost entirely surrounded by a greatly
superior force, and it soon became a
question, not whether the Federal cav
alry could hold their ground, but whether
they would not be captured in a body.
(The plan finally adopted, perhaps the
best under the circumstances, was for
each regiment or squadron to make its
escape separately as it best could. Gen
eral Kautz turned off nearly due south
with his command. Detachments moved
in various directions, and a general
stampede was made for the lines near
Petersburg, over ditches and fences,
through swamps and woods, and along
concealed by-paths, to escape the fiercely
pursuing enemy, who chased the fugi
tives close up to the Federal lines. On
the night of the 28th, the main part of
General Kautz's command reached the
picket reserve in a state of terrible
exhaustion and excitement, and remained
there through the night. They did not
reach their old camp till the evening of
the 30th. Squads and solitary horse
men continued to straggle back within

the lines for two or three days. Badly
as Kautz's troops had fared, they might
have had much worse fortune had it
not been for their commander's intimate
knowledge of the country, which enabled
him to get his men through rapidly.
But they were all thoroughly used up,
and it is said that in the latter part of
their weary ride some of the men
actually slept in their saddles.
General Wilson was so long without
being heard from, that it was feared he
had been captured with all his men.
The main part of his force did not ride
in till the 1st of July. He had retreated
in the night by the road leading south
eastward toward Suffolk, and fetching a
wide circuit, secured safety at the ex
pense of a long route. He crossed the
Nottoway about thirty miles from Peters
burg, and the Blackwater at the County
Road bridge ; turning then northward
he made his way to Cahin Point, and
rode thence into the Union lines about
five miles from Fort Powhatan. His
entire force was in wretched plight when
it returned. Both men and horses were
worn out and jaded to the last»degree
after their long and severe marching and
hard fighting, followed by the enemy's
relentless harassing. Their clothing and
accoutrements were torn and spoiled,
and their horses hardly able to walk.
All they had to lose the enemy had got
possession of — the entire wagon train,
sixteen guns, nearly all their caissons,
and many horses. The total loss in
men was about fifteen hundred. Of the
large number of negroes collected, the
greater part were recaptured. The

ambulances, filled with sick and wounded,
had been left on the field at Reams'
Station, under a hospital flag. Notwith
standing the unfortunate termination of
the expedition, General Grant expressed
himself satisfied with the result, inas
much as the Danville Railroad , had
received so much damage that consider
able time must elapse before it could be
restored to working order. The sixth
corps, which had set out for Reams'
Station in the hope of relieving General
Wilson's force, did not arrive till all was
over. The enemy had disappeared from
that point, and the troops took advantage
of their absence to destroy the railroad
and telegraph for a few miles. Many
fugitive negroes, who had followed
General Wilson's cavalry, took refuge
with the sixth corps. It was ascertained
about noon on the 30th that Sheridan
was well on his way, and the corps
returned toward its former camping
ground at night, going into line of battle
along the Jerusalem turnpike.
The same evening General Smith
made a demonstration in front of his
lines, iii the hope of carrying one of the
enemy's earth-works. It was intended
to be in . great measure a surprise, but
failed through an incautious movement
made by a brigade commander, by which
the enemy were put on the alert, and
when the assaulting column advanced,
opened upon it a tremendous fire from
a circle, of batteries. The men were at
once called off; but a loss of 150 in
killed and wounded was sustained.
Little of moment occurred during the
day in the lines before Petersburg on

the 1st of July ; but about ten o'clock
at night a heavy musketry fire jH)y
from the rebels broke out in front !•
of the ninth corps, followed presently by
a charge upon an earth-work which
General Ledlie had been throwing up
for several days and nights, and which
had cost him many men, killed by the
enemy's sharpshooters while at work
upon it. An artillery fire also had often
been directed on this work by the
enemy, and now. before the guns had
been put in position, though it was near
completion, they attempted to carry it
by a desperate charge. After a sharp
but short conflict they were driven back
with considerable loss, as the position
was well defended by flanking batteries ;
but the firing continued at intervals
through the night. About three o'clock
in the afternoon of the 2d of July a
sharp artillery fire was opened by the
enemy on the line of the eighteenth
corps, and was warmly responded to by
the Federal batteries. This continued
for about two hours, without any im
portant result. On the evening of the
3d there was some firing on the right
centre. The Fourth of July was celebrated
in the lines before Petersburg by a
national salute of thirty-four shotted
guns from a thirty-pounder Parrott in
front of General Smith's position, fol
lowed by a general play of artillery on
the steeples of Petersburg. The military
bands also played national airs all along
the line.
Things remained pretty quiet till the
7th, when a battery of heavy guns in

456

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

front of the fifth corps opened fire upon
a party of the enemy who were observed
to be throwing up a new work. A
general cannonading and a fire of sharp-
jujy shooters followed. On the 8th,
8- before daybreak, there was a little
firing on the part of the rebels. About
four o'clock in the afternoon the enemy
springing suddenly to their feet, with
their accustomed loud battle-yell, poured
a volley of musketry into the intrench
ments in front of Turner's division, on
the left of the eighteenth corps. 'They
then quickly deployed a skirmishing
line, and moved rapidly on the .works
along the front of Martindale and Stan-
nard. The entire space between the
opposing lines was soon covered with a
dense cloud of mingled smoke and dust,
and the musketry firing was very sharp
for a short time, but the enemy were
driven back without having reached the
breast-works. In the mean time the
batteries all along the front of the three
corps on the right were opened, and
shot and shell were thrown not only
into the space which the rebels had
attempted to cross, but into the city and
over the Appomattox. The superior
weight of metal of the Federal batteries
soon overpowered those of the enemy.
The loss in this affair was not very great
on either side, though the rebels got the
worst of it, as they were uncovered in
their unsuccessful charge, while their
opponents were well protected. The
cannonading was all over at dusk.
Affairs now remained very quiet for
many days in front of Petersburg. A
little work in the intrenchments went

on, but the artillery and musketry
demonstrations became less frequent,
though they were by no means sus
pended ; the city and the enemy's
batteries continued to be persistently
and monotonously shelled. The troops
of both armies were so well protected
by earth-works that the heaviest artillery
fire did little injury ; but any effort made
from either side to capture a portion of
the other's works was almost sure to
result disastrously. Both armies were
strong enough for defence, but neither
was able to attack with success. There
was apparently a dead lock, which
promised to be perpetual unless the
enemy's communications could be de
stroyed in all directions, the difficulty
of doing which was seen in the fact that
the rebels had put the Weldon Railroad
in running order again by the 9th of
July*, and their trains ran on it unmo
lested. The sixth corps, which had
moved to Reams' Station to the relief
of Wilson's cavalry, and subsequently
took a position near the Jerusalem
road, was withdrawn for the defence of
Washington, as has been stated else
where. There had been a continuance of un
usually hot weather for forty days, and
any movement of large bodies of men
raised choking and blinding clouds of
dust. This added not a little to the
discomfort of the army, whose fatigues
during this time, in its wearisome
marches and desperate battles, had been
excessive, and it was prepared to accept
gladly the interval of rest now afforded.
Events had proved that it would be not

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

457

only unmerciful but useless to hurl
masses of men against the enemy's im
pregnable defences. Besides, the long
and almost unparalleled series of actions
since the first movement from Culpeper
Court House, had not been without its
effect on the morale of both men and offi
cers. Commissioned officers of all grades
had fallen by thousands before the cross
ing of the James, and their places had
necessarily been supplied by less ex
perienced commanders. The effect of
this was apparent in succeeding battles,
in which not only was there a large
infusion of raw material in the rank and
file, but a lack of skill was displayed in
the handling of the men. This was
particularly seen in the affair of the 22d
of June, when the second corps, hereto
fore conspicuous for its gallantry, fell
back from the enemy's onset, division
after division, and allowed one of the
finest brigades in the army to be cap
tured almost without firing a shot ; and
again on the following day, when the
Vermont brigade, of the sixth corps,
was badly cut up and driven back to the
main body. The later attacks on the
defences around Petersburg showed the
same want of spirit in the men, and it
was remarked by their officers that they
did not fight as they had done thirty days
before. They shared the general dis
couragement, and felt when ordered to
move against the enemy's positions that
their lives were being sacrificed in vain.
On the 18th of July, a thirteen-inch
mortar, which after some difficulty had
been got into position in front of the
eighteenth corps, began to throw its
226

huge shells into the enemy's works.
On the next day there was pretty steady
artillery firing in front of the ninth and
eighteenth corps as well as from the
batteries of the fifth ; but what was
considered more worthy of remark on
the part of the troops, to whom the
roar of artillery had become the rule
and its absence the exception, was a
heavy rain, the first of any account
since the army left Spottsylvania Court
House, which began to fall early in the
morning, and continued all day and into
the night. Its cheering influence on the
arriiy was of great value. There was
enough of it to lay and thoroughly
penetrate the dust, which, owing to the
long-continued drouth and the ceaseless
tread of many feet, had become several
inches deep in the camps. On this day,
also, General Grant rescinded an order
of the War Department by which Gen
eral Butler was relieved of his command.
General Grant not only did this, but in
addition to the tenth and eighteenth
corps gave General Butler the command
of the nineteenth corps, just arrived at
Fortress Monroe from the South, Gen
eral Emory's division of which had gone
to aid in the defence of Washington.
Not long after this General Smith was
relieved of the command of the eight
eenth corps, and was succeeded tempo
rarily by General Martindale, and then
permanently by General Ord, formerly
of the eighth corps. General Gillmore
also, who had been relieved of the
command of the tenth corps, was sue-
ceeded temporarily by Generals Brooks
and Terry, and permanently by General

458

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

Birney, formerly commanding the third
division of the second corps.
About ten o'clock in the forenoon of
the 20th, the fire of the thirteen-inch
mortar was directed across the river.
This was responded to by a concentrated
artillery fire from the enemy ; which in
its turn was replied to by the Federal
thirty-pounders and eight-inch mortars,
together with the light batteries. This
lasted four hours without any important
result. The enenry had established a
battery of Whitworth guns at Strawberry
Plains, about a mile from the pontoon
bridge over the James, from which they
were able to deliver an enfilading fire
on the gun-boats, and had disabled the
Mendota. A Maine regiment was moved
out to occupy this position, and on the
21st they did so without opposition, but
were driven out of it again at night.
They recovered it, however, on the
morning of the 22d, aided by a fire from
the gun-boats. On the evening of the
23d there was heavy artillery firing in
front of the eighteenth corps, now under
the command of General Ord, and the
night was made noisy by the discharge
of mortars. On the 24th there was
picket firing and shelling all day in front
of the ninth corps,- and in the afternoon
a shell caused the explosion of one of
the enemy's caissons, by which twenty
men were disabled. Not long afterward
a shell from the rebels burst in the
headquarters of the Fifty-seventh Mas
sachusetts, severely wounding some of
the officers ; but the entire Federal loss.
during the day was not more than
twenty or thirty. Another explosion

was caused in the enemy's works on the
25th. On the 26th there was the usual
picket firing in front of the ninth corps,
and at dark a very heavy cannonading,
along the right and right centre, con
tinued till after midnight. At the same
time there was a rapid musketry fire
kept up on the part of the skirmishers.
At this date was completed an import
ant work which had been commenced jn|y
by General Burnside just a month 26.
before, and soon after the Federal com
manders had been compelled, by the
disastrous repulse of several storming
columns, to feel, if not to acknowledge,
that the defences around Petersburg
were impregnable against direct assault.
This was nothing less than a great mine
which had been constructed under one
of the most important of the enemy's
works. The idea of this mine originated
with Lieutenant-Colonel Pleasants, of the
Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, who, as well
as many men of his regiment, had been
familiar with mining operations before
the war. To the men of this regiment
its construction was intrusted and by
them it was completed. The work of
excavation was begun on the 25th of
June, with the utmost precautions as to
secrecy, in the side of a ravine sur
mounted by an earth-work in front of
the position of the ninth corps, and was
perseveringly pushed on toward the
doomed fort, situated about two thousand
yards from the city. The distance to
be mined was about five hundred feet.
The mine was constructed in the usual
manner, the surface having been first
carefully measured by triangulation. As

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

i59

the excavation went on, the earth was
brought out and thrown on works, so as
not to give rise to inquiries by being
allowed to accumulate in great heaps.
The gallery was made in the usual shape,
about four feet wide at the bottom and
sloping upward so as to be narrower at
the top. The height was about four
and a half feet. The ground rose
toward the fort, and the tunnel conse
quently sloped upward toward it. Diffi
culties in the shape of water and quick
sands were encountered and overcome,
though the mine remained very damp.
When the locality of the fort was
reached, there was only about twenty
feet of the earth intervening, and the
sound could be distinctly heard overhead
of- the nailing of planks and timbers,
indicating that the occupants of the fort
were making a floor for their artillery.
Wings were then extended to the right
and left, in which eight magazines were
formed, four in each gallery, carefully
" tamped" or separated by packings of
sand-bags and wood. , Wooden pipes
were laid along the tunnel to within a
hundred feet of the magazines. The
ventilation of the mine was effected by
sinking, just within the exterior line of
works to the side of the tunnel, a shaft,
at the bottom of which a fireplace was
built with a grating opening into the
gallery, and by means of a fire kept
burning at this point a current of air
was caused. The smoke issuing from
the top of the shaft of course could not
be concealed, but attention was diverted
from it by keeping fires at various places
along the line. Finally, when all was

complete, the chambers were charged
with about four tons of gunpowder. To
keep the enemy from obtaining a knowl
edge of what was going on, intercourse
between the opposing picket lines was
strictly prohibited, and an incessant
skirmishing and artillery fire was kept
up in front of the ninth corps, even
while all along the rest of the line there
was comparative inaction. The plan of
assault was, to explode the mine and
immediately afterward open a cannonade
from all the guns along the line, now
numbering nearly a hundred ; then, be
fore the enemy could recover from the
confusion and dismay which would be
naturally created among them by the
explosion and sudden burst of a tremen
dous artillery fire, a strong storming
party was to rush through the gap
which it was supposed would be made
in the line of the enemy's works, and
endeavor to carry the position beyond,
a very strongly fortified crest, called
Cemetery Hill, completely commanding
the cit)r, and the key of the enemy's
position. The Federal lines had for a
long time been gradually pushed forward
till they were now, at the most advanced
point, not more than a hundred and fifty
yards distant from those of the enemy.
This was about the distance of the fort
which had been undermined. But the
intervening space was swept by the
enemy's artillery, and near the fort itself
abattis and other entanglements had
been placed.
To add to the probability of success,
General Grant determined, before ex
ploding the mine and commencing the

460

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

assault, to induce General Lee to draw
off a large proportion of his troops from
Petersburg by making a feint in another
direction. With this view he began a
series of movements which indicated a
design to transfer operations to the
neighborhood of Richmond. General
Grant's line at this time was not less
than twenty miles long. On its extreme
right, across the James at Deep Bottom,
jTist above Four Mile Creek, General
Foster, with his division of the tenth
corps, had been for a long time in pos
session of an intrenched camp — a posi
tion of considerable importance, since,
so long as it was held, the enemy could
neither make a demonstration on the
Federal right flank from Malvern Hill,
which they still occupied, nor any suc
cessful attempt to get possession of the
north bank of the James at this point,
with the view of blockading the river
by means of field artillery against the
Federal gun-boats and transports. It
also constituted an excellent base for an
advance on Richmond from the south
east, by three parallel roads, and thus
served admirably for the feint now about
to be made in that direction. A pon
toon bridge, thoroughly protected by
gun-boats, lay across the James in the
rear of General Foster's position, but in
his front was a large force of the enemy,
effectually barring any advance on his
part. About a mile and a half below
the position of General Foster, at Straw
berry Plains, also held by a small Federal
force, a second pontoon bridge was
thrown across the river on the 21st of
July, and on the following day a brigade

of the nineteenth corps crossed by it and
secured the bridge head. The enemy
made a large addition to their force in
front of General Foster's position, and
on the 26th there was in that direction
rapid and heavy artillery and musketry
firing, in which the gun-boats took part.
Skirmishing also was continued through
the day by General Foster's infantry,
with a loss of about fifty men. In the
mean time, at four o'clock in the after
noon of the 26th, the second corps.
quietly began to march from its position
on the extreme left of the line before
Petersburg, soon followed by Sheridan's
cavalry, which had been lying in camps
around its flank and rear. The column
moved very rapidly without straggling.
Barlow's division first, Mott'-s and Gib
bon's next, to Point of Rocks on the
Appomattox, and crossed the river early
in the evening. The march was then
continued to the James, which was.
reached by midnight at Jones' Neck,
and before daylight the crossing began
by the pontoon bridge, which had been
covered with grass and hay, to prevent
noise. The cavalry followed soon after
daybreak, and passed the infantry on
the Newmarket road. A line of battle
was then formed, in which the cavalry
of Generals Sheridan and Kautz held
the right, the second corps lay at Straw
berry Plains, the brigade of the nine
teenth corps on its left, with General
Foster in his old position at Deep Bot
tom on the extreme left.
In front of the second corps lay a
body of the enemy under General Ker
shaw, along a road skirting a pine forest,

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

461

and in rifle-pits, with a battery of four
twenty-pounder Parrott guns. Up to
this position from near the bridge ran a
road, by which the second corps, about
July seven o'clock, began to advance,
27. the skirmishers spreading out at
once across the open space in front of
the enemy, while the gun-boat Mendota
in the stream opened fire with her
hundred-pounder Parrotts. A rapid
fire was opened at the same time from
the enemy's battery. In the mean time,
however, General Miles with his brigade
of Barlow's division, having made a
rapid movement under cover, got on the
flank of the enemy's position and made
a brisk charge. Kershaw immediately
retreated, abandoning his battery, which
proved to be one taken from General
Butler at Drury's Bluff two months
before. The troops now halted, and the
enemy threw up new intrenchments on
a commanding ridge about a mile distant.
In the evening there was some skirmish
ing toward the enemy's new position,
but, though the firing was pretty brisk,
with little loss — the whole day's opera
tions costing only a little over a hun
dred men. On the 28th, the troops
north of the James continued to make
demonstrations, and the gun-boats oc
casionally shelled the w©ods. At nine
o'clock in the morning a general advance
of the cavalry was ordered, and after a
march of three miles, Sheridan came
upon a strong infantry force. His com
mand then quickly dismounted and
July formed in a belt of woods, Gregg's
28. division on the right, Torbert's on
the left. Torbert's division on being

attacked fell back into the woods,
but was soon rallied, and the brigades
of Merritt and Davies making a charge,
the enemy broke and left the field, after
losing about 150 men in killed, wounded,
and prisoners, besides the colors of two
North Carolina regiments. Gregg's di
vision, losing a gun and many men, was
steadily forced back until about five
o'clock in the afternoon, when it was
relieved by the arrival of General Gib
bon's division of the second corps. The
entire Federal loss was about 250.
That of the enemy must have been
greater, as they had no artillery, and lost
a hundred prisoners besides their killed
and wounded. The demonstrations were
continued on the 29th, and a train of
about four hundred empty wagons was -
sent over one of the pontoon bridges
to the north side of the James, as if an
advance in great force toward Malvern
Hill were intended. Nearly twenty
thousand men and twenty cannon had
now actually been sent over, and the
suspicions of the enemy were aroused at
last to such an extent as to produce the
effect desired by General Grant. Lee
hurried off from Petersburg a large
force to the Richmond side of the
James, and as early as the evening of
the 28th, General Mott's division of the
second corps was secretly moved back
to Petersburg. After dark on the 29th,
the remainder of that corps and all the
cavalry recrossed the river, and march
ing all night arrived before daybreak in
the lines before Petersburg, where the
usual artillery and musketry firing had
not been discontinued, but rather in-

462

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

creased, especially on the right, and
considerable loss had been occasioned
on both sides by the bursting of shells,
which by this time had come to be
directed with great accuracy. On the
evening of the 28th the firing was
particularly severe, and a conflagration
broke out within the town.
The time for the explosion of the
mine had now come. Soon after mid-
j„iy night of the 29th all the troops
29. were got into position. The ninth
corps, which was to head the assault, was
drawn up in front of the mine, Ledlie's
division in the advance, Willcox's and
Potter's next, in support, and Ferrero's,
consisting of colored troops, in the rear.
The eighteenth corps had been with
drawn from its position on the right of
the ninth corps and posted in its rear.
Mott's division of the second corps, just
returned from the north side of the
James, was moved into the position
vacated by the eighteenth corps, and
the other divisions of the second corps
as they arrived were placed in adjoining
positions. The whole force was closely
massed, only the necessary garrisons
being left in the more distant intrench
ments. Thus the assaulting force con
sisted of the ninth corps supported by
the eighteenth, with the second corps in
reserve on the right and the fifth on the
left. The cavalry were to operate on
the left if opportunity should offer.
The time for lighting the fuse was fixed
at half-past three in the morning of the
30th, and the troops at that hour were
in entire readiness, impatiently awaiting
orders. But the fuse had become damp

and went out, and more than an hour
passed before it could be got into order
again. The sun had already risen, when,
at fifteen minutes before five, the earth
in the neighborhood of the fort trembled,
heaved, and rose into the air with a
tremendous roar, with the fort, guns,
caissons and limbers, and the unfortunate
regiment that had manned the work.
When the mass of earth fell again, a
kind of oblong crater was formed about
sixty yards long and twenty wide, with a
depth of twenty-five feet, where a
moment before stood a six-gun fort and
two hundred men. Instantly a fire from
a hundred cannon broke out from every
eminence along the Federal line, accom
panied at intervals by volleys of mus
ketry. But the enemy, though at first
much terrified, soon recovered from
their surprise, and with wonderful alac
rity replied to the tremendous fire of
shot and shell which had been intended
to disconcert them. Ledlie's division,
which was to lead the assault, stood
massed in front of its intrenchments,
Marshall's brigade in advance, Bartlett's
in the rear. On the left of Ledlie's
division was stationed Hartranft's brigade
of Willcox's division, on his right Grif
fin's brigade of Potter's division.
The advance should have been made
without a moments delay ; but some of
the men in Marshall's brigade, which
constituted the head of the storming
column, had been so startled by the un
expected nearness of the explosion, that
they supposed a Federal work had been
blown up, and five minutes passed
before the soldiers got over the half-

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

463

panic caused by this belief. When this
difficulty was overcome, the column with
a hearty cheer rushed onward, the offi
cers first, under a hot enfilading fire,
across the space between its position
and the horrible breach made by the
mine. The supporting brigades spread
out, and enveloping the flanking rifle-
pits, captured two hundred prisoners
and sent them to the rear. When the
troops entered the gap a fearful spectacle
met their eyes. Mingled with the up
turned earth and the debris of the fort,
and protruding in all directions, were
seen the mangled bodies a,nd separated
limbs of the late occupants of the work.
Over all hung a cloud of dust mingled
with the smoke of battle, which now
covered the whole field of operations.
Here a fatal delayed occurred. Where
everything depends upon the enemy
being taken by surprise, minutes acquire
the value of hours ; but the troops were
allowed to consume an hour in reversing
the slope of the intrenchments and in
extending them, in digging out and
mounting two guns, in rescuing such
of the garrison as were still living, and
in carrying them to the Federal lines,
where the army surgeons were in quiet
readiness, with sleeves rolled up, aprons
on, and instruments and every appliance
at hand, awaiting the opportunity to
render their humane services. But for
the delay in the ruined fort all might
yet have been well ; by this the enemy
were allowed ample time to recover
from their consternation, which was so
great on the part of the men in the
neighboring forts, that they abandoned

them for a few minutes in the fear that
they also were undermined. At length
the ninth corps was re-formed, Ledlie's
*
division in the centre, Potter's on the
right, and Willcox's on the left, and
under cover of the two guns exhumed
from the fort, the charge began. On
ward the troops rushed toward Cemetery
Hill, Marshall's brigade again leading,
Bartlett's pressing close after it. But
at every step the fire of the enemy from
the front and on both flanks became
more fatal. The storming column had
not moved more than two hundred yards
when it recoiled and returned to the
crater. To carry the crest of Cemetery
Hill was evidently impossible, under the
concentrated fire of an enemy now
thoroughly on the alert. Nevertheless
Ferrero's colored division, which had
remained in the fort, was dispatched to
attempt what the three other divisions
had failed to accomplish, though the
negro trOops were entirely inexperienced
and were now for the first time to be
exposed to a hot fire. As might have
been expected, they only met the fate
of their predecessors. Though they
advanced confidently and gallantly for a
time over the fearfully exposed interval,
the withering fire of the enemy, now
increased in volume and deadly accuracy,
compelled them to fall back in great
disorder. As soon as their organization
was broken, they became altogether un
manageable, and plunging headlong into
the crater, now become a mere slaughter-
pen, added much to the confusion there.
Upon this point the enemy concentrated
a' terrific fire of shot and shell, complet-

464

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

ing the disorganization of the corps,
large numbers of whose gallant officers
and men were already killed or wounded.
It was now evident to all that the day
was lost, and the only question which
remained was, how to save the exposed
troops. Where it was practicable, they
were called off, but the remainder were
left to shift for themselves. Squads of
men began the work of retreating, but
this was a perilous undertaking, as the
enemy kept up a deadly fire across the
space intervening between the crater
and the Federal lines. Several of the
officers made good a defence for some
time in the crater, and repelled repeated
charges made by the enemy in the hope
of retaking it. About noon a general
retreat was ordered, but a considerable
proportion of the survivors of the assault
had already made their escape to the
rear. Those left in the crater, among
whom were General Bartlett and most
of his staff, having expended nearly all
their ammunition, and being left unsup
ported by the rest of the army, were
taken prisoners in a final charge made
by the enemy about two o'clock. All
the fighting was over by the middle of
the afternoon. The fifth corps did not
participate in the assault, and the eight
eenth only partially, the condition of
affairs at no time during the day admit
ting of their co-operation.
The Federal loss was over five thou
sand, chiefly sustained in the charges
made toward Cemetery Hill, while that
of the Confederates, including two hun
dred prisoners, did not much exceed one
thousand, and was incurred principally |

in the charges made upon the troops
who remained in the crater. On Sun
day, the 31st, a flag of truce was sent
to the enemy with a request for per
mission to bury the dead and care for
the wounded, but owing to an informality
this was not obtained till Monday, when
an armistice took place in the morning
from five till nine. In the mean time
many of the severely wounded died from
exposure, in great suffering, much ag
gravated by the extremely hot weather,
and the bodies of the slain had become
so discolored and swollen from lying in
the sun, that the remains of the white
men could scarcely be distinguished from
those of the negroes.
Thus another effort to carry the Works
at Petersburg resulted in a most dis
couraging failure. A belief had been
for some time gaining ground in the
North that a great and important success
was about to crown the Federal arms,
and when the story of the repulse
obtained publicity the first cry was that
' ' somebody had blundered." The failure
was the more annoying from the fact
that there was every probability of suc
cess. General Grant himself had ex
pressed entire confidence in the result
to members of Congress and others.
General Lee had been for once com
pletely outmanoeuvred, and though he *
hurried back his troops from the north
side of the James, immediately after the
return of Hancock and Sheridan, he
would still have been too -late, as the
forces left by him to man the defences
of Petersburg consisted only of the
three divisions of Beauregard's corps,

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

465

Longstreet's corps having been with
drawn to check the movements of Han
cock, Sheridan, and Foster, in the neigh
borhood of Deep Bottom. There can
be little doubt that had it not been for the
three successive delays that occurred —
first from the fuse in the mine having
been allowed to become damp, next in
.the hesitation of the storming column at
the time appointed for starting, and
finally in the detention of the troops in
the destroyed fort — the enemy would
have been taken completely by surprise,
with a large part of their force absent,
and that Petersburg would on that day
have fallen.*
° According to the decision of a court ordered to in
vestigate the circumstances attending the explosion of the
mine and the assault which followed, the causes of failure
were :
" 1. The injudicious formation of the troops in going
forward, the movement being mainly by flank instead of
extended front. General Meade's order indicated that
columns of assault should be employed to take Cemetery
Hill, and that proper passages should be prepared for those
columns. It is the opinion of the court that there were
no proper columns of assault. The troops should have
been formed in the open ground in front of the point of
attack, parallel to the line of the enemy's works. The
evidence shows that one or more columns might have
passed over at and to the left of the crater without any
previous preparation of the ground.
"2. The halting of the troops in the crater instead of
going forward to the crest, where there was no fire of any
consequence from the enemy.
"3. No proper employment of engineer officers and
working parties, and of materials and tools for their use
in the ninth corps.
"4. That some parts of the assaulting columns were
not properly led.
"5. The want of a competent common head at the
scene of assault, to direct affairs as occurrences should
demand. " Had not failure ensued from the above causes and the
crest been gained, the success might have been jeopardized
by the failure to have prepared in season proper and
adequate debouches through the ninth corps lines for
troops, and especially for field artillery, as ordered by
Major-General Meade. 221

On the 30th of July, General Davies'
brigade of Gregg's cavalry division
stationed on the Federal left, had a
" The reasons why the attack ought to have been suc
cessful are :
" 1. The evident surprise of the enemy at the time of
the explosion of the mine, and for some time after.
"2. The comparatively small force in the enemy's
works. "3. The ineffective fire of the enemy's artillery and
musketry, there being scarcely any for about thirty
minutes after the explosion, and our artillery being just
the reverse as to time and power.
""4. The fact that some of our troops were able to get
two hundred yards beyond the crater toward the crest,
but could not remain there or proceed farther for want of
supports, or because they were not properly formed
or led."
The officers responsible for the failure were, in the
opinion of the court :
" I.— Major-General A. E. Burnside, United States
Volunteers, he having failed to obey the orders of the
Commanding General —
" 1 . In not giving such formation to his assaulting
column as to insure a reasonable prospect of success.
"2. In not preparing his parapets and abattis for the
passage of the columns of assault.
" 3. In not employing engineer officers who reported to
him to lead the assaulting columns with working parties,
and not causing to be provided proper materials necessary
for covering the crest when the assaulting columns shoidd
arrive there.
"4. In neglecting to execute General Meade's orders
respecting the prompt advance of General Ledlie's troops
from the crater to the crest, or in default of accomplishing
that, not causing those troops to fall back and give place
to other troops more willing and equal to the task, instead
of delaying until the opportunity passed away, thus
affording the enemy time to recover from his surprise,
concentrate his fire, aud bring his troops to operate against
the Union troops assembled uselessly in the crater.
"Notwithstanding the failure to comply with orders,
and to apply proper military principles, ascribed to Gen
eral Burnside, the court is satisfied that he believed the
measures taken by him would insure success.
" II.— Brigadier-General J. H. Ledlie, United States
Volunteers, he having failed to push forward his division
promptly according to orders, and thereby blocking up
the avenue which was designed for the passage of troops
ordered to follow and support him in the assault. It. is in
evidence that no commander reported to General Burnside
that his troops could not be got forward, which the court
regarded as a neglect of duty on the part of General
Ledlie, inasmuch as a timely report of the misbehavior
mio-ht have enabled General Burnside, commanding the

466

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

sharp fight with Butler's South Carolina
command, and drove them from the
field. The losses were not great on
assault, to have made other arrangements for prosecuting
it before it became too late Instead of being with his
division during this difficulty in the crater, and by his
personal efforts endeavoring to lead his troops forward, he
was most of the time in a -bomb-proof ten rods in rear of
the main line of the ninth corps works, where it was im
possible for him to see anything of the movements of
troops that were going on.
"III. — Brigadier-General Edward Ferrero, United States
Volunteers —
" 1. For not having all his troops formed ready for the
attack at the prescribed time.
' ' 2. Not going forward with them to the attack.
"3. Being in a bomb-proof habitually, where he could
not see the operations of his troops, showing by his own
order issued while there, that he did not know the position
of two brigades of his division, or whether they had taken
Cemetery Hill or not.
"IV— Colonel Z. R. Bliss, Seventh Rhode Island
Volunteers, commanding first brigade, second division,
ninth corps —
" In this, that he remained behind with the only regi
ment of his brigade which did not go forward according
to the orders, and occupied a position where he could not
properly command a brigade, which formed a portion of
an assaulting column, and where he could not see what
was going on.
" V.— Brigadier-General 0. B. Willcox, United States
Volunteers —
"The court are not satisfied that General Willcox's
division made efforts commensurate with the occasion, to
carry out General Bumside's order to advance to Cemetery
Hill, and they think that more energy might have been
exercised by Brigadier-General Willcox to cause his troops
to go forward to that point.
"Without intending to convey the impression that
there was any disinclination on the part of the commanders
of the supports to heartily co-operate in the attack
on the 30th day of July, the court express their
opinion that explicit orders should have been given assign
ing one officer to the command of all the troops intended
to engage in the assault when the Commanding General
was not present in person to witness the operations.
" Winfield S. Hancock,
" Major-General U. S. Volunteers, President of Court.
" Edward Schiuver, Inspector-General U. S. A., Judge
Advocate. "The court then adjourned sine die.
' ' Wikfibld S. Hancock,
" Major-General U. S. Volunteers, President of Court.
"Edward Schriver, Inspector-General U. S. A.; Judge
Advocate."

either side. General Sheridan left the
Army of the Potomac soon afterward to
assume command in the Valley of the
Shenandoah, and the charge of his cav
alry corps devolved on General Gregg.
Immediately on the conclusion of the
short truce agreed on on the 1st of
August, picket firing was recommenced,
and was continued till the 4th, on which
day General Grant left for Washington.
On this day also a short engagement
took place on the James between the
gun-boats and a battery on the north
bank. Since the 30th, intercourse be
tween pickets had been prohibited by
the enemy. This circumstance, and the
report of deserters that mining was
going on, led to suspicions that an attack
might be expected. These suspicions
proved to be well-founded. About five
o'clock on the evening of the 5th, \n„t
a mine was fired by the enemy in 5.
front of the eighteenth corps, and fol
lowed up by rapid and continuous
musketry firing. But the mine failed,
having been exploded several rods out
side of the head of a sap it was intended
to reach. A considerable mass of earth
was thrown into the air, but the dust
and smoke had hardly subsided when
the Federal troops were busily engaged
pouring volleys into the enemy's works,
from which no charge was made. There
was considerable artillery firing for a
time, but the loss was not heavy on
either side. On the 7th, a party of
deserters running into the Federal lines
were fired upon by mistake and badly
cut up, so that only about a dozen got
safe in. In the afternoon there was a

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

467

good deal of firing, principally in front
of the ninth corps, from the mortar
batteries of both armies, but it ceased
near nightfall. Again on the 9th there
was mortar firing, on the right and
right centre, lasting till nine o'clock at
night. On the 9th, about noon, a terrific
accidental explosion took place at City
Point. An ordnance boat lying at the
AUir, wharf suddenly blew up with a
9. continuous roar that was heard in
all directions for many miles. The cause
of the explosion is unknown, but it is
supposed to have been the dropping of
a case of fixed ammunition. Its effect
was most disastrous, in the loss of
life, in the number of persons frightfully
mutilated, and in the destruction of

property. The boat and another near
it were blown- to fragments. The bluff
close by was penetrated by a vast quan
tity of shells, balls, bullets, and frag
ments of various ammunition, and a
number of buildings were thrown down,
including about four hundred feet of a
new warehouse. Parts of vessels and
houses mingled with limbs and pieces
of human bodies were scattered around
in great quantities for many yards ;
some of the boats in the river received
a number of shots. Between sixty and
seventy persons were killed, and about
a hundred and thirty were wounded.
The majority of the sufferers were
laborers, many of them colored. Among
them were twelve soldiers, mostly of the
Twentieth New York.

CHAPTER XLII.

Perseverance of General Grant. — Gradual Exhaustion of the Southern Fighting Element. — The Dutch Gap Canal. —
Movements North of the James. — Fight at Strawberry Plains. — Demonstrations at Deep Bottom. —Battle of Deep
Run. — Major Ludlow's Movement from Dutch Gap.— Operations against the Weldon Railroad.— Battle at Davis'
Farm.— Battles for the Weldon Railroad.— Destruction of Miles of the Track.— Battle of Reams' Station.— General
Pickett attacks Butler's position.— Heavy Bombardment of Petersburg.— Gregg's Reconnoissance toward Stony
Creek. — A tacit Truce broken. — Redoubt captured by De Trobriand. — Extension of the City Point Railroad.— Gen
eral Hampton's great Cattle Raid.

1864.

It was supposed that the late repulse
sustained by the Federal arms in
the attack on Cemetery Hill would
put an end to active operations at
Petersburg for a long time. General
Grant, however, was not a man to be so
easily discouraged. The rebels had, it
is true, constructed near the side of the
fort destroyed by means of the mine, a

new work, from which they opened fire
on the Federal lines on the 12th of
August, and the defences of Petersburg
were apparently as strong and as perti
naciously defended as they had been two
months before,. But the war was sus
tained on the part of the Confederacy
only by the most strenuous efforts, and
its armies were kept up to a point at

468

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

which the defensive could be successfully
maintained only by a conscription of the
most ruthless character. The best part
of the Southern fighting element had
long been consumed, and old men and
boys now constituted almost the only
recruits that could be obtained. None
knew this better than General Grant,*
and upon this fact he seems to have
placed much reliance, and drawn from
it encouragement to persevere. He
knew that, though the soldiers of the
Confederacy had no superiors, every
battle and skirmish diminished their
numbers, and though the rebel govern
ment controlled almost the entire re
sources of the South, they were rapidly
wasting away, and that finally the States
in rebellion must succumb from sheer
exhaustion. A work, which it was supposed would
prove of great value, was commenced
by General Butler toward the middle
of August. This was the construction
of a canal at Dutch Gap, on the James,
where a bend in the river, eleven miles
south-southeast of Richmond in a direct
line, forms a peninsula called Farrar's
Island, connected with the north bank
0 In a letter addressed to the Hon. C. B. Washburne,
on the 16th of August, General Grant says : "I state to
all citizens who visit me, that all we want now to insure
an early restoration of the Union is a determined unity of
sentiment North. The rebels have now in their ranks
their last man. The little boys and old men are guarding
prisoners, guarding railroad bridges, and forming a good
part of their garrison for intrenched positions. A man
lost by them cannot be replaced. They have robbed the
cradle and the grave equally to get their present force.
Besides what they lose in frequent skirmishes and battles,
they are now losing from desertions and other causes at
least one regiment per day. With this drain upon them,
the end is not far distant, if we will be only true to our
selves."

by a neck of land about 175 yards wide,
a navigable channel cut across which
would save a circuit of not less than six
miles around the bend. The preliminary
survey was made on the 7th of August,
and a large number of workmen com
menced digging soon afterward. It was
proposed to make it seventy feet deep,
forty feet wide at the bottom, and one
hundred and twenty feet wide at the
top, and it Was expected that when the
river was turned through it, the water
would be sixteen feet deep. The Fed
eral iron-clads, it was hoped, would then
be able to ascend to the upper part of
the river, without, passing by the cir
cuitous channel around the peninsula,
which was full of torpedoes and other
obstructions, besides being guarded1 by
the rebel gun-boats, whose usual station
was at Dutch Gap. When completed
and occupied it would also flank the
enemy's strong and important position
at Howlett's, opposite the southwestern
extremity of Farrar's Island, from which
the river was swept at this point with
heavy batteries. It would be a long
step in the approach to Fort Dar
ling, and would make necessary on the
part of the enemy a new and more
extended line of defence, and thus find
occupation for a large number of their
troops. On the 10th of August a Aug,
force was thrown across the river !••
at this point, and the work was prose
cuted with impunity till the 12th, when,
soon after daybreak, the enemy collected
in the vicinity in such force that the
Federal gun-boats opened fire upon
them and kept it up several hours. On

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

469

the following morning two of the
enemy's rams appeared, and taking a
position under the lee of Farrar's Island,
where they were sheltered from the fire
of the Federal gun-boats, began to shell
the negro troops engaged in digging the
canal. The battery at Howlett's also
opened fire, and was replied to by the
Federal battery at Crow's Nest, near
Dutch Gap. The river being full of
obstructions at the extremity of Farrar's
Island, the Federal gun-boats could not
get near enough to take part in the
engagement. The troops on the isthmus
had already thrown up intrenchments
along a portion of the line of the pro
posed canal, and though exposed to a
fire from Howlett's battery on the west
and from two gun-boats on the north,
which continued till noon, were able to
remain at work. A gun at Howlett's
battery was disabled by a shot from that
at Crow's Nest. The enemy showed
signs of a determination to dispute
energetically the Federal advance in this
direction, though a Richmond paper
spoke of the projected work as only a
valuable commercial improvement to the
city. In fact, a Richmond stock com
pany did once undertake the task, but
soon gave it up. On the 13th. opera
tions on the canal were covered by
another movement on the part of Gen
eral Grant to the north of the James,
made in the hope of again inducing
General Lee to send away a portion of
his forces from Petersburg to favor a
new movement against the Weldon
Railroad. A fleet of transports had been col

lected at City Point, and the second
corps moved up from Petersburg and
embarked on them, and on the j\Ug.
13th the vessels went down the 13#
river, with the military bands playing,
as if bound for Fortress Monroe. The
movement was purposely made in an
ostentatious manner, in order that it
might be noted by the enemy, and cause
them to believe that Grant was sending
a portion of his forces to Washington.
When night fell, the transports were
headed up the river, and ascending at
full speed soon reached Deep Bottom,
where the troops were all put on shore
by noon on the following day. On the
same night, Turner's and W. Birney's
divisions of the tenth corps crossed the
James by the pontoon bridge to the
same point, as did also Gregg's cavalry
division, and joined Foster in his old
position there. Early on the morning
ofthe 14th, Foster's brigade was moved
out toward Strawberry Plains, where
the enemy were found strongly posted
in intrenchments situated on command
ing ridges covering the Kingsland road,
with a line of rifle-pits in front. As the
advance pressed forward, considerable
skirmishing took place ; but the enemy
gradually fell back to the rifle-pits,
which at length were charged and easily
taken by the Tenth Connecticut and
Twenty- fourth Massachusetts, with about
a hundred prisoners. The enemy were
in the mean time hurrying troops over
from their right to the region of Malvern
Hill, and it became essential that the
Federal force should form in order of
battle, and push forward as rapidly as

470

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

possible. Accordingly Gregg's cavalry
swept out to the Federal right, clearing
the roads of the rebel pickets and
opening the way for the second corps.
Aug-. Most of the day was consumed in
11* getting the troops into position.
When the line was formed, the cavalry
covered the right flank of the second
corps, which stretched toward the left
as far as Four Mile Creek. On the
other side was the tenth corps, its right
resting on the creek, its left on the
intrenched bluff at Deep Bottom. The
gun-boats in the river took such posi
tions that they were able to shell the
rebel works occasionally. An attempt
was made to push the whole line for
ward in the evening. The tenth corps
charging the enemy's outer works in a
line of woods about a mile from the
pontoon bridge, after a sharp engage
ment succeeded in carrying them, at the
same time capturing four eight-inch
brass howitzers and a number of prison
ers. In the centre of the line Gibbon's
and Barlow's divisions of the second
corps moved out toward . the enemy's
works, and succeeded in establishing
themselves some distance in advance of
the position which they had carried in
the feint made two weeks before. The
assault was now made by Gibbon's divi
sion, Colonel Macy's brigade in the
advance. Crossing a cornfield and going
over a hill, they descended into a ravine,
where a stream flowing through swampy
land and thick brush formed an impene
trable barrier. The. charge was made
under a severe artillery fire of the
enemy, which also raked the ravine.

Natural obstacles rendering any farther
progress impossible, the men availed
themselves of what shelter they could
find, and after a short time were with
drawn. The entire loss sustained by
the tenth and second corps was about
a thousand men.
Skirmishing was kept up all day on
the 15th, the object being to extend the
line to the right and secure a stronger
position. The tenth corps was moved
across Four Mile Creek and placed on
the right of the second, the cavalry in
the mean time covering the right flank
and skirmishing. Holding a position on
the Charles City road, they confronted
there detachments of the enemy's cav
alry, which with other reinforcements
had been hurried over from Petersburg
during the preceding day and night.
Supposing that Grant was threatening
Malvern Hill, the enemy's infantry was
pushed as rapidly as possible in that
direction, while their cavalry was kept
on the roads leading northwestward
toward Richmond. There was constant
manoeuvring and heavy skirmishing dur
ing the day, in the course of which
about three hundred men were killed or
wounded on the part of the Federals,
without any important advantage having
been gained. The intense and debili
tating heat during this and the preceding
day not only had a very depressing
effect on the troops, but caused some
loss by sunstroke and exhaustion.
More decided efforts were made to
advance on the 16th. Gregg's £„«•,
cavalry stretching out on the 16«
Charles City road, on the extreme right,

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

471

covered tfiat flank. On his left was
Colonel Craig's brigade of Mott's division
of the second corps ; then came the
tenth corps and the remainder of the
second. The extreme left at Deep Run
was held by colored troops. The region
in which the movements were about to
take place was covered with dense forest
and undergrowth, with only here and
there a small cleared space. To the
difficulties thus presented to the ma
noeuvres of troops was added the intense
heat of the day, which was one of the
most sultry and oppressive of the season.
The earliest movement was made by the
cavalry of General Gregg, along the
Charles City road as far as Deep Bottom
Creek or Deep Run, where he was joined
by a brigade of Barlow's division under
General Miles. Farther progress was
disputed by a brigade of Fitz Hugh Lee's
cavalry, which, however, was quickly
driven back with the loss of its command
er, who was killed while attempting to
rally his men. The column then pushed
forward on the same road to near
White's Tavern, not more than seven
miles from Richmond, where the enemy
were found intrenched in a position too
strong to be attempted. General Miles
then withdrew his brigade toward the
right of the main line under General
Birney, marching back by the route
which he had taken in advancing. On
seeing this, the enemy, collecting from
various quarters a considerable force at
White's Tavern, moved rapidly down
upon Gregg's command in the afternoon,
and drove it back to Deep Run, where
Gregg made a stand, and easily main

tained himself for some time. In the
mean while there had been some sharp
fighting on the centre of the line.
Terry's division of the tenth corps push
ing forward into the wooded region
between the Central and Charles City
roads, Foster's brigade in front, Pond's
and Hawley's in support, with Craig's
brigade of the second corps on the right,
over ground much broken with ravine
and jungle, the enemy's picket line was,
after a toilsome march under a burning
sun, at last found and driven in. Artil
lery firing followed, and some slight
works and a few prisoners were cap
tured. The enemy's main works were
then charged upon by Pond's brigade,
supported by Hawley's and some colored
troops, and after an hour's hard and
close fighting at short range in the dense
woods, in which the loss on both sides
was severe, the intrenchments were
carried, two hundred prisoners being
taken and some colors. The Federal
troops then occupied the intrenchments
and prepared to hold them against the
enemy, should they return in force.
About this time Colonel Craig with his
brigade was dispatched to the assistance
of Gregg's cavalry, which the enemy,
having received reinforcements, were
driving back rapidly. In the engage
ment which followed, Colonel Craig was
killed, and his brigade, partly in conse
quence of this, being thrown into con
fusion, fell back, losing many prisoners.
The cavalry and infantry on the right
having now given way, the enemy con
centrated their efforts against the infantry
in the centre, upon which they made m a

472

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

scries of desperate assaults, and at length
got possession again of the works which
had been won from them with such hard
fighting, and notwithstanding that Gen
eral Birney, about six o'clock, made an
effort to regain them, held the position.
Having succeeded in forcing back the
right, the enemy were now able to
direct an enfilading fire on the centre,
and the whole Federal line was with
drawn at dark, having sustained during
the day a loss of some fifteen hundred
men, that of the enemy being nearly as
great. The line at night was substan
tially the same as it had been in the
morning. While these events were taking place
on the right, Major Ludlow at Dutch
Gap moved out about a thousand men
on transports to Aiken's Landing and
marched thence to Cox's Ferry, two or
three miles above Dutch Gap, where he
intrenched. On the afternoon of the
following day, Howlett's battery and a
rebel ram opened a fire on the men
engaged in digging the canal, which was
replied to by the battery at Crow's
Nest and by the monitors. After dark,
Major Ludlow seeing that he would not
be able to maintain himself in his ad
vanced position at Cox's Ferry, with
drew his troops and returned to his old
position at Dutch Gap.
On the 17th, things remained pretty
quiet on the right. Between four and
six in the afternoon the killed of the day
before were buried under a flag of truce,
Aug. each party taking charge of its
,8« own dead. The 18th also was
quiet in the immediate neighborhood of

Deep Bottom. But at night a fierce
assault was made on the intrenchments
of the tenth corps, by a division of the
enemy, who charged in column on a
portion of the line held by Terry's
division and W. Birney's colored brigade ;
but though the firing was very close and
heavy for an hour, the rebels were
repulsed with a loss of not less than a
thousand men. On the 19th, there was
some skirmishing, but no general en
gagement. The aggregate Federal loss
in this second demonstration at Deep
Bottom was estimated at not less than
five thousand ; that of the enemy at
three thousand. But the movement had
answered its purpose, and the troops
were rapidly marched back to the lines
before Petersburg, a division of the
second corps arriving there by the morn
ing of the 20th.
Little of importance occurred at
Petersburg while the bloody struggle
was going on in the neighborhood of
Deep Bottom. The usual artillery and
picket firing went on till the evening of
the 15th, when it was suspended for a
short time by an extraordinary rain
storm, which swept away many tents
and sutler's booths and filled the trenches
with water. On the morning of the
18th, at one o'clock, the enemy opened
a tremendous fire all along the line, and
continued it for two hours ; but no
assault followed. About an hour after
cannonading ceased, operations against
the Weldon Railroad commenced by the
movement of the fifth corps in that
direction. Leaving camp with four
days' rations, the march was directed

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

473

toward Reams' Station, and between
seven and eight the advance arrived at
Six Mile Station, in the neighborhood
of which a mile of the track was torn
up, and the rails destroyed in the usual
manner. Little opposition was experi
enced during this movement, which was
quite unexpected by the enemy ; and
while the first division under General
Griffin was engaged in destroying the
railroad track, the other divisions ad
vanced two or three miles toward
Petersburg, driving in the skirmishers.
At Yellow Tavern, about ten o'clock,
the column encountered a brigade of
cavalry, which was driven back as far as
Davis' Farm, two and a half miles from
Petersburg. But at this point a force
of the enemy, consisting of two divisions
of Hill's corps under Heth and Mahone,
came hurrying down the railroad. The
Federal line was immediately formed in
the open field, the third division under
General Crawford on the right of the
railroad, and the second under General
Aug. Ayres on the left. About two
18. o'clock the enemy emerged from
the woods in front and made an impetu
ous charge. For a time the two divi
sions under Crawford and Ayres got the
worst of it, and were driven half a mile
down the railroad ; but the fourth divi
sion under General Cutler and some
other troops coming up, the Federals
were enabled to stretch out around the
enemy's left, and succeeded in flanking
it. This turned the tide of battle, and
the rebels were finally repulsed. The
contest was over before dark, and the
Federal troops immediately went to work
228

throwing up breast-works. Though
heavy rain fell all night, and the enemy,
fearing another attack, threw shells into
the lines from midnight till daybreak,
morning found the Federal troops strong
ly intrenched on the railroad two and a
half miles south of Petersburg. The
loss was, on the part of the Federals,
including 160 prisoners, somewhat over
a thousand ; that of the enemy, who
lost only thirty prisoners, was by their
own account only about five hundred.
Though the fifth corps had thus
secured an intrenched position on the
Weldon Railroad, it was not likely that
the Confederates would allow it to be
quietly retained ; if left isolated, the
troops would very soon be driven off or
surrounded and captured ; it thus be
came of the utmost importance that this
new position on the extreme left should
be connected with the main line before
Petersburg, and reinforcements were
accordingly set in motion. The enemy
having withdrawn nearer to the city
during the night, leaving only a picket
line in front, the Federal skirmishers
were pushed forward early in the morn
ing of the 19th, the whole line following,
throwing up breast - works as they
proceeded, and planting batteries to
strengthen the advanced position. This
went on without opposition till about
ten o'clock, when a short skirmish oc
curred in front of the picket lines on the
right, at which point the enemy were
reconnoitring. The troops had all got
into line about noon, but a portion of
the gap between the right of the fifth
corps and the old line of intrenchments

474

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

near the Jerusalem road still remained
unfilled up. The new line thus formed
then ran as follows : Willcox's division
of the ninth corps having just arrived
held the extreme right ; then came
Bragg's brigade of Cutler's division of
the fifth corps ; next. Crawford's division
¦ — consisting of the brigades of Lyle,
Wheelock, and Hartshorn — next, Ayres'
division, and last, on the extreme left,
Griffin's division and the remainder of
Cutler's. The railroad ran between the
divisions of Ayres and Crawford. About
\n<r, four o'clock, heavy rain falling at
19- the time, General A. P. Hill broke
suddenly upon the line, with both divi
sions of his corps, under Mahone and
Heth. Mahone, having with him the
brigades of Clingman and Colquitt as
well as his own, attacked the right with
great fury, first striking the picket line,
which consisted of Bragg's brigade. Its
advanced regiment was quickly driven
back from the cornfield where it had
been posted, to the Federal breast- works,
losing many men. The enemy had dis
covered the gap at this part of the line,
and rushed through it like a torrent,
thus getting between the divisions of
Willcox and Crawford. Desperate artil
lery and musketry fighting ensued. But
Willcox's brigades were kept closely
massed, Hartranft on the right, Hum
phrey on the left, and they remained
unbroken. General Hill then, while
keeping Willcox and Crawford occupied
in front with Clingman's and Mahone's
brigades, dispatched part of Colquitt's
brigade to drive in that under Bragg.
After desperate fighting this was ac

complished, and the right of Crawford's
division, where Lyle was posted, was
completely flanked. Colquitt, joined by
other forces, succeeded in getting a front,
flank, and rear fire on a part of Craw
ford's division, the consequence of which
was that more than fifteen hundred
men, comprising nearly the whole of
Hartshorn's brigade and part of Lyle's
and Wheelock's, were cut off and cap
tured. While this was going on on the right
of the railroad, the divisions on the left
under Ayres, Griffin, and Cutler were
attacked by the troops under Heth.
The advance of the rebels was made
with great impetuosity ; the Federal
picket line was driven in, and the
advanced intrenchments soon taken ; but
at the second and main line the enemy
received a bloody repulse, not, however,
before Hayes' brigade of regulars, who
had held their post with great firmness,
were badly cut up. The line on their
right and left having been forced back,
they became exposed to an enfilading
fire, and sustained a heavy loss in killed
and wounded, besides five or six hundred
captured, among whom was General
Hayes, who was also wounded.
Very opportunely, just at the time
when the right centre had become
broken and the centre was giving way,
the first and second divisions of the ninth
corps under Potter and White came up.
Though they had made a long and
toilsome forced march over roads now
reduced to mud by the late heavy rains,
they were immediately formed and sent
in on the charge, and the enemy were

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

475

overlapped and turned. In the mean
time the battle had become so confused
on Crawford's right that the combatants
could not be distinguished, and the artil
lery now directed on that point swept
down friend and foe alike. The result
was, in connection with the arrival of
the reinforcements, that the contest was
decided against the Confederates, and
the disordered lines of the Federal
troops were soon rallied. Night, how
ever, had fallen before the battle was
entirely over. The Federal loss in killed
and wounded was put at about fifteen
hundred ;. that of the enemy at about
the same ; but their loss in prisoners
was less than 250, while they captured,
mostly from the divisions of Ayres and
Crawford, not less than 2,700, including
nine field officers and sixty or seventy
fine officers. Except some cannonading,
things remained pretty quiet on the
20th. On the left, near the railroad,
skirmishing and intrenching went on ;
but the rain was now so heavy and
constant as to impede operations ; it also
filled the trenches, which were in such a
wretched condition that some of the
pickets rather than avail themselves of a
protection so uncomfortable, preferred
to lie outside along the pits, exposed to
the enemy's fire.
On the 21st the enemy made another
AU«-, effort to recover the Weldon Rail-
21. road. The Federal line lay sub
stantially as it did on the 19th, the first
three divisions of the ninth corps holding
the right and the fifth corps the left.
In the fifth corps Cutler's division lay
across the railroad, Crawford's being on

its right, Griffin's and Ayres' on its left.
At four o'clock in the morning the enemy
opened a heavy artillery fire along the
whole line, from the left to the Appo
mattox, and about seven o'clock made a
feint toward the ninth corps. At nine
the attack commenced in earnest. At
that hour a terrific fire of both solid shot
and shell burst from all their batteries,
which was replied to with at least equal
power. Shortly afterward the enemy's
column emerged from the woods and
dashed in fine style across the open
space in front of the Federal breast
works. The attack was intended to
have been made in two columns, one in
front, the other in flank ; but the flanking
column on the left of the railroad, in
stead of striking the extreme left under
Griffin, fell upon the right of Ayres'
division and the left of Cutler's. The
Federal skirmishers were soon driven
in, and their pits taken ; but on ap
proaching the works the enemy were
received with a steady fire of musketry,
and though again and again advancing
to the charge were always repulsed.
On the right they did not succeed in
reaching the main works, and suffered
much from both artillery and musketry.
On the left, a column which approached
by the Vaughan road was caught with a
cross fire ; part of a brigade threw down
their arms and surrendered, and the
remainder, exposed to a hot fire, hastily
withdrew. An effort to flank the ex
treme left also failed. The main force
of the attack, however, fell on the divi
sions of Ayres and Cutler. Though the
battle lasted but two hours, followed for

476

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

another hour by skirmishing, it was,
during this short time, one of the most
desperate of the campaign ; but the
enemy were driven back at all points
with a loss of not less than two thousand
in killed, wounded, and prisoners, the
entire loss of the Federals not being
over five hundred. The rebel Generals
Saunders and Lamar were killed in this
battle. Four field officers and thirty
line officers were among the prisoners,
and six regimental colors were taken.
Early on the morning of the 22d it
was discovered that the enemy, notwith
standing they had kept up a heavy
cannonade during the night, had retired
and intrenched about three miles from
Petersburg. Skirmishers were then
pushed forward, and both armies went
to work industriously with the spade.
The picket lines were busily engaged in
skirmishing all day ; but there was no
general engagement. During the pre
vious week, as has been said, one division
of the second corps had been withdrawn
from Deep Bottom and hurried back to
Petersburg. It took possession of the
intrenchments vacated by the fifth corps
when it marched for the Weldon Rail
road. The other two divisions, with
Gregg's cavalry and the tenth corps,
also left Deep Bottom on the night of
the 20th, where Foster's brigade re
mained alone. Marching rapidly all
night the two divisions *of the second
corps reached the lines of the ninth on
the morning of the 21st, and on the 22d
Barlow's division, temporarily command
ed by General Miles, was set to tearing
up the track of the Weldon Railroad in

the rear of the fifth corps toward Reams'
Station, in which it was joined by Gib
bon's division oil the following day.
The fifth corps also tore up a portion
of the track toward Petersburg, so that
by the night of the 24th the railroad
was thoroughly destroyed from a point
four miles below Petersburg down to
two miles below Reams' Station. The
cavalry under Gregg covered the work
of the infantry during these operations,
and had several skirmishes with the
enemy. On the morning of the 25th, Gibbon's
division of the second corps moved
clown the railroad below Reams' to con
tinue the work of destruction ; but when
about a mile below the station, its
advance, consisting of cavalry, was sud
denly checked and driven back by the
enemy's picket line. Smyth's brigade
of infantry was at once pushed forward
and deployed as skirmishers, the cavalry
retiring behind them. Smyth drove
back the enemy's skirmish line some
distance, but presently meeting a stronger
force, was himself compelled to fall back
to the main body of the division, which
was now in line of battle, the third
brigade on the right of the track, the
first on the left, the other troops in
support. Before noon the enemy had
appeared in some force on Gibbon's left,
making toward his rear ; but this move
ment was checked' by a party of Gregg's
cavalry, and the rebels were driven off.
A little later some rebel cavalry which
appeared in front in the direction of
Dinwidclie Court House, were checked
by Chapman's cavalry brigade. While

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

477

this desultory fighting was going on in
the neighborhood of Gibbon's division,
General Hill was making preparations
to attack that under Miles at Reams'
Station. It occupied the old intrench
ments constructed by the sixth corps,
which in a semicircular form partially
surrounded the station, and covered the
railroad both above and below that
point. The division under Miles was
arranged as follows, facing westward :
the first brigade under Colonel Lynch
on the right ; next, the second and third
brigades under Major Byron ; then the
fourth brigade under Lieutenant-Colonel
Brodie ; and last, on the left, Alcock's
Fourth New York Artillery Regiment.
The enemy appeared in front of Miles
soon after twelve o'clock, and General
Hancock immediately ordered Gibbon
to fall back and form a junction with the
left of Miles. The cavalry followed, and
was disposed so as to cover the left
flank and rear. Gibbon arranged his
line so that it faced the south and south
east, looking down the railroad. His
third brigade held the left, his first the
centre, and his second the right, resting
on the railroad, where it joined the right
of Miles. About two o'clock the enemy's
AU<r, skirmish line advanced and swept
25. forward with the accustomed battle
yell ; but it soon fell back in confusion
under a sharp fire from infantry and
artillery, suffering severely. Skirmish-
in o- followed till about half-past three,
when the enemy's column emerged from
the woods in close line of battle, and
with bayonets fixed rushed toward the
Federal works, and succeeded in getting

within twenty paces of them in spite of
a murderous fire of musketry and of
artillery from four batteries, when they
recoiled, broke, and hastened back to
their cover, having suffered frightful
loss. Another assault, made an hour
later, had a similar result.
•The enemy now went to work in the
woods felling trees for the purpose of
planting bat'teries ; and notwithstanding
shells were thrown among them — though
the artillerists were directed in their aim
only by the sound of axes — they suc
ceeded at length in getting a very heavy
concentric fire upon the Federal lines,
into which they poured shell and shot
without an instant's cessation for twenty
minutes, and with a most destructive
effect, owing to the circular course of
the intrenchments, such missiles as pass
ed Miles' men harmlessly, enfilading the
ranks of Gibbon's division. The result
was that the Federal troops became to a
certain extent demoralized, and when at
last the shelling ceased and the enemy's
storming column again advanced with
renewed fury, the fire with which it was
received was less vigorous than before.,
The left and centre of Miles' division,
upon which the blow fell, allowed the
enemy to gain the breast-works, and
after a bloody hand-to-hand contest, the
Federal lines were broken through, and
a general route followed, though some
regiments and companies remained fight
ing with heroic determination. Of the
twelve fine guns which had been used
with such destructive effect during the
day, nine were lost, though surrendered
only when surrounded by the enemy,

47a

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

and after fearful slaughter and the loss
of nearly all the horses. At this crisis a
part of Gibbon's division was hurried
across the rear from the left, under a
heavy fire, to the support of Miles, a
distance of more than half a mile, and
arrived in time to drive back the enemy
in that quarter, though at a fearful cost
in killed and wounded. Thus aided,
Miles was enabled to rally his division
and partially restore his lines. But
while a portion of Gibbon's troops were
thus employed, a fierce attack was being
made on the left by a large force of the
enemy, consisting of Heth's division of
infantry and Hampton's division of cav
alry, equaling in impetus that which had
been made on the centre. Gibbon's
troops, already exhausted by their exer
tions, were hurried back to the left to
withstand the more numerous enemy.
Though desperately resisted by some
brave regiments, who allowed themselves
to be cut to pieces rather than give way,
the rebels overpowered all opposition,
and General Hancock was finally com
pelled to withdraw his corps from Reams'
Station and retire toward the lines of the
fifth corps. General Gregg had in the
mean time brought his dismounted cav
alry to the assistance of the infantry, and
the enemy, who had suffered very
severely, did not pursue. Thus ended
one of the most obstinately fought battles
of the war. The Federal loss was very
heavy, amounting to not less than three
thousand, of which two thousand were
prisoners. Seven stands of colors and
nine cannon were also lost. The enemy's
loss in killed and wounded was about

fifteen hundred. The Federal forces
continued to hold the Weldon Railroad
at Yellow Tavern, though there was
occasional skirmishing.
After the battle at Reams' Station,
things remained very quiet for some
days. On the 25th the eighteenth corps,
on the right of the Federal line before
Petersburg, and the tenth corps at Deep
Bottom and Bermuda Hundred, had
begun exchanging positions. These
movements produced a demonstration
on the part of General Pickett in front
of Butler's position. Opening a fire
from the long silent artillery, the enemy
reinforced their skirmish line and ad
vanced it against that of General Butler.
A sharp fight ensued, but the enemy
soon withdrew, losing sixty prisoners ;
the killed and wounded were but few
on either side. The movement of the
troops was then continued, and was
completed during the night of the
26th. The shelling of Petersburg was re
sumed with great vigor on the 29th, and
was continued for some time all along
the line with a fury unparalleled for
many weeks, but the casualties resulting
from it were few. There was also oc
casionally a good deal of artillery firing
between batteries and gun-boats on the
James in the vicinity of the Dutch Gap
Canal, which continued to be pushed
vigorously. Since the destruction of a portion of
the Weldon Railroad the enemy had
had recourse to wagons, by means of
which supplies were conveyed from
Stony Creek, eight miles south of Reams'

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

479

Station, around by the Boydton plank
Sept. road to Petersburg ; and on the
2* 2d of September, General Gregg
made an important reconnoissance in
that direction. At daylight his cavalry,
supported by Crawford's division of the
fifth corps, moved out some little distance,
and Smith's second brigade marched up
the Vaughan road toward the plank
road and toward Petersburg ; but the
plank road was discovered to be well
fortified. On his return, Smith was
attacked by some of the enemy's cavalry,
but escaped without much loss. The
whole force then returned to camp.
As usual during periods of comparative
inaction, friendly intercourse between
pickets and exchange of newspapers
began to take place along a part of the
lines. When such a tacit truce existed
the men were accustomed to walk about
at their ease in front of the works,
trusting fully in their adversaries' sense
of honor. But on the 1st of September,
while a large number were thus pro
menading outside the trenches, the
Federal batteries commenced playing on
the town, and a volley of musketry was
fired in reply, from the rebel works, on
the exposed troops, by which some two
hundred were killed or wounded. This
put an end to amicable relations for
some time. On the night of the 4th,
about eleven o'clock, news of the fall of
Atlanta having arrived in camp, a salute
was ordered of a hundred shotted guns
all along the line from the extreme right
to the extreme left. To the roar of the
artillery the troops added their enthusi
astic cheers, and the enemy, apprehend

ing a general attack, replied briskly, but
the firing was discontinued about one
o'clock. Little of importance occurred for
several days along Grant's now extended
lines, beyond the usual desultory can
nonading at intervals. On the left, near
the Jerusalem plank road, the Federal
and Confederate lines had been for some
time in such close proximity, that at one
point the opposing pickets could con
verse without difficulty. General Han
cock determined to drive the enemy out
of this advanced position, as being too
commanding and dangerous, and gave
orders to General Mott, whose division
lay opposite to the point in question, to
direct a movement against it. Accord
ingly at one o'clock on the morning §ept,
of the 1 Oth, the Ninety-ninth Penn- *<>•
sylvania and the Twentieth Indiana
were sent under General De Trobriand
to carry the work. The approach was
made silently, the enemy's picket line
was surprised, and the position was
flanked and taken, with very little firing.
The affair was a perfect success. The
enemy opened an artillery fire, and
somewhat later made a vigorous but
unsuccessful effort to recover the lost
ground. Ninety prisoners were taken,
while the Federal loss was less than
twenty. A good deal of skirmishing
and desultory firing followed for several
days on this part of the line. On the
11th, the extension of the City Point
Railroad, which had been some time in
progress, was completed as far as the
destroyed portion of the Weldon Rail
road, and an engine passed over the

480

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

new track. The enemy had been com
pelled for some days to haul their
supplies by a circuitous route by way
of Dinwiddie. The trains on the new
railroad soon became targets for the
enemy's batteries, but little damage was
done to them. Very accurate artillery
range had however been obtained on
both sides, and shells were frequently
dropped with fatal precision. On the
14th the long continued desultory firing
was followed by a fierce cannonade
directed on Petersburg, shells of different
sizes being thrown into the city for two
hours at the rate of twenty a minute.
This the enemy replied to by bombard
ing the signal towers which had been
erected on the Appomattox and by
shelling the working party on the Dutch
Gap Canal.
Very early on the- morning of the
15th, movements ofthe enemy's cavalry
on the left having been reported, a
brigade of the fifteenth corps, preceded
by several regiments of cavalry, was
sent out toward the Vaughan road.
The enemy's lines at Poplar Spring
Church were broken through and re-
connoissances made in various directions ;
but though Dearing's cavalry was en
countered and a little skirmishing took
place, the troops finally returned to
camp without having discovered the
character of' the enemy's movement,
which proved to be the most daring and
successful raid of the campaign. Setting
out from Reams' Station on the morning
of the 15th, Hampton, with a body of
cavalry, consisting of the brigades of
Rosser and Dearing, with W. F. H.

Lee's division, comprising the brigades
of Barringer and Chambliss, and two
batteries, marched rapidly around the
Federal left, and appeared suddenly on
the morning of the 16th in the rear of
the centre. His object was to seize a
herd of twenty-five hundred cattle at
Sycamore Church, about a mile south
of Coggin's Point on the James, and
nine miles northeast of Prince George
Court House. Spear's cavalry brigade
was picketed around the point to be
attacked, but the enemy rushed in §cpt.
so unexpectedly, that it was taken *6'
completely by surprise ; the pickets
were quickly driven in, and two regi
ments, the Thirteenth Pennsylvania and
the First District of Columbia, were
entirely broken and stampeded, the
latter being captured entire with all its
horses, arms, equipments, wagons, and
camp. The enemy, by making a wide
detour around the Federal left, had suc
ceeded completely in concealing their
movements. As soon as the cattle were
secured, they were driven off, and
Hampton's command set out on their
return, pursued by the divisions of Gen
erals Gregg and Kautz, as far as Belcher's
Mill on the Jerusalem plank road,
where the rebels under Rosser and
Dearing made a stand and repulsed an
attack made on them by the brigades
of Smith and Stedman, though the
latter were aided by Clark's battery,
the other portions of Hampton's column
moving off with the cattle at their
leisure. By this bold ride of Hampton's
he secured a supply of beef for Lee's
army sufficient to last several weeks.

Fxcrm. a PiLotogxaph iry BracLy*

sif^*/^ewd&£^

"Virtue A-YorsUmPiJiHshe.i'BN.Y.

EnPeml according to at.* of Ccmgrtyss A)18 6 5 by Virtus- teYrrr.rton , nn th? dcrlui oitirs of ii'f,l:.lnnt ntntufi/u Tfiritn? Stom>.ftfvffir.riivffimi ,Kstn'ct orJfiwTorl-.

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

481

Besides the cattle, three hundred prison
ers were taken, two hundred mules, and
thirty-two wagons. Among the captures
there was also a telegraphic construction
corps- of forty men, with their train and
twenty miles of wire. The entire loss
of the enemy did not exceed fifty. While
Hampton's raid was in progress, the
entire skirmish line of the fifth corps
was driven in to the intrenchments, with
the loss of ninety men made prisoners.
From the 16th to the 23d, sharp picket

firing was kept up along the line, re
sulting in many casualties. On the 19 th,
the news of Sheridan's brilliant victory
at Winchester was received in camp,
and on the following morning a salute
of shotted guns was fired all along the
lines. To this the enemy replied, and
the result was a furious artillery contest
extending from Deep Bottom to beyond
the Weldon Railroad, soon relapsing
into the usual desultory picket and
artillery firing.

CHAPTER XLIII.
Sheridan assumes command of the Middle Military Division.— Force and Composition of Sheridan's and Early's Armies.
— Advance of Sheridan up the Shenandoah Valley to Cedar Creek.— Mosby attacks Sheridan's Wagon Train.— Re
treat of Sheridan from Cedar Creek.— Destruction of Stock, Grain, etc.— Penrose's Brigade.— Massacre near Snicker's
Gap. — Panic in Maryland. — Sheridan at Bolivar Heights.— Sheridan at Berryville.— Offensive Movements resumed.
—Battle of Winchester.— Advance to Cedar Creek.— Battle of Fisher's Hill.— Advance to Staunton.— Early at
Brown's Gap.— Murder of Lieutenant Meigs.— Retreat of Sheridan toward Cedar Creek.— Devastation of the Shen
andoah Valley.— Rosser's Cavalry stampeded.— Position of the Army at Cedar Creek.— Early's Nocturnal Flank
Movement.— Defeat of the Federal Army.— Sheridan turns Defeat into Victory.— Early falls back to New Market.
— Rosser's Raid to New Creek and Piedmont. — Merritt's Raid in Loudon and Fauquier Counties.

The panic caused by the rebel inva
sion of Maryland and Pennsylvania
Io04t. T ,
in July, an account of which was
given in Chapter XXXV., and the alarm
into which Washington itself had on that
occasion been thrown, made it obvious
that the Valley of the Shenandoah ought
to be held by a force strong enough at
least to prevent the rebels from again
crossing the Potomac. From the time
of General Banks to Early's last raid it
had been the custom of the Federal
troops to start down the valley at the
first onset of the Confederate cavalry.
229

It was now resolved that there should
be no more of this, and that in that
quarter there should be hereafter a force
adequate to any exigencies. On the
evening of the 5th of August, General
Grant, the late raids of Early's cavalry
having called him away temporarily
from Petersburg, arrived at Monocacy,
the headquarters of the Middle Military
Division, and on the following morning
held a consultation with Generals Hunter
and Sheridan, the result of which was,
that when General Grant set out again
at noon for Petersburg, General Sheri-

482

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

dan proceeded to Harper's Ferry, where
Au«-, on the 7th he assumed command
?• of the Middle Military Division,
"" comprising the Middle Department, and
the old Departments of Washington, the
Susquehanna, and Western Virginia.
Thus were placed under the direction
of Sheridan all the scattered commands
in the Valley of the Shenandoah, in
Maryland, and in Pennsylvania, his
headquarters being at Harper's Ferry.
The enemy were now entirely out of
Maryland and some distance up the
valley, and in fact on the very day
on which Sheridan assumed command,
Averill obtained a decided victory over
McCausland and Johnson at Moorefield.
The force under the command of
Sheridan consisted of the sixth corps
under General Wright, and the nine
teenth under General Emory, the old
army of Western Virginia, comprising
the eighth corps, under General Crook ;
the entire first division of Potomac
cavalry ; AveriU's division ; Lowell's
brigade, which had been usually kept
near Washington, and Kelley's command ;
to which was soon afterward added Wil
son's second division — in all about forty
thousand men, of which ten thousand
were cavalry, with about twenty six-
gun batteries. The force under General
Early, including the two infantry corps
of Rhodes and Breckinridge, consisted
of about thirty thousand men, of which
ten thousand were cavalry, with fourteen
six-gun batteries, and at this time was
at Winchester, twenty-seven miles west-
southwest of Harper's Ferry.
At sunrise on the morning of the 10th

of August, Sheridan began the move
ment of his forces from Hall town, Aug.
three and a half miles west of W«
Harper's Ferry. Marching at first west
ward, he reached Charlestown in two
hours, from which point the nineteenth
corps, preceded by the cavalry brigades
of Custer and Gibbs, struck off to the
left for Berryville, fifteen miles south
west. Farther to the left marched the
command of General Crook, while on
the right the sixth corps, preceded by
the brigades of Devin and Lowell, moved
along the Winchester road a few miles
and turned off toward Berryville to join
the nineteenth. The weather during the
march was oppressively hot, and the
roads, in rainy seasons almost impassable
from deep mud, were now covered with
a thick layer of dust, which the rapid
tread of many thousand feet of men and
horses and the artillery and wagon trains
raised in stifling clouds. About noon
the several cayalry brigades of Custer,
Devin, Gibbs, and Lowell formed a
junction at Berryville. Four miles west
of this place on the road to Winchester,
a body of the enemy's skirmishers was
found and driven off. The infantry
bivouacked in the neighborhood of
Berryville on the different roads by which
they had approached, the sixth corps on
the right, the nineteenth in the centre,
the eighth on the left. The cavalry,
posted in the advance, held the roads
leading to Winchester and Millwood,
the latter place being occupied by
Colonel Cesnola's regiment. On the
11th the army took the road leading to
Winchester, the cavalry in the advance.

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

483

Custer's brigade on arriving at Sulphur
Springs Bridge, three and a half miles
east of Winchester, encountered a body
of the enemy, when a sharp skirmish
took place, lasting two hours, but result
ing finally in Custer being flanked and
driven back. Meanwhile Devin's bri
gade, followed by Gibbs', had moved
toward White Post, aiming to arrive by
a circuitous route at Newtown, with the
design of flanking the enemy, who it was
now ascertained had begun to withdraw
southward, along the road leading to
Strasburg. This object, however, was
not attained. The advance under Col
onel Cesnola encountered the enemy's
skirmishers near White Post, and drove
them back on the road leading to New
town, but on arriving at the road leading
south to Front Royal, found a brigade
of the rebel infantry with three field
pieces in a very strong position, and was
checked till the remainder of Devin's
brigade arrived, when a severe fight
ensued, lasting from eleven o'clock till
twelve, but without any decisive result.
At four o'clock General Crook came up
with his infantry and relieved Devin,
and the latter then marched on to the
assistance of Gibbs, who had got nearly
to Newtown and engaged the enemy, and
was now falling back. Devin arrived
just in time to check the rebels, who
then retreated to the woods, unpursued,
however, by the Federal troops, who
also retired about a mile and bivouacked,
with a strong picket guard in front.
The enemy thus by hard fighting suc
ceeded in holding Newtown and in
covering their trains, which passed down

safely toward Strasburg. The total
Federal loss was about three hundred,
chiefly in cavalry, the infantry not having
been much engaged, though they suffered
severely in marching, from the extreme
heat, and lost many men from sun
stroke. Sheridan's army moved forward again
on the morning of the 12th, it Au«-.
having been ascertained that the *2.
enemy had retreated. The cavalry
advanced, skirmishing most of the way,
to Cedar Creek, where about noon they
found a force of the enemy on a hill in
front of Strasburg, who shelled and
drove back the cavalry skirmishers, till
they were relieved by the eighth corps,
which had now arrived. The remainder
of the army in passing through Newtown
and Middletown met with no opposition,
and on arriving at Cedar Creek bivou
acked on the east bank, on the west side
of which the enemy held a position in
some old breast-works. There was
active skirmishing during the remainder
of. the day, and in the evening some
shelling across the creek, but no general
engagement. On the 13th, the enemy
having fallen back in the night, the
Federal skirmishers got into Strasburg,
but were compelled to retire again. On
the evening of the 14th the heights in
front of the town were captured, and on
the following morning the small force
of the enemy which had held Strasburg
for two days withdrew. Their works
on Fisher's Hill, however, still com
manded the place.
But news had now arrived which
caused Sheridan with his whole army to

484

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

commence a rapid retreat toward Har
per's Ferry. In the Blue Ridge range
of mountains which runs along the east
side of the valley like a continuous wall,
and parallel with which flows the Shen
andoah, are several gaps, or depressions
in the mountain chain, at long intervals,
forming the only practicable routes to
and from the valley. The most im
portant of these are Snicker's Gap and
Island Ford, which might easily have
been held by a few troops ; but the
precaution of guarding them had by
some strange oversight been neglected,
and on the 13th, while Sheridan's army
was lying in front of Strasburg, Mosby
with a few light troops dashed through
Snicker's Gap, crossed the Shenandoah,
and fell suddenly on the rear of Sheri
dan's supply train neax Berryville on its
way to Winchester, about four miles
from the Gap. The guard, consisting
of Kenly's brigade of hundred days' men,
became panic-stricken when Mosby made
his charge. A few brave men fought
well for a while, but the rest made off
as rapidly as possible. Mosby captured
and destroyed seventy-five wagons,
chiefly laden with cavalry baggage,
besides securing two hundred prisoners,
six hundred horses and mules, and two
hundred head of cattle. He then re
tired, having lost only two men killed
and three wounded. The Federal loss
beyond prisoners was not much greater.
But this disaster in the rear, though not
fatal in itself, caused it to be reported
that Longstreet with his entire corps
was getting into a position across
Sheridan's line of communications, and

was cutting off his whole army. The
consequence was, that on the 15th Aug,
Sheridan got his three corps and *5'
the various cavalry brigades in readiness
to retreat, and about eleven at night the
retrograde movement commenced, the
nineteenth corps taking the lead toward
Winchester, succeeded the next day by
Crook's command, the sixth corps bring
ing up the rear. With the view of
preventing flanking operations on the
part of the enemy from the gaps in the
Blue Ridge, and to cover the retreat in
that direction, Devin's cavalry brigade
on the 14th was sent a few miles to the
southeast toward Front Royal. In the
mean time a body of the enemy, forming
a part of Kershaw's division, which had
taken part in the recent actions near
Malvern Hill, had come by railroad to
Mitchell Station, and marched thence to
Front Royal, and on the morning of the
16th Custer's brigade, followed not long
afterward by that under Gibbs, was sent
to the support of Devin. Custer arrived
soon after noon and took position on the
left of Devin. The line had not been
long formed, however, before the enemy
suddenly appeared, marching in two
columns, one of infantry, the other of
cavalry, along the road leading north
ward from Front Royal to the Shenan
doah. A brisk artillery fight then took
place, the enemy using eight pieces,
though without much effect. Their cav
alry having crossed by the bridge and
their infantry by the ford, they advanced
to carry the Federal batteries, but were
repulsed on the right by a charge from
two regiments of Devin's brigade, each

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

485

of which captured a flag, and the rebels
were driven over the river again.
Meanwhile, having secured a good posi
tion for their artillery, they attempted
to turn the Federal left. A series of
charges and counter-charges then took
place between a brigade of Kershaw's
division, which crossed the river, and
Custer's division. The fighting con
tinued till after dark, and when the
enemy fell back to recross the river,
150 of them were made prisoners at the
ford. The killed and wounded did not
exceed a hundred on either side. This
affair took place near Crooked Run, a
small tributary of the Shenandoah, a
little below the confluence of the north
and south forks. Early the next morn
ing Custer's and Devin's brigades fell
back on the road leading northward to
Winchester to follow the infantry column,
carrying out as they went orders which
had been given for the capture or
destruction of all the stock, grain, and
hay, and everything else which could
contribute to the sustenance of man or
beast. Fields and gardens were ravaged
and swept clean. According to a Rich
mond paper, Sheridan's army, as it
retired from Strasburg, "literally de
stroyed everything in the way of food
for man or beast. With their immense
cavalry they extended their lines from
Front Royal, in Warren County, to the
North Mountains, west of Strasburg, and
burnt every bushel of wheat, in stack,
barn, or mills, in Frederick, Warren,
or Clark, as well as oats and hay. They
have really left absolutely nothing in
those three counties. They drove before

them every horse, cow,- sheep, hog, calf,
and living animal from the country.
What the people are to do, God only
knows. General Early, two weeks
since, gave orders not to have a bushel
of grain taken from below Strasburg, as
hardly enough was left for the citizens."
The enemy followed close upon the
heels of Sheridan. The sixth corps,
which brought up the rear of the infan
try column, had left Winchester on the
morning of the 17th, Colonel Penrose's
brigade, consisting of only about five
hundred men, having been left behind
as a support to Torbert's cavalry. About
one o'clock the advance of the Au«-.
enemy, approaching by the New- !'•
town and Winchester turnpike, at
tacked Penrose, who had deployed his
small brigade in skirmishing order with
the cavalry on his flank, about a mile
out of the town toward Kearnstown.
The cavalry, however, gave way, leaving
Penrose to make the best fight he could
behind fences, trees, and walls. Just
before dark, the enemy having received
large accessions of numbers, were able
to flank Penrose's little force, and it was
soon broken, losing three hundred
prisoners ; the remainder, with Penrose
and a few officers, making their way
through Winchester, escaped toward
Clifton and Martinsburg. That night
the enemy occupied Winchester ; the
Federal cavalry bivouacked at Berry
ville, next day taking up the line of
retreat toward Harper's Ferry, harassed
on the flanks and rear by the rebel
cavalry. On the 18th, some men in citizens'

486

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

dress, while conversing with them, killed
a corporal and two men belonging to an
advanced post of the Fifth Michigan
Cavalry, picketing at Snicker's Gap, and
hastily made off. Several other similar
occurrences took place, and on the 19th,
General Custer ordered some houses of
disloyal citizens to be destroyed in
retaliation. While a squad of men
from the Fifth Michigan were engaged
in carrying out this order, they were set
upon by Mosby's men, and fled in con
fusion. Eighteen of them were over
taken, and of these fifteen were killed.
It is said that ten were killed after
surrendering. That this was a massacre
is evident from the fact that only three
were reported as wounded. This affair
took place near Snicker's Gap turnpike,
and was followed by another retaliatory
order for the destruction of more houses
of disloyal citizens.
During the retreat of Sheridan's army,
General Averill, commanding at Martins
burg, continued to hold the place ; but
the alarm had become so great there on
the 18th, that he abandoned it with his
main force, leaving only one company,
which was driven out on the following
day. Another panic then arose in that
neighborhood and spread into Maryland.
In Hagerstown, merchants packed their
goods and sent them northward ; the
quartermasters' stores were loaded on
railroad trains in readiness to be rapidly
transported to Frederick ; the sick and
wounded were sent to Harrisburg. In
the mean while Averill took possession
of the fords of the Potomac from Shep
herdstown to Williamsport; once more

preparations were made to resist an
attempt on the part of the enemy to
cross over into Maryland, and on the
19th Sheridan's wagon train was re
ported to be " safe" back at Hagerstown.
But the panic soon died out ; . the enemy,
a few of whose advanced cavalry had
actually got near the Potomac, began to
retire, and on the 20th some of the
Federal cavalry again entered Martins
burg. On the 21st, Sheridan had disposed
his army advantageously about two
miles out from Charlestown toward
Summit Point. It extended in a line
from the Smithsfield to the Berryville
road, the sixth corps on the right, the
eighth on the centre, and the nineteenth
on the left. About eight in the ah"-,
morning Early came up, and with 21.
a part of his force attacked the advanced
cavalry skirmishers on the right and
left, easily driving them in. The main
body of his army moved off across the
Federal right, but with a small force he
drove back Wilson's division of cavalry
from a good position on Summit Point
with severe loss. He then threw a few
brigades against the sixth corps and the
right of the eighth, and fighting ensued,
which lasted from ten o'clock till the
close of the day, in the course of which
the sixth corps steadily advanced till it
came upon the enemy's line of battle ;
but it sustained heavy losses in the con
tinuous heavy skirmishing, and retired
to its original position at dark. Can
nonading was kept up for some time,
but the result of the battle was, that
Sheridan's army again fell back and took

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

487

a position on Bolivar Heights, his right
resting on the Potomac, his left on the
Shenandoah, his headquarters at Hall-
town. The position of the army here
was exceedingly strong, and it not only
far outnumbered the enemy, but rein
forcements were sent to it daily as well
as supplies. In the mean time the
enemy's cavalry ranged the country in
all directions at will. On the 24th, a
reconnoitring force of three brigades
sent out toward Charlestown discovered
that Early was there in force, with his
pickets out toward Bunker Hill. On
the 25th, Torbert's cavalry was sent to
reconnoitre in full force toward Leetown,
Wilson's division moving out from Hall-
town and uniting with Merritt's at
Kearneysville, from which point the
enemy's skirmishers retired, and the
Federal troops had the advantage for a
little while ; but the face of affairs soon
changed, and the rebels drove back the
divisions of Wilson and Merritt, which
were very badly handled, and abandon
ing Kearneysville, made the best of their
way toward Harper's Ferry. A running
fight ensued, lasting from eleven in the
forenoon till dark, by which time Mer
ritt's division was safe in camp at
Bolivar Heights ; but Custer's brigade,
which had the rear in the retreat, did
not fare so well, and at Shepherdstown
Custer found himself cut off from the
Halltown road, by which he intended to
march, and was finally compelled to
seek safety by crossing the Potomac.
The enemy did not venture to follow,
but held the river from Shepherdstown
to Williamsport, and on the following

day made demonstrations as if designing
to cross at the fords. In the afternoon
Thoburn's division of Crook's corps and
Lowell's cavalry pushed out on a recon
noissance toward Halltown. The infan
try soon encountered the enemy, and
after a contest, which lasted only twenty
minutes, drove them to the cover of
their artillery. Lowell with his cavalry
then dashed in on the flank and cut off
sixty-nine prisoners, including six officers.
The result of this reconnoissance was,
that the enemy were found to have left
Sheridan's front, and about seven o'clock
in the morning of the 28th he was again
on the march in the direction of Charles-
town, his cavalry in the advance care
fully reconnoitring in various directions.
By ten o'clock the nineteenth corps
reached Charlestown, and the entire
army pushed on to the old line of battle
held during the engagement a week
before, about two miles beyond the
town, the sixth corps holding the right,
the nineteenth the centre, and the eighth
the left. Then having formed line of
battle, the army awaited the result of
the cavalry advance. On the morning
of the 29th the enemy were found Aug,
near Smithsfield, and General Mer- 29.
ritt making a vigorous attack upon their
cavalry drove it back through the town
and over Opequan Creek. A reconnois
sance was then made beyond the creek
by General Custer's cavalry with Ran
som's battery, but encountering the rebel
skirmishing line he retired again across
the stream in the direction of Smithsfield,
followed by the enemy's infantry, which,
however, on the advance of General

488

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

Ricketts' division fell back again rapidly.
Sheridan's army then again retired upon
Charlestown, and remained quiet till the
morning of the 3d of September, when
it was again put in motion in a south
westerly direction, Crook's command
occupying the left, the nineteenth corps
the centre, and the sixth the right.
Sept. Between ten and eleven the second
$• cavalry division on the extreme
right was attacked by Lomax's cavalry
about seven miles south of Martinsburg,
but drove it from the field, sustaining
but little loss. About noon Crook's
command reached the vicinity of Berry
ville, where it was attacked by a large
rebel force, approaching from the direc
tion of Winchester. Crook hastily form
ed his men, and a battle ensued, which
lasted till dark, when the enemy retired,
having suffered severely. The remainder
of the army then coming up, got into
position in the neighborhood of Berry
ville, and threw up substantial breast
works. Here Sheridan remained about
two weeks, content to hold his own in
the valley, without attempting any
venturesome expedition, but keeping
his force well in hand, so as to be able
to check any movement on the part of
Early, his cavalry as well as that of the
enemy making reconnoissances from
time to time.
Sheridan had now been considerably
over a month in the valley, with an
army decidedly superior to that of Early,
and his marches and counter-marches
had been a source of much perplexity
and some dissatisfaction with the North
ern public. His campaign so far had

been one of manoeuvres, in which de
cisive fighting was avoided, but in which
the enemy had been kept constantly
occupied, and a force which Lee could
ill spare had been kept away from
Petersburg, or from reinforcing Hood at
Atlanta. The presence of Early's army
in the valley was also made necessary
to the security of Lee's army at Peters
burg and Richmond, as it interposed
between the Federal forces and Lynch
burg, upon which Sheridan would other
wise have immediately marched and cut
off Lee's communications with the south
west. When Atlanta fell, it ceased to
be a part of Grant's policy to keep
Early with a large force idle in the
valley, and about the middle of Septem
ber he paid a hasty visit to the upper
Potomac, had an interview with Sheridan,
and gave him permission to change the
character of the campaign by commenc
ing a series of offensive operations.
A reconnoissance made on the 13th
by the first cavalry division supported
by Getty's division of the sixth corps, to
Lock's Ford on the Opequan, showed
that the enemy were on the west bank
in some force. Three days later it was
discovered that they had disappeared
entirely from the neighborhood of the
left wing of the Federal army on the
Winchester and Berryville turnpike, and
that they had but a weak line on the
right. On the 18th the rebel General
Gordon, with his division of infantry,
occupied Martinsburg, but was speedily
driven out of it again by Averill.
Sheridan now having become satisfied
that the main body of the enemy had

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

489

moved to the vicinity of Bunker Hill
and Stephenson's DepOt, resolved, by a
rapid movement westward toward Win
chester, to get into their rear. On the
afternoon of the 18th, therefore, his
troops were placed under arms and held
in readiness to march at a moment's
Sept. notice. On the morning of the
19. 19th the sixth and nineteenth corps
were set in motion at three o'clock, the
sixth being directed to march in parallel
columns on each side of the Winchester
and Berryville turnpike with the artil
lery, ammunition, and supply trains
between them on the road, the nineteenth
corps following by the same road in
similar order. " General Crook was
ordered to move at five o'clock from
his position in the vicinity of Summit
Point, across the country in a south
westerly direction, and form a junction
with the sixth and nineteenth corps at
the point where the Winchester and
Berryville turnpike crosses the Opequan,
five miles east of Winchester. Generals
Torbert and Averill, with their large
cavalry force, were directed to occupy
the enemy's attention by demonstrating
on their left. Shortly after daylight
Wilson's division of cavalry crossed the
Opequan and skirmished with the enemy,
who were discovered to be in force on
the west bank. The march of the nine
teenth corps was by some means delayed,
so that it did not cross the Opequan till
about noon, and thus Early had time to
draw in his left from its advanced posi
tion near Bunker Hill, though engaged
in the retreat by Averill, who captured
two hundred prisoners from Gordon's
230

division, and the Federal advance was
more stubbornly resisted than it other
wise would have been. As it was, the
first and second lines were thrown into
some confusion, and were forced to retire
behind the third ; but as soon as Sheri
dan got his batteries into a position
from which they were able to silence
the enemy's guns, order was restored,
and they again advanced and retook the
position from which they had been
driven, and held it until reinforced by
General Crook, whose troops had been
kept in reserve on the east side of the
creek. Then followed one of the most
fiercely contested battles of the war, the
opposing lines being at some points not
more than two hundred yards apart.
About three in the afternoon General
Crook's first division got into position
on the right and his second in the rear,
supporting a division of the nineteenth
corps. About this time, also, General
Torbert, with AveriU's and Merritt's
cavalry divisions, arrived on the extreme
right. Sheridan then ordered an ad
vance along the entire line, The enemy
stubbornly maintained their ground
against the Federal infantry, but gave
way finally before a most brilliant and
decisive charge of the cavalry, made at
a critical moment. The battle lasted
till five in the evening, but the victory
was of the most decided character ;
Early's troops were driven from the
field in confusion, and, according to a
dispatch of Sheridan's, they were sent
"whirling through Winchester," whence
they retreated rapidly to Fisher's Hill,
three miles south of Strasburg. Nearly

490

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH- VALLEY.

three thousand prisoners were taken,
besides which there were captured fifteen
battle-flags and five pieces of artillery.
The rebels abandoned their dead and
wounded, three thousand of the latter
being left in Winchester. The entire
Federal loss was estimated at twenty-
five hundred. General David Russell,
commanding a division of the sixth
corps, was killed, and Generals Chapman,
Mcintosh, and Upton were wounded,
besides many other officers in both ar
mies. The rebel Generals Rhodes and
Godwin were among the killed.
The position of General Early at
Fisher's Hill was one of extraordinary
natural strength. His line extended in
a westerly direction across the Strasburg
valley, the right resting on the North
Fork of the Shenandoah, the left on
Little North Mountain. From this
position Sheridan soon made prepara
tions to drive him, and after a good deal
of manoeuvring for positions, his army
Sept. about noon on the 22d lay as
22. follows : Crook's corps on the right,
the sixth in the centre, and the nine
teenth on the left. While Wright and
Emory made demonstrations on the left
and centre, and Averill drove in the
enemy's skirmishers, Crook moved out
to the extreme right. After a long and
arduous march he got round and flanked
Early's left between four and five in the
afternoon, and made a furious attack,
sweeping clown behind the enemy's
breast-works, and driving the rebels out
of them in the greatest confusion. While
Crook was thus carrying everything
before him on the enemy's left, Wright

attacked and broke through the centre
of their line, separating the two wings,
and in great disorganization the enemy
broke and fled toward Woodstock,
abandoning artillery, horses, wagons,
rifles, knapsacks, and canteens, which
the pursuers found lining the road.
Eleven hundred prisoners and twenty
pieces of artillery were captured, besides
a great many caissons and artillery
horses. The total loss of the rebels
at Winchester and Fisher's Hill was
estimated at not less than ten thousand
men, while that of Sheridan's army in
both battles was not over three thousand.
Early's precipitate retreat from his almost
impregnable position at Fisher's Hill was
probably in a measure owing to General
Torbert with a large force of cavalry
having been sent up the Luray Valley
to seek an opportunity to take him in
flank or to intercept his retreat.
Sheridan marched on the night after
the battle to Woodstock, but halted
there in the morning to give his troops
rest and to await the arrival of rations.
Averill, pushing on in advance, drove
the enemy to Mount Jackson, ten miles
farther, where they made a stand and
resisted his farther progress. Sheridan
soon afterward advanced to Mount Jack
son and thence to New Market, and on
the 25th his headquarters were at
Harrisonburg, his cavalry moving toward
Staunton. On the 24th, Torbert had a
sharp engagement near Luray with the
enemy's cavalry, who were trying to
operate in Sheridan's rear ; but he suc
ceeded in driving them up the valley,
and on the 26th rejoined the main army.

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

491

Early retreated to Port Republic, and
thence to Brown's Gap, a depression in
the Blue Ridge fifteen miles southeast
of Harrisonburg, which he held in force,
and retained, in spite of several attempts
to drive him from it. Torbert, with
Wilson's division of cavalry and a brigade
of Merritt's, entered Staunton on the
morning of the 26th and destroyed a
quantity of the enemy's property there ;
then marching along the railroad to
Waynesboro, he tore up the track for the
entire distance, as well as the bridges
over Christian's Creek and the South
River, and then retired to Harrisonburg
by way of Staunton, destroying or
carrying off large supplies of forage and
grain. Several reconnoissances made toward
Early's position at Brown's Gap showed
that he enjoyed there unusual facilities
for defence, and had thrown up in
trenchments and prepared to make a
determined stand. An advance on
Lynchburg on the part of Sheridan with
Early in his rear, now receiving rein
forcements, would have been extremely
hazardous ; his communications would
have been at once interrupted. As it
was, numerous guerrilla bands, under
the lead of Mosby, White, and other
partisan chieftains, kept up an annoying
warfare between Strasburg and the
Potomac ; and ever since the army left
Harper's Ferry, every small party and
every straggler had been "bushwhacked"
by the people of the valley, many of
whom had obtained protection passes
from earlier commanders. Lieutenant
John Meigs, of the engineer corps, was

overtaken and murdered in a narrow
wooded road between Harrisonburg and
Dayton ; but in retaliation for this, all
the houses within five miles were burned
by order of Sheridan. Nothing was to
be gained by staying any longer in the
neighborhood of Port Republic and
Cross Keys, and it remained only to fall
back down the valley to some point
which could be easily and firmly held,
and to which the winter supplies for the
army might be conducted in safety. On
the 6th of October, therefore, Oct.
Sheridan withdrew his forces from 6.
the various advanced points which they
had occupied, and marched northward,
destroying on his way, in accordance
with orders from Government, all the
hay, grain, and forage to be found,
beyond what was necessary for the use
of his own army. A correspondent,
who was present on this march, thus
describes some of the scenes he wit
nessed : " The atmosphere, from horizon
to horizon, has been black with the
smoke of a hundred conflagrations, and
at night a gleam brighter and more
lurid than sunset has shot from every
verge. The orders have been to destroy
all forage in stacks and barns, and to
drive the stock before for the subsistence
of the army. The execution of these
orders has been thorough, and in some
instances, where barns near dwelling-
houses have been fired, has resulted in
the destruction of the latter. In no
instance, except in that of the burning
of dwellings within five miles in retalia
tion for the murder of Lieutenant Meigs,
have orders been issued for the burning

492

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

of houses, or have such orders been
sanctioned by General Sheridan. Such
wholesale incendiarism could not have
been pursued, however, without undue
license being taken by the worst class
of soldiers, and there have been frequent
instances of rascality and pillage. In-
discriminating (for with such swift work
discrimination is impracticable), relent
less, merciless, the torch has done its
terrible business in the centre and on
either side of the valley. Few barns
and stables have escaped. The gardens
and cornfields have been desolated. The
cattle, hogs, sheep, cows, oxen, nearly
five thousand in all, have been driven
from every farm. The poor, alike with
the rich, have suffered. Some have lost
their all. The wailing of women and
children, mingling with the crackling of
flames, has sounded from scores of dwell
ings. I have seen mothers weeping over
the loss of that which was necessary to
their children's lives, setting aside their
own ; their last cow, their last bit of flour
pilfered by stragglers, the last morsel that
they had in the world to eat or drink.
Young girls with flushed cheeks, or pale
with tearful or tearless eyes, have
pleaded with and cursed the men whom
the necessities of war have forced to
burn the buildings reared by their
fathers, and turn them into paupers in a
day. The completeness of the desolation
is awful. Hundreds of nearly starving
people are going North. Our trains are
crowded with them. They line the
wayside. Hundreds more are coming—
not half the inhabitants of the valley
can subsist on it in its present condition.

Absolute want is in mansions used in
other clays to extravagant luxury."
A committee appointed by the county
court of Rockingham to make an esti
mate of the damage done in that county
by Sheridan's troops, reported that there
were burnt or otherwise destroyed, 30
dwelling-houses, 450 barns, 31 mills, 3
factories, 1 furnace, 100 miles of fencing,
100,000 bushels of wheat, 50,000 bushels
of corn, 6,233 tons of hay, besides an
immense number of farming utensils of
every description, many of them of great
value, such as McCormick's reapers and
threshing machines, as well as household
and kitchen furniture, money, bonds,
plate, etc. Of live stock carried off, there
were' 1,750 cattle, 1,750 horses, 4,200
sheep, and 3,350 hogs. The loss thus
sustained in this county alone was esti
mated at $25,000,000.
General Sheridan, in a dispatch dated
October 7th, says : " The whole country
from the Blue Ridge to the North
Mountain has been made untenable for
a rebel army. I have destroyed over
two thousand barns filled with wheat,
hay, and farming implements, over
seventy mills filled with wheat and
flour. Four herds of cattle have been
driven before the army, and not less
than three thousand sheep have been
killed and issued to the troops. This
destruction embraces the Luray and Little
Fork valleys as well as the main valley."
This wholesale devastation of the valley
from mountain to mountain, with the
intent to render the entire region a
desert, embittered the inhabitants to the
last degree. Having lost all, and having

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

493

no object in life but the destruction of
their enemies by fair means or foul, they
had no resort or occupation but to fight,
in Early's ranks, or in connection with
Mosby's bands, or solitary in the fearful
guerrilla warfare everywhere raging.
As Sheridan returned down the valley
toward Cedar Creek, he was closely
followed by the cavalry of the enemy
under Rosser, supported by the main
Oct. body of Early's army. On the 9th,
9i the head of Sheridan's infantry-
column having entered Strasburg by the
east road, while the rear was still some
miles farther south, the enemy following
the cavalry on the west road, had
advanced so far as to get on the left
flank of the infantry column. Generals
Custer and Merritt then turned and
attacked with their cavalry, and a report
spreading among Rosser's men that the
Federal infantry were at the same time
flanking them, they immediately gave
way and broke into a stampede. The
pursuit was continued seven miles. The
enemy's loss was not great, being only
about three hundred men including
prisoners ; but they abandoned eleven
guns, four caissons, and an ammunition
train. Things remained pretty quiet
for several days after this affair, but on
the 12th the enemy again appeared in
the neighborhood of Strasburg and
opened an artillery fire on Emory's and
Crook's corps. These troops were then
partially withdrawn, and Crook pushed
out a reconnoissance, which brought on
a smart engagement lasting three hours,
but night closed without any advantage
and with little loss to either side.

On the 15th, General Sheridan went
to Washington on important busi- Oct.
ness, leaving the army under the 15.
command of General Wright, whose
corps was in the mean time intrusted
to General Ricketts. Fisher's Hill had
been abandoned as not affording any
good defensible line on its southern
slope, on which side Early would be
likely to approach, and the army had
now lain for several days in front of
Strasburg, behind breast-works thrown
up on rising and rolling ground, mostly
along the east side of Cedar Creek,
Crook with the eighth corps on the left,
the nineteenth corps on the centre, the
sixth on the right. On the right of the
sixth, a little in the rear and in reserve,
were the two cavalry divisions of Custer
and Merritt. The line was four or five
miles long, and following the course of
the creek, lay nearly north and south.
Crook's corps rested its left flank on the
North Fork of the Shenandoah and its
right on the Winchester and Strasburg
turnpike, the principal highway in that
region. Behind Crook's left and at right
angles to it, with a view to guard against
any turning movement on that flank, lay
a force about equivalent to a brigade,
known as Kitching's provisional division.
North of the turnpike came the nine
teenth corps, Grover's division holding
its left and resting on the turnpike,
where it joined Thoburn's division of
Crook's command. The sixth corps on
the right, and the second cavalry division,
were not strongly protected with works,
as all the rest of the line was, but were
well posted on high ridges, and held

494

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

firmly the Middle road, or that which
runs next north of the turnpike. A
small stream called Meadow Run flows
and falls into the creek between the two
roads mentioned. In front the Federal
position was considered impregnable,
except by surprise, and to turn it would
be, it was believed, an undertaking of
extreme temerity. To guard against
surprise on the left, the North Fork was
picketed by Powell's cavalry division
from Cedar Creek all the way to Front
Royal, at which place Weir's battery
commanded the fords, supported by
cavalry, with which also was carefully
picketed the region where the two forks
unite to form the main stream of the
Shenandoah, to guard against surprise
from the direction of the Luray Valley.
Artillery was posted in front of the
positions of Crook and Emory, so as to
command the ford and the bridge over
Cedar Creek, as well as the rising ground
on the west side. The wagon trains
and reserve artillery lay in the rear on
the turnpike. On the 17th the cavalry
on the right under Custer was attacked
along its picket line by rebel cavalry
and infantry, and a severe skirmish
ensued, resulting in the repulse of the
enemy. Next day a careful reconnois
sance was made from the left toward
Strasburg and Fisher's Hill, but no sign
of movement on the part of the enemy
was discovered. Dispatches, however,
were captured, from which it was ascer
tained that reinforcements had been sent
to Early, for the purpose of enabling
him to attack and defeat Sheridan, and
General Emory was ordered to prepare

to make a reconnoissance in force on
the 19th.
Early had in fact just received a re
inforcement of twelve thousand men,
which increased his strength to twenty-"
seven thousand, but of this nothing was
known in the Federal camp, and if it
had been known, it would have caused
no apprehensions, as Sheridan's army
was still largely superior in numbers,
and was besides strongly intrenched.:
But it encouraged Early to prepare and
put in execution the most audacious and
most difficult nocturnal flank movement
ofthe war. Soon.after midnight, Early,
having arranged his troops unperceived
at Fisher's Hill, set them in motion
toward Sheridan's lines. His cavalry
and light artillery were directed to
advance against the Federal right, so as
to occupy the attention of Torbert and
the sixth corps. His infantry marched
in five columns, of which Gordon's,
Ramseur's, and Pegram's were ordered
to place themselves by daybreak on QCt,
the left rear of the whole Federal Im
position, while Kershaw's and Wharton's
were to endeavor to get about the same
time close under the intrenched rising
ground on which lay Crook's command.
To turn the Federal left, it was necessary
that Early's columns should descend
into the gorge at the base of the Mas-
sahutten Mountain, ford the North Fork
of the Shenandoah, and skirt Crook's
encampment for some distance, in some
places within four hundred yards of his
pickets. The enterprise was hazardous
almost beyond parallel ; and though the
movement was actually completed ac-

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

495

cording to the plan laid down by Early,
it was at one time very near being
discovered. About two o'clock in the
morning some pickets in Kitching's pro
visional division heard a rustling of
underbrush and the tread of a body of
men. The circumstance was reported
to General Crook, but he contented
himself with ordering his command to
be on the alert and sending the front
line into the trenches, without having a
reconnoissance made, to see if the alarm
were well founded. No one believed
that Early would venture upon an attack
after so many defeats. Nevertheless
an hour before daylight the rebel infan
try, formed and ready for battle, lay
within six hundred yards of the Federal
camps. Gordon's column was diagonally
in the rear of the nineteenth corps ; on
the left of Crook, facing Kitching's pro
visional division, was Ramseur supported
by Pegram ; in front of Crook was
Kershaw supported by Wharton. Under
cover of the morning mist, Kershaw's
column moved rapidly through Crook's
picket line, without regarding its scatter
ing musketry fire, toward the intrench
ments, the men in which, unable to see
what was going on, fired too late, or,
caught with unloaded rifles, did not fire
at all. There was a struggle over the
breast-works, but it scarcely lasted five
minutes, and then the rebels rushed in
like a flood. In a quarter of an hour
Crook's gallant army of Western Vir
ginia became a disorganized mass of
fugitives in rapid rout toward the posi
tion of the nineteenth corps. So sudden
had been the attack and so brief the

resistance made, that though the eighth
corps lost several "batteries, only seven
hundred prisoners fell into the hands of
the enemy, and less than a hundred
men were killed or wounded. Some
regiments indeed fought well for a little
while, but nothing could withstand the
daring yet silently and dextrously exe
cuted charge of Kershaw. The sixth
corps was at the same time menaced,
and its attention occupied by the enemy's
cavalry and light artillery, and it fell to
the lot of the nineteenth corps to resist
unaided the shock of Gordon's column,
now advancing solidly massed up the
slope of a broad bare hill which com
manded Emory's camp. The rebel force
on this side, including the divisions of
Ramseur and Pegram, was as strong as
Emory's, and was supported by another
column coming up through the woods
on the left, and along the turnpike in
front. The nineteenth corps was thus
not only taken in the rear but out
numbered. Still it held out for about
an hour, and then its left gave way,
leaving a part of the artillery in the
enemy's hands. The left and centre of
the Federal army had now fallen into
complete confusion, and all the trains
that could be got away were sent off in
haste along the turnpike toward Win
chester. It was now also broad day,
and the extent of the disaster could be
seen. The enemy had succeeded in
rolling up the left of the line, and in
severing Powell's cavalry division on the
extreme left from the rest of the army,
and were forcing back the entire centre,
and occupying the intrenchments of the

496

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

nineteenth corps as they had those of
Crook's command. The enemy had also
captured eighteen pieces of artillery,
thus not only lessening the Federal
power for defence, but increasing their
own power for attack. The captured
cannon were turned with terrible effect
on their late possessors, and became an
important means of increasing the pre
cipitancy of the Federal retreat. The
sixth corps was ordered over from the
right, and these troops, executing quickly
a change of front which brought them
at right angles to their former line,
were soon engaged in desperate battle,
thus ¦ affording cover for the general
retreat, which was now ordered. The
enemy were now working along on the
turnpike toward Middletown, and great
exertions were made to get away the
remainder of the trains, in the effort to
cover which the troops suffered severely
from the fire of the enemy, who pursued
closely and with great vigor. The
resistance made by the sixth corps in
covering the retreat afforded opportunity
for re-forming the fugitives to some
extent ; but the enemy increased their
artillery and musketry fire to the utmost,
and still pressed the Federal left flank,
with the view, apparently, of getting full
possession of the turnpike, that they
might seize the trains and get between
the Federal army and Winchester. This
they seemed at one time likely to effect,
as while pouring in a destructive fire
they steadily advanced, while the broken
corps of the Federal army lost much
time in manoeuvring while re-forming
their line of battle. The enemy pressing

the left much more vigorously than the
right, Merritt's and Custer's cavalry
were transferred from the right to the
left, and a severe contest took place in
the thickly wooded country near Middle-
town, in which the left had been placed
by its rapid retreat. About nine o'clock
Sheridan's army had got into line of
battle again, and made desperate efforts
to check the enemy. Both sides used
artillery ; but the enemy had greatly the
advantage in this arm, having not only
their own batteries, but those which
they had captured. The sixth corps
held its ground well, but Crook's corps
on the left was forced back, and the
whole line gradually gave way, the
enemy again getting past the Federal
left flank, and finally gaining the village
of Middletown, about three miles north
east ofthe position from which Sheridan's
army had been driven. The principal
aim of the Federal commanders now
was to cover the trains and draw off the
army with as little loss as possible to
Newtown, in the hope of making another
stand there. The battle had been com
pletely lost; camps, lines of earth- works,
twenty-four guns, and eighteen hundred
prisoners had fallen into the hands of
the enemy, and the army, though in a
measure re-formed, was in a condition
which would justify any commander in
withdrawing it from the field. A vast
number of stragglers were well on their
way to Winchester, and some were
already entering the town.
But the tide of affairs was now to be
turned. Sheridan, who on his return
from Washington had passed the night

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

497

at Winchester, where he had got news
of Early's attack about the time that it
became a decided success, soon after ten
o'clock appeared on the field, having
come at great speed from the town,
meeting on the way, in the shape of
hurrying wagon trains and crowds of
weary fugitives, painful evidence of a
great disaster. His arrival created the
greatest enthusiasm among both officers
and men. He was received everywhere
with cheers ; the wounded by the road
side raised their feeble voices for a shout ;
the fugitives turned about and followed
him to the front. The army at this time
was just south of Newtown, and the
moment he reached it, he ordered it to
face about, form line, and prepare for
an advance. The line of battle was left
as Wright had formed it, except that
one cavalry division was sent across to
cover the right flank, where it was
before the battle. A lull in the fighting
had occurred soon after the retreat to
Newtown, and continued for some time
after Sheridan's arrival, and greatly
facilitated the work of reorganization —
all in fact that was needed to make the
Federal army more than a match for
that of the Confederates, which it con
siderably outnumbered. For two hours,
during which all was silence, prepara
tion, reorganization, and suspense, Sheri
dan rode along the front, studying the
ground and encouraging the men. Soon
after twelve o'clock the enemy got their
artillery into range of the Federal posi
tion, and opened fire with new vigor.
About one, Early having got his troops
well in hand again, sent them to the
231

charge, but this time in vain. The
Federal troops were ready, and after a
long and desperate struggle the rebels
were repulsed, and even followed back
a short distance. From two o'clock till
three, though the cannonading and the
rattle of musketry were incessant, no
advance of importance was made on
either side. About three o'clock Sheri
dan determined by a grand effort to
force the enemy out of Middletown,
which up to this time they had held.
The sixth corps was then drawn up in
the centre along the turnpike, Getty's
division in the advance ; Crook's corps
re-formed on the left of the sixth, and
the nineteenth corps came up on its
right under cover of the woods. Mer
ritt's cavalry division was thrown out
on the left flank, with Lowell's brigade
in the advance, Devin's following closely.
Custer's cavalry was on the right flank.
Between three and four o'clock Getty's
division dashed forward on the charge,
and the rest of the line followed. As
the troops burst from the woods, a
tremendous artillery and musketry fire
from the enemy was directed upon them,
which at first it seemed impossible could
be withstood. But such of the Federal
batteries as remained answered those of
the enemy with vigor and effect ; and
though the advancing troops once hesi
tated and even broke, they were re
formed, and again pressing on, despite
obstinate and bloody resistance, carried
two successive lines of stone walls, crests
and thickets, and drove the discomfited
enemy through the town, with as much
enthusiasm as though the army had just

498

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

come into action. This proved to be
the crisis of the battle and the turning
of the tide of victory. The enemy at
once began to retreat, and the only
question that remained was, how far
Sheridan's men would have strength to
pursue. It must be remembered that
they had eaten nothing since the previ
ous evening, that they had lost their
canteens and were suffering much from
thirst, and that they had been fighting
and manoeuvring, often at the double-
quick, for nearly twelve hours. The
cavalry and the sixth and nineteenth
corps now pressed the enemy from
Middletown to Cedar Creek. The fugi
tives, wearied and worn as well as their
pursuers, but not like them elated with
victory, threw away guns, haversacks,
clothing, and everything which became
an impediment in rapid flight. No time
was given them to pause till they arrived
at Cedar Creek, when they made an
attempt to hold their pursuers in check
by planting batteries on the opposite
banks to command the bridge and
fords. But the Federal troops, animated
by success, carried both, and drove the
rebels from the creek and through
Strasburg to Fisher's Hill. Their retreat
being so hasty was necessarily much
confused, and they abandoned all the
camp equipage, and almost everything
they had captured in the morning. In
Strasburg, the artillery which they had
taken becoming, owing to the demoral
ization of the drivers, mixed up with
their own, the whole of it was abandoned.
The prisoners, about eighteen hundred
iu all, taken mostly in the morning, they

had secured by sending on to Staunton.
The greater part of the Federal army-
bivouacked in the old camp at Cedar
Creek, a portion of the infantry following
the enemy as far as Strasburg, while the
cavalry dashed through to Fisher's Hill,
from which position the Confederate
army fell back during the night toward
Woodstock, followed on the morning of
the 20th by the Federal cavalry. At
this point the pursuit was discontinued,
the enemy having made good a hasty
retreat to Mount Jackson, whence they
subsequently retired to New Market and
intrenched. The Federal losses in this
battle were very severe, approximating
seven thousand, of which eighteen hun
dred were prisoners ; those of Early's
army were not so great, according to
Confederate accounts being less than
twelve hundred, and, exclusive of pris
oners, probably did not really exceed
two thousand, as in the early part of the
day they got possession of many pieces
of Sheridan's artillery and turned them
on the disorganized masses of the Fed
eral army, which thus sustained much
more injury than under the circum
stances it was able to inflict. The most
decisive evidence of their final defeat is
seen in the recapture of the twenty-four
cannon, the camp. equipage, etc., lost in
the morning, and in the capture of
twenty-three of Early's cannon, twenty
caissons, ten battle-flags, a number of
horses and mules, ambulances, wagons,
a quantity of artillery ammunition,
medical stores, and other material. Gen
eral Ramseur, of the Confederate army,
was killed. In the Federal army, Gen-

SHERIDAN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

499

eral Bidwell, Colonel Thoburn, Colonel
Higginbotham, and Major Smart were
killed, and Generals Wright, Ricketts,
and Grover wounded. Of all the re
trieved battles recorded in history, no
one is probably more remarkable than
this of Cedar Creek or Middletown.
After having sustained a decided defeat,
the same men in their turn totally routed
the victors without receiving any rein
forcements, except one man — Sheridan.
For this and other services in the
Valley of the Shenandoah, he was, on the
14th of November following, appointed
to the major- generalship in the United
States army vacated by the resignation
of General McClellan.
Early having, as was said, retired to
New Market, remained there some time
reorganizing his army, and beyond caval
ry skirmishing and reconnoitring, and the
ceaseless raids of the ever-active guer
rillas under Mosby, Imboden, and Gil-
more, nothing of importance occurred
till the first week in November, when
the enemy's cavalry began to appear
upon the flanks of Sheridan's army, and
on the 7th the rebel General Rosser with
his cavalry division reached Wordens-
ville, on the Cacapon, twelve miles
northwest of Strasburg, evidently with
the view of threatening the Federal
communications north of Winchester.
Nov. On the morning of the 9th, Sheri-
9. dan broke camp at Cedar Creek,
and moved his whole army back to
Newtown, and the next day to Kearns-
town, about four miles southwest of
Winchester. Early followed, and some

cavalry skirmishing occurred, in which
the losses were about equal ; but on the
12th he withdrew again to Fisher's Hill,
and subsequently to Mount Jackson and
New Market, in which direction three
cavalry divisions under Custer, Powell,
and Devin made a reconnoissance during
the 21st and 22d.
A raid was made by the rebel General
Rosser in the latter part of Novem
ber toward New Creek, on the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, where on the jy0v,
28th he surprised and captured 28.
Fort Kelley, and destroyed two hundred
wagons and a large quantity of commis
sary and ordnance stores. He then
went on to Piedmont, burning the rail
road bridges on his way, and destroyed
there all the government buildings, in
cluding several machine shops, in which
were a number of engines and some
rolling stock of the railroad.
During the first week in December a
division of the Federal cavalry under
General Merritt crossed the Blue Ridge
and made a destructive raid in Loudon
and Fauquier counties, laying the country
waste, burning barns, houses, and mills,
and capturing and slaughtering cattle.
The value of the property captured or
destroyed in this raid was, according to
an official statement, over $2,500,000.
About this time the entire sixth
corps and some other troops were de
tached from Sheridan's army to reinforce
Grant, as was also the greater part of
Early's army to reinforce Lee, and
affairs remained comparatively quiet in
the Shenandoah Valley for some months.

500

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

CHAPTER XLIV.

Grant's Movement from Deep Bottom toward Richmond. — Battle of Chapin's Farm. — Capture of Battery Harrison. —
Capture of New Market Heights. — Repulse at Fort Gilmer. — Reconnoissance by Kautz and Terry toward Richmond.
—Rebel Attack on Battery Harrison repulsed. — Grant's Movement toward the South Side Railroad. — Capture of
Fort McRae. — Repulse of Potter's Division. — Kautz's Cavalry surprised and routed. — Repulse of the Enemy by
Terry. — Reconnoissances. — Simultaneous Movements north of the James and toward Hatcher's Run. — Battle of
Hatcher's Run. — Operations before Petersburg. — Gregg's Raid to Stony Creek Station. — Warren's Operations on the
Weldon Railroad toward Hicksford. — Reconnoissance toward Hatcher's Run.

General Grant resumed active hos
tilities about the end of September
loo4» . by two important movements from
both ends of his long line ; one to the
north side of the James, the other to
the west of the Weldon Railroad. The
movement to the north of the James
was determined on under the belief that
the works in that direction were occupied
by only a small portion of the enemy's
force. It was hoped that a rapid ad
vance might result in the fall of Rich
mond, and it was argued that in any
event such a movement could be effect
ually resisted only by the enemy with
drawing a large number of troops from
the south side of the river, which would
make success probable in the movement
contemplated beyond the Weldon Rail
road. On the night of the 28th, the
Army of the James, under General
Butler, consisting of the tenth corps
under General Birney, holding the right
of the main line before Petersburg ; the
eighteenth corps, under General Ord, at
Bermuda Hundred, and General Kautz's
division of cavalry, were quietly but
rapidly moved from their positions, in

light marching order, to the James, over
which they crossed, on muffled pontoon
bridges, the tenth corps to Deep Bottom,
and the eighteenth to Aiken's Landing,
about midway between Deep Bottom
and Dutch Gap. At daylight on the
morning ofthe 29th, the eighteenth gept,
corps advanced by the Varina road, 29.
which runs in a northwesterly direction
to the New Market road, meeting with
no opposition till the march had been
continued about a mile, when the
enemy's pickets were met, and skirmish
ing began between the retreating rebels
and Stannard's division in the advance.
Two or three miles from Aiken's Landing
a long line of intrenchments was found
running westward from the road to the
James, and ending there in a well-con
structed fort. The region traversed by
these intrenchments is in the neighbor
hood of Chapin's and Ball's bluff's, and
was known as Chapin's Farm. In front
of the fortifications was an open plain.
Line of battle was formed in the woods
in the edge of this plain, Stannard's
division on the left near the river,
Heckman's on the right. The third

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

501

division under Paine was operating with
the tenth corps on a different road. In
front of Stannard's division was a series
of strong connected forts, including the
work known as Battery Harrison, which
was well provided with artillery and
surrounded by a wide and deep ditch.
In front of Heckman's division was a
line of rifle-pits defended chiefly by
infantry. The troops having been
formed under cover of the woods, dashed
across the plain under a very heavy fire
from the forts and rifle-pits and from
the gun-boats in the river, and carried
the entire line of works, including
Battery Harrison, capturing sixteen
pieces of. artillery and about two hun
dred prisoners. The attack was, in fact,
a surprise, and fortunately there were
but few troops in the works, and these
mostly inexperienced, or the affair would
have been much more bloody. As it
was, the success was purchased at a
heavy cost, the Federal loss being not
less than eight hundred, sustained chiefly
by Stannard's division while crossing
the open plain under the murderous
artillery fire. Brigadier-General Burn
ham was killed, and General Ord,
Colonel Stevens, and many other offi
cers wounded. The fighting was all
over by ten o'clock, and the men were
set to work throwing up breast-works
and strengthening their position ; but
the enemy's gun-boats and batteries on
the other side of the river kept up such
an annoying fire that General Weitzel,
who took command of the eighteenth
corps after General Ord. was wounded,
finding it impossible to hold the portion

of the works on the left near the river,
abandoned them, and moved Heckman's
division over from the right to the left,
with the view of concentrating his force
to repel an attack, should the enemy
return in superior numbers.
The tenth corps under General Birney
had in the mean time marched from
Deep Bottom toward New Market,
crossing Four Mile Creek, Paine's colored
division of the eighteenth corps in
the advance. The pickets were driven
in, the Kingsland road reached, and
the enemy were found at the junc
tion of that road with the New Market
road, where strong breast-works had
been constructed in a commanding
position called New Market Heights, a
marshy tract of ground in front, covered
with stunted trees and a dense under
growth besides being obstructed by an
abattis, rendering it very difficult of
approach. Over this piece of difficult
ground Paine's colored troops were
directed to charge, and in spite of the
formidable obstacles in their path, 'and
under a very destructive musketry fire,
made their way to the works and carried
them at the point of the bayonet with
out firing a shot. This position being
the key-point of the line of defences,
was stoutly defended by the rebels ; but
nothing could withstand the impetuous
onset of the colored troops. Terry's
division of the tenth corps pushed in on
the right and flanked the enemy, who
fell back from the heights, and Terry
immediately occupied them. No artil
lery was used on either side. The
Federal loss was about fifteen hundred,

502

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

sustained chiefly by the colored division ;
that of the enemy was much less, and
they retreated so rapidly that no prison
ers were taken. General Birney then
pushed on in the direction of Rich
mond, along the New Market road, to
the point where the Mill road enters it,
three miles west of New Market. After
carrying some feebly defended earth
works here, the advance, consisting of
the second division, now under Foster,
drove the enemy as far as the junction
of the Varina and New Market roads,
six miles southeast of Richmond. Here,
on Laurel Hill, was found a substantial
fortification called Fort Gilmer, consist
ing of a semicircular main work with
other works on each side, a wide and
deep ditch extending in front of the
intrenchments. Foster's division was
immediately deployed on the right,
and W. Birney's colored brigade on the
left. About two o'clock an assault was
ordered, and several charges were made,
but each time the troops were compelled
to retire with great loss, a severe
artillery and musketry fire from both
flank and front completely sweeping the
open space over which the storming
parties had to move. The colored
troops on the left succeeded in reaching
the ditch, but the few men who mounted
the parapet never returned. It soon
became evident that the position was
too strong to be taken, and before dusk
the troops were called off. The enemy
were left in secure possession of Laurel
Hill, having suffered but little loss, while
that of the Federals was not less than
five hundred.

General Kautz having early in the
morning reconnoitred the roads before
the advance of the infantry columns.
turned off about nine o'clock to the
right and moved up the Central road
toward Richmond, in which direction he
met no opposition till within two or
three miles of the city, when a fort near
the tollgate opened upon him. General
Terry also, whose division had been sent
to the support of Kautz, marched across
from the New Market to the Central
road, and pressing on rapidly came
within sight of the spires of Richmond.
But both withdrew about sundown.
The country had been found full of
fortifications, and the enemy everywhere
showed a disposition to resist. The line
of the army at night was formed with
the tenth corps in the centre, the cavalry
on the right, and the eighteenth corps
on the left.
About two in the afternoon of the
30th, the enemy, having been largely
reinforced from Petersburg during the
night and morning, appeared in great
force in front of Battery Harrison and
the line of captured works now held by
the eighteenth corps. Their plan of
attack was, to break through these and
separate the eighteenth and tenth corps.
The blow fell therefore on the right of
the eighteenth and the left of the tenth.
The action was commenced by a gept,
cannonade from the enemy of 30.
fifteen or twenty minutes' duration,
followed by a charge on Paine's colorecT
division, now getting position on the
right of the eighteenth corps, and on W.
Birney's colored brigade, on the left of

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

503

the tenth. But Paine and Birney held
their ground well, delivering a withering
fire of musketry, while the batteries
made great devastation in the charging
column. The weight of the attack fell,
however, on Stannard's division. Form
ing in three strong lines on the edge of
the woods, the enemy charged upon it
with great fury under cover of a hot
shelling from their gun-boats and an
enfilading fire from the batteries on
the other side of the river. Stannard's
men had been instructed to lower their
pieces, and their fire was incessant and
murderous. Three times the rebels
charged ; but each time, though they
got near the works, they were driven
back with great slaughter to their cover
in the woods. They lost in this affair,
including two hundred prisoners, of
whom twenty were officers, near eight
hundred men. Six battle-flags also were
taken. The Federal loss did not exceed
two hundred. At night heavy rain fell,
continuing through the following day
and night, and the surface of the country
was soon covered with deep mud,
rendering the movement of artillery and
wagons, and even the march of troops,
exceedingly difficult.
These movements on the north side
of the James having, as was intended,
induced General Lee to send off a great
part of his forces in that direction, Gen
eral Grant, who had for several days
been making preparations for the move
ment, dispatched on the 30th a column
from the left flank. The Federal force
remaining near Petersburg while the
Army of the James was operating toward

Richmond, consisted of three corps and
the second division of cavalry. Of these
the second corps and parts of the fifth
and ninth were now left to hold the
long line of the Weldon Railroad and
Petersburg intrenchments, while two
divisions of the ninth corps with two
divisions and a brigade of the fifth were
constituted a column of advance under
General Warren. On the 29th, a recon
noissance had been made by Gregg's
cavalry, supported by two brigades of
infantry, toward the Poplar 'Spring
Church road beyond the Vaughan turn
pike. On reaching the Weldon Railroad
Gregg struck off to the south of Yellow
Tavern, but after sending the different
brigades in various directions fell back
again. About five o'clock the enemy,
who had followed Gregg on his return,
attacked him with two pieces of artillery,
and skirmishing, resulting in little loss
to either side, continued till dark, when
Gregg returned to his former lines.
On the following morning the column
under Warren set out from Four Mile
Station on the Weldon Railroad, the
headquarters of the fifth corps, the
cavalry under Gregg on the extreme left,
while the divisions of Griffin and Ayres,
with Hoffman's brigade of the fifth corps,
followed by the divisions of Willcox and
Potter and several batteries, moved out
in the direction of Poplar Grove, on the
South Side Railroad, fifteen miles west
of Four Mile Station. The march was
made in a northwesterly direction, and
soon after twelve o'clock, having struck
the Squirrel Level road, Peebles' Farm
was reached, about three miles from the

504

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

railroad and four or five southwest of
Petersburg. Here was discovered a
redoubt, called Fort McRae, in which
were several small rifled guns, and con
nected with it a strong line of intrench
ments on commanding ridges. In front
was an open space of ground swept by
the guns of the redoubt. The task of
charging over this and capturing the
crest was assigned to Griffin's division,
which advanced in three lines, one
behind another, and carried the works,
driving the enemy out at every point
and taking about fifty prisoners and one
gun. The Federal loss was about a
hundred and fifty. The column then
re-formed, and the march being resumed
the enemy were found occupying a strong
work on a hill half a mile farther on.
At five o'clock Potter's division, attempt
ing to press up the acclivity on which
the rebels were posted, sustained a
severe - repulse, and being in its turn
charged, was thrown into confusion,
which was much increased by a flanking
column of the enemy, who having re
ceived reinforcements now appeared in
great force, broke in between the divi
sions of the fifth and ninth corps, and
swept off more than fifteen hundred
prisoners, chiefly from Potter's division.
The further progress of the rebels how
ever was checked by the rapid approach
of Griffin's division ; but fighting con
tinued till dark. The total Federal loss
was over 2,500, of which 1,600 fell on
Potter's division, while that of the
enemy was not much over 500. Rain
fell heavily all night and during the
following day, but skirmishing con

tinued. On the 1st of October the ene
my made two attacks on the divi- qc^
sion under Ayres, but both were *•
easily repulsed. Another was made in
the pouring rain by Hampton's cavalry
division upon Gregg, who covered the
left flank beyond the Vaughan road.
Hampton succeeded in driving him back
from one line of intrenchments to
another, but finally retired discomfited,
though taking with him a hundred
prisoners. The Federal force continued
to hold intrenchments four miles from
the South Side Railroad, connecting on
the right with the old line of works at
Petersburg, but the enemy retained and
used the railroad. On the 2d, General
Mott moved out toward the Boydton
plank-road, over which supplies were
now conveyed in wagons to Petersburg ;
but the enemy were found strongly in
trenched in front of the road, and Mott
was compelled to retire, losing about a
hundred men. From the 2d of October
to the 6th there was only skirmishing
between the opposing picket lines, which
were very near ; but both sides continued
to fortify industriously.
On the north side of the James there
had been in the mean time some move
ments. On the morning of the 1st of
October, General Terry, preceded by
Kautz's cavalry, made a reconnoissance
toward Richmond on the Central or
Darby town and Charles City roads.
When within three miles of the city the
enemy's skirmishers were encountered
and driven in, and Terry continued to
advance till he approached the main line
of defences, which ran across both roads,

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

505

but farther progress was prevented by
vigorous shelling on the part of the
enemy. After reconnoitring carefully,
Terry and Kautz returned at night,
having suffered but little loss. The rain
and mud caused a suspension of opera
tions, beyond reconnoitring and in
trenching, and little of importance oc
curred till the 7th, when the enemy
made a sudden and partially successful
attempt to turn the right flank of the
Army of the James, which lay in a
line running in a northeasterly direction
from Battery Harrison, where the eight
eenth corps was firmly intrenched about
seven miles south of Richmond. To the
right of the eighteenth corps lay the
tenth, across the New Market and
Central roads, and on the extreme right
the cavalry of General Kautz, consisting
of only two brigades under Spear and
West, with two batteries, each of four
three-inch rifled guns, resting on the
Charles City road, at a distance of five
miles southeast of Richmond. At early
0Ct, dawn a large force of the enemy
?• under General Anderson, consisting
of two full divisions of infantry under
Hoke and Field and a brigade of cavalry,
having approached before daylight by
the Darbytown and Charles City roads,
fell unexpectedly upon Kautz's cavalry,
which being taken completely by surprise
broke into a perfect rout and scattered
over the country in the rear, followed
by the batteries, which being left with
out support could not remain in safety ;
but these soon stuck fast in the mud,
and were captured entire with all the
caissons and most of the horses. Three
232

hundred of the cavalrymen were also
overtaken and captured, and many were
killed and wounded; The enemy having
now stampeded the Federal cavalry and
got possession of the Central road,
advanced toward the tenth corps, which
lay in a strongly intrenched line, its
right held by General Terry, who with
the first division covered the New
Market road, his troops in hastily con
structed rifle-pits in the thick woods.
On the left of the line of the tenth corps
the ground was open, and on this side
of course was posted the artillery, con
sisting of four six-gun batteries, so
planted as not only to sweep the ground
in front, but to some extent that over
which the right must be approached by
the enemy. In Terry's division, upon
which the attack fell, Pond's brigade
held the left, Abbott's the centre, and
Plaisted's the right. Curtis' brigade of
Foster's division was also brought up
and placed in line with these. When
the enemy approached, between nine
and ten o'clock, they found themselves
under a cross fire of artillery from the
Federal left, and got two batteries in
position in reply ; but these were soon
overpowered. In the mean time Field's
infantry division dashed over the open
space at the double-quick, and succeeded
in gaining the woods on the Federal
right, though the trees which had been
felled there made an entrance difficult.
The Federal troops in the woods re
mained quiet till the enemy got very
close, in front of the centre under
Abbott, when all four brigades rose at
once from their partial concealment and

506

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

poured into the advancing column a
most destructive fire, that of Abbott's
brigade, partly armed with the Spencer
repeating rifle, proving very deadly at
the short range within which the fighting
took place. Nevertheless the rebels
protracted the struggle for some time,
and finally, after a fierce musketry
battle, made a desperate rush on Pond's
brigade, but were repulsed, and at length
withdrew, though their artillery firing was
resumed to cover the retreat of the infan
try to the Central road. Terry's division
was then put in motion to follow and
if possible to flank the enemy, when
they again fell back to the Charles
City road, leaving the Central road to
the Federal troops. While this fight
ing was going on on the right of the
Army of the James, a demonstration
was made by the enemy ori the left, at
Battery Harrison, but without result.
The entire Federal loss during the day
did not exceed five hundred.
After these events little of importance
occurred north of the James for some
days. The Federal forces continued to
intrench busily along the lines they
held. The rebel iron-clads near Cox's
Ferry annoyed to some extent the picket
line on the left flank of the eighteenth
corps with an enfilading fire, but com
paratively few casualties occurred. The
work on the Dutch Gap Canal was
prosecuted industriously, subject to an
artillery fire from Howlett's battery,
which, however, the Federal gun-boats
and batteries succeeded in temporarily
silencing on the 11th. On the 13th,
General Butler put eighty-seven prison

ers at labor under the enemy's fire at
the canal, in retaliation for Confederate
ill-treatment of Federal colored soldiers
at Fort Gilmer.
On the 12th, General Terry, tempo
rarily commanding the tenth corps, Oct.
made a reconnoissance in force 12.
toward the right, taking with him the
first division under Ames, the colored
division under W. Birney, and a part of
Kautz's cavalry division. The column
set out in the evening, but halted during
the night. In the morning it moved
again and struck the Central road near
the point from which Kautz's command
was driven on the 7th. The cavalry
then stretching out to the Charles City
road, dismounted and deployed as skir
mishers, thus covering the extreme right
between that road and the Central road,
while W. Birney's colored division de
ployed on the left of the Central road,
and that of Ames on the right toward
the left of the cavalry. The enemy's
videttes were soon encountered on the
former, and driven back a mile or more,
when they reached a series of intrench
ments recently thrown up across the
road, from which as soon as the Federal
troops got within range, which was
between seven and eight o'clock, the
enemy opened a sharp fire. This was
quickly returned, but Terry's object
being to discover the length and strength
of this new line of the enemy, he kept
most of his troops as much as possible
under the shelter of a strip of woods in
front of the works, and pushed out
brigades in reconnoitring charges at
various points till the whole series of

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

507

intrenchments was felt, but without
making any serious demonstrations,
except on the enemy's extreme left,
which it was supposed was overlapped
by the Federal right, and which Pond's
brigade was ordered to turn. The
works at this point were however found
to be " refused," and the Federal troops
rushing forward were caught by an enfi
lading fire and suffered severely. This
encouraged the enemy to sally from their
breast-works on other parts of the line,
and make a charge' with all their avail
able force. It was not attended, however,
with much s'uccess, and soon after four
in the afternoon the Federal troops were
withdrawn unbroken, and got back
within their own intrenchments by dark.
The Federal loss during the day exceed
ed four hundred ; that of the enemy was
about two hundred.
On the left, to the. west of the Weldon
Railroad, a reconnoissance was made on
the 8th, somewhat similar to that made
by Terry and Kautz. It was a general
advance of the fifth and ninth corps to
feel the. enemy's position, to push for
ward the line's, and to occupy if possible
all the series of works connected with
Fort McRae which had been taken.
The fifth corps, temporarily under Craw
ford, moved out on the West Halifax,
Vaughan, and Squirrel Level roads ;
and of the ninth corps, temporarily
under Parke, Potter's division pushed
out near the Pegram House, and Will
cox's took the Church road, Ferrero's
division being left in reserve. Willcox
got as far as the Boydton plank road,
but found it strongly defended by lines

of intrenchments. After a day spent in
skirmishing and hard marching, both
corps returned to camp.
In front of the second corps at Peters
burg a great deal of skirmishing and
mortar firing occurred from time to
time, especially at the redoubt where
the picket lines were closest, which was
taken from the enemy by De Trobriand
during the night about a month before,
and since named Fort Sedgwick, but by
the soldiers called " Fort Hell." On
the 8th this firing was very severe, and
on the night of the 11th the enemy's
cannonading was so vigorous and pro
longed that it was thought a general
attack on the Federal lines was intended.
From the 11th to the 26th, little of im
portance occurred in connection with
either the Army of the Potomac or that
of the James. There was some heavy
artillery firing at Dutch Gap and in
front of the Petersburg intrenchments ;
there was also some unimportant cavalry
raids, and on the 22d the enemy's gun
boats engaged two new Federal batteries
at Signal Hill and the Boulware House,
on the north side of the James, but
were finally compelled to get out of
range. In the mean time General Grant had
been completing his plans for another
movement against the stubborn defences
of Richmond, to consist of a strong feint
by the Army of the James on the right,
which was to move as if aiming to get
round the left flank of the enemy, and
of a series of operations in earnest on
the part of the Army of the Potomac
with the object of turning the enemy's

508

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

right flank near the South Side Railroad.
On the evening of the 26th the whole
army was ordered to be in readiness to
move at daybreak on the following
morning. Up to this time the proposed
movement had been kept, it was sup
posed, profoundly secret, and nothing
was done which could give rise to a
suspicion on the part of the enemy that
an advance would be made for some
days ; but on this evening' extraordinary
preparations were suddenly made on
the supposition that if the movement
should prove successful the old camp
would be permanently abandoned. The
sick, the baggage, the commissary stores,
camp equipage, and other property,
were sent to City Point ; the sutlers also
took their goods thither. Rations for
three days were issued to the cavalry,
and for four days to the infantry. The
intrenchments at Petersburg were to be
held by the artillery, with only such
infantry support as was absolutely nec
essary. North of the James, the tenth corps
under Terry moved out at daybreak on
Oct. the morning of the 27th along the
27. Darby town road, and thence in the
direction of the Charles City road,
occupying the country between the two
roads, the first division under Ames on
the right, the second under Turner in
the centre, near the hamlet of Darby-
town, four and a half miles from
Richmond, and the colored brigade
under Hawley on the left. Skirmishing
with the enemy soon commenced all
along the front of the tenth corps, but
it steadily advanced till it came upon a

line of breast-works, a severe fire from
which brought the troops to a stand.
About noon preparations for an advance
having been made, the men dashed
forward and drove the rebels back into
their intrenchments. These were too
strong to be carried, but a hot musketry
and artillery fire was kept up on them
through the afternoon till dusk, when
the fighting ceased, the loss having been
principally on the side of the Federal
troops. In the mean time the eighteenth
corps under Weitzel, leaving its old
intrenchments on the left of the tenth
corps, had set out at daybreak, with
Kautz's division of cavalry in the
advance, for a point still farther to the
right, and arriving in the rear of the
tenth corps, turned off and struck across
the country along the road leading to
White's Tavern on the Charles City
road ; then moving in a northerly direc
tion through the White Oak Swamp,
Weitzel at length arrived in the neigh
borhood of the Williamsburg stage road
and the Seven Pines battle ground.
About four o'clock his command was
well across the Williamsburg road at a
point of about seven miles east of Rich
mond. A part of Spear's cavalry was
then dismounted, and moving up the
road soon found and engaged the enemy's
skirmishers. Beyond these the rebels
held strong works which completely
commanded the road. Weitzel now
deployed his corps, Marston's division
on the right of the road, Heckman's on
the left, Holman's colored division still
farther to the left across the Richmond
and York River Railroad. Still's Penn-

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

509

sylvania battery was then moved up the
road and opened a rapid fire, which it
kept up till a brigade from Marston's
division and another from Heckman's
had commenced a charge on the enemy's
works. The rebels allowed the two
brigades to get close to their intrench
ments, and then from both right and
left directed on them a murderous cross
fire, which made their farther progress
impossible. The troops strove for some
minutes to maintain their organization,
but at length broke. To retreat, how
ever, had become for them as difficult
as to advance, the ground on which they
stood being completely swept by both
the artillery and musketry fire of the
enemy, and the rebels, seeing their
advantage, sallied from their intrench
ments and captured the greater part of
the two brigades, a few only of the men
escaping to their own lines. Still's
battery also, after making a good fight,
in which most of the guns were disabled,
was forced to retire. The firing in this
quarter ceased at dusk, and the troops
were withdrawn. Holman, with the
colored division on the railroad, had
discovered and carried a two-gun re
doubt ; but the severe check sustained
by the other divisions on the Williams
burg road and the fall of night prevented
the following up of this success. The
troops bivouacked not far from the
enemy's positions, and in the morning,
orders having come from General Grant
for the withdrawal of the force, the
corps got in motion again for its old
camp, which in its absence had been
held by the artillery, aided by some

colored troops and recruits. Thus ended
the movement on the right. The
Federal loss was about fifteen hundred,
a large proportion consisting of prison
ers ; that of the enemy was about two
hundred in killed and wounded.
The great movement from the left
flank of the Army of the Potomac, to
divert attention from which the opera
tions of the Army of the James just
described were undertaken in a great
measure, was commenced at two in the
afternoon of the 26th by the march of
Gregg's cavalry and the second corps,
which would have in the proposed
movement the longest distance to travel,
to the left of the line, where they halted
about sundown. The entire army, with
the exception of the detachments from
each corps left in the trenches, were on
the march before dawn on the 27th ;
Gregg's cavalry on the extreme left
moving toward Reams' Station and then
in a westerly direction ; next on the
right Egan's second and Mott's third
division of the second corps, with three
batteries under Major Hazard, moving
southwesterly down the Vaughan road ;
then Warren's fifth corps on the Squirrel
Level road ; and last of all, on the
extreme right, the ninth corps under
Parke, moving as did all the columns
in a southwesterly direction toward
Hatcher's Run, a small stream rising
near Sutherland Station on the South
Side Railroad, and flowing in a south
easterly direction to Rowanty Creek, a
tributary of the Nottoway. It was in
tended that the two divisions of the
second corps and Gregg's cavalry should

510

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

march as secretly and as rapidly as
possible by a wide detour around the
enemy's right flank and then seize the
line of defences on Hatcher's Run at the
point where the Boydton road crosses
it, from which to the South Side Rail
road it was supposed little opposition
would be met. The fifth and ninth
corps were at the same time to demon
strate against the works at Hatcher's
Run directly in front, and the fifth was
to form connection with the second corps
there, the ninth remaining on the right
of the fifth. Then, the connection being
formed, when the second corps had
driven the enemy out of their works,
the fifth was to join in, and the whole
left of the line thus formed was to be
swung round to the South Side Railroad.
Hancock and Gregg starting about three
in the morning reached Hatcher's Run
by the Vaughan road at half-past seven.
The road at this point was found much
obstructed with felled trees, and the
banks of the stream partially cleared so
as to give range from a line of rifle-pits
on the opposite bank held by a small
force of dismounted cavalry. Egan's
division then deployed, and Smyth's
brigade, forming the first line, quickly
forded the stream, carried the slight
defences, took about twenty prisoners,
and dispersed the remainder of the small
rebel force. Both Hancock and Gregg
reached the Boydton road about noon ;
but the enemy were found fully on the
alert, and Gregg's troops, covering the
left, were opened upon from artillery
and the carbines of Young's dismounted
cavalry. Generals Grant and Meade

were both on the ground at this time;
and though it was evident that the
enemy had received information of the
movement in time to deprive it of the
character of a surprise, it was thought
that an advance might yet be attended
with success. Accordingly Egan's divi
sion was deployed on the right of the
Boydton plank road, facing toward the
bridge over Hatcher's Run, Mott's divi
sion on the left of the road, De Trobri-
and's brigade connecting with Gregg on
the extreme left, while McAllister's bri
gade of Mott's division was placed in the
rear to watch the enemy, who had a
battery at some distance down the plank
road. The bridge was then seized by a
skirmish line in the advance of Egan's
division and the stream crossed. The
next thing to be done was to carry the
enemy's works beyond; and with the
view of preparing for this, Egan's divi
sion was, about one o'clock, disposed
with Price's brigade in the centre,
Rugg's on the left, and Smyth's on the
right, Beck's battery co-operating on
that flank. McAllister's brigade was
withdrawn from watching the enemy in
the rear and deployed in support of
Egan. The fifth corps being now heard
firing rapidly on the right, the attack on
the works was delayed till it should
approach and co-operate ; but owing to
the difficult nature of the thickly wooded
country in which the operations were
taking place and the intricacy of the
roads, the fifth corps failed to connect,
and after waiting thus till four o'clock,
Hancock made preparations to move
upon the works. The enemy in the

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

511

mean time had discovered that while
the left flank of Hancock's force was
covered by Gregg's cavalry, his right
was entirely unprotected, and took the
Oct. offensive. Mahone 's strong division
27» of Hill's corps burst suddenly upon
Hancock's right and partially turned it,
sweeping off at the same time a section
of Beck's battery ; then getting across
the plank road, bore down upon Egan
in the rear ; but Egan very promptly
changed front with his own and McAl
lister's brigades, and with the aid of
three batteries, after a severe and pro
longed fight succeeded finally in repuls
ing Mahone, though in the first fury of
his onset the latter had driven back
Smyth's brigade, thrown it into disorder,
and captured several hundred prisoners.
A part of these, however, were recovered,
the party in charge of them wandering
into the lines of the fifth corps. Egan
was then in turn able to attack the
enemy in flank, compelling them to
abandon the guns they had captured, as
well as three of their own flags, besides
taking nearly a thousand prisoners and
one gun. The loss of the second corps
in this affair was estimated at seven
hundred in killed and wounded besides
prisoners. After this attack by Mahone
had been repulsed, and just before dark,
the enemy, with a force of five brigades,
made a vigorous demonstration on the
left against Gregg's cavalry, which
recoiled at first, but soon rallying drove
back the rebels and re-established its
lines, its loss being less than two hun
dred. Rain had fallen in the afternoon,
tending to make manoeuvres difficult ; the

supply of ammunition was nearly ex
hausted ; the enemy had showed them
selves not only vigilant but strong, and
had inflicted a loss about as great as
they had sustained. These considera
tions, in connection with the belief that
the enemy would soon gather in greater
force, made it appear that it would be
prudent to prosecute the movement by
the left flank no further. Soon after
dusk, therefore, the retrograde march was
commenced by the route taken in the
morning, occupying the entire night and
part of the next day. The old camps
were regained by the second corps with
little loss on the march except of strag
glers ; many of the wounded, however,
had been left on the field, the column
being unprovided with the means of
transportation. The task of the fifth and ninth corps
had been to demonstrate against the
enemy's works at Hatcher's Run in front,
so as to cover the movement of the
second corps by the left and finally to
co-operate with it ; but this they had
only partially succeeded in accomplish
ing. They had indeed, having but a
short distance to march, soon made their
appearance in front of the works and
got into position there, the ninth on the
right of the fifth ; but though skirmish
ing was carried on by the infantry
through the day, the use of artillery was
made extremely difficult in that region
by the almost impenetrable woods, which
rendered military manoeuvres almost im
possible without an intimate knowledge
of the country, a knowledge which the
enemy derived much advantage from

512

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

possessing, but the want of which on the
part of the Federal commanders prob
ably caused the failure of the entire
movement. The officers of Crawford's
division, in the left of the fifth corps,
not having been able to find the only
road which connected their position with
that of Hancock at the bridge over
Hatcher's Run, endeavored in vain to
make their way through the woods, and
though the second and fifth corps were
through a good part of the day actually
not very far apart, a junction was
rendered impracticable by the natural
obstacles presented in the shape of dark
and dense woods and swampy ground.
The obscurity of the few miserable roads
was such that troops got into the oppos
ing lines, and staff officers lost their way
in the forest gloom. The two corps
found the enemy's defences too strong
in front to be pierced, and had to con
tent themselves with maintaining their
position, which they retained all day
and through the night till orders arrived
from General Grant to fall back. The
loss thus sustained in manoeuvring and
skirmishing was about five hundred.
The aggregate losses attending the entire
movement by the left flank were not
much short of eighteen hundred men.
The enemy suffered less in killed and
wounded, but lost many more in pris
oners. At dusk in the evening of the 27th,
General Miles, who had been left in the
Petersburg lines with the first division
of the second corps, under cover of a
terrific cannonade directed against the
enemy's works sent a small storming

party, consisting of a hundred volunteers
under Captain Price, against a fort near
the side of that one under which the
mine had been exploded in July. This
small party having moved quickly and
as silently as possible across the inter
vening space, clambered over the para
pet, and though Captain Price who led
the assault was killed, actually drove
the enemy out of the works. Had the
attack been made by a larger force it
might have resulted disastrously for the
enemy ; but of course so small a body
of men could not be expected to hold an
important fort against the overwhelming
force which was immediately thrown
upon them from right and left, and they
promptly retreated, losing ten of their
number, though they carried off thirty
prisoners, among whom were several
officers. About ten o'clock on the night
of the 30th, the enemy having obtained
from deserters some information as to
the strength and position of a portion
of the Federal picket lines in front of
Fort Davis, undertook and successfully
carried out a little surprise of a nature
similar to one that the Federals had Oct.
several times practised on them. 30.
A body of the rebels getting in the rear
of the Federal pickets called to them
to "fall in," which these troops, being
mostly raw recruits and believing them
selves among friends, promptly did, and
the entire line, consisting of 380 men,
were captured. The Federal intrench
ments being then uncovered at that
point, which was at the junction of
Hancock's and Warren's corps, the
enemy threw a strong column against

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

513

them. Fortunately, the officers had
been put on their guard by a sentinel
who had escaped his captors, and when
the rebels came within range they found
themselves under a heavy musketry
fire, to which was soon added that of
¦artillery, and after about an hour's
fighting, in which the loss did not exceed
a hundred on either side, the enemy
withdrew. On the 4th of November
there was unusually sharp skirmishing in
the neighborhood of "Fort Hell" or
Fort Sedgwick, and on the night of the
Nov, 5th, between eleven and twelve,
5« the enemy succeeded by a sudden
attack in getting possession of a con
siderable portion of the Federal picket
line in that vicinity, and immediately
began to reverse the works and intrench.
At the same time another body of the
enemy carried the picket line opposite
the crater. The skirmishing was at
tended with little loss on either side ;
but it was necessary that the enemy
should be promptly dislodged, and a
furious cannonade was opened upon
them from the forts and batteries to the
right and left, and the whole line was
aroused. At daybreak, after some des
perate fighting, the captured works were
recovered, and the line re-established
from Fort Sedgwick to the crater. On
the 6th a similar attack was made by
the enemy on the left, but was quickly
repulsed. This desultory fighting, with
little result beyond its tendency to wear
out both the combatants, had become
constant and in fact almost monotonous.
The men about this time began to build
log-huts, the weather having grown
233

uncomfortably cold. On the 17th of
November a portion of General Butler's
picket line was surprised and captured,
but his main works at Bermuda Hundred
remained intact. Artillery and picket
firing in the neighborhood of Dutch Gap
was maintained with great persistency,
and on the 25th the steam dredging
machine was sunk by one of the enemy's
shells. On the 1st of December a raid was
undertaken by General Gregg against
the Weldon Railroad, on which the
enemy had for a long time kept a d6pot
of supplies at Stony Creek Station,
eighteen miles south of Petersburg, from
Avhich point they had also begun to
construct a branch railroad to connect
with the South Side Railroad, having
for a long time been compelled to wagon
supplies along the Dinwiddie and Boyd
ton roads. At half-past three in j)ec.
the morning, Gregg's full division *•
of cavalry broke camp and set out in a
southerly direction, the second brigade
in the advance, the first brigade next,
the third in the rear. The enemy's
pickets were met before daybreak ; but
no serious opposition was encountered
till the column arrived at Rowanty
Creek, where a company of cavalry dis
puted the advance, but were quickly
dispersed. The third brigade was then
left to cover the rear, and the column
passed on to Duvall's Station, where the
first brigade also was dropped, to destroy
some blacksmith shops and mills . and
protect the flanks. The second brigade
then went on to Stony Creek Station,
two miles farther ; and finding there a

514

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

well-built fort in which was a garrison
of two hundred men, the Fourth Penn
sylvania, followed by two other regi
ments, charged across the open space in
front, and then dismounting, in half an
hour carried the works by assault, spiked/
the two guns and threw them into the
ditch, and captured the greater part of
the garrison. The buildings and supplies
at Stony Creek were then fired, with as
little delay as possible, and a large
quantity of railroad iron intended for
the new road was also damaged ; but time
did not permit of its being thoroughly
destroyed. Much property serviceable
to the enemy was burnt, including pro
visions, clothing, ammunition and arms,
as well as the long railroad bridge.
The bed of the new branch railroad was
found graded and ready for the rails,
but none had been laid. While this
work of destruction was going on, a
brigade of Hampton's cavalry came upon
the scene, and a rapid retreat was com
menced by Gregg's command, and con
tinued, skirmishing being kept up with
the pursuers, as far as Rowanty Creek,
beyond which point the enemy ceased to
follow. The entire loss sustained by
Gregg's command was less than forty,
all of whom were brought off, along
with 175 prisoners and about a hundred
negroes. A few days afterward another move
ment, on a much larger scale, was made
against the Weldon Railroad, which it
was of the utmost importance that the
enemy should not be allowed to recover
the full use of by the completion of their
proj-ected branch road from Stony Creek.

On the 6th of December, a heavy column,
consisting of the fifth corps, Mott's dcc,
division of the second corps, and 6«
Gregg's division of cavalry, in all about
twenty thousand men with twenty-two
pieces of artillery, under General War
ren, was massed on both sides of the
Weldon Railroad between the Halifax
and Jerusalem roads, and the troops
bivouacked for the night. Heavy rain
extinguished the camp-fires, but before
daybreak the troops were on the march,
the cavalry starting at four o'clock.
The column took the Jerusalem road
and struck the Nottoway at the point
where Freeman's Bridge had formerly
been, about eighteen miles south-south
east of Petersburg. The cavalry crossed
the river, which was about three feet
deep, by fording, the infantry by a pon
toon bridge, and the whole column was
on the south side of the stream before
daylight on the morning of the 8th, the
cavalry bivouacking at Sussex Court
House, the infantry between that place
and the river. At three o'clock the
cavalry set off in a southwesterly
direction toward Jarrett's, a station on
the railroad about thirty miles south
of Petersburg, the infantry following
rapidly. About twelve o'clock the cav
alry advance reached the point where
the railroad crosses the Nottoway, seized
and burnt the bridge, a wooden struc
ture about two hundred feet long, and
then began tearing up the track of the
railway, a work of destruction which the
infantry, arriving soon after, completed
in a very effectual way, burning the
sleepers and making the rails red-hot

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

515

and then twisting and bending them in
such way as to preclude the possibility
of their ever being used again. This
was continued for five miles, as far as
Jarrett's Station, where the dep6t and
water tank were destroyed, and where
DeCt the troops bivouacked. On the
9« 9th, the column still moving south
ward, the railroad track was torn up and
destroyed nearly as far as Bellfield, on
the Meherrin, thirty-seven miles south
of Petersburg. At Three Creek, three
miles north of Bellfield, the enemy burnt
the bridge and disputed the passage of
the cavalry ; but Dennison's battery
opened upon them, and the Tenth New
York, fording the stream on the Federal
left, flanked the position, and the rebels
fell back to Bellfield. Hicksford, on the
south bank of the Meherrin, opposite
Bellfield, was found protected by strong
intrenchments on both sides of the river,
within which were some of Hampton's
cavalry and a body of militia ; and when
the Federal troops got within range, a
hot fire was directed on them. Several
charges were made on the enemy's
works, but General Warren finally drew
the troops off, and most of the cavalry
bivouacked that night north of Three
Creek. Up to this time during the
march a cold rain had poured down,
with a very depressing effect upon the
men, making the roads also very bad,
and in fact almost impassable ; but now
the increasing cold was accompanied
with a storm of hail and snow, and the
situation of the troops became one of
extreme discomfort. It was determined
under the circumstances not to prosecute

any further operations against Hicksford,
the strategic value of which was not
sufficiently great, taken by itself, to
warrant the sacrifice of life which an
assault upon its strong defences would
have involved. Had circumstances been
favorable, General Warren would prob
ably have continued the march to Wel
don, about twenty miles farther, south,
on the railroad and at the head of
steamboat navigation on the Roanoke,
up which river, in fact, a co-operating
gun-boat expedition under Commander
Macomb ascended while Warren was
marching toward Bellfield ; but it was
unfortunate, the double-ender Otsego,
and the steamer Bazeley, as well as the
steam-picket launch No. 5, being all
blown to pieces by torpedoes. On the
morning of the 10th, therefore, the ©ct.
troops under General Warren began 10.
the march back toward Petersburg,
the enemy following and attempting to
harass the rear ; but they were kept in
check by a section of Dennison's battery.
The column divided near Jarrett's Sta
tion, two cavalry brigades continuing
the retrograde march by a road on the
left, while the infantry, preceded by a
brigade of cavalry, moved off to the
right toward Sussex Court House, where
the court-house building, the jail, a
tavern, and a few dwelling-houses were
burnt, in retaliation for the alleged
shooting of three stragglers. In the
afternoon of the 11th the N6ttoway was
reached and crossed. In this vicinity
General Potter's division of the ninth
corps was found waiting to co-operate
with or reinforce General Warren, had

516

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

the result of the movement been such
as to render assistance necessary. The
troops got back to camp on the night
of the 12th much exhausted, though the
entire loss in killed and wounded did
not exceed a hundred men.
Reconnoissances were made toward
Hatcher's Run on the 8th and 9th, with
the object of diverting the attention of
the enemy from Warren's movement
down the Weldon Railroad. That on
the 8th was conducted by Colonel Kir-
win, who with a brigade of cavalry
moved out in the evening on the Vaughan
road, but after a sharp skirmish near
the stream returned to camp about ten
o'clock. The reconnoissance on the
following day was made by the first
division of the second corps under Gen
eral Miles, preceded by Kirwin's cavalry
brigade. The column left camp at day
light and arrived about nine o'clock on
the bank of the run, on the west side
of which the enemy were found strongly
intrenched. To strengthen their posi
tion they had increased the width and
depth of the stream by constructing a
dam below the ford, so that the Sixth
Ohio Regiment attempting to cross dis
mounted under the fire of the rebels was
compelled to retreat ; nevertheless the
Second New York heavy artillery suc
ceeded in crossing, though losing three
men by drowning, and then carried the
works. The cavalry soon after crossed

lower down at Armstrong's and drove
the enemy to Gravelly Run. General
Miles then made dispositions to resist an
attack from the enemy in force, who it
-was not likely would allow him to retain
his position quietly. About five in the
evening he received a large accession
of strength by the arrival of the first and
third divisions of the sixth corps under
General Wheaton, which had- recently
come from the Shenandoah Valley.
During the night the cold storm of hail
and snow which had distressed Warren's
column near Hicksford fell also upon
that under Miles. He remained, how
ever, through the morning and forenoon
of the 11th awaiting an attack from ])ec,
the enemy, and then prepared to H
return ; but about two o'clock the rebels,
who had been gathering in front, ap
peared in force and charged the captured
works, but were repulsed with severe
loss. Nevertheless the retrograde march
was resumed, and continued until the
old camps were reached. The entire
Federal loss during the movement was
about 125 killed and wounded.
From this time to the end of the year,
nothing of great importance occurred in
connection with the armies of the Poto
mac and the James, beyond the accus
tomed picket and artillery firing, which,
however, was sometimes very severe,
particularly in the neighborhood of
" Fort Hell" and Dutch Gap.

PRICE'S INVASION OF MISSOURI.

517

CHAPTER XLV.
Invasion of Missouri by General Price. — Movements of General A. J. Smith.— General Emory's Defence of Pilot Knob.
— Concentration of Troops at Jefferson City. — Retreat of Price westward, followed by General Sanborn. — Price issues
a Proclamation. — Ravages of Price's Troops. — General Plea sonton's Pursuit of Price. — Battle of Westport. — Battle
at Marais des Cygnes. — Battle at Little Osage Crossing. — Final Rout of Price. — Results of his Invasion.— Opera
tions in Southwestern Virginia. — Death of Morgan. — General Burbridge's Movement against Virginia Salt-works. —
General Gillem defeated by Breckinridge. — Advance of Breckinridge toward Knoxville. — Operations of General
Stoneman. — Defeat of Vaughan by General Gillem. — Retreat of Breckinridge into North Carolina. — Destruction
of the Salt-works at Saltville.

Missouri again became the scene of
active hostilities in the latter part
of the year. Vague rumors of a
new invasion of the State with the
object of revolutionizing it obtained
currency toward September. About the
21st of that month information was
received at headquarters that General
Sterling Price had crossed the Arkansas
with two divisions of cavalry and three
batteries of artillery, and joined Shelby
near Batesville, sixty miles south of the
State line. After reorganizing at this
place he found himself at the head of a
force of about fifteen thousand mounted
veterans, and advanced rapidly toward
the southeastern portion of the State.
The Federal force at this time in Mis
souri consisted of about 6,500 mounted
men, scattered over a region four hun
dred miles long and three hundred
broad, which, with the partially organ
ized new infantry regiments and dis
mounted men, constituted the whole of
the force left to cover the depQts at St.
Louis, Jefferson City, St. Joseph, Macon,
Springfield, Rolla, and Pilot Knob, to

guard the railroads and railroad bridges,
and protect the lives and property of
citizens from the guerrillas swarming in
the country bordering on the Missouri.
General Rosecrans, however, who had
succeeded General Schofield in Missouri,
immediately adopted measures to meet
the emergency. The citizens were called
to arms. In St. Louis business was
suspended for a portion of the day to
allow opportunity for the militia to
drill ; discharged officers and soldiers
were appealed to to lend their aid, and
the employes of the quartermaster's
department capable of bearing arms
were organized into companies. But
Rosecrans thought it best to concentrate
the bulk of his troops in the neighbor
hood of St. Louis, and thus left all that
part of the State south of the Maramec
open to the invader.
Fortunately, a force under General A.
J. Smith, consisting of 4,500 veteran
infantry, on its way from Memphis to
Nashville to join the army of General
Thomas, was at this time passing Cairo.
These troops were detained, and ordered

518

PRICE'S INVASION OF MISSOURI.

to turn their arms against Price. Gen
eral Smith, after the unfortunate con
clusion of the Red River expedition
under General Banks, had returned to
Vicksburg, and subsequently moved
northward to Memphis, and it had been
intended that his troops should join the
army of Sherman, of whose force they
really constituted a part. But Marma
duke, with a force of about six thousand
infantry and cavalry and three batteries,
having occupied Lake Village, on the
Mississippi, about seventy-five miles
north of Vicksburg in a direct line,
where he undertook to interrupt the
traffic on the river, both above and
below Greenville, General Smith pro-
ceeded in quest of him. On the 5th of
June his force, comprising General
Mower's division of the sixteenth corps
and one brigade of the seventeenth,
disembarked at Sunny Side, and after a
march of thirty miles encountered and
defeated Marmaduke near Columbia,
Arkansas, and on the 7th General
Smith re-embarked for Memphis. He
was subsequently directed by Sherman
to take the offensive against Forrest,
and on the 14th of July* met and
defeated him at Tupelo, Mississippi. He
then returned to Memphis. In addition
to the troops of General Smith, a cav
alry force of 1,500 men was sent from
Memphis under Colonel Winslow, and
no doubt was entertained that Gen
eral Rosecrans thus reinforced would
check Price and drive him back into
Arkansas, where General Steele would
Be ready to cut off his retreat. But
there seems to have been a good deal I

of hesitation on the part of General
Rosecrans, arising from ignorance as to
where Price intended to strike, and a
consequent unwillingness to move troops
in one direction lest it should prove
that the enemy were approaching in
another. On the 23d of September, the advance
of Price's force under Shelby occupied
Bloomfield, in Stoddard County, which
had been evacuated by the Federal troops
on the night of the 21st. On the
26th the rebels moved on Pilot gept,
Knob in St. Francois County, which 26.
fortunately had been occupied the day
before by General Ewing with a brigade
of General Smith's command. With
this force, and the garrison of Pilot
Knob and some outlying posts, he under
took to make a stand against the rebels,
who without delay made preparations
to carry the place by assault. The fort
occupied by the Federal forces was a
strong one, mounting four twenty-four
pounders, four thirty-two pounders, and
four six-pounder Parrotts, besides two
six-pounder Parrotts mounted outside.
The enemy advanced against it on the
27th, in full confidence of being able to
carry it by assault, but were driven
back with a loss of about a thousand
men, by a well-directed artillery and
musketry fire at easy range. But the
position was commanded by a neighbor
ing height called Shepherd Mountain,
and the enemy having occupied this,
General Ewing determined to evacuate
the fort. He had previously sent away
his stores to St. Louis. Blowing up his
magazine he fell back, keeping up a

PRICE'S INVASION OF MISSOURI.

519

running fight with the enemy as far as
Harrison Station, on the Southwest
Branch Railroad. Here he prepared to
make another stand, behind breast- works
left by a party of militia who had pre
viously occupied the place. General
Ewing in his defence of Pilot Knob
rendered important service by detaining
the entire force of Price, and affording
time to put St. Louis in a state of
defence, then covered only by a portion
of General Smith's infantry and some
regiments of cavalry thrown out as far
as practicable toward the enemy. The
rebels followed him up closely, and cut
the railroad on both sides of him, thus
severing his communications with both
Rolla and St. Louis. He was only saved
from another assault by the opportune
arrival of Colonel Beveridge, of the
Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, with five
hundred men ; the enemy taking these
to be only the advance of large rein
forcements, delayed the attack which
they had intended, and General Ewing
in the night, with the main body of his
troops, succeeded in reaching Rolla.
In the mean time, Springfield being
considered secure, General Sanborn
moved with all his available cavalry to
reinforce Rolla, where General McNeil
was in command and preparing to pro
tect the depots and great supply trains.
General Smith's infantry, aided by the
militia and the citizens, the whole under
the command of General Pleasonton,
who had relieved General Frank Blair,
made St. -Louis secure. Senator B.
Gratz Brown was placed by Rosecrans
in charge of the militia, and he, concen

trating at Jefferson City the troops of
the Central District, reinforced by Gen
eral Fisk with all the available troops
north of the Missouri, and aided by the
enthusiastic exertions of the citizens,
made thorough preparations to drive
back the invaders from the State capital.
Toward this point the enemy, having
remained a day or two at Richwood's,
threatening St. Louis, were in fact
rapidly marching, and on the 7th of
October crossed the Osage not far from
the city. But Generals McNeil and
Sanborn, moving with all their available
cavalry, succeeded by forced marches in
getting there first, and having united
their commands with those of Generals
Fisk' and Brown, made the defensive
force within the city such tha,t Price,
though he appeared before the works on
the morning of the 8th, thought it Oct.
prudent not to attack, and moved 8.
off in a westerly direction. General
Pleasonton, who also arrived at. Jeffer
son City on the morning of the 8th,
assumed command of the forces there,
and sent General Sanborn the same
afternoon with all his mounted troops,
about four thousand, to follow the
enemy and harass them until the re
maining cavalry and infantry supports
could come up.
On the afternoon of the 9th the rebels
entered California, twenty-five miles
west of Jefferson City, on the Pacific
Railroad, and burnt the dep6ts and a
train of cars. From California, after
tearing up the railroad track some
distance on each side of the town, the
rebels moved on to Booneville, in

520

PRICE'S INVASION OF MISSOURI.

Cooper County. Though they did all the
damage they could to the railroad on
their march, tearing up the track, burn
ing bridges, and plundering generally,
General Price declared in a proclamation
which he issued, that he came into the
State to remain, and that he wished to
make friends, not enemies, and desired
that the depredations he committed
might be excused on the score of mili
tary necessity. He obtained many re
cruits by conscription, and by voluntary
enlistment among the disloyal portion
of the inhabitants, so that his force,
when he entered the State comprising
only about fifteen thousand men, was
swelled to near twenty thousand, nearly
all mounted.
On the 13th Price withdrew from
Booneville, and continuing his march
westward, occupied Lexington, in Lafay-
Oct. elte County, on the 17th. For the
17' purpose of foraging and obtaining
recruits and conscripts, detached bodies
of his force were sent in various direc
tions, some as far as the borders of
Kansas, exciting considerable alarm in
that State ; some as far east as Danville
and High Hill, Montgomery County,
burning buildings, destroying railroad
property, and in some instances murder
ing citizens. The militia were driven out
of Sedalia, in Pettis County, with severe
loss ; and at Glasgow, in Howard County,
six companies of the Forty-third Mis
souri, after a fight of five hours, were
compelled to surrender ; but they were
•afterward liberated on parole.
The Federal troops did not pursue
actively till General Pleasonton came

up, when they advanced toward Boone
ville and harassed Price's rear with
Sanborn's troops. Most of the Federal
.cavalry was concentrated at the Black
Water, awaiting the arrival of Colonel
Winslow from Washburne's command.
He came up on the 19th bringing his
force of fifteen hundred cavalry, with
which he had followed the enemy from
Arkansas. General Pleasonton now,
with this addition to his force, having
6,500 mounted men, exclusive of escort
guards, moved from Sedalia in pursuit
of Price, and came up with and routed
the rebel General Fagan at Independ
ence on the 22d, capturing two guns.
On the 23d the Big Blue was cross- Oct.
ed, and a severe battle, which lasted 23.
from seven in the morning till one in
the afternoon, was fought near Westport.
General Curtis, commanding the Depart
ment of Kansas, on the approach of
Price had collected what force he could
to repel the invaders, and had held this
town. He was attacked and driven
out by Shelby, but the latter was in
turn attacked and defeated by Pleason
ton, and by dark driven across the Little
Santa Fe. The enemy then turned
southward by the Fort Scott road, and
from that time had no other object than
to get away safely with the large quantity
of plunder they had collected. But
Generals Pleasonton and Curtis, having
now joined their forces, pursued rapidly,
and after a march of sixty miles again
overtook the rebels at Marais des Cygnes
on the morning of the 25th, and at Oct.
four o'clock, under cover of a dense 25.
fog, opening with artillery, attacked and

PRICE'S INVASION OF MISSOURI.

521

routed them, compelling them to aban
don their camp equipage, one cannon,
several hundred head of cattle, and
twenty wagons full of plunder. Thence
the enemy, keeping up a running fight,
fell back to Little Osage Crossing, where
two advanced brigades under Benteen
and Phillips charged two rebel divisions,
routed them, captured Generals Marma
duke and Cabell, four field officers, near
a thousand prisoners, and eight pieces
of artillery, besides fifteen hundred stand
of arms. Sanborn's brigade again led
the pursuit, overtook the rebels, made
two more brilliant charges, and drove
the enemy across the Marmiton, whence.
they fled under cover of night toward
Arkansas. After thus marching two
hundred and four miles in six days,
the flying columns of the enemy were
pursued by the Kansas troops and Ben-'
teen's brigade, while Sanborn following
marched a hundred and four miles in
thirty- six hours, and overtook the rebels
at Newtonia, where they were making
their last stand, in time to turn the tide
of battle, which was going against Gen
eral Blunt, and to give the final blow to
the demoralized forces of General Price.
The infantry of General A. J. Smith,
in the mean time, following from St.
Louis, had arrived at Jefferson City on
the 21st of October, and at Independence
on the 23d, where they heard the sound
of cannon on the Big Blue River. They
continued their march a few days longer,
so as to be in supporting distance of
Pleasonton ; but it soon became evident
that their services were no longer needed,
and they returned toward the Missis-
234

sippi, and subsequently joined the army
of General Thomas at Nashville.
Price did not accomplish much by his
raid, beyond the destruction of about
five millions' worth of property and
laying waste a belt of the country
through which he passed. He obtained
five or six thousand recruits or conscripts,
took fifteen hundred stand of arms, one
cannon, many horses, and large herds
of cattle, and a vast amount of plunder,
in the shape of clothing, forage, and
provisions ; but of this he lost nearly all
in his precipitate retreat, besides ten
guns and 1,958 prisoners. In his flight
from Newtonia, he abandoned or de
stroyed most of his wagon trains, and
the sufferings of his men and horses
were very severe. Large numbers of
his followers left him, and when he re
crossed the Arkansas, his force had been
reduced by desertion and losses to less
than five thousand men, only partially
armed and mounted ; his artillery dwin
dled down to three Parrott guns and
one twelve-pounder mountain howitzer ;
and of his train, which when he entered
Missouri consisted of two hundred
wagons, but fifty-three remained. The
entire Federal loss, according to the
official report of General Rosecrans,
was, in killed, wounded, and missing,
only 346 officers and men.
The unbridled rapacity of the rebels,
and their undiscriminating plunder of
friends and foes, alienated most of their
sympathizers in Missouri, while their
disastrous failure completely destroyed
the prestige of General Price, which had
long been the great strength of the re-

522

AFFAIRS IN EAST TENNESSEE.

bellion in Missouri. This was the last
attempt of the rebels to conquer the
State, and it now began to enjoy a
greater degree of tranquillity than had
been experienced within its borders since
the outbreak of the war.
Some minor operations took place in
southwestern Virginia and East Tennes
see in the fall of the year. It had been
a favorite theory with some experienced
military men that in the event of Gen
eral Lee sustaining any great disaster in
the East, he would retire with his army
to southwestern Virginia, and passing
thence into East and Middle Tennessee,
concentrate the remaining forces of the
Confederacy there, when he would be
in a position to threaten Nashville,
Chattanooga, or Louisville ; and it was
predicted that the decisive battle of the
war would be fought somewhere in the
Southwest. For this reason, so long as
the rebels maintained any considerable
force in East Tennessee, through which
easy access was afforded from Virginia
to the Valley of the Mississippi, a con
siderable Federal force was retained
there. Knoxville was well fortified, and
outlying bodies of infantry and cavalry
were pushed well up the railroad and
the Holston River Valley toward the
Virginia line. But after the commence
ment of the great Atlanta and Richmond
campaigns in May, affairs in East Ten
nessee lost much of their interest, the
forces on both sides being concentrated
as much as possible on the more im
portant scenes_ of operations. Never
theless, the presence of scattered bodies
of irregular rebel cavalry in southwestern

Virginia proved a source of constant
alarm in eastern Kentucky. These
rough riders, dashing through the gaps
of the Cumberland Mountains, would
fall upon isolated posts, capture their
garrisons, and after plundering in the
adjacent country get back again to their
mountain retreats before they could be
overtaken. It was on one of these
plundering expeditions that Morgan, in
the month of June, was overtaken and
badly defeated by General Burbridge
after burning Cynthiana, as has been
already narrated. He subsequently ral
lied his broken forces, but for some time
undertook no enterprise of importance.
He was of too restless a nature, how
ever, to remain long inactive, and by the
beginning of September set his band
of guerrillas again in motion for Green
ville, in East Tennessee. He occupied
the place on the 3d ; but his command
was the same night surprised by a force
under General Gillem, which had made
a forced march from Bull's Gap, and in
the fight which ensued Morgan' lost his
life. The death of Morgan was followed
by another short season of comparative
inaction, both parties being content to
remain on the watch, awaiting the
development of events around Atlanta.
About the beginning of October, Gen
eral Burbridge with 2,500 men set out
on an expedition from Kentucky against
the salt-works in southwestern Virginia,
which were of great importance to the
rebels. After heavy skirmishing he
succeeded in driving the enemy from
Clinch Mountain and Laurel Gap. Fol
lowing them to within four miles of

DEFEAT OF GENERAL GILLEM.

523

Saltville, he attacked them again on the
Oct. 2d of October, and drove them to
2« their defences in the neighborhood
of the salt-works, on a high hill covered
with underbrush. From this position it
was found impossible to dislodge them,
and his troops having run short of
ammunition, General Burbridge with
drew at night in good order, and returned
to Kentucky, having sustained a loss of
350 men.
General Gillem having fallen back
after General Burbridge's withdrawal
into Kentucky, from Greenville to Bull's
Gap, and thence to Morristown, forty-
two miles from Knoxville, was followed
by the enemy under Vaughan, who
venturing to attack Gillem, were repulsed
Oct. and driven back on the 26th of
26. October. Two days later Vaughan
attacked Gillem again, but received a
still more severe repulse, and retreated,
pursued by Gillem as far as Limestone,
ninety- eight miles east of Knoxville.
After remaining in that advanced posi
tion till the 7th of November, Gillem,
whose force was only fifteen hundred
men, consisting of three regiments of
Tennessee cavalry, retired to Bull's Gap,
where Breckinridge, who had now
assumed command of the rebel forces in
East Tennessee, estimated at three thou
sand men, attacked him on the 11th ;
but was repulsed. On the 12th, General
Gillem withdrew his forces from Bull's
Gap, and began to retreat in the direc
tion of Knoxville ; but. in the evening
Breckinridge got his force on Gillem's
flank and rear by moving through
Laurel Gap, Vaughan and Duke with

their cavalry being in front. Soon after
midnight the rebels attacked Gil- jfov.
lem's retreating column near Mor- 13.
ristown, charging upon both flanks and
at the same time breaking his centre.
A complete rout of the Federal force
was the consequence, one regiment 'after
another giving way till men and horses
became mixed up together in inextricable
confusion. A panic ensued. Owing to
the darkness few casualties occurred,
but the men threw away their arms and
sought safety only in flight. All the
artillery and the baggage were left in
the hands of the enemy, who claimed
to have captured seventy wagons, six
eleven-pounder Parrott guns with their
horses and ammunition, eighteen stand
of colors, 316 prisoners, and about two
hundred horses and mules. The re
mainder of General Gillem's command,
about a thousand in number, escaped to
Strawberry Plains and thence to Knox
ville. General Breckinridge assumed
the air of a conqueror in East Tennessee,
and issued a proclamation promising
protection to all who should lay down
their arms and become peaceable and
quiet citizens. He continued to advance
by way of Strawberry Plains toward
Knoxville, to the immediate vicinity of
which he approached ; but did not stay
long. On the 18th he withdrew as jjov,
rapidly as he had advanced, and on l8-
that day General Ammen, reinforced hj
fifteen hundred troops from Chattanooga,
r'eoccupied Strawberry Plains ; and on
the 23d of November the main force of
the enemy was reported to be at New
Market, eight miles north.

524

STONEMAN'S MOVEMENT ON SALTVILLE.

About this time General Stoneman,
who had been left at Louisville by Gen
eral Schofield to take charge of the
Department of the Ohio during his
absence with the army in the field, set
out for Knoxville. to take general direc
tion of affairs in East Tennessee, having
previously ordered General Burbridge
to march with all his available force in
Kentucky by way of Cumberland Gap,
to the relief of General Gillem. Gen
eral Stoneman was directed by General
Thomas to concentrate as large a force
as he could, and move against Breckin
ridge, with the object of either destroy
ing his force or driving it into Virginia.
He was also directed to destroy if
possible the salt-works at Saltville, and
the East Tennessee and Virginia Rail
road from the Tennessee line as far into
Virginia as he could go without en
dangering his command. It having been
reported on the 6th of December that
Breckinridge was falling back toward
Virginia, General Stoneman made pre
parations to follow him, and having
quietly concentrated the commands of
Generals Burbridge and Gillem at Bean's
Dec. Station, set out on the 12th for
12« Bristol. The advance under Gil
lem reached Jonesboro on the same day,
and drove the rear-guard of Vaughan's
cavalry through the town. Gillem then
turned northward to Kingsport, on the
North Fork of the Holston, crossed the
river, scaled the bluff, on which the
enemy under Duke were posted, defeated
them, and killed, captured, or dispersed
the whole command, besides capturing
eight wagons and the camp equipage.

General Stoneman then sent .General
Burbridge to Bristol, where he came
upon the enemy under Vaughan, and
skirmished with them until General
Gillem's column came up. At Bristol
nearly three hundred prisoners were
taken. Five locomotives and several
subsistence trains were also destroyed —
one on , its way to Lynchburg loaded
with hogs for Lee's army. General
Burbridge ' was then pushed on to
Abingdon, with instructions to send a
force to cut the railroad at some pomt
between Saltville and Wytheville, • in
order to prevent reinforcements coming
from Lynchburg to the force defending
the salt-works. General Gillem also
reached Abingdon on the 15th. The
enemy under Vaughan had in the mean
time reached Marion, having marched
by a road parallel with that by which
Stoneman's force had advanced, and
had begun to intrench. But General
Gillem, having decided merely to make
a demonstration toward the salt-works
for the present, pushed on with his main
force after Vaughan, and after a hard
march of twenty-nine miles came up pcc,
with him early on the 16th, attacked 16-
him instantly, and after completely rout
ing him drove him to Wytheville, thirty
miles farther, capturing two hundred
prisoners, all his artillery, seven pieces,
and a large wagon train. All the ene
my's stores and supplies there were
destroyed, as well as the extensive lead-
works near the town and the railroad
bridges over Reedy Creek. General
Stoneman then turned his attention
toward Saltville. The garrison of that

From *. PLoto gi-?.pli "by Brady

DESTRUCTION OF THE VIRGINIA SALT-WORKS.

525

place, reinforced by Giltner's, Crosby's,
and Witcher's commands, and what was
left of Duke's, all under the command
of Breckinridge in person, followed
Stoneman's troops as they moved on
Wytheville, and on their return met
them on the 18th at Marion, where
preparations were made to give Breck
inridge battle ; but he retreated in the
night, and was pursued a short distance
into North .Carolina, abandoning some
of his wagons and caissons. Stoneman's
troops then moved on Saltville, which
Dec. they entered on the 20th, capturing
20. there eight pieces of artillery and a
large quantity of ammunition of all
kinds. They also destroyed the build
ings belonging to the Confederate gov
ernment, as well as nearly all the
machinery, kettles, vats, engines,, and
boilers of the salt-works, said to be
among the most extensive in the world,
and an immense quantity of salt.
In this great raid of General Stone
man, besides the damage done to the

salt-works and lead mines, there were
captured twenty pieces of artillery, most
of which were spiked, nine hundred
prisoners, two hundred negroes, eight
thousand hogs, many cattle, and two
hundred mules. Eleven foundries, ninety
flouring and saw mills, thirty bridges,
and the depots at Glade Spring, Marion,
and Wytheville, were destroyed, as well
as thirteen locomotives', about a hundred
cars, and many miles of railroad track.
It was estimated that the loss to the
Confederates in stores alone amounted
to two millions of dollars. The rapidity
with which Stoneman moved enabled him
to take the entire region he traversed
by surprise, so that the citizens had not
time to run off their stock. After these
disasters Breckinridge made no more
attempts to threaten East Tennessee.
General Stoneman returned to Knox
ville, accompanied by General Gillem's
command, and General Burbridge march
ed back to Kentucky by way of Cum
berland Gap.

526

SHERMAN AT ATLANTA.

CHAPTER XLVI.
Sherman at Atlanta.— Hood rallies at Jonesboro.— Speech of Jefferson Davis at Macon.— New Confederate Policy.—
General Thomas sent to Nashville.— Movements of Hood.— General Corse's Defence of Allatoona Pass.— Sherman in
Pursuit of Hood.— Defence of Resaca by Colonel Weaver.— Hood destroys the Railroad and captures the Federal
Post at Dalton.— Affairs at Snake Creek Gap and Ship's Gap.— Rapid Retreat of Hood to Gadsden.— Beauregard
assumes command. —Sherman at Gaylesville. — New Plan of Campaign. — Preparations for the March through
Georgia.— Atlanta in Flames.— Order of March.— Troops to live on the Country.— Feint on Macon.— Battle of Gris-
WQldville. — Occupation of Milledgeville.

In and about Atlanta during the
„„. month of September the troops
I864' • *U W A 1
composing the Federal army were
allowed to rest after the fatigues of
military duty. Leaves of absence were
freely granted, and many of the sick and
wounded officers and men received fur
loughs. The soldiers remaining busied
themselves in constructing huts, for which
purpose they procured lumber from the
various vacated buildings, and bricks
from the Female College, which was
torn down to supply materials. The
railroad connecting with Chattanooga
was employed to its utmost capacity in
bringing forward supplies and recruits,
and much important work was done in
the construction of barracks, and in
strengthening the defences of the city,
which it seemed to be General Sher
man's intention to hold with a strong
garrison and make a base for further
operations in a southerly direction.
Late experience had demonstrated that
the long line of railroad communications
might be easily interrupted by a cavalry
force ; and in view of the possibility of
an attack being made on tne railroad,

such measures were taken that by the
end of the month Atlanta was .made a
considerable dgpQt of supplies, and so
protected by works that a moderate
force could easily hold it against a .
largely superior enemy. The great.
body of the inhabitants also having been
sent away, thus lessening the number
of persons to be subsisted, added to the
ability of the garrison to withstand a
protracted siege.
The city was held by the Army of
the Cumberland under General Thomas ;
the Army of the Tennessee, under Gen
eral Howard, was grouped about East
Point, and the Army of the Ohio, under
General Schofield, held Decatur. The
cavalry consisted of two divisions : one
stationed at Decatur, under General
Garrard ; the other, under General Kil
patrick, was posted near Sandtown, with
a pontoon bridge over the Chattahoochee,
from which position might be watched
any movement of the enemy toward the
west. Numerous changes occurred in
the composition of the armies in conse
quence of the . expiration of the time of
service of many of the regiments, and

NEW CONFEDERATE POLICY.

527

the temporary suspension of active
operations afforded an opportunity to
consolidate and reorganize, to reclothe
and equip the men, and make prepara
tions for another campaign. The garri
sons in the rear also, and at points along
the railroad, were strengthened to make
the communications more secure. Wag
ner's division of the fourth corps and
Morgan's division of the fourteenth corps
were sent back to Chattanooga.
General Hood, recovering with sur
prising elasticity from the stunning blow
which he received in the loss of Atlanta,
rallied and reorganized his forces at
Jonesboro, receiving his supplies by the
Macon Railroad. His army numbered
about forty thousand men, exclusive of
the Georgia militia, which, as if to give
the impression that no immediate offen
sive movement was contemplated, were
withdrawn by Governor Brown soon
after the evacuation of Atlanta. Many
of them had left their homes without
preparation, expecting to be absent but
a few weeks ; but they had been re
tained in the service over three months,
most of the time in the trenches, and
justice required, said the Governor, that
they should be permitted to return to
their homes, and look for a time after
their own important interests. He ex
pressed a hope, however, that he should
be able to return the militia force to
Hood's command in greater numbers
and with equal efficiency when the
interests of the public service should
require it.
To let their principal Southern army
remain inactive was not, however, the

intention of the rebel authorities, who,
whatever declarations they might make
to the public in the hope to belittle
Sherman's successes, were well aware
that the capture of Atlanta was a blow
at the heart of the Confederacy, and
that it would be so considered by the
Southern people. It was evident that
something must be done, and that with
out delay, to arrest the victorious pro
gress of the Federal army, or the pos
session of Georgia, and perhaps the
Gulf States, would be seriously en
dangered. While affairs were in this
position, Jefferson Davis set out on a
tour of inspection through the South,
and at Macon, on the 23d of Sep- gept,
tember, delivered an address on 23.
the crisis, marked by so many indiscreet
admissions that some of the Confederate
journals refused to believe the reports
of it to be genuine. In this address he
spoke with undisguised vexation of the
depletion of Hood's ranks caused by
desertion and absenteeism, and promised
that if all the men away without leave
would return to their duty, General
Sherman's army should meet the fate
that befell that of the French empire in
its retreat from Moscow. "Our cav
alry and our people," he said, "will
harass and destroy his army as did the
Cossacks that of Napoleon ; and the
Yankee general, like him, will escape
with only a body-guard."
The new policy to be inaugurated in
the South by the Confederates was in a
measure foreshadowed by the speech of
Davis at Macon. It was borrowed from
that which General Sherman had him-

528

NEW CONFEDERATE POLICY.

self so successfully carried out in his
capture of Atlanta, and had the merit of
boldness if not of originality and far
sightedness. In accordance with this
new plan of the Confederates, General
Hood's whole army was to move rapidly
in a compact body to the north of
Atlanta, and after breaking up the
railroad between the Chattahoochee
and Chattanooga, push on to Bridge
port and destroy the great railroad
bridge over the Tennessee River at
that place. Atlanta would then be cut
off from Chattanooga and the latter
from Nashville, and General Sherman
thus separated from his primary and
secondary bases, would find Atlanta but
a barren conquest, which he would be
compelled to relinquish; or if he re
mained there, would soon find himself in
difficulties from the want of provisions
and supplies, which would be intercepted
in all directions by the Georgia militia.
General Forrest, undoubtedly the best
of the Confederate cavalry officers, was
already operating in southern Tennessee,
where the Federal force was barely
adequate to the task of protecting the
communications between Nashville and
Chattanooga. It was anticipated, also,
that the resumption of offensive move
ments on the part of General Hood
would have an important influence in
restoring the morale of his army, which
had become dispirited by its long series
of retreats and reverses ; and that the
opposite effect would be produced on
the army of Sherman if compelled to
abandon conquests effected at the cost
of so many severe battles and painful

marches. Such was the plan devised
by the Confederate authorities, the
vigorous execution of which might have
been productive with a less able general
than Sherman of the most disastrous
consequences to the Federal arms. It
will be seen that he was fully equal to
the emergency, and that the prophecies
of the Southern newspapers, that the
" great flanker" was about to be " out
flanked," were not to be fulfilled. On
the 28th of September, as soon as §Cptt
he became convinced that the en- 28.
emy intended to assume the offensive, he
sent General Thomas, his second in
command, to Nashville, to organize the
new troops expected to arrive there, to
make preliminary preparations, and to
look after Forrest.
General Hood, in spite of strenuous
opposition, was retained at the head of
the Confederate army, with Cheatham,
S. D. Lee, and Stewart, commanding his
three corps ; Wheeler remaining in com
mand of his cavalry, which had been
largely reinforced. Hood soon moved
westward toward the Chattahoochee,
taking a position facing Sherman and
covering the West Point Railroad about
Palmetto Station. He also threw a
pontoon bridge over the Chattahoochee,
and sent cavalry detachments beyond it
in the direction of Carrollton and Powder
Springs. About the 2d of October ©ct.
his whole army was over the Chat- 2«
tahoochee, and on the march toward
Dallas, where his three corps were
directed to concentrate. At this point
he was able to threaten Rome and
Kingston, as well as the fortified places

CORSE'S DEFENCE OF ALLATOONA PASS.

529

on the railroad to Chattanooga, while
there remained open to him in case of
defeat, a line of retreat southwestward
into Alabama. Advancing eastward from
Dallas to the railroad, he captured Big
Shanty and Ackworth Stations, broke
the telegraph wires, and effected a
thorough destruction of the railroad
between those places. He also sent
an infantry division under General
French against the Federal post at
Allatoona Pass, through which lay the
railroad and Sherman's line of communi
cations, and where were, stored more
than a million of rations for the Federal
army, the capture of which would have
proved an important acquisition to his
impoverished commissariat. The natural
strength of the position at Allatoona
Pass was very great, so that a thousand
men could hold it against ten times their
number as long as supplies held out.
Its redoubts were at this time garrisoned
by only three small regiments under
Colonel Tourtellotte. In the possession
of the rebels it would have effectually
interrupted the Federal communications
between Chattanooga and Atlanta, and
might have necessitated the evacuation
of the latter city. It will be seen, there
fore, that Hood had excellent reasons for
striking suddenly and with a large force
at this point.
General Sherman, however, well aware
that his seat at Atlanta was insecure
while his long line of communications
lay exposed to interruption, immediately
on hearing that General Hood had
crossed the Chattahoochee, dispatched
General Corse with the fourth division
235

of the fifteenth corps to Rome, which
place he supposed the enemy were aim
ing at ; gave orders that Atlanta and
the railroad bridge over the Chattahoo
chee should be held by General Slocum
with the twentieth corps, and on the
4th of October — a freshet of the river
having carried away his bridges — laid
down three pontoons, put in motion the
fifteenth, seventeenth, fourth, fourteenth,
and twenty-third corps toward Smyrna
camp-ground, and on the 5th moved to
the strong position about Kenesaw
Mountain. Anticipating the enemy's
movement against Allatoona Pass, he
had already signalled and telegraphed
to General Corse to reinforce that post
from Rome, and hold it till the main
body of the Federal army could come to
his assistance. On receiving the mes
sage, General Corse immediately placed
a brigade of nine hundred men on the
cars and reached Allatoona on the night
of the 4th, just in time to be ready to
meet the attack of French's division.
With this addition the garrison numbered
sixteen hundred men, with six guns.
Early on the morning of the 5 th, Oct.
General French with six thousand 5«
men, and supported by two other divi
sions, approached Allatoona, and sent a
letter to General Corse demanding an
immediate surrender, in order to avoid
"a useless effusion of blood," giving
only five minutes for an answer. This
General Corse was ready with iu the
time specified. It was, that he and his
command were ready for the "useless
effusion of blood" as soon as it was
agreeable to General French. This was

530

CORSE'S DEFENCE OF ALLATOONA PASS.

followed by an immediate attack on the
part of the rebels, commencing at eight
o'clock and continued till two in the
afternoon. Driven by the desperate
assaults of overwhelming numbers,
Corse's troops contested their ground
foot by foot, from their intrenchments
to the hill, and from the hill to the fort,
where with their commander bleeding
and at times insensible — for he had been
wounded early in the action — they yet
fought on, with an obstinacy and des
peration worthy of the great stake for
which they contended. During the heat
of the contest, about ten o'clock, Gen
eral Sherman reached the Kenesaw
Mountain — eighteen miles distant from
Allatoona — and from its summit could
see the smoke of battle and hear faintly
the sounds of artillery. The distance
was too great for him to send troops to
take a share in the battle, but he directed
General Cox with the twenty-third corps
to move rapidly westward from the base
of Kenesaw, to strike the road from
Allatoona to Dallas, and thus threaten
the rear of the attacking force. He also
succeeded in getting a signal message to
General Corse notifying him of his
presence. He had great confidence in
General Corse and in the result of the
battle, and said while reviewing it from
his remote stand- point : " I know Corse ;
so long as he lives the Allatoona Pass is
safe." The assaulting columns of the
enemy, thrown back again and again,
were finally compelled to retire toward
Dallas, hastened in their retreat by
apprehensions of the co-operating move
ment of General Cox toward the only

road by which they could escape. Un
fortunate delays, arising from rain and
mud, prevented Cox from intercepting
the rebels on the road back to Dallas,
but they left eight hundred killed,
wounded, and prisoners, in the hands of
General Corse. The garrison lost nearly
half its numbers in killed and wounded.
The little town of Allatoona was reduced
to a mere wreck by the severe fire of
the rebels, and all the artillery and
cavalry horses were killed, but the valu
able stores were saved, and the im
portant fort and pass held. This battle
was the decisive event in the pursuit of
Hood. General Corse, though severely
wounded, returned the same night to
Rome with the remainder of his com
mand. The only important injury done
by the rebels in this vicinity was the
destruction of six or seven miles of
railroad between Big Shanty and Alla
toona, which was immediately put in
course of restoration by order of Gen
eral Sherman, who remained several
days in the vicinity of Allatoona, watch
ing the movements of Hood, suspecting
he would march for Rome, and thence
toward Bridgeport, or else to Kingston.
On the 6th and 7th, General Sher
man pushed out his cavalry toward
Burnt Hickory and Dallas, and dis
covered that the enemy had moved
westward. Inferring from this that
Hood would attempt to break the rail
road again in the neighborhood of
Kingston, he put his army in motion on
the morning of the 8th through Alla
toona Pass toward that place, and arrived
there on the 10th. At Kingston he

SHERMAN'S PURSUIT OF HOOD.

531

learned that Hood had threatened but
passed by Rome, and was crossing the
Coosa, by a pontoon bridge eleven miles
Oct. below. He therefore, on the 11th,
H« moved his army to Rome, and sent
Garrard's cavalry and the twenty-third
corps under General Cox across the
Oostenaula to threaten the flanks of the
enemy as they passed northward. Gar
rard drove one of their cavalry brigades
to and beyond the Narrows leading into
the valley ofthe Chattooga, and captured
two field-pieces.
But General Hood moved with great
rapidity on his northward march. On
Oct. the 12th he appeared with Stewart's
12* corps in front of Resaca, and in
person demanded its immediate and
unconditional surrender, promising that
all the white officers and soldiers should
be parolled in a few days, but threatening
that if the place should be captured by
assault no prisoners would be taken.
To this demand Colonel Weaver, who
held the defences of the place with six
hundred men and three pieces of artil
lery, replied : "If you want it, come and
take it." The garrison manned the
rifle-pits surrounding the works, and
kept the enemy's skirmishers at bay ;
but though during the whole day masses
of rebel troops continued to pass the
forts, no serious attack was made on
them, the enemy being more intent on
destroying the railroad toward Dalton,
wisely considering that the possession
of Resaca would be of no particular
advantage to them. General Sherman
had at first intended to move his army
into the Chattooga valley, to interpose

between the enemy and his line of
retreat down the Coosa, but fearing that
Hood would then move eastward by
Spring Place and down the Federal
road, determined to move against him
at Resaca. Though repulsed at that
place by Colonel Weaver, Hood had
succeeded in breaking up the railroad
from Tilton to Dalton, and at the former
place, during the night of the 12th,
captured a blockhouse garrisoned by a
part of the Seventeenth Iowa, after a
gallant defence. At Dalton, owing to
the negligence of the Federal scouts, the
rebels were able to surround the . fort
garrisoned by the Forty-fourth colored
regiment, under Colonel Johnston, before
adequate preparations for defence could
be made. A summons to surrender,
signed by Hood himself, similar to that
sent to Colonel Weaver being sent in,
Colonel Johnston, finding that Buzzard
Roost and other important points com
manding his position were already in
the enemy's hands, surrendered his
entire command. During the 14th and
15th the enemy occupied themselves in
completing the destruction of the rail
road as far as Tunnel Hill, which, how
ever, either from hurry or a short supply
of gunpowder, they neglected to mine.
The rolling stock had been mostly
removed, and of this kind of property
they were able to destroy only a few
box cars.
General Sherman arrived at Resaca
with the main body of his army on the
14th, and encamped there for the night.
Determining to strike Hood in flank or
force him to battle, he directed the

532

SHERMAN'S PURSUIT OF HOOD.

Army of the Tennessee, under General
Howard, to move to Snake Creek Gap,
where a portion of the enemy's forces
held the old Federal lines, and General
Stanley with the fourth and fourteenth
corps to march by way of Tilton across
the mountains to the rear of the Gap in
the neighborhood of Villanow. Howard
skirmished with the enemy during the
Oct. forenoon of the 15th with the view
l5, of detaining them till Stanley should
have time to get in their rear ; but they
gave way about noon, and though fol-
Towed through the Gap, escaped before
Stanley had been able to reach the
farther end of the pass.
The approach of the Federal columns
now warned Hood to move off westward,
and the 16th of October found him in
full retreat for Lafayette. Toward that
place also Sherman moved his army, with
the view of cutting off Hood's retreat.
At Ship's Gap, Hood left some troops
intrenched, to detain his pursuers ; but
Wood's division of the fifteenth corps
rapidly carried the advanced posts held
by two companies of a South Carolina
regiment, making the men prisoners.
The remainder of the regiment escaped
to the main body near Lafayette. Next
morning Sherman's force passed over
into the valley of the Chattooga, the
Army of the Tennessee moving in pur
suit, by way of Lafayette and Alpine,
toward Blue Pond ; the Army of the
Cumberland by Summerville and Mel
ville Post Office to Gaylesville, and the
Army of the Ohio and Garrard's cavalry
from Villanow, Dirttown, and Goover's
Gap to Gaylesville. Hood, however,

was little encumbered with trains, and
marching with great rapidity in a south
westerly direction, through a broken
and mountainous country, succeeded in
getting into the narrow gorge formed
by the Lookout range abutting against
the Coosa River in the neighborhood of
Gadsden. During this retreat of General Hood
into northern Alabama, he had frequent
opportunities to join battle with his
pursuers, but these he uniformly declined.
He remained at Gadsden till near the
end of October, receiving a few rein
forcements brought up by Beauregard,
who on the 17th assumed command Oct.
of the Confederate Military Division !?•
of the West, Hood still retaining his
special command, though subject to the
supervision or direction of Beauregard.
The latter published an address appeal
ing to his countrymen of all classes and
sections for their support and confidence,
and urging soldiers absent without leave
to return to the army ; but it seems to
have had very little effect. Hood's force
continued less than half that of the
armies opposed to him.
On the 19th the Federal armies lay
grouped about Gaylesville, in the Oct.
rich valley of the Chattooga, a W.
region abounding in corn and cattle, and
Sherman resolved to let his men live on
the country for a while, content for the
present to watch his enemy without
wearing out his troops in a useless
pursuit. Hoping that Hood would turn
toward Huntersville and Bridgeport, he
posted the Army of the Tennessee near
Little River, with orders to keep within

SHERMAN'S NEW PLAN.

533

supporting distance of the cavalry, which
was directed to watch Hood in the
neighborhood of Hill's Valley, and to
give the earliest notice possible of his
turning northward. The Army of the
Ohio was posted at Cedar Bluff, with
orders to lay a pontoon bridge across
the Coosa and reconnoitre toward Center
and in the direction of Blue Mountain.
The Army of the Cumberland was kept
in reserve at Gaylesville. All the troops
were instructed to draw their supplies
as much as possible from the surround
ing country. In the mean time com
munications were opened to Rome, and
a large force was set to work to repair
the railroads. The injuries done to
these were confined to two sections, one
of seven miles long between Big Shanty
and Allatoona, and the other twenty-
one miles long, between Resaca and
Tunnel Hill. The repairs were rapidly
effected, and by the 20th the road was
in running order again from Resaca to
Atlanta. On the 28th, trains left Chat
tanooga for the latter place. Atlanta
was abundantly supplied with provisions,
but forage was scarce, and General
Slocum was instructed to send strong
detachments out in the direction of
South River, collect all the corn and
fodder he could, and put his wagon trains
in good condition for further service.
Hood had failed to interrupt the
Federal communications to a degree
that would compel the evacuation of
Atlanta. Without having been able
permanently to disable the railroad, he
had been driven into northern Alabama,
and was now separated from that admir

able railroad system by means of which
his army had been so well and so long
supplied. He had left Georgia and the
whole southeast open to the invaders ;
but on the other hand there seemed
open to him the opportunity of carrying
the war into Middle Tennessee and
Kentucky, where the richly stored cities
and farms afforded tempting chances for
plunder. His movements and strategy
had demonstrated that he had an army
capable of endangering Sherman's com
munications at any time, though unable
to meet him in open fight. He was so
little encumbered with trains, and moved
so rapidly when on the retreat, that for
Sherman to follow him would amount
simply to abandoning Georgia, with little
hope of overtaking and destroying his
army. To remain inactive or on the
defensive would have been making but
poor use of such a fine army as that
commanded by Sherman, and he deter
mined to adopt a bolder course, and one
promising greater and more important
results. He had previously submitted
to General Grant the outlines of a plan
for the destruction of Atlanta and the
railroad back to Chattanooga, to be
followed by a march through the heart
of Georgia to one of the Atlantic sea
ports. This proposition he now renewed
from Gaylesville, and it received the
sanction of the commander-in-chief. The
original plan of the campaign had been,
after capturing Atlanta, to hold it, and,
using that city as a secondary base, to
move an army eastward through Georgia,
leaving garrisons at points along the
railroads across the State, and thus cut

534

PREPARATIONS FOR THE GREAT MARCH.

the Confederacy in two from west to
east, as had been done from north to
south by the opening of the Mississippi.
The execution of this plan would have
required large details of troops, and it
was willingly abandoned. Sherman's
plan, which was substituted for this,
effectually secured the same advantages.
When Hood crossed the Chattahoochee
on his flanking march upon the Federal
communications, he was moving in the
very direction in which Sherman wished
him to go, and it was with feelings not
unmixed with anxiety that the Federal
general watched his movements till,
instead of returning to Jonesboro, he
moved off from Gadsden to the neigh
borhood of Decatur. The ill-advised
strategy of General Hood gave Sherman
the very opportunity which he desired,
and he prepared at once to avail himself
of it.
On the 26th of October, considering
Oct. his army unnecessarily . large for
26« his purpose, and having ascertained
that Hood had moved westward across
Sand Mountain, Sherman detached the
fourth corps under General Stanley,
with orders to proceed to Chattanooga
and report to General Thomas at Nash
ville. On the 30th, the twenty-third
corps, commanded by General Schofield,
was also sent to General Thomas, to
whom General Sherman delegated full
power over all the troops subject to his
command, except the four corps with
which he designed to move into Georgia.
This gave to General Thomas the fourth
and twenty-third corps, the two divi
sions under General A. J. Smith — then

en route for Tennessee from Missouri —
all the. garrisons in Tennessee, as well as
all the cavalry of Sherman's Military
Division, except one division under Kil
patrick, which was ordered to rendezvous
at Marietta. General Wilson also, who
arrived from the Army of the Potomac
to take command of the cavalry of Sher
man's army, was sent back to Nashville,
with all dismounted detachments, and
with directions to collect as rapidly as
possible the cavalry serving in Kentucky
and Tennessee, to mount, organize, and
equip them, and report to General
Thomas for duty. These forces it was
hoped would enable General Thomas to
defend the railroad from Chattanooga to
Nashville, and at the same time leave
him an army which would be a match
for that of Hood, should he cross the
Tennessee and move northward. Gen
eral Thomas was also fully informed of
General Sherman's plans, and at the
same time assured that till he felt fully
confident of being able to cope with
Hood, the eastward movement on the
part of Sherman would not be com
menced. By the 1st of November, Hood had
moved his army from Gadsden and fl0V,
appeared in the neighborhood of !•
Decatur. Sherman then began prepara
tions for his march through Georgia.
The Army of the Tennessee was moved
by slow and easy marches back to the
neighborhood of Smyrna camp-ground,
and the fourteenth corps under General
Davis to Kingston, from which point-
Sherman directed all surplus artillery,
all baggage not needed for his contem-

PREPARATIONS FOR THE GREAT MARCH.

535

plated movement, and all the sick and
wounded, and the refugees, to be sent
back to Chattanooga. The troops were
at the same time put in the most efficient
condition possible for a long and difficult
march. From the 2d to the 11th of
November every locomotive and car on
the Chattanooga and Atlanta Railroad
was put in requisition. The vast sup
plies of provisions, forage, stores, and
machinery, which had been accumulated
at Atlanta, Rome, and other points, and
everything likely to impede the move
ments of the army, were sent safely to
Chattanooga. On the night of the 11th
the last train left Atlanta for the north.
Everything being now ready, General
Corse, who still remained in Rome, was
ordered to destroy the bridges there, as
well as all the foundries, mills, shops,
warehouses, or other property that could
be useful to the enemy, and move on
Kingston. At the same time the rail
road near Atlanta and between the
Etowah and the Chattahoochee was
directed to be effectually destroyed.
The garrisons north of Kingston were
ordered to withdraw to Chattanooga,
taking with them all public property
and railroad stock, and to take up the
rails north of Resaca and. preserve them
for future use. The railroad between
the Etowah and the Oostenaula was left
untouched, as it was thought probable
it might be necessary to reoccupy the
country as far as the line of the Etowah.
On the 12th of November the message
]yov, "All is well" was telegraphed to
12« General Thomas ; the wire was
then cut, and Sherman's army stood

alone, without any communication with
the rear. It was composed of four
corps of an aggregate strength of sixty
thousand men, all infantry : the fifteenth,
commanded by General Osterhaus, in
the absence of General Logan, to which
was added one division of the sixteenth
corps, and the seventeenth corps, under
General Blair, constituting the right
wing, under Major-General Howard ; the
fourteenth corps, under General Davis,
and the twentieth corps, under General
Slocum, constituting the left wing under
Major-General Slocum. The cavalry
corps numbered six thousand five hun
dred, under General Kilpatrick, who
took his orders directly from General
Sherman. The artillery was reduced to
the minimum, or one gun to every
thousand men. General Barry, in fitting
out this arm, withdrew every doubtful
or suspicious horse, and supplied service
able animals enough to give each artil
lery carriage eight horses, and each
battery a reserve of twelve. General
Sherman issued orders* to regulate the

i. J

* "SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS— No. 120.
" Headquarters Military Division of the Miss., in-)
the Field,
"Kingston, Ga., November 9, 1861.
' ' I. For the purpose of military operations this army is
divided into two wings, viz. : the right wing, Major-Gen
eral 0. 0. Howard commanding, the fifteenth and seven
teenth corps ; the left wing, Major-General H. W. Slocum
commanding, the fourteenth and twentieth corps.
" II. The habitual order of march will he, whenever
practicable, by four roads, as nearly parallel as possible,
and converging at points hereafter to be indicated in
orders. The cavalry, Brigadier-General Kilpatrick com
manding, will receive special orders from the commander-
in-chief. "HI. There will be no general trains of supplies, but
each corps will have its ammunition and provision train,
distributed habitually as follows : Behind each regiment
should follow one wagon and one ambulance ; behind

conduct of the troops on the march, the
whole force moved rapidly southward,
and on the 14th of November lay again
around Atlanta.
On the 15th all the buildings in the
Oct. ^y, except the dwelling-houses
I5, and churches, were destroyed under
the direction of Captain Poe, the chief
of engineers, by order of General Sher
man. The several corps having been
supplied with clothing and such equip
ments as were necessary, from the
depots, and everything valuable to the
Government removed, the torch was
applied in the evening to the various
buildings, the most substantial of which
each brigade should follow a due proportion of ammuni
tion wagons, provision wagons, and ambulances. In case
of danger, each army corps should' change this order of
march by having his advance and rear brigade unencum
bered by wheels. The separate columns will start
habitually at seven a.m., and make about fifteen miles per
day, unless otherwise fixed in orders.
"IV. The army will forage liberally on the country
during the march. To this end, each brigade commander
will organize a good and sufficient foraging party, under the
command of one or more discreet officers, who will gather
near the route travelled corn or forage of any kind, meat
of any kind, vegetables, corn-meal, or whatever is needed
by the command; aiming at all times to keep in the
wagon trains at least ten days' provisions for the com
mand, and three days' forage. Soldiers must not enter
the dwellings of the inhabitants, or commit any trespass ;
during the halt or a camp, they may be permitted to
gather turnips, potatoes, and other vegetables, and drive
in stock in front of their camps. To regular foraging
parties must be intrusted the gathering of provisions and
forage at any distance from the road travelled.
"V. To army corps commanders is intrusted the power
to destroy mills, houses, cotton-gins, etc., and for them
this general principle is laid down : In districts and neigh
borhoods where the army is unmolested, no destruction of
such property should be permitted ; but should guerrillas
or bushwhackers molest our march, or should the
inhabitants burn bridges, obstruct roads, or otherwise
manifest local hostility, then army corps commanders
should order and enforce a devastation more or less relent
less, according to the measure of such hostility.
" VI. As for horses, mules, wagons, etc., belonging to

had been previously mined. For many
hours the heavens were lighted up by
the flames of this vast conflagration,
which was rendered more awful by the
explosion of shells and magazines. By
the dawn of the 16 th all that was valu
able of the city lay in ashes. The
property destroyed included all the
buildings connected with the railroads,
the passenger depots, freight houses, a
number of locomotives, cars, and every
description of rolling stock ; the machine
shops, mills, arsenals ; the laboratory,
the armory, many business houses, the
institutions of learning, and all the ho
tels except the Gate City ; in all about
the inhabitants, the cavalry and artillery may appropriate
freely and without limit, discriminating, however, between
the rich, who are usually hostile, and the poor or indus
trious, usually neutral or friendly. Foraging parties may
also take mules or horses to replace the jaded animals of
their trains, or to serve as pack mules for the regiments
or brigades. In all foraging, of whatever kind, the parties
engaged will refrain from abusive or threatening language,
and may. when the officer in command thinks proper,
give written certificates of the facts, but no receipts ; and
they will endeavor to leave with each family a reasonable
portion for their maintenance.
"VII. Negroes who are able-bodied, and can he of
service to the several columns, may be taken along ; but
each army commander will bear in mind that the question
of supplies is a very important one, and that his first duty
is to see to those who bear arms.
"Vm. The organization at once of a, good pioneer
battalion for each corps, composed, if possible, of negroes,
should be attended to. This battalion should follow the
advance-guard, should repair roads, and double them if
possible, so that the columns will not be delayed after
reaching bad places. Also, army commanders should
study the habit of giving the artillery and wagons the
road, and marching their troops on one side ; and also
instruct their troops to assist wagons at steep hills or bad
crossings of streams.
" IX. Captain 0. M. Poe, Chief Engineer, will assign to
each wing of the army a pontoon train, fully equipped and
organized, and the commanders thereof will see to its
being properly protected at all times.
" By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman,
"L. M. Dayton, Aid-de-Camp."

?hoto graphs by UracLy

SHERMAN'S GREAT MARCH.

537

eighteen hundred buildings, not includ
ing woodsheds and outhouses, the whole
valued at about two millions of dollars.
As far as possible private property was
spared — the object being simply to make
the city of no use to the enemy when
they should reoccupy it.
Two great fines of railway, nearly
parallel and having a general south
easterly direction, connected Atlanta
with the Atlantic seaboard, one termi
nating at Charleston, 308 miles distant,
the other at Savannah, 293 miles distant.
The former line, composed of the Geor
gia Railroad, 171 miles long, extending
from Atlanta to Augusta, and of the
South Carolina Railroad, 137 miles long,
extending from Augusta to Charleston ;
and the latter, consisting of the Western
and Macon road, 103 miles long, con
necting Atlanta and Macon, and of the
Central Georgia Railroad, 190 miles
long, connecting Macon with Savannah.
From Augusta there also ran a cross
railroad due south to Millen, on the
Georgia Central Railroad, 53 miles long,
affording a second route to Savannah
from Atlanta, ten miles longer than that
through Macon. The belt of country
between the two main lines of railroad,
as far east as Augusta and Millen, is of
an average breadth of about forty miles ;
east of those points the country between
the roads gradually expands to a width
of nearly a hundred miles. The Geor
gia road since the capture of Atlanta
had lost much of its importance, but all
the others, including that between
Augusta and Millen, were important
links in the chain of communications |
236

between the northern and southern
portions of the Confederacy, and their
destruction, therefore, which was one of
the objects of the expedition, would be
a severe blow to the enemy. The
region included within these railroads
was probably the richest and most
populous, of Georgia, containing Mil-
ledgeville, the capital of the State, and
other important towns. It was said to
be rich in all kinds of agricultural pro
duce and abundantly able to supply the
wants of a large invading army. To
this region had also been transported
large numbers of slaves for greater
security, from the more exposed parts
of other rebel States. Besides these
considerations was the fact that there
were but few rebel troops there, a
few brigades of cavalry under General
"Wheeler, and such troops as could be
spared from Wilmington, Charleston,
and Savannah, and the inexperienced
Georgia militia, constituting the entire
force that could be concentrated to
oppose the march of Sherman's well-
appointed and magnificent army.
While Atlanta was yet in flames,
Sherman's army began its march east
ward in four columns, the two constitut
ing the left wing under Slocum, with
whom was General Sherman himself,
following the railroad toward Augusta,
while the two constituting the right
wing under Howard, accompanied by
Kilpatrick's cavalry, marched in the
direction of Jonesboro and McDonough,
with orders to make a strong feint on ¦
Macon, to cross the Ocmulgee about
Planter's Mills, and rendezvous in the

538

SHERMAN'S GREAT MARCH.

neighborhood of Gordon in seven days.
General Slocum with the twentieth corps
moved by way of Decatur and Stone
Mountain, with orders to tear up the
railroad from Social Circle to Madison,
to burn the important railroad bridge
across the Oconee, east of Madison, and
then turn southward and rendezvous at
Milledgeville on the seventh day. Gen
eral Sherman himself left Atlanta on the
16th in company with the fourteenth
corps, commanded by General Davis,
which marched by way of Lithonia,
Covington, and Shady Dale, also toward
Milledgeville. All the corps were pro
vided with good wagon trains, in which
the supplies of ammunition were .abun
dant, but with only twenty days' bread,
forty days' sugar and coffee, beef cattle
equal to forty days' supplies, and a
double allowance of salt. Three days'
forage in grain was also taken. At the
same time all were instructed to live
during the march chiefly if not altogether
on the country, which abounded in corn,
sweet potatoes, and cattle.
At what point on the seaboard Sher
man would come out could not be
definitely fixed. It was not impossible,
as he would be obliged to subsist at
least partially on the country, that a
force inferior to his own might compel
him to turn aside for such a point as he
could reach, instead of following to the
sea such a route as he chose. The
blindness of the Confederate authorities,
however, allowed them to send Hood's
army — the only considerable force they
had between Richmond and the Missis
sippi — northward on an offensive cam

paign, and left the whole southeast
open, with little opposition tp be appre
hended on the part of General Sherman
whatever route he might take. His
first object was to place his army in the
heart of Georgia, interposing it between
Macon and Augusta, and thus oblige
the enemy to scatter what forces they
had, to defend not only those points,
but Millen, Savannah, and Charleston.
To perplex the rebels, and divide their
forces by pretended demonstrations on
places widely separated, leaving it doubt
ful whether the immediate objective
was Augusta or Macon, or both, would
be most likely to insure a speedy and
uninterrupted march to the coast.
General Howard's command, of which
the fifteenth corps formed the right,
following the railroad southward as far
as Jonesboro, encountered the mounted
troops of Iverson ; but these were quickly
dispersed by Kilpatrick's cavalry. The
column then moved eastward through
McDonough and Jackson to the Ocmul-
gee, crossed it at Planter's Factory, and
passing southward through Monticello
and Hillsboro, and between Milledgeville
and Clinton, struck the Georgia Central
Railroad on the 22d, the left at 0ct.
Gordon, twenty miles east of Macon, 22.
the : right extending westward toward
Griswoldville. In conjunction with the
operations of Howard's column, the
greater part of the Federal cavalry .
under Kilpatrick made a circuit by the
right, through Griffin and Forsyth,
toward Macon. At first the rebels sup
posed this to be only a raid on a grand
scale, but on the approach of Howard's

SHERMAN'S GREAT MARCH.

539

column — and still remaining ignorant
of Slocum's movement in the direction
of Augusta— they began to think the
capture of Macon to be what Sherman
was aiming at, and concentrated at that
place all their available force, consisting
of some cavalry under Wheeler, a small
body of veterans, and several brigades
of militia. On the 20th, eight hundred
of Kilpatrick's cavalry with four cannon,
made a pretended attack on Bast Macon,
two miles east of the city, and drove
the enemy within their intrenchments.
Little loss was sustained on either side,
but the movement very effectually ac
complished its purpose of confirming
the rebels in the belief that Macon was
Sherman's objective. The Federal cav
alry then, after destroying several miles
of railroad east of Walnut Creek, with
drew to Griswoldville. The fifteenth
and seventeenth corps having struck the
Central Georgia Railroad on the 22d, as
was said above, immediately went to
work to destroy the track and the road
bed between Gordon and Griswoldville.
It was while this work was going on
that the severest battle of the campaign
up to this date took place. General
Walcott's brigade of infantry, with a
section of artillery and some cavalry,
forming the extreme right of the fifteenth
corps, had been thrown forward to
Griswoldville to cover that flankJ — while
Howard's trains were closing up and
his men destroying the railroads — and
at the same time to continue the demon
stration on Macon commenced by Kil
patrick two days before. After burn
ing the principal buildings in Gris

woldville, the troops took position in a
wood protected in front by an open
morass, and threw up a rail breast-work.
About two in the afternoon a force of
the enemy, about five thousand strong,
moved out of Macon and approached
Walcott's position. The Federal cav
alry fell back slowly and placed them
selves in connection with the infantry
so as to protect them in flank and rear,
and leave the enemy no alternative but
to make a direct front attack. The
rebel force, consisting of a part of
Hardee's old command brought up from
Savannah and several brigades of militia,
under General Phillips, advanced boldly,
and, being mostly inexperienced troops,
not understanding the strength of the
Federal position, attempted to carry it
by storm. They made six desperate
assaults, which General Walcott's vet
erans, well protected by their breast
works, repelled with ease, and with
little loss, while the rebels moving with
difficulty through the morass, and ex
posed to a steady fire from men con
scious of security, suffered severely,
leaving when they retired three hundred
dead upon the field. Their total loss,
according to their own account, was
614, including General Anderson se
verely wounded, but was probably nearer
two thousand. After this battle, Macon
might easily have been taken by Gen
eral Howard, but now that its railroad
connections were destroyed, the posses
sion of that place was no longer an
important object.
In the mean time the left wing of
Sherman's army continued its march

540

SHERMAN'S GREAT MARCH.

along the Augusta and Macon Railroad
in two parallel columns, the twentieth
corps on the left, the fourteenth accom
panied by General Sherman on the
right. The latter corps having thor
oughly destroyed the railroad as far as
Covington, turned southward on the
19th toward Milledgeville, while the
twentieth corps, which had previously
marched on the north side of the rail
road, continued the work of destroying
the track and the bridges as far as
Madison, a beautiful village thirty miles
north of Milledgeville and about ninety
miles in a direct line west of Augusta,
which this movement was intended to
threaten. To strengthen the impression
that Augusta was the point aimed at,
the cavalry moving on the left wing was
sent as far east as Union Point, about
seventy miles west of that city. From
Madison the twentieth corps turned off
nearly due south, and passing through
Batonton, its advance arrived at Mil-
Oct. ledgeville on the 21st, followed
21» next day by the fourteenth corps,
which passed through Shady Dale and
Eatonton, neither corps having encoun
tered any opposition during its march.
When General Sherman's army set
out from Atlanta, the Georgia legislature
was in session at Milledgeville, but the
approach of Kilpatrick's cavalry caused
no alarm there, as the movement was
supposed to be only a raid, and that its
object was Macon. When, however, on
the 18th, it was discovered that General
Howard with the right wing was moving
through McDonough in a southeasterly
direction, and that General Slocum was

also approaching from the north, a panic
seized the whole body of legislators,
who fled with all possible haste to
Augusta, with household furniture,
books, and pictures, and such other
valuables as could be easily carried off.
Governor Brown took with him the
entire furniture of the executive mansion.
After this exodus, several days of quiet
passed, when on a bright sunshiny
morning an advanced regiment of the
twentieth corps entered the capital of
Georgia with the band playing the
national airs.
But few of the Federal troops en
tered Milledgeville. Two or three
regiments were detailed under the
orders of engineers to destroy govern
ment and certain other property. The
magazines, arsenals, depQt buildings,
factories of various kinds, with store
houses containing large amounts of gov
ernment property, and about seventeen
hundred bales of cotton, were burned.
Private houses, even those of noted
rebels, were left uninjured, as well as
the Capitol, and the inhabitants were
protected as far as possible from pillage
or insult from the soldiery. The hospital
surgeons, the principal of the Insane
Asylum, and others, expressed their
thankfulness for the excellent order
preserved during the Federal occupation.
Some stores and about 2,500 small-arms
fell into the possession of the Federal
troops, a number of Union prisoners
were liberated from the penitentiary,
some sick rebel soldiers were found in
the hospital, and one or two well-known
rebels were made prisoners of war.

SHERMAN'S MARCH TO SAVANNAH.

541

CHAPTER XLVII.
Alarm in Georgia.— Action of Governor Brown.— Appeals to the People.— Predictions of Sherman's Failure.— The
Advance from Milledgeville.— Occupation of Sandersville.— Defeat of Wheeler by Kilpatrick.— Crossing the Ogee-
chee.— Approach to Savannah.— The Gulf Railroad cut.— Investment of Savannah.— Co-operative Movement of
General Foster. — Capture of Fort McAllister.— Communication established with the Fleet.— Kilpatrick's Raid along
the Gulf Railroad. — Evacuation of Savannah by Hardee. — Cotton and Supplies captured. — Results of the Expedi
tion. — General Geary appointed Military Governor of Savannah. — Conduct of the Inhabitants.

1864.

For some time before Sherman finally i
abandoned Atlanta, rumors that
such an event was impending ob
tained circulation, not only in the North
but among the Confederates. The
movement was believed by the latter
to have been forced upon Sherman by
the operations of Hood against the
Federal communications and in Tennes
see ; and the rebels at first derived
much encouragement from the belief,
no doubt being entertained that Sher
man, finding himself unable to guard
the long line of railroad in his rear, had
determined to abandon his recent con
quest and return to Tennessee. The
evacuation of Atlanta was in fact claimed
as a rebel triumph. Appearances fa
vored this belief very much, especially
when Sherman sent back his vast accu
mulation of stores to the north. It was
evident to the Southern mind — very
willing to believe what it wished to
be true — that the invasion of Georgia
was at an end ; and even when the
cavalry of Kilpatrick appeared in the
neighborhood of Macon, it was sup
posed to be merely making a demon
stration with a view to cover the with

drawal of Sherman's army. When at
last a perception of the real purpose
of the Federal commander dawned in a
disagreeable manner on the minds of the
State and Confederate authorities, it
became apparent that Georgia was in
an almost utterly defenceless condition,
and a degree of alarm was exhibited
only equalled by the blind confidence
which had been previously indulged in.
One of the last acts of Governor Brown
before his flight from Milledgeville to
Augusta was to issue a proclamation
ordering a levy of the whole white
population of the State between the
ages of sixteen and forty-five, for forty
days' service, except members of the
legislature and judiciary, ordained clergy
men, railroad employe's, and telegraph
operators, and all persons physically
disqualified. Every man liable was
required to report at a certain designated
place under penalty of being considered
and treated as a deserter. Railroad
directors and superintendents neglecting
to co-operate with the military authori
ties were to be sent immediately to the
front. Governor Brown also, in accord
ance with a resolution of the legislature,

542

SHERMAN'S MARCH TO SAVANNAH.

offered pardon to the prisoners in the
Milledgeville penitentiary on condition
that they should volunteer and prove
faithful soldiers, and about a hundred
of them entered the service on these
terms. Appeals also were made to the people,
urging them to fly to arms for the
defence of their State. A characteristic
one was issued by Beauregard on the
18th of November, from his headquarters
at Corinth. "Arise," said he, "for the
defence of your native soil! Rally
around your patriotic Governor and
gallant soldiers. Obstruct and destroy
all the roads in Sherman's front, flank,
and rear, and his army will soon starve
in your midst. Be confident. Be
resolute. Trust in an overruling Provi
dence, and success will soon crown your
efforts. I hasten to join you in the
defence of your homes and firesides."
Another of the same date was made by
Senator B. H. Hill, of the Confederate
Congress: "You have now the best
opportunity ever yet presented to de
stroy the enemy. Put everything at
the disposal of our generals, remove all
provisions from the path of the invader,
and put all obstructions in his path.
Every citizen with his gun, and every
negro with his spade and axe, can do
the work of a soldier. You can destroy
the enemy by retarding his march.
Georgians, be firm, act promptly, and
fear not." The Georgia delegation in
the lower house of the Confederate
Congress issued an appeal urging the
people to action, as follows : " We have
had a special conference with President

Davis and the Secretary of War, and
are able to assure you that they have
done, and are still doing, all that can be
done to meet the emergency that presses
upon you. Let every man fly to arms.
Remove your negroes, horses, cattle,
and provisions from Sherman's army,
and burn what you cannot carry. Burn
all bridges and block up the roads in his
route. Assail the invader in front,
flank, and rear, by night and by day.
Let him have no rest." • But these
appeals and preparations came too late
to make it possible to present any other
than a very feeble opposition to .the
advance of Sherman's magnificent and
well-organized army of veterans. The
little resistance that it did meet was
made by a few fragmentary bodies of
Confederate troops, or such organized-
State militia as could be hastily con
centrated. Nevertheless predictions were freely
uttered of the failure of Sherman's ex
pedition. Of these, the following, from
the Richmond Sentinel, may be taken as
a specimen : " While his course through
Georgia will have been that of an arrow
through the air, or a ship over the sea,
leaving no track behind; while his
exploits and his honors will have been
those of the baffled fox hounded from
the barn-yard, or the disappointed wolf
chased and pelted by the shepherds,
he will return to Tennessee to find Hood,
we trust, in possession of the State. He
will return to find that his campaign
into Georgia, so boastfully entered upon,
has but lost the territories won by his
predecessors."

SHERMAN'S MARCH TO SAVANNAH.

543

While the left wing was enjoying a
temporary rest at Milledgeville, the
right, under General Howard, moved
eastward along the Georgia Central
Railroad, with orders to destroy it
thoroughly as they went as far as Ten-
nille Station. The Confederates now
became aware that Macon was not to be
seriously attacked, and General Wheeler,
marching with all speed, got across the
Oconee near the railroad bridge, and,
aided by a body of militia under Gen
eral Wayne, prepared to dispute the
passage. When General Howard arrived
on the 23 d, he found the guard there so
strong that a crossing could be effected
only at considerable loss. After skir
mishing near the river a day or two to
occupy the enemy's attention, the fif
teenth corps was moved to a ford eight
miles below, and a pontoon bridge was
laid without much difficulty. The rebels
then retreated, and by the 26th the
whole right wing was across the river
and moving eastward along and destroy
ing the railroad. The left wing crossed
the Oconee near Milledgeville on the
24th, and moved by two roads in a
southeasterly direction toward Sanders-
ville, a small town thirty- three miles
from Milledgeville, and a little north of
the railroad. The fourteenth corps now
took position on the left of Slocum's
column, and Sherman accompanied the
twentieth corps toward Sandersville.
Nov. On approaching this place on the
25. 25th, the bridges across Buffalo
Creek were found burned, which caused
a delay of three hours. Next day the
two corps, marching by parallel roads,

entered the town almost at the same
moment, skirmishing with and driving
out Wheeler's cavalry, which had at
tempted to impede their progress. On
the 27th and 28th both wings lay en
camped between Sandersville and Irwin's
Cross-Roads, a few miles south of the
railroad. About this- time also General
Sherman shifted his quarters from the
left wing to the seventeenth corps, then
at Tennille Station, opposite Sandersville.
General Kilpatrick, after the demon
stration at Macon which ended with the
action at Griswoldville, shifted his cav
alry force to the left wing, and remaining
a day at Milledgeville to recruit, was
directed to move rapidly eastward and
break the railroad which connects Millen
with Augusta, thus at the same time to
threaten Augusta and cover the passage
of the main body of the army across the
Ogeechee, the next great river on Sher
man's route east of the Oconee. He
was directed also, after breaking the
railroad, to turn southward and move
rapidly upon Millen, to rescue the
Union prisoners supposed to be confined
there. On the 27th, a few hundred jy0Tf
of his cavalry, under Captains Hays 27.
and Estes, dashed into Waynesboro, on
the railroad, thirty miles south of
Augusta, and did some damage ; but it
having been ascertained that the prison
ers had for several weeks previous been
in the course of removal from Millen to
some less exposed point in southern
Georgia, no demonstration was made on
that town, and the advanced cavalry
detachment fell back to its main body,
which lay east of the Ogeechee near

544

SHERMAN'S MARCH TO SAVANNAH.

Louisville, to which place Kilpatrick
had retired to meet the infantry, in
pursuance of instructions from Sherman
not to risk a battle except under circum
stances in which he would have greatly
the advantage. But as Wheeler's cav
alry kept hovering around him, keeping
between him and Augusta — which the
rebels now supposed from the appear
ance of the cavalry on the left flank of
the Federal army was the real objective
of the campaign — Sherman directed Kil
patrick to leave all his wagons and
other incumbrances with the left wing
and move in the direction of Augusta ;
and if Wheeler desired fighting to give
him all he wanted. Accordingly Kil
patrick, supported by Baird's division
of infantry of the fourteenth corps, again
moved in the direction of Waynesboro,
and encountering Wheeler in the neigh-
Dec, borhood of Thomas' Station, on the
**• 3d of December attacked him in
position, driving him from three succes
sive lines of barricades, through Waynes
boro and across Brier Creek, the bridges
over which he burned, and then with
Baird's division marching rapidly south
ward from Waynesboro, rejoined the
left wing at Jacksonboro, twenty miles
east of Millen, on the 5th.
On the 28th of November the four
teenth corps struck the Ogeechee at
Fenn's Bridge, fifteen miles north of
Sandersville, crossed by pontoons, and
marching along the north bank of the
river, arrived at Louisville on the 29th.
Upon reaching Buckhead Creek this
corps turned eastward to Lumpkin's
Station, on the Augusta and Millen

Railroad, ten miles south of Waynes
boro, on the 3d and 4th of December
destroyed a considerable portion of the
track, and then marched in a south
easterly direction for Jacksonboro. At
the same time the twentieth corps
moved along the railroad, which from
Davisboro Station runs parallel with the
Ogeechee for about twenty miles. The
fifteenth and seventeenth corps moved
along the south side of the railroad,
the fifteenth, with which was General
Howard in person, keeping on the right
flank and about a day's march ahead, so
as to be ready to turn against the flank
of any force of the enemy that should
attempt to oppose the progress of the
main body. On the 30th, the twentieth
and seventeenth corps, which had been
some days engaged in destroying the
railroad between Tennille Station and
the Ogeechee — though this river, here
about sixty yards wide, naturally a
strong defensive line to the enemy,
might have been rendered a serious
obstacle — effected a crossing with little
difficulty, the twentieth at the jjov.
railroad bridge and the seventeenth 30.
near Barton Station, a few miles farther
east. These two corps advanced steadily
along the railroad, and on the 2d of
December the seventeenth reached Mil
len ; the twentieth, passing a little north
of that town through Birdsville, moved
in a southeasterly direction, while the
fifteenth in two columns, still a day's
march in advance of the main body,
kept along the west bank of the
Ogeechee. The whole army then turn
ing slowly round from its easterly course,

SHERMAN'S MARCH TO SAVANNAH.

545

moved directly southward in parallel
columns, all except the fifteenth corps—
which was directed to cross to the east
bank on arriving at Eden Station —
between the Ogeechee and Savannah
rivers, the seventeenth corps following
the railroad and tearing it up while
advancing, the fourteenth corps keeping
along the Savannah River road, and the
twentieth marching down the middle
road by way of Springfield. Kilpatrick
covered the rear, and kept at bay such
scattered bodies of rebel cavalry as
attempted to harass the columns while
in motion.
The advantage of the feint which had
been made toward Augusta now became
apparent in the fact that a considerable
number of rebel troops had been con
centrated there, which, had General
Sherman's true object been known, might
have been used to obstruct his march to
Savannah, toward which he was now
moving without any probability of meet
ing opposition on his way, and without
any possibility of the force at Augusta
being used against him in such a manner
as to delay his progress for an hour.
The weather, which had been for the
most part favorable during the first half
of the campaign, became rainy after the
columns passed Millen. As the army
approached Savannah, the country was
found more marshy and difficult, and
more obstructions were met in the shape
of felled trees where the roads crossed
the creek swamps or narrow causeways ;
but these the well-organized pioneer
companies rapidly removed. No im
portant opposition was encountered till
237

the heads of the columns were within
fifteen miles of Savannah, when all the
roads leading to the city were found
more or less obstructed with felled
timber ; but the imperfect defences thus
formed were easily turned and the
enemy driven away.
By the 10th of December the en
emy had retired within their fines j)eCl
at Savannah. These followed a 10 ¦
swampy creek which falls into the
Savannah River about three miles above
the city and extended from this to the
head of a corresponding creek which
falls into the Little Ogeechee. These
streams formed excellent cover for the
enemy, flowing through marshes and
rice fields, which could be flooded either
by the tide-water or from inland ponds,
the gates of which were covered by
heavy artillery.
For the purpose of preventing an
attack upon the Gulf Railroad, at that
time employed to its utmost capacity in
bringing supplies and reinforcements to
the city, the rebels sent a force across
the Ogeechee which they supposed
would be able to check the advance of
the fifteenth corps. The greater part
of this corps had, however, passed over
to the east bank of the river on the 7th
near Eden Station, and the next day
General Corse's division was pushed
forward between the Little and Great
Ogeechee in advance of the main column
to the canal connecting the Ogeechee
with the Savannah, on the south side of
which a position was taken up and
intrenched, the enemy abandoning the
portion of their advanced line there and

546

SHERMAN'S MARCH TO SAVANNAH.

retiring within the fortifications of
Savannah. Reinforcements from the
fifteenth corps were sent to General
Corse, and on the 9th a detachment
moved forward to the Gulf Railroad,
tore up the track for several miles, and
captured a train of eighteen cars with
many prisoners, thus cutting off com
munications between Savannah and the
south, so that no supplies could reach
the city by the accustomed channels,
while the investing forces had large
herds of cattle, brought with the army
or gathered from the country on the
march, and though still without com
munication with the fleet, had yet re
maining in the army wagons a consider
able supply of breadstuffs and other
necessaries. The fine rice crops along
the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers af
forded abundance of fodder for the
cattle as well as food for the men. The
country south of the Ogeechee was also
open as foraging ground.
The only approaches to the city were
the two railroads, and the Augusta,
Louisville, and Ogeechee dirt roads, all
narrow causeways and commanded by
heavy ordnance, against which it would
have been useless to oppose the light
field guns with which only Sherman's
army was provided. The strength of
the enemy at that time was also un
known to the Federal commander, and
he determined not to assault immediately,
trusting that the operation of time would
bring about the desired result. He
therefore instructed his army command
ers to invest the city as closely as pos
sible from the north and west and to

reconnoitre the ground well in their
front. The 11th and 12th of December
were passed in putting the troops in
position, erecting breast-works, and
establishing batteries, and on the latter
day the army lay in a semicircular Dec>
line about ten miles long — the left 12^
resting on the Savannah River at a point
about three miles distant from the city,
the right on the Gulf Railroad at a
distance of about eleven miles— ^every
where confronted by the enemy's strong
line of earth-works, constituting the
exterior fortifications of the city.
In the mean time, as communication
with the fleet, which it was known was
on the coast waiting to co-operate, was
of vital importance, Captain Duncan
with two scouts, as early as the night
of the 9th, had been sent from the
fifteenth corps down the Ogeechee in a
small skiff. Concealing themselves in
the rice swamps during the following
day they resumed their perilous voyage
at night, succeeded in getting past Fort
McAllister and the rebel picket-boats
during a rain-storm, and made their way
into Ossabaw Sound, where on the
morning of the 11th they were picked
up by the Federal gun-boat Flag, and
immediately conveyed to Hilton Head.
General Foster was at that time operat
ing against the Charleston and Savannah
Railroad with the view of destroying
the communications of Savannah with
the north. He was immediately sent
for, and received from Captain Duncan
General Howard's dispatch of the 9th :
' We have had perfect success, and the
army is in fine spirits." This was the

GENERAL POSTER'S OPERATIONS.

547

first direct intelligence from Sherman's
army since its departure from Atlanta,
and its reception caused universal re
joicing in the North.
The co-operative movement of Gen
eral Foster against the Charleston and
Savannah Railroad, the immediate ob
ject of which was to effect a lodgment
at Pocotaligo or Grahamville, had only
partially succeeded. The expedition
dispatched for this purpose, consisting
of 5,500 men under General Hatch,
together with a naval brigade under
Commander Preble, and gun-boats from
Admiral D'ahlgren's squadron, arrived
soon after daylight at Boyd's Point,
where the troops were landed. They
advanced skirmishing some miles, but
not being acquainted with the country
did not succeed in reaching the railroad,
and at night were compelled to with
draw. Next day, however, the march
was resumed, and the troops were
pushed on toward the enemy's position
near Grahamville. Strong works, con
sisting of a fort and battery, with rifle-
pits, were found at Honey Hill, three
miles from Grahamville. The enemy
had, however, only 1,500 men, under
General Gustavus W. Smith, with seven
pieces of artillery, and the position was
attacked. An engagement ensued, last
ing six hours, and the Federal troops
came near carrying the works, when
reinforcements arrived for the enemy,
consisting of a regiment of infantry and
some cavalry, under General Robertson,
who brought also another battery. It
being found impossible now to contend
against the increased force of the enemy,

protected as they were by their defences,
the Federal force was withdrawn to
a good position on the Savannah road,
having sustained a loss of 740 men.
The operations on the part of General
Foster, in which there was a good deal
of desultory fighting, were continued
for several days, and though he did not
succeed in getting possession of the
railroad, in guarding which the rebels
displayed great tenacity, his troops
under General Hatch secured a position
on the peninsula or neck between the Coo-
sawatchie and Tullafinney Creek, about
three-quarters of a mile from the rail
road, from which, the intervening woods
having been cut down for the purpose,
they could direct the fire of their artil
lery on the passing trains.
As the greater part of the fleet was
already in or at the entrance of the
Savannah River, nothing remained to
be done but to send a few vessels to
Warsaw and Ossabaw Sounds to open
communications with the army. The
latter sound, the estuary of the Ogeechee,
affording the most practicable mode of
accomplishing this object, General Sher
man took measures to reduce Fort Mc
Allister — a strong redoubt on the right
bank of the river, which its guns com
manded, and highly important to the
security of Savannah in the rear — about
six miles from the sound and about
eighteen miles southwest of Savannah.
This was one of the strongest forts of its
class in the South, and had successfully
resisted the attacks of a small fleet of
iron-clads in the early part of the year
1863. It mounted twenty- three guns

548

CAPTURE OF FORT McALLISTER.

en barbette and one mortar, including
several eight-inch and ten-inch pieces.
Every line of approach to the fort was
commanded by howitzers and field pieces
placed on the bastions. A deep ditch
forty feet wide, into the bottom of which
were driven palisades, extended along
its front, and a formidable line of abattis
ran along the outer edge of the ditch,
beyond which the approaches were
thickly planted with torpedoes. Fortu
nately the garrison was not strong, con
sisting of only two companies of artillery
and three of infantry, in all about two
hundred men, in command of Major
Anderson. It would doubtless have
been reinforced in a few days. On the
evening of the 12th, General Hazen's
division of the fifteenth corps was
marched from its position on the Gulf
Railroad to the Ogeechee, just below
the mouth of the Canoochie — where
the bridge, known as King's Bridge,
having been destroyed was rapidly re
constructed in a substantial manner — at
daybreak of the 13th crossed to the west
bank and pushed on toward Fort Mc
Allister, with orders to carry it by
Dec, assault. General Hazen reached
13 • the vicinity of the fort about one
o'clock, and deployed his division in such
a manner that both flanks rested on the
river — posting his skirmishers behind
the trunks of the trees whose branches
had been used by the enemy in con
structing their abattis. About five
o'clock the assault was made with nine
regiments at three points. In a very
short time the intervening space of six

surmounted, and the ditch reached. A
few minutes sufficed to tear down
enough of the palisades to permit tbe
passage of the troops, who with loud
cheers and great enthusiasm — fighting
under the eye of Sherman himself, who
was watching General Hazen's operations
from a rice mill on the opposite bank
of the river — rushed in swarms over the
parapet and planted their colors on the
rampart. In twenty minutes from the
time the assault was commenced the fort
was won, and, the troops having been
under fire so short a time, with little
loss on either side — that of the assailants
being but twenty-three killed- and eighty-
two wounded, that of the enemy fourteen
killed and twenty- one wounded. Next
day the prisoners were set to removing
the torpedoes buried around the fort.
No communication had yet been
effected with the fleet. From a signal
station at the rice mill Sherman's officers
had been for two days gazing anxiously
over the rice fields and salt marsh, in
the direction of Ossabaw Sound, but no
vessel came in sight. While the prep
arations for assaulting Fort McAllister
had been going on, the smoke-stack of
a small steamer became visible on the
horizon, evidently approaching. Just
before the assault commenced signal was
made to her, which was answered, and,
as soon as he saw the colors fairly
planted on the fort, General Sherman,
in company with General Howard, pro
ceeded in a small boat to meet General
Hazen ; but finding that he had not yet
been able to communicate with the

hundred yards was crossed, the abattis steamer, which was hid from him by

INVESTMENT OF SAVANNAH.

549

some intervening woods, he took another
small boat with a crew, and pulled down
the river to it. It proved to be the
tug Dandelion, Captain Williamson, who
announced that Admiral Dahlgren and
General Foster were on their way and
might be hourly expected in the sound.
General Sherman then writing a dispatch
to the War Department, his first since
leaving Atlanta, returned immediately
to Fort McAllister, where before daylight
pec, on the 14th he received intelligence
M« that General Foster had actually
arrived in the steamer Nemaha and was
anxious for an interview. General
Sherman immediately went on board
the Nemaha, and after a consultation
proceeded in that steamer to meet
Admiral Dahlgren, whose flag-ship the
Harvest Moon was in Wassaw Sound.
Measures were at once concerted for
opening permanent communication be
tween the army and the fleet, and
Admiral Dahlgren having agreed to
engage the attention of the forts at
Wilmington and Rosedew, General Sher
man returned to Fort McAllister on the
15th, confident of being able to carry
the defences of Savannah as soon as the
heavy ordnance which he had arranged
to have brought from Hilton Head
should arrive. On the 17th a number
of thirty-two pounder Parrott guns were
landed from transports at King's Bridge
on the Ogeechee, where the new base
was established— the obstructions in the
river below having been removed — and
Dec. General Sherman dispatched from
17. the headquarters of General Slocum
on the Augusta road, by flag of truce, a

formal demand for the surrender of the
city. This was refused by General
Hardee, who was in command there
with about fifteen thousand men. He
expressed a determination to hold the
city to the last, saying that his com
munications were yet open, that he was
fully supplied with subsistence stores,
and was able to withstand a long siege.
On the same day a large body of cavalry
under General Kilpatrick, with infantry
supports, was sent down the Gulf Rail
road as far as the Altamaha River, for
the purpose of destroying the track.
This work was thoroughly accomplished
for the entire distance, including four
miles of trestle-work immediately adjoin
ing the river.
The city was now invested on every
side except the north, along the Savan
nah River, which, by means of obstruc
tions and the guns of Forts Jackson,
Lee, and Lawton, the enemy had pos
session of nearly as far toward the sea
as Fort Pulaski. Opposite the city is
Hutchinson's Island, several miles long,
the west end of which was in possession
of General Slocum's troops, but the
lower end still remained in the hands of
the enemy. A little below the island,
on the South Carolina side, was the
Union Causeway, running north through
the swamps intervening between Savan
nah and Charleston, and affording a way
of escape to General Hardee, should he
desire to retreat. Reconnoissances from
the left flank had shown that it was
impracticable to push a considerable
force across the Savannah River with a
view to occupy the causeway, as the

550

FALL OF SAVANNAH.

enemy holding the river opposite the
city with iron-clad gun-boats, would be
able to destroy any pontoons laid down
between Hutchinson's Island and the
South Carolina shore. General Sher
man therefore ordered General Slocum
to get his siege guns into position, and
prepare for an assault, while he pro
ceeded in person to Port Royal and
made arrangements to have the Union
Causeway occupied from the north by
the troops of General Foster. In the
mean time a substantial corduroy road
had been constructed across the swamps
and rice fields from the Ogeechee at
King's Bridge to the vicinity of the city,
by means of which the heavy siege guns
were transported to their position, as
well as supplies for the army.
General Hardee seeing this, and well
aware that the avenue of escape north
ward would not be allowed to remain
open to him long, immediately made
preparations for evacuating the city.
Dec, On the afternoon of the 20th he
20. set his troops to destroying the
navy yard and Confederate Government
property, while the two iron-clads Geor
gia and Savannah moved up the river,
and, supported by several batteries,
began a furious fire on the Federal left,
which was continued all night, with a
view to cover the retreat. The Con
federate troops were conveyed across
the river during the night, in steam
boats and row-boats and on rafts, and
on the morning of the 21st, having
blown up the iron-clads and the forts
below the city, were well on their way
toward Charleston.

Hardee's evacuation was discovered
by the Federal pickets at dawn on the
21st, and several regiments were sent
forward to occupy the deserted intrench
ments. A few hours later General
Sherman, who had just returned from
Hilton Head, entered the city at Dec.
the head of his body-guard and 21.
received the formal surrender from the
municipal authorities.* On the same
day General Foster opened communica
tions with the city with his steamers,
taking up what torpedoes could be found
and passing safely over others. Mea
sures were also taken for clearing the
channel of all obstructions. The cap
tures included eight hundred prisoners,
150 guns, thirteen locomotives in good
order, 190 cars, a large supply of am
munition and material of war, four
steamboats, besides the iron-clad, ram,
and transports blown up by the enemy,
and thirty-three thousand bales of cotton
safely stored in the warehouses.
Thus just five weeks after the army
of General Sherman- left Atlanta, the
great winter campaign through Georgia
was terminated by the fall of Savannah.
Sherman's army had traversed at its
leisure, and with a total loss of not more
than fifteen hundred men, a tract of
country from twenty to sixty miles in
width, completely destroying the rail-
• General Sherman announced his being in possession
of the city in the following characteristic dispatch :
" Savannah, Georgia, December 22.
" To His Excellency President Lincoln :
" I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of
Savannah, with one hundred and fifty heavy guns and
plenty of ammunition, and also about twenty-five thou
sand bales of cotton. "W. T. Shebman, Major-General."

SHERMAN'S GREAT MARCH.

551

roads connecting Atlanta, Macon, Au
gusta, and Savannah. The work of
railroad destruction was carried on in
the most thorough manner. Every
piece of railroad iron was twisted and
made red-hot, and treated in such a way
that it could never again be made
available. All the ties, bridges, tanks,
woodsheds, and d6p6ts were burnt, and
every culvert torn up. For many miles,
where the roads were carried over
marshy ground by means of trestle-
work, all the trestles were burned or
otherwise injured to such a degree as to
make their immediate replacement im
possible. During the entire march the
army lived on the best the land afforded.
Live-stock, poultry, Indian meal, sweet
potatoes, and sorghum syrup were found
in great abundance, and appropriated
by the troops. Many thousand head of
cattle, horses, and mules were collected
and conveyed safely to the coast, so
that when the army encamped around
Savannah, it is said to have had "fifty
days' rations on the hoof." The corn
and fodder in a belt of country sixty
miles wide all the way from Atlanta to
Savannah was consumed. General Sher
man estimated the damage done to the
State of Georgia and its military re
sources at $100,000,000, and that of
this amount only about $20,000,000
inured to the advantage of the Federal
Government, the remainder being merely
wasted or destroyed. The regulations
prohibiting pillage by the troops were
not observed to the letter. In spite of
the orders of General Sherman, there
were many instance's of the plunder of

private property, the places where it
was hidden being very often betrayed
to the soldiers by the negroes. To use
the words of General Sherman, the men
were " a little loose in foraging, and
' did some things they ought not to have
done,' yet on the whole they supplied
the wants of the army with as little
violence as could be expected, and as
little loss as he had calculated on."
Large numbers of slaves of both sexes
and of all ages followed in the tracks of
the several army corps. Many of them
did good service as pioneers, teamsters,
or laborers, and in showing where the
inhabitants had concealed provisions,
cattle, horses, or cotton, of which about
fifteen thousand bales were destroyed
on the march. Others, unable to endure
the fatigues of keeping up with the
army, or from other causes, dropped off,
but from eight to ten thousand freed
slaves succeeded in reaching the coast.
General Geary was appointed military
governor of Savannah after the sur
render.* As the Federal cannon had
* " Headquarters Military Division or the Mississippi )
' ' In the Field, Savannah, Ga., December 26, 1864. )
"SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS— No. 143.
"The city of Savannah and surrounding country will
be held as a military post and adapted to future military
uses ; but as it contains a population of some twenty
thousand people, who must be provided for, and as other
citizens may come, it is proper to lay down certain general
principles, that all within its military jurisdiction may
understand their relative duties and obligations.
"I. During war, the military is superior to civil
authority, and where interests clash the civil must give
way ; yet, where there is no conflict, every encouragement
should be given to well-disposed and peaceful inhabitants
to resume their usual pursuits. Families should be dis
turbed as little as possible in their residences, and trades
men allowed the free use of their shops, tools, etc.
Churches, schools, and all places of amusement and rec
reation should be encouraged, and streets and roads made

552

SHERMAN'S GREAT MARCH.

never opened on the city, it was found
uninjured, but crowded with refugees
from the interior of the State, many of
perfectly safe to persons in their usual pursuits. Passes
should not be exacted within the line of our pickets ; hut
if any person shall abuse these privileges, by communi
cating with the enemy or doing any act of hostility to the
Government of the United States, he or she will be
punished with the utmost rigor of the law.
" Commerce with the outer world will be resumed to an
extent commensurate with the wants of the citizens,
governed by the restrictions and rules of the Treasury
Department. " n. The Chief Quartermaster and Commissary of the
army may give suitable employment to the people, white
and black, or transport them to such points as they choose,
where employment may be had, and may extend temporary
relief in the way of provisions and vacant houses to the
worthy and needy until such times as they can help
themselves. They will select, first, the buildings for the
necessary uses of the army ; next, a sufficient number of
stores to be turned over to the Treasury agent for trade
stores. All vacant store-houses or dwellings, and all
buildings belonging to absent rebels, will he construed
and used as belonging to the United States until such
time as their titles can be settled by the courts of the
United States.
"in. The Mayor and City Council of Savannah will
continue, and exercise their functions as such, and will, in
concert with the commanding officer of the post and the
Chief Quartermaster, see that the fire companies are kept
in organization, the streets cleaned and lighted, and
keep up a good understanding between the citizens and
goldiers. They, will ascertain and report to the Chief Com
missary of Subsistence, as soon as possible, the names and
number of worthy families that need assistance and sup
port. " The Mayor will forthwith give public notice that the
time has come when all must choose their course, viz. : to
remain within our lines and conduct themselves as good
citizens, or depart in peace. He will ascertain the names
of all who choose to leave Savannah, and report their
names and residences to the Chief Quartermaster, that
measures may be taken to transport them beyond the
lines. "TV. Not more than two newspapers will be published
in Savannah, and their editors and proprietors will he held
to the strictest accountability, and will be punished
severely in person and property for any libellous publica
tion, mischievous matter, premature news, exaggerated
statements, or any comments whatever upon the asts of
the constituted authorities ; they will be held accountable
even for such articles though copied from other papers.
"L. M. Dayton, Aid-de-Camp.
" By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman."

whom were without the means of pro
curing subsistence, and measures were
adopted for supplying their wants. The
immense quantities of cotton found
stored in the city were appropriated by
the Federal Government, and subse
quently shipped to the North for sale,
but stringent orders were issued by
General Geary for the protection of the
persons and property of peaceful citizens
against outrage or pillage on the part
of ill-disposed soldiers, and several times
severe punishments were inflicted on
men attached to the army, convicted of
pillaging, disorderly conduct, or drunk
enness. The people of Savannah, in marked
contrast with the inhabitants of other
rebellious cities captured during the
war, showed a disposition to conduct
themselves with propriety, and took
care to avoid openly insulting or irritat
ing the Federal officers and soldiers.
Even while the evacuation of Hardee
was in progress, no attempt was made
by the inhabitants to destroy any prop
erty of value to prevent its falling into
the hands of the Federal troops. A
meeting of influential citizens was held
on the 28th of December, in pursuance
of a call made by Mayor Arnold, at
which a series of resolutions were
adopted, expressive of submission to the
national authority, acknowledging the
duty of obedience to the United States,
asking the protection guaranteed by
those laws, and tendering thanks to
General Geary for his kind and gentle
manly conduct as governor. During
the Federal occupation nothing occurred

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

553

to disturb the general quiet. Never
before, some of the citizens averred, had
such complete order been preserved, or
had they felt the security of life and

property to be so complete. The close
of the year found General Sherman at
Savannah planning his campaign in the
Carolinas.

CHAPTER XLVIII.
Eaid of "Forrest in Middle Tennessee. — Surrender of Colonel Campbell at Athens. — Pulaski saved by General Rousseau.
— Retreat of Forrest. — General Thomas arrives at Nashville. — Defence of Decatur by General Granger. — Hood
crosses the Tennessee at Florence. — Forrest at Johnsonville. — Comparative Force of Hood and Thomas. — Hood
moves Northward. — General Schofield compelled to evacuate Pulaski and Columbia. — General Thomas reinforced.
— General Schofield falls back on Franklin. — Battle of Franklin. — Severe Losses of Hood. — General Schofield falls
back to Nashville. — Position of the Armies of Hood and Thomas at Nashville. — Defence of Murfreesboro by Gen
eral Rousseau.

While General Sherman was pursu
ing his triumphant march through
Georgia to the seaboard, important
events were occurring in Tennessee. In
the latter part of September, General
Forrest, with a cavalry force of seven
thousand men, made some partially suc
cessful efforts to destroy the communica
tions of Nashville with the southeast.
Moving northward about the 20th he
crossed the Tennessee near Waterloo,
Sept. Alabama, and on the 23d made
23. his appearance before Athens, a
small town on the railroad running
northward from Decatur to Nashville,
and about ninety miles south of the
latter place. After some skirmishing,
the garrison, consisting of parts of three
colored regiments and 150 men of the
Third Tennessee Cavalry, in all about
450 men, under Colonel Campbell,
withdrew to the fort. Before night
Forrest had completely invested the
town and destroyed several government
238

buildings, and on the morning of the
24th opened fire upon the garrison from
the north and west at the same time,
with a twelve-pounder battery, which
was replied to by the guns of the fort.
When this artillery fight had continued
about two hours, Forrest sent in two
flags of truce demanding a surrender,
and this being refused, requested a
personal interview with Colonel Camp
bell, the result of which was, that the
latter — ignorant of the fact that large
reinforcements were rapidly approach
ing, which would have enabled him to
defy the enemy — became convinced that
it was useless to think of resisting the
largely superior force under Forrest.
He therefore surrendered at once. Half
an hour afterward the reinforcements,
consisting of the Nineteenth Michigan
and the One Hundred and Second Ohio
regiments, arrived, but after a severe
fight were also made prisoners. Forrest
then moved northward toward Pulaski,

554

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

destroying the railroad as he advanced,
captured the garrison at Sulphur Branch
Trestle, and on the 27th skirmished
with that at Pulaski. At this place,
however, General Rousseau had concen
trated all the troops he could spare from
other parts of his district, and Forrest
toward nightfall thought it best to
retire. After completing the destruc
tion of the railroad from Athens to
within five miles of Pulaski, he moved
eastward, and on the 29th small parties
from his command cut the Nashville and
Chattanooga Railroad near Decherd
and Tullahoma ; but General Rousseau
moved a body of troops rapidly to the
latter place by rail, passing through
Nashville, to check his progress in that
direction. On the 29th also, General
Steedman, with five thousand men from
the district of the Etowah, crossed to
the north side of the Tennessee, to
operate against Forrest and assist in
protecting the railroad. Newton's divi
sion of the fourth corps was sent from
Atlanta on the 26th and replaced Steed-
man's command at Chattanooga on the
28th. Morgan's division of the four
teenth corps was also sent from Atlanta
on the 29th to aid in the operations
against Forrest. With this division
General Thomas himself left Atlanta to
take immediate charge of affairs in Ten
nessee, and arrived at Nashville on the
3d of October.
Forrest passed through Fayetteville
on the night of the 29th, and moved
some distance toward Decherd, but soon
afterward divided his forces, sending
four thousand men under Buford south

ward toward Huntsville, and with the
remainder, three thousand men, moved
through Lynchburg toward Columbia.
Buford appeared before Huntsville on
the evening of the 30th, but the gar
rison refused to surrender. After re
peating the summons on the morn
ing of the 1st of October, he moved
off in the direction of Athens, which
place, after Forrest left it, had received
a new garrison, consisting ofthe Seventy-
third Indiana Regiment under Lieuten
ant-Colonel Slade. Buford attacked at
three in the afternoon, and again early
on the following morning, but was re
pulsed, and retreated toward the Elk
River, pursued by a small body of cav
alry belonging to General Granger's
command. Forrest, with the second
column, appeared near Columbia, but
made no attack, and after destroying
about five miles of the railroad between
Carter's Creek and Spring Hill, on the
morning of the 3d, parolled all the
prisoners he had taken and moved off in
the direction of Mount Pleasant. It
now became apparent that the enemy
were aiming to make good their escape
to the south side of the Tennessee, and
General Morgan— who had arrived at
Stevenson on the morning of the 1st of
October, at Huntsville the same night,
and then pushed on toward Athens,
repairing the railroad as he advanced —
received orders to move with his division
toward Bainbridge and endeavor to
secure the crossing at that place before
the arrival of Forrest, while General
Rousseau moved rapidly from Nashville
with four thousand cavalry through

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

555

Mount Pleasant, to press the enemy in
the rear, and Croxton's brigade of cav
alry set out from Farmington, and pass
ing through Lewisburg, marched in a
southwesterly direction toward Law-
renceburg. In the mean time General
Washburne, with three thousand cavalry
and fifteen hundred infantry, was mov
ing up the Tennessee River to take
part in the operations against Forrest.
He was directed on the 4th to leave his
infantry at Johnsonville and as soon as
possible join his forces to those of Gen
eral Rousseau at Pulaski. Lieutenant-
Commander Forrest was also requested
to send some gun-boats down the river
to Florence, Alabama, and prevent the
enemy from crossing in that vicinity.
General Morgan's division having been
delayed by high water did not reach
Rodgersville till the evening of the 4th,
and the same night Forrest passed
through Lawrenceburg. Buford's com
mand crossed the Tennessee River on
the 3d. General Washburne reached
Oct. Waynesboro on the 6th, and on
0« the same day General Morgan
came up with the enemy's rear- guard
at Shoal Creek Bridge, but not in time
to prevent the main body of the enemy
from effecting a safe crossing at Bain
bridge. Thus both columns, though
closely pursued, succeeded in getting
back to the south side of the Tennes
see River. General Morgan was then
ordered to return to Athens, and Gen
eral Rousseau to destroy the ferry-boats
and other means of crossing, and retire
to Florence.
On the 11th, General Croxton's bri

gade was directed to move to some
point in the neighborhood of Athens
where he might be near his supplies and
at the same time be able to watch the
crossings ofthe Tennessee River between
Decatur and Eastport ; General Morgan's
division was ordered to move by rail
road without delay from Athens to
Chattanooga ; Steedman's command to
move from Decatur to Bridgeport ; and
General Rousseau to return from below
Florence and concentrate at Athens.
The posts at Decatur, Huntsville, Steven
son, and intermediate points, were left
with their ordinary garrisons, and the
whole attention of the forces under the
command of Thomas turned toward
Hood's movements in northern Georgia.
On the 14th, General Morgan arrived at
Chattanooga and General Steedman at
Bridgeport, where he also received
orders to proceed to Chattanooga.
Morgan's and Wagner's divisions were
subsequently sent to rejoin their re
spective corps at Summerville, in north
ern Georgia.
After the movements of Hood and
Sherman described in the previous
chapter, which terminated in the retreat
of the former to Gadsden, General Sher
man, having made General Thomas fully
acquainted with his plan of operations
in Georgia, delegated to him the com
mand of all troops and garrisons "not
absolutely in the presence of the com
mander-in-chief," with instructions at
the same time to pursue Hood, should
he follow Sherman's columns, but Oct.
in any event to hold Tennessee. 26.
On the 26th a large force of the en-

556

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

emy's infantry appeared before Decatur,
Alabama, and attacked the garrison, but
without effect, and on the following day
reinforcements amounting to two full
regiments were sent from Chattanooga
to that point, and General Granger, the
officer in command there, was directed
to hold the point at all hazards. The
enemy then began to intrench their
position around Decatur, drove in the
Federal pickets at night, and established
a line of rifle-pits within five hundred
yards of the town. On the 28th, part
of the garrison made a sortie, advancing
under cover of the guns of the fort down
the river bank and around to the rear
of the enemy's pits, and took 120
prisoners. The same day a colored
regiment under Colonel Morgan carried
one of the enemy's batteries above the
town and spiked the guns ; and on the
29th the rebels withdrew from Decatur
toward Courtland. The same day Gen
eral Croxton, picketing the north bank
of the river, reported that the enemy
were crossing at the mouth of Cypress
Creek, two miles below Florence, and
General Hatch, with a division of cav
alry, was immediately sent from Clifton
to his assistance, with instructions to
keep the enemy on the south side of the
river, if possible, till the fourth corps,
on its way from Georgia, should arrive.
It now became evident that Hood
intended to invade Middle Tennessee.
He had been for some time repairing
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad for the
purpose of supplying his army, and
trains were running as far north as
Corinth and thence eastward to Chero

kee Station, transporting supplies from
Selma and Montgomery. Wood's divi
sion of the fourth corps reached Athens
on the 31st of October, and the other
two divisions rapidly followed. The
twenty-third corps under General Scho
field, awaiting at Resaca ,lhe orders of
General Thomas, as soon as it was
known that Hood had appeared in force
along the south side of the Tennessee
River, was directed to concentrate at
Pulaski, and was now also on its way
in the rear of the fourth corps. The
enemy having on the 31st effected a
lodgment for their infantry on the
north side of the Tennessee River about
three miles above Florence, and driven
Croxton above Shoal Creek, General
Stanley was directed also to concentrate
the fourth corps at Pulaski.
In the mean time Forrest, with seven*
teen regiments of cavalry and nine pieces
of artillery, had commenced moving
northward from Corinth, and from Paris,
Tennessee, and on the 28th of October
appeared before Fort Hieman, an earth
work on the west bank of the Tennessee
about seventy-five miles from Paducah,
and captured there a gun-boat and three
transports, having previously burned the
steamer Empress. On the 2d of No
vember he had succeeded in planting
batteries both above and below John
sonville, an important base of supplies,
and the terminus of the Northwestern
Railroad, thus completely blockading the
river and preventing the escape in either
direction of three gun-boats, eight trans
ports, and about a dozen barges. The
garrison consisted of about a thousand

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

557

men under the command of Colonel
Thompson. The naval forces under
Lieutenant King attacked the enemy's
batteries below Johnsonville, but were
repulsed after a severe contest, not, how
ever, before they had recaptured a
transport, with two twenty-pounder
Parrotts and a quantity of ammunition
and stores on board, and compelled the
enemy to destroy one of the captured
jfov, gun-boats. On the 4th the rebels
*• opened fire on the town as well
as on the gun-boats and transports from
batteries on the west bank. In the
artillery contest which ensued the gun
boats were soon disabled, and to prevent
their falling into the hands of the enemy
they were set on fire, as well as the
transports. But the flames spread to
the buildings of the commissary and
quartermaster departments, which to
gether with a large amount of stores on
the levee, were totally destroyed, in
volving a loss to the Government of not
less than a million and a half of dollars,
sustained principally by the quarter
master's department. On the morning
of the 5th, after directing upon the gar
rison a furious cannonade of an hour's
duration, the enemy withdrew, crossed
to the east bank above the town, and
marched off in the direction of Clifton.
On the same day General Schofield, with
the advance of the twenty-third corps,
arrived at Nashville, and being sent im
mediately by railroad to Johnsonville,
arrived there at night, but only to find
that the enemy had already disappeared.
General Schofield was then directed to
leave a body of troops at Johnsonville

sufficiently numerous for its defence, and
with the rest of his force join the fourth
corps at Pulaski, assume command of
all the troops in that vicinity, and,
watching the movements of Hood, re
tard his advance into Tennessee as much
as possible ; but not to risk a general
engagement till General A. J. Smith
should arrive from Missouri, and till
General Wilson had remounted the cav
alry regiments whose horses had been
taken for the use of Kilpatrick's division
in Georgia.
General Thomas now found himself
confronted by that army of veteran
troops which under General Johnston had
made such persistent opposition to the
advance of General Sherman's largely
superior force from Dalton to the Chat
tahoochee, reinforced by twelve thousand
well-equipped cavalry under Forrest —
perhaps the boldest and ablest, as well
as the most unscrupulous of the rebel
cavalry officers. This army, now under
Hood, consisted of about forty-five thou
sand infantry and from twelve to fifteen
thousand cavalry. The available force
of General Thomas at this time was less
than half that of Hood, comprising only
about twelve thousand men under Gen
eral Stanley, ten thousand under Gen
eral Schofield, about four thousand
cavalry under General Hatch, Croxton's
brigade of twenty-five hundred men,
and Capron's of twelve hundred, in all
about thirty thousand men. The re
mainder of his force was stationed along
the railroad to keep open communica
tions at Chattanooga, Decatur, Hunts
ville, Bridgeport, Stevenson, Murfrees-

558

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

boro, and intermediate posts. Till it
should become evident at what point
Hood would strike, it was necessary that
the garrisons should be retained at all
these points, and that General Thomas
should act entirely on the defensive.
General Hood nevertheless remained
inactive in the neighborhood of Florence
from the 1st to the 17th of November,
influenced doubtless by his uncertainty
respecting the movements of General
Sherman. He had laid a pontoon bridge
over the Tennessee River in place of the
destroyed railroad bridge, and had sent
over to the north side General S. D.
Lee's infantry corps and two cavalry
divisions, which skirmished continually
with Hatch's and Croxton's commands
along the line of Shoal Creek, but
advanced no farther. His other two
corps remained on the south side of the
Nov, Tennessee till the 17th of Novem-
"' ber, when Cheatham's corps also
crossed to the north side, and Stewart's
prepared to follow. On the same day a
portion of Lee's corps moved up the
Lawrenceburg road to Bough's Mill on
Shoal Creek, skirmished a little with
Hatch's cavalry, and then retiring to
some neighboring bluffs, went into camp.
This delay on the part of Hood was very
much to the advantage of General
Thomas, as the two divisions of infantry
under General A. J. Smith were on their
way to join him, as well as twenty one-
year regiments — most of which, how
ever, only came to replace regiments
whose term of service had expired —
and detachments from various points of
minor importance, besides about seven

thousand convalescents and others col
lected at Chattanooga, who had been
organized into brigades for service at
points where they might be needed.
These forces, when all concentrated,
would increase his available force to an
army nearly as large as that of the
enemy. Had Hood delayed his advance
one week or ten days longer, General
Thomas would have been able to meet
him at some point south of the Duck
River. Hood, however, began his jjov,
advance on the 19th, moving by 19.
parallel roads from Florence toward
Waynesboro, and drove Hatch's cavalry
out of Lawrenceburg on the 22d. It
then became the policy of General
Thomas to retire in the direction in
which his reinforcements were approach
ing, and at the same time to delay the
enemy as much as possible. General
Schofield began removing the public
property from Pulaski preparatory to
falling back toward Columbia, two divi
sions of Stanley's corps having been
sent to Lynnville, fifteen miles north,
to protect the railroad and secure the
passage of the wagon trains. Capron's
brigade of cavalry was stationed at
Mount Pleasant to cover the approaches
to Columbia from the southwest, and, to
add to the security of the latter place, a
brigade of General Ruger's division of
the twenty-third corps was stationed
there. The other two divisions of that
corps were directed to move, one to
Columbia, and the other by way of
Waverly to Centerville, and occupy the
crossings of the Duck River near Co
lumbia, Williamsport, and Gordon's

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

559

Ferry. On the 23d General Granger
withdrew by rail, without any opposi
tion on the part of the enemy, the gar
risons at Athens, Decatur, and Hunts
ville to Stevenson, sending five new
regiments from that place to Murfrees-
boro, and retaining the original troops
of his command. On the same night
General Schofield evacuated Pulaski and
retired toward Columbia, where he
arrived on the 24th. The officer com
manding at Johnsonville was ordered
to remove all public property and retire
to Fort Donelson and 'thence to Clarks-
ville. During the 24th and 25th some dis
mounted cavalry of the enemy skirmish
ed with General Schofield's troops at
Columbia, and during the 26th and
27th, their infantry having come up,
made more decided demonstrations, but
no assault. Their movements, however,
indicating an intention to cross the Duck
River above or below the town, General
Schofield withdrew to the north bank
on the night of the 27th, and took up a
new position, in which he remained
undisturbed during the 28th. In front
of the town two divisions of the twenty-
third corps were placed in line, holding
all the neighboring crossings, while
Stanley's corps, posted in reserve on the
Franklin turnpike, was held in readi
ness to repel any attempt on the part
of the enemy to force a passage. Gen
eral Wilson with a body of cavalry held
the crossings above those guarded by
U0Vi the infantry ; but about two o'clock
29. on the morning of the 29th the
enemy drove him back and pushed over

the river at the Lewisburg turnpike, and
a little later a body of their infantry
crossed at Huey's Mills, six miles above
Columbia. General Schofield now find
ing his communication with the cavalry
interrupted, and his line of retreat
toward Franklin threatened, prepared
again to fall back. General Stanley
with a division of infantry was sent to
Spring Hill to protect the passage of the
trains and keep open the road for the
retreat of the main force in that direc
tion. He arrived only just in time to
drive off the enemy's cavalry and save
the trains. Soon afterward he was at
tacked by both infantry and cavalry,
and had considerable difficulty in main
taining his position till dark. General
Schofield, though not attacked at Huey's
Mills, was actively engaged all day at
Columbia resisting attempts of the en
emy to effect a crossing there, in which
he caused them heavy loss. Late in the
afternoon, after giving directions for the
retreat of all the troops northward at
dark, taking with him Ruger's division
he hastened to the relief of General
Stanley at Spring Hill. Leaving a
brigade to hold the turnpike at this
point, he pushed on to the cross-roads
near Thompson's Station, three miles
farther, from which point a body of the
enemy's cavalry hastily made off at his
approach, leaving their camp-fires burn
ing, when General Ruger quietly oc
cupied the position. The main body of
General Schofield's command withdrew
safely from Columbia after dark on the
29th, passed Spring Hill without molest
ation at midnight, the cavalry moving

560

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

on the Lewisburg turnpike on the right
of the infantry line of march. The
whole command got into position at
Franklin, eighteen miles south of Nash
ville, early on the morning of the 30th.
Line of battle was formed at once on
the south side of the town in expecta
tion of the enemy's immediate approach.
On the evacuation of Columbia orders
were sent to General Milroy, at Tulla
homa, to abandon that post and join his
forces to those of General Rousseau at
Murfreesboro. Nashville was as rapidly
as possible put into an efficient state of
defence ; the garrison was reinforced by
volunteers from the quartermasters' and
commissary departments, organized into
a division under General Donaldson,
and, aided by a large number of rail
road employes, were set to work con
structing additional defences. General
Steedman, who left Chattanooga on the
29th with five thousand men, moving
rapidly by rail, reached Cowan on the
morning of the 30th, and was ordered
to proceed at once to Nashville. Early
on the morning of the same day the
advance of General A. J. Smith's com
mand arrived at Nashville in transports
from St. Louis. The infantry force of
General Thomas was now nearly equal
to that under Hood, but in cavalry he
was still largely outnumbered.
The enemy followed General Scho
field up closely, and during the forenoon
Not. of the 30th the skirmishers were
30' actively engaged. The position of
the Federal army was excellently chosen.
Franklin, a place of about a thousand
inhabitants, is situated on the west bank

of the Harpeth River, a bend of which
incloses more than half of the town on
the east and north, leaving only a part
of the west and south sides exposed.
The troops were disposed in a line
running southeast, both flanks resting
on the river — the fourth corps on the
right, the twenty-third on the left. The
cavalry were posted on both sides of the
town on the north bank, where also was
a fort on a hill commanding the town
and the railroad, besides earth-works
and some artillery. From the moment
of going into position the troops worked
energetically in the erection of breast
works of logs and earth, while the
skirmishers in front endeavored to check
the enemy's advance Between the
lines of the two armies extended a
broad plain broken by slight undulations
and little hills, with here and there
clumps of bushes and groves of trees.
The object of General Schofield in
making a stand at Franklin was to
detain Hood till the trains could be got
off safely over the Harpeth Bridge and
well on their way to Nashville, which
would require at least a day. To refuse
battle would have been to expose his
command to certain attack from superior
forces while on the march, the result of
which would doubtless have been the
destruction of the wagon trains and
most of the artillery. Such a calamity
might have been followed by the fall of
Nashville and the abandonment of a
large part of Tennessee. Hood's object
was, therefore, to overwhelm Schofield
at once, or at least compel him to
sacrifice his artillery and stores. He

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

561

therefore hurried up his troops and
massed them behind a screen of thick
woods in a line parallel with that of
Schofield, with Stewart's corps on the
right, Cheatham's on the left, and Lee's
in reserve on the centre. These move
ments were made with such celerity
that Hood came near taking Schofield
by surprise. He then rode along his
fines, telling his men that the Federal
lines were weak, and that when these
were once broken, Thomas would be
compelled to leave Tennessee. His army
was in excellent condition, its morale
restored, its equipments, in arms, shoes,
and clothing, complete, its numbers
largely superior. With his usual bold
ness and confidence of success, Hood
determined to attack the centre of Scho
field's line, hoping to break through it,
and then to push in through the town
to the bridges, when he would capture
the trains, and at the same time cut the
army in two. At four o'clock in the
afternoon the enemy advanced to the
attack. The Federal skirmishers slowly
retreated to their works, exchanging a
sharp fire with those of the enemy, and
then a tremendous cannonade was opened
from the artillery along Schofield's line.
The cloud of hostile skirmishers was
quickly followed by the long and dense
lines, four deep, of Cheatham and
Stewart. As they rushed on with loud
yells, a tremendous musketry fire was
added to that of the artillery along the
Federal line, to within a short distance
of which the enemy approached, not
withstanding the fearful havoc' caused in
their ranks by the artillery, when a
239

terrific struggle ensued. At length
Many's division of Cheatham's corps
gained the outworks held by Wagner,
driving his division back on the stronger
lines held by Cox and Ruger. The
enemy then re-forming their lines, again
rushed on, and after a most desperate
and bloody contest, forced their way
within the second line of defences, and
captured two guns. The result of the
battle now seemed very doubtful ; but at
this critical moment General Stanley,
putting himself at the head of Opdyke's
brigade, with Conrad's in support, rushed
with great spirit on such of the enemy
as had obtained a foothold within the
Federal works and expelled them, re
capturing the guns ; but while thus
engaged his horse was shot under him
and he himself severely wounded in the
shoulder. Again and again, and till
long after dark, the enemy repeated
their attacks, with wonderful bravery
and tenacity, but in vain. A desultory
firing was kept up as late as ten o'clock.
Not willing to risk a renewal of the
battle on the morrow, and having secured
the withdrawal of his trains, the object
of the day's operations, General Scho
field, by the direction of General Thomas,
fell back during the night to Nashville,
leaving his killed and wounded in the
hands of the enemy. Hood's loss in the
battle of Franklin was very severe : he
buried 1,750 of his dead on the field of
battle ; 3,800 men were disabled and
placed in hospital at Franklin, and 702
were made prisoners— an aggregate of
6,252, including thirteen general officers
— Cleburne, John Williams, Adams,

562

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

Gist, Strahl, and Granberry, killed ;
John Brown, S. Carter, Manigault,
Quarles, Cockerill, and Scott, wounded ;
and Gordon captured. The Federal
loss was much less, only 189 being
reported killed ; 1,033 wounded, and
1,104 missing — an aggregate of 2,326.
Of the Federal generals only Stanley
and Bradley were wounded. The re
sults of this signal victory — among the
most decisive of the war — were very
important. It not only checked Hood's
advance, and gave General Schofield
time to remove all his stores and troops
to Nashville, but it greatly discouraged
the men of the rebel army, and went far
to destroy the morale which their re
organization and late successful advance
had in a great measure restored. It
was the first of the several successive
blows which broke Hood's army to
pieces, and finally caused its disappear
ance altogether as an organization.
General Schofield having retired to
Nashville on the night after the victory
at Franklin, line of battle was formed in
Dec, front of the city by noon of the 1st
!• of December, on the neighboring
heights — General A. G. Smith's com
mand occupying the right and resting
on the Cumberland below the city ; the
fourth corps, temporarily under General
Wood, in the centre, and the twenty-
third corps under General Schofield on
the left, extending as far as the Nolens-
ville turnpike. On its left, General
Wilson, with the cavalry, was stationed,
to secure the interval between Schofield
and the Cumberland above the city.
General Steedman arrived in the even

ing, and took up a position about a mile
in advance of the left centre of the main
line and on the left of the Nolensville
turnpike ; but this position being con
sidered too much exposed, the cavalry
were directed to take post on the north
side of the river at Edgefield, and Gen
eral Steedman's troops took their place
in the line between Schofield and the
river. In the afternoon of the 2d of
December small parties of the enemy's
cavalry engaged the Federal skirmishers,
but their infantry did not appear in
force till the latter part of the following
day, when, driving in the skirmishers,
Hood began to establish his main line.
This on the morning of the 4th occupied
the high ground on the southeast side
of Brown's Creek, extending from the
Nolensville turnpike, his extreme right,
in a westerly direction across the Frank
lin and Granny White turnpikes to the
hills south and southwest of Richland
Creek, and along that stream to the
Hillsboro turnpike, his cavalry extend
ing from both flanks to the river. The
enemy's salient was on Montgomery
Hill, within six hundred yards of the
Federal centre. An artillery fire was
opened on their lines from several points,
but brought no reply. In this position
Hood's army remained till the 15th of
December, nothing of importance occur
ring beyond occasional picket firing.
In the mean time some minor opera
tions took place, in connection with
detached posts. The blockhouse at the
railroad crossing of Overall's Creek, five
miles north of Murfreesboro, was at
tacked with artillery on the 4th by

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

563

Bates' division of Cheatham's corps, but
held out till assistance arrived from the
garrison at Murfreesboro. General Mil-
roy coming up with three regiments of
infantry, four companies of the Thir
teenth Indiana, and a section of artillery,
attacked and drove away the enemy.
But during the 5th, 6th, and 7th, rein
forced by a division from Lee's corps
and 2,500 of Forrest's cavalry, they
appeared again before Murfreesboro and
made demonstrations against Fortress
Rosecrans, at that time garrisoned by
about eight thousand men under Gen
eral Rousseau, making no direct assault,
Dec, however, and on the 8th, General
8» Milroy, with seven regiments of
infantry, was sent out to engage them.
They were found at no great distance,
on the Wilkerson turnpike, posted be
hind rail breast-works, and were imme
diately attacked and routed, with a loss
of 30 killed and 175 wounded, besides

207 prisoners and two guns. On the
same day Buford's cavalry entered the
town of Murfreesboro, after having
shelled it for some time, but were
speedily driven out again. After leaving
Murfreesboro the enemy's cavalry moved
northward to Lebanon, and along the
Cumberland, threatening to cross to the
north side of the river, and interrupt the
Federal communications with Louisville,
the only source of supplies at that time,
the enemy having blockaded the river
below Nashville by batteries planted
along the bank. But the gun-boats in
the Cumberland patrolled it effectively,
and prevented the enemy from crossing.
A cavalry force was also sent by Gen
eral Wilson to Gallatin to guard that
vicinity. Meantime, General Thomas
was preparing to take the offensive
without delay, and General Wilson was
remounting the cavalry as rapidly as
possible.

CHAPTER XLIX.

General Thomas takes the Offensive against Hood.— Battle of Nashville.— Total Rout of Hood's Forces.— The Pursuit
hy Wilson's Cavalry and the Fourth Corps.— Delays from heavy Rains and swollen Rivers.— Hood's Rear-guard.—
Total Disorganization of the main body of the Rebel Army.— Hood evacuates Pulaski and escapes across the Ten
nessee, —Colonel Palmer continues the Pursuit in Alabama and Mississippi.— Lyon's Raid into Kentucky.— Losses
of Hood and Thomas in the Middle Tennessee Campaign.— Co-operative Expeditions from Vicksburg, Baton Rouge,
and Pensacola. — General Grierson's Raid against Hood's Southern Communications.

1864.

On the 14th of December, General
Thomas— having got his army into
complete readiness to take the
offensive, and the weather, which for a
week previous had been extremely cold,

causing great suffering to Hood's troops
in their exposed position, having mode
rated and become more suitable for
military operations — called a meeting
of his corps commanders in the after-

564

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

noon, at which a plan of attack* was
thoroughly discussed and agreed upon,
Dec. and on the morning of the 15th, at
*5, an early hour was formed and ready
to carry it into execution. A dense fog,
which did not rise till toward noon, and
the broken nature of the ground, par
tially concealed the formation of the
troops from the view of the enemy, who
seemed to be totally unaware of the
impending attack, and least of all sus
picious of any movement against their
left flank. Still further to divert their
attention from the real point of attack,
General Steedman was instructed to
make a demonstration against the en
emy's right, east of the Nolensville turn
pike, which he did, and though sustain
ing some loss, succeeded in drawing the
° This was explained to the various subordinate com
manders in the following special field order issued by
General Thomas :
"As soon as the state of the weather will admit of
offensive operations, the troops will move against the
enemy's position in the following order :
" Major-General A. J. Smith, commanding detachment
of the Army of the Tennessee, after forming his troops on
and near the Harding pike, in front of his present posi
tion, will make a vigorous assault on the enemy's left.
" Major-General Wilson, commanding the cavalry corps,
Military Division of Mississippi, with three divisions, will
move on and support General Smith's right, assisting as far
as possible in carrying the left of the enemy's position
and be in readiness to throw his force upon the enemy the
moment a favorable opportunity occurs. Major-General
Wilson will also send one division on the Charlotte pike to
clear that road of the enemy, and observe in the direction
of Bell's Landing to protect our right rear until the enemy's
position is fairly turned, when it will rejoin the main
force. "Brigadier-General T. J. Wood, commanding fourth
army corps, after leaving a strong skirmish line in his
works from Laurens' Hill to his extreme right, will form
the remainder of the fourth corps on the Hillshoro pike to
support General Smith's left, and operate on the left and
rear of the enemy's advanced position on the Montgomery
Hill. "Major-General Schofield, commanding twenty- third

enemy's attention to that part of their
line, inducing them to strengthen it at
the expense of their centre and left.
Immediately after the completion of
General Steedman's movement, Gener
als Smith and Wilson moved out along
the Harding turnpike, and wheeling to
the left advanced against Hood's posi
tion across the Harding and Hillsboro
turnpikes. At the same time Johnson's
division of cavalry was sent to operate
against a battery of the enemy at Ball's
Landing, on the Cumberland, eight miles
below Nashville, and late in the after
noon, in conjunction with some gun
boats, engaged it, continuing the firing till
dark, and with such effect that the rebels
disappeared from that vicinity during
the night. The remainder of General
army corps, will replace Brigadier-General Kimball's
division of the fourth corps with his troops, and occupy
the trenches from Fort Negley to Laurens' Hill with a.
strong skirmish line. He will move with the remainder
of his force in front of the works and co-operate with Gen
eral Wood, protecting the latter' s left flank against an
attack by the enemy.
" Major-General Steedman, commanding District of the
Etowah, will occupy the interior line in rear of his
present position, stretching from the reservoir on the
Cumberland River to Fort Negley, with a strong skirmish
line, and mass the remainder of his force in its present
position, to act according to the exigencies which may
arise during these operations.
" Brigadier-General Miller, with his troops forming the
garrison of Nashville, will occupy the exterior line from
the battery on hill 210 to the extreme right, including the
inclosed work on the Hyde's Ferry road.
" The quartermaster's troops, under command of Briga
dier-General Donaldson, will, if necessary, be posted on
the interior line from Fort Morton to the battery on
hill 210.
" The troops occupying the interior line will be under
the direction of Major-General Steedman, who is charged
with the immediate defence of Nashville during the ope
rations around the city.
" Should the weather permit, the troops will be formed
to commence operations at six a.m. on the 15th, or as soon
thereafter as practicable."

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

565

Wilson's cavalry, moving on the right
flank of General A. J. Smith's troops,
General Hatch's division leading and
General Knipe's in reserve, struck the
enemy along Richland Creek, near
Harding's House, drove them back
rapidly — capturing a number of prison
ers and wagons — and continued to ad
vance, still swinging a little toward the
left, till they came upon a redoubt con
taining four guns. This was carried by
assault by a portion of Hatch's division,
dismounted, aided by infantry from
McArthur's division of General A. J.
Smith's command, and the captured
guns turned upon the enemy. The
same troops then advanced against an
other and stronger four-gun redoubt,
and carried it also, capturing about
three hundred prisoners. General Smith
not having got as far to the right as
General Thomas had hoped he would,
General Schofield with the twenty-third
corps was directed to leave his position
in reserve and advance to the right of
General Smith's troops. This move
ment General Schofield rapidly accom
plished, and the cavalry were thus en
abled to operate more freely on the
enemy's rear. The fourth corps, under
General Wood, formed on the left of
General Smith's command, and as soon
as the latter had struck the enemy's
flank, assaulted Montgomery Hill. This
position, the most advanced in Hood's
line, was carried at one o'clock by the
third brigade of the second division, and
a number of prisoners captured. The
fourth corps, still connecting with the
left of General Smith's command, con

tinued to advance, carried by assault all
that portion of Hood's line in its im
mediate front, and captured several
pieces of artillery, about five hundred
prisoners, and some colors. The enemy
were driven out of their original fine of
works, and forced back to a position
along the base of the Harpeth Hills,
still holding their line of retreat by the
Franklin and Granny White turnpikes.
The Federal line was readjusted at
nightfall so as to run along the e^st
side of the Hillsboro turnpike — Scho
field on the right, Smith in the centre,
and Wood on the left, with the cavalry
on the right of Schofield. Steedman
continued to hold the position he had
gained in the morning, east of the No
lensville turnpike. The results of the
day's operations were, the forcing back
of the enemy at all points with heavy
loss, while the casualties occurring
among the Federal troops — whose be
havior had been remarkable for steadi
ness and alacrity in every movement —
were unusually light, and the capture
of sixteen pieces of artillery, twelve
hundred prisoners, several hundred
stand of small-arms, and about forty
wagons. The original plan of battle
was strictly adhered to, and with but
few alterations fully carried out. The
entire army bivouacked in the line of
battle formed at dark, and preparations
were made to renew the contest on the
following day at an early hour.
On the 16th, at six in the morning,
operations were commenced on the Dec.
part of the Federal army by Gen- M»«
eral Wood, who pressed back the en-

566

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

emy's skirmishers across the Franklin
turnpike, and then swinging a little to
the right advanced in a southerly direc
tion, driving the enemy before him till
he came upon their new main line of
works, which they had constructed in
the night on Overton's Hill, about five
miles south of the city and on the east
side of the Franklin turnpike. General
Steedman moved out from Nashville by
the Nolensville turnpike, and formed his
command on the left of General Wood,
whose left flank he thus effectually se
cured. General Smith moved on the
right of Wood's corps and established
connection with it, thus completing a
new line of battle. General Schofield's
corps remained in the position taken up
at dark on the 15th, in which his troops
faced eastward and toward the enemy's
left flank, while those of Smith . and
Wood faced toward the south. General
Wilson's cavalry was dismounted and
formed on the right of Schofield. These
dispositions having been completed, it
was determined to continue the move
ment against the enemy's left flank
which had been so successfully com
menced on the preceding day, and the
entire Federal line moved to within six
hundred yards of that of the enemy at
all points. About three in the afternoon
an assault on Overton's Hill was ordered
to be made by two brigades of General
Wood's corps, aided by a colored bri
gade from General Steedman's com
mand. But the ground on which the
assaulting columns were formed being
open and exposed to the view of the
enemy, they anticipated the movement,

and drew reinforcements from their left
and centre to strengthen the position
threatened, and when the assault was
made, directed a tremendous fire of
grape, canister, and musketry upon the
Federal troops, who, however, moved
steadily onward up the hill until near its
crest, when the reserves of the enemy
rose suddenly and opened upon their
assailants a most destructive fire, which
caused them to waver and ultimately to
fall back, leaving their dead and wound
ed lying amid the abattis. The troops
were immediately re-formed in their old
position by General Wood, in readiness
for a renewal of the assault.
Generals Smith and Schofield then
moved against the works in their respec
tive fronts, and carried all before them
with very little loss, capturing all the
enemy's artillery and thousands of pris
oners, including four general officers.
General Wilson's cavalry also, dismount
ed, attacking the enemy at the same
moment, gained firm possession of the
Granny White turnpike, and thus closed
one of the routes which had remained
open to the rebels for retreat in the
direction of Franklin. Wood's and
Steedman's troops now hearing the
shouts of their victorious comrades on
the right, again rushed impetuously for
ward to renew the assault on Overton's
Hill. Though received with a very
heavy fire, their onset proved irresistible.
The enemy broke, and leaving their
artillery and a large number of prison
ers, fled in confusion to the Brentwood
pass, through which runs the Franklin
turnpike, closely followed till dark by

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

567

the fourth corps, while General Wilson,
hastily mounting Knipe's and Hatch's
divisions of his command, sent them in
pursuit along the Granny White turn
pike, with directions to reach Franklin
if possible in advance of the enemy.
After proceeding about a mile they came
upon a body of rebel cavalry under
Chalmers, behind barricades constructed
across the road. A charge was made
upon them at once by Colonel Spalding
with the Twelfth Tennessee Cavalry,
when they broke and scattered in all
directions, losing a number of prisoners,
among whom was General Rucker.
During the two days' operations 4,462
prisoners were taken, including 287
officers, from the grade of major-general
downward, besides fifty-three pieces of
artillery and thousands of small -arms.
The enemy left three thousand of their
dead and wounded on the field of battle.
The total Federal loss did not exceed
three thousand, and of this number very
few were killed.
At daylight on the 17th the pursuit
Dec. was continued, the fourth corps
17. pushing toward Franklin by the
direct turnpike, and the cavalry by the
Granny White turnpike to its intersec
tion with that road, beyond which point
they moved in advance of the infantry.
Johnson's cavalry division was sent by
General Wilson direct to the Harpeth
River by the Hillsboro turnpike, with
instructions to cross and move rapidly
toward Franklin. The main cavalry
column, Knipe's division in the advance,
overtook the enemy's rear-guard four
miles north of Franklin, at Hollow Tree

Gap, and carried the position by simul
taneous charges in both front and flank,
capturing 413 prisoners and three stand
of colors. The enemy then fell back
rapidly to Franklin, and endeavored to
defend the crossing of the Harpeth
there ; but Johnson's division coming up
from below on the south side of the
stream, they were compelled to retire
from the river, and the Federal forces
took possession of the town, in which
were the enemy's hospitals, containing
over two thousand wounded, of whom
about two hundred were Union soldiers.
General Wilson then continued the pur
suit toward Columbia, the enemy's rear
guard slowly retiring before him to
about five miles south of Franklin, where
they halted in some open fields on the
north side of the West Harpeth River,
apparently disposed to make a stand,
but General Wilson deploying Knipe's
division as skirmishers, with Hatch's
division in close support, ordered his
body-guard, the Fourth United States
Cavalry regiment, commanded by Lieu
tenant Hedges, to attack them. Form
ing on the turnpike in column of fours,
the small but gallant band charged with
drawn sabres, and succeeded in breaking
the enemy's centre, while Knipe's and
Hatch's men drove back their flanks,
scattering the entire command and cap
turing their artillery. Night coming on
prevented effective pursuit and enabled
most of the fugitives to escape. The
fourth corps followed the cavalry as far
as the Harpeth River, but found the
bridges destroyed, and too much water
in the stream to permit the crossing of

568

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

infantry. The construction of a trestle
bridge was commenced from such ma
terials as could be procured, but it was
not completed before nightfall. General
Steedman's command followed the fourth
corps and encamped near it on the
banks of the Harpeth. Generals Smith
and Schofield with their corps also joined
in the pursuit, marching along the
Granny White turnpike to its intersec
tion with the direct road to Franklin, and
at that point encamped for the night.
General Wilson resumed the pursuit
Dec. on the 18th and pushed on as far
18» as Rutherford Creek, three miles
from Columbia. The fourth corps cross
ed to the south side of the Harpeth and
closed up with the cavalry, the enemy
offering no opposition during the day.
Heavy rains succeeded to the cold which
had delayed General Thomas' operations
at Nashville, and not only made the
roads almost impassable, but swelled the
streams and rivers to such an extent
that the pursuit became extremely diffi
cult. Rutherford's Creek became a tor
rent, and quite unfordable soon after the
enemy's crossing it. The splendid pon
toon train with its experienced train of
pontoniers, belonging to the army of
General Thomas, had been taken by
Sherman for his Georgia campaign. A
pontoon bridge hastily constructed at
Nashville was on its way, but the
wretched condition of the roads retarded
Dec. its arrival. During the 19th, efforts
19. Were made by the advanced troops
to get across Rutherford's Creek, but
without success, only a few skirmishers
of General Hatch's division effecting a

lodgment on the south bank. Smith's
and Schofield's commands crossed to the
south side of the Harpeth, the former
advancing to Spring Hill, the latter to
Franklin. On the morning of the 20th,
General Hatch succeeded in making a
floating bridge over Rutherford's Creek,
from the remains of the old bridge, got
his entire division over, and pushed on
for Columbia, but found on arriving at
the Duck River that the enemy had got
everything across the night before by
a pontoon bridge, which they had carried
off, and that the river was very much
swollen, and quite impassable without a
bridge. In the course of the day Gen
eral Wood managed to have a foot
bridge constructed over Rutherford's
Creek, by means of which he got all his
infantry over, as well as one or two of
his batteries, and then pushed on toward
the Duck River. The pontoon train
came up about noon on the 21st ; but
the continuous heavy rain had in the
mean time ceased, and been succeeded
by bitter cold, which caused so much
suffering to the colored troops employed
to lay the bridge as to occasion consider
able delay. On the completion of the
bridge, General Smith's command moved
to the south side of the river, and
materials sufficient for the construction
of another bridge were hurried forward
to the Duck River, which, though
annoying delays occurred in consequence
of the rapid fall of the water, was finished
in time to permit Wood's command to
cross to the south side late in the after
noon of the 22d, and to get into position
on the Pulaski road, about two miles

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

569

south of Columbia. Several fine pieces
of artillery which the enemy had thrown
into the stream came into view as the
water fell.
Notwithstanding the many delays
which occurred in the pursuit of Hood's
shattered army, General Thomas deter
mined to continue it, and to employ for
this purpose General Wilson's cavalry
and the fourth corps ; the infantry to
move along the turnpike, while the
cavalry marched on its flanks across the
fields ; Smith's and Schofield's corps
following leisurely, to be used as occa
sion demanded. Hood had now formed
a powerful rear-guard, composed of
Forrest's cavalry and such other detach
ments as he had sent off from his main
army while besieging Nashville, which
had rejoined him at Columbia, and about
four thousand infantry under General
Walthall, made up of detachments from
all his organized force. This rear-guard,
undaunted and firm, did its duty to the
last. All the rest of Hood's once noble
army became a disheartened rabble of
ragged, barefooted, and half-armed men,
whose privations and discouragement
led them to take every opportunity of
escape from the Confederate service.
On the 23d, General Wilson crossed
the Duck River, and continuing the
advance on the 24th, supported by Gen
eral Wood, came up with the enemy at
Lynnville and at Buford's Station. They
made a stand at both these places, but
were quickly dislodged with considerable
loss, and followed up so rapidly that
they had not time to destroy the bridges
over Richland Creek. On the morning of
240

the 25th the enemy evacuated Pulaski,
and were pursued toward Lamb's 25.
Ferry over an almost impractica- Dec.
ble road and through a country devoid
of sustenance for men or horses. Dur
ing the afternoon Colonel Harrison's
brigade found them strongly intrenched
at the head of a deep and heavily
wooded ravine, through which the road
ran, but after driving their skirmishers
into it, delayed attacking till the re
mainder of the cavalry could close up
with him. The enemy then recovering
some of their old audacity took the
opportunity to sally from their breast
works and drive back Colonel Harrison's
skirmishers, in doing which they cap
tured and carried off one gun, which,
though the rebels were driven from
their position before night, with a loss
of about fifty prisoners, was not re
covered. The cavalry in pursuit moved
so rapidly that their supply trains were
left far in the rear, and both men and
animals suffered much in consequence.
General Wood's corps following the
cavalry on the night of the 26th en
camped six miles out from Pulaski on
the Lamb's Ferry road, and reached
Lexington, Alabama, thirty miles from
Pulaski, on the 28th, by which Dec.
time the enemy had made good %$>
their escape across the Tennessee River
at Bainbridge, and General Thomas
ordered the pursuit to cease. At Pulaski
two hundred of the enemy's wounded
and sick were found in the hospital, and
four guns were taken out of Richland
Creek. About a mile south of the town
the rebels destroyed twenty wagons

570

CAMPAIGN IN TENNESSEE.

loaded with ammunition belonging to
Cheatham's corps, and took the animals
to draw the pontoons. The road all the
way from Nashville to Bainbridge was
strewn with wagons, limbers, small-arms,
and blankets, affording conclusive evi
dence that the retreat of Hood's troops
had been of the most disorderly char
acter. On the 30th of December, General
Thomas announced to the army the
successful termination of the campaign,
and gave directions for the disposition
of*the various bodies of troops under his
command, at Eastport, Athens, Dalton,
and Huntsville, for the purpose of going
into winter quarters ; but this arrange
ment not meeting the views of the War
Department, orders were issued on the
31st of December for Generals Scho
field, Smith, and Wilson to concentrate
at Eastport, Mississippi, and for General
Wood to remain at Huntsville, to await
a renewal ofthe campaign in Mississippi
and Alabama.
The pursuit of Hood by the main
body of the army had been discontinued
on the 29th of December, but a force
of six hundred cavalry under Colonel
Palmer, made up from various regiments,
set out about that time from Decatur,
moving in the direction of Hood's line
of retreat. Having ascertained at Leigh-
ton that Hood had passed through that
place on the 28th, and marched in the
direction of Columbus, Mississippi, Col
onel Palmer, avoiding the enemy's
cavalry, and moving rapidly by way of
La Grange, Russellville, and the Cotton-
Gin road, overtook the enemy's pontoon

train, consisting of two hundred wagons
and seventy-eight pontoon boats, when
ten miles out from Russellville, the
whole of which he destroyed. Then
having ascertained that a large supply
train was on its way to Tuscaloosa, he
set out on the 1st of January toward
Aberdeen, Mississippi, and succeeded in
surprising it about ten o'clock the same
night, just beyond the Mississippi bound
ary line. This train, consisting of over
a hundred wagons and five hundred
mules, he also destroyed, burning the
wagons and sabering or shooting the
animals. Returning then by way of
Tollgate, Alabama, along the old mili
tary and Hacksburg roads, he found the
enemy under Roddy, Biffles, and Rus
sell, near Russellville and along Bear
Creek, while another force, under Arm
strong, was reported to be in pursuit of
him. Moving off to the right under
cover of night to avoid the enemy in
front, he pushed on for Moulton, but
when within twelve miles of that place
and near Thorn Hill, came suddenly
upon Russell and attacked and utterly
routed him, capturing some prisoners
and burning five wagons. He then pro
ceeded with his command to Decatur
without molestation, arriving there on
the 6th of January, bringing one hun
dred and fifty prisoners, and having lost
only one man killed and wounded on a
march of.two hundred and fifty miles.
While Hood was before Nashville, he
sent into Kentucky a force of about
eight hundred cavalry with two guns,
under General Lyon, with instructions
to operate against the railroad com-

CO-OPERATrVE EXPEDITIONS.

571

munications with Louisville. To pro
tect these, McCook's division of cavalry
was on the 14th of December sent to
Bowling Green and Franklin. Lyon
captured Hopkinsville, but was soon
afterward met and routed by Lagrange's
brigade near Greenburg. Then making
a wide detour by way of Elizabethtown
and Glasgow, he succeeded in getting to
the Cumberland River at Burkville,
where he crossed. Proceeding thence
by way of McMinnville and Winchester
to Larkinsville, Alabama, on the Mem
phis and Charleston Railroad, he attacked
the little garrison at Scottsboro on the
10th of January, but was again repulsed,
and this time his command scattered and
was pursued to the Tennessee River, be
yond which he managed to escape with
about two hundred men and his remain
ing piece of artillery, the rest of his force
dispersing in squads among the mount
ains. Colonel Palmer then with a
hundred and fifty men crossed the Ten
nessee River and went in pursuit of
Lyon, and on the 14th of January
surprised him in camp at Red Hill, on
the road from Warrentown to Tuscaloosa,
capturing one hundred of his men with
their horses, as well as Lyon himself and
his piece of artillery. Lyon, however,
shooting a sentinel, effected his escape.
The total Federal losses in the various
operations of the campaign in Tennessee,
including killed, wounded, and missing,
did not exceed ten thousand men, while
that of the enemy in prisoners alone
was 13,189, including nearly one thou
sand officers of all ranks, seventy-two
serviceable pieces of artillery, and a

large number of battle-flags. More
than two thousand deserters also came
within the Federal lines and took the
oath of allegiance.
While Thomas' campaign was in pro
gress, several co-operative expeditions
were undertaken. One of these was
sent out from Vicksburg in the latter
part of November against Hood's com
munications with Mobile. The force
employed, consisting of about two thou
sand cavalry with eight pieces of artil
lery under Colonel Osband, after a well-
executed flank movement on Jackson on
the 24th, started northward for the jfov.
Mississippi Central Railroad Bridge 24.
over the Big Black River-, arrived there
on the 27th, captured it after a sharp
fight, and destroyed it, as well as the
wagon-road bridge and thirty miles
of railroad track, with all the inter
mediate dep6ts and buildings, .besides
2,600 bales of cotton, several loco
motives and cars, and a large amount
of stores at Vaughn Station, thus cutting
off from Hood's army the supplies ac
cumulated for its use at Jackson, and
making the railroad unavailable for
months. The expedition, though con
siderably harassed on its return by
bodies of the enemy, got back to Vicks
burg on the 4th without having suffered
any material losses.
Another expedition, under General
Davidson, set out from Baton Rouge
with a similar object, on the 27th jfov,
of November, comprising a force 27.
of 4,200 men in two divisions, com
manded by General Bailey and Colonel
Davis, with ninety-six wagons and eight

572

CO-OPERATIVE EXPEDITIONS.

guns, and reached Tangipahoe, on the
Jackson Railroad, on the 1st of Decem
ber. Five miles of the track were torn
up and the railroad buildings and bridges
burned. Unfortunately, some dwelling-
houses caught fire, and a part of the
town was consumed. The column then
proceeded to Franklinville, and there
also the track was torn up. Columbia
and Augusta were also visited. The
enemy's cavalry under Scott now made
its appearance, and a sharp- skirmish
occurred on the Yazoo City and Vicks
burg road on the 2d. After a weary
march over roads rendered almost im
passable by heavy rains, the command
arrived at West Pascagoula on the 12th.
On the 16th, the Mobile and Great
Northern Railroad was cut at Pollard's,
seventy-two miles northeast of Mobile,
by a column of infantry and cavalry
under Colonel Robinson, who started
from Pensacola on the 13th. A few
miles of the track were torn up, and the
depot, eight cars, and a large amount
of stores, including two thousand stand
of arms, was destroyed.
Another co-operative movement, from
Memphis, a little later, had greater suc-
Dec. cess- On the 21st of December,
21- General Dana sent General Grier
son at the head of about three thousand
cavalry to cut the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad. The column set out at a time
when the weather was very unfavorable,
but moved directly eastward, threaten
ing Corinth. Detachments sent for the
purpose cut the telegraph wire between
Grand Junction and Corinth, as well as
between Booneville and Guntown on the

Mobile and Ohio road. On the latter
road they also destroyed four bridges
between the same points. The main
column, moving rapidly on Tupelo,
surprised and captured or dispersed
Forrest's camp of dismounted men at
Verona. At this place thirty-two cars,
loaded with new wagons, pontoons, and
supplies for Hood, were destroyed, as
well as three hundred army wagons,
most of which had been captured from
General Sturgis at Guntown, besides
four thousand new English-made car
bines intended for the use of Forrest's
troops, large amounts of ordnance stores
and ammunition, and quartermasters'
and commissary stores for Hood's army.
On leaving Verona the column moved
southward along the line of railroad,
which was thoroughly destroyed to a
point between Egypt and Prairie Sta
tions. Telegrams were taken from the
wires at Okalona from Generals Taylor
and Gardner, ordering Egypt to be held
at all hazards, and promising reinforce
ments from Mobile and elsewhere ; but
on the 28th, General Grierson Dec.
attacked that place, held at the 28.
time by about twelve hundred infantry
and cavalry, with four guns on platform
cars. While the attack was going on,
two trains loaded with infantry under
General Gardner came in sight. Their
nearer approach was prevented by a
force thrown between them and the
garrison, which after a fight of about
two hours was dispersed with a loss of
five hundred prisoners and General
Gholson killed. Here also a train of
fourteen cars was destroyed. The fur-

DESTRUCTION OF THE ALBEMARLE.

573

ther prosecution of the raid was now
given up, the hostile force in front and
the great number of prisoners and cap
tured animals making rapid movement
impossible. The column accordingly
turned toward the southwest, and march
ing through Houston and Bellefontaine,
struck the Mississippi Central Railroad
at Winona. A detachment sent to
Bankston destroyed there the large and
valuable factories which supplied the
rebel army with clothing and shoes, as
well as large quantities of wool, cloth,
and leather. Another detachment de
stroyed the new machine shops and all
the Confederate Government property
at Granada. A brigade sent southward
from this place tore up the railroad

track and pulled down the telegraph
wires for thirty-five miles, and meeting
a brigade of rebel troops under Wirt
Adams at Franklin, charged and drove
it from the field with a loss of twenty-
five killed. The column arrived safely
at Vicksburg on the 5th of January,
bringing in five hundred and fifty prison
ers, a thousand negroes, and eight hun
dred horses and mules. About forty
miles of the track on each of the rail
roads was destroyed, including a great
number of bridges, depots, water tanks,
etc., besides fourteen locomotives, about
a hundred cars, large amounts of corn
and wheat, seven hundred hogs, and a
thousand stand of arms at Egypt, in
addition to those destroyed at Verona.

CHAPTER L.

The Albemarle sunk in the Roanoke by Lieutenant Cushing. — Recapture of Plymouth. — Blockade-Running at Wil
mington. — Peculiarities of the Coast. — Joint Naval and Military Expedition against Wilmington under Admiral
Porter and General Weitzel. — Description of Fort Fisher. — Admiral Porter's Fleet off New Inlet. — Great Gun
powder Explosion. — Tremendous Bombardment of Fort Fisher. — Arrival and Operations of the Land Forces. —
Troops withdrawn by Order of General Butler. — Correspondence between General Butler and Admiral Porter.—
General Butler relieved at the request of General Grant. — Little Damage sustained by Fort Fisher.— Co-operative
Movement from Plymouth.

1864.

Plymouth, in North Carolina, which
had fallen into the hands of the
Confederates in the spring, was
regained in the fall of the year. The
formidable ram Albemarle, whose ap
pearance during the siege had made the
town untenable by the Federal troops,
and whose presence enabled the rebels
to retain their capture, though not
attempting any offensive movement, still

remained in the waters of the sound.
Her destruction seemed to be a neces
sary preliminary to the re-occupation
of Plymouth, and various plans were
devised in the course of the summer
with this object, but without effect. At
last one was proposed by Lieutenant
W. B. Cushing, a young officer already
distinguished for skill and daring in
the execution of hazardous enterprises.

574

DESTRUCTION OP THE ALBEMARLE.

After submitting his plans to Admiral
Lee and the Navy Department, he was
detached from the Monticello, of which
vessel he had been for some time in
command, and sent to New York to
procure everything necessary for his
purpose. Having obtained what he
required, he returned to Albemarle
Sound, and the picket steam launch
No. 1 having been placed at his dis
posal, supplied it with a newly contrived
torpedo apparatus, arranged so that it
might be fired without much risk to the
boat or crew. The Albemarle was at the
time lying in the Roanoke River, about
eight miles from its mouth in the sound.
Having made all his arrangements and
selected thirteen daring associates, six
of whom were officers, to aid him in his
perilous undertaking, he set out on the
Oct. night of the 27th of October, and
27* succeeded in reaching the Albe
marle, and in exploding the torpedo
under her bows in such a manner as
to cause her to sink near the wharf
and become almost totally submerged.
His launch was however destroyed by a
shell from the Albemarle, and with the
exception of himself and one man, the
entire crew were either killed, drowned,
or captured.* To the daring and ex-
° The following is Lieutenant Cushing's own account
of the affair :
"Our boat succeeded iu passing the picket, and even
the Southfield, within twenty yards, without discovery,
and we were not hailed until by the lookouts on the ram.
The cutter was then cast off and ordered below, while we
made for our enemy under a full head of steam. The
rebels sprung their rattles, rang the bell, and commenced
firing, at the same time repeating their hail, and seeming
much confused. The light of a fire ashore showed me the
iron-clad, made fast to the wharf, with a pen of logs
around her about thirty feet from her side. Passing her

ecutive skill of this young officer the
country was indebted not only for the
sinking of the Albemarle, but for the
important results which immediately
followed — the clearance of the North
Carolina sounds, the release of sixteen
vessels employed to watch the iron-clad,
and the recovery of Plymouth. Com
mander Macomb, almost immediately
after the disabling of the ram, pushed
up the sound to Plymouth with the
vessels under his command, drove the
closely, we made a complete circle, so as to strike her
fairly, and went into her bows on. By this time the
enemy's fire was very severe, but a dose of canister, at
short range, served to moderate their zeal and disturb
their aim. Paymaster Swan, of the Otsego, was wounded
near me, but how many more I know not. Three bullets
struck my clothing, and the air seemed full of them. In
a. moment we had struck the logs just abreast of the
quarter-port, breasting them in some feet, and our bows
resting on them. The torpedo-boom was then lowered,
and, by a vigorous pull, I succeeded in driving the tor
pedo under the overhang, and exploded it at the same
time that the Albemarle's gun was fired. A shot seemed
to go crashing through my boat, and a dense mass of
water rushed in from the torpedo, filling the launch and
completely disabling her. The enemy then continued his
fire at fifteen feet range, and demanded our surrender,
which I twice refused, ordering the men to save them
selves, and removing my own coat and shoes. Springing
into the river, I swam, with others, into the middle of the
stream, the rebels failing to hit us. The most of our
party were captured, some drowned, and only one escaped
besides myself, and he in a different direction. Acting
Master's Mate Woodman, of the Commodore Hull, I met
in the water half a mile below the town, and assisted him
as best I could, but failed to get him ashore. Completely
exhausted, I managed to reach the shore, but was too
weak to crawl out of the water until just at daylight,
when I managed to creep into the swamp, close to the
fort. While hiding a few feet from the path, two of the
Albemarle's officers passed, and I judged from their con
versation that the ship was destroyed. Some hours'
travelling in the swamp served to bring me out well
below the town, when I sent a negro in to gain informa
tion, and found that the ram was truly sunk. Proceeding
through another swamp, I came to a creek and captured a
skiff belonging to a picket of the enemy, and with this,
by eleven o'clock the next night, had made my way out
to the Valley City."

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

575

rebels from their rifle-pits and batteries,
Oct. and retook the town on the 31st
31, of October. Thirty-two guns were
found in the abandoned forts, and a
large quantity of ammunition. Thirty-
seven prisoners, the flags of the fort and
of the Albemarle,' which was found
lying at the wharf, were also taken.
From this time the Federal forces re
tained undisturbed possession of the
North Carolina sounds.
Wilmington, however, a place of great
strategic value, remained in the posses
sion of the rebels, and the almost total
closing of Charleston harbor, the capture
of the Mobile forts, and the vigilant and
effective blockade kept up at other
points, made it the only port accessible
to blockade runners east of the Missis
sippi. The illicit trade carried on at
this port was known to be very large.*
So daring, and in most cases so success
ful, were the blockade runners in evad
ing the Federal cruisers, of which two
squadrons were stationed off the mouth
of Cape Fear River and the adjacent
inlets, that much dissatisfaction was
expressed in various quarters with the
management of the Naval Department,
which seemed to permit the rebels to
enter and depart at their pleasure. But
° The following extract from the Richmond Dispatch of
January 3d, 1865, may serve to give some idea of the
activity of this trade :
' ' The special report of the Secretary of the Treasury in
relation to the matter shows that there have been im
ported into the Confederacy at the ports of Wilmington
and Charleston,- since October 26, 1864, 8,632,000 pounds
of meat, 1,507,000 pounds of lead, 1,933,000 pounds salt
petre, 546,000 pairs of shoes, 316,000 pairs of blankets,
520,000 pounds of coffee, 69,000 rifles, 97 packages of
revolvers, 2,639 packages of medicine, 43 cannon, with a
laro-e quantity of other articles of which we need make
no mention."

from various causes Wilmington is more
difficult to blockade effectually than any
port on the entire United States coast.
Cape Fear River, through which a
vessel must pass to arrive at Wil
mington, flows for about thirty-five miles
in a direction nearly due south, and
opposite its mouth lies Smith's Island,
forming two main channels of which
the southwest or main channel is about
two and a half miles wide, with a depth
of from ten to fourteen feet water on the
bar, and was protected by Fort Caswell,
a casemated work on Oak Island, adjoin
ing the mainland, and by the Light
house battery on Smith's Island. The
northeast channel called New Inlet, less
than two miles wide and shallower than
the other, was protected by Fort Fisher,
a first-class casemated earth-work on the
mainland near Federal Point, and by a
series of batteries extending along the
shore in a northerly direction for about
six miles. An extensive shoal called
the Frying Pan, extending from the
south and west shores of Smith's Island,
makes the distance by sea between the
two entrances not less than forty miles,
while on the north side of the island,
the distance is not more than eight
miles. Another natural difficulty is the
shallowness of the water at this part of
the coast, which gradually and regularly
decreases in depth to the shore line, so
that vessels of light draught were not
under the necessity of making directly
for either entrance, but, using the lead,
could run close under the shore, and,
protected by the batteries, pass in at
their leisure. Outward bound vessels

576

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

had still less difficulty in evading the
blockading fleet, as they could creep for
a long distance up or down the coast
before making an offing, or, with a full
head of steam proceed at once to sea,
trusting for safety to their speed, or to
darkness or fog. Many small steamers
of light draught and great swiftness, and
peculiarly adapted in other respects to
this trade, were built in England, and —
so great were the profits of a successful
voyage, the returns of a single trip
sometimes much more than equalling the
cost of the vessel — with little regard to
expense. Nassau, Bermuda, and Hali
fax were the chief places of rendezvous
of the blockade runners, and from one
or other of these ports there was an
almost daily arrival at Wilmington.
The vessels of the blockading squadrons,
on the other hand, were for the most
part large, and drew too much water to
be able to run near the shore, or to
follow the blockade runners into the
numerous shallow inlets at various points
along the coast., Another difficulty in
keeping up a permanent and effective
blockade of the entrances to Cape Fear
River, was that at some seasons of the
year the weather is almost constantly
stormy, rendering it impossible to keep
vessels of light draught near the shore
on permanent duty.* The chances in
e The editor of the Richmond Dispatch said, " It is a
matter of absolute impossibility for the Federals to stop
our blockade-running at the port of Wilmington. If the
wind blows off the coast, the blockading fleet is driven off.
If the wind blows landward, they are compelled to haul
off to a great distance to escape the terrible sea which
dashes on a rocky coast, without a harbor within three
days' sail. The shoals on the North Carolina coast are
from five to twenty miles wide, and they are, moreover,

favor of the blockade runners were also
increased by the fact that, being able to
choose their own time, they could have
a full head of steam on at the critical
moment, while the Federal cruisers
could not be always so prepared. Thus
it happened that, though not less than
fifty Federal cruisers, some of them the
fastest steamers in the service, were
kept constantly on the watch off the
entrances to the river, officered by vigi
lant, brave, and skilful men, and to
whose zeal for the service was added
the stimulus afforded by the chances
of prize money, the blockade of Wil
mington was really very inefficient, and
that port became the central one of the
Confederacy for supplies from Europe
and elsewhere. Nevertheless, though
much the greater part of the blockade
runners ran in and out of the harbor
without molestation, their movements
had to be made with great circumspec
tion, and as many as one a week were
destroyed or captured after the closing
of Charleston harbor by the monitor
fleet under Admiral Dahlgren. An
evidence that the blockade was not
without effect was, that all articles of
commerce which could be obtained only
from abroad commanded throughout
the Confederacy prices almost fabulous.
Had there been deep water at Wilming-

composed of the most treacherous and bottomless quick
sands. The whole coast is scarcely equalled in the world
for danger and fearful appearance, particularly when a
strong easterly wind meets the ebb-tide. It is an easy
matter for a good pilot to run a vessel directly out to sea
or into port ; but in the stormy months, from October to
April, no blockading vessel can lie at anchor in safety off
the Carolina coast. Therefore supplies will be brought
in despite the keenest vigilance."

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

577

ton, as at Port Royal, New Orleans, and
the Mobile forts, the modes of attack
which succeeded at those ports might
have been repeated with a similar result.
Early in the summer the capture of
Wilmington became a consideration of
great importance from the fact that the
railroad running thence directly north
to Weldon, . Petersburg, and Richmond
became to General Lee his most valu
able source of supplies. General Grant
fought some severe battles to establish
himself upon it ; but the rebels managed
to neutralize in a great measure the
advantages he hoped to gain from the
possession of it, by wagoning their sup
plies from Stony Point to Richmond.
The Naval Department on several oc
casions offered to close the port of
Wilmington with the aid of a co-operat
ing land force, but, in view of the
difficulties which had been experienced
at Charleston, declined making the
attempt without such a force. The
severe losses which the army sustained
in the battles between the Rapidan and
the James made it necessary that all
surplus troops at the disposal of the
Government should be sent to fill up the
ranks of the armies of the Potomac and
the James, and the contemplated expe
dition remained unorganized for several
months. At last, when operations seem
ed to have assumed the character of a
permanent dead-lock at Petersburg and
Richmond, General Grant was able to
promise the requisite land force, and
then was immediately commenced the
assemblage in Hampton Roads, under
Admiral Porter, of the most formidable
241

armada ever collected for concentrated
operations on one point. This of course
could not be concealed from the loyal
North, and through the imprudence of
the public press, and probably of officers
of both branches of the service, its
object obtained so much publicity that
it became a common subject of discussion
in the South also, and the enemy, fully
warned, made proportionate prepara
tions to meet attack at the point
threatened. The expedition was conse
quently delayed till the latter part of
November, when General Grant being
called upon, agreed to furnish the troops
at once, went himself, in company with
General Butler, to Hampton Roads, and
had a conference with Admiral Porter.
It was thought that a force of 6,500
men would be sufficient, and that every
thing would be in readiness for the
sailing of the expedition by the 5th of
December. As it was reported that
General Bragg had taken most of the
forces about Wilmington to Georgia, it
was deemed of the utmost importance
that the expedition should reach its des
tination while they were absent, and
General Butler was directed to make all
the necessary arrangements at once for
the departure of General Weitzel, to
whom was intrusted the command of
the land forces, so that the navy might
not be detained a moment.*
85 The following were the instructions prepared by Gen
eral Grant for the commander of the land forces :
' ' Headquarters, Armies op the United States, )
"City Point, December 6, 1864. )
' ' Major-General Butler, commanding Army of James : —
General — the first object of the expedition under Gen
eral Weitzel is to close to the enemy the port of Wilming
ton. If successful in this, the second will be the capture

578

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

On the 9th of December, Admiral
Dec. Porter was notified by General
9« Butler that the land forces — con
sisting of General Ames' division of the
twenty-fourth corps and General Paine's
division of the twenty-fifth corps, com
prising 6,500 men, with two batteries
and fifty cavalry, the whole under the
command of General Weitzel — were
of Wilmington itself. There are reasonable grounds to
hope for success, if advantage can be taken of the absence
of the great part of the enemy's forces, now looking after
Sherman in Georgia. The directions you have given for
the number and equipment of the expedition are all right,
except in the unimportant ones of where they embark and
the amount of intrenching tools to be taken. The object
of the expedition will be gained by effecting a landing on
the mainland between Cape Fear River and the Atlantic,
north of the north entrance to the river. Should such
landing be effected, whether the enemy hold Fort Fisher
or the batteries guarding the entrance to the river there,
the troops should intrench themselves, and, by co-operat
ing with the navy, effect the reduction and capture of
those places. These in our hands, the navy could enter
the harbor, and the port of Wilmington would be sealed.
Should Fort Fisher and the point of land on which it is
built fall into the hands of our troops immediately on
landing, it will be worth the attempt to capture Wilming
ton by a forced march and surprise . If time is consumed
in gaining the first object of the expedition, the second
will become a matter of after-consideration. The details
for the execution are intrusted to you and the officer im
mediately iu command of the troops. Should the troops
under General Weitzel fail to effect » landing at or near
Fort Fisher, they will be returned to the army operating
against Richmond without delay.
" TJ. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General.
"T. S. Bowers, Assistant Adjutant-General."
As the troops for this enterprise were taken from the
army of General Butler, and the operations were to take
place within his territorial department, military courtesy
required that all orders and instructions to subordinates
should pass through his hands. But General Weitzel
never received the instructions intended for his guidance,
and never knew even of their existence till he read Gen
eral Butler's report of the failure of the expedition. Gen
eral Grant says in his report, " I had no idea of General
Butler's accompanying the expedition until the evening
before it got off from Bermuda Hundred, and then I did
not dream but that General Weitzel had received all the
instructions, and would be in command. I rather formed
the idea that General Butler was actuated by a desire to
witness the effect ofthe explosion of the powder boat."

ready to move ; but owing to the preva
lence of stormy weather none of the
vessels put to sea till the 12th, when the
transports and smaller war vessels took
their departure, followed next day by
the New Ironsides, the five monitors,
and the heavy steam frigates. The
entire fleet, including transports, com
prised seventy-five vessels, carrying 655
guns. Of the two entrances to Cape Fear
River, it was decided that New Inlet
should be attacked, as offering more
chances of success. Better facilities for
landing troops were afforded by the
narrow strip of land terminating with
Federal Point on the east side of the
river than by any other part of the
coast in the vicinity, and the capture of
the works on it would give to the fleet
not only command of the river, but by
cutting off Fort Caswell, which controlled
the west entrance, and rendering it of
little further value to the rebels, would
virtually close the port of Wilmington.
For the defence of New Inlet, reliance
was placed by the rebels chiefly on Fort
Fisher, about a mile and a half north
east of Federal Point, and a series of
batteries connected by lines of rifle-pits,
running from the " Mound Battery" near
the extremity of Federal Point, in a
northeasterly direction along the sea-
coast, at an average distance of two
hundred yards from the beach. For
five miles north of Federal Point the
peninsula is low and sandy, not rising
more than fifteen feet above high tide,
the interior abounding in fresh-water
swamps, often wooded and almost im-

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

579

passable, and much of the dry land is
covered with wood or low undergrowth.
The fort, with its commanding batteries
forming practically one work, consisted
of two fronts, the first or land front
running in a direction across the penin
sula — at this point seven hundred yards
wide — being four hundred and eighty
yards in length, while the second or sea
front, running parallel with the beach
from the right of the land front to the
Mound Battery, is thirteen hundred
yards long. The land front was intended
to resist any attack from the north,
while the sea front was intended to
command New Inlet or prevent the
landing of troops at Federal Point. The
following extracts from the report of
Colonel Comstock, the engineer who
accompanied the land forces, gives more
minute details respecting these defences :
" The land front consists of a half bastion
on the left or Cape Fear River side,
connected by a curtain with a bastion
on the ocean side. The parapet is
twenty-five feet thick, averages twenty
feet in height, with traverses rising ten
feet above it and running back on their
tops, which were from twelve to eight
feet in thickness, to a distance of from
twenty to thirty feet from the interior
crest. The traverses on the left half
bastion were about twenty-five feet in
length on top. The earth for this heavy
parapet and the enormous traverses at
their inner ends, more than thirty feet
in height, was obtained partly from a
shallow exterior ditch, but mainly from
the interior of the work. Between each
pair of traverses there were one or two

guns. The traverses on the right of this
front were only partially completed. A
palisade, which is loopholed and has a
banquette, runs in front of this place at
a distance of about fifty feet in front of
the foot of the exterior slope from the
Cape Fear River to the ocean, with a
position for a gun between the left of
the front and the river, and another
between the right of the front and the
ocean. Through the middle traverse on
the curtain was a bomb-proof postern
whose exterior opening was covered by
a small redan for two field-pieces, to
give flank fire along the curtain. The
traverses were generally bomb-proofed
for men or magazines. The slopes of
the work appear to have been revetted
with marsh sod, or covered with grass,
and to have had an inclination of forty-
five degrees, or a little less." "The
sea front consists of a series of batteries,
mounting in all twenty-four guns, the
different batteries being connected by a
strong infantry parapet, so as to form a
continuous line. The same system of
heavy traverses for the protection of the
guns is used as on the land front, and
these traverses are also generally bomb-
proofed." In addition to these strong
works there were also, a battery com
manding the New Inlet channel, on
Zeeke's Island, and several miles north
of Fort Fisher the Flag Pond Hill and
Half-Moon batteries.
The transports arrived off New Inlet
on the 15th of December, and on j)ec>
the 18th and 19th were joined by 15.
the iron-clads, which had been obliged
to put into Beaufort, in North Carolina,

580

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

for coal and ammunition. The heavy-
armed frigates also arrived -at the ren
dezvous a day or two after the trans
ports. The whole fleet had scarcely
assembled, however, when the weather,
previously fair, became threatening, and
on the 20th a heavy gale set in from the
southwest. To avoid the risk of scatter
ing his vessels, Admiral Porter deter
mined to ride out the storm, and
succeeded in doing so without accident
of any kind beyond the loss of a few
anchors, the monitors as well as the
other large vessels behaving admirably.
The transports being short of water, and
not calculated for riding out at anchor
in heavy weather, put back to Beaufort.
The wind then chopping round to the
westward, and the weather becoming
fine, the Admiral determined to take
advantage of it and commence the attack
on Fort Fisher and its outworks.
Great results were expected in this
attack from the explosion of a vessel
filled with gunpowder in the neighbor
hood of the fort. The idea originated
with General Butler, and was suggested
to him by the accidental explosion in
England, at Erith, on the Thames, on
the 1st of October, 1864, of a hundred
and fifty thousand pounds of gunpowder,
by which a hundred yards of river em
bankment was blown away and a great
number of houses in the vicinity thrown
down. It was supposed that a similar
mass of gunpowder exploded near Fort
Fisher would cause the whole or a
portion of its walls to fall down, or fire
the magazines, or paralyze the garrison,
or in some way afford an important

advantage to the attacking party. The
gun-boat Louisiana, purchased for opera
tions on the North Carolina sounds, was
selected for the purpose. With the
view of deceiving the enemy as to her
true character, she was disguised as a
blockade runner, and was taken round
from Norfolk in tow of the steamer
Sassacus to Beaufort, where she was
stored with two hundred and fifteen
tons of gunpowder, arranged so that
there were upon the berth-decks a tier
of barrels of powder with their heads
taken out, over which sixty-pound bags
of powder were placed in layers up to
the deck. A house constructed on the
after-deck was filled in the same manner.
The entire mass was penetrated and
connected by Gomez fuses, and every
precaution was taken to insure the in
stantaneous ignition of the whole. A
method was devised of firing the fuses
by clock-work, timed as desired, three
instruments being provided in case one
should fail. In case these should all
fail, the ends of the fuses were united at
another point, and placed beneath a
perforated wooden framework, in which
were set five lighted tapers, the lower
ends of whose wicks were united with
fuses. As a last precaution, arrange
ments were made to fire the ship at a
point remote from the powder at the
moment the crew left it. The vessel
was put in charge of Commander A. C.
Rhind, aided by Lieutenant S. W. Pres
ton and thirteen officers and men. The
weather seeming auspicious on the 23d,
and Mr. Bradford, of the Coast Survey,
having gone in the night before and

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

581

ascertained that a vessel drawing seven
feet water might be placed right on the
edge of the beach, Commander Rhind
was ordered to proceed and explode his
vessel under the walls of Fort Fisher.
At half-past ten at night the Louisiana
started, and was towed toward the
beach by the steamer Wilderness till
the embrasures of the fort came plainly
in sight, when the latter vessel cast off,
and the Louisiana steamed on alone to
within two hundred yards of the shore
and about four hundred of the fort.
She was then securely anchored, and her
commander coolly made all the arrange
ments necessary to insure the explosion.
This he was the better able to do from
the fact that a blockade runner was
going in right ahead of him, to which
the forts were making signals, as they
did also to the Louisiana. Before the
vessel was abandoned, a fire was made
under her cabin. The crew then taking
to their boats made off to the Wilder
ness, which steamed rapidly away from
the shore to avoid any share of the
apprehended terrific results of the explo
sion. This took place at a quarter
pec, before two on the morning of the
24> 24th ; but its effects were far from
answering the expectations which had
been formed respecting it. The Wilder
ness was a little shaken, and some
glasses on board were broken, but no
other damage was done on the vessel.
To those on watch in the fleet, all the
vessels of which had been directed by a
general order to lie off twelve miles
from shore, the noise produced by the
explosion seemed scarcely louder than

the report accompanying the discharge
of a battery of light artillery ; but it was
distinctly heard at Newbern, eighty
miles distant, and was there supposed
to be the rumbling of an earthquake.
Worst of all, not the slightest damage
was sustained by Fort Fisher, and the
garrison, so far from being paralyzed,
as was expected, were unaware till long
afterward that the explosion was not
the result of accident.
Notwithstanding the explosion had
proved a failure and the transports were
not yet come up, Admiral Porter, hoping
to damage the fort to such an extent
that the troops on their arrival would
have, little difficulty in carrying it by
storm, determined to proceed at once
with the attack, and at daylight on the
24th the fleet stood in toward the shore
in line of battle, and at half-past eleven
signal was made to engage the forts.
The attacking squadron consisted of
thirty-three vessels carrying upward of
four hundred guns, with a reserve of
seventeen smallagun-boats carrying about
one hundred guns. The first line of
vessels, comprising the New Ironsides,
the Monadnock, Canonicus, and Maho-
pac, anchored in line about a length
apart, at a distance of three-quarters of
a mile from the fort, each ship having
in its rear, within easy supporting
distance, a gun-boat to act as a tender.
Behind the line of iron-clads, at the
distance of a quarter of a mile, was
formed a line of heavy frigates, compris
ing the Minnesota, Colorado, Wabash,
and other vessels of similar power and
character. Behind these was another

582

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

line of vessels. A division consisting
chiefly of gun-boats took up a position
to the south and southeast of the forts,
and to the left of the frigates. Another
division was stationed to the north and
east of the iron-clads, in such a position
as to be able to direct an enfilading fire
on the works. While the various vessels
of the squadron were getting into posi
tion, an active fire was kept up on them
from the guns of the fort ; but after the
large vessels anchored and got their
batteries fairly at work, no more shots
were fired from the rebels except a few
from the Mound and upper batteries.
The fire of the entire fleet proved to be
of such tremendous power, surpassing
anything known in the history of naval
warfare, that the rebel gunners all
retired within their bomb-proofs ; and
within an hour and a quarter after the
first shot was fired from the fleet the
guns of the fort were silenced, two
magazines blew up, and the fort took
fire in several places. Notwithstanding
that the rebel batteries were completely
silenced, Admiral Porter directed his
ships to keep up a moderate firing, in
the hope of attracting the attention of
the transports, and bringing them in,
that the land forces might do their share
of the work. During the five hours that
the bombardment lasted, only one vessel,
the gun-boat Yantic, left the line to
report damages, though several were
struck once or twice ; and so quickly
were the rebel batteries silenced, that
not an officer or man was injured by
their fire in the entire fleet. But some
serious disasters were caused by the

bursting of hundred-pounder Parrott
guns, on six different vessels, in which
there were killed or wounded about
forty officers and men. The effect of
these accidents was to disconcert the
crews to a great extent, and cause much
distrust of this species of ordnance. At
sunset General Butler arrived in his
flag- ship with a few transports ; but the
hour being too late for effecting anything
more that day, Admiral Porter signalled
his fleet to retire for the night to a safe
anchorage, which they did, unmolested.
At half-past six on the morning of the
25th, General Weitzel had an inter- dcc,
view with Admiral Porter, and 25.
made arrangements with him for cover
ing the landing of troops ; and as soon
as all the transports arrived and the
necessary preparations had been made,
which was about two in the afternoon,
a reconnoitring party of 550 men under
the command of General Curtis, and
accompanied by General Weitzel, was
landed about three miles above Fort
Fisher, under cover of the fire of twelve
gun-boats, and directed to move along
the beach toward the forts as far as they
could go — a slow and deliberate fire
being at the same time kept up on Fort
Fisher by the fleet, with the object of
engaging the enemy's attention, and
preventing them from opening upon the
troops. General Curtis pushed his skir
mish line to within fifty yards of Fort
Fisher, causing on his way thither the
surrender of the Flag Pond Hill battery,
whose flag and garrison of fifty-five men
were taken by seamen engaged in land
ing the troops, and conveyed on board

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

583

the Santiago de Cuba. General Weitzel
went in person to within eight hundred
yards of Fort Fisher and obtained a
good view of the work, from which he
formed the opinion that the defences
had not been materially injured, not
withstanding the heavy bombardment
to which they had been subjected. He
then returned to General Butler, who
was on board the gun-boat Chamberlain,
within easy range of the fort, and
reported to him that it would be
" butchery" to make an assault under
the circumstances. General Butler,
after examining the fort carefully, came
to the same conclusion, and about five
o'clock ordered the troops, of whom
only about half had been landed, to be
re-embarked, the weather at the time
coming on thick and rainy. General
Curtis had in the mean time captured
the Half-Moon battery, with its garrison
of 220 men, and reported to General
Ames that he could take the fort. The
latter was moving along the beach with
Colonel Bell's brigade to the support of
General Curtis, leaving it to the other
troops then ashore and those in the.
act of landing to repulse any attack
that might be made by the troops of
Hoke's command, just arrived from
Richmond. General Ames, at that time
unaware that it had been determined to
re-embark, ordered General Curtis to
make an attempt upon the fort, but by
the time the latter got ready to do so,
night came on ; and the fire of Admiral
Porter's fleet ceasing almost at the same
time, the rebels, who during most of the
day had remained within the shelter of

their bomb-proofs, now boldly manned
their guns, adding much to the difficul
ties of an assault ; and General Ames
soon afterward receiving an order to
withdraw his troops, all returned to the
transports, except a portion of the first
brigade, which, owing to a heavy rolling
surf, was compelled to remain on shore
till the 27th. General Butler immedi
ately wrote to Admiral Porter, stating
his belief that the fort could not be
carried by assault, and the attack was
abandoned, much to the regret of Ad
miral Porter,* who in his report to the
* LETTER OF GENERAL BUTLER TO ADMIRAL
PORTER.
" Headquarters Department Virginia aot> )
North Carolina, December 25, 1864. j
" Admiral : TJpon. landing the troops and making a
thorough reconnoissance of Fort Fisher, both General
Weitzel and myself are fully of the opinion that the place
could not be carried by assault, as it was left substantially
uninjured as a, defensive work by the navy fire. We
found seventeen guns protected by traverses, two only of
which were dismounted, bearing up the beach and cover
ing a strip of land, the only practicable route, not more
than wide enough for a thousand men in line of battle.
" Having captured Flag Pond Hill battery, the garrison
of which, sixty-five men and two commissioned officers,
was taken off by the navy, we also captured Half-Moon
battery, and seven officers and two hundred and eighteen
men of the Third N. C Junior Reserves, including its
commander, from whom I learned that a portion of Hoke's
division, consisting of Kirkland's and Haygood's brigades,
had been sent from the lines before Richmond on Tuesday
last, arriving at Wilmington Friday night.
" General Weitzel advanced his skirmish line within
fifty yards of the fort, while the garrison was kept in their
bomb-proof by the fire of the navy, and so closely that
three or four men of the picket line ventured upon the
parapet and through the sally-port of the work, capturing
a horse, which they brought off, killing the orderly, who
was the bearer of a dispatch from chief of artillery of Gen
eral Whiting to bring a light battery within the fort, and.
also brought away from the parapet the flag of the fort.
" This was done while the shells of the navy were fall
ing about the heads of the daring men who entered the
work, and it was evident, as soon as the fire of the navy
ceased because of the darkness, that the fort was fully
manned again and opened with grape and canister upon
our picket line.

584

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

Navy Department said, "I don't pre
tend to put my opinion in opposition
to that of General Weitzel, who is a
thorough soldier and an able engineer,
' ' Finding that nothing but the operations of a regular
siege, which did not come within my instructions, would
reduce the fort, and in view of the threatening aspect of
the weather, wind arising from the southeast, rendering it
impossible to make further landing through the surf, I
caused the troops with their prisoners to re-embark, and
see nothing further that can be done by the land forces.
I shall therefore sail for Hampton Roads as soon as the
transport fleet can be got in order.
' ' My engineers and officers report Fort Fisher to me as
substantially uninjured as a defensive work.
1 ' I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
'* Benjamin F. Butler, Major-General Commanding.
"To Rear- Admiral Porter, Commanding North Atlan
tic Blockading Squadron. ' '
ADMIRAL PORTER'S REPLY.
"North Atlantic Squadron, U. S. Flag-ship Malvern, )
Off New Inlet, December 26, 1864. )
' ' General : I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of this date, the substance of which was com
municated to me by General Weitzel last night.
' ' I have ordered the largest vessels to proceed off Beau
fort, and fill up with ammunition, to be ready for another
attack in case it is decided to proceed with this matter by
making other arrangements.
' ' We have not commenced firing rapidly yet, and could
keep any rebels inside from showing their heads until an
assaulting column was within twenty yards of the works.
' ' I wish some more of your gallant fellows had followed
the officer who took the flag from the parapet, and the
brave fellow who brought the horse out from the fort. I
think they would have found it an easier conquest than is
supposed. " I do not, however, pretend to place my opinion in
opposition to General Weitzel, whom I know to be an
accomplished soldier and engineer, and whose opinion has
great weight with me.
" I will look out that the troops are all off in safety.
We will have a west wind presently, and a smooth beach
about three o'clock, when sufficient boats will be sent for
them. " The prisoners on board the Santiago de Cuba will be
delivered to the provost marshal at Fortress Monroe, un
less you wish to take them on board one of the transports,
which would be inconvenient just now.
"I remain, General, respectfully, your obedient servant,
"David D. Porter, Rear-Admiral.
"To Major-General B. F. Butler, commanding, etc.,
etc."

and whose business it is to know more
of assaulting than I do, but I can't help
thinking that it was worth while to
make the attempt after coming so far."
Public opinion coincided with the views
of the Admiral, and very general dis
satisfaction was caused at the North by
the abandonment of the enterprise and
the return of the troops to Fortress
Monroe. It had not been intended that
General Butler should accompany the
expedition, and he was freely censured
by General Grant for having, before
receiving a full report of the reconnois
sance of General Curtis, " in direct
violation of the instructions given,
ordered the re-embarkation of the troops
and the return of the expedition."
Numerous officers and men, among
whom was General Curtis, voluntarily
reported to General Grant, that when
recalled they were "nearly into the
fort," and that in their opinion it could
have been taken without much loss. At
the request of General Grant, General
Butler was on the 7th of January re
lieved from the command of the Depart
ments of Yirginia and North Carolina.
The result of the expedition was
claimed by the rebels as a triumph for
their arms, notwithstanding that the
guns of Fort Fisher had been for two
days kept almost silent by the fire of
Porter's fleet ; and in a congratulatory
order issued by General Bragg, Generals
Whiting and Kirkland, Colonel Lamb,
and the officers and men of the garrison,
were highly complimented. The rebels,
according to their own accounts, fired
on the first day of the attack 662 shots

I j\ //

"Virtue PcYorston. Pablishers, 14" ."Y".

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

585

and 600 on the second, and had two
guns burst and four disabled. Notwith
standing the terrific character of the
bombardment, during which, according
to rebel statements, over twenty thou
sand shot or shell were fired from the
fifty vessels of Admiral Porter, Fort
Fisher remained substantially uninjured ;
and such was the perfection of its bomb-
proofs, 'and the alacrity with which' the
troops of the garrison availed themselves
of the shelter they afforded, that only
three men were killed and fifty-five
wounded. A small co-operative expedition sent
by General Palmer from Plymouth,

under Colonel Frankle, proceeded on
the 9th of December to Gardner's
Bridge, on the Roanoke, beyond James
town. The Ninth New Jersey easily
carried the bridge, and at Spring Green
Church the same regiment and the
Twenty-seVenth Massachusetts again fell
upon the enemy, inflicting considerable
loss and capturing five officers and thirty
men. On the 19th, Colonel Frankle
moved on to Rainbow Bluff, on the
Roanoke, where the enemy being found
in force, and the gun-boats whose aid
had been depended on not being able to
ascend the river on account of torpedoes,
he returned to Plymouth.

CHAPTER LI.

Second Expedition against Fort Fisher. — General Terry selected to command the Land Forces. — The Landing. —Pre
cautionary Measures. — Tremendous Bombardment. — The Assault. — Storming Column of Saildrs and Marines re
pulsed. — The Works carried by General Ames' Division and Colonel Abbott's Brigade. — Losses. — Captures. — Fort
Fisher stronger than the Malakoff Tower. — Other Forts blown up and abandoned by the Rebels. — Arrival of General
Schofield. — Advance up the Peninsula.— rMovement of General Cox along the West Side of Cape Fear River. —
Evacuation of Fort Andereon.— General Advanpe toward Wilmington. — Gun-boats hindered by Torpedoes and
Obstructions. — Occupation ofWilmington by the Federal Forces.

J**.-

1865.

The fleet of Admiral Porter remained
off Fort Fisher for several days
after the return of the land forces
to Fortress Monroe, but finally, as noth
ing more could be done toward the
reduction of the fort without the aid. of
a land force, returned to Beaufort. In
the mean time the Secretary of the Navy
and Admiral Porter wrote to General'
Grant, expressing the conviction, which
was held also by almost the entire
public, that under a proper leader the
242

fort could be taken, and General Grant
immediately 'engaged to send a force to
renew the attempt. General Terry was
selected to command the land forces of
the second expedition, which consisted
of the two divisions formerly employed,
with the addition of a brigade of fifteen
hundred men under Colonel Abbott,
and a siege train of twenty thirty-
pounder and four hundred-pounder Par
rott guns, and twenty Coehorn mortars,
with a detail of artillerists and a com-

586

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

pany of engineers. The entire force
numbered a little over eight thousand
men. On the morning of the 6th of January
Jan. the transports with the troops sailed
6» from Fortress Monroe for Beaufort,
to join Admiral Porter's fleet, but a
severe storm arising on that day, did
not arrive off Beaufort till the 8th, some
of the vessels damaged by the gale,
others requiring repairs to their engines
or in need of coal or water. The adverse
weather continued till the 11th, but on
the morning of the 12th the entire fleet
of war vessels and transports sailed for
Federal Point, arriving there about dark.
It was decided not to attempt the dis
embarkation of troops till the following
morning, when, at four o'clock, the in
shore division of war vessels standing in
close to the beach to cover the landing,
the transports followed, and took posi
tions as nearly as possible in a line
parallel to and about two hundred yards
outside of them. The iron-clads moved
down to within range of Fort Fisher and
opened fire upon it, while another divi
sion of vessels was stationed to the north
of the landing place, to protect the
troops from any attack in the direction
of Masonboro Inlet. The landing com
menced about eight o'clock, about five
miles north of Fort Fisher, nearly two
hundred boats besides steam-tugs being
sent from the vessels of war to the
transports to assist in the operations.
This went on so rapidly that by three in
the afternoon nearly eight thousand
men with three days' cooked rations and
forty rounds of ammunition, besides six

days' supply of hard bread in bulk, three
hundred thousand rounds of small-arm
ammunition, and an adequate number
of intrenching implements, had been
safely landed. The weather had now
become pleasant, but the surf on the
beach was still very high, in consequence
of which some of the troops had their
ammunition and rations wet and spoiled.
Nothing else of an untoward nature
occurred in the disembarkation.
Pickets thrown out as soon as the
landing commenced, encountered those
of the enemy, and exchanged shots with
them, but no serious engagement fol
lowed. A few prisoners were taken,
and from these it was ascertained that
the enemy's force under General Hoke,
which it was supposed had been sent
southward, was still in the vicinity, and
that the outposts met were those of his
command. It became therefore the first
object of General Terry to establish a
strong defensive line across the peninsula
from the ocean to Cape Fear River, to
protect the trobps destined to assault the
forts from attack in the rear. General "
Paine's division was pushed across to
the river for this purpose, and a line
was taken up; but some disadvantages
connected with it determined General
Terry to establish another on ground
better adapted to his purposes, about
two miles from the enemy's works. The
troops were therefore withdrawn from
the first line, and reached their new
position about two o'clock on the jau,
morning of the 14th. Intrenching ,4,
tools were immediately brought up, and
by eight o'clock a good breast-work

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

587

extending across the peninsula from the
ocean to the river was thrown up,
partially covered by abattis. This de
fensive line was subsequently much im
proved and strengthened. In the course
of the day, a number of men being killed
or wounded by the fire of the rebel
gun-boat Chickamauga in the river, a
battery of two thirty-pounder Parrotts
was constructed on the bank to keep
her off. All the light guns also were
got on shore and placed in line near the
river, where the enemy in case they
should attack would be less exposed to
the fire of the Federal gun-boats.
The brigade of General Curtis had
been moved down toward Fort Fisher
in the morning, and at noon his skir
mishers, after capturing a small steamer
carrying shells and forage to the fort,
reached a small unfinished out-work in
front of the west end of the main work.
General Terry then, in company with
Colonel Comstock, the chief engineer
of the expedition, and General Curtis,
getting within six hundred yards of the
fort, under protection of the fire of the
fleet, made a careful reconnoissance of
the works. It was decided, as extreme
difficulty would be experienced in land
ing heavy ammunition and the siege
train through the surf on the open beach,
that an attempt should be made on the
following day to carry the enemy's
defences by assault, provided that the
fire from the fleet could be so directed
as to destroy the palisades, which
stretched across the peninsula at a
distance of fifty feet from the fort.
Admiral Porter stationed a division of

his vessels in a position from which this
might be effected, and in a consultation
with him it was arranged that a heavy
bombardment from all the ships should
be commenced early on the morning
of the 15th, and be continued till
three in the afternoon, the time fixed
upon for the assault ; and that the fire
should not then be discontinued, but
only diverted from the immediate points
of attack, so that the storming parties
might not be injured by it. It was
arranged, also, that a column of sailors
and marines should assault the north
east bastion, while the land force directed
their efforts against the western half of
the land front.
In the mean time the fort had under
gone a bombardment of the most tre
mendous character. On the 13th, the
iron-clads alone — the New Ironsides,
Saugus, Mahopac, Monadnock, and Ca-
nonicus, carrying in all thirty guns, of
which the New Ironsides had twenty —
fired in the course of-the day upward of
two thousand shells, or about four per
minute. They were directed to pour all
their fire into Fort Fisher, with the
object of dismounting or disabling its
guns, This they in a great measure ac
complished, and quite silenced them, after
the rebels had fired about three hundred
shells, while the iron-clads themselves
received no important damage. When
the landing of the troops had been
safely effected, the remainder of the
ships got into position to take part in
the bombardment, which was continued
from four in the afternoon until some
time after dark. The wooden vessels

588

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

were then ordered to haul out and
anchor, the New Ironsides and the
monitors being directed to keep up their
fire through the nightj though the en
emy had long suspended theirs and re
tired to their bomb-proofs. On the
morning of the 14th, all the small gun
boats carrying eleven-inch guns were
ordered to direct their fire on the face
of the work on which the assault was to
be made. This fire was kept up till
dark and continued more slowly through
the night. Only one or two guns were
fired during the day by the rebels, and
these from the upper batteries. On the
Jan. morning ofthe 15th, at nine o'clock,
15 • the vessels of the fleet were again
signalled to move to the attack, and
about eleven o'clock each as it got into
position opened fire on the works, which
was continued furiously all day. The
guns of the upper batteries opened in
reply with some effect, but no vessel
was injured to such an extent as to
interfere with her efficiency. The
Mound Hill battery also kept up a
galling fire for some time, but was
finally silenced.
Under cover of the ships' fire, sixteen
hundred sailors, armed with well-sharp
ened cutlasses and revolvers and four
hundred marines to act as sharpshooters,
under command of Fleet-Captain Breese,
had been landed on the beach, and by
digging rifle-pits worked their way up
to within two hundred yards of the
northeast bastion, where they lay secure
ly awaiting the signal for the assault.
The division of General Paine, strength
ened by Abbott's brigade, was kept in

the line of intrenchments across the
peninsula, to withstand any attack on
the part of Hoke's troops, five thousand
strong, now demonstrating from the
direction of Wilmington. That of Gen
eral Ames was selected for the assault,
of which Curtis' brigade was already at
the out-work before mentioned, well
intrenched, and the brigades of Colonels
Pennypacker and Bell were sent about
noon to within supporting distance of it.
At two o'clock, preparations for the
assault were commenced by sending a
hundred sharpshooters, mostly, armed
with Spencer's repeating carbine, to
within 175 yards of the works, where,
being provided with shovels, they quick
ly dug pits for shelter, and began firing
on the parapet of the fort, which the
enemy, who had received considerable
reinforcements during the day,' immedi
ately manned, opening a fire of both
musketry and artillery. When the
sharpshooters were in position, the bri
gade of General Curtis was moved for
ward at the double-quick to within five
hundred yards of the works, where the
men, making shallow trenches for pro
tection against the enemy's fire, lay
down. Pennypacker's men were then
moved up to the position at the out
work just vacated by Curtis, and Bell's
troops were placed in line two hundred
yards in their rear. Curtis' men were
then moved forward again, a regiment
at a time, to the cover of a rising ground
sixty yards in the rear of the sharp
shooters, where they again dug trenches.
Pennypacker then moved to the position
left by Curtis, and Bell up to the out-

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

589

work. It had been proposed to blow
up and cut down the palisades, and bags
of gunpowder with fuses attached had
been prepared for the purpose, but their
destruction was found to have been
effected in a great measure by the fire
of the ships, leaving little to be done
except by the axe men, who cut open
ings in those parts of the palisades which
had not been reached by shot and shell.
At a quarter-past three, all the pre
parations and preliminary movements
having been completed, the order was
given to General Ames to set his troops
in motion, and signal was made to the
fleet to change the direction of its fire.
The men of General Curtis' brigade at
once leaped from their trenches and
rapidly moved forward ; but their left
wing being exposed to a severe enfilad
ing fire; their line was obliqued to the
right so as to envelop the left of the
land front. The ground over which the
troops moved was marshy and difficult,
but they soon reached and passed through
the palisades and effected a lodgment
on the parapet. At the same time the
column of sailors under Fleet-Captain
Breese also advanced in the most gal
lant manner to assault the northeast
bastion, but when rushing through the
palisades received a murderous fire of
grape and canister from the parapets,
which now swarmed with rebels, and
the marines, who were to have held the
rifle-pits and covered this part of the
assault with a sharpshooting fire— which
they might easily have done, as the
rebels exposed themselves recklessly on
the works — failed in their duty, firing

scarcely at all or without precision.
Nevertheless the advance of Breese's
column reached the ditch, and a few offi
cers and men even gained the parapet, but
they were finally compelled to fall back
with heavy loss, and with such precipi
tation and disorder that they could not
be rallied. The attack by the sailors
was not without its favorable results,
however, as the rebels seeing so large a
body of men coming on them from the
side toward the sea, got the impression
that this was the main attack, and con
centrated a large portion of the garrison
to meet it ; and while they were giving
three cheers for their success, the troops
were getting into the fort behind them.
When the brigade of General Curtis
advanced, General Ames directed Col
onel Pennypacker to move up to' the
rear of the sharpshooters, and Colonel
Bell up to Pennypacker's late position,
and as soon as Curtis got a foothold on
the parapet, sent Colonel Pennypacker
to his support. The latter advancing
overlapped Curtis' right, drove the reb
els from the palisading and captured a
number of prisoners, and then the two
brigades pushing forward to their left
together, drove the enemy from about a
fourth of the land face. Colonel Bell's
brigade was then advanced and moved
between the fort and the river, on which
side there was no regular parapet, but
an abundance of cover for the enemy,
in cavities from which sand had been
taken for the construction of the parapet,
in the ruins of barracks and storehouses,
and in the large magazines and traverses,
behind which the rebels fought well and

590

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

stubbornly. Desperate hand-to-hand
fighting ensued, the huge traverses of
the land face being used by the enemy
as breast-works over which the contend
ing troops fired in each other's faces.
Nine of these traverses were carried
successively by the Federal troops.
General Terry now thinking that an
additional force might be needed, sent
for Abbott's brigade from the line
of intrenchments, requesting Captain
Breese at the same time to replace them
with his sailors and marines. General
Paine was directed to send also the
strongest regiment of his division to aid
in carrying the works, and dispatched
the Twenty-seventh Regiment of colored
troops under General Blackman, which
after being for some time under fire in
the rear of the work was withdrawn.
Abbott's brigade went into the fort at
six o'clock, up to which time the fire of
the fleet continued to be directed on the
portions of the work not yet taken ; it
was then turned upon the beach, to
prevent the apprehended approach of
reinforcements to the rebels from the
right bank of the river. The struggle
for the traverses continued till nine
o'clock, by which time two more of
them were carried, when a portion of
Abbott's brigade drove the rebels from
their remaining strongholds. This bri
gade then, with General Blackman's
colored regiment, being pushed down to
Battery Buchanan, near the end of
Federal Point, whither numbers of the
garrison had fled, made all of them
prisoners, including General Whiting
and Colonel Lamb the commandant of

the fort, both badly wounded. About
four o'clock in the afternoon General
Hoke advanced toward the intrenched
line held by General Paine, apparently
with the design of making an attack,
but finding the defences too strong for
him, retired after some skirmishing with
the pickets.
Seventy-five guns were taken in Fort
Fisher, nearly all heavy, and one of
them' of Armstrong's make ; also over
two thousand stand of small-arms, full
supplies of ammunition, and considerable
quantities of commissary stores. , Of the
garrison, which at the time of the assault
consisted of 2,300 men, 1,971 men and
112 officers were captured, the rest
being killed or wounded. The total
Federal loss in the land forces was 691,
to which must be added for the loss
sustained by the navy, principally in the
assaulting column of sailors and marines,
209, making an aggregate of 1,000.
On the morning of the 16th, after jan,
the capture of the works, about 16,
300 men were lost by the accidental
blowing up of a magazine in the fort.
The three brigade commanders of Gen
eral Ames' division, General Curtis and
Colonels Pennypacker and Bell, were
severely wounded, Colonel Bell mortally.
Three rifled guns burst on board the
Susquehannah, Pequot, and Osceola,
otherwise the fleet sustained little
damage. The greater part of the guns
of the fort, many of them superb rifled
pieces of very heavy calibre, were dis
mounted or otherwise injured by the
fire of the fleet, from which there were
thrown, says Admiral Porter in his

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

591

report of the 17th of January, " about
fifty thousand shells ;" but the work
itself received no damage which could
not be easily repaired. Indeed, such
was its strength that Admiral Porter
says of it, "I have since visited Fort
Fisher and its adjoining works, and find
their strength greatly beyond what I
had conceived An engineer might be
excusable in saying they could not be
captured except by regular siege. I
wonder even now how it was done.
The work, as I said before, is really
stronger than the Malakoff Tower, which
defied so long the combined power of
France and England, and yet it is cap
tured by a handful of men, under the
fire of the guns of the fleet, and in seven
hours after the attack commenced in
earnest." During the nights of the 16th and
17th the rebels blew up Fort Caswell,
and abandoned both it and some very
extensive works on Smith's Island and
at Smithville and Reeve's Point, which
were occupied by detachments from the
navy, and thus the last obstacle to a
complete command of the entrances of
Cape Fear River was removed. In
these works there were found eighty-
three guns, making the total taken in
the entire series of works, including
those in and around Fort Fisher, one
hundred and sixty- eight.
The enemy, though admitting that the
fall of Fort Fisher was equivalent to a
closure of the harbor of Wilmington,
professed to consider it an "unfortunate
rather than a disastrous event." The
Richmond Dispatch went so far as to

call it a " blessing in disguise." It was
contended that the goods imported by
means of blockade runners had really
been of little use to the Confederacy,
while much of the cotton carried out by
them had found its way into the hands
of Northern manufacturers.
Further operations against Wilming
ton were necessarily delayed for some
weeks. General Terry's force was not
sufficient after its diminution by casu
alties, and after supplying the requisite
number of men to secure Fort Fisher
and other works, to undertake offensive
movements over a country covered with
fortifications garrisoned by some of the
best troops in the Confederacy. In his
immediate front lay the division of Gen
eral Hoke, over six thousand strong,
occupying an intrenched line extending
across the peninsula from the ocean at
Masonboro Inlet to Sugar Loaf Battery,
on the east bank of Cape Fear River,
nearly opposite Fort Anderson, the
latter the most important of the river
defences left in the hands of the rebels
after the capture of Fort Fisher. It
was an extensive earth-work on Eagle
Island, and its guns, of which it had a
large number, commanded the ap
proaches both by land and water. Im
mediately under cover of its fire was a
large wharf, and various obstructions in
the river. Here also was the Wilming
ton quarantine ground. Even if an
attempt on the part of General Terry to
dislodge General Hoke should prove
successful, and he should be compelled
to retire upon Wilmington, little advan
tage would be obtained so long as the

592

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

approaches by Cape Fear River con
tinued closed by the rebel possession of
Fort Anderson- and the obstructions and
torpedoes placed in the channel.
All this had however been foreseen
by General Grant, and as early as the
commencement of the second expedition
against Fort Fisher he had taken
measures for placing in North Carolina
a force amply sufficient for every
exigency. The defence of the line of
the Tennessee River no longer requiring
the large force which had thoroughly
beaten and nearly destroyed the only
army which could threaten it, he directed
General Thomas on the 7th of January,
if he were well assured of the departure
of Hood southward from Corinth, to
send General Schofield with his corps,
numbering about twenty-one thousand
men, to the East, with as little delay as
possible. This direction General Thomas
promptly complied with, and on the
Jan. 23d of January the advance of
23. Schofield's corps reached Washing
ton, whence it was soon afterward dis
patched to Fort Fisher and Newbern.
The State of North Carolina was then
constituted a military department, and
assigned to General Schofield, under the
orders of General Sherman, with whose
movements in the Carolinas it was in
tended that he should co-operate. He
was directed first to secure Wilmington,
and then to move upon Goldsboro,
either from the former place or from
Newbern, or both, as he might think
best. General Grant himself visited
Fort Fisher in the month of January,
in company with General Schofield, for

the purpose of judging for himself as to
the condition of affairs there, and to
confer personally with General Terry
and Admiral Porter. Little time was
left for General Schofield to accomplish
his task, as it was expected General
Sherman would be in the vicinity of
Goldsboro to unite with him about the
25th of February. The arrival of Gen
eral Schofield at Fort Fisher with a
large accession of Western troops, was
soon followed by a movement up both
shores of Cape Fear River. The newly
arrived force being held in reserve for a
while in Fort Fisher, the divisions of
General Ames and Paine, of Terry's
command, made a reconnoissance in
force toward Hoke's lines on the Feb.
11th of February. Ames moved li
on the right and Paine on the left,
gun-boats co-operating both along the
sea-shore and in the river. The mon
itor Montauk also engaged Fort Ander
son, doing some damage with her fif
teen-inch shells but receiving no injury
herself. The enemy under Hoke were
found in a position of great natural
strength, having in front a swamp
covered with scrub trees and a thick
undergrowth. Their pickets were soon
encountered and driven in, and skir
mishing continued till about eleven
o'clock, when the rebels in the outposts
fell back to their main line of intrench
ments. Parallel .to this a line of works
was thrown up by Terry's troops. By
four o'clock the fighting was over for
the day, and the co-operating gun-boats
soon afterward suspended their fire.
The loss was not heavy on either side.

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

593

Preparations were then made for a
movement on the part of Schofield's
troops along the western side of the
Feb. river, and on the night of the 16th
1®- the three brigades of General Cox's
division, under Casement, Henderson,
and Sterl, and Moore's brigade of
Couch's division, were moved across to
Smithville. On the morning of the 17th
the entire column, about eight thousand
strong, under the command of General
Cox, marched up the Wilmington road,
through dense pine forests, toward Fort
Anderson. About three miles out from
Smithville the enemy's pickets were
encountered, but were soon driven back
toward the fort. After a march of
about nine miles the column got into a
good position about a mile and a half
from the fort. Early on the 18th the
troops moved forward again, Mqore's
brigade in the advance sending skir
mishers up to the rifle-pits immediately
surrounding the works. The main body
threw up intrenchments in the edge of a
wood bordering a cleared space swept
by the enemy's artillery, the fire of
which was continued through the day,
occasioning some little loss. Late in
the afternoon General Cox moved a
column of five thousand men toward the
enemy's right, with the object of getting
round it and into the rear of the works ;
but this, owing to the existence of a
long line of rifle-pits extending south-
westward from the fort across Eagle
Island and a series of swamps and ponds,
involved a march of sixteen miles, and
occupied the entire night. Meanwhile
the fleet, headed by the monitor Mon-
243

tauk, had on the 17th been bombarding
Fort Anderson on the side fronting on
the river, and the rebels had replied
pretty briskly till toward sunset. On
the morning of the 18th the moni- peb.
tor and the gun-boats got within 18.
shorter range, and kept up an effective
and rapid fire all day and till after dark,
though that of the rebels ceased at three
o'clock. Ames' division had been also
crossed over to Smithville, to support
General Cox on the western side of the
river, while Paine's division was kept
close up to the rifle-pits of the enemy
on the peninsula. On the morning of
the 19th, however, Moore's brigade
pressing forward again, found that the
rebels had abandoned the fort during
the night. They had discovered the
movement of the force sent round to
their rear by General Cox, and immedi
ately retreated toward Wilmington, tak
ing with them their lighter artillery and
everything of value that they could
carry off. Ten guns, uninjured, and a
considerable amount of ammunition and
ordnance stores, were found in the fort.
Only fifty prisoners were taken, and the
loss in killed and wounded was small on
both sides. An electric battery was
found in the fort, its wires connected
with torpedoes in the river.
Of course the evacuation of Fort
Anderson was immediately followed peb.
by the abandonment on the part 19-
of the enemy of their whole defensive
line, and by a general advance of the
Federal army and gun-boats. Terry
moved up the peninsula, and Cox's
flanking column, which, owing to its

594

OPERATIONS AGAINST WILMINGTON.

circuitous march, had been too late to
cut off the rebels' retreat, moved in
conjunction with Moore's brigade directly
toward Wilmington.
The gun-boats, preceded by a line of
about thirty yawl-boats connected by
drag ropes to take up torpedoes, pushed
forward slowly as far as the water would
permit. After sounding and buoying
out the middle ground at Big Island,
they were got over and opened fire on
Fort Strong or Fort St. Philip, the
work commanding the principal obstruc
tions, and near which the rebels had
sunk a barge steamer. The Sassacus
was struck several times by shots from
the fort, one of which entering below
the water-line made her leak badly, but
she suffered no loss in men. On the
night of the -20th the rebels sent two
hundred floating torpedoes down the
river, but these were soon discovered
by the picket-boats, and were sunk with
musketry. One of them got into the
wheel of the Osceola, blew her wheel-
house to pieces, and knocked down her
bulkheak inboard, but did no damage to
the hull. Some of the vessels used
torpedo nets, and in the morning the
Admiral had two fishing-nets stretched
across the river as a further precaution.
On the evening of the 21st, Admiral
Porter hearing a sharp musketry fire a
short distance from Fort Strong, again
opened on the fort, which after exchang
ing a few shots again became silent.
On the 19th, General Cox advancing
along the western side of the river,
pursued the enemy to Town Creek,
beyond which they had intrenched,

having previously destroyed the only
bridge, their line being connected with
Fort Strong as their former one had
been with Fort Anderson. General
Terry also, advancing on the east side
of the river, encountered the enemy,
but. in superior force, in their new line,
three miles beyond that which they had
abandoned, and Ames' division was
moved back from the western side
during the night to rejoin him. On the
20th, General Cox crossed his force pefo,
over Town Creek below the en- 20.
emy's position, and getting upon their
flank and rear, attacked and routed
them, capturing two guns and 375
prisoners, and on the morning of the
21st was again able to push on toward
Wilmington. The force in front of
General Terry, comprising the whole of
General Hoke's division, was such as to
prevent his making any farther advance ;
but he nevertheless occupied its atten
tion so that no reinforcements could be
sent to the western side of the river to
the force routed by General Cox, and
the latter, leaving Town Creek at ten in
the morning, arrived at the Brunswick
River opposite Wilmington an hour
before midnight. The enemy burnt the
railroad bridge over the Brunswick
River to Eagle Island, and partially
destroyed a pontoon bridge, cutting it
adrift. But Cox's troops secured a few
pontoons, effected a crossing, and soon
established themselves on Eagle Island
opposite the city and within musket-fire
of the wharves. A few shells were then
thrown into the city, and the rebels im
mediately began destroying steamers

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

595

and such military and naval stores as
they could not carry off, besides about a
thousand bales of cotton and fifteen
thousand barrels of rosin, and then
abandoned the city, whicli Generals Cox
Feb, and Terry, pressing on at daylight
22. on the 22d, took possession of
without opposition.
The total Federal loss in the opera
tions against Wilmington from the 11th
to the 22d did not exceed two hundred
men, while that of the Confederates,

including seven hundred prisoners, was
not less than a thousand. , Fifty-one
pieces of heavy ordnance and fifteen
light guns, as well as a large quantity
of ammunition, were among the captures.
Thus fell Wilmington, a city the natural
difficulties of approach to which, joined
to its admirable system of defences,
made it, with an adequate number of
troops, more capable of a prolonged
resistance than any fortified place taken
during the war.

CHAPTER LII.

General Sherman at Savannah. — Detained by Floods. — Preliminary Movements for the March Northward. — Crossing
the Salkahatchie. — Movements toward Branchville and Augusta. — Occupation of Orangeburg. — Fight at the Little
Congaree Bridge. — Arrival at Columbia. — The Surrender. — Burning of Columbia. — Feigned Movements toward
Charlotte.— Occupation of Cheraw. — Arrival at Fayetteville. — Kilpatrick surprised by Wade Hampton. — The March
from FayettevDle. — Battle of Averysboro. — Battle of Bentonville. — Retreat of General Johnston to Smithfield. —
Junction of Sherman with Schofield and Terry. — Schofield's Operations from Newbern.-^Battle of Kinston. — Occu
pation of Kinston and Goldsboro. — Sherman's Visit to City Point. —Results of the Campaign.— Siege of Charleston.
— Evacuation hy Hardee's Forces. — Great Fire and Explosion. — Ruinous Condition of Charleston. — Restoration of
the Stars and Stripes on Fort Sumter. — Evacuation of Georgetown. — General Stoneman's Raid. — Battle of Salisbury.

1865.

General Grant, early in December,
1864, anticipating General Sher
man's arrival at Savannah, and
regarding the capture of Lee's army as
the most important operation toward
putting down the rebellion, had sent
orders to General Sherman, after estab
lishing a base on the sea-coast and
leaving the necessary garrison at Savan
nah, to proceed by sea with the re
mainder of his army to City Point.
But after learning the total defeat of
Hood by General Thomas, and taking
into consideration the great difficulty

of procuring ocean transportation —
which was such that two months would
probably have been consumed in trans
ferring Sherman's large force to the
banks of the James — and that as much
might be effected by a march overland
toward the seat of war in Virginia, he
directed Sherman to carry out his own
plan, which was, to march to Columbia
in South Carolina and thence to Raleigh,
and to start as soon as practicable after
all necessary preparations had been
made, breaking up as he moved north
ward the railroads in the Carolinas.

596

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

Nearly a month was consumed by
Sherman in refitting the army, in regu
lating the local government, and in
making the proper disposition of the
captured cotton and other property.
General Grant sent Grover's division of
the nineteenth corps to garrison the
Jan. forts, and on the 18th of January
18* General Sherman transferred these
and the city itself to General Foster,
commanding the Department of the
South, at the same time instructing him
to follow the movements of the • army
inland by occupying in succession the
city of Charleston and such other points
northward along the coast as were of
any strategic value. The capture of
Fort Fisher gave Sherman an additional
point of security on the coast; but he
had already made up his mind to make
Goldsboro the point from which he
would re-open communications with the
seaboard, and had given orders to Col
onel Wright, superintendent of military
railroads, to proceed in advance to New
bern, and make every preparation to
extend the railroad from that point to
Goldsboro, a distance of about forty-five
miles, by the 15th of March. General
Schofield was directed to move with the
twenty-third corps from Newbern and
Wilmington upon Goldsboro, so as to be
there if possible on the arrival of Sher
man. Before commencing the march, Gen
eral Howard was directed to embark
his command and proceed by sea to
Beaufort, South Carolina, and from that
point to send a force to make a lodg
ment on the Charleston Railroad at or

near Pocotaligo. This was effected on
the 15th of January by the seventeenth
corps under General Blair, and a d6p6t
of supplies established near the mouth
of Pocotaligo Creek, having easy water
communication with Hilton Head. Gen
eral Slocum with the left wing of the
army, and General Kilpatrick with the
cavalry, were ordered to rendezvous
about the same time near Robertsville
and Coosawhatchie, in South Carolina,
with a depot of supplies at Pureysburg
or State's Ferry on the Savannah River.
General Slocum accordingly had a pon
toon bridge laid over the river opposite
Savannah, and repaired and corduroyed
the Union Causeway, which traverses
the rice-fields northward from the city ;
but heavy rains swelled the river and
overflowed all the adjacent low grounds,
covering the Union Causeway with water
four feet deep and breaking the pon
toon bridge. He was then compelled to
seek a crossing higher up the river, and
moved to Sister's Ferry ; but the bottom
lands by the river were overflowed there
also, so as to present a sheet of water
three miles wide, and he was .again
detained. On the 22d of January, General
Sherman went in person to Hilton Head,
and after a conference with - Admiral
Dahlgren and General Foster, proceeded
to Beaufort, and on the 24th to Pocotal
igo, where the seventeenth corps under
General Blair was encamped. The
fifteenth corps had not yet concentrated,
General Wood's and General Hazen's
divisions only being at Beaufort, while
General John E. Smith's division was

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

597

marching from Savannah to join them
by the coast road, and that of General
Corse was detained by storms and the
Jan. floods. On the 25th, in order to
25« strengthen an impression with the
enemy that Charleston was to be the
objective of Sherman's movements, a
demonstration was made against the
Combahee Ferry and the railroad bridge
across the Salkahatchie, along which
river was the defensive line adopted by
the rebels. But the rains had swollen
the river so that water stood in the
adjacent swamps at a depth of from one
foot to twenty for more than a mile.
Feints of preparations to cross were
made, however, and General Hatch's
division of Foster's command was direct
ed to leave the positions held on the
Tullafinney and Coosawhatchie rivers,
which were no longer of any importance,
and proceed to Pocotaligo, to aid in
keeping up the pretence of crossing, and
thus detain a large force of the enemy
on the opposite bank.
By the 29th the floods had retired
from the roads west of Savannah suffi
ciently to permit General Slocum to put
the left wing in motion at Sister's Ferry,
to which point a gun-boat had been sent
by Admiral Dahlgren to cover the
troops while crossing. Three divisions
of the fifteenth corps also had closed up
at Pocotaligo, and the right wing being
ready to start, General Howard was
directed to move the seventeenth corps
along the Salkahatchie as far as River's
Bridge, and the fifteenth by Hickory
Hill, Loper's Cross-Roads, Anglesey
Post Office, and Beaufort's Bridge, while

General Hatch's division was directed to
continue the feints at the railroad bridge
and the ferry, till Sherman's movement
should turn the enemy's position and
compel them to fall back behind the
Edisto. The march of the seventeenth
and fifteenth corps began on the pei),
1st of February, and though all the 1-
roads leading northward had been held
by the rebel cavalry under Wheeler,
who had obstructed them by felling
trees and burning bridges, the well-
organized pioneer battalions cleared the
path of the army so rapidly, that on the
2d the fifteenth corps reached Loper's
Cross-Roads and the seventeenth River's
Bridge. General Slocum was still hin
dered by the floods at Sister's Ferry,
but he had got across to the east bank
two divisions of the twentieth corps
under General Williams, and the cavalry
of General Kilpatrick. The latter was
ordered to proceed to Blackville by way
of Barnwell, and General Williams to
Beaufort's Bridge. General Slocum was
directed to get the remainder of his
command over as rapidly as possible,
and join the right wing on the South
Carolina Railroad. The right wing was
ordered to cross the Salkahatchie —
which was still held by the enemy in
force, with infantry and artillery in
trenched at River's and Beaufort's
bridges — and push on to the South
Carolina Railroad at or near Midway.
River's Bridge was carried on the p^,
3d of February by two divisions of 3.
the seventeenth corps, Generals Mower
and G. A. Smith leading their troops in
person and on foot and wading the

598

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

swamp through water sometimes shoul
der deep and nearly three miles wide,
the weather being at the time extremely
cold. A lodgment was made below the
bridge, and the rebel brigade which
guarded it was driven in disorder in the
direction of Branchville.
The enemy's line across the Salka
hatchie being thus broken, they re
treated at once beyond the Edisto at
Branchville, and the whole of Sherman's
army moved rapidly to the South Caro
lina Railroad, at Midway, Bamberg,
and Graham's Station. The track of the
railroad was then torn up all the way
from the Edisto — the bridge over which
was burnt by the rebels — westward as
far as Blackville. To this point Gen
eral Kilpatrick had in the mean time
brought up his cavalry, and was ordered
to proceed toward Aiken and threaten
Augusta, in doing which he skirmished
heavily with Wheeler's cavalry at Black
ville, Williston, and Aiken. The de
struction of the railroad was then con
tinued as far as Windsor, twenty miles
east of Augusta. By the 11th the entire
army was on the railroad from Midway
to Johnson's Station, thus dividing the
enemy's forces, which lay westward at
Aiken and Augusta and eastward at
Branchville and Charleston. A move
ment on Orangeburg was then com
menced, the seventeenth corps crossing
the South Fork of the Edisto at Bin-
naker's Bridge, and moving straight on
that place, the fifteenth crossing at Hol-
man's Bridge and moving to Poplar
Springs, in support. On the 12th, the
seventeenth corps finding the enemy

intrenched in front of the Orangeburg
Bridge, carried their position at a dash,
compelling them to retire beyond the
bridge to the protection of a battery
covered by a rampart constructed of
cotton and earth. General Blair then,
keeping G. A. Smith's division near thg
bridge, sent the other two divisions to a
point two miles below, where General
Force's division crossing by a pontoon
bridge, and moving rapidly up to the
position held by the rebels, compelled
them to retreat, when General Smith
immediately pushed over the bridge and
took possession of the enemy's abandoned
battery. The bridge, which the rebels
had partially burned, was then repaired,
and the whole corps was in Orange- Feb.
burg by four o'clock in the after- 12.
noon, and at work tearing up the rail
road. By the 14th, General Blair had
destroyed the track as far northward as
Lewisville, and driven the enemy across
the Congaree, compelling them to burn
the bridges after them. Sherman then,
without making demonstrations on
Branchville or Charleston, which his
movements had already made untenable,
set all his columns in march for Columbia,
the seventeenth corps following the
State road, and the fifteenth, crossing
the North Edisto from Poplar Springs
at Schilling's Bridge, taking a country
road which enters the State road at
Zeigler's. On the 15th this corps found
the enemy strongly posted at the Little
Congaree Bridge, having a tete-de-pont
on the south side, and on the north side
a well-constructed fort, the artillery of
which commanded the bridge. The

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

599

ground in front was level and open and
covered with a fresh deposit of mud,
from which the water of a freshet had
only just retired. General Wood, how
ever, by sending a brigade through a
cypress swamp to the left, succeeded in
turning the flank of the tete-de-pont, and
promptly following up his advantage,
got possession of the bridge and fort
also. Some delay was occasioned in
repairing the bridge, which had been
partially burnt and become inadequate
to sustain the weight of artillery, so
that the column did not arrive at the
Congaree opposite Columbia till the
following morning, by which time the
enemy had burnt the fine bridge at that
point. The inhabitants could now be easily
seen running about the streets, and
small bodies of cavalry occasionally
showed themselves, at which the fire of
one gun was directed for some time,
but subsequently turned by order of
General Sherman against the walls of
the unfinished State House. A few
shells were also thrown at the railroad
d6p6t to scatter people carrying off
sacks of corn and meal. There was no
white flag visible, or any sign of a dis
position to surrender. General Slocum
came up with the left wing within an
hour after the arrival of General How
ard's column, and the latter was directed
to cross the Saluda River about three
miles above the city, and proceeding
thence to the Broad River, to cross that
also, and approach the city from the
north. General Slocum was directed
to cross the Saluda at Zion Church, and

proceeding thence northward toward
Winnsboro, break up the railroad and
bridges in the vicinity of Alston. On
the night of the 16th, General Howard
had a flying bridge made across the
Broad River about three miles above
the city, by means of which he got one
brigade over. In the morning a pon
toon bridge was laid and preparations
made for an advance upon the city.
In the mean time the mayor had
come out and made a formal sur- pe|j,
render to Colonel Stone, of the 17-
Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry, at the Saluda
Bridge. A small party from the seven
teenth corps also had crossed the Con
garee in a skiff, and entered the city
from the west. The brigade of Colonel
Stone was then posted in the streets of
the city, and general good order prevailed
for some time. Subsequently, many
soldiers, under the influence of liquor,
which they obtained after their entrance,
and a number of released prisoners,
entered stores and private dwellings,
and helped themselves to any valuables
they could find, robbed ladies and
gentlemen of their watches and jewelry
in the streets, and committed various
other crimes when not immediately
under the eye of their officers. Orders
were given for the destruction of all
arsenals and such other public property
as could not be made use of by the
army, as well as all railroads, depots,
and machinery that might be subse
quently made available to the enemy,
but to spare the dwellings of the citizens,
as well as schools, colleges, and private
property. The fifteenth corps passed

600

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

through the city in the course of the
day, marching out by the Camden road.
The seventeenth corps did not enter the
city at all, and the left wing did not
approach within two miles of it. But
General Wade Hampton, who com
manded the Confederate rear-guard of
cavalry, had, before leaving the city,
ordered that all cotton, whether belong
ing to the Confederate Government or
to individuals, should be collected in the
streets and burnt, to prevent its falling
into the hands of General Sherman.
The bales were cut open, and much of
the loose cotton, scattered and blown
about by a high wind which was pre
vailing at the time with the appearance
of a snow-storm, lodged in trees, on the
roofs of houses, and on piazzas and
verandahs, in such a manner as to
become very liable to take fire from
flying sparks. Some of the great heaps
ot* cotton were still burning when the
Federal troops took possession, one in
the heart of the city near the court
house, but the flames were extinguished
by the exertions of the soldiers. Before,
however, a single public building had
been fired in accordance with Sherman's
instructions, the smouldering heaps of
cotton, fanned by the wind, broke out
again into flames, which communicated
to some adjacent buildings, and about
dark the conflagration spread to such an
extent as to be altogether beyond the
control of the single brigade stationed
in the city, and the whole of General
Wood's division was brought in to aid in
checking the progress of the flames ; but
by midnight the fire became quite un

manageable — drunken soldiers having
cut the hose, and in some instances gone
round with torches and deliberately set
fire to buildings that would otherwise
have escaped — and notwithstanding the
exertions of General Sherman, who was
up nearly all night, and of Generals
Howard, Logan, and Wood, the fire was
not got under control till the wind went
down, about four o'clock in the morning,
by which time the whole of the business
portion of the city was in ruins.* The
" The following correspondence in relation to the con
duct of Sherman's " foragers" shows that Wade Hampton,
whose own dwelling-house was saved by the special exer
tions of Federal officers, shared the belief for some time
prevalent that Columbia, the capital of South Carolina,
was burnt by Sherman's orders :
"Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, )
In the Field, February 24, 1865. I
" Lieutenant-General Wade Hampton, commanding cav
alry forces, C. S. A. :
" General— It is officially reported to me that our
foraging parties are murdered after capture, and labelled,
' Death to all foragers. ' One instance of a lieutenant and
seven men, near Chesterfield, and another of twenty,
'near a ravine, eighty rods from the main road,' about
three miles from Feasterville. I have ordered a similar
number of prisoners in our hands to be disposed of in like
manner. ' ' I hold about one thousand prisoners captured in
various ways, and can stand it as long as you ; but I
hardly think these murders are committed with your
knowledge ; and would suggest that you give notice to
the people at large that every life taken by them simply
results in the death of one of your confederates.
" Of course you cannot question my right to forage on
the country. It is a war right as old as history. The
manner of exercising it varies with circumstances, and if
the civil authorities will supply my requisitions, I will
forbid all foraging. But I find no civil authorities who
can respond to calls for forage or provisions, and therefore
must collect directly of the people. I have no doubt this
is the occasion of much misbehavior on the part of our
men ; but I cannot permit an enemy to judge or punish
with wholesale murder.
" Personally, I regret tho bitter feelings engendered by
this war ; but they were to be expected, and I simply
allege that those who struck the first blow and made war
inevitable ought not in fairness to reproach us for the
natural consequences. I merely assert our war right to

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

601

arsenals, railroad depots, machine shops,
and other public property, were de-
forage, and my resolve to protect my foragers to the
extent of life for life.
" I am, with respect, your obedient servant,
" W. T. Sherman, Major-General TJ. S. A."
"Headquarters in the Field, February 27, 1865.
"Major General W. T. Sherman, TJ. S. Army :
" General — Tour communication of the 24th instant
reached me to-day. In it you state that it has been
officially reported that your foraging parties were ' mur
dered' after capture, and you go on to say that you had
' ordered a similar number of prisoners in your hands to
be disposed of in like manner.' That is to say, you
have ordered a number of Confederate soldiers to be
' murdered.' " You characterize your order in proper terms, for the
public voice, even in your own country, where it seldom
dares to express itself in vindication of truth, honor, or
justice, will surely agree with you in pronouncing you
guilty of murder, if your order is carried out.
' ' Before dismissing this portion of your letter, I beg to
assure you for every soldier of mine ' murdered' by you,
I shall have executed at once two of yours, giving, in
all caseB, preference to any officers who may be in my
hands. " In reference to the statement you make regarding the
death of your foragers, I have only to say that I know
nothing of it ; that no orders given by me authorize the
killing of prisoners after capture, and that I do not believe
that my men killed any of yours, except under circum
stances in which it was perfectly legitimate and proper
they should kill them.
"It is a part of the system of the thieves whom you
designate as your foragers, to fire the dwellings of those
citizens whom they have robbed.
"To check this inhuman system, which is justly
execrated by every civilized nation, I have directed my
men to shoot down all of your men who are caught burn
ing houses. This order shall remain in force as long as
you disgrace the profession of arms by allowing your men
to destroy private dwellings.
"You say that I cannot, of course, question your right
to forage on the country. ' It is a right as old as history. '
I do not, sir, question this right. But there is a right
older even than this, and one more inalienable — the right
that every man has to defend his home and to protect
those who are dependent upon him ; and from my heart I
wish that every old man and boy in my country who can
fire a gun, would shoot down, as he would a wild beast,
the men who are desolating their land, burning their
houses, and insulting their women.
"You are particular in defining and claiming 'war
rights.' May I ask if you enumerate among them the
right to fire upon a defenceless city without notice ; to
244

stroyed on the 18th and 19th by detailed
working parties, as well as the railroad
track as far as Kingsville and the
Wateree Bridge, and toward Winnsboro.
In the mean time General Slocum
with the left wing and the cavalry had
crossed the Saluda and Broad rivers,
breaking up the railroad near Alston,
burn that city to the ground after it had been surrendered
by the authorities, who claimed, though in vain, that
protection which is always accorded in civilized warfare to
non-combatants ; to fire the dwelling-houses of citizens,
after robbing them, and to perpetrate even darker crimes
than these— crimes too black to be mentioned?
' ' You have permitted, if you have not ordered, the
commission of these offences against humanity and the
rules of war. You fired into the city of Columbia without
"¦ word of warning. After its surrender by the mayor,
who demanded protection to private property, you laid
the whole city in ashes, leaving amid its ruins thousands
of old men and helpless women and children who are
likely to perish of starvation and exposure. Your line of
march can be traced by the lurid light of burning liouses,
and in more than one household there is an agony far
more bitter than that of death.
' ' The Indian scalped his victim regardless of sex or age,
but with all his barbarity he always respected the persons
of his female captives. Your soldiers, more savage than
the Indian, insult those whose natural protectors are
absent. "In conclusion, I have only to request that whenever
you have any of my men 'disposed of,' or 'murdered,'
for the terms appear to be synonymous with you, you will
let me hear of it, in order that I may know what action
to take in the matter. In the mean time I shall hold
fifty-six of your men as hostages for those whom you have
ordered to be executed. I am, yours, etc. ,
"Wade Hampton, Lieutenant-General."
General Sherman says, in his Report of the Campaign
of the Carolinas : " I disclaim on the part of my army any
agency in this fire, but on the contrary claim that we
saved what of Columbia remains unconsumed. And with
out hesitation I charge General Wade Hampton with
having burned his own city of Columbia, not with a 4
malicious intent, or as the manifestation of a silly ' Roman
stoicism,' but from folly and want of sense, in filling it
with lint, cotton, and tinder. Our officers and men on
duty worked well to extinguish the flames ; but others
not on duty, including the officers who had long been im
prisoned there, rescued by us, may have assisted in spread
ing the fire after it had once begun, and may have in
dulged in unconcealed joy to see the ruin of the capital of
South Carolina."

602

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

and as far as the Spartanburg road
bridge over the Broad River, the main
body moving toward Winnsboro, which
was reached oh the 21st of February.
Causing the railroad to be destroyed as
far as Blackstakes Depot, General Slo
cum then turned toward Rocky Mount,
on the Catawba, which the twentieth
corps reached on the 22d, and laying a
pontoon bridge crossed on the 23d.
Kilpatrick's cavalry crossed also the
same night during a heavy rain, and
pushed on to Lancaster, to aid in keep
ing up the delusion with the enemy,
that Charlotte, in North Carolina, whither
Beauregard and all the rebel cavalry
had retreated, was to be the object of a
general movement on the part of Sher
man. Cheatham's corps of Hood's old
army was also aiming to effect a junction
with Beauregard at Charlotte'. Heavy
rains prevailed from the 20th to the
26th, making the roads almost impassable
and swelling the rivers. The Catawba
became so swollen that the pontoon
bridge broke before the fourteenth corps
had effected a crossing, and much diffi
culty was experienced in restoring it.
When General Davis got his command
over, the left wing was also put in
motion for Cheraw.
The right wing broke up the railroad
as far as Winnsboro, and then turned
toward Pea's Ferry, where it crossed
the Catawba before the heavy rains set
in, and pushed on for Cheraw. Detach
ments were sent from the fifteenth corps
to Camden, to burn the bridge over the
Wateree, as well as the railroad depot
and public stores. A small force of

mounted men sent to break the railroad
running from Charleston to Florence,
met a division of rebel cavalry under
Butler, and after a fight at Mount Elon
was obliged to return without having
accomplished its object. At Lynch's
Creek the right wing was delayed by
the badness of the roads about as long
as the left wing was at the Catawba.
The leading division of the twentieth
corps entered Chesterfield on the 2d of
March, skirmishing with Butler's cavalry,
and about noon on the 3d the 3iar,
seventeenth corps entered Cheraw, **•
the rebels falling back across the Pedee
and burning the bridge after them. A
large amount of ammunition and numer
ous pieces of artillery were destroyed at
Cheraw, as were also the railroad
bridges and trestles as far as Darlington.
A body of mounted infantry sent to
Florence encountered rebel cavalry and
infantry, and was obliged to return after
breaking up a part of the railroad
between that place and Cheraw. As
soon as possible the columns were put
in motion in the direction of Fayetteville,
in North Carolina, the right wing cross
ing the Pedee at Cheraw, the left wing
and the cavalry at Sneedsboro, General
Kilpatrick keeping well on the left
flank. Notwithstanding that the weather
continued unfavorable and the roads
bad, the fourteenth and seventeenth
corps reached Fayetteville, on the Cape
Fear River, on the 11th of March, jiar,
skirmishing with Wade Hampton's H-
cavalry, the rear-guard of Hardee's re
treating army, which after crossing the
river burnt the bridge. On the night

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

603

of the 9th of March, General Kilpatrick,
whose position on the left flank exposed
him to sudden attack, having divided
his three brigades to picket the roads,
General Hampton dashed in at daylight
and gained possession of the camp of
Spencer's brigade, as well as the house
in which General Kilpatrick and Colonel
Spencer had their quarters. Kilpatrick
was asleep at the time, but escaped,
though with only pantaloons and slippers,
and notwithstanding the completeness
of the surprise, succeeded in rallying
his men on foot in a neighboring swamp,
and attacked the enemy so vigorously
that he regained his camp, horses,
and artillery, and the enemy rapidly
made off, taking with them a few
prisoners, but abandoning their dead.
The army remained during the 12th,
13th, and 14th at Fayetteville. The
buildings of the old United States arsenal
of construction, which covered fifty acres
of ground, as well as a vast amount of
machinery which had been brought
from Harper's Ferry, were destroyed.
All the buildings were burnt, and the
machinery broken up and ruined, under
the supervision of Colonel Poe, the
chief engineer of the army. Much other
property that might subsequently have
been of use to the rebels was also
destroyed or thrown into the river.
Up to this time Sherman had suc
ceeded in keeping his army between the
divided and scattered portions of the
enemy's forces. But these were now
concentrating ; the troops with which
Beauregard 'left Columbia had been
reinforced by Cheatham's corps from

Hood's broken army and by the garrison
of Augusta, and all had had ample time
to get on Sherman's left flank in the
direction of Raleigh. Hardee had also
got across the Cape Fear River, and
could not be hindered from forming a
junction with the other armies and with
Hoke. These various bodies of the
enemy when united would constitute a
formidable force, superior, in fact, to
Sherman's in cavalry, and sufficiently
strong in infantry and artillery, espe
cially under the command of the skilful
and experienced Johnston, to justify
extreme caution on the part of Sherman
in moving on Goldsboro. Before arriv
ing at Fayetteville he had sent two
trusty scouts to Wilmington with intel
ligence respecting his position. Both
the scouts made their way safely, and
on the morning of the 12th of March a
small steamer arrived at Fayetteville
from Wilmington, and was sent back
the same day with dispatches for Gen
eral Terry, and for General Schofield at
Newbern, informing them that the army
would move on the 15th for Goldsboro,
but at the same time feigning on Raleigh,
expecting to arrive about the 20th, and
directing them to move their forces on
the same point.
As delay would be highly dangerous
in face of the probable combination of
the enemy's forces, the column of Gen
eral Sherman moved out of Fayetteville
on the 15th, notwithstanding that Mar,
the weather continued very bad I5-
and the roads had become little better
than deep mud, so that almost every
foot had to be corduroyed to permit of

C04

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

the passage of wagons and artillery.
General Kilpatrick was directed to move
by the plank road as far as Averysboro
and beyond, and was followed by four
divisions of the left wing, with as few
wagons as possible ; the remainder of
the train, under the escort of the other
two divisions of the left wing, were
ordered to take a shorter and more
direct road to Goldsboro. General
Howard, with the right wing, was
ordered to send his trains well to the
right, toward Faison's Depot and Golds
boro, holding four divisions in readiness
to aid the left wing, if it should be
attacked while in motion.
General Sherman accompanied Gen
eral Slocum, who on the 15th, preceded
by Kilpatrick, moved as far as Kyle's
Landing. Kilpatrick skirmished heavily
with the enemy's rear - guard near
Taylor's Hole Creek, three miles farther,
and a brigade of infantry was sent at
his request to hold a line of barricades.
On the morning of the 15th, the column
advancing in the same order, found a
large force of the enemy under Hardee,
estimated at twenty thousand men of all
arms, in an intrenched position in front
of the point where the road branches
off toward Goldsboro. Hardee's object
was evidently to detain Sherman as long
as possible, so as to give Johnston time
to concentrate his forces. It was neces
sary to get possession of the Goldsboro
road without delay, and at the same time
desirable to keep up as long as possible
a pretence of moving on Raleigh, and
Sherman immediately made prepara
tions to dislodge Hardee's force. The

ground over which the troops had 3jar,
to move to the attack was so soft 16-
that horses sunk into it everywhere, and
men could hardly make their way over
it ; General Slocum was, however, or
dered to press and carry the position.
The twentieth corps under General
Williams had the lead, and Ward's
division in the advance being deployed,
found a brigade of Charleston heavy
artillery, armed as infantry, posted across
the road behind a light parapet, with a
battery enfilading the approach across a
cleared field. A brigade sent round by
the left turned this line, and making a
quick charge, the rebel brigade broke
and fell back rapidly to a second and
stronger line, suffering severely, however,
in their retrograde movement from the
fire of a well-posted battery under Major
Reynolds. Ward's division advanced
over this ground, capturing 217 men and
three guns ; but on approaching the
enemy's second line, Jackson's division
was deployed on the right of Ward's,
and two divisions of the fourteenth
corps on the left, well toward the Cape
Fear River. At the same time Kil
patrick, who was acting in concert with
General Williams, got a brigade on the
road; but it was so furiously attacked
by a rebel division under McLaw, that,
though fighting well, it was compelled
to fall back to the flank of the infantry.
Late in the afternoon the whole line
advanced, drove the rebels well within
their intrenchments, and pressed them
so hard that in the dismal and stormy
night which followed they retreated
over a wretched road in the direction

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

605

of Smithfield. The Federal loss in the
battle of Averysboro was 77 killed and
477 wounded. The enemy left 108 of
their dead on the field. Ward's division
kept up a show of pursuit as far as
Averysboro ; the remainder of General
Slocum's command, turning to the right,
crossed the South River and took the
Goldsboro road, Kilpatrick crossing
more toward the north, in the direction
of Elevation, with orders to move east
ward and guard the flank in that direc
tion. • The wagon trains, with their
escorts, and Howard's column, were in
the mean time slowly toiling along the
miry roads toward Bentonville and
Goldsboro. General Sherman continued with the
column of General Slocum, and on the
night ofthe 18th encamped with him on
the Goldsboro road at a point where the
road from Clinton to Smithfield crosses
it, about five miles from Bentonville.
General Howard was at Lee's Store, two
miles south, and both columns had
pickets out three miles forward. There
was no appearance of an attempt on the
part of the enemy to interpose any
further opposition to the march, and
"General Sherman directing General
Howard to move the right wing by the
new Goldsboro road, rode on himself to
overtake and join his column, with the
view of opening communications with
Generals Schofield and Terry, who were
moving up from Newbern and Wilming
ton. He was, however, soon overtaken
by staff officers from General Slocum,
who informed him that the latter had
found the whole rebel army near Ben

tonville under General Johnston himself.
Sherman immediately sent orders to
General Slocum to call up the two
divisions guarding the wagon trains, and
Hazen's division of the fifteenth corps,
still near Lee's Store, and fight defens
ively till he himself could draw up
Blair's corps, and with the three remain
ing divisions of the fifteenth corps come
up on Johnston's left rear. General
Slocum's force advancing from its camp
on the 18th, had encountered the jjar,
enemy's cavalry, and soon after- In
ward their infantry and artillery. The
enemy then attacked and gained a
temporary advantage, taking three guns
of Carlin's division, and driving the two
leading brigades back on the main body.
General Slocum then seeing that he had
the whole Confederate army before him,
immediately deployed the two divisions
of the fourteenth corps under General
Davis, and brought up on their left the
two divisions of the twentieth corps
under General Williams, assumed the
defensive, and hastily threw up a line
of barricades. Kilpatrick also ' moved
up and massed on the left. While the
left wing was in this position it received
and repulsed six distinct assaults from
the combined forces of Hardee, Hoke,
and Cheatham, under the direction of
General Johnston, having, however, the
advantage in artillery, of which the
enemy had very little. Johnston had
moved with great rapidity from Smith-
field, hoping to overwhelmn the left
wing before any support came up. In
this, however, he was disappointed, and
during the night of the 19 th, General

606

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

Slocum got up his wagon train with its
guard of two divisions, and Hazen's
division of the fifteenth corps — rein
forcements which enabled him to make
his position too strong to be attacked
again with any chance of success.
The right wing on moving to form
connection with the left, met with little
opposition till a considerable body of
rebel cavalry was found behind a barri
cade at the forks of the road near Ben
tonville, about three miles east of the
battle-field of the 18th. The rebel
cavalry was however quickly dislodged
and the forks of the road secured. On
moving forward the fifteenth corps,
General Logan found that the left flank
of the enemy was thrown back, and that
they had constructed a line of parapet,
connecting with that toward General
Slocum, in the form of a bastion, its
salient on the main road to Goldsboro,
between General Slocum on the west
and General Howard on the east, while
the flanks rested on Mill Creek, covering
the road back to Smithfield ; but by four
in the afternoon of the 20th, General
Howard had established a strong con
nection on his left with General Slocum.
A complete and strong line of battle was
thus formed confronting the enemy in
their intrenched position, and General
Johnston found himself on the defensive,
with Mill Creek and only a single bridge
in his rear. General Sherman had,
however, no object to gain by a battle,
and confined the operations to skirmish
ing and artillery firing, and to feeling
the flanks of the enemy's position, which
were covered by swamps. The troops

were, however, kept well up to the
enemy, in readiness to fight, should
Johnston venture beyond his defensive
lines. On the 21st, General Mow- mar,
er, with his division of the seven- 21.
teenth corps, on the extreme right, got
around on the enemy's flank, almost to
the bridge across Mill Creek, their only
line of retreat. There was great danger,
however, that the enemy would suddenly
turn on him all their reserves, or even
abandon their defences to overwhelm
him, and Sherman ordered a general
attack by the skirmish line from left to
right, and during the fighting that
ensued General Mower got back to his
own corps. He had, however, discovered
a weak point in the enemy's line, of
which advantage might have been taken ;
but General Johnston retreated on
Smithfield in the night, leaving his
pickets behind him, with many unburied
dead, and his wounded in field hospitals.
At daybreak pursuit was made two
miles beyond Mill Creek, and then dis
continued. The Federal loss at the
battle of Bentonville, including killed,
wounded, and missing, was 1,646, of
which number only 191 were killed.
The loss of the rebels was much heavier,
267 of their dead being buried on the
field, and 1,625 prisoners being taken.
General Sherman was now practically
in connection with. General Schofield,
who had entered Goldsboro on the 21st
without opposition, and with General
Terry, who had got possession of the
Neuse River at Cox's Bridge, and no
further difficulty was experienced in
forming a complete junction of all the

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

607

forces, the enemy not daring to inter
pose themselves again between General
Sherman and his objective point.
General Schofield, immediately after
Wilmington fell into his hands, took
measures to carry out Grant's orders
with regard to the movement toward
Goldsboro. General Palmer, then com
manding the Newbern district, was sent
from Wilmington with instructions to
march from Newbern, with five thousand
men, to occupy Kinston, a small town
on the Neuse River and on the railroad
,gto Goldsboro, about twenty-two miles
from that place and thirty-two from
Newbern. Ruger's division of the
twenty-third corps was sent from Fort
Fisher to reinforce him. The immediate
object of this movement was to get
possession of and retain the railroad, in
order to establish a depQt of supplies at
Kinston, to facilitate the subsequent
movement upon Goldsboro when Sher
man should arrive. General Palmer
was not able to complete his prepara
tions for an advance as soon as was
expected, and on the 6th of March
General Cox arrived at Newbern, as
sumed command, and commenced the
forward movement. The enemy, after
being driven out of Wilmington, had
retreated northward to Goldsboro, and
having determined to defend that place,
decided to make their first stand at
Kinston, at which point about twelve
hundred troops were concentrated under
General Bragg. The march to Kinston
was one of extreme difficulty. Morasses,
known as Dover Swamp and Gum
Swamp, stretch for a distance of twenty

miles between Kinston and Newbern,
which, owing to recent rains, were very
miry and almost impracticable. The
enemy had also obstructed them by
felling trees across them for miles, and
by removing the bridges which lay
across the creeks in the swamps.
Neither was the Neuse River available
as a route by which supplies might be
transported to Kinston, not being navi
gable for heavy gun-boats and easily
blockaded by batteries. It became
therefore a matter of the last importance
in undertaking a movement upon Golds
boro, that the line of railway to Kins
ton should come under the control of
the Federal army.
Savage's Twelfth New York Cavalry,
moving out from Newbern by the Trent-
road, was engaged during the day and
night of the 6th in clearing obstructions
from the roads and in rebuilding bridges,
and on the morning of the 7th a small
body of Classon's command took posses
sion of the point where the Dover and
Jackson roads meet the Trent road, and
charging some rebel skirmishers drove
them across Southwest Creek to their
works at Jackson's Mills, four and a
half miles from Kinston. Artillery was
brought to bear upon these works, as
.well as upon other works to the north
ward of them on the same creek, near
the railroad. The enemy replied, and
the firing was kept up with little inter
mission during the day. Classon's de
tachment and the Ninth New Jersey
supported the artillery during the firing,
and toward night the latter was relieved
by Upham's brigade. Skirmishers of

608

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

the Fifteenth Connecticut were pushed
forward in the night to within a hundred
yards of the rebel works. The firing
Mar. was very light during most of the
$• forenoon of the 8th, but news being
brought in that the enemy were making
a movement to turn the left of the
Federal line, Colonel Upham ordered
the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts into
the woods south of the road, and formed
the regiment in fine of battle facing
nearly southward. The left of the line
was held by Carter's division, and the
right by Palmer's. About half-past
eleven, the rebels, under General Hoke,
having got upon the Federal left and
rear, fell upon Carter's division with
great force". The Twenty-seventh Mas
sachusetts and the Fifteenth Connecticut
stood their ground for a time with great
gallantry and obstinacy, but were finally
' surrounded, and the greater part of them
taken prisoners. An attack made at
nearly the same time on the first and
second divisions, resulted in their being
compelled to fall back, and completed
the repulse of the Federal force. The
rebels swept the whole field, capturing
three guns and fifteen hundred prisoners,
and the Federal troops fell back three
miles, when a new line was established.
The killed and wounded were not.
numerous on either side. About two
hours later Colonel Savage, making a
cavalry reconnoissance toward the en
emy's rear, captured sixty-five men, five
ambulances, and a surgeon. Soon after
ward the enemy attacked Palmer's divi
sion on the right, but were repulsed.
A skirmish took place also on the left

during the afternoon. The Federal line
still Jay in front of Southwest Creek, on
which the enemy were posted at Jack
son's Mills, but it was drawn farther
back for further consolidation. A gap
being found to exist between Palmer's
division on the right and Carter's on the
left, Ruger's division, which had not
been in the battle, and came up from
the rear about three o'clock, was placed
in it. Malloy's brigade of Carter's
division skirmished a little in advance
about the close of the day.
During the »whole of the 9th there,,
was lively skirmishing, but without any
decisive result. On the 10th, how- ]}far,
ever, the enemy, who had received !••
large reinforcements, and at the same
time become aware of the approach of
Couch's division from Wilmington, at
tacked in a bold and determined manner,
hoping to defeat Schofield before Couch
could come up. The Federal forces
were well intrenched at the junction of
the Trent and Upper Trent roads.
Generals Schofield and Cox were both
on the field, as were also Generals Bragg,
Hill, and Hoke on the side of the rebels.
The enemy made two fierce attacks, one
falling on Carter's division on the left,
with McQuestion's brigade of Ruger's
division, the other on Ruger's division
in the centre. Both assaults were de
cisively repulsed with heavy loss to the
enemy. Bragg then drew off his forces,
leaving his dead and badly wounded on
the field and several hundred prisoners,
his total loss being about fifteen hun
dred in killed, wounded, and missing.
Couch's division came up from Wilming-

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

609

ton on the morning of the 11th, and
Bragg fell back across the Neuse to
Kinston, where he burnt the bridge and
for a short time held the north bank of
the river.
General Schofield having no pontoon
train could not cross the Neuse until the
14th, when Bragg, abandoning Kinston,
moved rapidly toward Smithfield to
form a junction with General Johnston,
who was then concentrating all his
forces with a view to that movement
against Sherman's left wing which re
sulted in the repulse of the former at
Bentonville. General Schofield, im
mediately after getting possession of
Kinston, set a large force at work upon
the railroad in aid of the construction
corps of Colonel Wright. He also re
built the wagon bridge over the Neuse,
brought forward supplies, and prepared
for a further advance. On the morning
of the 20th he left Kinston, and took
possession of Goldsboro with very little
Mar. opposition on the evening of the
21- 21st. The army of General Terry
left Wilmington on the 15th of March,
and moving steadily northward reached
Faison's D4p6t on the 20th, and in
accordance with the directions of Gen
eral Sherman, moved thence to Cox's
Bridge, ten miles above Goldsboro, and
secured a crossing of the Neuse on the
22d, so that the three armies were
practically in connection and the object
of the campaign accomplished. The
railroads from Goldsboro to Wilming
ton and Newbern were in the course of
rapid repair, and supplies in abundance
were moved forward to Kinston.
245

On the 23d, all the armies had camps
assigned them in the vicinity of jjar,
Goldsboro, and were soon in the 23.
receipt of the necessary supplies and
clothing. On the 25th, the railroad from
Newbern was again in working order,
and the first train of cars came in. As
it was now important that General
Sherman should confer in person with
General Grant, he left the army in
charge of General Schofield, and pro
ceeded by railroad to Morehead City,
and thence by steamer to City Point,
reaching General Grant's headquarters
on the evening of the 27th of March,
where he found also President Lincoln,
and having obtained a full understanding
of what was required of him by the
Lieutenant-General, set out again for his
own headquarters at Goldsboro, where
he arrived on the night of the 30th.
In the march across the Carolinas, as
in that from Atlanta to Savannah, the
army of General Sherman wasted a wide
belt of country, of an average breadth
of not less than forty miles, consuming
all the forage, cattle, hogs, sheep, poul
try, and corn meal, so that the region
traversed instead of being able to con
tribute to the maintenance of the- Con
federate armies, had little left for its in
habitants. Hundreds of miles of railroad
were destroyed and thousands of bales of
cotton burned. Eighty-five cannon, four
thousand prisoners, and twenty-five
thousand animals were captured ; many
thousand negroes also were set free.
These results were, however, of second
ary importance ; the principal object
attained by the campaign was, that

610

FALL OF CHARLESTON.

Sherman's great army had been trans
ported to a point from which no Con
federate force then in the field would be
able to prevent its forming a junction
with the Federal armies before Peters
burg and Richmond, thus rendering the
fall of both those cities and 'the capture
or destruction of Lee's army almost
certain. The fall of Charleston was among the
important fruits of this campaign. The
destruction of the inland routes of travel
and supply by the army of General
Sherman on its march through the
Carolinas made the- whole sea-coast
northward, from Savannah to Newbern,
worthless and untenable to the Con
federates. Charleston, from the natural
strength of its position, had been able
to withstand for nearly three years all
attempts to reduce it. The Federal
fleet occupied the entrance to the har
bor ; Morris Island was also held, and
an artillery fire was at intervals directed
against Fort Sumter and the city itself ;
but the capture of either had proved to
be .a task of extreme difficulty, and in
fact impossible by the navy without the
aid of a large co-operating land force.
The strategic value of Charleston was
not, however, so great as to warrant the
sending against it an expedition of the
magnitude that would have been neces
sary for its reduction, and the closing
of the harbor by a blockading fleet
effected nearly all that would have been
accomplished by the actual occupation
of the city. This had been secured by
the presence of Admiral Dahlgren's fleet
of iron-clads.

Some thought was entertained early
in the summer of 1864 of attacking Fort
Sumter and attempting the passage with
monitors, but the proposition to do so
having been made a subject of discussion
in a council of officers of Admiral Dahl
gren's command, and a majority deeming
the attempt unadvisable, the idea was
abandoned- and no operations of im
portance were undertaken with a view
to the reduction of Charleston ^eb.
till the 8th of February, 1865, 8-
when General Gillmore succeeded Gen
eral Foster in command of the Depart
ment of the South. He immediately
made preparations for more active
measures, though these were intended
to be demonstrations in favor of Sher
man's great movement rather than seri
ous efforts to push the siege.
General Hardee was at that time in
command in the city, with a force of
about fifteen thousand men, comprising
the regular garrison and troops with
which he had retreated from Savannah.
On the 10th, operations were commenced
by the construction of a bridge across
the creek separating Folly and Cole's
islands from James Island, and a force
under General Schemmelfinnig, three
thousand strong, effected a lodgment on
the latter about three miles southwest
of Charleston. Skirmishers being then
thrown forward encountered the enemy
at Grimball's, on Stono River. A mor
tar schooner and two tin-clads also
moved up the Stono River and shelled
the enemy, and at the same time covered
the flank of the Federal troops. About
half-past four, General Hartwell moved

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

611

his whole brigade forward in columns
doubled on the centre, and carried the
enemy's rifle-pits at the double-quick.
The contest was very short, the rebels
retreating rapidly to their main works,
abandoning their dead and wounded,
and losing about twenty prisoners. The
Federal loss was about eighty. ' As this
movement was only a feint, the troops
of General Schemmelfinnig were soon
afterward withdrawn. On the 12th and
13th a demonstration was made by a force
under General Potter along the ap
proaches from Bull's Bay toward Mount
Pleasant, with the view of threatening
Charleston from the north, but not with
the intention of making any serious
attack from that direction. General
Hatch's column moving northward from
Pocotaligo also threatened Charleston
from the south. Hardee soon became
aware that his hold on the city was very
precarious ; his railroad communication
with Branchville as well as with Savan
nah was destroyed ; the railroad running
northward to Florence, the only remain
ing one, was in danger ; a prolonged de
fence ofthe city could only end in his being
encircled by Federal forces, and compel
led to surrender his whole army, which,
if he could unite it with the forces con
centrating under Johnston, might yet ren
der important service to the Confederacy.
Fort Fisher fell on the 15th, and on- the
Feb. night of the 16th the evacuation
16* of Charleston began. About mid
night of the 17th, as the last of the rebel
troops were leaving, they fired the upper
part of the city, in which were the rail
road buildings, containing several thou

sand bales of cotton. In these buildings
were stored besides the cotton a large
quantity of rice, and two hundred kegs
of gunpowder. As might be expected
from such criminal negligence, about
half-past three in the morning a terrific
explosion took place, causing the death
of about a hundred and fifty and the
mutilation of about two hundred poor
people, men, women, and children, who
were carrying off the rice. At daylight
several rebel rams in the inner harbor,
near the city, were blQwn up. The
mayor soon afterward sent a note to
General Gillmore, stating that the Con
federate military authorities had with
drawn, and at nine o'clock on the morn
ing of the 18th, the city of Charles- Feb.
ton, with Forts Sumter and Moultrie, l8.
Castle Pinckney, and all the defensive
works, were formally surrendered. Gen
eral Gillmore's troops were promptly
moved up to the city, and the national
flag was restored to the parapet of Fort
Sumter amid the deafening cheers of the
troops. The soldiers were immediately set to
work to check the progress of the flames
in the upper part of the city ; but the
fire had already got such headway that
the cotton warehouses, arsenals, quarter
masters' stores, the railroad bridges,
some vessels in the ship-yards, and a
very large number of dwellings were
destroyed before this could be effected.
The lower part of the city, within range
of the fire of the fleet, had suffered
much from shot and shell in the course
of the protracted siege, and had long
been in a ruinous condition. Very few

612

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

inhabitants remained in it, and its ap
pearance was dreary and desolate in
the extreme. The wealthy residents
had deserted the city, and the population
that was left, about ten thousand in
number, consisted mostly of negroes and
the poorer class of whites, who had no
means of making their escape, or who
had no inclination to do so, and these
were suffering from a limited supply of
the necessaries of life. "Any one,"
said General Sherman, "who is not
satisfied with war should go and see
Charleston, and he will pray louder and
deeper than ever that the country may
in the long future be spared any more
war." Several hundred deserters from
Hardee's army, who had concealed
themselves in houses while the evacua
tion was going on, surrendered when
General Gillmore's troops entered the
city. Among the captures were 450
cannon found in the forts and other
defences, including a number of eight-
inch aud ten-inch columbiads, a great
many thirty-two pounder and forty-two
pounder rifles, some seven-inch Brooks'
rifles, and many pieces of foreign make ;
also eight locomotives, and a great
number of passenger and platform cars,
all in good condition.
The memorable siege of Charleston
commenced actually on the 10th of July,
1863, when General Gillmore landed on
Morris Island. The city had been under
fire 542 days, and the surrender took
place on the fourth anniversary of the
inauguration of Jefferson Davis as presi
dent of the Southern Confederacy. The
moral effect of the fall of Charleston

was very great, not only in the North
and in the South, but in Europe also.
The circumstances of the surrender
of Fort Sumter by General Anderson
had produced an impression on the
public mind .too deep to be readily
erased, and President Lincoln, with a
view of commemorating its restoration
to the national authority, directed him
to raise the Stars and Stripes on its
battlements on the 13th of April, the
anniversary of the day on which he had
been compelled to evacuate it by a
largely superior force and the want of
ammunition and provisions.
On the 23d of February, Georgetown,
on the South Carolina coast, about ^eb.
fifty miles northeast of Charleston, 23.
was evacuated by the rebel forces, and
on the 25th taken possession of by
Admiral Dahlgren.
An expedition from East Tennessee
to co-operate with General Sherman in
his march through the Carolinas was
planned by General Grant, and on the
31st of January he directed General
Thomas to send General Stoneman from
Knoxville with an adequate body of
cavalry to penetrate South Carolina in
the direction of Columbia a,nd destroy
the railroads and military resources of
the country, with directions to return to
East Tennessee if practicable by way of
Salisbury, in North Carolina, and release
the Federal prisoners detained there.
It was supposed that General Sherman's
movements would attract the attention
of all the military forces it would be in
the power of the enemy to collect, and
that this would render General Stone-

GENERAL SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.

613

man's task comparatively easy. But so
many delays occurred, that before Stone
man got ready to start, Sherman's army
had passed out of South Carolina, and
General Thomas was ordered to change
the direction of Stoneman's proposed
movement, and cause him to repeat his
raid of the previous fall, and destroy the
railroad toward Lynchburg as far as
possible. This movement would place
him between the enemy and the Federal
^arrison in East Tennessee — a position
in which he might render good service,
should the enemy, in the event of their
being driven out of Richmond, fall back
on Lynchburg and attempt a series of
operations in East Tennessee.
General Stoneman in compliance with
his instructions set out from Knoxville
with a heavy force of cavalry about the
Mar. 20th of March, and moving rapidly
20. \)j way 0f Boone, in North Caro
lina, which was reached on the 27th,
struck the Yirginia and East Tennessee
Railroad at Wytheville, Christiausburg,
and Big Lick, destroying between those
places twenty-five miles of the track and
burning thirty-three bridges. That por
tion of his force which struck the railroad
at Big Lick pushed on to within four
miles of Lynchburg, destroying several
important bridges. The main force,
after effectually destroying the railroad
between the New River and Big Lick,
turned southward for Greensboro, on the
North Carolina Railroad. The road
was struck and the bridges destroyed
between Danville and Greensboro, and
between Greensboro and the Yadkin.
The depots of supplies along the route

were also destroyed, four hundred pris
oners being taken. Stoneman then
continued his march in a southerly
direction toward Salisbury, along the
railroad, destroying as he went, bridges,
culverts, depots, and all kinds of sup
plies, thus inflicting irreparable damage
on the prospects of both Lee and John
ston, who depended largely on that road
for supplies as well as for an ultimate
line of retreat. On approaching Salis
bury on the 12th of April, when April
within three miles of the town, the 12«
enemy, about three thousand strong,
under General Gardiner and Colonel
Pemberton, were found posted, with
infantry and artillery, behind Grant's
Creek, the rebel line of defence for the
town. As soon as proper dispositions
could be made, a general charge was
ordered upon the entire rebel line, the
result of which was the capture of four
teen pieces of artillery and 1,364 pris
oners, of whom 55 were officers. The
remainder of the force was , chased
through and several miles beyond the
town, when the fugitives scattering
escaped into the woods. Stoneman
remained at Salisbury two days, de
stroyed large amounts of stores, fifteen
miles of the track, and the bridges in
the direction of Charlotte, and then
moved to Statesville.
In this raid, as in his former one,
Stoneman moved so rapidly that his
troops always announced their own
approach, so that the rebels and the
people of the country had no time to
carry off any property, and the amount
captured or destroyed was very large.

614

OPERATIONS AGAINST MOBILE.

It included four large cotton factories
and seven thousand bales of cotton ;
four large magazines, containing ten
thousand stand of small-arms and ac
coutrements ; one million rounds of
small-arm ammunition, one thousand
rounds of fixed artillery ammunition,
and seven thousand pounds of powder,
thirty-five thousand bushels of corn, fifty
thousand bushels of wheat, one hundred
and sixty thousand pounds of cured
bacon, one hundred thousand suits of
grey uniforms and clothing, two hundred

and fifty thousand army blankets, twenty
thousand pounds of harness leather, ten
thousand pounds of saltpetre, a ve^
large amount of sugar, salt, rice, and
other stores and medical supplies, and
finally the military workshop at Salis
bury, filled with machinery from Raleigh
and Richmond. Had not the fate of
Lee and Johnston been already sealed,
the destruction of such a vast amount
of supplies at a time when every avenue
to the sea was closed to the Confederacy
must have proved an almost fatal loss.

CHAPTER LIIL

Joint Movement of General Canby and Admiral Thatcher against Mobile. — Defences of Mobile. — Harbor Obstructions.
—Spanish 'Fort. — Torpedoes.— Rebel Forces under General Richard Taylor. — Canby's Forces. — Reconnoissance. —
General forward Movement. — Delay from Bad Roads.— March of General Steele's Column from Pensacola. — Rout
of Rebel Cavalry at Mitchell's Creek. — Investment of Spanish Fort.— The Milwaukie and Osage sunk by Torpedoes.
• — Capture of Spanish Fort. — Removal of Torpedoes. — Works at Blakely taken by Assault. — Evacuation of Mobile
by the Rebel Forces. — Prisoners, Guns, and Cotton captured. — Losses.

The city of Mobile, notwithstanding
the capture of the forts at the
entrances of its harbor, remained
in the possession of the Confederates till
April, 1865. The fact that the water in
the whole upper portion of the bay is so
shallow that vessels drawing more than
eight or ten feet water cannot approach
within twenty-five miles of the city,
made its capture impossible by the fleet
alone without the aid of co-operating
land forces. The resumption of active
operations against Mobile was deter
mined on as early as January, and Ad
miral Thatcher, then recently appointed

to the command of the West Gulf
Squadron, was ordered to proceed im
mediately to New Orleans to confer
with General Canby, the force under
whose command was increased by the
addition. of General A. J. Smith's corps
and a division of cavalry from the army
of General Thomas. A joint movement
by land and water was soon arranged
and preparations commenced.
The defences of Mobile were very
strong. Beauregard and Taylor, expect
ing an attack sooner or later, had been
at work upon them for months, and had
employed thousands of negroes in in-

OPERATIONS AGAINST MOBILE.

615

trenching. The main line, nearly nine
miles long, running around the west
side, was almost impregnable. Com
mencing at the bay road, about three
miles south of the city, it extended to
the d6p6t of the Mobile and Ohio Rail
road on the north side, and was dotted
with forty-two small redoubts, averaging
three guns each, the gunners being well
protected by traverses and in many
cases by bomb-proofs. A ditch from
twelve to eighteen feet wide and ten
feet deep, filled a great part of its
length with water, extended along the
entire front of the line of works, and
outside of this again was a stout fence
constructed of telegraph wire. On the
points of low islands in the upper part
of the bay, opposite the city, were two
batteries, around which were driven two
rows of piling thirty feet in length, the
interval between which was filled in
with logs, forming a barrier capable of
resisting the shock of the most powerful
rams. A short distance below these
island batteries was the first system of
obstructions, stretching across the bay,
consisting of seven distinct rows of
piling of the same length as those cover
ing the islands, and standing about six
feet out of the water. Outside of this
barrier was another line, also extending
across the bay, formed by driving two
rows of piling at a sufficient distance
apart to admit of old steamboats, barges,
and other vessels, being sunk between
them. All approach was thus blocked
up for ordinary vessels. On the east
side of the bay, between a little island
and the shore, a narrow channel was

left unobstructed, by means of which
small vessels might get round the east
end of the line of obstructions ; but this
passage was commanded by a strong
battery on the shore, and was at the
same time thickly planted with tor
pedoes. On the east shore of the bay
opposite the city were also a series of
forts and batteries. Among these was
Spanish Fort, which constituted the
main defence of Mobile. This was an
irregular bastioned work with fortifica
tions three miles long, commencing at
D 'Olive Creek, and extending thence
northward to Minetta Bay. Its guns,
which were numerous and included
several seven-inch and eight-inch pieces,
were in embrasures. From the land
side on the right of Spanish Fort were
two bastions encircled with rifle-pits,
chevaux-de-frise, trenches, and a belt of
ground planted with torpedoes. Beyond
Spanish Fort, to the left, and on the
opposite side of Minetta Bay, was
another fort mounting heavy guns.
There were also water batteries on each
side of the bay, in one of which was
mounted a seven-inch Brooks' rifle.
Torpedoes were largely made use of by
the rebels in the defence of Mobile ; not
only were they placed at every point in
the bay near which a Federal gun-boat
might approach, but in the vicinity of
the forts and batteries many were buried
in the sand in such a way that the
weight of a few pounds pressing on them
would cause explosion.
Such in fact was the strength and
extent of the defences of Mobile, that
had they been fully manned, the cap-

616

OPERATIONS AGAINST MOBILE.

ture of the city would have been an
undertaking of extreme difficulty, and
the attempt to accomplish it might have
resulted in a sacrifice of life that its
strategic value would scarcely warrant,
so long as it was 'securely shut up from
blockade runners. But the great trouble
with the Confederates had long been
the want of men, and this want was felt
at Mobile as well as in other parts of
the South. The rebel forces in and
around the city amounted to but about
fifteen thousand men, under the com
mand of General Richard Taylor — Gen
eral Maury being intrusted with the
defences and General Gardiner com
manding the forces in the field. Not
only had the remains of Hood's old
army been largely drawn upon to re
inforce Lee and Johnston in the more
decisive operations of the great contest,
but General Wilson, with a large and
well-appointed column of cavalry, was
distracting the attention of the rebel
forces still remaining in Alabama. Of
the troops at the disposal of General
Taylor, only about half were veterans,
and but a very thin line could be placed
in the long series of defensive works.
The determination of the rebels was,
however, to defend Mobile, and it was
provisioned for a six months' siege.
Maury adopted strict regulations within
the city ; he prohibited, the sale of
liquors, ordered all surplus negroes to
be sent away to lessen the consumption
of provisions, and had strict search made
for secreted cotton, with a view to burn
it, should the city seem in danger of fall
ing into the hands of the Federal troops.

The forces of General Canby destined
to operate against Mobile, about forty
thousand in all, consisted of the thir
teenth corps under General Granger,
and the sixteenth under General A. J.
Smith, both reorganized for this move
ment ; a division of cavalry under Gen
eral Grierson, and a force under General
Steele, consisting of two brigades of
Andrews' division, Hawkins' division of
colored troops, and a cavalry brigade
under General Lucas. Admiral Thatch
er, with light draught iron-clads, was to
co-operate as far as the shallowness of
the water in the bay and the numerous
obstructions would permit. On jiari
the 11th of March, some move- H-
ments of the enemy having given rise to
a supposition that they were evacuating
the defences, a naval reconnoissance in
force, consisting of five monitors, was
sent to ascertain the facts. These went
up the bay into as close proximity to
the city as was practicable, and poured
a hot fire into the enemy's works, dis
mounting several guns, but at the same
time drawing from the rebels such a
reply as left no doubt that they meant
to fight.
Preliminary operations had been going
on for some time, General Granger's
corps having been long concentrated on
Mobile Point near Fort Morgan. Gen
eral A. J. Smith's corps was sent in
transports from New Orleans to Dau
phine Island, opposite Mobile Point, and
the greater part arrived and concen
trated at Fort Gaines on the 12th. The
cavalry, largely reinforced from the
Army of the Cumberland, and all. under

OPERATIONS AGAINST MOBILE.

617

General Grierson, was also at that time
on its way to Mobile Point. General
Steele's force was at Pensacola awaiting
the signal to move. At length, after
months of preparation and weeks of
unlooked-for delay, all were ready, and
a general advance of the forces intended
to take part in the operations com
menced. On the 18th, Moore's brigade of the
Mar, sixteenth corps, about two thou-
l8, sand strong, was conveyed in three
transports, protected by two tin-clads,
to Cedar Point, above Fort Powell, to
effect a landing there and reconnoitre
on the west side of the bay. The land
ing was safely effected at a wharf not
withstanding the torpedoes, of which
five were discovered and dug out, the
tin-clads shelling the woods in the
vicinity. A few rebel cavalry scouts
that made their appearance were driven
off, and some breast-works in the neigh
borhood were abandoned. On the 17th,
Bertram's brigade of the thirteenth
corps, which had been transported from
Dauphine Island to Mobile Point, on
the mainland, for the purpose, had
begun its march along the shore of Bon
Secours Bay, the name given to the
southeastern portion of Mobile Bay, and
the remainder of the corps followed
from Fort Morgan on the 18th. The
rendezvous for the army was at a point
on Fish River about six miles from its
mouth in Bon Secours Bay, about
twenty miles frdm Fort Gaines and
thirty from Mobile. On the 19th, Gen
eral A. J. Smith's corps left Fort Gaines
in transports for Fish River, under the
246

protection of tin-clads — McArthur's di
vision in the advance, Garrard's, follow
ing, and Carr's in the rear — arrived on
the 20th, and were all disembarked on
the left bank by the night of the 21st.
On the 22d and 23d, Granger's troops
also arrived at the rendezvous, having
been much delayed by the wretched
condition of the roads, the mire of which
was so deep as to make the movement
of artillery almost impossible. No seri
ous opposition was made by the enemy,
and Bertram's advanced brigade easily
drove away their cavalry videttes. But
the march was one of extreme difficulty,
notwithstanding that the troops went in
light marching order, without tents and
baggage and with few rations.
General Steele's column left Pensacola
on the 19 th, and moving through
Pollard marched in the direction of
Mobile. At Evergreen, on the Mont
gomery Railroad, ten miles above Pol
lard, he captured two railroad trains,
and tore up the railroad track, as he
had previously done at Pollard. He
also was much delayed by the bad con
dition of the roads, over which there
was much difficulty in moving the wagon
trains and artillery ; but he met with no
active opposition from the enemy, ex
cept from a few skirmishers, till the
advance arrived at Pine Barren Creek,
where the pickets of the Sixth Alabama
rebel cavalry were met, and from this
point the Federal cavalry under Lucas
skirmished with them slightly, the rebels
falling back, till they reached Mitchell's
Creek on the 25th, when they jnart
made a stand. Their force con- 25,

618

OPERATIONS AGAINST MOBILE.

sisted of about eight hundred cavalry
under General Clanton ; but the First
Louisiana and the Second New York
regiments charging promptly, followed
by the rest of the brigade — though two
volleys were received before the fire
could be returned — the rebels, after a
sharp fight, were routed, and pursued
to the Little Escambia River, almost the
entire force being killed, captured, or
dispersed. General Clanton himself was
taken prisoner, as well as fifteen other
officers, and about two hundred and
fifty men. On the 26th, General Steele
continued his march toward Blakely,
on the Tensaw River, at the northeast
extremity of Mobile Bay, and about
four miles above Spanish Fort. After
reaching the vicinity of that place he
called on General Canby for supplies, and
a wagon train was sent to him on the
29th. From the 24th to the 27th, skirmishing
occurred between the advance of the
Federal force, which had rendezvoused
on the Fish River, and the enemy's cav
alry, resulting in a loss of about twenty
men to the former. Several men and
horses were killed by torpedoes planted
on the roads to Spanish Fort. On the
25th an advance through the pine forests
was commenced from Fish River toward
Blakely, by McArthur's division, follow
ed next day by the remainder of the
troops — the sixteenth corps moving on
the right toward Blakely, and the thir
teenth on the left toward Spanish Fort,
toward which the enemy were driven
back. The sixteenth corps also drove
back the force in its front as far as

Sibley's Mills, when the enemy made an
unsuccessful attempt to burn the bridge
over Bayou Minet. On the 27th, jjjar,
the enemy in front of Spanish Fort 27.
made an attempt to surprise the pickets
of the thirteenth corps, but after a few
moments' brisk firing were repulsed and
fell back toward Blakely. Both corps
now got into position to invest Spanish
Fort, the sixteenth forming on the right,
the thirteenth on the left — the several
divisions forming a line in which Carr's
division held the extreme right, Mc
Arthur's being next on its left ; then
Yeach's and Benton's, and on the ex
treme left Bertram's brigade. General
Garrard remained in the rear guarding
the trains. Artillery having been moved
up to within five hundred yards of the
fort, skirmishers were thrown out in
front, and in spite of heavy rain an
artillery and musketry fire was continued
all day. By nightfall the forces invest
ing Spanish Fort were well-intrenched,
the enemy's fire during the day having
caused a loss of about two hundred men.
During the night rifle-pits were con
structed, and the batteries moved for*
ward till some of them were within four
hundred yards of the fort, while the
skirmishers got a hundred yards nearer.
More or less firing went on also through
the night ; and on the morning of the
28th all the batteries opened fire again.
The investment on the part of the
land forces went on favorably ; but it
was necessary that the fort should be
cut off from communication with Mobile
by water, and be put beyond the reach
of reinforcements and supplies. With

OPERATIONS AGAINST MOBILE.

619

the view of effecting this, a naval move
ment had been commenced on the 27th.
Since the captures of Forts Morgan and
Gaines the Federal gun-boats had not
ventured to cross Dog River Bar, partly
on account of the shallowness of the
water there, but principally from fear
of damage by torpedoes, which were
thickly planted in its vicinity. On the
27th, however, five iron-clads — the
Winnebago, Kickapoo, Chickasaw, Mil-
waukie, and Osage, with the double-
ender Octorara, succeeded in crossing
the bar in safety, formed line of battle
immediately beyond, and opened fire on
the enemy's works, in the course of
which 180 shells were thrown without
eliciting any reply. On the afternoon
Mar. °f the 28th, the Winnebago and
28. Milwaukie advanced toward Span
ish Fort, and with a fire of shells drove
off a transport near by. But a water
battery of the enemy two miles distant
opened fire on them with guns supposed
to be Whitworths, throwing shells far
beyond them, and the two iron-clads
were ordered to withdraw to the line of
battle. This the Winnebago succeeded
in doing in safety ; but the Milwaukie
struck a torpedo, and was so much
injured that she instantly filled and
sunk, the water, however, being only
eleven feet deep, all her crew were got
off, only one man having been injured
by the explosion. The upper parts of
the turrets, the pilot-houses, and smoke
stacks, and a portion of the deck re
mained above water. One of the turrets
remained in good working order, and
fire was opened from it on the 29th upon

Spanish Fort. The other iron-clads
remained in line of battle on the jjar,
29th, the Osage, a Mississippi 29.
"turtle-back," carrying an eleven-inch
gun, being at anchor a short distance
astern ; but as it was feared she might
get foul of the other vessels, she was
steamed ahead for the purpose of an
choring near the eastern shore on the
edge of the channel, where, as she was
preparing to cast anchor, she also struck
a torpedo on the starboard bow and
sunk. This accident cost the lives of
six men ; four others were wounded ;
the remainder of the men and officers
were got off unhurt.
In the mean time heavy musketry and
artillery firing was continued by the
land forces in front of the fort. Siege
guns were brought up ; skirmishers and
working parties advanced to within
eighty yards, and three or four batteries
were planted within from three to four
hundred yards of the works ; but owing
to this close proximity the enemy's shells
were very destructive. Occasionally,
also, men and horses were killed or
wounded by the explosion of the tor
pedoes with which the roads in the
vicinity were thickly strewn. About
two o'clock on the morning of the 30th,
some skirmishers of Yeach's division
having lost their way while relieving
guard, came in contact with the enemy,
who, apprehending an assault, advanced
and drove in the line of working parties
and skirmishers to the very rifle-pits,
taking some prisoners ; but they quickly
retired. Sharp artillery firing then
sprang up, continuing till after daylight.

620

OPERATIONS AGAINST MOBILE.

Fire was opened also from the fort upon
the sunken vessels Milwaukie and Osage,
to which the iron-clads in line responded,
some of their shells bursting directly
over the fort. Several of the enemy's
war vessels, provided with guns of heavy
calibre, showed a disposition to take
part in the contest during the day,
shelling the Federal lines above Spanish
Fort. By the 3d of April, General Steele
having brought his lines at Blakely into
connection with Canby's right, the in
vestment of the fort was complete, and
from that time till the 8th there was a
constant interchange of fire between the
gun-boats and batteries on both sides.
The fleet could not get so far up the bay
as was hoped, but nevertheless crossed
the bar, engaged the rebel ram Nashville
and Spanish Fort, and drove the enemy's
vessels back toward the city. Just
April before nightfall on the 8th of April
8» the final preparations for assault
were completed. Within half a mile of
the fort over thirty Parrott guns and
mortars had been mounted, besides three
light batteries thrown forward several
hundred yards nearer, and from all these
as well as from field-pieces a terrific fire
was opened upon the fort, to which was
added that of the gun-boats, which had
now succeeded in cutting off in great
measure communication with Mobile.
At the same time skirmishers, creeping
forward from trench to trench and from
ridge to ridge, got within a hundred
yards of the fort, and by an accurate
sharpshooting fire kept the artillerists
from the unsheltered guns. The enemy

responded at first briskly and heavily,
but were gradually driven from their
guns, which replied more and more
feebly, till at midnight they were
silenced, and an hour afterward, the
greater part of the garrison having
escaped by water, the occupants of the
fort surrendered, having previously
spiked the guns. Colonel Bertram's
brigade immediately occupied the works.
Twenty-five officers and 538 men were
captured, besides five mortars, twenty-
five cannon — several of them eight- inch
columbiads — and a large quantity of
ammunition. A fire was immediately directed on
Forts Huger ajid Tracy, in the harbor,
at the mouth of the Blakely River ; but
the enemy soon abandoned both of
them after spiking eight heavy guns.
The monitors and gun-boats. then, assist
ed by some prisoners, succeeded in find
ing and removing in a short time
between thirty and forty torpedoes, and
ran up to almost within shelling distance
of Mobile. The gun-boat Cherokee
moved up close enough at night to
throw several shells into the enemy's
water batteries, but without drawing a
fire in return.
It now only remained to capture
Blakely, the investment of which had
been commenced on the 2d by the
troops of General Steele, but whose
water communication with Mobile had
been protected by the guns of Spanish
Fort. Several vessels having run up
the Blakely River on the 9 th of ^r\\
April, the investing troops were 9.
formed to assault Fort Alexis and the

OPERATIONS AGAINST MOBILE.

621

works protecting the town. Steele's
troops, as before, held the right, Smith's
the centre, and Granger's the left.
About one o'clock, notwithstanding a
tremendous and almost decimating fire
from the enemy's batteries, and an en
filading shelling from the rebel gun
boats Nashville and Huntsville, the
troops rushed onward with loud cheers,
cut through the thick abattis, crossed the
ditches, and, although the ground was
strewn with torpedoes, carried the works
handsomely by assault. Fort Alexis
and the entire line of works were taken,
with 2,400 prisoners, including two
general officers, besides twenty guns
and a large quantity of ammunition and
camp equipage.
The capture of Blakely was decisive
of the fate of Mobile. The enemy com
menced evacuating the city on the 10th,
and were nearly all away by the night
April °f ^he 11th. On the following
12» day a formal surrender was made
by the mayor to General Granger, who
went over to the west side of the bay
with two divisions, and at noon entered
the city with three regiments to prevent
pillage. When the provost-guard was

established, the works around the city,
which were found to be of immense
strength and extent, were garrisoned.
There were found in the city, which
was in fine order, and in the defences
on the west side of the bay, over 150
guns and a very large amount of am
munition and supplies of all kinds,
besides several thousand bales of cotton.
The total number of guns found in the
defences on both sides of the bay did
not fall many short of four hundred. In
the entire series of operations nearly
four thousand prisoners were taken,
besides which the rebels lost about two
thousand in killed and wounded. The
Federal loss on the part of the land
forces was about twenty-five hundred ;
that of the fleet was less than fifty, but
its loss from vessels striking torpedoes
was severe, and even after the occupa
tion of the city no less than five were
sunk in that way in the harbor. Of the
rebel vessels of war, five in all, carrying
twenty-eight guns, the Huntsville and
Tuscaloosa were sunk by the rebels
before the evacuation. The Nashville
and Morgan and another vessel made
their escape up the Tombigbee River.

622

GENERAL WILSON'S GREAT RAID.

CHAPTER LIY.

General Wilson's great Raid through the South.— Delayed by Rains.— The March, in three Divisions— Cuxton's Bri
gade detached to Tuscaloosa. — Fight at Elyton. — Arrival of the Column at Montevallo. — Courier captured. — Forrest
driven back toward Selma.— Defeat of Forrest at Boyle's Creek. — The March on Selma.— Fortifications of Selma. —
Defences carried by Assault. — Capture of Guns and Prisoners. — Bridge over the Alabama. — Occupation of Mont
gomery. — Capture of Columbus and of West Point. — Flag of Truce from General Cobb. — Capture of Macon by
Colonel White.— Suspension of Arms. — Details of General Cuxton's movements. — Vast amount of Property destroyed.

1865.

In order to co-operate with General
Canby in his movement against
Mobile, and to distract as much as
possible the enemy's attention in Ala
bama, General Grant directed General
Thomas on the 14th of February to
prepare as large a cavalry force as he
could spare for a great raid through the
South, whose objects would be first to
insure success to Canby's operations,
and second, to destroy the enemy's
lines of communication and military
resources. Tuscaloosa and Selma were
recommended as the objective points of
the expedition, while at the same time
the commanding officer was to be allow
ed discretion to direct his movements
according to the information he might
receive. Accordingly, on the 23d of
February, General Thomas authorized
General Wilson — who, after its return
from the pursuit of Hood, had assembled
his entire cavalry corps, for the purpose
of reorganization, at Eastport, at the
head of steamboat navigation on the
Tennessee River — to fit out aijd take
charge of the expedition, and to move
with his entire available force, allowing

him at the same time the amplest dis
cretion of an independent command.
It was intended that the expedition
should start by the 4th of March, but
heavy rains setting in, the roads became
impassable, and the river so much
swollen that a crossing was not effected
till the 18th. The entire force jnar,
consisted of thirteen thousand 18*
mounted and fifteen hundred dismounted
men, with three batteries of artillery.
Every trooper was furnished with five
days' light rations in haversacks, twenty-
four pounds of grain, a hundred rounds
of ammunition, and an extra pair of
shoes for his horse. The pack animals
were loaded with hard bread for five
days, and with sugar, coffee, and salt
for ten days. The wagons contained
coffee for forty-five days, sugar for
twenty days, salt for fifteen days, and
eighty rounds of ammunition. These
supplies were provided on the supposi
tion that the campaign would occupy
about sixty days, and that the troops
would be able to live off the country
passed through. The entire train, in
cluding a light canvas pontoon train of

GENERAL WILSON'S GREAT RAID.

623

thirty boats, numbered two hundred and
fifty wagons, escorted by the fifteen hun
dred dismounted men. At daylight on
Mar, the 22d, all preliminary arrange-
22» ments having been perfected, the
march began, in three divisions, under
Generals Long, Upton, and McCook.
The entire valley of the Tennessee River
having been laid waste in the course of
two years' warfare, was almost wholly
destitute of subsistence supplies, and it
became necessary to move rapidly and
to scatter the troops over a wide extent
of country — which could be done with
out risk, as it was known that Forrest's
troops were at that time near West
Point, in Mississippi, one hundred and
fifty miles southwest of Eastport, while
Roddy's command occupied Montevallo,
on the Alabama and Tennessee River
Railroad, nearly as far to the southeast.
By moving on diverging roads also, the
rebels were left in doubt as to the real
object of the expedition, and were thus
compelled to keep their disposable force
divided, to wa,tch equally Columbus,
Tuscaloosa, and Selma.
General Long's division marched by
way of Cherokee Station and Frankfort
toward Russellville, but being encum
bered by the pontoon train, and having
mistaken the road, was considerably
delayed. From Russellville it marched
directly southward till it crossed Upper
Bear Creek, when it turned eastward
and pushed through to Jasper, and the
ford on the Black Warrior River. Gen
eral Upton's division marched rapidly
by the most easterly route, passing
through Barton's Station, Throgmorton's

Mills, Russellville, Mount Hope, and
Jasper, to Saunders Ferry, on the West
Fork of the Black Warrior. General
McCook's division pursued the same
route to Bear Creek, on the Tuscaloosa
road, but instead of turning eastward
from that point, continued its march in
the direction of Tuscaloosa, as far as
Eldridge, and thence eastward to Jasper.
This order of march was continued till
the three divisions arrived at and crossed
the two forks of the Black Warrior.
General Wilson, while at Jasper, on the
27th, hearing that a part of For- jiari
rest's command, under Chalmers, 27.
was moving by way of Bridgeville to
ward Tuscaloosa, and believing that if
the real direction of his movement had
been discovered, Forrest, with the re
mainder of the rebel cavalry, would
soon push on in the same direction,
ordered his division commanders to leave
all the wagons between the two branches
of the Black Warrior, and with the
artillery march with the utmost expedi
tion by way of Elyton to Montevallo —
the wagon trains with their escorts to
make the best of their way to Elyton
and await further instructions. On jnar,
the evening of the 30th, Cuxton's 30,
brigade was detached from McCook's
division, then at Elyton, with orders to
move rapidly on Tuscaloosa and destroy
the public stores there, as well as the
military school, the bridges, foundries,
and factories, and returning toward the
main column by the Centreville road,
rejoin it at or in the vicinity of Selma.
General Upton encountered a few rebel
cavalry at Elyton, but drove them before

624

GENERAL WILSON'S GREAT RAID.

him across the Cahawba, whence they
retreated to Montevallo, followed rapidly
by General Upton, who arrived there
late on the evening of the 30th. In this
region General Upton's division destroy
ed some important iron-works, at the
time in full operation, as well as the
Cahawba rolling-mills, five collieries, and
much other valuable property. The
divisions of Generals Long and McCook
marched by the same route as General
Upton's, and the entire command arrived
at Montevallo early in the afternoon of
Mar. the 31st of March. But a rebel
81« force making its appearance on the
Selma road, General Upton moved his
division out to meet it, and General
Alexander's brigade, in the advance,
after a sharp fight, drove portions of
Roddy's and Crossland's commands rap
idly and in confusion four or five miles
in the direction of Randolph, where they
made a stand. General Upton, however,
placing a battery in position, and pass
ing Winslow's brigade to the front,
again forced them to a retreat, soon
hastened by the advance of the whole
division. Fifty prisoners were taken,
and Upton's division bivouacked four
teen miles south of Montevallo, pushing
forward at dawn on the morning of the
1st of April to Randolph. From this
point General Upton turned eastward,
to move by way of Maplesville, and
thence by the old Selma road, General
Long pushing forward by the river
road. At Randolph, General Upton captured
a rebel courier just from Centreville,
with two dispatches, one from General

W. H. Jackson, commanding a division
of Forrest's forces, and the other from
Major Anderson, Forrest's chief of staff.
From the first of these it was discovered
that Forrest, with part of his command,
was in front of the Federal forces ; that
Jackson, with his division and all the
wagons and artillery of the rebel cavalry,
had encamped the night before at Hill's
plantation, three miles from Scottsboro ;
that General Cuxton, with the brigade
detached at Elyton, had struck Jackson's
rear-guard at Trion, and got between it
and the train, and that Jackson intended
to attack Cuxton at daylight on the 1st
of April. From the other dispatch it
was learned that Chalmers was on his
way to join Forrest in the Federal front
or at Selma, and that a rebel force of
dismounted men was stationed at Cen
treville to hold the bridge over the
Cahawba. Soon afterward General
Wilson received a dispatch from Gen
eral. Cuxton, written at Trion the night
before, stating that he had struck Jack
son's rear, and that instead of pushing
on to Tuscaloosa he would follow Jack
son up and bring him to an engagement,
with a view to prevent his junction with
Forrest. General McCook was then
directed to send a regiment to strengthen
a battalion previously ordered to Centre
ville, and to follow at once with La
Grange's entire brigade with the utmost
possible celerity and seize the bridge at
Centreville, and then, leaving a sufficient
guard to hold the bridge, proceed by
the Scottsboro road toward Trion, attack
and break up Jackson's forces, form
a junction with Cuxton, and returning

GENERAL WILSON'S GREAT RAID.

625

by the Centreville road rejoin his corps
at Selma.
Generals Long and Upton were then
directed to push forward upon Forrest
as rapidly as possible and drive him
back on Selma. The advance of both
divisions encountered small parties of
Forrest's command, but drove them back
to their main body at Ebenezer Church,
six miles north of Plantersville, where
Forrest had taken up a position on the
April north bank of Boyle's Creek —
!• his right resting on Mulberry Creek
and his left on a high wooded ridge- — •
with four pieces of artillery placed on
the Randolph road, by which Long was
advancing, and two on the Maplesville
road. His force consisted of Armstrong's
brigade of Chalmers' division, Roddy's
division, Crossland's brigade of Ken-
tuckians, and three hundred infantry
just arrived from Selma — in all about
five thousand men. Part of his front
was covered by a slashing of pine trees
and fence-rail barricades.
As soon as General Long discovered
the rebel advance-guard, he reinforced
his own, consisting of a battalion of
mounted infantry, by the balance of the
regiment, and formed it, dismounted, on
the left of the road. He then pushed
on and broke the rebel line, at the same
time ordering forward four companies
of mounted infantry, who, with drawn
sabres, drove the rebels in confusion to
their main line, which they also broke
through, riding over the rebel guns, and
then turned to, the left, and cut their
way out, but leaving behind them one
officer and sixteen men killed or wound-
241

ed. General Alexander, in the advance
of Upton's division, hearing the firing
on his right, when about three miles off,
hastened to the scene of action, and —
deploying his men mostly on the right
of the road, with the intention of con
necting with Long's left — as soon as
everything was in readiness pushed for
ward his men. In less than an hour,
though the rebels made a determined
resistance, the position was carried.
Three guns and about two hundred
prisoners were captured. Winslow's
brigade was then immediately passed to
the front, to pursue the enemy, but did
not succeed in bringing them to another
stand. The whole corps bivouacked at
sundown near Plantersville about nine
teen miles north of Selma.
The march on Selma was resumed at
daylight on the morning of the 2d, ^prj|
and by rapid marching, the troops, 2.
meeting no opposition, were all in sight
of the town, and in position by four in
the afternoon. The fortifications of
Selma consisted of a bastioned fine on a
radius of nearly three" miles, both ends
of which rested on the river, one above
and the other below the city. On the
west side of the city was a miry, deep,
and almost impassable creek, on the east
side a swamp reaching from the river
almost to the Summerfield road, and
entirely impracticable for mounted men
at all times. The height of the parapet
at the part of the line where it was
determined to make the assault was
from six to eight feet ; in front of it was
a ditch five feet deep ; the stockade on
the glacis was five feet high, and sunk

626

GENERAL WILSON'S GREAT RAID.

four feet into the soil. The ground in
front was an open field, generally level,
but sloping a little toward the works,
and intersected by a ravine. The entire
force within the town, including some
militia, was about seven thousand men,
under Forrest, Roddy, Armstrong, and
Adams. General Wilson, after making a re
connoissance of the roads from left to
right, directed General Long to assault
the works by moving diagonally across
the road upon which his troops were
posted, while General Upton, with a
picked force of three hundred men, was
directed to penetrate a swamp on his
left, break through the line covered by
it, and turn the rebel right — the re
mainder of his division to conform to
the movement. The signal for the
advance was to be a single gun, to be
fired as soon as Upton's turning move
ment was accomplished. But before
this plan could be put in execution,
General Long was informed that a
strong force of rebel cavalry, afterward
ascertained to have been Chalmers'
command, was skirmishing with his rear,
and fearing that this affair might com
promise the assault upon the main posi
tion, he strengthened his rear by another
regiment, and without waiting for the
signal gun, gave the order to advance
at once. The troops dismounted and
sprang forward, and without ever stop
ping, wavering, or faltering, in fifteen
minutes swept over the works, and
drove the rebels toward the city in con
fusion. General Wilson immediately
notified General Upton that the works

in front of General Long were carried;
and directed him to push in also as
rapidly as possible, at the same time
ordering Colonel Minty to collect Gen
eral Long's men for a new charge —
General Long himself having fallen
severely wounded in the head. Colonel
Yail also, commanding the Seventeenth
Indiana, was ordered to place his own
regiment and the Fourth Ohio in line
inside the captured works. Colonel
O'Connell, with the Fourth United
States Regiment, and Captain Robinson's
battery were also ordered up. The
rebels had fallen back to a new and only
partially finished line in the edge of the
city ; and to carry this was the object
of the renewed attack. A gallant charge
made by the Fourth United States Cav
alry was repulsed, but it was rapidly
re-formed on the left. Night was now
coming on, but the ardor of the troops
admitted of no restraint. Upton's entire
division advanced, and at the same time
a new charge was made by the Fourth
Ohio, the Seventeenth Indiana, and the
Fourth United States Cavalry, all dis
mounted. This time the troops swept
everything before them in the most
enthusiastic manner, and penetrated the
city in all directions, while Robinson's
battery, now in a commanding position,
steadily replied to the rebel guns, dis
mounting two of them.
The assault was successful in every
particular, and considering all the cir
cumstances, not surpassed by any made
during the war. The distance over
which the troops charged while exposed
to a musketry and artillery fire, was six

GENERAL WILSON'S GREAT RAID.

627

hundred yards, and the number actually
engaged did not exceed two thousand,
while the portion of the line assaulted
was manned by fifteen hundred troops
of Armstrong's brigade, which had been
considered the best in Forrest's com
mand. The Federal loss was a little
over three hundred. The number of
prisoners captured amounted to 2,700,
including 150 officers. There were also
taken, in position, thirty-one field-guns
and one thirty-pounder Parrott, a num
ber of colors, and immense quantities of
stores of all kinds. Generals Forrest,
Armstrong, Roddy, and Adams escaped
in the darkness with more than half of
their men, either by the Burnsville and
river roads, or by swimming the Ala
bama River. A portion of Upton's
division pursued on the Burnsville road
until long after midnight, capturing four
guns and several hundred prisoners.
General Winslow was placed in com
mand of the city, with orders to destroy
everything that could possibly be of
service to the rebel forces. General
Upton's division was directed to march
at daylight on the morning of the 3d of
April for the purpose of driving Chal
mers to the west side of the Cahawba,
and to .open communications with Mc
Cook, who was expected back from
Centreville, and in conjunction with him
to bring in the wagon trains. Generals
Upton and McCook came back on the
5th, but without having obtained any
definite intelligence respecting the move
ments of General Cuxton. McCook
on reaching Scottsboro had found Jack
son well posted, with a force too strong

to be attacked, and after a sharp skir
mish fell back again to Centreville.
On the 6th of April, General Wilson,
having ordered the construction ^ril
of a bridge over the Alabama 6-
River, went to Cahawba to have an
interview with Forrest, who had agreed
to meet him there to make arrangements
for an exchange of prisoners. But as
Forrest hoped to be able to recapture
his men, little could be done with him.
General Wilson, however, learnt from
Forrest, that General Cuxton had had
an engagement with Wirt Adams, near
Bridgeville, forty miles southwest of
Tuscaloosa, several days before. Gen
eral Wilson therefore returned to Selma,
and urged forward the construction
of the bridge and the preparations
for crossing to the south side of the
Alabama, which was quite full and ris
ing, and 870 feet in width — the current
so strong that the pontoons were three
times swept away. The troops were,
however, all got over by the 10th of
April. Before leaving the city General
Winslow destroyed the great foundry,
a large number of eleven- inch and other
guns, all the machinery for manufactur
ing small-arms, and for casting shot and
shell, as well as the arsenal, with its
contents, and a quantity of military
stores. Ten thousand bales of cotton
and several warehouses were consigned
to the flames. The Confederate author
ities had previously destroyed twenty-
five thousand bales of cotton.
General Wilson then determined to
march to Georgia by way of Mont
gomery, about forty-five miles east of

628

GENERAL WILSON'S GREAT RAID.

Selma, and after breaking up railroads,
and destroying as far as practicable the
Confederate resources in that State, to
move as rapidly as possible to the theatre
of war in North Carolina. All the dis
mounted men were supplied with horses
at Selma, and, in order to relieve the
column of all unnecessary impediments,
most of the pontoon train and all surplus
wagons were destroyed. All fugitive
negroes also, except such able-bodied
men as were willing to enlist, were left
behind. A large number volunteered
for the service and were organized into
regiments, one to each division.
The march to Montgomery was neces
sarily slow, the roads being bad and the
bridges over the streams destroyed, so
that the advance-guard did not reach
April the city till seven o'clock on the
12« morning of the 12th, when the
mayor made a formal surrender. Gen
eral Adams, who with a small rebel force
had made his escape from Selma to Mont
gomery, after burning one hundred and
twenty-five thousand bales of cotton,
had continued his retreat to Mount
Meigs, on the Columbus road ; but the
Federal troops found there five guns
and a large quantity of small-arms and
stores, which they destroyed. A small
detachment sent northward to Wetump-
kat on the east bank of the Coosa River,
captured there five steamboats, with
their cargoes, which were brought to
Montgomery and destroyed.
The march was resumed early on the
14th, General Upton's division moving
eastward directly on Columbus. La
Grange's brigade having received orders

to make a rapid movement along the
railroad to West Point, destroying the
railroad bridges on the route, soon after
leaving camp came upon a force of
rebels, which they drove back in confu
sion, taking a hundred and fifty prison
ers. Long's division under Minty fol
lowed Upton's by way of Tuskegee.
McCook's division remained a few hours
in Columbus to complete tbe destruction
of public stores. About two o'clock on
the afternoon of the 16th, a part April
of General Alexander's brigade, 16*
the advance of Upton's division, met
rebel pickets and drove them rapidly
through Gerard to the lower bridge over
the Chattahoochee at Columbus ; but
the rebels hastily setting fire to it pre
vented their pursuers from crossing.
The enemy at Columbus were found to
be strongly posted in a line of works
covering all the bridges, with many guns
in position on both sides of the river.
General Upton, however, determined to
commence the attack without waiting
for Minty's division, and sent Winslow's
brigade to the Opelika or Summerville
road to assault the works on that side ;
but Winslow being accidentally detained,
did not arrive at the position assigned
him till after dark. General .Upton,
however, proposed to make the assault
in the night, and General Wilson coin
ciding with him, the attack was ordered.
Three hundred men of the Third Iowa
Cavalry were dismounted, moved for
ward, and formed across the road, two
regiments being held in readiness to
support the storming party. By eight
o'clock the troops were al) in readi-

GENERAL WILSON'S GREAT RAID.

629

ness, and at that hour the rebels opened
upon them a fire of musketry, grape,
and canister. The assaulting party,
armed with Spencer's carbines, dashed
forward and opened a rapid and effective
fire, pushed through a slashing and
abattis, and pressed back the rebels to
their outer works, Two companies of
the Tenth Missouri were then sent for
ward to get possession of the bridge,
and passing through the inner line of
rebel works in the dark, succeeded in
doing so before the rebels were aware
of their approach. General Upton then
pressed other troops forward, swept
away all opposition, took possession of
the fort and railroad bridge, and entered
the city. Twelve hundred prisoners,
fifty-two guns in position, and large
quantities of arms and stores were cap
tured. The Federal loss was only
twenty-four killed and wounded. Col
onel Lamar, formerly owner of the
slaver Wanderer, was among the rebel
killed. In the mean time La Grange's bri
gade had, after a good deal of hard
marching and skirmishing, reached the
vicinity of West Point late on the fore
noon ofthe 16th. Fort Tyler, covering
the bridge over the Chattahoochee, was
found to be a remarkably strong bas-
tioned earth - work, thirty-five yards
square, with a ditch twelve feet wide
and ten deep, on a commanding emi
nence, and mounting two thirty-two
pounders and two field-guns. An assault
was made at half-past one on three sides
of the work at once. The rebel skir
mishers were rapidly driven into the

fort and followed by the assailants to
the edge of the ditch. This was found
impassable under the enemy's fire of
musketry and grape ; but La Grange,
instead of calling back his men, posted
a sufficient number of sharpshooters to
keep down the rebel gunners, and
organized parties to procure materials
for bridges over the ditch. When these
were collected, the troops sprang forward
again, laid the bridges, and rushed over
the parapet into the works, capturing
the entire of garrison of 265 men.
General Tyler, the commander of the
fort, and eighteen men were killed,
besides twenty-seven severely wounded.
La Grange's loss was seven killed and
twenty^nine wounded. He destroyed
also the two bridges over the Chatta
hoochee, nineteen locomotives and 245
cars, most of which were loaded with
quartermasters' stores. Early on the
17th he resumed his march toward
Macon, passing through the towns of
La Grange, Griffin, and Forsyth.
General Winslow was assigned to the
command of Columbus, and destroyed
there an immense quantity of property,
including a hundred and fifteen thousand
bales of cotton, the rebel ram Jackson,
nearly ready for service, and mounting
six seven-inch guns, fifteen locomotives,
two hundred and fifty railroad cars, the
railroad and foot bridges, the navy-yard,
over a hundred thousand rounds of
artillery ammunition, a vast amount of
quartermasters' and commissary stores,
and various foundries and factories. On
the afternoon of the 17th, Colonel ^^i
Minty's division resumed the move- 1?«

630

GENERAL WILSON'S GREAT RAID.

ment in the direction of Macon, march
ing by the Thomaston road. A detach
ment sent forward to seize the bridges
across the Flint River, fifty-five miles
east of Columbus, reached and secured
them early on the following morning.
The remainder of General Wilson's
column left Columbus on the morning
ofthe 18th, following the same route as
Minty's division. When within twenty
miles of Macon, the advance-guard,
under Colonel White, drove back two
hundred rebel cavalry. Seven miles
farther, Colonel White was met by Gen
eral Robertson, of the Confederate
army, with a flag of truce and a letter
addressed to the commander of the
forces. This was forwarded to General
Wilson, who did not receive it till late
in the afternoon, when nineteen miles
from Macon. It proved to be a com
munication from General Cobb, com
manding the rebel forces in Macon,
announcing that a truce had been agreed
upon between Generals Sherman and
Johnston, and proposing that the con
tending forces should remain in the
positions they then occupied, till notice
of a resumption of hostilities should be
given. General Wilson immediately
rode rapidly toward the front, with the
intention of halting the advance at the
defences of Macon, and obtaining an in
terview with General Cobb before giving
his consent to the armistice ; but before
he could arrive, Colonel White had
dashed into the city and received its
surrender, the garrison making but a
slight show of resistance. General Wil
son arrived at half-past eight in the

evening, and, though not doubting that
an armistice had been agreed upon,
determined, notwithstanding the protest
of General Cobb, to consider the garri
son as prisoners of war till he should
receive official notice from United States
authorities. On the morning of the
21st, at six o'clock, he received this in
the form of a dispatch from General
Sherman, informing him of a universal
suspension of arms, accompanied by an
order to desist from further acts of war
and devastation. On the 30th, he April
received notice of the final capitu- 30.
lation of the rebel forces east of the
Chattahoochee, and not till the following
day did he get the order of Secretary
Stanton, annulling the first armistice.
General Cuxton arrived with his bri
gade at Forsyth on the 30th, and the
next day marched into Macon. After
having skirmished near Trion on the
morning of the 22d of April, with the
rebel force under Jackson, twenty-six
hundred strong, he marched rapidly
toward Johnston's Ferry on the Black
Warrior, forty-four miles above Tusca
loosa, crossed to the west side, and
turned toward Northport, where he
arrived at nine o'clock at night on the
4th. About midnight he surprised the
force at the bridge and crossed into
Tuscaloosa. Here he captured three
guns and a hundred and fifty prisoners,
and destroyed the military school and
all the public works. Failing to com
municate with McCook, and not hearing
from General Wilson, and knowing that
Jackson and Chalmers were both on the
west side of the Cahawba, he abandoned

GENERAL WILSON'S GREAT RAID.

631

Tuscaloosa on the 5th, burnt the bridge
over the Black Warrior, and struck to
the southeast toward Eutaw ; but when
within seven miles of that place, hearing
that Wirt Adams was there, with two
thousand cavalry, he moved back in the
•direction of Tuscaloosa, and leaving it
on the right passed on through Jasper,
recrossed the West Fork of the Black
Warrior at Hawley's Mill, and marching
in an easterly direction by way of Mount
Benson and Trionsville, crossed the
Coosa at Collins' Ferry, and moved
toward Talladega. Near this place he
scattered a rebel force under General
Hill, capturing a gun and a hundred and
fifty prisoners, and continued his march
thence toward Blue Mountain, the ter
minus of the Alabama and Tennessee
Railroad. Then, after destroying some
important iron-works, he moved again
eastward by way of Carrollton, Newman,
and Forsyth, to Macon, having marched
650 miles in thirty days, during which
time he had no knowledge of the move
ments of the main column.

The great raid of General Wilson of
course ended at Macon. The route
taken lay through a vast region which
for the most part had never been touch
ed by Federal troops, and consequently
afforded an abundance of supplies while
the army was in motion. The main
column had marched 525 miles in twenty-
eight days, and captured during that
time five fortified cities, 288 pieces of
artillery, 6,820 prisoners, including five
general officers, and twenty-three stand
of colors ; it also captured or destroyed
two gun-boats, ninety-nine thousand
stand of arms, five steamboats, thirty-
five locomotives, 565 cars, besides iron
works, foundries, machine-shops, rolling-
mills, factories, and a vast amount of
other property ; it also destroyed or
compelled the enemy to destroy 275,000
bales of cotton, worth at the prices then
prevailing, $68,000,000. The total Fed
eral loss was, 13 officers and 86 men
killed ; 39 officers and 559 men wound
ed, and 7 officers and 21 men missing —
an aggregate of 725.

632

REBEL FLEET ON THE JAMES.

CHAPTER LY,

Inactivity of the Armies in Virginia.— Failure of the Dutch Gap Canal.— Movement of the Rebel Fleet against City
Point. — Efforts to initiate Peace Negotiations. — Conference at Fortress Monroe. — Another great Movement to the
left from Petersburg.— Fighting at Hatcher's Run.— Gordon's Attack repulsed by General Smyth.— Advance to
Dabney's Mills. — Federal Forces driven back to Hatcher's Run.— Guerrillas in the Valley of the Shenandoah. —
Sheridan's Raid from Winchester toward Lynchburg. — Capture of Staunton.— Total Defeat of Early at Waynes
boro.— Occupation of Charlottesville. — Heavy Rains and had Roads.— Sheridan at Columbia. — The March to White
House. — JEnormous Destruction effected, of Railroads, Bridges, Canal Locks, and Mills.

The general inactivity into which
military operations in Yirginia set
tled after the battle of Hatcher's
Run and General Warren's expedition
toward Weldon, characterized affairs
there for some weeks in the following
year. In January little of importance
occurred beyond the monotonous shell
and picket firing in the lines before
Petersburg, or in connection with the
Jan. Army of the James. On New
!• Year's day the bulkhead of the
Dutch Gap Canal was partially blown
out by the explosion of mines. The
earth was thrown up to a considerable
height, but instead of being cast forward,
as was desired, fell back substantially
into its former position. A crater was
formed into which the water ran slowly
from the canal below about two-thirds
of the distance from the head of the
water in the canal to the edge of the
water in the James, but no connection
with the river was estabUshed, and of
course the canal remained useless for
the purposes for which it was intended.
A. few raids by one party or the other

kept the Yalley of the Shenandoah
from relapsing into absolute repose.
Heavy rains about the middle of
January swelled the James River to
several feet above its ordinary level,
flooding the low grounds along its banks,
and tearing away the pontoon bridges
at Aiken's Landing and Dutch Bottom,
and the enemy, taking advantage of the
high stage of water in the river, after
the departure of Admiral Porter's fleet
for Wilmington, prepared their iron
clads in the James for a descent on City
Point. A fleet composed of three
iron-clads, the Yirginia, Richmond, and
Fredericksburg, each carrying four guns,
the wooden vessels Drewry, Nansemond,
and Hampton, each of two guns, the
Bedford, one gun, the steamer Torpedo,
and three torpedo boats, at a very early
hour on the morning of the 24th, jan,
dropped down from their anchorage 24.
above the Howlett batteries, ran past
Fort Brady without being observed, and
attempted to pass the obstructions which
had been placed in the river, and get
down to*City Point. The attention of

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

633

the fort was, however, soon drawn to
the vessels, and a lively cannonading
went on for some time, terminating in
the fort having a hundred-pounder gun
dismounted and in the rebel vessels
getting out of rangg. At length the
enemy succeeded in cutting the chain in
front of the obstructions beyond the
lower end of Dutch Gap Canal, and the
Fredericksburg got through under full
head of steam ; but the Richmond, Yir
ginia, and Drewry grounded in attempt
ing to follow, and the Fredericksburg
had to return to their assistance. The
Drewry could not be got off, and as day
light was approaching, and the fleet was
now within range of Battery Parsons,
she was abandoned. A shell from the
battery subsequently falling into her
magazine, she blew up and was totally
demolished. The remainder of the fleet
retired up the river. The loss in killed
and wounded did not exceed twenty on
either side. Had not the rebel iron
clads grounded, the entire fleet of trans
ports at City Point might have been
sunk, and the base of operations there
temporarily destroyed — in which event
the Federal troops on the north side of
the James would have been separated
from those on the south side, and
Fort Harrison isolated and greatly. en
dangered. About this time some futile attempts
were made to renew negotiations for
peace. After the entire breaking up of
Hood's army by General Thomas, and
the march of Sherman. almost unopposed
from Atlanta to Savannah, a conviction
began to prevail very generally in the
248

South as well as in the North, that the
strength of the rebellion was broken.
Without Sherman's command the Fed
eral forces in the field were sufficiently
numerous to insure final success. The
North had therefore one great army to
spare, while the Confederacy, in men,
in resources of every kind, and in the
spirit with which the contest was carried
on, was known to be failing rapidly.
This was strikingly evidenced in the agita
tion of the proposition to arm the slaves
and use them as soldiers. Thus a belief
came to be generally entertained in the
North, that a large portion of the South
ern leaders were not indisposed to accept
peace, even on condition of entire submis
sion to the national authority. Some of
the best and more sagacious of the Con
federate leaders had long seen that success
was hopeless, and were only solicitous
of bringing the war to a close in some
way which should not wound too keenly
the pride and self-respect of the people
of the States in rebellion. A large class
in the North also were desirous that
efforts should be made to put a stop. to
the war as soon as it could be done
without materially sacrificing the na
tional interests.
Two indirect attempts had been made
in the summer of 1864 to commence
negotiations with a view to bring about
a peace, but both terminated without
any satisfactory result. About the mid
dle of- July, Colonel James F. Jaques,
of the Seventy-third Illinois Yolunteers,
obtained permission to pass the rebel
lines at Petersburg and to proceed to
Richmond, where he succeeded in get-

634

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

ting an interview with Jefferson Davis.
He had no authority to speak or act for
President Lincoln, but undertook to
explain on what basis the United States
Government would in all probability be
willing to treat for peace. But Davis
gave him to understand that no peace
could be contemplated by him or his
government without the recognition of
the independence of the " Southern
Confederacy." Another attempt to initiate negotiations
was made by some rebel agents in Canada
— Clement C. Clay, Professor Holcombe,
and George N. Sanders — on whose be
half W. Cornell Jewett, an irresponsible
adventurer, wrote on the 5 th of July to
Horace Greeley, well known to be anx
ious for peace, stating that "two ambas
sadors of Davis & Co." were in Canada,
" with full and complete power for a
peace," and requesting an interview at
Niagara Falls. Mr. Greeley sent Jew-
ett's letter to the President, accompanied
by one from himself, in which he urged
the submission of overtures to the
Southern insurgents and presented a
plan of adjustment. A correspondence
ensued, in which the President expressed
himself as not unwilling to receive duly
accredited agents in Washington, and
authorized Mr. Greeley to promise a
safe-conduct to any such persons. Ac
cordingly Mr. Greeley, on the 17th of
July, sent a letter by the hands of Mr.
Jewett, addressed to Messrs. Clay, Hol
combe, and Thompson, in which he in
formed them that he was authorized by
the President to tender a safe-conduct,
provided that they were duly accredited

from Richmond as bearers of proposi
tions looking to the establishment of
peace. Messrs. Clay and Holcombe,
however, could not claim to be accred
ited commissioners, and so informed Mr.
Greeley, at the same time stating that
they were in the confidential employ
ment of their government, and entirely
familiar with its wishes and opinions on
the subject of peace, and that they had
no doubt that if the circumstances of
the correspondence could be made known
to the government at Richmond, they
would be invested with all the authority
requisite. Mr. Greeley then telegraphed
to Washington for instructions, and
received from the President on the same
day the following memorandum :
"Executive Mansion, Washington, July 18, 1864.'
" To whom it may concern:
" Any proposition which embraces the restoration of
peace, the integrity of the whole Union, and the abandon
ment of slavery, and which comes hy and with an author
ity that can control the armies now at war against the
United States, will be received and considered by the
Executive Government of the United States, and will be
met by liberal terms, on substantial and collateral points,
and the bearer or bearers thereof shall have safe-conduct
both ways. Abraham Lincoln."
This put an end to alhproceedings in the
matter, the rebel agents asserting that
it prescribed in advance the conditions
of peace, and therefore precluded nego
tiation. The third and last attempt to initiate
peace negotiations was made by Mr.
Francis P. Blair, who having obtained a
pass through the Federal lines from the
President, went to Richmond, had con
ferences with Jefferson Davis and other
members of the rebel government, and
returned on the 16th of January with
written Sssurances from Davis of his

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

635

willingness to " renew the efforts to
enter into a conference with a view to
secure peace between the two countries^
Mr. Blair returned to Richmond on the
20th with a written assurance from Mr.
Lincoln to the effect that he was ready
to receive any agent who might be sent
informally with a view of "securing
peace to the people of our common
country." The result of these communi
cations was that on the 29th of January
three persons, Alexander H. Stephens,
R. M. T. Hunter, and J. A. Campbell,
made application for permission to cross
the Federal lines at Petersburg, and
proceed to Washington as peace com
missioners. The application being re
ferred to the President, he granted
permission for the three persons named
to proceed to Fortress Monroe, for the
purpose of holding an informal confer
ence, on the express condition that the
peace proposed to be secured should be
for the people of " our common country,''''
and on the 31st directed Mr. Seward to
proceed to Fortress Monroe for the
purpose of conferring with them. Mr.
Seward was instructed to insist upon
these conditions as indispensable : 1.
The restoration of the national author
ity throughout the States. 2. No re
ceding from the position of the national
executive on the subject of slavery. 3.
No cessation of hostilities short of an
end of the war and the disbanding of
the forces hostile to the Government.
Keeping these conditions in view as a
basis, Mr. Seward was directed to hear
whatever the commissioners might have
to say, and report to the President, but

was not authorized to consummate any
thing. Mr. Seward reached Fortress
Monroe at ten o'clock on the evening of
the 1st of February, followed on the
evening of the 2d by Mr. Lincoln, who
had received a dispatch from General
Grant, expressing a strong conviction
that a personal interview on the part of
the President with the commissioners
was highly desirable. In a note ad
dressed to General Grant they had
declared their willingness to confer with
the President upon the terms which
he had prescribed, or upon any terms
' ' not inconsistent with the essential
principles of self-government and popu
lar rights on which our institutions are
founded," their object being to ascertain,
after a free interchange of ideas and in
formation, in what way a just and hon
orable peace might be secured without
further effusion of blood. They were
admitted on the morning of the 3d Yti»>
of February to a conference with 3«
the President and Secretary Seward, on
board a steamer anchored in Hampton
Roads. No other persons were present,
and no papers were produced or ex
changed. The conference, though it
lasted several hours, was altogether in
formal, but the interchange of views
showed that the executive of the rebel
government was as yet indisposed to
enter into any serious negotiation for
peace without first obtaining a recogni
tion of the independence of the Southern
Confederacy. " The several points at
issue between the Government and the
insurgents," wrote Mr. Seward to the
American minister in London, "were

636

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

distinctly raised and discussed fully,
intelligently, and in an amicable spirit.
What the insurgent party seemed chiefly
to favor was a postponement ' of the
question of separation upon which the
war is waged, and a mutual direction of
the efforts of the Government, as well as
those of the insurgents, to some extrinsic
policy or scheme for a season, during
which passions might be expected to
subside, and the armies be reduced, and
trade and intercourse between the people
of the two sections be resumed. It was
suggested by them that through such
postponement we might now have im
mediate peace with some not very certain
prospect of an ultimate and satisfactory
adjustment of political relations between
the Government and the States, section,
or people, now engaged in conflict with
it." This suggestion, though considered
by the President, was rejected, as im
plying an armistice or truce, to which
he announced that he would not agree,
" except on the basis of the disbandment
of the insurgent forces and the recogni
tion of the national authority throughout
all the States in the Union." The
President further declared that " the
complete restoration of the national
authority everywhere was an indispens
able condition of any assent on our part
to whatever form of peace might be
proposed." The conference terminated,
therefore, without any step having been
taken toward the procurement of a
peace. General Grant had in the mean time
been making preparations for another
grand movement toward the left. On

the 31st of January the entire Army of
the Potomac — the second, fifth, sixth,
and ninth corps, received marching'
orders. The hospitals were cleared and
the sick sent back to City Point ; the
quartermasters' and commissary stores
also were sent out of harm's way. The
cars were kept running constantly to
City Point till the afternoon of Saturday
the 4th of February, when Gregg's divi
sion of cavalry received orders to march
at three on the following morning, the
fifth corps to follow at five and the
second at six. The object of the move
ment was to get possession of the South
Side Railroad, which it was hoped would
cause the evacuation of Petersburg.
Gregg's division started at the hour Feb.
appointed, and moving along the 5.
Jerusalem plank road, the advance
reached Reams' Station soon after day
break. The fifth corps moved along the
Halifax road, Ayres' division in the ad
vance, Griffin's next, and Crawford's in
the rear. These troops formed the ex
peditionary or flanking column. Along
the Yaughan road marched Smyth's and
Mott's divisions of the second corps.
These troops had the duty assigned
them of moving directly on the enemy's
works at Hatcher's Run, while the fifth
corps and Gregg's cavalry marched
around their right. The weather and
the roads were good, and the troops,
carrying four days' rations, marched in
excellent spirits. Gregg's cavalry column
advancing from Reams' Station toward
Dinwiddie Court House, encountered at
Rowanty Creek a body of Hampton's
cavalry, dismounted, covered by breast-

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

637

works on the farther side of the stream,
disputing the passage of a temporary
bridge ; but this was carried, as well as
the works, after a short skirmish, with
a loss of twenty men, twenty-two of the
enemy being taken prisoners. The
stream was at this time about twenty
feet wide, and too deep for fording, and
it was necessary to construct two bridges
to enable the fifth corps to get over
with its ordnance and supply trains and
ambulances. This caused a delay of
several hours. The cavalry, however,
moved on rapidly to Dinwiddie Court
House, where they captured an empty
wagon train, and sent out scouting
parties in various directions. The rebel
cavalry stationed at Bellefield were
ordered up to resist Gregg's advance,
but were not strong enough, and no
fight took place. At nightfall Gregg
returned to Rowanty Creek and en
camped. The enemy had already de
stroyed the bridge there — the fifth corps
having crossed and moved on westward.
General Humphrey, with the second
and third divisions of his corps, moved
down the Yaughan road to Hatcher's
Run — Mott's with the third division in
the advance, De Trobriand's being the
leading brigade. The enemy's intrench
ments on the opposite bank were not
very strongly manned ; but the obstruc
tions in the stream were such that
Major Hess' battalion of cavalry was
driven back in an attempt to cross. De
Trobriand, however, deployed his bri
gade in line of battle, and sending the
Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania over in skir
mishing order, the works were carried

with little loss, and the ford secured for
the whole column, which having crossed,
rapidly drove the small force of the
enemy into the woods. The brigade
then taking position on a hill beyond
the ford, threw up intrenchments. But
the cavalry battalion, which had crossed
a little to the south of the Yaughan
road, while pursuing the enemy and re
connoitring on the left, met a small
force in ambush, from which it received
a sharp volley, and lost a number of
men and horses.
General Smyth, in the mean while,
before the run was crossed and while
his division was yet half a mile from the
stream, turned off to the right along a
by-path, leading northeastward toward
Armstrong's Mill and Ford. After an
advance of about three-quarters of a
mile, a heavy force of the enemy under
Gordon was found in a strong position,
with pickets thrown out in front. Skir
mishers drove these back to their breast
works, and a line was formed, in 'which
the left of Smyth's division connected
with the right of Mott's. Earth-works
were also thrown up and other prepara
tions made to resist an attack. Skir
mishing went on till about two o'clock,
when a furious artillery fire was begun
by the enemy, and an attack from them
seemed imminent. This was made about
half-past four on Smyth's right flank,
falling principally on McAllister's and
Murphy's brigades. Yelling and cheer
ing, the rebels pressed through a difficult
swamp upon which Smyth's right partly
rested ; but the troops standing firm
behind their breast-works, received them

638

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

with such a musketry fire that they fell
back again to the woods. This attempt
to carry the works on the right flank,
and thus turn the Federal position, was
repeated a second and a third time, but
with the same result. Fierce fighting
continued till dark, but at seven o'clock,
except cannonading, it was all over, and
Smyth's lines remained intact. The
night passed in comparative quiet, and
in the morning the enemy were found
to have abandoned their ground in front
of the second corps, leaving behind some
of their dead.
The lines of the army were re-formed
Feb. on the 6th, so that the fifth and
*• second corps were brought into
connection, the second on the right, the
fifth on the left, which was covered by
Gregg's cavalry. The sixth and ninth
corps were also so disposed as to be able
to render assistance to the fifth and
second. The lines, as usual in the pres
ence of the enemy, were covered with
rude breast-works, which were strength
ened by constant work till noon. De
Trobriand and McAllister in the mean
time moved out their brigades upon
reconnoissances in the direction of
Petersburg. About noon Crawford's
division of the fifth corps was sent
toward Dabney's Mills with the view of
getting to the Boydton plank road. The
entire region to be traversed in this
direction was very unfavorable for march
ing and manoeuvring, being covered with
thick woods, and broken up in all direc
tions with swamps and ravines, and the
only road was so narrow as not to admit
of one wagon passing another, and was,

besides, full of stumps, and where it
crossed the swamps, knee-deep in mud.
The troops advancing in skirmishing
order on the right and left of the road,
were more unfortunate than those mov
ing along it, as the ground they had to
cross was softer, and they had besides
to make their way through thick under
brush, while rebel sharpshooters on the
watch in front picked them off at their
leisure. Many men lost their shoes in
the mud, and got their muskets and
ammunition made useless by water.
About two miles above the Yaughan
road Crawford's skirmishers met those
of the enemy under Pegram, and drove
them back rapidly. But Pegram sent
for assistance, and was quickly reinforced
by Evans' division. The persevering
advance of Crawford was at length
checked, but not before the enemy had
been driven beyond Dabney's Mills.
Gregg with the cavalry, on the left
of the Yaughan road, had been fighting
for some time, the enemy's cavalry
having commenced the day by pressing
his rear, so that Davies' brigade, and
subsequently the entire division, became
engaged. During a lull in the fighting
the cavalry threw up breast-works,
which proved of great service ; for
toward evening the enemy attacked
again in force, driving in the pickets
and forcing the troops to take refuge in
them. Heavy firing followed, and the
Federal troops, some of whom were
armed with the Spencer rifle, inflicted
considerable loss upon the enemy. But
the battle became very severe, and a
number of the Federal cavalry officers

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

639

were wounded. The result was that
Gregg was finally driven out of his
breast-works and forced to fall back to
Hatcher's Run.
While the cavalry had thus been
desperately engaged on the left, the
infantry on the right of the Yaughan
road had to withstand repeated shocks.
Soon after five o'clock the enemy came
down upon the fifth corps. As it was
apprehended that Crawford's division,
entangled in the woods, might be cut
off, Ayres' division was sent to its sup
port, but while moving in column was
attacked and driven back. Wheaton's
division of the sixth corps having arrived
about five o'clock, was also ordered up
to the support of Crawford, and part of
it was for a time hotly engaged ; but
this division also shared in the general
reverse, and soon joined the fifth corps
and Gregg's cavalry, both of which were
falling back in confusion. The force of
the enemy consisted of Pegram's and
Evans' divisions of Gordon's corps, and
Mahone's division of A. P. Hill's corps.
In the presence of these veteran troops,
and in such a broken and swampy
country as that in the neighborhood of
Dabney's Mills, in which the enemy had
greatly the advantage in being well
acquainted with the ground, a retreat
could not be conducted with anything
like a regular formation ; the scattered
troops fought as they fell back, every
man for himself, firing from behind trees
and such shelter as they could find ; and
it was not till the Yaughan road and
Hatcher's Run were reached and the
intrenchments regained, that the routed

columns could be rallied. The -enemy,
flushed with success, dashed out of the
woods into the open space in front of
the works, but were received with a
sharp fire and fell back quickly to their
cover, without attempting to carry the
defences. Thus ended the second battle
of Hatcher's Run. The losses were not
so great as might have been expected
from the great confusion of the retreat.
The total killed and wounded during
the actions of the 5th and 6th was 91
officers and 1,113 men. There were,
however, about 900 men missing, the
greater part captured from Crawford's
division, in which also the losses in
killed and wounded principally occurred.
The enemy's loss, though not so great,
was severe, including General Pegram
killed. On the Federal side, Generals
Ayres, Davies, Gregg, and Morrow were
severely wounded.
The Federal troops busied themselves
all night and during the morning of the
7th in strengthening their defences, Yeb.
in the belief that the enemy would ?•
attack again ; but as they showed no
disposition to do so, Crawford's division
was sent out to reconnoitre. The enemy
were found in a strong position higher
up the stream between Armstrong's and
Burgess' Mills. A sharp musketry fire
was commenced and went on for some
time ; but as Crawford was not strong
enough to force the enemy's lines, he
fell back again toward the intrench
ments, followed some distance by the
enemy. There was also considerable
artillery firing during the day. On the
8th there was no fighting ; but the

640

GENERAL SHERIDAN'S GREAT RAID.

troops .were engaged the whole day in
throwing up stronger intrenchments and
defensive works — labors which the en
emy showed no disposition to interfere
with. The result of the entire move
ment was the prolongation of the Fed
eral lines in the direction of the South
Side Railroad as far as Hatcher's Run,
to which the City Point Railroad was
continued, and from which another great
movement to the left was intended to
be made.
Affairs now remained comparatively
quiet in Yirginia for some time^ the
monotony relieved occasionally by shell
firing along the Petersburg lines, and in
the Shenandoah Yalley by the opera
tions of guerrillas. Among the latter
may be instanced the surprise and cap
ture by Lieutenant McNeil, with a band
of thirty men, at Cumberland, on the
Feb. morning of the 21st of February,
21« of Generals Crook and Kelly,
with the adjutant-general of the depart
ment, and two privates, all of whom,
together with the headquarters flag,
were carried off without a gun being
fired, though a considerable force was in
the vicinity.
Before* commencing a general move
ment of the armies operating against
Richmond and Petersburg, it was of the
utmost importance that all the enemy's
communications north of the James
should be cut off. To accomplish this
object, and with the view also, if pos-
•sible, to reinforce Sherman, who was
inferior to his opponents in cavalry,
General Grant determined to set an
expedition in motion from the Shenan

doah Yalley, where the enemy were no
longer strong, having detached the bulk
of their force in that quarter to the
south, or taken them to replace troops
sent away from Richmond. He, there
fore — placing General Hancock tempo
rarily in charge of the Middle Military
Division, with his headquarters at
Winchester— on the 20th of February,
directed General Sheridan, leaving a
sufficient number of troops to look after
Mosby, to proceed with an adequate
cavalry force to Lynchburg, and after
thoroughly breaking up the railroad and
canal, if the information he should
obtain there would justify the move
ment, to push on southward and join
Sherman. Accordingly, General Sheri
dan, on the 27th of February, left his
camp at Winchester with about ten
thousand cavalry, comprising Merritt's
first division, Custer's third division, and
a brigade under Colonel Capehart, with
four guns. For some days before the
march commenced, heavy rains had pre
vailed and made the common roads, very
bad, besides swelling the streams and
rivers. The troops, however, marched
along the turnpike, which being macad
amized, was in comparatively good con
dition, and passed successively through
Kearnstown, Middletown, and Stras
burg, and as far as Woodstock, without
opposition, when the column bivouacked,
having marched thirty miles on the first
day. From Woodstock the march was
continued on the 28th through Eden-
burg and Hawkinsburg to the North
Fork of the Shenandoah, which was
crossed by a pontoon bridge between

GENERAL SHERIDAN'S GREAT RAID.

641

Mount Jackson and New Market. After
a march of twenty-seven miles without
any opposition, the troops bivouacked
at Lincoln's Mills, between Harrisonburg
and New Market. On the 1st of March
the column moved twenty-six miles,
passing through Harrisonburg, Mount
Crawford, and Mount Sydney, and cross
ing Middle River, encamped about four
miles from Staunton, where up to
this time Early had had his head
quarters. He had anticipated Sheridan's
approach, and warned the inhabitants,
who removed from the town much of
their money and valuables. The only
skirmishing so far had been at the North
River, near Mount Crawford, where
Capehart's brigade had a short contest
with some cavalry of Rosser's division,
who were trying to burn the bridge,
which, however, was saved, and thirty-
seven prisoners and twenty-one wagons
captured, with a loss of only six men.
The weather also had been good, per
mitting eighty-three miles of the route
to be easily accomplished ; but during
the night of the 1st of March the rain
began, and from that time was heavy
and incessant. About nine o'clock, while
the troops were encamped outside of
Staunton, Devin's brigade moved up to
the town, drove out the pickets, and
occupied it without opposition. Turn
ing then toward the left, the brigade
marched seven miles along the road
leading to Rockfish Gap, and destroyed
the trestle bridge of the Virginia Central
Railroad at Christian's Creek.
On the 2d of March, Sheridan's
column, heedless of the heavy rain,
249

moved through Staunton, and the march
was continued toward Waynesboro, on
the South River, thirteen miles south
east, whither Early had retreated with
the forces under his command. At
Fisherville, Custer's division, in the ad
vance, encountered the enemy's videttes
and drove them back toward Waynes
boro. On arriving near the latter place
the enemy were found in an intrenched
position with five guns. Custer then
placing Colonel Pennington's brigade on
the right and Colonel Welles' on the
left, with Capehart's in reserve, deployed
two regiments of the advanced brigades
as skirmishers, who moved to the attack
firing briskly. Much to the surprise jnar,
of their assailants, the entire line of 2.
Early's men, after firing a single volley,
broke and attempted to fly ; but Custer's
troops rushing in and surrounding them,
captured nearly the whole command,
including eighty-seven officers — among
whom were Colonels Orr and Yos-
burg, and 1,165 enlisted men, besides
five cannon with horses and caissons
complete, seventeen battle-flags, over a
hundred horses and mules, and about
two hundred wagons loaded with sub
sistence stores. Early's personal bag
gage was taken, but he himself escaped
to Charlottesville. Custer's division and
Capehart's brigade crossed the South
River and moved on rapidly in pursuit
as far as Greenwood Station, where the
d6pot was destroyed, as well as a long
train, in which were six pieces of artil
lery and some commissary and ordnance
supplies, which Early had intended to
send away, being fully conscious of his

642

GENERAL SHERIDAN'S GREAT RAID.

inability to prevent Sheridan's advance.
The prisoners were sent to Winchester
under an escort of fifteen hundred men.
Several couriers, sent to General Han
cock with a request that troops might be
dispatched to meet the escort, were cap
tured by guerrillas, and on the 6th it was
attacked while crossing the North Fork
of the Shenandoah, by a small force un
der Rosser, which was, however, beaten
off, and instead of releasing the rebel
prisoners, added twenty-seven to their
number. The detachment arrived at
Winchester with its charge safe. Sheri
dan's entire column having come up to
Waynesboro, the march was resumed in
the direction of Charlottesville, eighteen
miles east, on the morning of the 3d, in
a heavy rain and through deep mud,
but without any fear of opposition. The
troops destroyed the railroad and bridges
as they moved, and arrived at Char
lottesville on the day of starting ; but
they were detained there two days
awaiting the arrival of the wagon trains,
which were delayed by the horrible
condition of the roads. In the mean
time detachments sent out destroyed the
railroad in the direction of both Lynch
burg and Richmond, as well as the large
iron bridges over the North and South
forks of the Rivanna River.
The delay caused by the detention of
his trains finally caused Sheridan to
abandon the idea of capturing Lynch-
IHar, burg ; and on the morning of the
6' 6th, dividing his force into two
columns, he sent one southward to
Scottsville, whence it marched up the
James River Canal to New Market,

destroying every lock between those
towns, and in many places the bank of
the canal. From New Market a detach
ment was sent on to Duguidsville, to
endeavor to secure the bridge there ;
but the enemy destroyed it on the
approach of the troops, as well as the
bridge over the James at Hardwicks-
ville. The other column moved along
the railroad in a southwesterly direction,
and succeeded in destroying it as far as
Amherst Court House, sixteen miles
north of Lynchburg, and thence march
ed across the country to New Mar
ket, where the columns united again.
The James River being now much
swollen, so that the pontoons would not
reach across it, and the enemy having
destroyed the bridges by which Sheri
dan had hoped to cross and get to the
South Side Railroad about Farmville
and destroy it thence to Appomattox
Court House, he had only two alterna
tives — to return to Winchester or march
as rapidly as possible to White House.
He chose the latter, and following the
James River Canal toward Richmond,
destroyed every lock upon it as he
marched, besides cutting through the
banks wherever that was practicable, as
far east as Goochland ; concentrating
his whole force on the 10th at Columbia,
at the confluence of the Rivanna with the
James. Remaining there one day, he
sent scouts to General Grant, with in
formation as to his position and inten
tions, and a request that supplies might
be sent to meet him at White fljar.
House. His scouts arrived at head- 12>
quarters on the night of the 12th, and an

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

643

infantry force was immediately sent by
General Grant to get possession of
White House, whither abundant supplies
were forwarded. Sheridan then moving
in such a direction as to threaten Rich
mond, arrived at the Central Railroad
near Ashland Station, crossed the South
Anna and the North Anna, and having
destroyed all the bridges and many miles
of railroad, proceeded down the north
bank of the Pamunkey to White House,
where he arrived on the 19th, his men and
horses in great need of rest and supplies.
The amount of property destroyed in
this great raid of Sheridan's was enor
mous, the destruction effected by Cus
ter's division alone being estimated at
$2,000,000. Not a bridge was left
standing over the James between Rich

mond and Lynchburg. Every railroad
bridge was destroyed between Staunton
and Charlottesville, as well as between
the latter place and Buffalo. The aque
duct at Columbia was badly damaged.
Private property in many instances was
not spared ; the people along the route
had their horses and provisions seized ;
all the tobacco and tobacco houses were
destroyed, and every mill that could be
found along the James River was burned.
Sheridan's entire loss was only two offi
cers and about fifty men. On the 24th
he moved from White House, crossed
the James River at Jones' Landing, and
formed a junction with the Army of the
Potomac in front of Petersburg on the
27th, taking position in Gregg's old
camp on the left and rear of the army.

CHAPTER LYI.
Fears of a Junction of Lee's and Johnston's Armies.— Another Movement by the Left Flank.— Surprise and Capture of
Fort Steadman by the Rebels.— Recovery of Fort Steadman.— Severe Fighting on the Left.— Grand Movement
toward the South Side Railroad.— Repulse of the Fifth Corps at Gravelly Run.— Sheridan's Cavalry driven back.—
Rebel Attack on the Lines of the Twenty-fourth Corps.— The Fifth Corps added to Sheridan's Command.— Advance
of Sheridan's Cavalry upon Five Forks.— The Fifth Corps called up.— Battle of Five Forks.

1865.

The course of events in North Caro
lina had now made it the most
prudent policy for Lee and John
ston to unite their forces ; and Grant's
greatest source of anxiety at this time
was the probability that the enemy
would leave their strong lines about
Petersburg and Richmond for the pur
pose of accomplishing this union of the
two great Confederate armies. " I had

spent days of anxiety," says General
Grant in his report, " lest each morning
should bring the report that the enemy
had retreated the night before. I was
firmly convinced that Sherman's crossing
the Roanoke would be the signal for
Lee to leave. With Johnston and him
combined, a long, tedious, and expensive
campaign, consuming most of the sum
mer, might become necessary." The

644

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

concurrent reports of numerous deserters
for weeks had been to the effect that a
removal of war materials and guns was
going on, and, joined to the considera
tion that the evacuation of Petersburg
and the junction of the two rebel armies
was the true policy of the rebels, left no
doubt this measure had been determined
on by them.
For the purpose of preventing this,
General Grant had, as early as the 24th
of March, issued orders for another
movement of the greater part of his
army to the left, to commence on the
29th. While preparations were in pro
gress, an unexpected assault was made
by the enemy early in the morning of
Mar. the 25th on the lines of the ninth
25» corps in front of Fort Steadman.
This was a square fort on Hare's Hill,
about seven-eighths of a mile from the
Appomattox, and was the second regular
fort in the right of the Federal lines, the
first being Fort McGilvrey, close by the
river ; the third fort, about three-eighths
of a mile south of it, being Fort Haskell.
Fort Steadman mounted nine guns, and
was supported by mortar batteries on
the right and left. The Federal line at
this point was guarded by McLaughlin's
brigade of Willcox's division, the Four
teenth New York Heavy Artillery being
in the fort itself. Gordon's corps, con
sisting of three divisions, was massed
against it at daylight ; the rest of Lee's
army being at the same time held in
readiness, should the proposed attempt
prove successful, to make an attack on
the Federal left. The space between
the opposing lines at Fort Steadman

was only a hundred and fifty yards
wide, and just at daybreak Gordon's
troops having got through their own
abattis, rushed over the interval, charged
up the acclivity to the fort, and worked
their way rapidly through the abattis.
In short, the assault was executed in so
bold and skilful a manner that the
Federal officers were surprised, and
Gordon's troops carried the fort almost
instantly with little fighting. They then
turned the guns of the fort toward the
right and left, and compelled the aban
donment of the mortar batteries, which
they immediately occupied. Over five
hundred men were made prisoners by
Gordon, including eighteen commission
ed officers and General McLaughlin.
The rest of Willcox's division was soon
rallied ; but though they fought well,
the line of troops was so thin at this
point, that for a time there seemed to
be danger of a great reverse. Hart-
ranft's division, however, soon came
upon the ground and pressed up toward
the captured fort to retake it. All the
neighboring batteries also concentrated
their fire on Fort Steadman, to which
the enemy replied with the captured
guns. Hartranft's advance was at first
desperately resisted by the enemy ; but
the concentrated fire of artillery, and
the pertinacity of Hartranft's troops
were at last too much for them, and
they fell back toward the fort, and then
many of them beyond the fort, abandon
ing all the guns they had taken, and
down the hill, in the endeavor to regain
their own lines ; but in this attempt
they were exposed to such a terrific

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

645

concentrated artillery fire, that a large
part of, the retreating force could not
get away from the works, and nineteen
hundred of them were made prisoners,
which with their killed and wounded
made their total loss not less than
twenty-five hundred men. The Federal
loss was 68 killed, 337 wounded, and
506 missing. The affair was all over
by ten o'clock, and about that time
Gordon sent a flag of truce with a pro
posal to bury the dead, which was
promptly acceded to. No more firing
took place at this point during the day.
On the left of the line, when it
became known that serious fighting was
going on in. the vicinity of Fort Stead
man, troops were put in motion to
render assistance there, but the distance
was so great that the contest was over
before they arrived. A general advance
of the left was ordered about eleven
o'clock. The sixth corps, which lay on
the left of the ninth, and the second on
the left of the sixth, moved out against
the enemy's intrenched picket line,
which was far in advance of their main
line of works. The sixth corps moved
out from the left of its line, opposite
which the ground was comparatively
level and clear of trees, the artillery in
the neighboring works opening at the
same time. The first and second divi
sions only advanced, the third being
held in reserve ; but the enemy's picket
lines were quickly captured with slight
loss, many prisoners being taken. The
first and third divisions of the second
corps had equal success ; Smyth's bri
gade of the second division, which was

supporting the third, made a diversion
on the extreme left at Hatcher's Run,
driving in the enemy's picket line, and
capturing some prisoners. Preparation
was then made to resist attack, as it was
not to be supposed that the enemy
would rest content with their picket
line of intrenchments in the possession
of their antagonists. Of the fifth corps,
Ayres' division and Crawford's had been
sent early in the day to reinforce the
ninth corps at Fort Steadman. Ayres'
division was retained there. Crawford's
was sent back ; but it was detained on
its way to pass in review before Presi
dent Lincoln and some ladies, so that it
did not arrive on the scene of action in
support of the sixth corps till the fight
ing had been resumed. Griffin's divi
sion was with the second corps. The
brunt of the enemy's attack, therefore,
fell upon the second and sixth corps.
Upon the latter the enemy advanced
fiercely about half-past two o'clock, and
their attacks, with a good deal of desul
tory firing, continued from that time
till night. About half-past four the
second corps was attacked in a similar
manner ; but all the enemy's assaults
were' successfully repulsed, and night
closed in with the Federal lines still
advanced. The main conflict was over
by eight o'clock, though there was firing
at intervals throughout the night. Next
day all was quiet along this part of the
line. The Federal loss was 52 killed,
864 wounded, and 207 missing ; that of
the enemy must have been greater, as
they lost 834 in prisoners alone. Their
entire losses during the day, including

646

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

those at Fort Steadman, could not have
been less than five thousand men.
The attack on Fort Steadman and
the subsequent fighting on the left did
not induce General Grant to change or
defer the execution of his proposed
movement by the left fla'nk, which was
in fact a renewal of the attempt that
had been made several times before to
turn the enemy's extreme right and get
possession of the South Side Railroad.
On the 27th, portions of the twenty-
fourth corps under General Gibbon and
of the twenty-fifth corps under General
Birney, the whole under the command of
General Ord, were detached from the
Army of the James and marched toward
Petersburg, and on the morning of the
Mar. 29th took the place in the in-
2a« trenchments of the second corps,
which with the fifth corps — withdrawn
from the intrenchments some time be
fore — and Sheridan's cavalry, were des
ignated for the movement by the left.
The sixth and ninth corps were left
in the intrenchments. At six o'clock
Sheridan's cavalry, which had been re
organized and divided into two wings,
of which Crook commanded the right
and Merritt the left, left camp and
marched down the Jerusalem plank
road to Reams' Station — Crook in the
advance, Merritt following, and Custer
in the rear, guarding the trains. Though
the roads were bad, Rowanty Creek
was reached at half-past nine ; but
Malone's Bridge, the point struck, was
found destroyed. The stream not being
in a fordable condition, four hours were
lost in constructing a suitable bridge,

when the advanced division pushed
straight on toward Dinwiddie Court
House. But the bad roads delayed the
march, the trains becoming deeply
mired. A small party of the enemy
endeavored to impede the march also
by felling trees across the road ; but
they were quickly dispersed. Dinwiddie
Court House was soon occupied and
communication opened with the fifth
corps on the right. A little rain fell on
the night of the 29th ; all day on the
30th it fell heavily, and the roads
became so bad as to cause the blocking
up of the wagon trains, and a large
part of Sheridan's force was employed
in guarding them, the remainder moving
up to the Boydton road.
The fifth corps, on arriving at Hatch
er's Run, found the old bridge in good
condition, but built two new ones. The
old battle-ground was crossed without
opposition, and the weather being favor
able, the troops got along easily — Grif
fin's division taking the advance, Craw
ford's coming next, and Ayres' in the
rear — along the old stage road, in the
direction of Dinwiddie Court House.
On reaching the Quaker or Military
road, the column turned abruptly to the
right, and about nine o'clock connection
was formed with the left of the second
corps, the line of the fifth extending
across the Quaker road, and within two
or three miles of Dinwiddie Court
House. This corps encountered opposi
tion on crossing Gravelly Run, from a
cavalry vidette, which was driven off
after, a short skirmish. Preparations
were then made to receive an attack.

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

647

The troops were drawn up in position,
and about half-past three in the after
noon the skirmishers of Griffin's division
were driven in by Bushrod Johnson's
division of Anderson's corps, which then
fell with great force upon Griffin's entire
division ; but the enemy had no artillery,
while fortunately three Federal batteries
were in position and did good execution.
The divisions of Ayres and Crawford
also being rapidly brought up, the
enemy withdrew to their original posi
tion. The loss was about five hundred
on each side. This engagement closed
the operations in the field for the day ;
but at night a tremendous cannonade
broke out on the right of the Federal
lines, lasting from nine o'clock till
twelve, during which time it assumed
proportions rarely equalled, even at
Petersburg ; but the casualties were not
numerous on either side.
On the 30th, though the rain and
mar, mud greatly impeded operations,
30t the troops were again moved to
ward the left. Turner's division of the
twenty-fourth corps marched along the
Yaughan road, crossed Hatcher's Run,
and turning to the right pushed forward
to make connection with the right of the
second corps, which was at that time
drawn up in position almost at right
angles with the line of works. Dandy's
brigade of Foster's division then moved
out and connected with Turner's right,
again completing the line of the twenty-
fourth corps, when field-works were
thrown up. The two divisions of the
twenty-fifth corps held a position in the
line between the right of the twenty-

fourth corps and the left of the sixth,
the ninth remaining on the right of the
sixth. Early in the morning Sheridan
had connected his right with Warren's
left near the Boydton plank road. The
enemy were found to have already con
structed a very strong line of intrench
ments to cover the position known as
Five Forks, of great strategic value,
where five roads met in the woods,
three of which led back to the South
Side Railroad, and the possession of
which would be equivalent to turning
the enemy's right flank. Toward this
point, therefore, Merritt's cavalry corps
was sent. Devin's brigade in the ad
vance soon encountered the enemy's
cavalry and drove it back, but were in
turn driven back by infantry. They
then pushed out once more to the left,
to find the end of the enemy's line, if
possible, and get round it. Anderson's
corps held the enemy's right, Pickett's
division being on the extreme right,
with intrenchments completely covering
the White Oak road, which ran from
the Boydton road to the South Side
Railroad. The enemy were in great
force from the White Oak road toward
Hatcher's Run, and on the 30th baffled
all attempts made by the cavalry to get
round their works. The infantry, how
ever, advanced during the day, so that
at its close the fifth corps occupied a
position about a mile north of the junc
tion of the Quaker and Boydton roads,
fronting northward, with the pickets of
Ayres' division within five hundred
yards of the White Oak road. To the
right of Ayres' division was Crawford's,

648

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

and then Griffin's. The second corps
lay on the right of the fifth, extending
toward Hatcher's Run, while its left
rested on the Boydton plank road, near
Burgess' Tavern, about a mile south of
the bridge over Hatcher's Run. Sheri
dan remaining at Dinwiddie Court
House, continued to cover the left flank.
The weather on the 31st was still
Mar. unfavorable, but the forces all
^1' moved forward, the object being
to get possession of the position of Five
Forks. Warren began to move the
fifth corps early in the morning, sending
Griffin's division by the left flank down
the Boydton road to the Butler House,
where it was massed behind the com
mand of Crawford and Ayres, for an
advance upon the White Oak road.
About eight o'clock Ayres was sent
forward toward the Dabney House,
Crawford supporting, Griffin in the rear,
and Miles' division of the second corps
following. After a march of half a mile
or more through the difficult country,
and crossing Gravelly Run, the enemy's
skirmishers were met, but were soon
driven in. Shortly afterward the enemy
opened a hot fire upon the advanced
brigade of Ayres' division, which broke
and fell to the rear. The enemy then
moved out of their works in large force,
and charged Ayres' division with all
their old spirit. The Federal troops
resisted stubbornly for some time, and
sustained severe loss before giving way ;
but the enemy's columns were handled
with great skill, and nothing could with
stand their impetuous onset. Crawford's
division was next struck in flank by

Willcox's division, and was compelled to
give way as that of Ayres had done,
and it was not till the enemy came
upon Griffin's division that they were
finally checked. In this juncture Miles'
division of the second corps was ordered
up by Humphreys, to attack the enemy,
which it did instantly, effectually re
lieving the fifth corps, and compelling
the enemy to fall back to their intrench
ments, at the same time re-occupying
the White Oak road. Mott's division
of the second corps was also extended
to the left and thrown forward to cor
respond with Miles'. Having driven
back the fifth corps to the Boydton
plank road, the enemy turned their
attention to the task of cutting off
Sheridan with his cavalry, which by the
failure of the fifth corps to advance, had
become greatly exposed. A series of
attacks had been made on Sheridan's
force soon after noon, and notwithstand
ing the troops fought well, by five
o'clock both divisions were driven back
several miles and to the Boydton plank
road, while Gibbs' brigade had fallen
back to within about a mile of Dinwiddie
Court House. But Merritt's troops
were now re-formed, and Custer's divi
sion, with Capehart on the left and
Pennington on the right, held a firm
position. The enemy, who had been
reinforced, came down again in a furious
charge, and very hard fighting took
place ; but artillery in position and the
stubborn stand made by the cavalry,
which was in large force, and handled
by Sheridan in person, compelled them,
after a few desperate efforts, to with-

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

649

draw to the woods, and Sheridan's
forces immediately intrenched.
The fifth corps in the mean time had
been rallied, and again moved forward
along the White Oak road, Griffin's
division this time in the advance. The
ground abandoned was soon regained,
the enemy, now chiefly engaged with
Sheridan, falling back ; and Griffin's di
vision, carrying the work from which
the enemy had advanced, took position
on the White Oak road, east of Five
Forks. The two divisions of the twenty-
fourth corps moved forward so as to
co-operate with the general advance,
and easily captured the enemy's thin
picket line in their front. Birney's
division, still farther to the right, was
engaged in skirmishing through the day,
but without important result. The sixth
and ninth corps made no movement, but
were held in readiness for a general
assault, in case the success of operations
on the left should justify it. The enemy
had, upon the whole, the advantage
in the operations of the day. They had,
however, been finally checked and forced
to retire, and the Federal right, when
night fell, had been advanced a few
hundred yards beyond the position of
the morning, the left flank reaching to
Dabney's House on the White Oak road,
three quarters of a mile west of Five
Forks. From Dabney's House the fifth
corps lay along the White Oak road
about a mile eastward, from which point
it ran in an irregular semicircular line
to the left of the second corps at
Burgess' Farm. The Federal losses
along the whole line were probably not
250

less than twenty-five hundred. The
enemy's loss was not so great, but being
inferior in numbers they were less able
to afford it.
During the night the advanced por
tions of the Federal line were busily
engaged in constructing works ; and in
fact through the whole movement large
details had been employed in throwing
up intrenchments, corduroying roads, or
bringing up trains. The great events
of the 1st of April were inaugurat- April
ed by the enemy at four o'clock in 1*
the morning by an attack on Foster's
portion of the line of the twenty-fourth
corps. Fortunately Dandy's brigade
was under arms in expectation of it ;
but the onset was so sudden and im
petuous, that it was compelled to break
and fall back to the rear, and the enemy
planted their flag on the parapet. It
did not remain there long, however ; the
troops in the vicinity were soon aroused,
and the rebels driven back after a
sharp skirmish. A musketry and artil
lery fire broke out along the centre and
right of the line ; but it was soon over,
with little loss on either side. General
Grant had placed Sheridan in command
not only of all the cavalry, but of the
fifth corps under Warren, hoping to
secure more unity of action in the im
portant flanking movement by the left,
and thus avoid a repetition of the dis
asters of the day before. Events proved
that this important trust was wisely
bestowed on Sheridan. He now con
trolled four divisions of cavalry and
three of infantry, an aggregate force
not far from thirty thousand strong, and

650

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

double that which the enemy could
concentrate against him at Five Forks,
while their defensive line, all the way
from Dinwiddie Court House to Peters
burg, was threatened by forces numeri
cally largely superior. The cavalry
started for their appointed positions at
daybreak. Custer and Devin slowly
driving the enemy toward the left of
their works on the White Oak road,
and then dismounting, fought with car
bines. Gregg's and Mackenzie's bri
gades were kept in the saddle, so as to
be able to move rapidly on the enemy's
flank. Sheridan thus worked his way
steadily up to the intrenchments on all
sides, while the enemy fell back fighting
fiercely and delivering a terrific fire
upon Sheridan's men, who fell in great
numbers ; but their commander kept
them up to their work, and gradually
got all his forces well into position, with
a division well round upon the enemy's
flank and rear; the rest of the troops
pressing slowly and with much loss upon
the front of the works. This went on
till about three o'clock, when the fifth
corps was ordered forward to support
the cavalry. As soon as it arrived, it
was determined by Sheridan that two
divisions should form in two lines, with
the third division on the right flank, and
march in this way till the White Oak
road was gained. There the corps was
to make a left half wheel and move at
once on the enemy, the cavalry at the
same time charging. Ayres therefore
advanced on the left, and Crawford on
the right, with Griffin supporting, made
the change in direction, and again ad

vanced. Ayres struck the flank of the
enemy's works, and became desperately
engaged, making great exertions to
carry the intrenchments, Sheridan him
self rallying one of his brigades. Craw
ford advancing found himself in the
rebel rear, and captured several of their
ambulances and wagons, and then turn
ing to the left advanced Coulter's brigade
up to the Ford road, directly toward
the rear of the enemy's intrenchments,
where he captured a four-gun battery
and a battle-flag. The enemy had
slowly fallen back at first, fighting
obstinately, however, till about five
o'clock, when they made a decisive
stand, and then for two hours raged one
of the most fearful contests of the war.
Strongly intrenched and with a battery
in position, though much inferior in
numbers, they fought with all their old
gallantry, raking the Federal columns
with a most terrific fire ; and such was
the slaughter, that more than once it
seemed that, after all, the terrible sacri
fices made would result in discomfiture ;
but Sheridan communicated some of his
energy to his troops. Riding to all
parts of the field, he cheered, urged,
and drove on his men, and at length
they nearly surrounded the enemy's
position, swarmed over the parapets,
and the rebel troops, exhausted with
their great efforts, and much weakened
by the havoc which had been made in
their ranks, both of men and officers,
and seeing it useless longer to resist the
overwhelming force pouring in upon
them, broke and rushed to the rear,
seeking escape by the only outlet still

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

651

open . There was another fierce struggle,
but by half-past seven the battle was
over. Between five and six thousand
prisoners were captured, besides all the
rebel artillery, an ambulance and bag
gage train and twenty or thirty battle-
flags. Custer's and Mackenzie's divi
sions pressed on in pursuit of the
fugitives and picked up many stragglers.
The loss in killed and wounded on each
side was estimated at about three thou
sand. Toward the close of the battle,
General Griffin, by order of Sheridan,

relieved General Warren in command
of the fifth corps. The second corps
was fighting nearly all day in a general
advance, swinging forward so as to con
nect with the fifth and be in readiness
to support it near the White Oak road,
and Miles' division was pushed on toward
Sheridan in the evening. The sixth
and ninth corps, in front of Petersburg,
were not engaged during the day, but
about ten o'clock at night opened a gen
eral cannonade, which was continued till
four o'clock on the following morning.

CHAPTER LYII.

General Assault on the Rebel Lines at Petersburg. — Hard Fighting of the Sixth and Ninth Corps. — Great Number of
Prisoners taken.- — Evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond by the Forces of General Lee. — Pursuit by the Cavalry.
— Fight near BevH's Ford. — Sheridan at Jettersville. — Lee at Amelia Court House. — Cavalry Fight at Fame's Cross-
Roads. — Arrival of General Grant and the Main Army at Jettersville. — General Ord's Movement on Farmville.—
Battle of Deatonville. — Retreat of Lee toward Lynchburg. — The whole of Grant's Army in Pursuit. — Sheridan at
Appomattox Station. — Correspondence between Generals Lee and Grant.— Surrender of Lee.

1865.

The general assault by the troops on
the right along the. line at Peters
burg, which had been delayed two
days by the failure of the fifth corps on
the left, was made on the morning of
April tbe 2d of April, at four o'clock,
2. the ninth, sixth, twenty - fifth,
twenty-fourth, and second corps partici
pating. The sixth corps was massed in
front of Forts Welch and Fisher, Whea
ton's division on the right, Getty's in
the centre, and Seymour's on the left.
Turner's and Foster's divisions of the
twenty-fourth corps were brought up
on both sides of Hatcher's Run on the

left of the sixth corps, but did not charge
with it. A tremendous cannonade was
kept up during the formation of these
lines, which indistinct as they were to
the enemy's view — it being still quite
dark when the signal to advance was
made — were quickly torn by a shell and
musketry fire, and the sixth corps sus
tained heavy loss while crossing the
interval of about eight hundred yards
between the opposing lines of works.
Getty's division moved up in front, its
three brigades abreast of each other in
column of regiments, while those of
Wheaton and Seymour, moving in the

652

OPERATIONS AGAINST PETERSBURG.

rear, advanced in the same order, each
with its brigades abreast. Severe fight
ing went on for several hours ; but
Getty's and Wheaton's divisions, after
being once checked by the enemy's
terrific fire, again rushed forward and
carried the two forts in their front,
while Seymour's division, after a sharp
fight, broke through to the South Side
Railroad, and began to tear it up. The
sixth corps then swept down inside of
the enemy's line as far as Hatcher's
Run, having captured many guns and
several thousand prisoners. The twenty-
fourth corps also, whose position in the
line was between the sixth and the
second, soon afterward got upon the
railroad, having in connection with the
right division of the second corps carried
the intervening works and taken about
a thousand prisoners. The sixth and
twenty-fourth corps then turning to the
right pushed on together toward the
city, Wheaton's division pressing over to
the aid of the ninth. The enemy, from
a strong position in the rear of the
captured works, poured a destructive
fire on the advancing troops, but at
length after a hard struggle again gave
way, losing many of their officers, among
them General A. P. Hill, who was
killed. By eleven o'clock the hardest
of the fighting was over in this quarter,
and the twenty-fourth, second, and sixth
corps were once more re-formed for a
final attack. The fighting was, however,
all over by noon, on the whole line
around Petersburg, with the exception
of occasional firing, and picket firing
after the pickets were posted. At night

the sixth corps rested its right on the
Appomattox, and the west side of the
city. But the hardest fighting and the
heaviest loss fell to the ninth corps.
Willcox's division on the east side of the
city extended from the Appomattox to
Fort Emory, a. distance of two miles.
Potter's and Hartranft's divisions held
the rest of the line to the Weldon Rail
road, a distance of three miles more.
The night before, during the heavy
cannonade, Willcox's skirmishers had
pressed across the enemy's works to the
very outskirts of Petersburg, capturing
the intervening lines, but were driven
back by troops hastily concentrated.
The advance of the ninth corps was
made at the same time as that of the
sixth. Harriman's brigade of Willcox's
division, in connection with Potter's
division, made a gallant charge against
Fort Mahone, which covered the Jeru
salem road, and was the work opposing
the famous " Fort Hell." This was one
of the strongest positions in the enemy's
line. Hartranft's division also advanced,
and after a desperate struggle Fort
Mahone and the works connected with
it were carried. But commanding Fort
Mahone was an interior work, from
which the enemy opened a murderous fire
upon their assailants, who advancing to
carry the new position, were repeatedly
driven back with great loss, and finally
the rebel troops charged in turn, in the
hope of recapturing Fort Mahone, and
though few in number, by desperate
fighting and extraordinary gallantry,
nearly succeeded in doing so ; but

EYACUATION OF PETERSBURG AND RICHMOND.

653

Wheaton's division of the sixth corps
was now coming up on the left, and
once more the enemy were driven back,
and success crowned the efforts of the
ninth corps as well as all the rest of the
army. The enemy south of Hatcher's Run
retreated westward toward Sutherland
Station, where they were overtaken by
Miles' division. A severe engagement
ensued, which lasted till the enemy's
right and left flanks were threatened
by the approach of General Sheridan —
who was moving from Ford's Station
toward Petersburg — and a division sent
from the front of Petersburg ; when
they broke in the utmost confusion,
abandoning their guns and many prison
ers, and retreated by the main road
along the Appomattox.
The Federal forces now held a series
of positions that made the fall of Peters
burg certain. But success had been
obtained at the expense of a loss very
much greater in killed and wounded
than that sustained by the enemy, whose
elaborate breast-works were so strong
that, had not their garrisons been
weakened by the fatal necessity of
sending troops to oppose Sheridan, they
would scarcely have been carried as
they were. The enemy, however, had
lost very largely in prisoners, of which
not less than seven thousand were
taken, which added to those captured
by Sheridan the day before, and the
large number of killed and wounded,
fearfully reduced the force at the dis
posal of General Lee, and before the
fighting was over for the day, he gave

orders for the evacuation of both Peters
burg and Richmond. The order was
carried out during the night, and early
on the 3d the Federal troops pushed
into both cities without opposition.
While the corps on the right of the
Federal line were pressing into ^Tn
Petersburg, the fifth corps and the **•
cavalry, on the left, set out to intercept,
if possible, the retreating forces of Lee.
Camp was broken by the cavalry about
three miles east of Namozine Creek, and
the route taken, Custer's division in the
advance, lay along the Namozine road
toward the creek, where the enemy's
rear-guard was found strongly intrench
ed behind earth-works at the crossing,
the bridge having been destroyed and
trees felled across the road leading to it.
A section of artillery was immediately
opened against the works, while a body
of cavalry fording the stream a little
above, came upon the enemy's flank,
when they were driven off and the
obstructions soon removed ; but the
road beyond was found filled with felled
trees and fence-rails, piled up, among
which were two caissons surrounded by
fire and intended to explode, and thus
delay the pursuit. The route which
the enemy had taken gave evidence
of haste and disorganization, the path
of retreat being strewn with wagons,
ambulances, dead and wounded horses
and mules, caissons, boxes of ammuni
tion thrown out to lessen loads, mess
utensils, arms, accoutrements, blankets,
and clothing. Passing Namozine Church
to the left, Wells' brigade, which had
the advance in Custer's division, came

654

PURSUIT OP GENERAL LEE.

up with a part of Barrenger's brigade,
which turned and fired on the pursuers ;
but the Eighth New York charged
without slackening pace, and the re
mainder of Wells' brigade coming up as
well as Pennington's, a number of pris
oners were taken and the rest scattered
through the woods. Wells, after pursu
ing the enemy some distance, crossed
over to the road on the right, which led
to Bevil's Ford over the Appomattox;
along which Capehart's brigade was
pushing. The latter, immediately after
crossing Deep Creek at the lower ford,
the bridge having been destroyed, came
upon and charged the enemy, who after
keeping up a running fight for about
five miles, began to show signs of
a more determined resistance. When
Bevil's Ford was reached, the enemy
struck off to the left by a road leading
to a, crossing seven miles farther up the
river, and Pennington halting to collect
his men, who had scattered in search of
fugitives, Capehart continued the pur
suit, in which Wells, now come up from
the other road, also joined. At length
the enemy turned again to the right to
cross the Appomattox and rejoin Lee's
main army on the north side of the
river ; Capehart's brigade charged as
before, but this time was checked by a
volley, and a body of rebel infantry
which now appeared deploying in an
open field on the left of the enemy's
line, crossed, turned and enfiladed the
right flank of the Federal cavalry, caus
ing it to fall back half a mile, to a
position where Mackenzie's division was
in line, Artillery being then turned

upon the rebel infantry, they were
checked, and the Federal cavalry resum
ed the pursuit. But by this time night
was falling and the whole column en
camped. The enemy had been pursued
full twenty miles, and about 350 prison
ers had been taken besides four cannon
and several ammunition wagons. Early
on the 4th the pursuit was resumed, April
Mackenzie's division now in the *•
advance, and late in the afternoon the
enemy were found posted in works, with
both infantry a,nd artillery, about two
miles from Bethany. Skirmishing com
menced immediately and continued till
dark, when Mackenzie's troops went
into camp and awaited the rest of the
column ; but toward midnight all were
again aroused and set in motion, Custer's
division in the advance, and marching
all night the leading brigades, at six
o'clock in the morning,- reached Jetters
ville, the fifth corps having already
arrived and thrown up intrenchments
across the Danville Railroad. General
Lee had, in the mean time, got no
farther than Amelia Court House, also
on the Danville Railroad, and about six
miles northeast of Jettersville. Sheridan
posted the cavalry on the left of the
fifth corps, with the exception of Davies'
brigade of Crook's division, which was
sent to occupy Burkesville at the inter
section of the Danville and Lynchburg
railroads. Davies came upon and routed
some of the enemy's cavalry at Fame's
Cross-Roads, capturing two or three
hundred prisoners, five new Armstrong
guns, and about two hundred wagons ;
but a body of the enemy's infantry

From a Photograph "by Brady

^A^L

PURSUIT OF GENERAL LEE.

655

coming up, Davies, after a short but
sharp skirmish, fell back and returned
to camp, taking his prisoners with him.
Sheridan immediately sent a dispatch to
General Grant informing him of the
state of things.
The movements of the infantry in
pursuit commenced on the morning of
the 3d by the march of the fifth corps,
which arrived about two o'clock in sight
of the Appomattox, when, without cross
ing the river, it turned to the left along
the Namozine road, behind the cavalry,
crossing Namozine and Deep Creeks,
making, however, during the day only
sixteen miles, owing to the bad condi
tion of the roads, which detained the
wagon trains. The next day's march
brought the corps to Jettersville, twenty
miles farther, where it was massed in
an open field, and threw up immediately
strong earth-works across the railroad.
As they lay across the line of retreat of
Lee's army, which was only a few miles
distant, at or near Amelia Court House,
the utmost caution was necessary, and
no fires were lighted, and the entire
force was kept in readiness to meet the
attack which it was expected Lee would
be tempted to make before reinforce
ments could come up.
The second corps had started soon
after the fifth and kept close in its rear
for some time, but owing to the cavalry
getting in its way and the- bad condition
of the roads, which had to be repaired
for the passage of artillery, did not
arrive at Jettersville till the 5th. The
second and third divisions immediately
took position on the left of the fifth

corps, in place of the first and third
divisions of cavalry. General Ord, on
the 4th, with his column of the Army
of the James, accompanied by General
Grant, marched along the Cox road to
Sutherland Station, on the South Side
Railroad, ten miles west of Petersburg,
and from that point, leaving the line of
march of the main body of the army,
marched along the railroad to Wilson's
Station, where it encamped for the night,
and on the 5th, still following the rail
road, Turner's division in the advance,
reached Blacks and Whites about two
o'clock. Thence, the road being very
good, the column briskly pressed on
to Nottaway, nine miles southeast of
Burkesville, and about twelve miles due
south of Jettersville. At this point, the
column having marched about twenty
miles, it was proposed to halt. But at
half-past six, Sheridan's dispatch, before
referred to, reached General Grant, and
he immediately pushed forward the two
divisions of the twenty-fourth corps to
Burkesville, leaving Birney with the
remainder of the column at Blacks and
Whites. The railroad junction was
reached and occupied at eleven o'clock
p.m., and at the same hour General Grant
joined Sheridan at Jettersville.
Two divisions of the ninth corps also,
having in charge most of the army
trains, marched from Petersburg on the
4th to Ford Station, on the South Side
Railroad, about twenty miles west of
the city, on the 5th advanced by the
Cox road as far as Wellesville, and on
the 6th to a position about ten miles
from Burkesville, having one brigade of

656

PURSUIT OF GENERAL LEE.

the second division thrown forward to
the railroad junction.
The greatly superior forces of General
Grant had now almost surrounded those
of General Lee, and it became evident
that effectual resistance on his part was
improbable, and escape almost impos
sible. The Federal army at Jettersville
lay in a line nearly four miles long,
facing northward, the sixth corps on the
right, the fifth in the centre, and the
second on the left ; on the extreme left
was Mackenzie's cavalry, on the extreme
right Custer's. On the morning of the
April 6th, at daylight, the second, fifth,
6- and sixth army corps were set in
motion along the railroad in the direc
tion of Amelia Court House, but intelli
gence arriving soon afterward that Lee
had commenced his retreat in a westerly
direction, the line of march of the
second and fifth corps was immediately
changed to a northwesterly direction,
the second moving on Deatonville, the
fifth moving on its right, and the sixth
facing about and marching by the left
flank, taking position on its left, while
Sheridan with the cavalry was operating
still farther to the left. General Ord
had, in the mean time, advanced from
Burkesville toward Farmville, sending
two regiments of infantry and a squadron
of cavalry under General Read to de
stroy the bridges. This small advanced
force met the head of Lee's column near
Farmville, and attacked and detained it
till General Read was killed and his
command overpowered.- A delay was
thus caused in the enemy's movements,
which enabled General Ord to get up

with the remainder of his force, when
the enemy immediately intrenched.
The second corps soon became en
gaged with the enemy near Deatonville,
and drove them across Sailor's Creek,
near the Appomattox, where General
Sheridan with his cavalry struck them,
capturing sixteen pieces of artillery and
about four hundred wagons, and detain
ed them till the arrival of the sixth
corps. The position of the fifth corps
involving a long march, the enemy had
passed before it came upon their line of
retreat. The sixth corps came up with
the enemy about four o'clock, and in
conjunction with the second corps on
its right and the cavalry on its left,
attacked and routed them, capturing
between six and seven thousand prison
ers, including Generals Ewell, Kershaw,
Button, Corse, De Barre, and Custis
Lee. The Federal loss was about a
thousand in killed and wounded.
Lee with the remainder of his force
made his way to Farmville, on the
Appomattox, about eight miles above
Sailor's Creek, where on the 7th ipry
the second corps and Crook's divi- '•
sion of cavalry came up with him, and a
sharp engagement took place, in which
several hundred Federal troops were
killed and wounded, among them Gen
eral Smyth mortally and General Mott
severely wounded.
On the morning of the 7th the pursuit
was renewed, all the cavalry, except
one division, and the fifth corps moving
by Prince Edward Court House ; the
sixth corps, General Ord's command,
on Farmville, and the second corps by

POLICY OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON.

665

tions as now distract public affairs. I
believe I may say that my past life is
known to the country, especially that
part connected with the rebellion. The
country must accept, then, my past
course as an indication of what my
future will be. I think the people
understand and appreciate my position.
" I know it is easy, gentlemen, for
any one who is so disposed, to acquire
a reputation for clemency and mercy.
But the public good imperatively re
quires a just discrimination in the exer
cise of these qualities. What is clem
ency ? What is mercy ? It may be
considered merciful to relieve an indi
vidual from pain and suffering ; but to
relieve one from the penalty of crime
may be productive of national disaster.
The American people must be taught to
know and understand that treason is a
crime. Arson and murder are crimes,
the punishment of which is the loss of
liberty and life. If, then, it is right in
the sight of God to take away human
life for such crimes, what punishment,
let me ask you, should be inflicted upon
him who is guilty of the atrocious crime
of assassinating the chief magistrate of a
great people ? I am sure there is no one
present who has not the answer ready
upon his lips ! Him whom we loved has
been removed from our midst by the
hand of a ruthless assassin, and his bless
ed spirit has gone to that bourne whence
no traveller returns. If his murderer
should suffer the severest penalty known
to the law, what punishment should be
inflicted upon the assassins who have
raised their daggers against the life of a
252

nation, against the happiness and lives
of thirty millions of people ? Treason
is a crime, and must be punished as a
crime. It must not be regarded as a
mere difference of political opinion. It
must not be excused as an unsuccessful
rebellion, to be overlooked and forgiven.
It is a crime before which all other
crimes sink into insignificance ; and in
saying this it must not be considered
that I am influenced by angry or re
vengeful feelings.
"Of course a careful discrimination
must be observed, for thousands have
been involved in this rebellion who are
only technically guilty of the crime of
treason. They have been deluded and
deceived, and have been made the
victims of the more intelligent, artful,
and designing men, the instigators of
this monstrous rebellion. The number
of this latter class is comparatively
small. The former may stand acquitted
of the crime of treason — the latter
never ; the full penalty of their crimes
should be visited upon them. To the
others I would accord amnesty, leniency,
and mercy."
Steps were at once taken for the
adjustment of affairs. Orders were
issued relative to the reduction of the
armies and opening Southern ports to
trade, and the President appointed the
1st of June to be observed as a day of
humiliation and mourning, " in mem
ory," said the proclamation, " of the
good man who has been removed, so
that all shall be occupied at the same
time in contemplation of his virtues, and
sorrow for his sudden and violent end."

Missing Page

666

SHERMAN'S OPERATIONS AGAINST JOHNSTON.

In the mean time the commanders in
the field had not relaxed their efforts to
bring the war to a conclusion. The forces
in North Carolina under the command
of General Sherman, from the 1st to the
10th of April were busily occupied in
repairing the wear and tear consequent
on their late hard marches. The Army
of the Ohio under General Schofield
lay at Goldsboro, with detachments dis
tributed so as to secure and cover the
routes of communication and supply,
back to Wilmington and Morehead City ;
the tenth corps under General Terry
was at Faison's D6p6t ; the Army of
the Tennessee under General Howard,
which had constituted the right wing
in the march from Savannah, lay en
camped to the right of and in front of
Goldsboro, and the Army of Georgia,
which had constituted the left wing, lay
on the left and in front of the town,
while General Kilpatrick with the cav
alry were at Mount Olive. By extra
ordinary exertions all the men were
reclothed, the wagons reloaded, and the
entire force got in readiness to move by
the 10th of April, as had been agreed
upon between Generals Grant and Sher-
April man. On the 6th of April, Gen-
6* eral Sherman got intelligence of
the great success of the Army of the
Potomac at Petersburg, and changed the
plan of his new campaign, which up to
that time had been to move rapidly
northward, ostensibly on Raleigh, but
really with the intention of striking
Burkesville, and thus interposing his
large force between the armies of John
ston and Lee. By the late auspicious

events, to use the language of General
Grant, the " Confederate armies" in
Yirginia and North Carolina had now
become the "strategic points." Grant
was abundantly able to take care of the
greatly reduced force under Lee, and it
became the task of General Sherman to
capture or destroy the army of Johnston,
which at that time was at Smithfield,
between Sherman and Raleigh. His
force consisted of about thirty-five thou
sand infantry and artillery, with from
six to ten thousand cavalry, in which
arm he was still superior to General
Sherman. General Kilpatrick, therefore,
with his command was held in reserve
at Mount Olive, with orders to have his
force in readiness for a sudden and
rapid march by the 10th of April.
Early on the morning of that day the
various columns were set in motion
toward the army of Johnston — General
Slocum, followed by General Schofield
in support, taking the two direct roads
for Smithfield ; General Howard making
a circuit to the right as if aiming for the
Weldon Railroad ; Generals Terry and
Kilpatrick moving on the west of the
Neuse River, with the view of getting
in the enemy's rear between Smithfield
and Raleigh. Small bodies of rebel
cavalry were met within six miles of
Goldsboro, but were easily driven off,
and by ten o'clock in the morning the
fourteenth corps entered Smithfield, the
twentieth being close at hand, General
Johnston having retreated rapidly across
the Neuse River and burnt the bridge
after him at Smithfield.
By this time the rains had set in,

SHERMAN'S OPERATIONS AGAINST JOHNSTON.

667

making it necessary to corduroy the
roads for the passage of wheeled car
riages, while Johnston having posses
sion of the railroad to Raleigh was able
by means of this to lighten his trains,
and could move faster than his pursuers.
A portion of the fourteenth corps was
got over the Neuse by a pontoon bridge ;
but before the rest of the army had
crossed, news came of the surrender of
Lee's army at Appomattox Court-House.
This intelligence, besides exciting in
men and officers the utmost enthusiasm,
decided Sherman to move without his
trains, which the badness of the roads
made it extremely difficult to move, and
march rapidly to Raleigh, whither the
advance of his forces arrived on the
April morning of the 13th in a heavy
13« rain. The next day the cavalry
pushed on to Durham's Station, the
fifteenth corps following as far as Mor-
risville Station and the seventeenth to
Jones' Station. Johnston's line of re
treat being by the railroad, through
Hillsboro, Salisbury, and Charlotte, in
order to intercept his army, Sherman
sent the other columns — with the excep
tion of Schofield's, which remained in
Raleigh to hold that place and the road
back to Smithfield — westward in the
direction of Ashboro.
Heavy rains continued, and the roads
were consequently almost impracticable ;
nevertheless, such was the energy with
which the pursuit was conducted that
April by the 15th General Slocum had
15. the fourteenth corps near Martha's
Yineyard, with a pontoon bridge across
the Cape Fear River at Aven's Ferry,

the twentieth corps being in support ;
while General Howard had the fifteenth
and seventeeth corps stretched out on
the roads toward Pittsboro, General
Kilpatrick holding Durham's Station
and Chapel Hill University. General
Johnston's force was now retreating
rapidly on the roads from Hillsboro to
Greensboro, he himself being at Greens
boro, his only line of retreat being by
Salisbury and Charlotte. In the mean
time he had on the 14th applied by flag
of truce for an armistice and a statement
of the best terms on which he would be
permitted to surrender the army under
his command. To this General Sher
man replied on the same day, undertak
ing to offer ' ' the same terms and condi
tions as were made by Generals Grant
and Lee at Appomattox Court House,
on the 9 th instant, relative to the two
armies, and furthermore to obtain from
General Grant an order to suspend the
movements of any troops from the direc
tion of Yirginia."
A meeting between the two com
manders was subsequently agreed upon,
to take place at noon on the 17th at a
point intermediate between the pickets
of the two armies, which were in the
mean time to remain in statu quo. This
took place accordingly at a small April
farm-house on the Chapel Hill 17»
road, five miles from Durham's Station
and about thirty from Raleigh. Gen
eral Sherman was accompanied by Gen
eral Kilpatrick, General Barry, Col
onel Poe, and members of his staff;
General Johnston by Wade Hampton,
Major Johnston, and Captain Hampton.

668

AGREEMENT BETWEEN SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON.

As might have been expected from the
high character of both commanders, the
interview was frank and soldier-like.
General Johnston admitted that his
cause was lost, and that every life
sacrificed after the surrender of Lee's
army was the " highest possible crime."
He also acknowledged that the terms
conceded to General Lee were magnani
mous and all he could ask ; but wanted
some general concessions that would
enable him to allay the fears and anxi
eties of his followers and to retain
control over them until they could be
got back to the neighborhood of their
homes. No arrangement was perfected
at this meeting, and it was agreed to
renew the conference at the same place
on the following day.
At the second meeting, at which
April General Breckinridge, holding the
I8* office of secretary of war in the
Confederate government, was present,
an agreement was come to for a suspen
sion of hostilities and a memorandum
for a basis of peace was signed. This
was not intended to be anything more
than a mere "basis" for reference to
the President, for his approval or rejec
tion. It was not an ultimatum, and
might be modified or rejected alto
gether.* It was immediately sent to

8 Basis or Agreement between Generals Sherman and
Johnston.
" Memorandum or basis of agreement, made this 18th day
of April, a.e. 1865, near Durham's Station, and in the
State of North Carolina, by and between General Joseph
E. Johnston, commanding the Confederate army, and
Major-General William T. Sherman commanding the
army of the United States in North Carolina, both
present. " First. The contending armies now in the field to

Washington, and arrived there on the
21st, when at a cabinet meeting it was
disapproved by the President, by the
Secretary of War, by General Grant,

maintain their statu quo, until notice is given by the Com
manding General of either one to its opponent, and
reasonable time— say forty-eight hours— allowed.
" Second. The Confederate armies now in existence to be
disbanded and conducted to their several State capitals,
there to deposit their arms and public property in the
State arsenals, and each officer and man to execute and
file an agreement to cease from acts of war, and abide
action of both State and Federal authority. The number
of arms and munitions of war to be reported to the Chief
of Ordnance at Washington City, subject to future action
of the Congress of the United States ; in the mean time,
to be used solely to maintain peace and order within the
borders of the State respectively.
"Third. The recognition by the Executive of the
United States of several State Governments, in their
officers and legislatures, taking oath prescribed by the
Constitution of the United States, and where conflicting
State Governments have resulted from the war, the
legitimacy of all shall be submitted to the Supreme Court
of the United States.
"Fourth. The re-establishment of all Federal courts in
the several States, with powers as defined by the Consti
tution and laws of Congress.
" Fifth. The people and inhabitants of all States to be
guaranteed, so far as the Executive can, their political
rights and franchise, as well as their rights of person and
property, as defined by the Constitution of the United
States and of States respectively.
" Sixth. The executive authority of the Government
of the United States not to disturb any of the people
by reason of the late war, so long as they live in peace
and quiet, and abstain from acts of armed hostility,
and obey laws in existence at any place of their resi
dence. " In general terms, war to cease ; a general amnesty, so
far as the executive power of the United States can com
mand, or on condition of the disbandment of the Confed
erate armies, and the distribution of arms and resumption
of peaceful pursuits by officers and men as hitherto com
posing the said armies, not being fully empowered by our
respective principals to fulfill these terms, we individually
and officially pledge ourselves to promptly obtain neces
sary authority, and to carry out the above programme.
" W. T. Sherman,
" Major-General Commanding the Army of the United
States in North Carolina. "J. E. Johnston,
"General Commanding Confederate States Army in
Norfh Carolina."

Photograph 2>y Brady

Engraved, by J Hovers.

SURRENDER OF JOHNSTON.

669

and by every member of the cabinet*
General Sherman was ordered to re
sume hostilities immediately, and to
take for his guidance a telegram by
Mr. Lincoln on the 3d of March to
General Grant restricting his action in
a conference proposed by General Lee
to matters purely mifitary.f
8 The following are the reasons given by Secretary
Stanton for disapproving the proceeding of General
Sherman :
" First — It was an exercise of authority not vested in
General Sherman, and on its face shows that both he and
Johnston knew that he (General Sherman) had no au
thority to enter into any such arrangement.
" Second — It was a practical acknowledgment of the
rebel government.
' ' Third — It undertook to re-establish the rebel State
Government, that had been overthrown at the sacrifice of
many thousand loyal lives and an immense treasure, and
placed arms and munitions of war in the hands of the
rebels at their respective capitals, which might he used as
soon as the armies of the United States were disbanded,
and used to conquer and subdue the loyal States.
"Fourth — By the restoration of the rebel authority in
their respective States, they would be enabled to re
establish slavery.
" Fifth— It might furnish a ground of responsibility by
the Federal Government to pay the rebel debt, and
certainly subjects loyal citizens of the rebel States to the
debt consummated by the rebels in the name of the State.
" Sixth— It put in dispute the existence of loyal State
Governments, and the new State of Western Virginia,
which had been recognized by every department of the
United States Government.
" Seventh—It practically abolishes the confiscation laws,
and relieved rebels of every degeee, who had slaughtered
our people, from all pains and penalties for their crimes.
" Eighth— It gave terms that had been deliberately,
repeatedly, and solemnly rejected by President Lincoln,
and better terms than the rebels had ever asked in their
most prosperous condition.
"Ninth— It formed no basis of true and lasting peace,
but relieved rebels from the pressure of our victories and
left them in condition to renew their efforts to overthrow
the United States Government, and subdue the loyal
States, whenever their strength was recruited, and any
opportunity should offer."
+ On the night of the 3d of March, while President Lin
coln and his cabinet were at the Capitol, a telegram from
General Grant was brought to the Secretary of War,
informing him that General Lee had requested an inter-

General Grant also immediately set
out for Raleigh with orders from the
President through the Secretary of War
to direct military movements, and arrived
early on the morning of the 24th, but
did not assume command. Notice was
at once sent to General Johnston to
terminate the truce, and on the 25th
General Sherman received a letter from
him, asking another interview for the
purpose of renewing negotiations. This,
with the approval of General Grant, he
appointed for the 26 th at noon, April
the hour which had been fixed for 26«
the renewal of hostilities. General
Johnston then surrendered his army
and all the forces under his command
in North and South Carolina, Georgia,
and Florida, on the basis agreed upon
between Generals Grant and Lee for
the Army of Northern Yirginia. Prob
ably his army,was forty thousand strong
at the time of the surrender ; but the
number of men actually admitted to
parole was only 29,924, some ten thou
sand having escaped from camp and
view or conference to make an arrangement for terms of
peace. General Grant's telegram was submitted to Mr.
Lincoln, who pondering a few minutes took up his pen
and wrote with his own hand the following reply, which
he submitted to the Secretary of State and the Secretary
of War. It was then dated, addressed, and signed by the
Secretary of War and telegraphed to General Grant.
" Washington, March 3, 1865—12 p.m.
"Lieutenant-General Grant:
"The President directs me to say to you that he wishes
you to have no conference with General Lee unless it be
for the capitulation of General Lee's army, or on some
minor and pure military matter. He instructs me to say
that you are not to decide, discuss, or confer upon any
political question. Such questions the President holds in
his own hands, and will submit them to no military con
ferences or conventions. Meantime, you are to press to
the utmost your military advantages.
"Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War."

670

SURRENDER OF. GENERALS TAYLOR AND THOMPSON.

made off with their arms and horses and
a number of mules and wagons.
There was an end of discipline with
the rebel troops when it became known
that the surrender was actually about
to take place, and the want of rations,
the antipathy of conscripted men to the
service, and a general disgust with the
miserable disappointment of all the fine
promises which had been made them by
the Confederate leaders, induced many
to seize the opportunity to hurry back
to their homes. A part of Wade
Hampton's cavalry corps went off to
share the fortunes of Jefferson Davis.
One hundred and eight pieces of artillery
were parked, with limbers, caissons,
etc., complete, and about fifteen thou
sand small- arms were given up. Yery
few cavalry horses were captured, and
even the mules and wagons were given
to Johnston's troops to b» used in trans
porting rations and baggage. Officers
owning horses were allowed to retain
them. On the 4th of May, General Richard
May Taylor, commanding in the Con-
*• federate Department of Alabama,
Mississippi, and eastern Louisiana, sur
rendered all his forces to General Canby,
at Citronelle, Alabama, on terms sub
stantially the same as those granted to
Generals Lee and Johnston. This sur
render included all the remaining rebel
forces east of the Mississippi. General
Jeff. Thompson, commanding the rebel
May forces in Arkansas, on the 11th of
H# May surrendered, at Chalk Bluff,
his army of about seventy-five hundred
men on the same terms.

There remained now of the Confeder
ate armies only the force under General
Kirby Smith, commanding the rebel
Trans-Mississippi Department, who on
the 31st of April, after hearing of Lee's
surrender, but before having heard of
those of Johnston and Taylor, isstied an
order to the troops under his command
urging them to stand by their colors and
protract the struggle. This order was
dated at Shreveport, Louisiana, where
on the 26th a mass meeting of soldiers
and citizens was held, and attended by
Governor Reynolds, Generals Kirby
Smith, Price, Buckner, and others, for
the purpose of expressing a general
determination to carry on the war.
Other meetings were held in various
parts of Texas, at which resolutions
were passed expressive of an intention
never to submit to the United States
Government. Measures were, however,
promptly taken to put an end to the
war in this quarter by setting in
motion for Texas a force sufficient
to insure an easy triumph over the
forces under Kirby Smith. General
Sheridan was designated for its com
mand, as well as the Military Division
of the Southwest, embracing all the
region south of the Arkansas and west
of the Mississippi.
In western Texas occurred the last
battle of the war. On the evening of
the 11th of May, Colonel Barrett with
about five hundred troops marched from
Brazos to seize a rebel camp at Palmetto
Ranch, about fifteen miles above, on
the Brownsville road. The camp was
captured and burned the next morning,

FLIGHT OF DAYIS AND HIS CABINET.

671

and some guns and horses were carried
off. But various causes having delayed
the return of the expedition till the
afternoon of the 13th, a superior force
of the enemy, principally Ford's cavalry,
under the command of General Slaugh
ter, supported by three field-pieces,
made its appearance. The Federal
troops had no artillery, and a running
fight ensued in the direction of Brazos,
to within a mile of which place the
pursuit was continued by the rebels.
The Federal loss was about fifteen in
killed and wounded, and sixty prisoners.
Kirby Smith's forces in the mean time

began to diminish rapidly by desertion,
making it apparent, especially after the
surrender of all the rebel forces east of
the Mississippi, that resistance would be
useless. Accordingly, before any por
tion of Sheridan's troops had arrived,
General Smith sent General Brent and
several staff officers to Baton Rouge
to ascertain from General Canby the
terms of surrender. His messengers
arrived on the 23d, and on the May
26th arrangements for the sur- 26*
render of all the Confederate forces in
the Trans-Mississippi Department were
concluded at New Orleans.

CHAPTER LIX.
Evacuation of Eichmond.-Views of the Confederate Government on the Evacuation. -Flight of Jefferson Davis and
his Cabinet -Government set up at Danville.-Value of Confederate Notes.-Effect of the News of Lee's Surren
der -Fli ht of Davis and his Cabinet to Greenboro. -Consultation of Davis, Breckinridge, Beauregard, and John
ston -Davis and his Cabinet at Charlotte. -Continued Flight after the Surrender of Johnston.-Capture of Davis.-
Imprisonment in Fortress Monroe.-Put in Irons—Petition in his Favor.-Disreputable Measures adopted by the
Confederate Government.-Treatment of Prisoners.-Libby, Belle Isle, and Andersonville Prisons. -Captam Henry
Wirz. — His Execution.

1865.

After the last decisive battle before
Petersburg on Sunday the 2d of
April, General Lee sent a dispatch
to Richmond informing Jefferson Davis
of the great reverses and counselling
immediate departure. The Confederate
government had more than once pro
fessed to attach little importance to the
retention of Richmond under their con
trol. Mr. Davis had expressed his
views on the evacuation not only to
public assemblies but in messages to
Congress. He contended that if the

campaign of the year 1864 had resulted
in. Federal success ; if he had been com
pelled to evacuate Richmond as well as
Atlanta, the Confederacy would have
remained as erect and defiant as ever.
He argued that such an event would
have changed nothing in the purpose
of the government, in the indomitable
valor of the troops, or in the unquench
able spirit of the people ; that the baffled
and disappointed foe would in vain have
scanned the reports of their proceedings
at some new legislative seat for any

672

FLIGHT OF DAYIS AND HIS CABINET.

indication that progress had been made
in the gigantic task of conquering a free
people. There were no vital points on
the preservation of which the existence
of the Confederacy depended — no mili
tary success of the enemy which could
accomplish its destructiou. Not the fall
of Atlanta, nor of Savannah, nor of
Wilmington, nor of Charleston, nor of
Mobile, nor even of Richmond, could
affect the issue of the contest. Members
of the Confederate cabinet and many of
the public papers expressed similar
opinions. There were not wanting
those, however, who believed and open
ly declared that these opinions would
be found fatally erroneous ; that the
evacuation of Richmond would be fol
lowed by the loss of all respect toward
the Confederate government and the
destruction of its authority, the dis
integration of the army and the aban
donment of the scheme of an independ
ent Southern confederation ; that the
hope of recognition among nations
would be gone forever ; and that in a
moral point of view it would be abso
lutely destructive, crushing the heart
and extinguishing the last hope of the
people. But the time had now come for
evacuation, whatever its consequences
April might be. About two o'clock in
2« the afternoon orders were issued
to the principal military and civil offi
cials to have all government archives
ready for removal by Seven o'clock, and
to meet Mr. Davis at the Danville
Railroad d£p6t by eight o'clock. Rich
mond became at once a scene of the

utmost hurry and confusion, and at ten
o'clock the Confederate President and
his cabinet took their departure for
Danville, where they arrived on the 3d.
It was determined to make this place
the seat of government, for as yet,
though Richmond and Petersburg had
been evacuated, the members of the
rebel government were unwilling to
believe that General Lee had determined
on this measure for other than strategic
reasons ; and such was their confidence
in his military skill, that little doubt
was entertained that he would be able
at least to withdraw his army in safety
and protract the war indefinitely.
The people of Danville, not aware
that the last days of the Confederacy
were come, and hoping to have their
little town made the capital, received
their fugitive President and his cabinet
and the great crowd of refugees that
accompanied or followed them . from
Richmond, with great hospitality. Every
house was thrown open to accommodate
the unusual influx of guests. On April
the 5th Mr. Davis issued a procla- 5.
mation to reassure the public and to
persuade the people that it was for the
special accommodation of Lee's new
tactics — field tactics as opposed to in
trenched positions — that Richmond was
abandoned. " It would be unwise,"
said he, "to conceal the moral and
material injury to our cause resulting
from the occupation of our capital by
the enemy. It would be equally un
wise and unworthy of us to allow our
own energies to falter and our efforts to
become relaxed under reverses, however

FLIGHT OF DAYIS AND HIS CABINET.

673

calamitous they may be." " Relieved
from the necessity of guarding particular
points," he added, " our army will be
free to move from point to point to
strike the enemy far from his base.
Let us but will it, and we are free."
While waiting for further news from
General Lee, the various departments
of the Confederate government recom
menced work ; the Masonic Hall was
taken possession of for the post-office
department ; the treasury was opened
at one of the banks, and Mr. Trenholm
sold forty thousand dollars in Mexican
silver for Confederate notes at the rate
of seventy dollars in paper for one in
silver.* Admiral Semmes, now a brigadier-
general, undertook to put Danville in a
° The following statement shows the value of gold in
Confederate currency at Richmond, from October, 1861,
to the evacuation of that city :

1861. For $1 in Gold.
October $1 10 to $1 15
November.. 1 15 to 1 17
December.... 1 18 to 1 20

1862.
January 1 18 to
February. ... 1 25 to
March 1 28 to
April 1 38 to
May 1 50
June 1 50
July 1 50
August 1 50
September... 1 75 to
October 1 75 to
November.... 2 50 to
December. ... 2 50 to

1 22
1 26
1 30
1 40

2 00
2 00
3 00
3 00

1863. For $1 in Gold.
July $ 9 00
August.... 12 00
September. 12 50
October... 13 00 to $14 00
November. 15 50
December.. 19 00

1863.
January. ..... 3 10
February .... 383
March 4 20
April 5 00 to
May 6 00
June 8 50

5 50

1864.
January. . . 21 00
February.. 23 00 to
March 22 00 to
April 21 00 to
May 19 00 to
June 15 00 to
July 20 00
August. ... 21 00 to
September. 22 00 to
October.... 26 00
November. 27 00 to
December. 34 00 to

1865.
January. . .
February. .
March . . .
253

45 00 to
45 00 to
60 00

25 00
24 00
23 00
20 00
18 00
23 00
25 00
33 00
51 00

58 00
60 00

state of defence, and mounted guns on
all the little hills around the place.
Meanwhile no news came from Lee,
but rumor of terrible riot and fires in
Richmond. Thus things went on till
the evening of the 8th, when it was
rumored that the following dispatch had
arrived from Breckinridge: "We have
squarely beaten the Yanks in- a two
days' fight. Lee is all right and his
army well in hand." On the strength
of this rumor, Sunday the 9th, the day
on which Lee signed his capitulation,
was a cheerful day among the Confed
erates in Danville. Lee was supposed
to be falling back at his leisure to hold
a defensive line along the Staunton
River. On Monday morning unpleasant
news began to come in, and no longer
in the form of rumor. The railroad at
Burkesville was torn up ; the Federal
army was between Danville and the
Confederate army. At last came the
stunning intelligence of the surrender of
General Lee. Orders were at once April
given for the evacuation of Dan- !••
ville at five o'clock, and soon after that
hour Mr. Davis, still accompanied by his
cabinet, started by railroad for Greens
boro, in North Carolina, and arrived
early on the 11th in safety, having had,
however, a narrow escape from capture
by a party of raiders, who tore up the
track within a few miles of the town
ten minutes after the train passed. At
Greensboro the people were so little
inclined to be hospitable, or had so little
regard for their flying President, that he
and his cabinet during their stay had to
live in the miserable railroad cars.

674

FLIGHT OF DAYIS AND HIS CABINET.

Here Mr. Davis was joined by Breck
inridge, Beauregard, and Johnston, and
a long consultation took place. Davis
ordered Johnston to fight ; but the
latter disputed not only the wisdom of
the order but its power over his action.
He considered that the struggle was
over, and went away to his headquarters
near Hillsboro, reserving to himself the
right of deciding his course by the
development of events. On the 14th
orders were given for the evacuation of
Greensboro ; but now, as the railroad
had been torn up at Jamestown, twelve
miles distant, the fugitives had to resort
to horses and wagons. These were to
April have been at the cars by three
15. o'clock on the morning of the 15th,
but by some mistake went past to near
Jamestown. Heavy rains had now
made the roads so bad that they were
almost impassable, and to wait for the
return of the wagons would have caused
much delay. With considerable diffi
culty Mr. Davis and his party, now
reduced to a very small number, pro
cured three ambulances. In these, and
on horseback, they went on, and en
camped that night, during a heavy rain
in the woods, near Jamestown.
On arriving at Charlotte, where the
people had indulged in hopes of their
town being made the Confederate
capital, there was considerable show
of hospitality, and Mr. Davis lived in a
house of his own selection during his
stay, Which was not, however, very
protracted, for the day after the news
came of Johnston's surrender the fugi
tives again set forth, with an escort of

two thousand cavalry, directing their
course toward the Catawba. Mr. Davis'
journey from this time was one of
incessant flight. Delays were no longer
to be thought of. His design was to
join the forces of General Dick Taylor
beyond the Chattahoochee, then crossing
the Mississippi to join Taylor's forces to
those of General Kirby Smith, and to
continue the war as long as he could
find any Confederate force able to keep
the field ; not in hope of any important
success, but with the view of securing
for the South some better terms than
surrender at discretion. He was ac-*
companied now by only one cabinet
officer, Postmaster-GeneralReagan, three
aides, and an escort of ten mounted
men with one pack-mule. Nothing was
known at this time by any of the party
of a reward of one hundred thousand
dollars* which had been offered by the
o On the 2d of May President Johnson issued the follow
ing proclamation :
" Whereas, it appears from evidence in the bureau of
Military Justice, that the atrocious murder of the late
President, Abraham Lincoln, and the attempted assassina
tion of the Hon. W. H. Seward, Secretary of State, were
incited, concerted, and procured by and between Jefferson
Davis, late of Richmond, Va., and Jacob Thompson,
Clement C. Clay, Beverly Tucker, George N. Saunders,
W. C. Cleary, and other rebels and traitors against the
Government of the United States, harbored in Canada :
" Now, therefore, to the end that justice may be done,
I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do
offer and promise for the arrest of said persons or either
of them, within the limits of the United States, so that
they can be brought to trial, the following rewards :
$100,000 for the arrest of Jefferson Davis, $25,000 for the
arrest of Jacob Thompson, late of Mississippi, $25,000 for
the arrest of George N. Saunders, $25,000 for the arrest of
Beverly Tucker, and $10,000 for the arrest of William C.
Cleary, late clerk of Clement C. Clay. The Provost-
Marshal-General of the United States is directed to cause
a description of said persons with notice of the above
rewards to be published."

y v

FLIGHT OF DAVIS AND HIS CABINET.

675

United States Government for the cap
ture of the Confederate President, and
he was pursuing his way southward
may when on the 9th of May he heard
9> that Mrs. Davis with her three chil
dren and Miss Howell were in danger
from bands of marauders, who were going
about the country stealing horses and
whatever else might tempt their cupidity.
Mrs. Davis had a wagon train of her
own, and was travelling at that time
about eighteen miles distant from her
husband's party, and very anxious to be
no embarrassment to him. She had left
Richmond more than a month before
her husband, and had started from
Washington on her way southward just
before his arrival, in company with
Colonel Harrison, Mr. Davis' private
secretary, and a small party of parolled
men, who seeing the ladies unprotected
had volunteered to be their escort to
Florida, whence the family, and not Mr.
Davis himself, intended to take ship for
Cuba. It was reported that a large
quantity of specie was in the possession
of Mrs. Davis. Such was not the fact,
Mrs. Davis having no money that was
not personal property, and very little of
that. In the exodus from Richmond a
large quantity of specie belonging to
the city banks was carried off by its
owners in the train of Mr. Davis for
greater security. This was all subse
quently captured by the United States
troops. A little specie belonging to the
Confederate government was conveyed
as far as Washington, when, it having
been determined to give a few dollars
to the escort, a scramble took place and

the soldiers got the whole of it. Mr.
Davis, extremely anxious for the safety
of his family, immediately rode back to
afford what protection he could, but
found Mrs. Davis and her party safe,
encamped in a pine-forest near the
Abbeville road, about a mile from
Irwinsville, seventy-five miles south of
Macon. Weary with his ride he went
to sleep, intending to retrace his steps in
the morning.
Active measures had in the mean
time been taken by General Wilson to
intercept the fugitives. Colonel Pritch-
ard, commanding the Fourth Michigan
Cavalry of Minty 's division, arrived at
Irwinsville near midnight of the 9th,
and having learned from a citizen that
Mr. Davis' party was encamped two
miles out of the town, made dispositions
to surround the camp before day. Lieu
tenant-Colonel Harden also, commanding
the First Wisconsin Cavalry of McCook's
division, had struck the trail of the
fugitives at Dublin, in Lawrence County,
on the evening of the 7th, and followed
it closely till the night of the 9th, when
fie encamped at nine in the evening
within two miles of where Mr. Davis
was. At three in the morning he
pushed on again ; but when he had
moved about a mile, his advance was
fired upon by the troops of the Fourth
Michigan, by whom they were mistaken
for the escort of Mr. Davis' party. A
fight ensued which lasted fifteen minutes,
and two men were killed and five
wounded before the mistake was dis
covered. This firing was the first warn-
ino- that Mr. Davis had of the presence

676

CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAYIS.

of his pursuers, and he supposing it had
occurred between the dreaded rebel
marauders and Mrs. Davis' few camp
defenders, hurriedly put on his boots
and was going out to interpose, when
he saw a few cavalry ride up and deploy
in front. He had slept in a loose
wrapper which he still had on. This
his wife fastened before he was aware
of it, and bidding him adieu, urged him
to go to a spring a short distance off,
where his horses and arms were. There
was not even a pistol in the tent, and this
was his only chance. As he was leaving
the tent, followed by a servant with a
water pail, Miss Howell flung a shawl
over his head. Though supposed at
first to be a woman by the soldiers, his
boots soon betrayed him, and the race
was a very short one. He was taken
May prisoner as well as Postmaster
**• Reagan and the entire party, and
conveyed to Macon, and thence to Au
gusta, and subsequently to Fortress
Monroe, in company with his family,
Alexander H. Stephens, Mr. Reagan,
Clement C. Clay, and several other
state prisoners, the steamer which bore
the party arriving in Hampton Roads
on the 19th of May. On the 22d
Messrs. Davis and Clay were transferred
to the fort ; Stephens, Reagan, and
some others were sent elsewhere.
The following morning Mr. Davis
May was put in irons. Captain Titlow,
23. of the Third Pennsylvania Artillery,
entered the prisoner's cell followed by
the blacksmith of the fort and his assist
ant, carrying heavy shackles. Mr. Davis
was lying on his bed, feverish and

weary after a sleepless night, the food
which had been placed near him the
preceding day lying untouched on a tin
plate near his bedside.
" I have an unpleasant duty to per
form, sir," said Captain Titlow; and the
blacksmith took the shackles from his
assistant. Mr. Davis instantly leaped
from his recumbent attitude.
"My God!" exclaimed he, "you
cannot have been sent to iron me ?"
"Such are my orders," said the
officer, motioning the blacksmith to do
his duty. The fetters were of heavy
iron, about five-eighths of an inch in
thickness and connected by a stout
chain. " This is too monstrous," said the
prisoner, looking round the room, as if
for the means of resistance. "I de
mand, Captain," he continued, " that
you let me see the commanding officer.
Can he pretend that such shackles are
required to secure the safe custody of a
weak old man, so guarded and in such
a fort as this ?"
"It could serve no purpose," replied
Captain Titlow; "his orders are from
Washington as mine are from him. My
orders are peremptory, and admit of no
delay. For your own sake let me
advise you to submit with patience."
" These are not the orders for a
soldier," shouted the prisoner, losing
control of himself. " They are the
orders for a jailer — for a hangman —
which no soldier wearing a sword should
accept. I tell you the world will ring
with this disgrace !"
" Do your duty, blacksmith," said

JEFFERSON DAVIS PUT IN IRONS.

677

Captain Titlow, finding remonstrance
useless, and walking toward the embra
sure as if not caring to witness the
performance. " It only gives increased
pain on all sides to protract this inter

view.

The blacksmith then advanced with
the shackles, and seeing that the prisoner
had one foot upon the chair near his
bedside, his right hand resting on the
back of it, made an attempt to slip one
of the shackles over the ankle so raised ;
but with the force sometimes imparted
by frenzy even to the weakest invalid,
Mr. Davis suddenly seized his assailant
and threw him half-way across the
room. Captain Titlow then turned, and
seeing that Mr. Davis meditated still
further resistance, again remonstrated
with him, pointing out that such a
course was madness and that orders
must be carried out at any cost.
"I am a prisoner of war," retorted
Mr. Davis. " I have been a soldier in
the armies of America and know how
to die. Only kill me, and my last breath
shall be a blessing on your head. But
while I have life and strength to resist
for myself and for my people, this thing
shall not be done."
Captain Titlow then called in a file of
soldiers from the next room, and the
sergeant advancing to seize the prisoner,
Mr. Davis sprung upon him, seized his
musket, and attempted to wrench it
from his grasp. Such a struggle of
course could have but one issue. In a
moment Mr. Davis was flung upon his
bed, and before his four powerful
assailants removed their hands from

him, the blacksmith and his assistant
had done their work — one securing the
rivets on the right ankle, while the
other turned the key in the padlock on
the left. Mr. Davis lay for a moment
as if in a stupor ; then slowly raising
himself and turning round he dropped
his shackled feet to the floor. The
harsh clank of the chain seems first to
have recalled him to a sense of his
situation, and dropping his face into his
hands, he burst into passionate sobbing,
rocking to and fro, and muttering at
brief intervals: "Oh, the shame! the
shame !"*
On the 28th, the prisoner's health
having begun to suffer seriously, jjay
his shackles were removed ; though 28.
he was for a long time denied the use
of all books but the Bible and the
Prayer Book, and subject to other re
strictions, with the view of preventing
his communicating with the outside
world. Subsequently the severity of
his confinement was somewhat modified;
but twelve months after his entrance
into Fortress Monroe, he was still a
prisoner there, anxiously awaiting his
trial for treason. Petitions to Presi
dent Johnson in favor of Jefferson
Davis were prepared in several of
the Southern States. "Mr. Davis,"
said a memorial adopted by the Legis
lature of Georgia, October 30th, 1865,
"was elevated to his high position by
our suffrages and in response to our
° The above statements respecting the ironing of the
late Confederate President are made on the authority of
Dr. Craven, his medical attendant, and the author of that
very interesting work, " Prison Life of Jefferson Davis."

678

PETITION IN FAVOR OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.

wishes. We imposed upon him a re
sponsibility which he did not seek.
Originally opposed to the sectional
policy to which public opinion, with
irresistible power, finally drove him, he
became the exponent of our principles
and the leader of our cause. He simply
responded to the united voice of his
section. If he, then, is guilty, so are
we. We were the principals ; he was
our agent. Let not the retribution of a
mighty nation be visited upon his head ;
while we, who urged him to his destiny,
are suffered to escape. The liberal
clemency of the Government has been
extended over us. We breathe the air
and experience the blessings of freedom.
We therefore ask that the leader who,
in response to the democratic instincts
of his nature, the principles of his party,
and the solicitations of his section, be
came the head and front of our offending,
shall not now be bruised for our iniqui
ties or punished for our transgressions,
Mr. Davis was not the leader of a feeble
and temporary insurrection ; he was the
representative of great ideas and the
exponent of principles which stirred and
consolidated a numerous and intelligent
people. This people was not his dupe.
They pursued the course which they
adopted of their own free-will, and he
did not draw them on, but followed
after them. It is for these reasons that
we invoke the Executive clemency in
his behalf. His frame is feeble ; his
health is delicate — all broken by the
storms of state. He languishes out in
captivity a vicarious punishment for the
acts of his people. Thousands of hearts

are touched with his distress. Thousands
of prayers ascend to Heaven for his
relief. We invoke in his behalf the
generous exercise of the prerogative to
pardon which the form and principles
of the Constitution offer as a beneficent
instrument to a merciful Executive.
We ask the continuance of that career
of clemency which your Excellency has
begun, and which alone we earnestly
believe can secure the true unity and
the lasting greatness of the nation.
Dispensing that mercy which is incuh
cated by the example of our great
Master on high, your name will be
transmitted to your countrymen as one
of the benefactors of mankind. The
Constitution of our country, renewed
and fortified by your measures, will once
more extend its protection over a con
tented and happy people, founded, as it
will be, upon consent and affection, and
' resting, like the great arch of the
heavens, equally upon all.' "
Though no satisfactory evidence was
at any time brought forward sufficient
to implicate Mr. Davis or his cabinet in
the assassination plot, there can be little
doubt that the members of the Confed
erate government authorized a series of
raids to be made by their agents from the
Canada border ; that an attempt made
to burn New York was not disapproved
by them ; and that on them rested the
responsibility for the inhuman treatment
of prisoners of war in consequence of
which many thousands of Union soldiers
miserably perished.
In September, 1864, John Y. Beall,
an officer in the rebel army, organized

ATTEMPT TO BURN NEW TORK.

679

a force in Canada for the purpose of a
raid on the lakes, and succeeded in
capturing and destroying two steam
boats belonging to citizens of the United
States. In the following December he
was arrested in the State of New York
near the Niagara suspension bridge, and
having been convicted of an attempt to
throw a passenger train from Buffalo
off the railroad track, he was executed
as a pirate, spy, and murderer, on the
24th of February, though he endeavored
to shield himself by his commission
from the Confederate government.
On the 19th of October, in the same
year, a party of well-armed raiders from
the Canada border, appeared suddenly
in the village of St. Alban's, Yermont,
fifteen miles from the frontier line, and
after robbing the banks of over $200,000,
and firing upon defenceless citizens-, one
of whom was mortally wounded, rode
back with their plunder to Canada,
where nearly all of them were arrested
and brought to trial, but set at liberty
on the ground of a want of jurisdiction.
They were, however, re-arrested, and
tried before the Superior Court of Lower
Canada, but again discharged. The
stolen money was subsequently restored
to the St. Alban's banks by the Canadian
authorities. The same year an attempt was made
by six rebels from Canada, in retaliation
for Sheridan's destruction of property in

the Shenandoah Yalley, to burn the city« in operations in the field, and the offi

of New York. It was intended to carry
out the plot on the night after the
Presidential election ; but this it hap
pened the incendiaries were unable to

do for want of the phosphorus which
they had to use, and it was put off till
the 25th of November. Nearly simul
taneously, about nine o'clock in the
evening, fires broke out in the St.
Nicholas, St. James, Lafarge, Metro
politan, Lovejoy's, Grammercy Park,
and Belmont hotels, Tammany Hall, and
Barnum's Museum. Most of the fires
were, however, easily extinguished ; but
the agents in the crime all escaped to
Canada. One of them, Captain Robert
C. Kennedy, according to his own con
fession the most active of the criminals,
was subsequently arrested in Detroit,
and tried, convicted, and executed, at
Fort Lafayette, in New York harbor,
on the 24th of March, 1865.
Among the illegitimate means of
carrying on the war resorted to by the
Confederates, by far the most barbarous
was that of destroying the prisoners of
war by starvation, neglect, and ill-treat
ment. For upward of a year the war
was carried on without any regular
system for a general exchange of pris
oners, and it was not till the summer of
1862 that a cartel was signed for the
equitable exchange of prisoners, man
for man and officer for officer, and for
the parolling of prisoners within ten
days after their capture. This remained
in force till the summer of 1863, by
which time the colored regiments in the
Federal army had begun to take part

cers and privates of these when they
fell into the hands of the Confederates,
being withheld from exchange, a serious
difficulty arose. After a lengthened

680

PRISONERS OF WAR IN THE SOUTH.

correspondence, Mr. Ould, the rebel
commissioner of exchange, proposed, in
the latter part of October, that all
officers and men on both sides should
be released in accordance with the pro
visions of the cartel, and that the excess,
on whichever side it might be, should
be released on parole ; but as the Con
federates were unwilling to consider
such Union soldiers as had been slaves
as prisoners of war, and persistently
refused to release them, alleging that
they had no power to do so, but were
bound to restore them to their former
owners as private property, the proposi
tion of Mr. Ould was rejected by the
Union commissioner, General Meredith,
the Federal authorities of course con
sidering themselves bound to protect
their black soldiers as fully as the white.
Another consideration which was allowed
to have much weight in causing the
rejection of Mr. Ould's proposition was,
that the number of prisoners of war
detained in Federal possession was
largely in excess of that of the Union
prisoners in the South— at the close of
the year not less than twenty-seven
thousand ; and it was alleged that the
Confederates had acted in bad faith
with regard to the prisoners parolled by
Generals Grant and Banks at Yicksburg
and Port Hudson. Under the terrible
conscription system prevailing in the
South, there could be little doubt that
the large excess of parolled men in their 4
favor, if not actually restored to im
mediate service in the field, would enable
the release of an equal number of men
from civil service, and thus be a means

of recruiting the Southern armies almost
as effectually as if they had been restor
ed to the ranks. These difficulties
proved to be insuperable. Exchanges
ceased, except in a few special instances,
and prisoners began to accumulate in
large numbers on both sides, much to
the disadvantage of the Confederates,
with whom the loss of men was a more
serious matter than with the Federals.
The prisons in Richmond became
crowded to excess, and complaints began
to be made by the prisoners of bad and
insufficient food and cruel treatment,
which were such as to cause an ex
traordinary mortality among them —
amounting at times to as many as fifty
a day. The lot ofthe colored prisoners
was in fact much better than that of the
whites, as they were not subjected to
confinement, but simply restored to their .
owners, if they could be found. If none
claimed them, they were kept at work
in the public service, and really suffered
little by the change of circumstances.
When remonstrated with, the Con
federates alleged that the prisoners in
their hands were placed on an equality
with their troops in the field, in respect
to rations and clothing, and that it was
not in their power to give to either
troops or prisoners the comforts that
were desired, but that the same rations
precisely were ordered to be provided
for them. For the last two years of the
war it was said Lee's army had never
more than half, and was oftener on
quarter, rations of rusty bacon and corn.
There was, it is true, abundance of food
within the territory of the Confederates,

PRISONERS OF WAR IN THE SOUTH.

681

but no means for its collection, the
holders concealing it after the currency
became depreciated, and if it could have
been collected, another difficulty would
have occurred in connection with trans
portation. The railroads were v over
taxed and the rolling stock soon gave
out. These allegations were in a great
measure disproved by the facts that the
mortality was much less among the Con
federate troops than among the prison
ers, and that the former when captured
were generally in good condition physi
cally and well clothed, while the few
Union prisoners released from time to
time by special exchanges, exhibited
frightful evidence of suffering and priva
tion. As the war went on without any
resumption of regular exchanges, the
Libby and Belle Isle prisons* at Rich-
° The following extracts from a report of the Sanitary
Commission give some frightful details respecting these
prisons :
' ' LIBBY PRISON.
" The rooms are one hundred feet by forty. In six of
these, twelve hundred United States officers, of all grades,
from brigadier down, were confined for months. This was
the almost incredible space allowed them in which to cook,
eat, wash, sleep, and take exercise. Ten feet by two claim
ed by each man for all the purposes of living ! At one
time they were not allowed benches or stools, or even to
fold their blankets and sit upon them, but forced to huddle
' like slaves in the middle passage ;' at another, only
allowed to make stools out of the barrels and boxes they
received from the North ; at all times overrun by vermin,
in spite of constant ablutions, no clean blankets ever being
issued by the rebels ; and lying down at night, according
to Libby phrase, ' wormed and dovetailed together like
fish in a basket.' There were two stoves and seventy-five
windows, all broken, and in winter tbe cold was intense.
Every prisoner had a cough from the damp or cold. It
was among the rules that no prisoner should go within
three feet of the window, a rule extremely difficult to
observe in the crowded prisons of the South. Often by
accident or unconsciously an officer would go near a
window and be instantly shot at. In the Pemberton
254

mond, where most of the Union prison
ers had been confined, and where the
buildings near by, as many as fourteen shots were fired in a
single day, and very frequently a prisoner fell killed or
wounded. It became a matter of sport to ' kill a Yankee.'
Once the guard caught sight of Lieutenant Hammond's
hat through a boarded inclosure, where there were no
windows, and came within an inch of murdering him.
Major Turner, the keeper of Libby, remarked, ' The boys
are in want of practice.' The sentry said ' he had made a
bet he would kill a d— d Yankee before he came off guard.'
Almost every prisoner had such an incident to tell.
Throughout the ¦ Southern prison system it is a regular
sport to kill Yankees. The guards were never reproved
for their willingness to commit murder.
"The daily ration in the officers' quarters of Libby
prison was a small loaf of bread, about the size of a man's
fist, made of Indian meal. Sometimes it was made from
wheat flour, but of variable quality. It weighed a little
over half a pound. With it was given a piece of beei
weighing two ounces. 'I would gladly,' said an officer,
'have preferred the horse feed in my father's stable.'
The corn bread began to be of the roughest and coarsest
description. Portions of the cob and husk were often
found ground in with the meal. The crust was so thick
and hard that the prisoners called it iron-clad. To render
the bread eatable they grated it, and made mush out of
it, but the crust they could not grate. Now and then,
after long intervals, often of many weeks, a little meat
was given them, perhaps two or three mouthfuls. At a
later period they received a pint of black peas, with some
vinegar, every week. The peas were often full of worms,
or maggots in a chrysalis state, which, when they made
soup, floated on the surface.
"Those who were entirely dependent on the prison fare,
and who had no friends at the North to send them boxes
of food, began to suffer the horrible agony of craving food,
and feeling themselves day by day losing strength,
Dreams and delusions began to distract their minds. ' I
grew so foolish in my mind,' says Captain Calhoun, ' that
I used to blame myself for not eating more when at home,
The subject of food engrossed my whole thoughts.'
"But the most unaccouutable and shameful act of all
was yet to come. Shortly after this general diminution
of rations, in the month of January last, the boxes, which
before had been regularly delivered, and in good order,
were withheld. No reason was given. Three hundred
arrived every week, and were received by Colonel Ould,
commissioner of exchange ; but, instead of being distrib
uted, were retained and piled up in warehouses near by,
and in full sight of the tantalized and hungry captives, to
the number of three thousand at least. At length five or
six were distributed during the week. Scores were
stolen. "Ifoi offences, trivial or serious, prisoners* were con-

682

PRISONERS OF WAR IN THE SOUTH.

unnecessary cruelties of the rebels com
menced, became insufficient to contain
all the captured soldiers, and places of
signed to cells beneath the prison, the walls of which were
damp, green, and slimy. They were never warmed, and
often so crowded that some were obliged to stand up all
night. Dead bodies, too, were placed in the cellar, and
very often partly devoured by hogs, dogs, and rats.
"BELLE ISLE.
' ' Here is an inclosure variously estimated to be from
three to six acres in extent, surrounded by an earth-work
about three feet high, with a ditch on either side. The
interior has something of the look of an encampment, a
number of Sibley tents being set in rows, with ' streets'
between. These tents, rotten, torn, full of holes — poor
shelter at any rate- — accommodated only a small propor
tion. From, ten to twelve thousand men have been
imprisoned in this small space at one time — turned' into
the inclosure, like so many cattle, to find what resting-
place they could. So crowded were they that, at the least,
according to the estimated area given them, there could
have been but a space of two feet by seven, and, at the
most, three feet by nine per man — hardly a generous
allotment even for a ' hospitable grave. '
" Some were so fortunate as to And shelter in the tents,
but even they were often wet with the rain, and almost
frozen when winter set in. Every day some places were
made vacant by diseases or by death, as some were taken to
the hospital, and some to burial. But thousands had no
tents, and no shelter of any kind. Nothing was provided
for their accommodation. Lumber was plenty in a country
of forests, but not a cabin or shed was built, or allowed to
be built. Here thousands lay with the sand for their beds
and the sky for their covering, under fog, rain, cold, snow ;
hundreds blanketless, coatless, and shoeless ; others with
ragged and rotten clothes. There were few fires and little
shelter. A severe winter came, in which the mercury was
down to zero even at Memphis, and water left in buckets
on Belle Isle froze two or three inches deep in the night.
The snow lay deep on the ground around Eichmond. The
ice formed in the James, and flowed in masses upon the
rapids on either side of the islands.
"The men resorted to every expedient to keep from
perishing. They lay in the ditch, as the most protected
place, heaped upon one another and lying close together,
as one of them expressed it, 'like hogs in winter,' taking
turns as to who should have the outside of the row. In
the morning, the row of the previous night was marked
by the motionless forms of those ' who were sleeping on
in their last sleep' — frozen to death !
"Kock-like husky corn bread (specimens of which we
have seen), meat often tainted and suspiciously like mule
meat, two or three spoonfuls of rotten beans, soup thin
and briny, often with worms floating on the surface, made

confinement farther from the Federal
lines, and the scenes of still more in
human, were erected. These were the
notorious prison-pens at Charlotte and
Salisbury in North Carolina, and at
Millen and Andersonville in Georgia, in
which tens of thousands of Union pris
oners were starved to death or destroyed
by neglect or ill-usage, under circum
stances which leave little doubt that the
treatment they received was deliberately
up their food. None of these were given together, and
the whole ration was never one-half the quantity necessary
for bare life. Hear the words of the prisoners :
' ' ' There was no name for our hunger. ' ' I was hungry
— pretty nearly starved to death.' ' I waked up one night
and found myself gnawing my coat-sleeves. ' ' I used to
dream of having something good to eat ' ' I walked the
streets for many a night ; I could not sleep for hunger. '
' I lost flesh and strength for want of food. ' ' If I were
to sit here a week, I could not tell you half our suffering.'
These sentences form the very poem of misery and starva
tion. ".'Lice were in all their quarters.' Vermin and dirt
incrusted their bodies. They were sore with lying in the
sand. None — not even the sufferers with diarrhoea — were
allowed to visit the sinks during the night, and in the
morning the ground was covered and saturated with filth.
The wells were tainted ; the air was filled with disgusting
odors. " Many were taken sick daily, but were allowed to
suffer for days before they were removed to the hospitals ;
and when this was done, it was often so late that the half
of them died before reaching it, or at the very moment
their names were being recorded.
"There was a hospital tent on the island, which was
always full of the sick. It had no floor ; the sick and
dying were laid on straw, and logs were their only pillows.
' If you or I saw a horse dying,' said one, ' wouldn't we
put some straw under his head ? Would we let him beat
his head on a log in his agony V
' ' THE HOSPITALS.
"The hospitals for our prisoners were virtually worse
than the prisons themselves. Dr. Ferguson testifies that,
while the wounded were under treatment, the nourishment
and stimulation they received were not sufficient to give
them a proper chance for recovery. I am surprised that
more do not die. Bedding and covering were very dirty
and offensive. In three months, out of 2,800 patients.
about 1,400 died. The hospitals were nothing less thxan
hospitals for murder."

PRISONERS OF WAR IN THE SOUTH.

683

designed to produce the effects which it
actually accomplished.
The prison at Andersonville in par
ticular obtained a hideous notoriety. It
comprised an open space of about thirty
acres, surrounded by a high stockade,
and earth-works on which cannon were
mounted. About a quarter of the in
closed space was a swamp through which
crept a shallow muddy stream, the re
ceptacle before it entered the inclosure,
of much filth and refuse from a neigh
boring rebel camp ; but which was
nevertheless the only source from which
the prisoners, sometimes numbering
thirty thousand, could obtain water.
As was said, this prison-pen was simply
a stockade ; there was no covering of
any kind, and though the vicinity
abounded in woods, and timber was
plenty, the men were not permitted to
construct so much as a simple shed to
protect themselves from the sun and
rain, and they sought a partial shelter
in the soil, into which they burrowed
like wild animals, so that when the
place fell into the hands of the Union
troops, the ground was discovered to be
completely honeycombed. In addition
to the physical hardships of the Union
prisoners they were tormented by a
cruel suspicion, which their long confine
ment and the assertions of the rebel
authorities went far to strengthen, that
their own government had abandoned
them. It is said that hundreds believ
ing this, lost all hope and perished
miserably, who could have borne up
under their privations, severe as they
were with the assurance of relief sooner

or later. Some few, indignant at the
desertion of their government, took
service with the rebels. For about six
weeks the deaths at Andersonville aver
aged a hundred a day. At last, early
in September, 1864, the rebel author
ities, fearing that an epidemic might bo
occasioned among their own troops, a
large number of whom were required to
keep guard, sent several thousand pris
oners to a new stockade constructed at
Savannah, but not before the bodies of
eleven thousand Union soldiers had
been deposited uncoffined in the shallow
trenches at Andersonville.*
s rlne following extract from a memorial addressed to
President Lincoln, in August, 1864, by Union officers con
fined in Charleston, contains some frightful particulars
respecting the condition of the enlisted men detained at
Andersonville :
" The condition of the enlisted men belonging to the
Union armies, now prisoners to the Confederate rebel
forces, is such that it becomes our duty, and the duty of
every commissioned officer, to make known the facts in
the case to the Government of the United States, and to
use every honorable effort to secure a general exchange
of prisoners, thereby relieving thousands of our comrades
from the horrors now surrounding them.
' ' For some time past there has been a concentration of
prisoners from all parts of the rebel territory to the State
of Georgia — the commissioned officers being confined at
Macon, and the enlisted men at Andersonville. Becent
movements of the Union armies under General Sherman
have compelled the removal of prisoners to other points,
and it is now understood that they will be removed to
Savannah, Georgia, and Columbus, and Charleston, South
Carolina. But no change of this kind holds out any pros
pect of relief to our poor men. Indeed, as the localities
selected are far more unhealthy, there must be an increase
rather than a diminution of suffering. Colonel Hill, Pro
vost-Marshal-General, Confederate States Army, at At
lanta, stated to one of the undersigned that there were
thirty-five thousand prisoners at Andersonville, and by all
accounts from the United States soldiers who have been
confined there, the number is not overstated by him.
These thirty-five thousand are confined in a field of some
thirty acres, inclosed by a board fence, heavily guarded.
About one-third have various kinds of indifferent shelter ;
but upward of thirty thousand are wholly without shelter,
or even shade of any kind, and are exposed to the storms

684

PRISONERS OF WAR IN THE SOUTH.

Between sixty and seventy thousand
prisoners had accumulated in the Federal
and rains, which are of almost daily occurrence ; the cold
dews of the night, and the more terrible effects of the sun
striking with almost tropical fierceness upon their unpro
tected heads. This mass of men jostle and crowd each
other up and down the limits of their inclosure, in storm
and sun, and others lie down on the pitiless earth at
night with no other covering than the clothing upon
their backs, few of them having even a blanket.
"Upon entering the prison every man is deliberately
stripped of money and other property, and as no clothing
or blankets are ever supplied to their prisoners by the
rebel authorities, the condition of the apparel of the
soldiers, just from an active campaign, can be easily
imagined. Thousands are without pants or coats, and
hundreds without even a pair of drawers to cover their
nakedness. "To these men, as indeed to all prisoners, there is issued
three-quarters of a pound of bread or meal, and one-eighth
of a pound of meat per day. This is the entire ration,
and upon it the prisoner must live or die. The meal is
often unsifted and sour, and the meat such as in the
North is consigned to the soap-maker. Such are the
rations upon which Union soldiers are fed by the rebel
authorities, and by which they are barely holding on to life.
But to starvation and exposure, to sun and storm, add the
sickness which prevails to a most alarming and terrible
extent. On an average one hundred die daily. It is im
possible that any Union soldier should know all the facts
pertaining to this terrible mortality, as they are not
paraded by the rebel authorities. Such a statement as the
following, made by , speaks eloquent testimony.
Said he : 'Of twelve of us who were captured, six died ;
four are in the hospital, and I never expect to see them
again. There are but two of us left.' In 1862, at Mont
gomery, Alabama, under far more favorable circumstances,
the prisoners being protected by sheds, from one hundred
and fifty to two hundred were sick from diarrhoea and
chills, out of seven hundred. The same percentage would
give seven thousand sick at Andersonville. It needs no
comment, no efforts at word-painting, to make such a
picture stand out boldly in most horrible colors.
" Nor is this all. Among the ill-fated of the many who
have suffered amputation in consequence of injuries re
ceived before capture, sent from rebel hospitals before
their wounds were healed, there are eloquent witnesses of
the barbarities of which they are victims. If to these
facts is added this, that nothing more demoralizes soldiers
and develops the evil passions of man than starvation, the
terrible condition of Union prisoners at Andersonville can
be readily imagined. They are fast losing hope, and
becoming utterly reckless of life. Numbers, crazed by
their sufferings, wander about in a state of idiocy ; others
deliberately cross the 'dead line,' and are remorselessly
shot down."

prisons, and about as many in those of
the Confederates, before the general
exchange was resumed in November,
1864. This was brought about by the
anxiety on the part of the Confederates
to get back their soldiers, of whom they
were much in need, and by the desire
of the Federal authorities to deliver
their troops from the sufferings which
were destroying them. An agreement
was also made about the same time
between Generals Lee and Grant, ac
cording to which each belligerent was
allowed to send necessary supplies and
comforts to its prisoners in the hands
of the other.
The treatment of rebel prisoners at
the North was in marked contrast with
that which the Union prisoners received
in the South. They were comfortably
housed and clad ; drew abundant rations,
and when sick or wounded were at
tended with as much care as the Union
soldiers. When in November ten thou
sand Union soldiers were released from
the Andersonville prison to be exchanged
at Charleston for a like number of rebel
prisoners, this difference was clearly
seen ; the former were mere wrecks of
humanity, reduced by sickness, starva
tion, and exposure to living skeletons,
disgusting rags scarcely covering their
nakedness ; hundreds were covered with
putrid sores and exhaled a fetid odor.
On the other hand, a large portion of
the rebels were healthy ; and all were
comfortably fed and decently clothed.
At the trial, subsequently referred to,
of Captain Henry Wirz, the keeper of
Andersonville prison, some months after

CAPTAIN HENRY WIRZ.

685

the termination of the war, the truth
of the facts above stated was established
by the testimony of many Union pris
oners, summoned as witnesses ; and
Colonel D. T. Chandler, formerly an
inspector-general in the rebel service,
testified that during his inspection of the
Andersonville prison, he had a conver
sation with General Winder, the com
mander of the post, in which he seemed
very indifferent to the welfare of the
prisoners and indisposed to do anything
to mitigate their sufferings.* Colonel
Chandler stated that he had remon
strated with Winder, pointing out the
great mortality in the prison, and sug
gested, as the sickly season was coming
on, that the swamp should be drained,
better food furnished, and other sanitary
measures adopted. The reply of Gen
eral Winder was to the effect that he
thought it would be better to let one
half of the prisoners die, so that better
care could be taken of the survivors.

° The following is an extract from an official report of
Colonel Chandler, addressed to Colonel Chilton at Bich-
mond, August 5th, 1864 :
"My duty requires me to* respectfully recommend a
change in the officer in command of the post, Brigadier-
General J. H. Winder, and the substitution in his place of
some one who unites both energy and good judgment with
some feelings of humanity and consideration for the
welfare and comfort (so far as is consistent with their safe
keeping) of the vast number of unfortunates placed under
their control ; some one who, at least, does not advocate
deliberately and in cold blood the propriety of leaving
them in their present condition until their number has
been sufficiently reduced by death to make the present
arrangements suffice for .their accommodation ; who will
not consider it a matter of self-laudation, boasting that he
has never been inside the stockade— a place the horrors
of which it is difficult to describe, and which is a disgrace
to civilization— the condition of which he might, by the
exercise of a little energy and judgment, even with the
limited means at his command, have considerably im
proved.' '

Major Hall, Colonel Chandler's assistant,
had previously reported that General
Winder had in conversation with him
used the same expression several times.
Captain Henry Wirz, who became
notorious in connection with the cruelties
practiced at the Andersonville stockade,
was born in Switzerland in 1823, and
immigrated to New York in 1849. In
1850 and 1851 he was employed as
superintendent of a water-cure establish
ment at Northampton, Massachusetts,
and subsequently was some time in
charge of a plantation in Mississippi,
whither he took his family in 1857.
When the war broke out he enlisted
with the rebel army as a private
soldier. His first experience in con
nection with the Confederate prisons
was had in Richmond soon after the
battle of Bull Run, in doing guard
duty at Howard's factory, then used as
a military prison. He was at the battle
of Fair Oaks, and was wounded there
with the fragment of a shell. He was
then made assistant provost-marshal of
Manchester. For some time after this
he was actively employed under the
orders of General Winder and Colonel
Ould in various service in connection
with prisons and prisoners. In 1863 he
was made chief of police in the provost-
marshal's office in Richmond; but was
soon afterward employed to convey arms
and ammunition from Charleston to the
Trans-Mississippi Department. He got
the arms as far as Port Hudson, but
was prevented from crossing the Missis
sippi by the presence of the Union gun
boats Hartford and Albatross. He then

,*•

686

TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF WIRZ.

obtained a four months' furlough with
the view to visit Europe, intending, as
he afterward alleged, never to return;
but from various causes he was so
delayed that his furlough lacked only
three weeks of being out when he
landed in Liverpool. On returning from
Europe he was ordered to Augusta to
superintend the transportation of pris
oners to Andersonville, and in March
of 1864 was ordered to that prison by
General Winder to relieve his son, W.
S. Winder. It was while here that by
unnecessary and wanton cruelties, though
only a subordinate, he achieved the bad
eminence which led to his arrest and
subsequently to his trial by a military
commission, which convened on the 21st
of August, 1865.
It was alleged that through his
cruelty thousands of prisoners of war
had lost their lives. The first charge
against him was for traitorously conspir
ing with others to injure the health and
destroy the lives of soldiers in the
service of the United States, held as
prisoners of war. The second charge

was for murder in violation' of the laws
and customs of war, with thirteen speci
fications. After argument on a motion
to quash the charges and specifications
as being too general and uncertain, and
that the offences charged were cogniz
able by civil and not by military courts,
which motion was overruled by the
court, the prisoner pleaded not guilty,
and at the suggestion of the judge-
advocate, was remanded to prison, and
the court adjourned sine die. On the
23d of August, at a meeting of the com
mission, the judge-advocate read an
order from the War Department dated
August 22d, directing that the commis
sion convened on the 20th be dissolved,
and another order convening a special
commission to assemble on the 23d, the
detail of officers being the same. The
charges and specifications were nearly
the same as before. The trial was pro
tracted and tedious, large numbers of
witnesses being examined. Wirz was
found guilty, and in accordance with
the sentence of the commission was
executed on the 10th of November.

THE IRON-CLAD RAM STONEWALL.

687

CHAPTER LX.

Bebel Cruisers. —The Olinde or Stonewall at Copenhagen. — At Ferrol. — Description. — Watched by the Niagara and
Sacramento.— Escape to Lisbon. — Sails toTeneriffe, Nassau, and Havana. — Surrendered by the Spanish Authorities.
— The Sea King or Shenandoah. — Description. — Crew and Armament. — Beception at Melbourne. — Sails for the Arctic
Ocean. — Depredations. — Beturn to England. — Given up to the United States Consul.— Captain Waddell's account
of the Shenandoah's Cruise.— Claims for Compensation. — Language of Mr. Seward, Lord Clarendon, and President
Johnson. — Summary of the Vessels destroyed or captured by the United States and the Confederates during the
War. — Naval Expenditures.

Before the war closed, two more rebel
cruisers got to sea from European
ports, the utmost vigilance on the
part of the authorities not being suffi
cient to prevent vessels after leaving
port from changing their character and
receiving armaments on board.
The Olinde, an iron-clad ram, built at
Bordeaux in 1864, for the Danish Gov
ernment conditionally, was taken thence
to Copenhagen, but proving unsatis
factory was not accepted by the author
ities, and was sold to agents of the Con
federate Government. A number of
men and some material being then
quietly placed on board, she put out to
sea again. Some difficulty in procuring
an armament and crew caused a tem
porary embarrassment in her move
ments, but she was soon met by the
English steamer City of Richmond off
the coast of France, and received from
that vessel a crew, supplies for a cruise,
and an armament.
She was next heard from at the port
Feb. of Ferrol, in Spain, where she
4- arrived on the 4th of February,
1865, leaking badly and much strained in

the heavy weather she had experienced
in her voyage. At first orders were
received from Madrid to apply the
twenty-four hour rule, and give her
provisions and water enough for one
day's supply, and to permit no repairs ;
but on the following day permission was
given to Captain Page, her commander,
to repair and refit his ship, which he at
once set at work to do, and not only
effected the necessary repairs, but found
means to smuggle on board additional
men for her crew. The Olinde, called
the Stonewall by the rebels, was one
hundred and ninety-six feet long over
all, and had thirty-five feet breadth of
beam. She was fitted with a wrought-
iron spur or ram extending thirty-three
feet forward of the turret, firmly fasten
ed to the ship. Her armor plating was
four and a half inches thick, with a solid
wooden backing. She had two im
movable turrets, more properly case
mates — in the forward one three ports
and a three-hundred-pounder Armstrong
rifled gun, in the other four ports and
two seventy-pounder Armstrong rifled
guns. The decks were of wood, with

688

THE IRON-CLAD RAM STONEWALL.

iron plating an inch thick beneath. She
had two keels, two rudders, two pro
pellers, and four engines of great power.
Her sides were sloped in considerably
so as to cause shot to glance off. Being
constructed with two propellers, she
could turn almost within her own length,
and was thus able to keep her bow
continually toward any adversary who
could not by superior speed keep out
of her way.
The Stonewall remained in port till
the 21st of March, when having com
pleted her repairs she went to sea, but
the weather being too heavy for her, put
back again. On the following day she
made another attempt to get away ;
but the sea being still rough, and
the Niagara and Sacramento watching
her closely, she returned to port. The
next day, the water being smooth and
the weather fair, she got off to sea,
followed but not attacked by the Ni
agara and Sacramento, and proceeded
to Lisbon, arriving in the Tagus or
the 26th ; but being ordered by the
Portuguese authorities to depart within
twenty-four hours, sailed away again on
Mar. t,ne 28th, some twenty hours after
28« her leave of stay had expired.
Here, about five hours after the depar
ture of the ram, the Niagara was fired
upon by the guns of Belem Castle, under
a misapprehension as to her movements ;
but for this ample apology and repara
tion were made by the Portuguese Gov
ernment. The Stonewall arrived at
Teneriffe on the 31st, but was not per
mitted to remain longer than twenty-
four hours, and sailed for Nassau. The

arrival of this formidable vessel in
American waters was looked for with
some anxiety, as it was thought not im
probable she might enter some Northern
port suddenly and do much damage
before she could be captured. She was,
however, too late for the purpose for
which she was intended, which was to
break the blockade at Wilmington, and
when she entered the port of Nassau,
Richmond had already fallen.
She left Nassau on the 8th of May,
and on the 11th arrived at Havana,
where she remained till the arrival of
Commodore Godoh, on the 28th of May,
with the Susquehanna, Chippewa, Mon-
ticello, Fahkee, and the two turreted
vessels Monadnock and Canonicus, when
she was given up by Captain Page to
the Spanish authorities, by whom on
the 14th of July following she was jn]y
placed at the disposal of the United I4«
States Government. The Stonewall had
not been designed to prey upon the
commercial marine, and the sudden
cessation of the war prevented her
being of service to the rebels in any
other way ; and thus it happened that
this vessel, perhaps the most formidable
the Confederates ever had, did them the
least service. Her shortcomings, how
ever, were rhore than made up for by the
ravages of the Shenandoah.
The Shenandoah, formerly the JJritish
screw-steamer Sea King, was built at
Glasgow in October, 1863. She was a
full clipper ship rigged propeller of
seven hundred and ninety tons register.
a,nd about two hundred and sixty feet
long, having hollow iron masts and wire

CRUISE OF THE SHENANDOAH.

689

rigging. She carried all the improved
methods of reefing, furling, and setting
sails from deck ; had rolling topsails,
royals, and a fly at each mast head.
Her hull consisted of an iron frame
covered with wood, and was not very
strong. She was a fast sailer and a fast
steamer, and calculated to effect more
damage by surprise than by action.
She was bought in September, 1864,
by Richard Wright, of Liverpool, and
was placed under command of Captain
L. P. Corbett, who received authority
to sell her for not less than forty-five
thousand pounds within six months from
the 7th of October following. On the
8th she cleared from London as an
ordinary merchant vessel, for Bombay,
with a loa,d of coal ; but proceeded to
the island of Madeira, where she found
the British steamer Laurel, with her
guns, ammunition, and an addition to
her crew. These were transferred to
the Sea King at the barren island of
Porto Santo, on the 17th of October.
The English flag was then lowered, and
the ship was put in commission as a.
rebel privateer and called the Shenan
doah. She commenced her cruise under the
command of Captain Waddell, formerly
of the United States navy, with a crew
said to be nearly all British subjects,
among whom were forty or fifty of the
Alabama's men — her armament being
four sixty-four pounders, two rifled
thirty-two pounders, and two twelve-
pounders. Before leaving the Atlantic
the Shenandoah destroyed a few vessels
in the neighborhood of St. Helena;
255

then, doubling the Cape of Good Hope,
she steamed for the Bay of Bengal and
the Straits of Sunda, and thence for
Melbourne, Australia, where she arrived
on the 25th of January, 1865. At jan,
Melbourne she was docked, receiv- 25.
ed thorough repairs in her boilers and
machinery, and notwithstanding the
protests of Mr. Blanchard, the American
consul, obtained an addition of about
eighty men to her crew, besides a full
supply of coal and provisions.
Having procured at Melbourne every
thing requisite for a long cruise, the
Shenandoah steamed out of the bay on
the 8th of February, and sailed pej,t
about awhile in the vicinity in the 8.
hope of falling in with several large
American clippers, due at Melbourne in
March. She then turned northward,
and when next heard from was cruising
about in the Sea of Okhotsk, in Beh-
ring's Strait, and the Arctic Ocean, where
continuing her depredations four months
after the termination of the war, she
burnt between the 1st of April and the
1st of ..July as many as twenty-five
whaling vessels and bonded four, mak
ing her total captures thirty-seven since
leaving Europe.
Captain Waddell was more than once
informed of the termination of hostilities
while cruising in the northern seas, but
as his informants were the crews of
merchant vessels destroyed by him, he
persistently refused to consider their
statements authentic ; and it was not
till August, when he spoke the British
bark Barracouta, from San Francisco,
and learned that the Confederate armies

690

CRUISE OF THE SHENANDOAH.

had surrendered, that General Lee was
on parole, and Jefferson Davis a pris
oner, and peace re-established, that he
considered himself justified in consider
ing the war at an end. He immediately
stowed away his guns and ammunition
in the hold and sailed for Liverpool,
stopping at no other port. The Shen-
jjov, andoah arrived in the Mersey on
6i the 6th of November, and Captain
Waddell obtaining from the pilot full
confirmation of the news respecting the
fall of the Confederacy, desired him to
take the vessel alongside a man-of-war,
if there were one in the river. She
was in consequence surrendered to her
Majesty's ship Donegal, and taken in
charge of by a crew and a guard of
marines from that.vessel.
There were on board the Shenandoah
at the time of her surrender some
thirty-six chronometers, a number of
sextants, and a quantity of cabin furni
ture, money, furs, and other articles of
value, mostly obtained from whalers in
the Arctic seas. During his long cruise
Captain Waddell never encountered a
British or American man-of-war. The
Shenandoah, with her stores and the
property on board, was delivered up by
the senior naval officer at Liverpool to
the United States consul there. The
officers and crew were suffered to de
part, Earl Clarendon stating in answer
to a remonstrance of Mr. Adams, that
no persons known to be British subjects
were found on board, and that in the
absence of some definite charge of an
offence cognizable to British law and
supported bv legal evidence, the British

Government could not assume or exer
cise the power of keeping any of them
under any kind of restraint.* This
° The following is an extract from a letter written by
Captain Waddell, from Waterloo, near Liverpool, Decem
ber 27 th, to a friend in Mobile :
" Tou have seen Mr. Welles' report, I suppose. He
does me justice when he writes that I ' ceased my depre
dations when I heard Mr. Davis was a prisoner.' He will
fully lies when he writes that I continued ' cruising
against unarmed whale ships when I knew that the armies
of the South had surrendered.' The facts are these:
After reaching Behring's Sea I captured the ship William
Thomson and the brig Susan Abigail ; both had left San
Francisco in April last. These captures were made about
the 23d of June, and from each I received San Francisco
papers. Those papers professed to have the correspond
ence between Generals Lee and Grant concerning the
surrender of Lee's army. They also stated that Mr. Davis
and cabinet were in Danville, to which the Confederate
Government had been removed, and that Mr. Davis had
issued a proclamation informing the Southern people that
the war would be carried on with renewed vigor. I was
made possessor of as late news by these two captures as
any of the whalers had, and I continued my work till it
was completed in the Arctic Ocean, on the 28th of June,
when I had succeeded in destroying or dispersing the New
England whaling fleet. I left the Arctic on the 29th of
June, and shipped from some of the whalers eight men on
that very day — men of intelligence, all trained soldiers.
It is not to be believed that those men would have taken
service in the Shenandoah if they believed the war was
ended. After leaving Behring's Sea I fell in with no
vessel until I communicated with the British bark Barra-
couta, from San Francisco, August 2d, fourteen days,
bound for Liverpool. She informed me of the capture of
Mr. Davis and a part of his cabinet ; also of the surrender
of Generals Johnston's, Smith's, and Magruder's armies.
The Barracouta furnished that news the first time I heard
it, and I instantly ceased to cruise, and steered for Cape
Horn. Before communicating with the Barracouta I in
tended to look into the Gulf of California, and then to
await the arrival of a California steamer bound for Panama.
The Barracouta's news surprised us, and among some of
the officers I witnessed a terror which mortified me. I
was implored to take the vessel to Australia ; that to try
to reach a European port would be fatal to all concerned ;
petitions were signed by three-fourths of the officers
asking to be taken to Cape Town, arguing and picturing
the horrors of capture, and all that sort of stuff. I called
the officers and crew to the quarter-deck and said calmly
to them, ' I intend taking the ship to Liverpool. I know
there is risk to be run ; but that has been our associate all
this time. We will be sought after in the Pacific, and not
in the Atlantic' They supported my views, and then fol-

SURRENDER OF THE SHENANDOAH.

691

vessel formed the subject of diplomatic
correspondence with Great Britain, and
claims for compensation for her depre
dations, as well as for those of other
Confederate cruisers, were made by the
United States Government, but persist
ently denied by that of Great Britain.
With regard to the surrender of the
Shenandoah to the United States, and
the liberation of her crew, whose hos
tile acts after the cessation of war it
was claimed would justify their being
lowed a letter from the crew — signed by seventy-one out
of one hundred and ten — saying they had confidence in
me, and were willing, nay, desired, to go with me wher
ever I thought best to take the vessel. I had of course a
very anxious time, painfully anxious, because the officers
set a bad example to the crew. Their conduct was noth
ing less than mutiny. I was very decided with some of
them ; I had to tell one officer I would be captain, or
die on the deck, and the vessel should go to no other port
than Liverpool. So ended my trouble with complaints
and .supplications from the officers. The men behaved
nobly and stood firmly to their decision. When the ship
was four hundred miles from the Azores, a suspicious-
looking vessel was seen ahead, and apparently lying to,
waiting for us to come up with her. It was sunset, the
wind very light, and my suspicions being aroused, I
steered my course steadily until darkness closed upon us,
and then I wore ship and stood southwest till steam could
be gotten up, for I had not even banked fires since parting
with the Barracouta. It took two hours to get steam up ;
when it was ready I furled sails, steamed due east for
sixteen miles, and hauled on my course, steaming for one
hundred miles. I believe she was a Yankee cruiser. She
was only six miles off when night came on, but I evaded
her successfully. The Shenandoah under sail is a sixteen-
knot vessel ; under steam, nine knots— a fine sea craft.
She ran from the Arctic to Liverpool in one hundred and
thirty days ; from the line on the Pacific side to the Cape
in twenty-six days, and from the line to Liverpool in
twenty-four days. Two of my crew died of disease when
near Liverpool ; otherwise nothing happened to mar our
cruise No accident occurred during the cruise. So ends
my naval career, and I am called a ' pirate !' I made New
England surfer, and I do not regret it. I can not be con
demned by any honest-thinking man. I surrendered the
vessel to the British Government, and all are uncondition
ally released. My obstinacy made enemies among some
of the officers, but they now inwardly regret their action
in the Cape Town affair."

considered and treated as pirates, Mr.
Seward, in a letter written to Mr. Adams
on the 30th of November, 1865, said :
"We accept the vessel, but I regret to
say that the acceptance is not attended
with any sense of satisfaction on the
part of this Government. It would
have gratified the President if her
Majesty's Government had caused pro
ceedings to be instituted for the con
demnation of the Shenandoah. The
course, however, which the British Gov
ernment has hitherto pursued in regard
to our applications for justice was such
as to discourage on our part an expect
ation of such a disposition of the vessel.
We accept her now simply and exclu
sively upon the prudential consideration
that being reduced into our possession,
she will not again depart from British
waters in hostile character."* After
adverting to the facts of the case, Mr.
Seward concluded by drawing on behalf
of the United States, "the painful in
ference that her Majesty's Government
have assumed to hold guiltless of all
crime subjects of her Majesty who have
in time of profound peace waged naval
war upon the high seas against \marmed
citizens of the United States engaged in
lawful commerce and navigation." Up
on this dispatch being read to him,
Lord Clarendon is said to have observed
that "his sincere desire to do and say
nothing that could impair friendly rela-

« The Shenandoah was sold at Liverpool on the 22d of
March, 1866, a condition of sale requiring the purchaser
or purchasers, at the time of delivery, to sign a certificate
or declaration that the vessel had not been bought for any
belligerent or warlike purpose, or for any belligerent
nation.

692

RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN.

tions with the United States, alone
prevented him from replying to it in
appropriate language." In a dispatch
of the 19th of January following, to
Sir Frederick Bruce, he repeated this
sentiment, adding that her Majesty's
Government believed that by not reply
ing to so extraordinary and unfounded
a charge they would best consult their
own dignity.
Alluding generally to the subject of
the British-built rebel cruisers, and to
the proposition to refer the questions in
dispute between the British and Ameri
can governments to arbitration, Presi
dent Johnson, in his Message to Con
gress of December 4th, 1865, said :
"Our domestic contest, now happily
ended, has left some traces in our rela
tions with one at least of the great
maritime powers. The formal accord
ance of belligerent rights to the insur
gent States was unprecedented, and has
not been justified by the issue. But
in the systems of neutrality pursued
by the powers which made that con
cession there was a marked difference.
The materials of war for the insurgent
States were furnished, in a great measure,
from the workshops of Great Britain ;
and British ships, manned by British
subjects, and prepared for receiving
British armaments, sailed from the ports
of Great Britain to make war on Ameri
can commerce, under the shelter of a
commission from the insurgent States.
These ships, having once escaped from
British ports, ever afterward entered
them in every part of the world to refit,
and so to renew their depredations.

The consequences of this conduct were
most disastrous to the States then in
rebellion, increasing their desolation and
misery by the prolongation of our civil
contest. It had, moreover, the effect,
to a great extent, to drive the American
flag from the sea, and to transfer much
of our shipping and our commerce to
the very power whose subjects had
created the necessity for such a change.
These events took place before I was
called to the administration of the Gov
ernment. The sincere desire for peace
by which I am animated led me to
approve the proposal already made to
submit the questions which had thus
arisen between the countries to arbitra
tion. These questions are of such
moment that they must have command
ed the attention of the great powers,
and are so interwoven with the peace
and interests of every one of them as to
have insured an impartial decision. I
regret to inform you that Great Britain
declined the arbitrament, but, on the
other hand, invited us to the formation
of a joint commission to settle mutual
claims between the two countries, from
which those for the depredations before
mentioned should be excluded. The
proposition, in that very unsatisfactory
form, has been declined. The United
States did not present the subject as an
impeachment of the good faith of a
power which was professing the most
friendly dispositions, but as involving
questions of public law, of which the
settlement is essential to the peace of
nations ; and though pecuniary repara
tion to their injured citizens would

CAPTURE OF REBEL CRUISERS AND BLOCKADE RUNNERS.

693

have followed incidentally on a decision
against Great Britain, such compensa
tion was not their primary object. They
had a higher motive, and it was, in the
interests of peace and justice, to establish
important principles of international
law. The correspondence will be placed
before you. The ground on which the
British minister rests his justification is,
substantially, that the municipal law of
a nation and the domestic interpreta
tions of that law, are the measure of its
duty as a neutral ; and I feel bound to
declaxe my opinion, before you and
before the world, that that justification
can not be sustained before the tribunal
of nations. At the same time I do not ad
vise to any present attempt at redress by
acts of legislation. For the future, friend
ship between the two nations must rest
on the basis of mutual justice."
From the commencement to the
termination of the war about thirty
vessels of all descriptions were fitted
out by the Confederates to prey upon
United States commerce, and although
but seven of these— the Sumter, Nash
ville, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Talla
hassee, and Shenandoah— were very
formidable, their operations were ex
tremely disastrous ,to the mercantile
marine, and almost broke up the carry
ing trade. The evidence of this is seen
in the reduction of the tonnage owned
throughout the country, between the
years 1861 and 1865, from an aggregate
of 5,539,813 tons to 4,986,401 tons,
including steam vessels, while the ton
nage employed in foreign trade was
reduced from 2,642,000 tons in 1860 to

1,092,000 tons in 1865, a falling off
equivalent to about sixty per cent.
Statistics show that during the con
tinuance of the depredations of the
Southern cruisers, two hundred and
seventy-five vessels, of nearly one hun
dred thousand tons in the aggregate, were
captured by them. Of these four were
steamers, seventy-eight were ships, forty-
three brigs, eighty-two barks, and sixty-
eight schooners, the aggregate value of
which with their cargoes amounted to
several millions. On the other hand,
the number of blockade-runners and
other vessels captured and sent to the
United States Admiralty Courts for
adjudication, from May 1st, 1801, to the
close of the war, was 1,149, of which
two hundred and ten were steamers,
five hundred and sixty-nine schooners,
one hundred and thirty-nine sloops,
thirteen ships, twenty-nine brigs and
brigantines, twenty - five barks, two
yachts, one hundred and thirty-nine
small boats, six rams and iron-clads, ten
gun-boats, torpedo boats, and armed
schooners and sloops, and seven vessels
of an unknown class. The number of
vessels burned, wrecked, sunk, and
otherwise destroyed during the same
time was 355, of which eighty-five were
steamers, one hundred and fourteen
schooners, thirty-two sloops, two ships,
two brigs, four barks, ninety- six small
boats, five rams, four iron-clads, and
eleven gun-boats, torpedo boats, and
armed schooners and sloops, making the
total number of vessels captured or
destroyed, 1,504. Nearly all these
vessels were built in neutral ports, and

694

RESULTS OF THE WAR.

fitted out and freighted for the purpose
of running the blockade. It was esti
mated by the Secretary of the Navy
that the value of the 1,143 captured
vessels and cargoes was not less than
$24,500,000, and of the 355 vessels
destroyed, at least $7,000,000, a total
of $31,500,000.
The total expenditures of the Navy
Department, from the 4th of March,
1861, to the 30th of June, 1865, em

bracing a period of four years and four
months, and covering not only the
expenses of the navy, but such as arose
in the purchase, construction, and equip
ment of vessels, and in the maintenance
of the large naval force required during
the war, were $314,170,960, an average
annual expenditure of $72,500,990, or
a little over nine per cent. of. the total
expenditures of the Government during
the same time.

CHAPTER LXI.
Eesults of the War.— End of Slavery.— Great Mortality among the Negroes.— The National Debt.— Hugh McCulloch on
the Prospect of its Liquidation.— Conditions of Bestoration of the Southern States.— Policy of President Johnson.—
Appointment of Provisional Governors.— Difficulty presented hy the Oath required of the Southern Citizens. — Action
of Congress in Eelatioa to the Oath.— Adoption by the States of the Constitutional Amendment prohibiting Slavery.

1865.

Peehaps the results of the great four
years' civil war can in no better
manner be seen than in contrast
ing the condition of the country at the
close of the contest with what it was at
its commencement. The most striking
features in the great change which was
brought about were the creation of ah
enormous national debt, to constitute a
burden of indefinite duration, and the
perpetual extinction of slavery. Before
the war the liabilities of the Govern
ment Were little more than nominal ; at
its close the national debt, having grown
with an unexampled rapidity, had be
come, if not as large as that of Great
Britain, at least equally burdensome.
Before the war there were in the United
States four millions of slaves ; at its

conclusion the institution of slavery had
practically disappeared totally and for
ever. The change was not effected without
an enormous cost to the liberated race ;
at least a fourth of the slaves perished
in the course of the struggle, principally
from want and disease. On this subject
Senator Doolittle, in a speech delivered
at New Haven, Connecticut, said : " Do
you not know that the colored popula
tion has perished by thousands and
hundreds of thousands during the war?
We have no accurate data upon which
to state the precise number that have
perished, but the highest officers in our
army state unqualifiedly that in their
opinion at least one million have perish
ed. Governor Aiken, of South Carolina,

MORTALITY AMONG THE NEGROES.

695

who has been a Union man, and was
one of the largest slaveholders of the
South, owning at one time over eight
hundred slaves, himself stated to me in
Washington the other day, unqualifiedly,
that at least a million had perished, and
in his opinion a great many more ; also,
the Hon. Randal Hunt, of the city of
New Orleans, states the same opinion ;
and Captain Haines, of the Union army
of Louisiana, who has lived always at
the South, states his opinion that at
least a million have, perished, and these
gentlemen tell you the reason on which
they found this opinion. Some, of
course, have perished in battle ; perhaps
fifty thousand have perished in battle,
or of their wounds, but that has not
been the principal source of their de
struction. Small-pox and other terrible
diseases that follow the march of armies
have prevailed among them to a terrible
extent, all the way from the Rappahan
nock to the Rio Grande. The small
pox has swept them away in camp
and on plantations, and everywhere by
thousands upon thousands. It is also a
fact that when these diseases spread
among those not accustomed to attend
to the diseases among themselves, they
have, to a great extent, been neglected
by the white people. The masters and
those connected with them lost interest
in them. They perished by hundreds
of thousands. These are the appalling
facts, and yet they are true. I have no
doubt that when we come to take the
census of 1870, two-fifths of the whole
colored population will have perished."
Slavery was, however, abolished, and

one of the first and most important
conditions imposed upon the States
seeking restoration to the Union was
the ratification of the constitutional
amendment abolishing slavery, and se
curity to the persons and property of
freedmen, the other requirements being
principally the abrogation of the so-
called ordinances of secession and the
repudiation of the rebel debt. Through
out the Southern States themselves
there was a universal acknowledgment
and acceptance of the great fact, that
whatever else might happen, a system
of involuntary servitude could never be
restored. This was the great fruit of
the victory of the Government, to be
followed sooner or later by a more per
fect union of the States, and their con
solidation into a nation perfectly homo
geneous, and no longer consisting of
two great hostile sections. This result,
not anticipated at the commencement
of the war, was attained, however, only
at a pecuniary cost which if it could
have been counted at the beginning
would probably never have been in
curred. The debt of the North alone
rapidly rose to an amount more than
equal to what would have been required
to purchase the freedom of every slave
in the South twice over, while the
expenditures of the States in rebellion,
joined to their enormous losses by
destruction of property and the waste
of war, though more difficult to estimate,
were probably in the aggregate equal
to those of the North.
The indebtedness of the United States
on the 30th of June, 1865, a few weeks

696

THE NATIONAL DEBT.

after the total cessation of hostilities,
was $2,682,593,026 53. Nevertheless,
the growth of the country in wealth and
population, it was believed, was un
diminished, and though very heavy tax
ation was necessarily involved in the
measures taken to provide payment for
the interest alone, the confidence was
general in the ability of the Government
to meet in the future all demands upon
it. If the actual amount were not in
creased, no one doubted that the relative
magnitude of the burden could in a few
years be very much lessened by the
enormously increased wealth and popu
lation of the future. This was the
opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury,
Hugh McCulloch, who thus expressed
his views of the rapidity with which the
debt might be paid: "The following
estimate," said he, " of the time which
would be required to pay the national
v debt (if funded at five per cent., and
at five and one-half per cent.) by the
payment of two hundred millions of
dollars annually on the interest and
principal, and also of the diminution of
the burden of the debt by the increase
of productions, may not be without
interest to Congress and to tax-payers.
"The national debt, deducting monejis
in the Treasury, was, on the 31st of
October, 1865, $2,740,854,750. With
out attempting a nice calculation of the
amount it may reach when all our
liabilities shall be accurately ascertained,
it seems safe to estimate it, on the 1st
of July. 1866, at three thousand millions
of dollars. The exact amount of exist
ing indebtedness yet unsettled, and the

further amount that may accrue in the
interval, are not now capable of exact
estimation, and the revenue of the same
period can be only approximately calcu
lated, but it will be safe to assume that
the debt will not exceed the sum named.
"The annual interest upon three
thousand millions, if funded at five and
a half per cent, per annum, would be
one hundred and sixty-five millions, but
if funded at five per cent, it would be
one hundred and fifty millions.
"Now, if two hundred millions per
annum should be applied, in half-yearly
instalments of one hundred millions
each, in payment of the accruing interest
and in reduction of the principal funded
at the higher rate of five and a half per
cent., the debt would be entirely paid
in thirty-two and one-eighth years. At
five per cent, per annum, it would be
extinguished by the like application of
one hundred millions every six months,
in a little over twenty-eight years.
"At the higher rate, the sum applied
in the first year in reduction of the
principal of the debt would be thirty-
five millions of dollars ; in the last, or
thirty-second year, when the interest
would be diminished to a little over
nine millions, about one hundred and
ninety-one millions of the uniform an
nual payment would go to the reduction
of the principal.
"On the assumption that the debt may
be funded at five per cent., $50,000,000
would be applicable to the reduction of
the principal in the first year, and in
the twenty-eighth or last year of the
period — the interest falling to less than

THE NATIONAL DEBT.

697

$8,000,000— $192,000,000 of the an
nual payment would go to the principal.
" The annual interest accruing upon
$1,725,000,000 of the debt on the 31st
of October last averages 6.62 per cent.
A part of this sum is now due, another
portion will be payable next year, and
the balance will be due or payable, at
the option of the Government, in 1867
and 1868. If these $1,725,000,000
shall be funded or converted into five
per cents by the year 1869, the average
interest ofthe whole debt will be 5.195
per cent. In the year 1871, if the debt
then maturing should be funded at the
same rate, the average interest would
be reduced to 5.15, and in 1881 to five
per cent., excepting the bonds for
$50,000,000 to be advanced in aid of
the Pacific Railroad at six per Cent.,
which will have thirty years to run
from their respective dates. The inter
ests of these bonds, added to the sup
posed five per cents, would, in 1881,
make the average rate of the entire debt
5.03 of one per cent, until the whole
should be discharged.
"In these calculations of the average
rate of interest upon the funded debt,
the outstanding United States notes and
fractional currency are not embraced.
Whatever amount of these $454,000,000
may eventually be funded at five per
cent, per annum, will proportionally
reduce the average rates of interest
upon the whole debt.
" By the terms and conditions of some
portion of the debt, the interest on the
whole cannot be reduced to exactly five
per cent., unless money may be borrow-
256

ed, at some stage of the process, at a
trifle below five per cent. A bonus of
one-tenth of one per cent., paid by the
bidders for five per cent, loans, would
more than cover the excess, the prob
ability of which fully warrants the
calculation submitted as to the payment
of the total debt at this rate.
"It must be observed, also, that the
assumed principal of the debt in July,
1866, must undergo some diminution
before the funding in 1867, 1868, and
1869 begins. If only $100,000,000
shall be paid off in those three years,
the principal, thus reduced to $2,900,-
000,000, would be extinguished by the
process already stated in twenty-nine
years, if funded at five and a half per
cent., and, if at five per cent., in some
thing less than twenty-seven years.
Aftd, it is well worthy of attention, that
$100,000,000 less principal, at the
commencement of the process of pay
ment, wiU save $400,000,000, in round
numbers, in the end, if the rate is five
and a half per cent., and $300,000,000
if five per cent. The burden of a
national debt is, of course, relative to
the national resources, and these re
sources are not, strictly speaking, capital,
but the current product of the capital
and industry of the country. The
annual product, however, is found to
bear a certain ratio to capital, and this
ratio may be conveniently and safely
used in computing the probable re
sources which must in the future meet
the national requirement for the pay
ment of interest and extinguishment of
the debt."

698

RECONSTRUCTION .

The cessation of armed resistance to
the National Government was followed
by proclamations issued by the President
having in view the full restoration to
the Union, sooner or later, of the States
which had been in rebellion. The
terms on which the people of the
Southern States could be restored to
their rights as citizens of the United
States were made known by President
Johnson in a proclamation issued on
May the 29th of May. To all persons,
29t with certain specified exceptions,
who had directly or indirectly partici
pated in the rebellion, amnesty and
pardon were granted, with restoration.
of all rights to property except as to
slaves, and except in cases where legal
proceedings under the laws of the United
States for the confiscation of property
had been instituted ; but on the condi
tion that every such person should take
an oath to support the Constitution and
all laws made during the rebellion with
reference to the emancipation of slaves.*
The following classes of persons were
excepted from the benefits of the am
nesty proclamation : all diplomatic agents
of the Confederate government ; all
persons who had left judicial stations
under the United States to aid the
rebellion ; all army officers above the
rank of colonel and all navy officers
s The form of the oath was as follows :
"I, , do solemnly swear, or affirm, in pres
ence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully
support and defend the Constitution of the United States
and the Union of the States thereunder, and that I will,
in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all laws
and proclamations which have b;en made during the
existing rebellion with reference to the emancipation of
slaves, so help me God."

above the rank of lieutenant; all who
had left seats in Congress to aid the
rebellion ; all who had resigned or
tendered resignations of their commis
sions in the army or navy of the United
States to evade duty in resisting the
rebellion ; all who had engaged in any
way in treating otherwise than lawfully
as prisoners of war persons found in the
United States service ; all persons who
had absented themselves from the United
States for the purpose of aiding the
rebellion ; all officers in the rebel service
who had been educated at West Point ;
all Governors of States in insurrection ;
all persons who had passed beyond the
Federal military lines into the Confed
erate States for the purpose of aiding
the rebellion ; all who had been engaged
in the destruction of United States com
merce at sea, or elsewhere, or who had
taken part in raids from Canada ; all
persons in confinement as prisoners of
war or otherwise at the time of their
seeking to obtain the benefits of the
amnesty oath ; all persons, the estimated
taxable value of whose property exceed
ed twenty thousand dollars ; all persons
who took the amnesty oath prescribed
in the President's proclamation of De
cember 8th, 1863, and afterward violated
it. At the same time an order was
issued from the State Department stat
ing that the oath prescribed in the
proclamation might be taken and sub
scribed before any commissioned officer,
civil, military, or naval, in the service
of the United States, or any military or
civil officer of a loyal State or Territory,
who might be qualified for administer-

RECONSTRUCTION.

699

ing oaths. All officers who received
such oaths were authorized to give
certified copies thereof to persons by
whom they were made, and such officers
were required to transmit the original
to the department, where they were
deposited. Refusing entirely to recognize the
authority of any person holding a civil
office in the States while at war against
the Federal Government, President
Johnson appointed provisional Govern
ors for the States of North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama, Mississippi, and Texas, with
authority to assemble in the State
delegates elected by the people, who
had taken the amnesty oath, or who
had opposed secession, in convention,
and amend the State constitution, re
appoint or designate local officers, and
secure the election of State officers and
a legislature and members of Congress
under the amended constitutions.* Such

'¦' The form of the proclamation under which the Pro
visional Governors were appointed was as follows :
"Whereas the 4th section of the 4th article of the
Constitution of the United States declares that the United
States shall guarantee to every State in the Union a re
publican form of government, and shall protect each of
them against invasion and domestic violence ; and whereas
the President of the United States is, by the Constitution,
made commander-in-chief of the army and navy, as well
as chief civil executive officer of the United States, and is
bound by solemn oath faithfully to execute the office of
President of the United States, and to take care that the
laws be faithfully executed ; and whereas the rebellion
which has been waged by a portion of the people of the
United States against the properly constituted authorities
of the Government thereof, in the most violent and
revolting form, but whose organized and armed forces
have now been almost entirely overcome, has, in its
revolutionary progress, deprived the people of the State of
of aii civil government; and whereas it becomes
necessary and proper to carry out and enforce the obliga
tions of the United States to the people of , in secui-

was the plan of President Johnson — a
plan for the most part peacefully acqui
esced in by the Southern people.

ing them in the enjoyment of a republican form of
government ;
" Now, therefore, in obedience to the high and solemn
duties imposed upon me by the Constitution of the United
States, and for the purpose of enabling the loyal people of
said State to organize a State government, whereby justice
may be established, domestic tranquillity insured, and
loyal citizens protected in all their rights of life, liberty,
and property, I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United
States, and commander-in-chief of the army and navy of
the United States, do hereby appoint Provisional
Governor of the State of — — , whose duty it shall be, at
the earliest practicable period, to prescribe such rules and
regulations as may be necessary and proper for convening
a convention, composed of delegates to be chosen by that
portion of the people of said State who are loyal to the
United States, and no others, for the purpose of altering
or amending the Constitution thereof ; and with authority
to exercise, within the limits of said State, all the powers
necessary and proper to enable such loyal people of the
State of to restore said State to its constitutional
relations to the Federal Government, and to present such
a republican form of State government as will entitle the
State to the guaranty of the United States therefor, and
its people to protection by the United States against
invasion, insurrection, and domestic violence : Provided,
that, in any election that may be hereafter held for choos
ing delegates to any State convention as aforesaid, no
person shall be qualified as an elector, or shall be eligible
as a member of such convention, unless he shall have
previously taken and subscribed the oath of amnesty, as
set forth in the President's proclamation of May 29th, a.d.
1865, and is a voter qualified as prescribed by the Consti
tution and laws of the State of in force immediately
before the — day of , a.l>. 1861, the date of the so-
called ordinance of secession ; and the said convention,
when convened, or the legislature that may be thereafter
assembled, will prescribe the qualifications of electors, and
the eligibility of persons to hold office under the Constitu
tion and laws of the State, a power the people of the
several States composing the Federal Union have right
fully exercised from the origin of the Government to the
present time.
" And I do hereby direct :
" First. That the military commander of the depart
ment, and all officers and persons in the military and
naval service, aid and assist the said Provisional Governor
in carrying into effect this proclamation, and they are
enjoined to abstain from, in any way, hindering, imped
ing, or discouraging the loyal people from the organiza
tion of a State Government as herein authorized.
" Second. That the Secretary of State proceed to put in

700

RECONSTRUCTION.

For the States of Virginia, Tennessee,
Arkansas, and Louisiana no provisional
Governors were appointed, measures for
their reorganization having been taken
during President Lincoln's administra
tion. Under- the plan of President
Johnson and the influence of the numer-
force all laws of the United States the administration
whereof belongs to the State Department, applicable to
the geographical limits aforesaid.
' ' Third. That the Secretary of the Treasury proceed to
nominate for appointment assessors of taxes, and collectors
of customs and internal revenue, and such other officers
of the Treasury Department as are authorized by law, and
put in execution the revenue laws of the United States
within the geographical limits aforesaid. In making
appointments the preference shall be given to qualified
loyal persons residing within the districts where their
respective duties are to be performed ; but if suitable
residents of the districts shall not be found, then persons
residing in other States or districts shall be appointed.
"Fourth. That the Postmaster-General proceed to estab
lish post-offices and post-routes, and put into execution
the postal laws of the United States within the said State,
giving to loyal residents the preference of appointment ;
but if suitable residents are not found, then to appoint
agents, etc., from other States.
" Fifth. That the district judge for the judicial district
in which is included proceed to hold courts within
said State, in accordance with the provisions of the act of
Congress. The Attorney-General will instruct the proper
officers to libel, and bring to judgment, confiscation, and
sale, property subject to confiscation, and enforce the
administration of justice within said State in all matters
within the cognizance and jurisdiction of the Federal
courts. " Sixth. That the Secretary of the Navy take possession
of all public property belonging to the Navy Department
within said geographical limits, and put in operation all
acts of Congress in relation to naval affairs having appli
cation to the said State.
"Seventh. That the Secretary of the Interior put in
force the laws relating to the Interior Department appli
cable to the geographical limits aforesaid.
" In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand
and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
' ' Done at the city of Washington this day of ,
in the year one thousand eight hundred and
[l. s.] sixty-five, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the eighty-ninth.
' ' Andrew Johnson.
" By the President :
" William H. .Sewabd, Secretary of State."

ous pardons, commercial relations be
tween the people of the Northern and
Southern States were brought to a great
degree of harmony in a few months.
In short, desiring the restoration of the
Southern States to their former position
in the Union without any surrender of
their constitutional rights of self-govern
ment, and without requiring them, with
respect to the negroes, to do more than
acknowledge and respect the freedom
which had resulted from the exercise of
force during a condition of civil war,
the President at the same time required
that the civil authority should be ex
clusively in the hands of men who could
take and observe the amnesty oath, or
who had been steadfast Unionists.
But it soon became apparent that
obstacles existed to a complete restora
tion of the people of the Southern
States to civil rights beyond the power
of the President to set aside. On the
2d of July, 1862, Congress had passed
an act requiring every person who might
subsequently be elected or appointed to
any office of honor or profit under the
Government of the United States, to
take the following oath before entering
on the duties of such office :
"I, A. B., do solemnly swear (or
affirm), that I have never voluntarily
borne arms against the United States
since I have been a citizen thereof ; that
I have voluntarily given no aid, counte
nance, counsel, or encouragement to
persons engaged in armed hostility
thereto ; that I have neither sought nor
accepted nor attempted to exercise the
functions of any office whatever, under

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

701

any authority or pretended authority,
in hostility to the United States ; that I
have not yielded a voluntary support to
any pretended government, authority,
power, or constitution within the United
States hostile or inimical thereto. And
I do further swear (or affirm), that to
the best of my knowledge and ability, I
will support and defend the Constitution
of the United States against all enemies,
foreign and domestic ; that I will bear
true faith and allegiance to the same ;
that I take this obligation freely, with
out any mental reservation or purpose
of evasion, and that I will well and faith
fully discharge the duties of the office on
which I am about to enter, so help me
God." By this oath all persons in the South
ern States who had either directly or
indirectly been engaged in hostilities
were excluded from holding judicial,
revenue, legislative, military, or naval
Federal offices. Also, by an act of
Congress passed on the 24th of January,
1865, no person could be admitted as
an attorney or counsellor ofthe Supreme,
Circuit, or District Court of the United
States, or the Court of Claims, without
taking the above-mentioned oath. It
still remained, before restoration could
be complete, that the oath should be
modified and that members from the
Southern States should be admitted
as Senators and Representatives in Con
gress. These members had been elected
in every Southern State except Texas
previous to the commencement of the
session of the Thirty-ninth Congress in
December, 1865, and were mostly in

Washington ready to take their seats.
These subjects were properly within the
province of Congress, and the question
of representation was referred to a joint
committee of both Houses in December,
together with the credentials of all the
Southern members. Subsequently the
Secretary of the Treasury and the Post
master-General appealed to Congress to
modify the oath, as they were unable to
find in the South a sufficient number of
persons who could conscientiously take
the oath, to fill a large number of vacant
offices ; but a committee of the House,
of which Mr. Wilson, of Iowa, was
chairman, reported against its modifica
tion or repeal.
The crowning event of the revolution
effected by the war was the adoption
by three-fourths of the States of an
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States prohibiting slavery. This
was introduced in the Senate in the
form of a joint resolution on the 11th
of January, 1864, by Senator Hender
son, of Missouri. It was reported from
the committee on the judiciary on the
10th of February, and was adopted by
the Senate on the 8th of April by the
requisite two-thirds vote ; but rejected
by the House on the 15th of June. On
the 6th of January, 1865, Mr. Ashley,
of Ohio, moved the reconsideration of
the resolution of the House, and on the
1st of February following it was pej,t
passed by a vote of 119 yeas !•
against 56 nays. The resolution and
article of amendment were as follows :
" Be it resolved (by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United

702

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

States of America in Congress assembled,
two-thirds of both Houses concurring),
that the following article be proposed to
the Legislatures of the several States as
an amendment to the Constitution of
the United States, which, when ratified
by three-fourths of said Legislatures,
shall be valid to all intents and purposes
as a part of the said Constitution,
namely :
" Aeticle XIII. , Section 1. Neither
slavery nor involuntary servitude, ex
cept as a punishment for crime whereof
the party shall have been duly convicted,
shall exist within the United States, or
any place subject to their jurisdiction.
" Section 2. Congress shall have power
to enforce this article by appropriate
legislation."

The amendment was then submitted
to the States, and was ratified by the
Legislatures of Illinois, Rhode Island,
Michigan, Maryland, New York, West
Virginia, Ohio, Missouri, Nevada, Indi
ana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Vermont, Tennessee, Arkansas, Con
necticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Kan
sas, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Vir
ginia, South Carolina, Alabama, North
Carolina, and Georgia, in all twenty-
seven States, and the whole number of
States at that time being thirt3r-six, the
Secretary of State officially announced
from the State Department, on the 18th
of December, 1865, that the amendment
had been adopted and become valid to
all intents and purposes as part of the
Constitution of the United States.

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

Abbott, Colonel, death of, at Olustee, iii. 325.
Accomack and Northampton Cos., Va., restoration of, to
Federal authority, i. 594 ; proclamation of General Dix
to the people of (note), i. 594.
Acquia Creek, fortifications erected at, by the Virginians,
i. 269 ; batteries at, attacked by Captain Ward, i. 269 ;
Captain Ward's account of the attack on, i. 270.
Act, military, of the Confederacy at the beginning of
1864, iii. 269.
Act of the Legislature of Tennessee submitting the ques
tion of secession to the people, i. 233-236 .
Adams, Mr., sent as ambassador to England, i. 372;
indiscreet conduct of, in giving safe-conducts to British
vessels, iii. 205.
Address, farewell, of General Butler to the people of New
Orleans, ii. 555-558.
Age newspaper of Philadelphia threatened by a mob, iii.
53.
Agents, Southern, influence in Europe of their intrigues,
i. 622.
Agriculture, Northern and Southern, comparative value
of the products of, i. 368.
Aiken, skirmish of Kilpatrick with Wheeler at, iii. 598.
Alabama, action of the gov ernor of, on the election of
Mr. Lincoln President, i. 21 ; declarations of the seces
sion leaders of, i. 45 ; opposition in, to secession in
1860, i. 56 ; secession ordinance passed in, i. 85.
Alabama, Confederate cruiser, operations of, ii. 608 ; ac
count of her destruction of the United States steamer
Hatteras, ii. 608-611 ; arrival of, at Cherbourg, iii.
425 ; tonnage and armament of, iii. 426 ; her disastrous
contest with the Kearsarge, iii. 428-431.
Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, obstructions placed in,
by Captain Eowan, ii. 170.
Albemarle, ram, sudden appearance of, at the siege of
Plymouth, iii. 328; her fight with the Sassacus, iii.
331 ; sunk in the Boanoke Biver by Lieutenant Push
ing, iii. 574.
Alexandra, seizure of the, by the British Government, iii.
201.
Alexandria, La., march of General Banks to, iii. 16 ; occu
pation of, by General Banks in his Bed Biver expedition,
iii. 309 ; evacuation of, and partial destruction by fire,
iii. 315, 316.
Alexandria, Va. , occupation of, by Federal troops, i. 259,
321.
Allatoona Pass, operations of Sherman with a view to
turn Johnston's position at, iii. 381, 382 ; defence of,
by General Corse, iii. 529.

Altoona, assemblage of loyal governors at, ii. 531.
Amendment to the Federal Constitution in relation to
slavery, iii. 701 ; its ratification by the requisite number
of States, iii. 702.
Amnesty proclamation of President Lincoln, iii. 286-288.
Amnesty oath, form of, iii. 698.
Anderson, Major Eobert, biographical notices of, i. 60,
157 ; left with a feeble garrison at Fort Moultrie, i. 39 ;
letter of, relating to Fort Moultrie, i. 62 ; assumes com
mand of Fort Sumter, i. 63 ; effect of the action of, in
South Carolina, i. 65, in the cotton States, i. 66, and in
the Northern States, i. 67 ; memorandum of verbal in
structions to, i. 73 ; steamer Star of the West sent with
reinforcements for, i. 82 ; letters of, to Governor Pickens
respecting the attack on the Star of the West, i. 83, 84 ;
relations of, with the citizens of Charleston, i. 134 ;
correspondence of, with Beauregard relative to the sur
render of Fort Sumter, i. 135-137 ; his account of the
surrender of Fort Sumter, i. 158 ; sudden popularity of,
i. 158.
Anderson, General, force organized under, in Kentucky,
i. 483 ; proclamation of, in reply to that of General
Buckner, i. 493 ; resignation of, i. 493.
Andersonville, cruel treatment of prisoners at, iii. 683.
Andrew, John A., governor of Massachusetts, correspond
ence of, with the mayor of Baltimore, i. 189, 190.
Annapolis and Elk Bidge Bailroad, taken possession of by
General Butler, i. 210.
Annapolis, arrival of the New Tork " Seventh" at, i. 199 ;
railroad to Washington from, re-established by General
Butler, i. 205 ; troops landed at, by General Butler, i.
210 ; formation of the military department of, i. 219.
Antietam, the Tribune correspondent's account of the
battle of, ii. 426-435 ; Confederate account, ii. 435,
436 ; McClellan's report, ii. 436-455 ; killed and
wounded at, ii. 454 ; comparative forces of Lee and
McClellan at, ii. 455 ; movements subsequent to the
battle of, ii. 473; Union and Confederate losses at, ii.
474.
Antietam Creek, bridges on, ii. 437.
Apache Pass, New Mexico, battle of, ii. 209.
Appalachicola, capture of, ii. 87 ; occupation of, by Com
mander Stellwagen, ii. 277.
Appeal, adverse to secession, of the Wheeling convention
to the people of Western Virginia, i. 239-243.
Appomattox Court-House, Lee's surrender at, iii. 65S-,
659.
Area of the slave States, i. 370.
Ariel, steamer, capture and release of, by the Alabama,
ii. 608.

704

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

Arkadelphia, occupation of, iii. 271.
Arkansas, abandonment of, by Price and Van Dorn, ii.
210; proclamation by the governor of, ii. 210 ; march
of General Curtis through, ii. 371-376; operations
against guerrillas in, iii. 68, 69 ; operations of Generals
Blunt and Steele in, against Price, iii. 70, 71 ; further
military operations in, iii. 270.
Arkansas, gun-boat, description of (note), ii. 291 ; action
of, with the Tyler and Carondelet, ii. 292 ; fights her
way to Vicksburg, ii. 293 ; reports of commanders in
relation to the, ii. 293, 294 ; unsuccessful attack upon,
by Commander Davis, ii. 295 ; second attempt upon, ii.
296 ; Porter's report of attempt to destroy, ii. 296 ;
destruction of, ii. 380.
Arkansas Post, Admiral Porter's report of operations
against, ii. 582.
Arlington Heights, occupation of, by Federal troops, i.
259, 321.
Arms, purchases of, made by agents of Southern States in
Northern cities, i. 22 ; seizure of, in New York, i. 91 ;
seizure of, at Baltimore, i, 228 ; large quantities of,
found secreted at the headquarters of the Baltimore
police, i. 349 ; number of stands of, seized and pur
chased at the South at the outbreak of the rebellion, i.
365, 366 ; inferior, used by Confederate troops in North
Carolina (note), ii. 74 ; manufacture of, in the United
States, iii. 290.
Army, Confederate, formation ofthe, i. 128.
Army of the Potomac, organization of, by McClellan, i.
571 ; address of McClellan to, ii. 127 ; march of, on
Centreville and Manassas, ii. 128 ; McClellan takes
leave of, ii. 539 ; distrust occasioned in, by Bumside's
failure at Fredericksburg, iii. Ill ; movements of, under
General Hooker, iii. 118-131 ; consolidation of, by
General Meade, iii. 340 ; corps commanders of, iii. 341 ;
movements of, from the Bapidan to Spottsylvania
Court-House, iii. 342-348 ; movements of, from Spott
sylvania Court- House to the Chickahominy, iii. 349-
359 ; exhaustion of the troops by continued hard fight
ing, iii. 457 ; operations of, against Petersburg, iii. 437-
481,500-516, 636, 653.
Army of the United States, how constituted July 2d,
1861, i. 363.
Army of Virginia under General Pope, how constituted,
ii. 382, 399 ; unwillingness of General Pope to take
command of, ii. 385 ; losses sustained by, ii. 399 ; great
exhaustion of, ii. 407 ; effective force of, after the
actions of Generals Hooker, King, and Bicketts, ii.
408 ; effective force of, after retreating to Centreville,
ii. 411; great diminution of, by straggling, ii. 411 ; its
cavalry completely broken down, ii. 412.
Arndt, Major, mortally wounded at Antietam, ii. 439.
Arnold, General, his occupation of Pensacola, ii. 277.
Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, attempt of Governor Letcher
to seize, i. 175 ; destruction of, by Lieutenant Jones, i.
177.
Arsenal at St. Louis, arms in, saved by Captam Stokes, i.
246.
Arsenal at San Antonio, Texas, surrendered by General
Twiggs, i. 129.
Article of war in relation to fugitive slaves, ii. 530.
Ashby, Colonel, biographical sketch of (note), ii. 261 ;
death of, at Harrisonburg, ii. 261.

Assassination of President Lincoln, iii. 660, 663.
Atchafalaya, operations against guerrillas on the, iii. 252 ;
General A. J. Smith's operations on the, iii. 308.
Athens, Tenn., surrender of, to Forrest, iii. 553.
Atlanta, Ga., description of, iii. 377; account of Sher
man's march to, from Chattanooga, iii. 376, 409 ; oc
cupation of, by Sherman's forces, iii. 404; civilians
removed from, iii. 406 ; disposition of Sherman's forces
in and around, iii. 526 ; extensive destruction of build
ings in, by order of Sherman, iii. 536.
Atlanta, iron-clad, Captain Bodgers' account of the
capture of, iii. 192 ; Commander Downes' account, iii.
194 ; details given by Admirals Lee and Dupont, iii.
194, 195.
Augusta, Ark., General Curtis at, ii. 372.
Augusta, Ga., Sherman's feint in the direction of, iii. 544.
Averill, General, expedition of, on the Bappahannock, iii.
117, 118; operations of, in Western Virginia, iii. 173,
273 ; movement of, from Charleston, Va., to Wytheville,
iii. 366 ; defeats Early near Winchester, iii. 373 ; routes
the Confederates at Moorefield, iii. 375.
Averysboro, battle of, iii. 604.
Axe, early familiarity of Abraham Lincoln with the use
ofthe, i. 13. B.
Bailey, Lieutenant-Colonel, dam constructed by, on the
Bed Biver, iii. 315.
Bally, Captain, dispatch of, announcing the fall of New
Orleans (note), ii. 189.
Baker, Colonel Edward, biographical sketch of, i. 586 ;
orders of General Stone to, before the battle of Ball's
Bluff, i. 576, 585; death of, i. 582; extract from his
last speech in the Senate, i. 587.
Ball's Bluff, details of the battle of, i. 574-585 ; causes of
the disaster at, i. 584 ; exultation of the Confederates
after the battle of, i. 585.
Baltic, steamer, sent with reinforcements to Fort Sumter,
i. 139.
Baltimore, resolution of a Democratic convention held at,
adverse to secession, i. 52 ; disaffection in, i. 186 ; mob
of, attack the Massachusetts Sixth Begiment, i. 186 ;
correspondence of Governor Hicks and Mayor Brown
with the President in relation to the passage of troops
through, i. 191, 192; indignation excited against,
throughout the North, i. 194 ; consultation of Mayor
Brown with the President in relation to sending troops
through, i. 207-209 ; proclamation issued at, by Gen
eral Butler, i. 226-228 ; military occupation of, by
General Butler, i. 226 ; seizure of arms at, i. 228 ; arrest
of Kane, the police marshal of, i. 346 ; arms found
secreted at the headquarters of the police of, i. 349 ;
arrest of the police commissioners of, i. 350.
Baltimore Convention, resolutions passed at the, i. 213.
Bank act proposed by Mr. Chase adopted by Congress, ii.
633.
Banks, General Nathaniel Prentiss, biographical sketch
of, i. 344 ; appointed to the department of Annapolis,
i. 346 ; arrests Kane, the Baltimore police marshal, i.
346 ; proclamation of, in relation to the arrest of Kane,
i. 348 ; arrests the Baltimore police commissioners, i.
350 ; proclamation of, in relation to the arrest of the
commissioners, i. 350 ; command of, on the Potomac, i.
573 ; operations of, in the valley of the Shenandoah, ii.

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

705

249-258 ; strength of his corps in the Army of Virginia,
ii. 382 ; directed by General Pope to march on Culpeper
Court-House and Gordonsville, ii. 386 ; sent by Pope to
Cedar Mountain, ii. 388 ; incorrect report of, ii. 389 ; re
treat of, from Cedar Mountain, ii. 390 ; corps of, badly
cut up, ii. 391 ; gallantry of his entire corps, ii. 392 ;
Pope's testimony as to the efficiency of, in his Virginia
campaign, ii. 415 ; arrival of, at New Orleans, ii. 554 ;
supersedes General Butler, ii. 555 ; proclamation of, on
assuming command of the Department of the Gulf, ii.
558-560 ; expedition sent by, against Baton Rouge, ii.
560 ; operations of, in Louisiana, iii. 9-21 ; sends an
expedition against Sabine City, iii. 254 ; Brownsville,
Texas, captured by the forces of, iii. 263 ; account of his
Red River expedition, iii. 307-316.
Banks, Northern and Southern, how affected by the
secession movements, i. 41.
Barlow, Colonel, services of, at Antietam, ii. 444.
Baron de Kalb, gun-boat, sunk by a torpedo, ii. 680.
Barron, Commodore, surrender of, at Fort Hatteras i
536.
Basis of an agreement between Sherman and Johnston,
iii. 668.
Bates, Edward, biographical sketch of, i. 127 ; appointed
attorney-general, i. 122.
Baton Bouge, defence of, by General Williams, ii. 377-
380 ; reoccupation of, by Union troops, ii. 560 ; General
Davidson's expedition from, against Hood's communi
cations, iii. 571.
Battery Harrison, capture of, iii. 501 ; unsuccessful attempt
of the Confederates to regain, iii. 502.
Battle of —
Allatoona Pass, iii. 530.
Antietam, ii. 426-455.
Ashby's Gap, iii. 373.
Atlanta, iii. 390-395, 398.
Averysboro, iii. 604.
Ball's Bluff, i. 574-585.
Baylor's Farm, iii. 440.
Bean Station, iii. 249-251.
Beaver Dam Creek, ii. 310-315.
Belmont, i. 551-557.
Bentonville, iii. 605.
Big Bethel, i. 276-279.
Blackburn's Ford, i. 392-397.
Booneville, Mo., i. 313-317.
Bristoe Station, ii. 400 ; iii. 265, 266.
Bull Mountain, ii. 259.
Bull Run, i. 404-409 ; General McDowell's account, i
406-408 ; General Johnston's report, i. 413-418.
Camp Wild Cat, ii. 8.
Cane Hill, ii. 561.
Carrack's Ford, i. 33,8-340.
Carthage, i. 427.
Cedar Creek, iii. 495.
Cedar Mountain, iii. 354-357, 390.
Chapin's Farm, iii. 501.
Chancellorsville, iii. 118-124.
Chaplin Hills, ii. 486^92.
Chickahominy, iii. 357.
Chickamauga, iii. 223-230.
Cold Harbor, iii. 356.
Corinth, ii. 510-514 ; 516-521 257

Battle of—
Crooked Run, iii. 485.
Cross Keys, ii. 261.
Dabney's Mills, iii. 638, 639
Dalton, iii. 302.
Davis Farm, iii. 473.
Deatonville, iii. 657.
Deep Run, iii. 471.
Drainesville, i. 589-591.
Dug Springs, i. 431.
Ellyson's Mills, ii. 323.
Fair Gardens, iii. 301.
Fair Oaks, ii. 240-247.
Falling Waters, i. 331.
Fisher's Hill, iii. 490.
Five Forks, iii. 650.
Fort Darling, iii. 362.
Franklin, iii. 561.
Fredericksburg, ii. 542-547.
Gaines' Mill, ii. 310 ; Prince de Joinville's account, ii.
316 ; Confederate account, ii. 324-328.
Gettysburg, iii. 148-161.
Grand Coteau, iii. 260-262.
Gravelly Run, iii. 647, 648.
Guntown, iii. 405.
Hatcher's Run, iii. 510-512, 638, 639.
Hanover Court-House, ii. 239.
Island Ford, iii. 373.
Iuka, ii. 506-510.
Ivy Creek, ii. 11.
Jericho Ford, iii. 354.
Jonesboro, iii. 402.
Kenesaw Mountain, iii. 385.
Kinston, iii. 607.
Knoxville, iii. 245-248.
Kulp House, iii. 384.
Little Osage Crossing, iii. 521.
Lookout Mountain, iii. 238.
Malvern Hill, ii. 312, 320 ; Confederate account, ii. 335
Marais des Cygnes, iii. 520, 521.
Middletown, iii. 497.
Mill Spring, ii. 20.
Missionary Ridge, iii. 238.
Mitchell's Creek, iii. 618.
Monocacy, iii. 371.
Morristown, Tenn., iii. 523.
Munfordsville, ii. 13.
Murfreesboro, ii. 591.
Nashville, iii. 563-567.
New Hope Church, iii. 382.
New Market, iii. 366.
Ny River, iii. 353.
Olustee, iii. 325.
Peach Tree Creek, iii. 390.
Pea Ridge, ii. 51-53 ; 55-58.
Perryville, ii. 486-492.
Pigeon's Ranch, N. M., ii. 209.
Pittsburg Landing, ii. 141-146.
Pleasant Hill, iii. 312.
Prairie Grove, ii. 561.
Prestonburg, ii. 15.
Rapidan, the, iii. 269.
Rappahannock Station, iii. 2G8.

706 ANALYTICAL INDEX.
Battle of —
'•women order" (note), ii. 288; superseded by General
Bragg, ii. 360 ; takes command again at Charleston, ii.
Beams' Station, iii. 477.
Resaca, iii. 379.
522 ; his report of the defence of Pocotaligo and Coosa-
Rich Mountain, i. 334 ; Confederate account, i. 342.
hatchie against General Brannan, ii. 526 ; his proclama
Sabine Cross Roads, iii. 311.
tion in relation to the defence of Charleston, iii. 80 ;
Sabine Pass, iii. 255-259.
correspondence of, with General Gillmore, iii. 105 ;
Salem Heights (note), iii. 129, 130.
forces under, at the beginning of 1864, iii. 298 ; placed
Salines Crossing, iii. 317, 318.
in command of the Confederate Military Division of the
Salisbury, N. C, iii. 613.
West, iii. 532 ; his appeal to the people of Georgia, iii.
Santa Bosa Island, i. 558-564.
542.
Savage Station, ii. 330.
Beaver Dam Creek, battle of, ii. 310, 315.
Seven days, McClellan's report, il. 308-313 ; Prince de
Beecber, Rev. H. W., reception of, in England, iii. 206.
Joinville's account, ii. 313-320 ; Confederate account,
Beech Grove, on the Cumberland, reasons of the Confed
ii. 321-340.
erates for leaving their camp at, ii. 18.
Seven Pines, ii. 240-247.
Belle Isle, cruel treatment of prisoners at, iii. 278, 682.
Shiloh, first, ii. 141-146 ; second, ii. 147-156.
Bell, Hon. John, of Nashville, loyalty of, i. 54.
Somerset, ii. 20.
Belmont, Mo., details of General Grant's attack upon, i.
South Mountain, ii. 423-425.
551-557 ; General Grant's report of the battle at (note),
Spottsylvania Court-House, iii. 347.
i. 552; General McClernand's report (note), i. 553-557;
Springfield, i. 435-442.
General Polk's report (note), i. 557 ; Federal losses at
Stone River, ii. 591.
(note), i. 557.
Sugar Creek, i. 664.
Bendix, Colonel, collision of the troops of, with those of
Turkey Bend. See Malvern Hill.
Colonel Townsend on the march toward Little Bethel,
Valverde, N. M , ii. 209.
i. 273.
Warrenton Turnpike, ii. 405.
Benham, General H. W., his report of the siege and cap
Waynesboro, iii. 641.
ture of Fort Pulaski (note), ii. 79 ; repulse of, at James
Weldon Railroad, iii. 448, 472-478.
Island, ii. 281.
West Point, Miss., iii. 306.
Benjamin, Judah P., biographical sketch of, i. 103 ; his
Westport, iii. 520.
farewell of the United States Senate, i. 87 ; position of,
White Oak Swamp, ii. 311, 318, 319, 332.
in the Confederate cabinet, i. 101.
Wilderness, iii. 343-345.
Ben McCulloch, biographical sketch of, i. 432 ; marches
WilliamsbuTg, Va., ii. 219-227.
toward Springfield in pursuit of General Lyon, i. 435 ;
Wilson's Creek, i. 435-442.
reinforces General Price in Arkansas, ii. 49.
Winchester, ii. 121-125, iii. 489.
Bentonville, battle of, iii. 605.
Battery, floating, used by Beauregard in his attack on
Beverly, headquarters of General Garnett at, i. 332 ; de
Fort Sumter, i. 142.
scription of Garnett' s camp at, i. 336 ; McClellan's ac
Bayard, General, commendation of, by Pope, ii. 417 ;
count of its capture, i. 337.
mortally wounded at Fredericksburg, ii. 546.
Bible, early familiarity of Abraham Lincoln with the,
Bay of St. Helena, expedition to secure possession of
i. 13.
(note), i. 616.
Big Bethel, account of General Pierce's unfortunate
Bayou Teche, operations of General Banks on the, iii.
attempt upon, i. 275-279 ; Confederate account of the
9-15.
battle at, i. 278.
Beall, John T. , crimes and execution of, iii. 679.
"Billy Wilson," Colonel, night attack upon his regiment
Bean Station, Tenn., battle of, iii. 249-251 ; wagon train
at Santa Rosa Island, i. 558-564 ; his report, i. 563.
captured by the rebels at, iii. 251.
Biloxi, occupation of, by General Phelps, i. 654.
Beaufort and Port Royal, description and history of (note),
Bird's Point, Mo , opposite Cairo, occupied by Missouri
i. 602, 614.
volunteers, i. 258.
Beaufort, N. C, capture of, ii. 76.
Birley, General, commendation of, by General Pope, ii
Beaufort, S. C , flag of truce sent to, by General Sherman,
416.
with a proclamation, i. 611 ; loyalty of the negroes at,
Birney, General, services of, at the battle of Williamsburg,
i. 612 ; ravages of the negroes at (note), 614.
ii. 225 ; commendation of, by General Pope, ii. 416 ; at
Beauregard, General Gustavus Toutant, biographical
the battle of Fredericksburg, ii. 545.
sketch of, i. 143-145 ; command assumed by, at Charles
Blackburn's Ford, battle at, i. 392 ; Beauregard's report
ton, i. 133 ; surrender of Fort Sumter demanded by, i.
of the battle at, i. 393-397 ; cause of the disaster at, i.
135 ; correspondence of, with Major Anderson, i. 135-
398.
137 ; Manassas Junction fortified hy, i. 385 ; reticence
Black Hawk war, brief services of Abraham Lincoln in, i.
of, i. 386 ; proclamation issued by, i. 386 ; his report of
14.
the battle at Blackburn's Ford, i. 393-397 ; appointed
Blair, Colonel Frank P., efforts of, to raise volunteers at
to command the Confederate forces in Kentucky, ii. 22 ;
St Louis, i. 247 ; arrested by order of Fremont, i. 475.
order of, on assuming command of the Mississippi De
Blair, General, in command of the seventeenth corps
partment, ii. 48 ; large force concentrated by, at Corinth,
under Sherman, iii. 383.
ii. 139 ; his report of the battles of Pittsburg Landing
Blair, Montgomery, biographical sketch of, i. 127 ; ap
(note), ii. 156-161 ; address of, in relation to Butler's
pointed post-master- general, i. 122.
ANALYTICAL INDEX.

707

Blake, Captain, his report of the destruction of the Hat-
teras, ii. 607-611.
Blakelv, capture of, by the forces of Canby and Steele, iii.
621.'
Blockade of Charleston, declared raised by Beauregard and
Ingraham, ii. 606.
Blockade of Southern ports, proclamation in relation to,
i. 169 ; discussions in the House of Lords in relation to,
i. 377-379.
Blockade of Virginia and North Carolina, i. 221.
Blockade runners, iii. 191 ; captured or destroyed in 1863,
iii. 290 ; at Wilmington, iii. 575, 576 ; captured by
United States vessels during the war, iii. 693.
Blue Mills Landing, battle at, i. 472.
Blue Springs, rebels driven from, by the forces of Burnside,
iii. 242.
Blunt, General James G., his reports of battles at Prairie
Grove and Van Buren, Ark., ii. 661, 562 ; his operations
in western Arkansas, iii. 70, 73 ; his marvellous escape
from Quantrell, iii. 73.
" Board of Public Safety," attempt made in the Maryland
legislature to establish, i. 213.
Body-guard, Fremont's, brilliant charge of, at Springfield,
i. 465.
Boggs, Captain Charles S., his report ofthe exploits ofthe
gun-boat Varuna, ii. 183.
Bolivar Heights, skirmish at, i. 572 ; Sheridan's army at,
iii. 487.
Books read by Abraham Lincoln in early life, i. 13.
Boomer, Colonel, death of, at the battle of Iuka, ii. 509.
Booneville, Mo., battle of, i. 313-317; surrender of, to
General Lyon, i. 317 ; General Price at, iii. 520.
Booth, John Wilkes, his assassination of President Lin
coln, iii. 661 ; death of, iii. 663.
Border slave States, convention of, held at Frankfort,
Ky.,i. 480.
Boston, tug-steamer, eapture of, by the Confederates, iii.
195.
Bowling Green, Ky., occupation of, by General Buckner,
i. 492 ; occupation of, by General Mitchell, ii 37.
Boydton plank-road, reconnoissance of the fifth corps
toward, iii. 507.
Bradford, Major, murder of, iii. 321.
Bragg, General, forts at Pensacola held by, i. 159 ; suc
ceeds Beauregard in the command of the army of the
Mississippi, ii. 360; Kentucky invaded by, ii. 482; his
proclamation to the Kentuckians, ii. 483 ; his capture of
Munfordsville, ii. 484 ; his report of the battle of Perry-
ville or Chaplin Hills (note), ii. 492; large amount of
plunder carried off by, from Kentucky, ii. 492 ; Buell's
report of operations against, ii. 493 ; large force under,
ii. 498 ; force concentrated under, at Murfreesboro, i*.
586- retreat of, from Murfreesboro, ii. 595; driven
from' Lookout Mountain, iii. 234-238 ; superseded by
Johnston, iii. 239 ; driven over the Neuse to Kinston
by Schofield, iii. 608, 609.
Braine, Lieutenant D. L, report of, in relation to the
Chicamacomico expedition, i. 548.
Branch Mint in North Carolina, seized by the State gov
ernor, i. 230. .
Brannan, General J. M., his report of operations against
Charleston and Savannah communications, n. 522-526.
Brashear City, capture of, by General Dick Taylor, iii. 19.

Breckinridge, John C, biographical sketch of, i. 494 ; se
cession sympathies displayed by, in Congress, i. 356 ;
joins the Confederate army, i. 494 ; his attack on Baton
Rouge, ii. 377-380 ; his defeat of General Gillem near
Morristown, Tenn., iii. 523 ; driven into North Carolina
by Stoneman, iii. 525.
Breese, Captain, repulse of his marines at Fort Fisher, iii.
589.
Brick House Point, battle of, ii. 229.
Bridge-burners in Missouri, severity of General Halleck
toward, i. 662.
Bridges, railroad, in Maryland, quasi justification by the
Legislature of the destruction of, i. 213 ; reconstruction
of, i. 221.
Bright, Mr. , his advocacy of the United States in Parlia
ment, iii. 199 ; extract from a speech of, at Birmingham,
in favor of the North, ii. 615.
Bristoe Station, battle of, ii. 400 ; General Banks ordered
to destroy trains at, ii. 410 ; second battle at, iii. 265,
266.
Brooks, General, movement of, against the Petersburg and
Richmond Railroad, iii. 361.
Brooks, Preston, secession speech of, in 1856, i. 9.
Brougham, Lord, remarks of, on privateering and piracy,
i. 378, 379.
Brown, Colonel Harvey, arrival of, at Fort Pickens, i. 161 ;
command assumed by, i. 162 ; his report of the battle
on Santa Rosa Island, i. 560-563 ; his account of the
bombardment of Pensacola, i. 567.
Brown, General E. B., his report of the defence of Spring
field against Marmaduke, ii. 564 ; operations of, in Mis
souri, iii. 272.
Brown, George W., mayor of Baltimore, correspondence
of, with Governor Andrew of Massachusetts, i. 190 ;
letters of, to the President in relation to the passage of
troops through Baltimore, i. 191, 192 ; consultation of
the President with, i. 207-209.
Brown, Governor, of Georgia, early action of, in favor of
secession, i. 46.
Brown's Gap, strength of Early's position at, iii. 491.
Brownsville, Texas, captured by the forces of General
Banks, iii. 263.
Bruinsburg, operations of General Grant at, ii. 645.
Brunswick, Ga., expedition of Com. Godon against ii. 83.
Buchanan, Admiral, wounded on the ram Tennessee in
Mobile Bay, iii. 421.
Buchanan, President, biographical sketch of, i. 120-122 ;
chief members of his cabinet selected from among the
Southern leaders, i. 8 ; his message of December 4th,
1860, i. 22-36 ; unwilling to coerce the South, i. 38 ;
his disregard of the advice of General Scott, i. 39 ; '
letter of, to Floyd accepting his resignation, i. 69 ; re
ply of, to the South Carolina commissioners, i. 70-75;
his reply to the second letter of the South Carolina
commissioners, i. 80.
Buchannan, Lieutenant-Colonel R. C, commendation of,
by Pope, ii. 416
Buckner, General, his report of an agreement with Mc
Clellan, i. 482 ; assertions of, denied by McClellan, i.
483 ; proclamation of, on occupying Bowling Green,
Ky. , i. 492 ; proclamation of General Anderson in reply
to, i. 493 ; his surrender of Fort Donelson, ii. 35.
Buell, General Don Carlos, biographical sketch of, ii. 6 ;

708

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

appointed to command the Federal forces in Kentucky,
i. 494 ; placed in command of the Department of the
Cumberland, ii. 7 ; operations of, in Kentucky, ii. 16-
23 ; composition of his army, ii. 16 ; occupies Nashville,
ii. 37 ; opportune arrival of the troops of, at Pittsburg
Landing, ii. 147 ; his report of the second battle of
Shiloh (note), ii. 147-150; his measures for the defence
* of Louisville, ii. 485 ; his reorganization of the Union
army in Kentucky (note), ii. 485 ; his report of his Ken
tucky campaign against Bragg, ii. 493-501 ; effective
force under, in Kentucky, ii. 498.
Buford, General, commendation of, by General Pope, ii.
417.
Bull Mountain, battle of, ii. 259.
Bull Run, description of, i. 392 ; the march to, i._ 398-404 ;
battle of, i. 404-409 ; General McDowell's account, i.
406-408 ; panic, i. 410-412 ; killed and wounded, i.
413, 418 ; General Johnston's report, i. 413-418 ; diffi
culties of General McDowell, i. 421 ; influence on public
opinion of the defeat at, i. 569.
Bunker Hill, battle of, iii. 373.
Burbridge, General, his pursuit of Morgan to Cynthiana,
iii. 370 ; his expedition against the Virginia saltworks,
iii. 522.
Burnside, General Ambrose Everett, biographical sketch
of, ii. 59 ; commands the expedition to Pamlico Sound,
ii. 59 ; operations of, at Roanoke Island, ii. 64 ; his re
port, ii. 65 ; operations of, in North Carolina, ii. 67-76,
165-172 ; account of his capture of Newbern, ii. 70-75 ;
credit given by, to McClellan (note), ii. 75 ; leaves North
Carolina to join McClellan, ii. 287 ; at Antietam, ii.
432-435, 438, 449 ; report of his operations, ii. 450 ;
Army of the Potomac reorganized by, ii. 479 ; his un
willingness to accept the command, ii. 539 ; his plan of
attack at Fredericksburg, ii. 240 ; operations of, against
Fredericksburg, ii. 539-552 ; responsibility for the dis
aster at Fredericksburg, assumed by, ii. 552 ; assumes
command of the Department of the Ohio, iii. 41 ; mili
tary rule of, iii. 47-56 ; decided action of, in relation to
the Kentucky elections, iii. 56 ; Chicago Times sup
pressed by, iii. 56 ; measures of, thwarted by his general
officers, iii. 111-113 ; resignation of, iii. 113 ; succeeded
by General Hooker, iii. 114 ; operations of, in Tennes
see, iii. 240-251.
Butler, General Benjamin F., biographical sketch of, i.
205 -207 ; frigate Constitution rescued by, i. 204 ; gen
eral order of, in relation to the rescue, i. 204 ; rail
road between Annapolis and Washington Te-established
by, i. 205 ; energetic action of, in Maryland, i. 209 ;
lands troops at Annapolis without the consent of Gov
ernor Hicks, i. 210 ; letter of, to Governor Hicks in rela
tion to the railroad, i. 210 ; offers aid to Governor Hicks in
case of a negro insurrection, i. 211 ; placed in command
of the Department of Annapolis, i. 219 ; action of, at
the Relay House, i. 221 ; his military occupation of
Baltimore, i. 226 ; proclamation of, issued at Baltimore,
i. 226-228 ; receives command of the Department of Vir
ginia, i. 268 ; takes possession of Hampton and Newport
News, i. 268, 269 ; orders of, directing the attempt on
Little Bethel, i. 272 ; account of the attempts ordered
by, to surprise Little Bethel and Big Bethel, i. 271-280 ;
his report of the capture of the Hatteras forts, i. 536-
542 ; land forces of the New Orleans expedition under

the command of, ii. 173 ; troops of (note), ii. 177 ; takes
possession of New Orleans and proclaims martial law, ii.
190 ; energetic action of, ii. 287 ; his order in relation
to the women of New Orleans, ii. 288 ; severe rule of,
ii. 526 ; his unsuccessful expeditions, ii. 526 ; superseded
at New Orleans by General Banks, ii. 555 ; bis farewell
address to, the people of New Orleans, ii. 555-558 ; pro
claimed a "felon" by Jefferson Davis, ii. 639 ; appoint
ed to succeed General Foster in the Department of
Virginia and North Carolina, iii. 277 ; his scheme for
the capture of Richmond by surprise, iii. 333 ; forces
under, at Fortress Monroe, iii. 341 ; moves up the
James from Fortress Monroe, iii. 360 ; his movement
against Fort Darling, iii. 381, 362; attacked by Bean-
regard, iii. 365 ; securely intrenched at Bermuda Hun
dred, iii. 365 ; operations of, against Petersburg, iii. 439 ;
additional corps placed under, by General Grant, iii.
457 ; General Grant's instruction to, for the Fort Fisher
expedition, iii. 577 ; letter of, to Admiral Porter, rela
tive to Fort Fisher, iii. 583 ; Porter's reply, iii. 584 ;
censured by General Grant and relieved from his com
mand, iii. 584. C.
Cabinet, Jefferson Davis' , how constituted, i. 101.
Cabinet, President Lincoln's, how constituted, i. 122.
Cadwalader, General, succeeded by General Banks in the
command of the Annapolis department, i. 344.
Cahil, Colonel, his account of the defence of Baton Rouge,
ii. 378-380.
Cairo, occupation of, by Illinois troops, i. 255 ; history and
description of, i. 256 ; strategical importance of, i. 257.
Caldwell, General, at Antietam, iii. 444.
Caleb Cushing, capture of the, in the harbor of Portland,
iii. 197, 198.
Calhoun, the apostle of State rights, i. 5.
Calhoun, James M., letter of, to General Sherman in rela
tion to the removal of civilians from Atlanta, iii. 408.
Call to arms of General Carrington for the defence of
Washington, i. 91.
Camden, Ark., occupation of, by General Steele, iii. 317.
Cameron, Simon, biographical sketch of, i. 126 ; appointed
Secretary of War in President Lincoln's cabinet, i. 122 ;
language of, in relation to affairs in Western Virginia, i.
300-304; remarks on his report of July 5th, 1861, i.
353 ; investigations made by, into the conduct of Gen
eral Fremont, i. 475 ; letter of, -to General Scott on the
occasion of his resignation, i. 597.
Camp Jackson, near St. Louis', march of Captain Lyon
against, i. 248 ; surrender of, to Captain Lyon, i. 249.
Camp Wild Cat, Ky., battle of, ii. 8.
Canal across the peninsula opposite Island No. 10, account
* ofthe construction of (note), ii. 135.
Canal, Dutch Gap, construction of, iii. 468 ; failure of, iii.
632.
Canal opposite Vicksburg, attempt to construct, ii. 290 ;
difficulties in the construction of, iii. 641.
Canby, Colonel E. R. S. (afterward General), biographical
sketch of (note), ii. 208 ; placed in command of the De
partment of New Mexico, ii. 206 ; defeated at Valverde
and shut up in Fort Craig, ii. 208 ; further operations
of, ii. 209 ; supersedes General Banks in the Trans-Mis
sissippi Department, iii 316 ; operations of, against
Mobile, iii. 614-621.

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

709

Cane Hill, battle of, ii. 561.
Cannon detained at Pittsburg by the citizens, i. 66.
Cape Fear River, entrances of, difficult to blockade, iii.
576.
Cape Hatteras, account of the capture of the forts at, i.
531-543.
Carnifex Ferry, battle of, i. 498-503 ; General Rosecrans'
report, i. 503.
Carolinas, General Sherman's march across the, iii. 595-
609 ; waste and destruction effected in, by Sherman's
troops, iii. 609.
Carrack's Ford, Va., account of the battle of, i. 339 ; Mc-
Clelland's account of the battle of, i. 340.
Carr, Colonel, exertions of, at the first battle of Pea Ridge,
ii. 51.
Carrington, General Edward C, call to arms for the de
fence of Washington issued by, i. 91.
Carroll, General, driven from the bridge at Port Republic
by General Jackson, ii. 263.
Carter, General H., expedition of, to East Tennessee, ii.
596. ' -
Carthage, battle of, i. 427 ; Confederate account of the
battle of, i. 429 ; killed and wounded at, i. 427, 429.
Casey, General, disorderly retreat of his division at the
battle of Fair Oaks, ii. 242.
Cass, Secretary, resignation of, December, 1860, i. 39.
Castle Pinckney, Charleston, armament of, i. 142.
Catlett's Station, General Pope's army train surprised at,
ii. 395.
Cattle, large number of, carried off by Wade Hampton
from Sycamore Church, iii. 480.
Cavalry, proportion of, in the Army of Virginia under
Pope, ii. 382 ; completely broken down, ii. 412.
Cave City, Ky., a railroad train destroyed near, by Colonel
Morgan, ii. 275.
Caves, constructed in the city of Vicksburg during the
siege, iii. 6.
Cedar Creek, position of General Sheridan's army at, iii.
493 ; Early's temporary victory at, iii. 495.
Cedar Keys, taken possession of by Commander Emmons,
i. 654.
Cedar Mountain, General Pope's report of operations near,
ii. 344, 354-357 ; defeat of General Banks at, ii. 390 ;
killed and wounded at the battle of, ii. 392.
Cemetery Hill, near Petersburg, successive disastrous as
saults upon, from the " crater," iii. 463.
Centreville, Va., advance of General Tyler to, i. 392 ; the
Army of the Potomac at, ii. 128 ; occupation of, by
General Kearney, ii. 403 ; effective force of General
Pope at, ii. 411 ; retreat of General Pope's army toward,
ii. 410.
Chambersburg, Pa., capture of, by General Stuart, ii. 476 ;
burnt by General McCausland, iii. 374.
Chancellorsville, details ofthe battle of, iii. 118-124.
Chapin's Farm, battle of, iii. 501.
Chaplin Hills, General McCook's report of the battle of,
ii. 486-491 ; Bragg's report (note), ii. 492.
Charleston and Savannah Railroad, movements of General
Foster against, iii. 547.
Charleston, effect in, of the news of the election of Abra
ham Lincoln President, i, 21, 22 ; energetic action of
the convention at, i. 57 ; description of the forts in the
harbor of, i. 59 ; enthusiasm displayed by the citizens

during the bombardment of Fort Sumter, i. 154 ; Gen
eral Hunter's operations against, ii. 280-286 ; attempt
of Beauregard and Ingraham to raise the blockade of,
ii. 603-607 ; circular of Judah P. Benjamin in relation
to the blockade of, ii. 606 ; progress of the siege of, iii.
80-90 ; Dupont's attack on the fortifications of, iii. 82-
90 ; popular discontent at the failure of Dupont's naval
attack, iii. 91 ; operations of General Gillmore against
the defences of, iii. 92-111 ; fire opened on, by General
Gillmore, iii. 104 ; progress of the siege of, iii. 274 ;
final operations of General Gillmore against, iii. 610,
611 ; evacuation of, by General Hardee, iii. 611 ; explo
sion with loss of life and great fire in, iii. 611 ; remarks
of General Sherman on the ruinous condition of, iii.
612 ; General Anderson sent thither to raise the Stars
and Stripes again on Fort Sumter, iii. 612.
Charleston forts, paper respecting, addressed to President
Buchanan by South Carolina representatives, i. 72.
Charleston harbor, attempts to obstruct the channel to,
i. 648 ; remonstrances of the French and English gov
ernments in relation to the attempts made to close, i.
650 ; explanatory letter of Lord Lyons in relation to, i.
650 ; attempt to obstruct, justified by English prece
dents, i. 651.
Charleston, Western Va., Union forces driven out of, iii.
171.
Charlotte, N. C, threatened by the movements of Gen
erals Kilpatrick and Slocum, iii. 602 ; Jefferson Davis
and his cabinet at, after the fall of Petersburg, iii. 674.
Chase, Salmon Portland, biographical sketch of, i. 124-
126 ; appointed Secretary of the Treasury in President
Lincoln's cabinet, i. 122 ; remarks on his report of July
5th, 1861, i. 354; extracts from his report of December,
1862, ii. 630.
Chattahoochee River, Johnston driven across, by General
Sherman, iii. 387.
Chattanooga, advance of General Negley to, ii. 274 ; Gen
eral Rosecrans retires to, iii. 230 ; its communications
endangered by the movements of Forrest and Wheeler,
iii. 231 ; difficult position of the Army of the Cumber
land at, iii. 234 ; arrival of General Grant at, iii. 235 ;
communications of, re-established, iii. 236.
Cheat Mountain, Va., description of the defences at, i.
504 ; General Reynolds' report of the battle of, i. 505-
'507.
Cheraw, arrival of General Sherman's forces at, iii. 602.
Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal, obstructions placed in,
by Commander Rowan, ii. 170 ; operations of Lieutenant
Jeffers on the, ii. 68.
Chesapeake, steam -packet, narrative ofthe capture of, iii.
280-282 ; recapture of, iii. 283.
Chevalier, M., his pamphlet on the foreign policy of
France, iii. 209.
Chicago, National Republican Convention at, in 1860, i.
10, 19 ; Union meeting at, i. 89.
Chicago Times, suppressed by order of General Burnside,
iii. 56.
Cblcamacomico, details of the unsuccessful expedition
against, i. 545-550 ; Confederate account of the attack
upon (note), i. 548.
Chickahominy, retreat of the Confederate forces bcyojjd
the, ii. 237 ; description ofthe (note), ii. 237 ; mortality
among the Union troops on the, ii. 299 ; Prince de

710

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

Joinville's description of McClellan's retreat from the,
ii. 313-320 ; General Grant's battles on the, iii. 357.
Chickamauga, report by General Rosecrans of operations
closing with the battle of, iii. 213-230 ; details of the
battle of, iii. 223-230.
Cincinnati, Union meeting at, i. 90 ; attack upon, threat
ened by General Kirby Smith, ii. 482.
Cincinnati, gun-boat, sunk in Commodore Porter's attack
on the Vicksburg batteries, ii. 679.
Circular to State governors calling for troops, after the
fall of Fort Sumter, i. 167.
City Point, terrific explosion with loss of life at, iii. 467 ;
meetings of Generals Grant and Sherman and President
Lincoln at, iii. 609 ; attempts of iron-clads from Bich-
mond to make their way to, iii. 632.
Clan, Major, letter of, to Colonel Warner in relation to
the removal of citizens from Atlanta, iii. 409.
Clarence, Confederate cruiser, career and capture of, iii.
197, 198.
Clarksburg, " Confederate military" made prisoners at, i.
' 243.
Clarksville, Tenn., capture of, by Captain Foote, ii. 37 ;
Captain Foote's report (note), ii. 37.
Clayton, Colonel, his pursuit of guerrillas in Arkansas, iii.
68 ; results of his expedition in Arkansas, iii. 69.
Cluseret., Colonel, gallantry of, at the battle of Cross Keys,
ii. 262.
Cobb, Howell, resignation of, i. 41.
Cobb, General Thomas R. R., death of, at the battle of
Fredericksburg, ii. 550.
Cobden, Mr., remarks of, in Parliament in relation to
British-built Confederate cruisers, iii. 201.
Cockeysville, Md., troops sent back from, at the request
of Mayor Brown, i. 209.
Cold Harbor, battle of, iii. 356.
Coles, Captain, munitions of war seized by, at Potosi, Mo.,
i. 253.
Columbia, S. C, capture of, by Sherman's forces, iii. 599 ;
disorderly conduct of drunken soldiers in, iii. 599 ; the
great fire in, iii. 600 ; correspondence of General Sher
man with Wade Hampton in relation to the burniug of,
iii. 600, 601.
Columbia, Tenn., retreat of General Schofield from, to
Franklin, iii. 559.
Columbus, Ga. , capture of, by General Wilson, iii. 628 ;
large amount of property destroyed at, iii. 629.
Columbus, Ky., occupation of, by General Polk, i. 488;
evacuation of, by the Confederate troops, ii. 38 ; de
scription of, as found by the Union troops, ii. 38-41 ;
General Cullum's report of the evacuation of (note), ii.
41.
Commerce, Northern, injury done to, by Southern cruisers,
iii. 693.
Commissioners, Confederate, sent from Montgomery to
Washington, i. 130 ; reply of Mr. Seward to, i. 130 ;
departure of, from Washington, i. 134 ; dispatch of, to
Me. Seward, i. 135.
Commissioners, Confederate, sent to England and France
by the Southern States, i. 372.
Commissioners, Maryland, report of, on their interview
with President Lincoln, i. 214.
Commissioners, South Carolina, correspondence of, with
President Buchanan, i. 69-80-; abrupt departure of, from

Washington, i. 69; second letter of, to President Bu
chanan, i. 75.
Commodore Jones, gun-boat, destroyed by a torpedo on
the James River, iii. 364.
Comstock, Colonel, his description of the defences of Fort
Fisher, iii. 579.
Confederacy, Southern, vote of the States for the perma
nent government of (note), ii. 114; energetic action of
the people of, ii. 117.
Confederate constitution, the slave trade forbidden by, i.
93 ; adoption of, by Arkansas and North Carolina, i.
231.
Confederate States, new flag adopted by the, i. 131-133 ;
recognized as belligerents by the British Government, i.
373.
Confiscation Act, provisions of the, i. 257 (note) ; ii. 112.
Confiscation orders of General Pope, ii. 349 ; retaliatory
action of the Confederate Government in relation to, ii.
350 ; letter of Jefferson Davis respecting, ii. 352 ; Gen
eral Pope' s apology for, ii. 385.
Congress, United States, meeting of, in December, 1860,
i. 36; assembly of, July 4th, 1861, and action, i. 351-
359 ; second session of the thirty-seventh, ii. 629 ; vast
powers given by, to the President, ii. 632 ; meeting of
the thirty-eighth, iii. 284.
Congress, Southern, assembled at Montgomery, i. 92 ;
members expelled from, i. 359.
Conscription Bill, provisions of the, ii. 632.
Conscription Law, Southern, message of President Davis
recommending (note), ii. 161 ; extraordinary provisions
of the bill of 1863, iii. 293.
Conspiracies, protest of senators against the act to define
and punish (note), i. 358.
Constitution, Confederate, preamble to the, i. 92 ; the
slave trade forbidden by, i. 93 ; various provisions of, i.
93 ; adopted by Arkansas and North Carolina, i. 231.
Constitution, Federal, violations of, complained of by
South Carolina, i. 47-51 ; amendment to, in relation to
slavery, iii. 701 ; ratification of the amendment to, iii.
702.
Constitution, frigate, rescue of, by General Butler, i. 204.
Consuls, British, ordered away from the Confederate States,
iii. 205.
Convention at Baltimore, resolutions passed at, i. 213.
Convention at Wheeling adverse to secession, i. 239.
Convention, National Democratic, of 1860, i. 10.
Convention, National Republican, of 1860, i. 10, 19.
Convention of South Carolina, of December, 1860 ; prep
arations of, for war, i. 65.
Convention, peace, assembled in Washington, i. 91.
Convention, Virginia, preamble and resolution sent by,
to President Lincoln, i. 173 ; reply of President Lin
coln to, i. 173 ; ordinance of secession passed by, i. 174.
Coosawhatchie River, operation of General Brannan on
the, ii. 522-526.
Corcoran, Colonel, close confinement of, at Charleston, i.
519.
Corinth, approaches of General Halleck to, ii. 271 ; aban
donment of by Beauregard, ii. 273 ; Confederate account
of Beauregard's retreat from (note), ii. 385; defence of,
by Rosecrans against Price and Van Dorn (note), ii. 510 ;
battle of, ii. 510-514 ; General Rosecrans' report of the
battle, ii. 516-521 ; killed and wounded, ii. 621.

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

711

" Corner-stone of the Confederacy," speech of A. H. Ste
phens on the, at Savannah, i. 100.
Corse, General, his defence of Allatoona Pass, iii. 529 ;
services of, near Savannah, iii. 545.
Cotton, not " king," i. 371 ; sufferings of operatives in
Europe for the want of, i. 621.
Couch, General, services of at Fair Oaks, ii. 243, 244.
Cox, General, at the battle of South Mountain, ii. 423 ;
his capture of Fort Anderson, iii. 593.
Craig, Colonel, death of at Deep Run, iii. 471.
"Crater" of the Petersburg mine, horrible spectacle pre
sented in, iii. 463.
Craven, Captain Tunis Augustus, biographical sketch of,
iii. 421 ; lost in the Tecumseh in Mobile Bay, iii. 417.
Craven, Commander T. T., the steamer Georgia seized by,
off Berlingas Point, iii. 431.
Crawford, Martin J., appointed commissioner from Mont
gomery to Washington, i. 130.
Crittenden, General, defeat of by General Thomas at Mill
Spring, ii. 20 ; retreat of to Gainesborough, ii. 21.
Crittenden, General Tom, fifth division of General Buell's
army commanded by, ii. 18 ; division of at the second
battle of Shiloh (note), ii. 151.
Crittenden, Senator, speech of in Congress on the Union,
i. 38 ; resolutions proposed by, i. 40 ; loyalty of, i. 481.
Crook, Colonel, defeat of General Heath by in Western
Virginia, ii. 259.
Crook, General, General Wheeler routed by at Shelby
ville, iii. 233 ; expedition of against the Virginia and
Tennessee Railroad, iii. 366 ; defeat of at Bunker Hill,
iii. 374.
Crooked Run, battle of, iii. 485.
Cross Keys, account of the battle of, ii. 261.
Cruisers, Confederate — the Florida, Alabama, and Nash
ville — ii. 607-612 ; captures made by, iii. 195-198 ; priv
ileges accorded to in France, iii. 210, 211 ; depreda
tions of, iii. 425-436 ; the Olinde or Stonewall, iii. 687,
688 ; history of the Shenandoah, iii. 688-690 ; Captain
Waddell' s statement about the Shenandoah (note), iii.
690.
Cruisers, Confederate, British-built, discussions in England
respecting, iii. 199 ; remarks of President Johnson on
in his message, iii. 692.
Cuba, brig, Captain Strout's account of his recapture of
the, i. 522.
Cullum, General George W. , his report of the evacuation
of Columbus (note), ii. 41.
Culpeper Court-House, arrival of General Pope at, ii. 388 ;
late arrival of General Sigel at, ii. 389 ; General Bir
ney's division at, iii. 334.
Cumberland, arrival of McClellan's army at, ii. 236.
Cumberland Gap, occupation of by General Zollicoffer, i.
490 ; taken possession of by Union forces under General
Morgan, ii. 276 ; account of the defence of by General
Morgan, ii. 502-506 ; evacuation of, ii. 503 ; surrender
of to the forces of General Burnside, iii. 242.
Cumming's Point, Charleston, battery erected on, i. 142.
Currency, Confederate, table showing the depreciation of
in 1861-65, iii. 673.
Curtin, Governor, Pennsylvania militia called out by, ii.
422.
Curtis, General Samuel R., operations of in Missouri in
pursuit of Price, i. 663 ; and against Price and Ben Mc

Culloch in Arkansas, ii. 49-58 ; forces under the com
mand of at the battles of Pea Ridge (note), ii. 50 ; ap
pointed major general for his services in Arkansas, ii.
58 ; further movements of in Arkansas, ii. 210 ; march
of through Arkansas to the Mississippi, ii. 371-376 ; his
report of the battle of Maysville, ii. 627.
Cushing, Lieutenant W. B., details of his expedition
against the ram Albemarle, iii. 573 ; his own account
of the affair (note), iii. 574.
Custer, General, cavalry raid of from Madison Court
House to Charlotteville, iii. 334, 335.
Cuxton, General, account of his cavalry march from Trion
to Macon, iii. 630.
Cynthiana, Ky., burned by the Confederate General Mor
gan, iii. 370. D.
Dabney's Mills, battle of, iii. 638, 639.
Dahlgren, Admiral, brief sketch of the life of (note), iii.
93 ; his bombardment of Fort Wagner, iii. 93-96 ; his
unsuccessful attempt to surprise Fort Sumter, iii. 107-
109.
Dahlgren, Colonel Ulric, biographical sketch of, iii. 337 ;
cavalry expedition of toward Richmond, iii. 335 ; misled
by his guides, iii. 336 ; death of, iii. 337 ; " address"
and " special orders" found on the person of, iii. 337.
Dallas, Sherman's movement upon, iii. 382.
Dalton, battle of, iii. 302 ; Johnston's position at turned
by Sherman, iii. 377, 378.
Dam constructed on the Red River by Colonel Bailey to
facilitate the escape of Porter's vessels, iii. 315.
Danville, Jefferson Davis and cabinet at, after the fall of
Petersburg, iii. 672.
Danville Railroad, destruction of effected on by Generals
Wilson and Kautz, iii. 452.
Davidson, General, expedition of from Baton Rouge,
against Hood's communications, iii. 571.
Davis, Captain C. H., his naval engagement near Mem
phis, ii. 267 ; the result of his victory (note), ii. 268 ;
commands the Union fleet in the engagement near Fort
Wright, ii. 266 ; reinforced by Colonel Ellet's "ram
fleet," ii. 267 ; his unsuccessful attack on the gun-boat
Arkansas, ii. 295 ; his account of operations on the Ya
zoo, ii. 377.
Davis, Colonel, his report of a raid in Virginia (note), iii.
138.
Davis' Farm, battle of, iii. 473.
Davis, General Jefferson C. , his fatal dispute with General
Nelson, ii. 485 ; appointed to succeed General Palmer
in command of the Fourteenth Corps, Iii. 399.
Davis, Jefferson, biographical sketch of, i. 94 ; early
secession speech of, at Jackson, Mississippi, i. 7, 8 ;
farewell speech of in the United States Senate, i. 87-
89 ; chosen provisional President of the Confederate
States, i. 93 ; inaugural address of, i. 95-99 ; call of for
150,000 troops, i. 170 ; reply of to President Lincoln's
call for troops after the fall of Fort Sumter, i. 169 ;
proclamation of, offering letters of marque, i. 169 ; ex
tract from his inaugural address as President of the
"permanent" Southern government, ii. 114; extracts
from his message, ii. 115 ; officers of his cabinet in 1862
(note), ii. 116 ; message of recommending a conscrip
tion law (note), ii. 161 ; letter of respecting the confis
cation orders of General Pope, ii. 352 ; extracts from hia

712

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

message of January, 1863, ii. 634, 635 ; language of in
relation to the second emancipation proclamation, ii.
639 ; his message of December 7th, 1863, iii. 291 ;
speech of at Macon on desertion and absenteeism, iii
527 ; his views on the evacuation of Richmond, iii. 671 ;
his flight from Richmond to Danville, iii. 672 ; his
opinions on the crisis, iii. 672 ; his flight from Danville
to Greensboro and Charlotte, iii. 673, 674 ; reward
offered for his apprehension, 674 ; details of the Capture
of, iii. 675, 676 ; his imprisonment in Fortress Monroe,
iii. 676, 677 ; put in irons, iii. 676; petitions in his
favor from Southern States, iii. 677.
Davis, Mrs., arrest of with her husband, iii. 675.
Dayton, Mr., sent as ambassador to France, i. 372.
Dayton, Ohio, riot at, iii. 47.
Dayton's Gap, Colonel Streight routed at by Forrest,
iii. 40.
Deaconville, battle of, iii. 656.
Debt, the national, and how it maybe liquidated, iii. 695-
697.
Declaration of causes which induced the secession of South
Carolina, i. 47-51.
Declaration of Independence of the State of Tennessee, i.
234.
Decree of the Emperor Napoleon, enjoining neutrality on
Frenchmen, i. 375.
Deep Bottom, severe fighting in the neighborhood of, iii.
469-472.
Deep Run, battle of, iii. 471.
Deerhound, yacht, men and officers of the Alabama picked
up by, iii. 430.
Defalcation in the Indian trust fund, i. 66.
Democratic convention of 1860, i. 10.
Democrats, support given by, to the government, ii. 638.
Departments, military, formation of, i. 219.
Departments, military, geographical limits of (note), ii.
119.
Derby, Earl of, remarks of on the Southern blockade and
on piracy, i. 378.
Des Arc, Arkansas, skirmish near, ii. 375.
Destitution in the South in 1863, iii. 294, 295.
De Trobriand, advanced rebel position carried by at Peters
burg, iii. 479.
Diana, steamer, blown up by the Confederates, iii. 14.
Dissolution of the Union, early threats of in the South,
i. 7.
District of Columbia, opinion of President Lincoln in 1858,
as to the abolition of slavery in, i. 17, 18.
Dix, General John A. , succeeds Howell Cobb as secretary
of the treasury, i. 41 ; secures the restoration to Federal
authority of Accomack and Northampton counties, Va. ,
i. 594 ; proclamation of (note), i. 594 ; reconnoiseances
sent out by from Fortress Monroe, iii. 165-168.
Dixie, privateer, cruise of the (note), i. 525.
Dodge, General, in command of the Sixteenth Corps under
Sherman, iii. 376.
Doolittle, Senator, on the mortality among the 6laves
during the war, iii. 694.
Doubleday, General, services of at Antietam, ii. 431.
Douglas, the " Little Giant" elected to the United States
Senate in 1858, i. 16 ; questions proposed by to Mr.
Lincoln in relation to slavery, i. 17.
Draft orders, arbitrary, of 1862, ii. 346-348.

Draft proclamation of May 8th, 1863, iii. 175.
Draft riots in New York, iii. 177-190.
Drainesville, General McCall's reconnoissance to, i. 573 ;
details of the battle of, i. 589-591 ; General McCall's
account of the battle of, i. 590.
Drayton, Commander, his report of the expedition to
secure the Bay of St. Helena (note), i. 616.
Drouyn de L'Huys, dispatch of to the English and Russian
governments in relation to American affairs, ii. 617-
619 ; reply of Lord John Russell to, ii. 619 ; reply of
Prince Gortschakoff to, ii. 620 ; dispatch of, proposing
an armistice, ii. 622-624 ; reply of Mr. Seward to, 624-
629.
Drury's Bluff, on the James River, repulse of Union gun
boats at, ii. 234.
Duck River, position of General Bragg's army north of
the, iii. 31.
Dug Springs, Mo. , skirmish at between the troops of Gen
erals Lyon and McCulloch, i. 431.
Dumont, General, his defeat of Morgan at Lebanon, ii.
274.
Duncan, General J. R., in command of the Confederate
defences below New Orleans, ii. 176 ; articles of capitu
lation signed by (note), ii. 189. "
Dupont, Admiral Samuel F., biographical sketch of, i.
599 ; in command of the Port Royal expedition, i. 599 ;
bis report of the capture of the Port Royal forts, i. 605-
607 ; attempts of against Fort Pulaski, ii. 78 ; expe
ditions of to the coasts of Georgia and Florida, ii. 82 ;
his order of battle for an attack on the Charleston forts,
iii. 81 ; details of his bombardment of the Charleston
forts, iii. 82-90 ; superseded by Admiral Dahlgren, iii.
91.
Duryea, Colonel, part taken by in the attempt on Little
and Big Bethel, i. 272, 275, 276.
Dutch Gap, Major Ludlow's movement from, iii. 472 ;
construction of commenced by General Butler, iii. 468 ;
failure of, iii. 632. E.
Early, General, at the battle of Fredericksburg, ii. 550 ;
account of his invasion of Maryland, iii. 371-375 ;
attacks Sheridan's force at Summit Point, iii. 486 ;
defeated by Sheridan at Winchester, iii. 489 ; defeated
again at Fisher's Hill, iii. 490 ; his retreat to Woodstock
and Brown's Gap, iii. 490, 491 ; his victory over Sheri
dan's troops at Cedar Creek, iii. 495 ; his defeat at Mid
dletown, iii. 497 ; his retreat to New Market, iii. 498,
499 ; routed by Sheridan at Waynesboro, iii. 641.
East Tennessee, loyalty of the people of, i. 237 ; expe
dition of General Carter to, ii. 596 ; operations of Gen
erals Gillem, Burbridge, and Stoneman in, iii. 522-525.
Edenton, N. C, taken possession of by Lieutenant Murray,
ii. 67 ; description of (note), ii. 67.
Elizabeth City, N. C, expedition of Commander Rowan
against, ii. 66 ; fired by the rebels, ii. 67 ; description of,
(note), ii. 67.
Ellenborough, Lord, remarks of on the Southern blockade,
i. 377.
Ellet, Colonel Charles, commands a " ram fleet" in tho
naval engagement near Memphis, ii. 267 ; his account
of the action (note), ii. 267 ; his attack on the steamer
Vicksburg, ii. 669 ; his report of the loss of the Queen
of the West, ii. 671-673.

Elliott, Colonel, damage done by to the Mobile and Ohio
Eailroad, ii. 272.
Ellis, Governor John W., language of Secretary Holt to,
in relation to garrisons in North Carolina forts, i. 85 ;
reply of to President Lincoln's call for troops, i. 168.
Ellsworth, Colonel Elmer E., biographical sketch- of, i.
264 ; account of tbe death of at Alexandria, Va. , i. 259-
264 ; letter of to his parents, written shortly before his
death, i. 265.
Ellyson's Mills, Confederate account of the assault upon,
ii. 323.
Emancipation, Northern sentiment in favor of, ii. 528 ;
President Lincoln's proclamation of, ii. 529 ; President
Lincoln's plan of, ii. 629 ;' remarks of President Lincoln
on, iii. 286.
Emancipation order of General Hunter (note), ii. 278.
Emancipation ordinance passed by the Missouri Conven
tion, iii. 59 ; popular opposition to, iii. 60.
Emancipation proclamation, language of loyal governors
in relation to, ii. 531-533 ; general order of McClellan
in relation to, ii. 534 ; effect of in the border States, ii.
534 ; resolutions in relation to in the Confederate Con
gress, ii. 535, 536 ; language of the English press in
relation to, ii. 537, 538.
Emancipation proclamation, President Lincoln's second,
ii. 636 ; public opinion in Europe in relation to the, ii.
639, 640.
Emmons, Commander George F., occupation of Cedar
Keys by, i. 654.
Emperor of Bussia, reconciliation counseled by, i. 380.
Empire newspaper at Dayton suppressed, iii. 48.
Engel, Mr., ordered by General Halleck to leave Missouri,
i. 658.
England, attitude of toward the United States at the be
ginning of the war, i. 372-380 ; preparations for war
made in, on the arrest of Mason and Slidell, i. 632 ;
vessels built in ports of for the Confederates, ii. 607 ;
public opinion in, in relation to the war in America, ii.
613-616 ; relations of the United States with, iii. 199-
206, 691.
Erlanger, Messrs., Confederate loan undertaken by, iii.
210.
Etheridge, Emerson, of Tennessee, loyalty of, i. 53.
Europe, direct trade with, advocated by the Southern
press, i. 8 ; attitude of the great powers of toward the
United States at the beginning of the war, i. 371-382 ;
sufferings of operatives in for want of cotton, i. 621 ;
public opinion in unfavorable to the North, i. 622;
influence of Southern agents in, i. 622 ; relations of the
United States with in 1862-'3, ii. 613-625 ; public
opinion in, in relation to the second emancipation pro
clamation, ii. 639, 640.
Everett, Edward, extract from his address at the conse
cration of the Gettysburg cemetery, iii. 153-156.
Ewing General, his report of the pursuit of Quantrell
after the burning of Lawrence, iii. 62-65 ; severe retalia
tory measures of, iii. 66 ; his reasons for severity, in.
66 • his defence of Pilot Knob against Price, m. 518.
Exchange of prisoners, cartel signed for in 1862, iii. 679 ;
cause of the stoppage of, iii. 680.
Exemption clause ofthe Conscription bill, n. 632.
Explosion of ordnance stores at City Point, in. 467.
Explosion of the Petersburg mine, iii. 462.
258

Fairfax Court-House, capture of by the troops of General
McDowell, i, 390 ; discreditable conduct of Union troops
at, i. 390 ; order of General McDowell condemning the
conduct of his troops, i. 391 ; exploit of Lieutenant
Tompkins at, i. 322.
Fairfax, Lieutenant, his report of the arrest of Mason and
Slidell, i. 628.
Fair Gardens, Tenn. , battle of, iii. 301 .
Fair Oaks, battle of, ii. 240-247 ; killed and wounded at
(note), ii. 245, 246 ; General Johnston's report of the
battle of (nofc), ii. 247.
Falling Waters, Va., battle of, i. 331 ; General Kilpatrick's
account of an engagement at, iii. 152.
Falmouth, late arrival of pontoons at, ii. 540.
Fanny, steam-tug, capture of in the expedition against
Chicamacomico, i. 546.
Farmington, near Corinth, battle at, ii. 163 ; General
Pope's troops driven out of, ii. 271.
Farragut, Admiral David G., biographical sketch of (note),
ii. 174 ; vessels under the command of in the New
Orleans expedition (note), ii. 173 ; general order of before
attacking the Mississippi forts (note), ii. 177 ; his official
report of the operations against New Orleans (note), ii.
185-188 ; operations of against Vicksburg, ii. 289-297 ;
his share in the attack on Port Hudson, iii. 17 ; details
of his operations on the Mississippi, iii. 22-30 ; opera
tions against the Mobile Bay forts, iii. 410-424.
Fasting and prayer, proclamation for by President Lincoln,
i. 57.
Faunce, Captain, attacks the battery at the mouth of the
Nansemond, i. 271.
Fayetteville, Ark., destroyed by the Confederate General
Price, ii. 49.
Fayetteville, N. C, Federal arsenal at seized by the State
authorities, i. 230 ; destruction effected at by Sherman's
forces, iii. 603.
Fernandina, Fla., Dupont's expedition against, ii. 82.
Finance bill passed by the thirty-seventh Congress, ii. 632.
Finances, Confederate, Jefferson Davis' recommendations
in relation to, ii. 634.
Finances, United States, condition of December, 1862, ii.
630, and December, 1863, iii. 284.
Fingal, the blockade runner, large cargo conveyed by
into Savannah, iii. 191 ; purchased by the Confederate
government, iii. 192.
Fire Zouave Begiment, Ellsworth's, dispatched to Alex
andria, Va., i. 259 ; death of their colonel, i. 271 ; night
attack upon at Santa Rosa Island, i. 558-564.
Fisher's Hill, battle of, iii. 490.
Fitch, ColoneJ, operations of on the White River, ii. 270.
Five Forks, battle of, iii. 650.
Flag, Confederate, raising of in Mobile, i. 86 ; adoption of,
i. 131-133 ; large, taken from a lady at Potosi, i. 254.
Flag, United States, hostility of the South Carolinians to,
i. 81 ; that on Fort Sumter shot away and raised again,
i. 149 • universal raising of in Northern cities after the
fall of Fort Sumter, i. 164.
Flat-boat services of Abraham Lincoln, i. 4.
Fleet sent for the relief of Fort Sumter, i. 139, 140.
Florida, action of the governor of on the election of
Abraham Lincoln, i. 21, 22 ; early action of the gov
ernor of in favor of secession, i. 46 ; secession ordinance

714

ANALYTICAL INDEX

in, i. 85 ; limits of the military department of
(note), ii. 119; operations of Union forces in, ii. 277 ;
coast of abandoned, ii. 278' ; destruction of salt-works in
iii. 276 ; General Seymour's operations in, iii. 323-326.
Florida, Confederate cruiser, notice of, ii. 608 ; privileges
accorded to in France, iii. 211 ; depredations of, iii.
432 ; arrival of at Bahia,:iii. 432 ; challenge sent to from
the Wachusett, iii. 433 ; seized in the harbor by Captain
Collins of the Wachusett, iii. 434 ; sunk in Hampton
Roads, iii. 485 ; reparation to the Brazilian government
for the seizure of, iii. 435.
Floyd, John Buchanan, biographical sketch of, i, 496 ;
implication of in the Indian trust fund defalcation, i.
66 ; resignation of as secretary of war, i. 68 ; letter of
to President Buchanan respecting Fort Sumter and his
resignation, i. 68 ; memorandum of verbal instructions
of, to Major Anderson, i. 73 ; number of muskets and
rifles transferred to Southern States by, i. 366.
Floyd, General John B., in command of Confederate
troops at Camifex Ferry, i. 497 ; defeat of by General
Rosecrans, i. 513 ; escape of from Fort Donelson, ii. 36.
Flusser, Lieut. Commander, his unfortunate contest with
the ram Albemarle off Plymouth, iii. 329 ; singular
death of, iii. 329.
Follambec, Captain, his account of the attack upon the
Massachusetts Sixth Regiment in Baltimore, i. 189.
Foote, Commodore, biographical sketch of, ii. 26 ; ac
count of his capture of Fort Henry, ii. 27 ; fleet of dis
abled at the siege of Fort Donelson, ii. 32 ; his report
of the capture of Clarksville, Tenn. (note), ii. 37 ; his
share in the operations against Island No. 10, ii. 134-
138 ; his bombardment of Fort Wright, ii. 266.
Ford, Colonel Thomas H., in command of forces on Mary
land Heights, ii. 466 ; bad defence made by, ii. 470.
Forey, General, letter of Louis Napoleon to, explaining
his American policy, ii. 621.
Forrest, Colonel, his capture of Murfreesboro, ii. 369 ; de
feat of at Spring Hill by General Sullivan, ii. 566.
Forrest, General, movements of in Mississippi and West
Tennessee, iii. 318-320 ; repulse of at Paducah, iii. 319 ;
his capture of Fort Pillow, iii. 320 ; operations of in
Middle Tennessee, iii. 553-557 ; his demonstration
against Murfreesboro, iii. 563.
Forsyth, John, appointed commissioner from Montgomery
to Washington, i. 130.
Fort Alexis, capture of by the forces of General Canby,
iii. 621.
Fort Anderson, siege and capture of, iii. 591-593.
Fort Barrancas, Pensacola, seizure of by Florida and Ala
bama troops, i. 86 ; description of, i. 159.
Fort Beauregard, Port Royal, capture of, i. 607.
Fort Brown, Texas, surrender of by General Twiggs, i.
129.
Fort Butte La Rose, capture of, iii. 14.
Fort Caswell blown up by the Confederates, iii. 591.
Fort Clark, Texas, surrender of by General Twiggs, i. 129.
Fort Clinch, Fla., capture of, ii. 82.
Fort Craig, N. M., Colonel Canby shut up in, ii. 208.
Fort Darling, repulse of the gun-boat expedition at, ii.
234 ; repulse of General Butler at, iii. 362.
Fort de Russey, La., capture of by General A. J. Smith,
iii. 308.
Fort Donelson, siege and capture of, ii. 31-36 ; killed and

wounded at the siege of, ii. 36 ; unsuccessful attack on
by Wheeler, Forrest, etc., ii. 597.
Fort Duncan, Texas, surrender of by General Twiggs, i.
129.
Fort Fisher, unsuccessful expedition of Generals Weitzel
and Butler and Admiral Porter against, iii. 577-585 ;
second and successful expedition against, iii. 585-591.
Fort Gaines, situation and armament of, iii. 412 ; surren
der of, by Colonel Anderson, iii. 422.
Fort Gilmer, repulse of General W. Birney's colored bri
gade at, iii. 502.
Fort Gregg, evacuation of, iii. 107.
Fort Henry, Tenn., description of, ii. 24 ; siege and cap
ture of, ii. 27, 28 ; General "Grant's order for operations
against (note), ii. 27.
Fort Hieman, steamboats captured at by Forrest, iii. 556.
Fort Jackson, Ga., description of (note), i. 618.
Fort McAllister, Ga., unsuccessful attack on by a Federal
fleet, ii. 611 ; capture of by General Hazen, iii. 548.
Fort McHenry, history and description of, i. 221 ; pre
served by the resolution of Captain Robinson, i. 221 ;
command of transferred to Major Morris, i. 222.
Fort Macon, N. C, seized by the Confederates, i. 82 ;
siege and capture of, ii. 165-169 ; terms of capitulation
of (note), ii. 169.
Fort McRae, Pensacola, description of, i. 159.
Fort McRae, Va., capture of, iii. 504.
Fort Morgan, Mobile, seizure of by secessionists, i. 82 ;
situation and armament of, iii. 412 ; siege and surren
der of, iii. 423.
Fort Morgan, on Ocracoke Inlet, occupation of, i. 544.
Fort Moultrie, Major Anderson left with a feeble garrison
at, i. 39 ; description of, i. 59 ; defenceless condition of,
i. 62 ; letter of Major Anderson relating to, i. 62 ; aban
doned by Major Anderson, i. 62 ; taken possession of by
Colonel de Saussure, i. 63 ; condition of described, i.
64 ; repaired and strengthened by the Confederates, i.
141 ; effect of the fire of Fort Sumter upon, i. 153.
Fort Pemberton, unsuccessful attack upon, ii. 642.
Fort Pickens, Pensacola, description of, i. 159 ; preserved
to the United States by Lieutenant Slemmer, i. 160 ;
arrival of reinforcements at, i. 160 ; command of as
sumed hy Colonel Brown, i. 162.
Fort Pillow, description of, iii. 319 ; taken by assault by
Forrest and Chalmers, iii. 320 ; massacre of the garri
son, iii. 320.
Fort Pulaski, seizure of by Georgia troops, i. 82 ; descrip
tion of, i. 617 ; siege and capture of, ii. 78-82 ; General
Benham's report of the siege of (note), ii. 79.
Fort St. Carlos de Barrancas, Pensacola, description of, i.
169 ; seizure of by Florida and Alabama troops, i. 82.
Fort St. Philip, La. See Forts Jackson and St. Philip.
Fort Smith, Ark., surrender of to State troops, i. 231.
Fort Steadman, Petersburg, capture and recapture of, inV
644, 645. •
Fort Sumter, description of, i. 61 ; command of assumed
by Major Anderson, i. 63 ; preparations for the siege of
made by the South Carolinians, i. 81, 133 ; Federal
ships sent to the relief of, i. 134 ; correspondence of
Beauregard with Major Anderson relative to the surren
der of, i. 135-137 ; communications with Charleston
suspended, i. 135 ; surrender demanded by Beauregard,
i. 135 ; attempt to send reinforcements to, i. 138-140 ;

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

715

how constructed, i. 140 ; armament, situation, and gar
rison of, i. 141 ; bombardment of, i. 145 ; in flames, i.
148 ; flag shot away and raised again, i. 149 ; surrender
of, i. 150 ; condition of after the bombardment, i. 152 ;
general order of Beauregard announcing the fall of, i.
155 ; effect in Southern and Northern States of the fall
of, i. 156 ; how Major Anderson raised (he flag on, i.
158 ; Major Anderson's account of the surrender of, i.
158; effect of the fall of on public opinion in the North,
i. 162 ; President Lincoln's proclamation after the fall
of, i. 163 ; seven days' bombardment of by General
Gillmore, iii. 101, 102 ; Admiral Dahlgren's attempt to
surprise, iii. 107-109 ; the Stars and Stripes restored on
after the fall of Charleston, iii. 612.
Fort Wagner, operations of General Gillmore against, iii.
92-107 ; unsuccessful assault upon, iii. 93 ; bombard
ment of by Dahlgren's iron-clads, iii. 93-96 ; engineer
ing operations against, iii. 97 ; unsuccessful assault up
on by General Strong, iii. 97-100 ; Admiral Dahlgren's
account of his bombardment of, iii. 102 ; difficulties at
tending the siege of, iii. 106 ; evacuation of by the Con
federates, iii. 107 ; dispatch of General Gillmore in rela
tion to, iii. 107.
Fort Walker, Port Royal, capture of, i. 607.
Fort Warren, Mason and Slidell confined in, i. 629 ; and
liberated from, i. 647.
Fort Wright, Tenn., description of, ii. 265 ; bombardment
of by Commodore Foote, ii. 266 ; evacuation of, ii. 267.
Fortress Monroe, history and description of, i. 217-219 ;
arrival of the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment at, i.
219 ; large garrison placed in, i. 268 ; headquarters of
General Butler, i. 268.
Forts, General Scott's advice respecting garrisons for, in
October, 1860, i. 39 ; surrender of by General Twiggs
to the State authorities in Texas, i. 129.
Forts Hatteras and Clark, account of the capture of, i.
531-543. .
Forts Jackson and St. Philip, La., description of, ii. 175 ;
engaged and passed by the Union fleet, ii. 176-182 ;
surrender of to Captain Porter, ii. 189 ; articles of capit
ulation of (note), ii. 189 ; Captain Porter's report of op
erations against, ii. 190-205.
Foster, General, part taken by in the capture of Roanoke
Island, ii. 64 ; and in the attack on Newbern, ii. 71 ;
operations of in North Carolina, ii. 521-553 ; reports of,
ii. 553, 554 ; further operations of in North Carolina,
iii. 74-80 ; succeeds General Dix at Fortress Monroe, iii.
168 ; his movement against the Charleston and Savan
nah Railroad, iii. 547 ; city and forts of Savannah trans
ferred to by General Sherman, iii. 596.
Fould M., opinion of as to the success of the rebellion, i.
622.
Fiance attitude of toward the United States at the begin
ning of the war, i. 380 ; action of the government of m
relation to American affairs, ii. 616-629 ; relations of
the United States with in 1863, iii. 207-213 ; privileges
accorded to Southern cruisers in, iii. 210, 211.
Frankfort, Ky., neutrality of the State of Kentucky ad
vised by a convention held at, i. 482 ; evacuation of by
General Bragg, ii. 486 ; a so-called Democratic conven
tion held at, iii. 54 ; delegates to the convention dis
persed by Colonel Gilbert, iii. 55.
Franklin, General, operations of on the York River, n.

228 ; at Antietam, ii. 432, 447 ; at the battle of Freder
icksburg, ii. 645.
Franklin, La., occupation of by General Banks, iii. 14.
Franklin, Tenn., General Schofield at, iii. 560 ; battle of,
iii. 561 ; losses at, iii. 561, 562.
Frederick, Md., legislature of Maryland convened at, i.
212 ; great Union meeting at, addressed by Reverdy
Johnson, i. 222-225 ; occupation of by the troops of
General Lee, ii. 420 ; contribution levied on by the Con
federates, iii. 371.
Fredericksburg, Va., surrender of to General Augur, ii.
131 ; operations of Burnside against, ii. 539-552 ; de
tails of the battle of, ii. 542-547 ; Bumside's report of
the battle, ii. 547-549 ; General Lee's report, ii. 549-
551 ; killed and wounded at, ii. 548-550 ; effect on the
public mind of the North of the battle of, ii. 551 ; ef
fect on the Army of the Potomac of Bumside's failure
at, iii. Ill ; capture of by General Sedgwick, iii. 124-
129.
Fredericktown, Mo., battle of, i. 470.
Fremont, General John Charles, biographical sketch of, i.
424 ; nominated for the Presidency in 1856, i. 6 ; sen
timents of, expressed in a letter on the question of slav
ery, i. 7 ; large vote cast for, i. 7 ; appointed to com
mand in the Western Department, i. 423 ; his neglect
of General Lyon, i. 432 ; difficult position of, i. 432 ;
rumors of his military incapacity., i. 444 ; neglects to
reinforce the garrison at Lexington, i. 445 ; blamed for
the loss of Springfield and Lexington, i. 454 ; his tele
gram announcing the fall of Lexington, i. 455 ; his
proclamation of martial law in Missouri, i. 456 ; letter
of President Lincoln to, i. 457 ; charges against of ex
travagance and affectation of state, i. 459 ; campaign of
in Missouri, i. 460-469, 472 ; superseded by General
Hunter, i. 473 ; his farewell order at Springfield, i. 473 ;
popularity of in the army, i. 474 ; investigations made
by Secretary Cameron into the conduct of, i. 475 ; why
recalled, i. 475 ; charges against how met by (note), i.
476 ; operations of in the " Mountain Department," ii
133 ; advance of attacked by General Jackson, ii. 260 ;
strength of his corps in the Army of Virginia, ii. 382 ;
relieved of his command at his own request, ii. 348.
French, General, at Antietam, ii. 442 ; in the battle of
Fredericksburg, ii. 543.
Fribley, Colonel, killed at the battle of Olustee, iii. 325.
Front Royal, movement of General Jackson against, ii.
250.
Frost, General D. M., summoned by Captain Lyon to sur
render Camp Jackson, i. 248.
Fugitive slave law, opinion of Abraham Lincoln in rela
tion to, in 1858, i. 17, 18 ; President Buchanan on the,
i. 26.
Fugitive slaves, article of war in relation to, ii. 530.
G.
Gadsden, Ala., General Hood at, iii. 632.
Games' Mill, battle of, ii. 310 ; Prince de Joinvdle s ac
count of the battle of, ii. 316 ; Confederate account, n.
324-328. t. .. noA
Galena iron-clad, in the attack on Fort Darling, u. 234.
Galveston, capture of by Commander Eenshaw, n. 597 ;
recapture of by General Magruder, ii. 598 ; Union offi
cial report of the loss of, ii. 598-601.

716

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

Gardner, General Frank, his defence of Port Hudson, iii
17-21.
Garnet, Mr., secession speech made by in Congress, i. 47.
Garnett, General R. S., Confederate force under in West
ern Virginia, i. 332 ; camp of at Beverly taken by Mc
Clellan, i- 335-337 ; defeat and death of at Carrack's
Ford, i. 338-340.
Gauley River, operations of General Rosecrans on the, i.
496-504.
Gauley, evacuation of by the Federal troops, iii. 169.
Gaylesville, Sherman's forces at, iii. 532.
Georgetown, S. C, taken possession of by Admiral Dahl
gren, iii. 612.
Georgia, effect in, of the news of the election of President
Lincoln, i. 21, 22 ; early action of the governor of in
favor of secession, i. 46 ; secession ordinance passed in,
i. 86 ; fiery address of Howell Cobb, Toombs, etc., to
the people of, ii. 116 ; Sherman's great march through,
iii. 534-553 ; Governor Brown's levy on the population
of, iii. 541 ; appeals to the people of, iii. 542 ; destruc
tion effected in by Sherman's troops, iii. 551 ; memorial
adopted by the legislature of in favor of Jefferson Davis,
iii. 677.
Georgia, Confederate cruiser, seized by Commodore Craven
off Berlingas Point, iii. 431.
Georgia militia withdrawn from Hood's army by Governor
Brown, iii. 527.
Georgia railroads, iii. 537.
German Home Guards of St. Louis, attacked hy a mob, i. 250.
Gettysburg, battle of, iii. 148-161.
Gettysburg cemetery, extract from a speech of Mr. Ever
ett at the consecration of, iii. 153.
Gibbons, General, at the battle of Fredericksburg, ii. 546.
Gibson, Mr. Milner, extract from a speech of at Ashton in
relation to the rebellion, ii. 614.
Gillem, General, defeat of by Breckinridge near Morris
town, iii. 523.
Gillmore, General Quincy Adams, biographical sketch of,
iii. 91 ; his pursuit and defeat of Pegram, iii. 41, 42 ;
services of at the siege of Fort Pulaski (note), ii. 81 ; su
persedes General Hunter at Charleston, iii. 91 ; opera
tions of against the defences of Charleston, iii. 92-111 ;
opens fire on Charleston, iii. 104 ; correspondence of
with Beauregard, iii. 105 ; authorized to undertake op
erations in Florida, iii. 322 ; services of at Fort Darling,
iii. 362 ; his movement against Petersburg, iii. 439.
Gist, Governor of South Carolina, secession speech of in
1860, i. 45.
Gladstone, Mr. , opinion of as to the result of the South
ern rebellion, i. 622 ; extract from a speech of at New
castle, ii. 613.
Gold, attempt of Congress to restrict the trade in, ii. 633 ;
table showing the value of in currency at Richmond, in
1861-65, iii. 673.
Goldsboro, N. C, junction of Schofield's and Sherman's
forces at, iii. 609.
Goldsborough, Captain Louis M., biographical sketch of,
ii. 59 ; intrusted with the expedition to Pamlico Sound,
ii. 61 ; names of ships and officers under the command
of (note), ii. 63 ; services of in the capture of Roanoke
Island, ii. 63.
Gordon, Commodore S. W., expedition of against Bruns
wick, Ga. , ii. 83 ; extract from his report, ii. 84.

Gortschakoff, letter of, counselling reconciliation, i. 380.
Gosport navy yard, destruction of ships and Federal prop
erty at, i. 178-183.
Governors, circular addressed to calling for troops after
the fall of Fort Sumter, i. 167.
Governors of loyal States, assemblage of at Altoona, ii.
531 ; language of in relation to the emancipation proc
lamation, iii. 531-533.
Governors, provisional, form of the proclamation appoint
ing, iii. 699.
Governors, Western, hundred days' men offered by, iii.
342.
Grafton, Va., taken possession of by Colonel Kelley, i.
293 ; proclamation issued at by McClellan, i. 332.
Grand Coteau, battle of, iii. 260-262.
Grand Gulf, General Grant's movement near, ii. 647 ; Ad
miral Porter's attack on the batteries at, ii. 674 ; cap
ture of the forts at, ii. 675 ; batteries at engaged by
Admiral Farragut, iii. 28.
Grant, General Ulysses S. , biographical sketch of, ii. 26 ;
directs an attack on Belmont, Mo., i. 551 ; his report
of the battle of Belmont (note), i. 552 ; takes possession
of Fort Henry, ii. 28 ; operations of at the siege of
Fort Donelson, ii. 31-36 ; advance of to Pittsburg
Landing, ii. 139 ; army of surprised and nearly routed
by Johnston and Beauregard, ii. 141 ; becomes com
mander-in-chief in the West, ii. 361 ; movements of in
Mississippi, ii. 665 ; compelled to return to Holly
Springs, ii. 566 ; makes preparations to operate against
Vicksburg, ii. 584 ; his report of the siege and capture
of Vicksburg, ii. 640-658; arrival of at Chattanooga,
iii. 235 ; re-establishes communications, iii. 236 ; ap
pointed Lieutenant-General, iii. 339 ; joins the Army of
the Potomac, iii. 340 ; his plans of campaign, iii. 342 ;
movements of from the Rapidan to the James, iii. 343-
359 ; operations of against Petersburg, iii. 437-481 ;
remarks of on the exhaustion of the South, iii. 468 ;
further operations of against Petersburg, iii. 500-516 ;
636-640 ; 643-651 ; his final operations against Peters
burg and Richmond, iii. 651-653 ; his pursuit of Gene
ral Lee till the surrender at Appomattox Court-House,
iii. 653-657 ; correspondence of with Lee relative to the
terms of surrender, iii. 657.
Granville, Earl, remarks of on the Southern blockade, i.
378.
Gravelly Run, battle of, iii. 647, 648.
Greble, Lieutenant, death of at the battle of Big Bethel,
i. 277.
Greeley, Horace, efforts to initiate peace negotiations, iii.
634.
Greenbrier River, General Reynolds' report of the battle
of, i., 508 ; Confederate account, i. 509.
Greensboro, N. C, Jefferson Davis and his cabinet at, iii.
673.
Green, Sergeant, prisoners taken by at Plymouth, ii. 521.
Green Swamp, N. C, rebels driven from by Colonel Jones,
iii. 77.
Gregg, General, raid of to Ashland, Va., iii. 137.
Gregory, Mr., interrogatories of, in the House of Com
mons, relative to the Southern blockade, i. 373.
Grierson, General Benjamin H., biographical sketch of, ii.
668 ; his expedition from Memphis against the Mobile
and Ohio Railroad, iii. 672 ; General Grant's commend-

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

717

ation of, ii. 657 ; report of his cavalry raid in Mississippi,
ii. 659-668.
Grover, General, services of at the battle of Williams
burg, ii. 220.
Guerrillas, activity of in Missouri, ii. 212.
Guerrilla warfare, in the West, ii. 361-371 ; in Missouri,
iii. 57, 58, 67 ; its desolating effects, iii. 58 ; in Kansas,
iii. 61 ; and in Arkansas, iii. 68.
Gun-boats, important services of at Pittsburg Landing,
ii. 146.
Gunpowder boat, explosion of the, near Fort Fisher, iii.
580, 581.
Guntown, defeat of General Sturgis near, by Forrest, Lee,
and Rhoddy, iii. 405.
Guthrie, James, loyal action of in Kentucky, i. 481.
Guyandotte, Unionists surprised at, i. 510 ; destruction of
by Union troops under Colonel Zeigler, i. 511.
H.
Habeas Corpus, opinion of Judge Taney on the power to
suspend (note), i. 346 ; to be suspended in certain cases
(note), ii. 533 ; power given to the President to suspend,
ii. 633.
Hagerstown, requisition made on by General Early, iii. 371.
Haines' Bluff, Vicksburg, proposed desperate attack upon,
ii. 578 ; capture of by Admiral Porter, ii. 677.
Halleck, General Henry Wager, biographical sketch of, i.
656 ; operations of in Missouri, i. 657-664 ; assumes
command of the great Western army after the battle of
Pittsburg Landing, ii. 161 ; staff of, ii. 162 ; prepara
tions of for an attack on Corinth, ii. 162, 163 ; opera
tions of against Corinth, ii. 271 ; letter of in relation
to the pursuit of Beauregard by Pope (note), ii. 273 ;
appointed commander-in-chief, ii. 307 ; his reasons for
removing McClellan from command, ii. 479 ; how far
responsible for the detention of pontoons from Freder
icksburg, ii. 552 ; how far responsible for Sherman's
failure at Vicksburg, ii. 576.
Hamilton, General A. J., appointed military governor of
Texas, ii. 555.
Hamilton, General S. S., his report of the battle of Iuka,
ii. 506-510.
Hampton, General Wade, baggage captured by in the rear
of Bumside's army at Falmouth, ii. 551 ; cattle carried
off by from Sycamore Church, iii. 480 ; correspondence
of with Sherman in relation to the burning of Columbia,
etc., iii. 600, 601 ; Kilpatrick surprised by, iii. 603.
Hampton Roads, rendezvous of the Port Royal expedition
at, i. 598.
Hampton, Va., taken possession of by General Butler, i.
268 ; abandoned by the troops of General Butler, i. 592 ;
burnt by order of General Magruder, i. 593.
Hancock, General, services of at the battle of Williams
burg, ii. 226 ; at Antietam, ii. 445 ; at Fredericksburg,
ii. 543 ; celebrated charge of his corps at the battle of
Spottsylvania Court-House, iii. 351.
Hanks, Nancy, becomes the wife of Thomas Lincoln in
1806, i. 12.
Hanover Court-House, battle of, ii. 239 ; occupation of by
General Porter, ii. 240.
Hardee, General, his evacuation of Savannah, iii. 550 ; his
evacuation of Charleston, iii. 611 ; defeated by General
Slocum near Averysboro, iii. 604.

Hardin County, Kentucky, the birthplace of Abraham
Lincoln, i. 12.
Harding, Colonel, his repulse of an attack on Fort Donel
son, ii. 597.
Harker, General, killed at the battle of Kenesaw Mount
ain, iii. 385.
Harney, General Wm. Selby, biographical sketch of, i.
251 ; opinions of in relation to secession, i. 251 ; proc
lamations of in Missouri, i. 252, 253 ; movements of, i.
252 ; truce made by with General Price, i. 254 ; with
drawn from the command of the Western Department,
i. 254 ; recalled from Missouri, i. 305.
Harper's Ferry, Va, description of, i. 174 ; attempt of
Governor Letcher to seize the arsenal and armory at, i.
175 ; abandonment and destruction of the arsenal and
armory, i. 177 ; siege and surrender of, ii. 455-465 ;
how far General McClellan was responsible for the loss
of, ii. 465 ; fatal effect of Colonel Miles' surrender of,
ii. 473 ; report of the Congressional Committee in rela
tion to, ii. 465-473 ; reoccupation of by Union troops, ii.
473.
Harriet Lane, cutter, sent to the relief of Fort Sumter, 1.
139 ; capture of at Galveston, ii. 599.
Harris, Governor, of Tennessee, reply of to the President's
call for troops, i. 169.
Harrisonburg, General Fremont's losses at, ii. 261.
Harrison's Landing, McClellan's evacuation of the camp
at, ii. 358.
Hartsuff, General, at Antietam, ii. 429 ; severely wound
ed, ii. 440.
Hartsville, Tenn., Union force at surprised by Morgan, ii.
586.
Hatcher's Bun, battle of, iii. 510-512 ; reconnoissances of
Colonel Kirwin and General Miles toward, iii. 516 ; sec
ond battle of, iii. 638, 639.
Hatch, General, Pope's complaint of his conduct in Vir
ginia, ii. 386 ; commendation of by Pope, ii. 416 ; ex
pedition of against the Charleston and Savannah Rail
road, iii. 547.
Hatteras forts, account of the capture of the, i. 531-543 ;
Confederate reports of the defence and surrender of, i.
542, 543 ; results of the capture of, i. 544.
Hatteras Island, sudden loyalty of the people of, i. 544 ;
description of (note), i. 545.
Hatteras, steamer, destruction of by the Alabama, ii. 608-
611.
Hawkins, Colonel, expedition against Chicamacomico or
ganized by, i. 546.
Hayes, Corporal, exploit of in Western Virginia, i. 298.
Hazen, General, account of his capture of Fort McAllister,
iii. 548.
Heckman, General, his expedition in North Carolina, iii.
78.
Heintzelman, General, Pope's commendation of, ii. 415.
Helena, Ark., arrival of General Curtis at, ii. 377.
Hewitt, Major, at Maryland Heights, ii. 467.
Hicksford, General Warren compelled to Withdraw from,
iii. 515.
Hicks, Governor Thomas, proclamation of to the people
of Maryland, i. 185 ; correspondence of with President
Lincoln in relation to sending troops through Baltimore,
i. 191, 192 ; letter of Mr. Seward to, i. 193 ; opposed to
General Butler's landing troops at Annapolis, i. 210 ;

718

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

message of to the Maryland legislature, i. 213 ; procla
mation of calling for Maryland volunteers, i. 228.
Highlanders, Seventy-ninth, repulse of at James Island,
ii. 283.
Hilton Head, Federal force encamped at, i. 610 ; General
Sherman at after the fall of Savannah, iii. 596.
Hindman, General T. C. , his report of the battle of Mun-
fordsville (note), ii. 14.
Hobson, General, his entire command captured by Mor
gan, iii. 370.
Hollins, Commodore, his attack on the blockading fleet
below New Orleans, i. 527-530.
Holly Springs, rebels driven to by General Ord, ii. 615 ;
capture of by Van Dorn, ii. 566.
Holt, Hon. Joseph, appointed to succeed Floyd as secre
tary of war, i. 68 ; language to Governor Ellis in regard
to coercion of the Southern States, i. 85 ; letter of to
President Lincoln in relation to Fremont's proclamation
in Missouri, i. 457 ; reply of the President to, i. 458.
Hood, General, at the battle of Fredericksburg, ii. 550 ;
supersedes Johnston on Sherman's approach to Atlanta ;
iii. 389 ; letter of to General Sherman complaining of
the removal of civilians from Atlanta, iii. 406 ; reorgan
izes his forces at Jonesboro, iii. 527 ; moves westward
on Sherman's communications, iii. 528 ; his retreat in
to northern Alabama, iii. 532 ; his disastrous campaign
against General Thomas, iii. 558-571 ; his total defeat at
Nashville, iii. 563-567 ; pursued by Wilson's cavalry to
the Tennessee River, 567-569 ; pursuit of by Colonel
Palmer, iii. 570 ; his losses in the Tennessee campaign,
iii. 571.
Hooker, General, biographical sketch of, iii. 114 ; at the
battle of Williamsburg, ii. 222 ; heavy losses of his
division, ii. 227 ; defeats General Ewell near Bristow
Station, ii. 400; short of ammunition, ii. 401 ; services
of at the battle of Antietam, ii. 426-429, 439 ; wounded,
ii. 430, 442 ; succeeds Burnside in the command of the
Army of the Potomac, iii. 114, 115 ; excessive self-re
liance of, iii. 116 ; movements of the Army of the Poto
mac under, iii. 118-131 ; his congratulatory order of
May 6th, 1863, iii. 142 ; superseded by General Meade,
iii. 153 ; in command of the twentieth corps under
SheTman, iii. 376.
Hospitals for prisoners in Richmond, iii. 682.
Hough, Colonel, operations of in New Mexico, ii. 209
Houston, Governor, adverse to secession, i. 56, 87.
Howard, General, in command of the fourth corps under
Sherman, iii. 376 ; succeeds General McPherson in com
mand of the Army of the Tennessee, iii. 399.
Hughes, Archbishop, address of to Irish citizens during
the New York draft riots, iii. 185.
Hughes, Colonel, his account of the battle at Carthage, i.
429.
Hundred days' men offered by Western governors, iii. 342.
Hunter, General, biographical sketch of, i. 655 ; Fremont
susperseded by in Missouri, i. 474 ; operations of in Mis
souri, i. 656 ; surrender at Fort Pulaski to, ii. 97 ;
emancipation policy of in South Carolina, ii. 278 ; his
emancipation order and answer to Congressional inquiry
(note), ii. 278 ; his co-operation with Admiral Dupont in
an attack on the Charleston forts, iii. 81 ; removed
from command, iii. 91 ; his unfortunate campaign in
Western Virginia, iii. 367-370.

Hurlburt, General, services of at Pittsburg Landing, ii.
145. I.
Hlinois, the Lincoln family remove to in 1830, i. 14 ; sup
port rendered by to the Federal government, i. 255.
Immigration, power and population of the North increased
by, i. 6.
Inaugural of Jefferson Davis as president of the Confede
rate States, i. 95-99.
Inauguration of President Lincoln, i. 112.
Incidents of the Seven days' battles, ii. 344.
Indiana, boyhood of Abraham Lincoln spent in, i. 12 ;
raid of Morgan in, ii. 362.
Indiana Regiment, twentieth, sufferings of in the retreat
from Chicamacomico, i. 547.
Indianola, steamer, loss of the, ii. 674.
Indianola, Texas, occupation of by General Warren, iii.
263.
Indian Territory, active hostilities in, iii. 69.
Indian trust fund, defalcation in, i. 66.
Ingraham, Commodore, attempt of to raise the blockade
of Charleston, ii. 603-606.
Invasion of Maryland, resolutions of the Confederate Con
gress approving of (note), ii. 420.
Iron-clads, failure of Dupont's, to reduce the Charleston
forts, iii. 82-90.
Ironton, Mo., Unionist force driven out of by General J.
Thompson (note), ii. 45.
Island No. 10, fortified by the Confederates, ii. 41 ; retreat
of Confederates to from New Madrid, ii. 46 ; siege and
capture of, ii. 134-138.
Iuka, abandonment and reoccupation of by Union troops,
ii. 506 ; General Hamilton's report of the battle of, ii.
506-510.
Iverson, Senator, speech of in Congress, in December,
1860, i. 37.
Ivy Creek, Ky., battle of, ii. 11.
J.
Jackson, General J. S., death of at the battle of Chaplin
Hills, ii.488, 497.
Jackson, General Thomas Jonathan ("Stonewall"), bio
graphical sketch of, ii. 264 ; Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal damaged by, i. 592 ; operations of in the valley
of the Shenandoah, ii. 249-264 ; retreat of before the
forces of Fremont and Shields, ii. 260-264 ; retreat of
across the Rapidan after the battle of Cedar Mountain,
ii. 391 ; fortunate mistake of, ii. 401 ; efforts of Pope to
prevent the escape of, ii. 403 ; driven by Sigel , Hooker,
and Kearney, ii. 404 ; heavily reinforced by General
Lee, ii. 409 ; operations of against Harper's Ferry, ii.
455 ; position of at Fredericksburg, ii. 550 ; movements
of at Chancellorsville, iii. 120 ; particulars of the wound
ing and death of, iii. 141, 142.
Jackson, Governor C. F., of Missouri, reply of to Presi
dent Lincoln's call for troops, i. 168, 245 ; extract from
the message of, i. 245 ; fails to persuade General Lyon
to disband Federal troops, i. 309 ; appeals to arms, i.
310 ; insurrectionary proclamation issued by, i. 310.
Jackson, James T, Colonel Ellsworth shot by, i. 261 ;
shut by Brownell, i. 261 .
Jackson, Miss., capture of by Grant's forces, ii. 649 ;
General Johnston driven out of by Sherman, iii. 8.
Jacksonport, Ark., General Curtis at, ii. 372.

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

719

Jacksonville, Fla., capture of, ii. 85 ; occupation of by
General Seymour, iii. 323.
James Island, batteries erected on for Beauregard's siege
of Fort Sumter, i. 142 ; details of General Benham's
repulse at, ii. 281-284; Confederate account of the
defence of, ii. 285, 286.
Jameson, General, Williamsburg, Va., taken possession of
by, ii. 227.
James River, gun-boat expedition up the, under Captain
Rodgers, ii. 233-235 ; arrival of Grant's army at the,
iii. 359 ; movement of General Butler up the, iii. 360 ;
.. crossed by the Army of the Potomac, iii. 437.
James River Canal, destruction of mills, etc., by Sheridan,
iii. 642, 643.
Jaques, Colonel James F., his visit to Jefferson Davis at
Richmond, iii. 633.
Jeff Davis, privateer, cruise and shipwreck, i. 520.
Jeffers, Lieutenant Wm. N. , operations of at the mouth
of the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal, ii. 68.
Jefferson City, secessionists assembled at by Governor
Jackson, i. 1 30 ; defence of against Price in 1864, iii.
519.
Jenkins, A. G., the guerrilla, raids of in Western Vir
ginia, iii. 168.
Jericho Ford, battle of, iii. 354.
Jettersville, Sheridan at in pursuit of Lee, iii. 655.
Jewett, W. Cornell, efforts of in favor of peace, iii. 634.
" John P. Smith," U. S. gun-boat, capture of in the Stono
by the Charleston people, ii. 612.
Johnson, Andrew, biographical sketch of, ii. 42 ; anecdote
of his courtship (note),- ii. 43 ; anti-secession speech of in
the Senate, i. 53 ; appointed governor of Tennessee,
ii. 42 ; repressive measures of in Tennessee (note), ii.
138 ; energetic action of, ii. 276 ; his policy on becom
ing President, iii. 664.
Johnson, Herschel V. , opposed to hasty secession action in
Georgia, i. 86.
Johnson, Reverdy, Union speech of at Frederick, Md., i.
222-225 ; sent to New Orleans to aid General Butler,
ii. 289.
Johnsonville, destruction of stores at caused by Forrest,
iii. 557 ; arrival of General Schofield at, iii. 557.
Johnston, General Albert Sydney, biographical sketch of,
ii. 7 ; junction of with Beauregard at Corinth, ii. 139;
address of to his troops before the battle of Pittsburg
Landing (note), ii. 142 ; death of at the battle of Pitts
burg Landing, ii. 155 (note), 156.
Johnston, General Joseph Eccleston, biographical sketch
of, i. 327 ; arrival of his force at Bull Run, i. 408 ;
fatal effect of his junction with Beauregard, i. 414 ;
Patterson's apology for not keeping him in check at
Winchester, i. 419 ; his report of the battle of Bull Run,
i. 413-418 ; his report of the battle of Seven Pines or
Fair Oaks (note), ii. 247; driven out of Jackson by
Sherman, iii. 8 ; supersedes General Bragg after the
battle of LooEout Mountain, iii. 239 ; forces under the
command of at the beginning of 1864, iii. 298 ; super
seded by General Hood on the approach of Sherman to
Atlanta, iii. 389 ; surrender of his army to Sherman in
North Carolina, iii. 669.
Johnston, Mrs. Sally, second wife of Thomas Lincoln, i. 13.
Joinville, Prince de, his description of McClellan's retreat
from the Chickahominy, ii. 313-320.

Jonesboro, battle of, iii. 402.
Jones, Colonel, his expedition in North Carolina, iii.
77 ; his death, iii. 77.
Jones, Lieutenant Roger, destruction of the armory and
arsenal at Harper's Ferry by, i. 177 ; escape of to Car
lisle Barracks, i. 178 ; letter of approval addressed to
by Secretary Cameron, i. 178.
Journal office at Dayton destroyed by a mob, iii. 47.
Judah, schooner, details of the cutting out of at Pensa
cola (note), i. 527. K.
Kallman, Colonel, collision between the troops of and the
citizens of St. Louis, i. 318.
Kanawha, valley of the, military operations in, iii. 169-
174.
Kane, George P., arrest of hy General Banks, i. 346 ; pro
test of the police commissioners against the arrest of
(note), i. 348.
Kansas, how made a free State, i. 6 ; invasion of by
Quantrell, iii. 61-65.
Kautz, General, raid of from Suffolk toward Petersburg,
iii. 360 ; his expedition against the Bichmond and
Danville Railroad, iii. 363 ; movement of against Peters
burg, iii. 439, 440, 441 ; his raid against the Weldon and
Danville railroads, iii. 451-453 ; his reconnoissance to
ward Richmond, iii. 504; his command surprised and
routed, iii. 505.
Kearnan, Sergeant, courage displayed by, at Fort Sum
ter, i. 147.
Kearney, General, anecdote of at the battle of Williams
burg (note), ii. 224; Centerville occupied by, ii. 403;
death of at the battle of Chantilly, ii. 413.
Kearsarge, corvette, arrival of at Cherbourg, iii. 425 ;
tonnage and armament of, iii. 426 ; her fight with the
Alabama, iii. 428-431.
Kelly, Colonel (afterward General), biographical sketch
of, i. 296 ; his march on Philippi, i. 293 ; wounded in
his pursuit at Philippi, i. 295 ; testimony of General
McClellan to the gallantry of, i. 296 ; capture of Romney,
Va., hy, i. 510.
Kenesaw Mountain, situation of, iii. 384 ; battle of, iii.
385.
Kenly, Colonel John P., appointed police marshal of
Baltimore by General Banks, i. 350 ; surprised by Gene
rai Jackson at Front Boyal, ii. 250.
Kennedy,' Captain Robert C, executed for an attempt to
burn New York, iii. 679.
Kentucky, predominance of the Union sentiment in, i.
54 ; progress of from neutrality to active loyalty,
i. 476-494 ; military aid from to the Federal govern
ment refused by Governor Magoffin, i. 477 ; military
aid sought from for the Confederacy, i. 477 ; legislature
of convened by Governor Magoffin, i. 478 ; proclamation"
of the neutrality of issued by Magoffin, i. 479 ; divided
sentiment of the people of, i. 480 ; loyalty of a majority
of the people, i. 483 ; commissioners from request the
President to remove Federal troops from the State, i.
484 ; reply of the President to the commissioners, i.
485 ; resolutions of the legislature of in relation to the
invasion of the State by Generals Polk and Zollicoffer,
i. 490, 491 ; loyal action of the legislature, i. 490 ;
secession convention held in, ii. 6 ; officers of the
Confederate State government of, ii. 6 ; operations '

720

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

of Generals Schoepf and Nelson in, ii. 8-12 ; Mor
gan's raids in, ii. 364-369, iii. 42, 370 ; operations of
Generals Kirby Smith, and Morgan in, ii. 480-482;
General Buell' s account of his campaign in against
Bragg, ii. 493-501 ; depredations of Pegram and Mor
gan in, iii. 41-43 '; political agitation in, iii. 54-56 ;
loyal resolutions of the legislature, iii. 55 ; elections
in, iii. 56.
Keokuk, iron-clad, destruction of the, in an attack on the
Charleston forts, iii. 84, 85, 88.
Kettle Run, Va., railroad near cut by Jackson's troops,
ii. 398.
Keystone State, steamer, attack upon by a Confederate
ram off Charleston, ii. 605.
Key West, limits of the military department of (note), ii.
119. *
Kilpatrick, General, his report of a raid in Virginia
(note), iii. 137 ; his report of the battle at Falling
Waters, iii. 152 ; severely wounded near Resaca, iii.
378 ; raid of on the railroad communications of Atlanta,
iii. 400 ; defeats Wheeler at Waynesboro, iii. 544 ;
skirmish of with Wheeler at Aiken, iii. 598 ; narrow
escape of from Wade Hampton, iii. 603.
Kinston, N. C, battles of, ii. 553, iii. 607.
Kilty, Captain A. H., commands the gun-boats in the
White River expedition, ii. 269 ; explosion on his flag
ship the Mound City, ii. 270.
Kit Carson, personal appearance of (note), ii. 207 ; services
of in New Mexico, ii. 207.
Knoxville, Tenn. , convention called at, i. 237 ; arrival of
General Burnside at, iii. 241 ; siege of by Longstreet,
iii. 243-248 ; approach of Breckinridge to, iii. 623.
Kulp House, battle of, iii. 384. .
L.
Lake Providence, attempt to connect it with the Missis
sippi, ii. 641.
Lander, Colonel, part "taken by in the attack on Philippi,
i. 293-295.
Lander, General, rapid advance of in Virginia, ii. 120 ;
death of at Pawpaw (note), ii. 120.
Land fordgs in the Port Royal expedition (note), i. 600.
Lane, General, advance of into Missouri from Kansas, i.
468.
Lardner, Captain J L., report of in relation to the Chica-
macomico expedition (note), i. 547.
Last battle of the war, iii. 670.
Latane. Captain, killed in Stuart's raid, ii. 301.
Laurel Hill, Confederate camp at taken by McClellan, i.
335.
Lavergne, battle of, ii. 585.
League of Tennessee with the Confederate States, i. 232 ;
' ratification. of by the legislature of Tennessee, i. 233.
Lebanon, Mo., exploit of Major Wright near, i. 463.
Lebanon, Tenn., defeat of Morgan at by General Dumont,
ii. 274 ; capture of by Morgan, ii. 365.
Lee, General Robert. E.,*repulse of at Cheat Mountain, i.
50S ; general otders of after the Seven days' battles, ii.
339 ; his invasion of Maryland, ii. 420 ; his proclama
tion to the people of Maryland, ii. 420 ; escape of across
the Potomac, ii. 473 ; his congratulatory order of May
>> 7th, 1863, iii. 143 ; his account of his invasion of Mary
land and Pennsylvania and the battle of Gettysburg,

iii. 145-152 ; retreat of after the battle of Gettysburg,
iii. 264-270 ; forces under the command of in 1864, iii.
298 ; his retreat after the fall of Petersburg, iii. 653-
657 ; his correspondence with General Grant relative to
surrender, iii. 657 ; his capitulation, iii. 658.
Lee, Mrs., note written by, on the occasion of her house
being searched (note), ii. 240.
Legislature of Maryland convened at Frederick, i. 212.
Legislature of Tennessee, authority granted by to the gov
ernor to form a, league with the Confederate States, i.
232 ; submit the question of secession to the people, i.
233 ; apology of, i. 236 ; action of odious to the peopi
of East Tennessee, i. 237.
Letcher, John, governor of Virginia, suggestions of, in
1860, i. 11 ; reply of to President Lincoln's call for
troops, i. 168 ; independence of the seceded States pro
claimed by, i. 174 ; his attempt to seize the arsenal at
Harper's Ferry, i. 175 ; appeal of to the people of West
ern Virginia, i. 304.
Letters of marque, proclamation* of Jefferson Davis offer
ing, i. 169 ; alarm caused in the North by the issue of,
i. 514 ; the President authorized by Congress to issue,
ii. 633.
Lewis, Colonel, his expedition in North Carolina, iii. 78.
Lexington, Mo., situation of, i. 445; siege and surrender
of, i. 445-449 ; Colonel Mulligan's account of his de
fence of, i. 449-452 ; General Price's report of the siege
and surrender of, i. 452-454 ; discouragement caused by
the fall of, i. 454 ; raid of Major White to, i. 461 ; again
threatened by Price, iii. 620.
Life of —
Anderson, Major Robert, i. 60, 157.
Ashby, Colonel (note), ii. 261.
Baker, Colonel Edward, i. 586.
Bates, Edward, i. 127. * ,
Beauregard, General Gustavus Toutant, i. 143-145
Benjamin, Judah P., i. 103.
Ben McCulloch, i. 432.
Blair, Montgomery, i. 127.
Breckinridge, John C, i. 494.
Buell, General Don Carlos, ii. 6.
Burnside, General Ambrose Everett, ii. 59.
Butler, General Benjamin F., i. 205-207.
Cameron, Simon, i. 126.
Canby, Colonel (afterward General), ii. 206
Chase, Salmon Portland, i. 124-126.
Craven, Captain Tunis Augustus, iii. 421. „'
Dahlgren, Admiral John A. (note), iii. 93. j,
Dahlgren, ,€olonel Ulric, iii. 337
Davis, Jefferson, i. 94.
Dupont, Commodore Samuel F., i. 599.
Ellsworth, Colonel Elmer E., i. 264.
Farragut, Admiral David G., ii. 174.
Floyd, John Buchanan, i. 496.
Foote, Captain, ii. 26.
Fremont, General John Charles, i. 424>
Gillmore, General Quincy Adams, iii. 91.
GoldsDorough, Captain Louis M., ii. 69. *
Grant, General Ulysses S., ii. 26.
Grierson, Colonel Benjamin H., ii. 668. *t
Halleck, General Henry Wager, i. 656.
Harney, General William Selby, i. 261.
Hooker, General Joseph iiLill4.

ijl

Life of —
Hunter, General, i. 655.
Jackson, General Thomas Jonathan (Stonewall) ii. 264.
Johnson, Andrew, ii. 42.
Johnston, General Albert Sydney, ii. 7.
Johnston, General Joseph Eccleston, i. 327.
Kelley, Colonel, i. 296.
Lincoln, Abraham, i. 12-20.
Lynch^Captain W. F., ii. 66.
Lyon/General Nathaniel, i. 305-308.
McClellan, General George B., i. 283-290.
, -McCulloch, Ben, i. 432.
vMaUory, Stephen M., i. 103.
Mansfield, General J. K., i. 388.
Mason, James Murray, i. 624.
Meade, General George C, iii. 162.
Memminger, Charles Gustavus, i. 102.
Mitchell, General Ormsby McKnight, ii. 164.
Porter, Admiral David D., ii. 175.
Price, General Sterling, i. 434.
Rosecrans, General William S., i. 495.
Schoepf, General Albin, ii. 23.
Seward, William H, i. 122-124.
Sherman, General T. W., i. 600.
Shields, General James, ii. 125.
Sigel, Colonel Franz, i. 426.
Slidell, John, i. 623.
Stephens, A. H, i. 99.
Stringham, Commodore Silas H., i. 532.
Thomas, General George H., ii. 23.
Tilghman, General, ii. 25.
Toombs, Robert, i. 102.
Walker, Leroy Pope, i. 103
Welles, Gideon, i. 127.
Winthrop, Major Theodore, i. 281.
Zollicoffer, General Felix K., ii. 22.
•Libby Prison, description of, iii. 277 ; condition of Union
soldiers in, iii. 278-280 ; cruel treatment of prisoners in,
iii. 681-683.
Lincoln, Abraham, biographical sketch of, i. 12-20 ; elec
tion of to the Presidency, i. 11 ; electoral and popular
' votes for in 1860, i. 20 ; honesty and personal charac
teristics of, i. 20 ; effect in the Southern States of the
election of, i. 21 ; the election of an avowed cause of
secession in Alabama, i. 45 ; questions proposed to by
Senator Douglas in relation to slavery, i. 17 ; public cu
riosity respecting after his election, i. 104, 105 ; fare
well speeoh of at Springfield, i. 106 ; arrival of at Phil
adelphia, i. 106 ; conspiracy to prevent theVinaugura-
tion of, i. 106 ; arrival of at Washington, i. 107 ; details
of a plot to assassinate, i. 107-110 ; inaugural address
of i 112-119 ; letter of to Governor Hicks and Mayor
Brown of Baltimore, i. 192 ; remarks on his message of
July 5th, 1861, i. 352 ; conduct of legalized by Con
gress, i. 356 ; letter of to Governor Magoffin, refusing
to withdraw Federal troops from Kentucky, i. 485 ; war
orders of (notes), ii. 118, 119 ; his emancipation procla
mation; ii. 529 ; his proclamation in relation to persons
discouraging enlistments, etc., ii. 533 ; vast powers
granted to by Congress, ii. 632; indemnity granted to
for his illegal arrests, ii. 633 ; his second emancipation
proclamation, ii. 636 ; remarks of in relation to the
arrest of Vallandigham, iii. 52 ; on the condition of
259
<#

Missouri, iii. 60 ; his letter " To whom it may concern,"
iii. 634 ; assassination of, iii. 660-663.
Lincoln, Thomas, father of Abraham, migrations of, i. 12,
14.
Lindsay, Mr., on the policy of Louis Napoleon, iii. 208.
Linn Creek, exploit of Major Wright at, i. 465.
Little Bethel, account of the unsuccessful attempt to sur
prise, i. 271-274.
Little Congaree Bridge, taken by General Wood, iii. 599.
Little Osage Crossing, battle of, iii. 521.
Logan, General, in command of the fifteenth corps under
General Sherman, iii. 376 ; services of at Atlanta, iii. 393.
Longstreet, General, part taken by in the battle of Black
burn's Ford, i. 394 ; compels General Burnside to re
treat to Knoxville, iii. 243 ; lays siege to Knoxville, iii.
244 ; compelled to retreat by Burnside, iii. 248.
Lookout Mountain, described by General Rosecrans, iii
215 ; battle of, iii. 238.
Loring, General, his invasion of Western Virginia, iii. 169.
Louisiana, declared out of the Union by the State conven
tion, i. 87 ; operations of General Banks in, iii. 9-21.
Louisiana, floating battery, destruction of, ii. 190, 200.
Louisville, army concentrated at, under General Buell, ii.
6 ; attack upon threatened by General Bragg, ii. 485.
Louisville Journal, language of after the fall of Fort Sum
ter, i. 167.
Lovell, General Mansfield, Confederate troops at New Or
leans commanded by, ii. 176 ; evacuates New Orleans,
ii. 185.
Lovejoy, Mr., resolutions introduced into Congress by, i.
256.
Lowe, Colonel, death of at the battle of Fredericktown.
Mo., i. 470.
Lowe, Colonel, death of at the battle of Carnifex Ferry,
Va., i. 500, 502.
Lynchburg, Va., operations of Generals Sigel, Hunter,
etc., against, iii. 365-369.
Lynch, Captain W. F., biographical sketch of (note), ii.
66 ; flotilla under the command of destroyed by Captain
Rowan, ii. 66.
Lyne, T. R., his account of Colonel Morgan's capture of a
railroad train (note), ii. 275.
Lyon, Captain N. (afterward General), biographical sketch
of, i. 305-308 ; movements of against Camp Jackson,
near St Louis, i. 248 ; takes possession, of Camp Jack
son, i. 249 ; troops of attacked by a mob, i. 249 ; made
a brigadier-general and intrusted with the command of
the Federal forces in Missouri, i. 254 ; opinions of on
the influence of slavery on labor, i. 307 ; energetic ac
tion of on taking command in Missouri, i. 308 ; refuses
to disband troops in Missouri at the demand of Governor
Jackson, i. 309 ; proclamation issued by in reply to one
by Governor Jackson, i. 311 ; pursues the secessionists
to Jefferson City and to Booneville, i. 313-317 ; marches
from Booneville in pursuit of Price and Ben McCulloch,
i. 319 ; operations of near Springfield, i 431 ; demands
reinforcements from Fremont, i: 432 ;<-r-marches from
Springfield to attack Ben McCulloch, i. 435 ; his pre
sentiment of evil, i. 443 ; death of in the battle of Wil
son's Creek, i. 438, 443 ; his intense sympathy with the
Union cause, i. 442 ; his will, i. 444.
Lyons, Lord, proposed by Governor Hicks as a mediator
between the North and South, i. 192.

M.
Macaulay, Commodore Charles S., destruction of Federal
ships by at Gosport navy yard, i. 178-183 ; general dis
approval of the conduct of at Norfolk, i. 182.
McCall, General, his account of the battle of Drainesville,
i. 590 ; withdraws from Drainesville, i. 591.
McClellan, General George B., biographical sketch of, i.
283-290 ; his description of the storming of the Malakoff,
i. 287 ; remarks of on tire means of national defence, i.
288 ; his proclamation to the people of Western Vir
ginia and to the army, i. 291 ; his proclamation issued
at Grafton, i. 332 ; Confederates driven from Laurel
Hill by, i. 333 ; his account of the battle of Rich
Mountain, i. 336 ; his account of the capture of Gar
nett' s camp at Beverley, i.. 337 ; his account of the bat
tle of Carrack's Ford, i. 340 ; his address to the Army
of the West, i. 341 ; measures taken by on assuming
command of the Army of the Potomac, i. 570-574 ;
tribute of to the character of General Scott, i. 599 ;
credit given to by General Burnside, for the plans of his
North Carolina campaign (note) , ii. 75 ; address of to the
Army of the Potomac, ii. 127 ; advance of on Yorktown,
ii. 131 ; account of his capture of Yorktown, ii. 212-
218 ; at the battle of Williamsburg, ii. 226 ; operations
of on the peninsula, ii. 236-248 ; his report of the pen
insular battles, ii. 308-313 ; address of to his army,
July 4th, 1862, ii. 338 ; withdrawal of his forces from
the peninsula, ii. 358 ; General Pope's views respecting
the retreat of to Harrison's Landing, ii. 384 ; complaints
of General Pope against, ii. 384, 407 ; again called to
command the Army of the Potomac, ii 420, 423 ; his
report of the battle of Antietam, ii. 436-455 ; his rea
sons for not following up his success at Antietam, ii.
452 ; how far responsible for the loss of Harper's Ferry,
ii. 465, 472 ; removed from the command of the Army
of the Potomac, ii. 478 ; general order of in relation to
the President's emancipation proclamation, ii. 534 ; lan
guage of on taking leave of the Army of the Potomac,
ii. 539.
McClemand, General, his report of the attack on Belmont,
Mo, .(note), i. 553 ; at the siege of Fort Donelson, ii. 33 ;
services of at Pittsburg Landing, ii. 144 ; operations of
against Arkansas Post, ii. 582 ; conduct of at the siege
of Vicksburg, ii. 654.
McCook, General, advance of toward Bowling Green, ii.
12 ; first division of General Buell' s army commanded
by, ii. 17 ; division of at the second battle of Shiloh
(note), ii. 151 ; murder of his brother by guerrillas, ii.
369 ; at Chaplin Hills, ii. 495, 496 ; his report of the
battle, ii. 486-491 ; at the battle of Murfreesboro or
Home River, ii 591 ; raid of against the railroad com
munications of Atlanta, iii. 397.
McCown, General I P., compelled to evacuate New Mad
rid by General Pope, ii. 46.
McCulloch, Ben. See Ben McCulloch.
McCulloch, Secretary, on the payment of the national
debt, iii. 696.
McCunn, General W. D., address of to his men at Island
No. 10 (note), ii. 138.
McDowell, General Irvine, biographical sketch of, i. 383 ;
in command at Arlington Heights, i- 321 ; a French
writer's description of, i. 384 ; his capture of Fairfax
CourfeHouse, i. 390 ; order of condemning the conduct

of his troops, i. 391 ; orders issued by before the battlo
of Bull Bun, i. 399, 400 ; his plan of battle, i. 402 ; his
account of the battle, i. 406-408 ; his difficulties beforo
the battle, i. 421 ; superseded by General McClellan, i.
422 ; public censure directed against, i. 569 ; operations
of on the lower Potomac, ii. 130 ; strength of his corps
in the Army of Virginia, ii. 382 ; popular censure of,
ii. 418 ; manly letter of, ii. 419.
McDowell, Va., defeat of Milroy and Schenck a.t^hy Gen
eral Jackson, ii. 259.
McGrath, Captain, at Harper's Ferry, ii. 461.
McMinnville, property destroyed at by Colonel Williams,
iii. 39 ; captured by Wheeler and Forrest, iii. 231. '
Macomb, Commander, his occupation of Plymouth, iii. 575.
Macon, demonstrations on by Kilpatrick and Walcott, iii.
538, 539 ; occupation of by General Wilson, iii. 630.
McPherson, General, biographical sketch of, iii. 395 ; in
command of the Army of the Tennessee under Sher
man, iii. 376 ; death of, iii. 392.
Magner, Lieutenant, sent by General Sherman with a flag
of truce to Beaufort, i. 611.
Magoffin, Governor, of Kentucky, circular sent by to gov
ernors of slave States', i. 55 ; reply of to the President's
call for troops, i. 169 ; refuses military aid to the Presi
dent, i. 477 ; letter of Secretary Walker to, requesting
aid for the Confederates, i. 477 ; convenes the Kentucky
legislature, i. 478 ; neutrality proclamation of, i. 479 ;
demands the removal of Federal troops from Kentucky,
i. 484 ; reply of President Lincoln to, i. 485 ; letter of
to Jefferson Davis, i. 486 ; reply of Davis to, i. 487 ;
correspondence of with the governor of Tennessee, i.
487 ; extract from his message to the Kentucky legisla
ture, i. 488 ; letter of General Polk to, excusing his
occupation of Columbus, i. 488 ; resignation of, ii. 370.
Magruder, General, Hampton burnt by order of, i. 593 ;
retires from Great Bethel to Yorktown, i. 593 ; account
of his recapture of Galveston, ii. 598-601.
Maillefort, M., services of in the New Orleans expedition,
ii. 178.
Males, white, between eighteen and forty-five, number of
in the United States, i. 360.
Mallory, Stephen M., biographical sketch of, i. 103 ; po
sition of in the Confederate cabinet, i. 93.
Malvern Hills, battle of, ii. 312, 320 ; Confederate account,
ii. 335 ; abandonment of by General Hooker, ii. 358.
Manassas, advance of General McClellan to, ii. 128 ; con
flicting opinions as to the strength of the Confederate
position at, ii. 128, 129.
Manassas Junction, description of, i. 385 ; force of Con
federates at unknown to Generals Scott and McDowell,
i. 387 ; march of McDowell toward, i. 389 ; occupied
and fortified by Beauregard, i. 322 ; arrival of General
Pope at in pursuit of Stonewall Jackson, ii. 402.
Manassas, ram, description of the, i. 528.
Mann, Mr. , sent as commissioner to England by the Con
federate States, i. 372.
Mansfield, General, biographical sketch of, i. 338 ; placed
in command of the Washington Department, i. 219,
320 ; mortally wounded at Antietam, ii. 429, 440.
Manson, General, defeat of at Richmond, Ky.,-ii. 480.
Marais des Cygnes, battle of, iii. 620, 521 .
Marblehead, gun-boat, attacked near Legareville S. C,
iii. 274.

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

723

Marietta, Johnston driven out of by Sherman, iii. 386.
Marmaduke, General, defeat of hy General Lyon near
Booneville, Mo., i. 315 ; defeat of by General Blunt at
Cane Hill, ii. 661 ; sudden attack of on Springfield, ii.
664 ; retreat of to Arkansas, ii. 665 ; defeat of by Gen
eral A. J. Smith, iii. 518.
Marshall, General, defeat of by Colonel Garfield near
Prestonburg, ii. 15.
Marshall House, Alexandria, secession flag taken down
from by Colonel Ellsworth, i. 261.
Martial law, proclaimed by Fremont in Missouri, i. 456 ;
in what cases proper to be established, ii. 533.
Martinsburg, arrival of General Banks' forces at, ii. 257.
Maryland, action and language of the governor of in re
lation to secession, i. 52 ; disaffection in, i. 185 ; proc
lamation by the governor of, i. 185 ; temporizing policy
of the government toward the insurgents of, i. 207 ; re
port of commissioners appointed to confer with the Pres
ident on the passage of troops through, i. 214 ; develop
ment of Union sentiment in, i. 222 ; growing Union
tendencies of, i. 593 ; invasion of by General Lee, ii.
420 ; his proclamation to the people of, ii. 420 ; loyalty
in, ii. 421 ; Early's invasion of, iii. 371-375 ; panic in
after Sheridan's retreat down the Shenandoah valley,
iii. 480.
Maryland commissioners, report of on their interview
with President Lincoln, i. 214.
Maryland Heights, Colonel Ford in command at, ii. 466.
Maryland legislature, convened at Frederick, i. 212 ; mes
sage of Governor Hicks to the, i. 212 ; secession pro
clivities of, i. 212 ; attempt to establish a " Board of
Public Safety" in, i. 213 ; vote on secession taken in, i.
213 ; resolutions adopted by recognizing the independ
ence of the Confederate States, i. 229 ; commissioners to
visit Presidents Davis and Lincoln appointed by, i. 229.
Mason and Slidell, Southern commissioners, details of their
escape from Charleston, i. 625 ; arrival of in Havana, i.
626 ; seizure of on board the English mail steamer
Trent, i. 628 ; satisfaction throughout the North at the
capture of, i. 630 ; letter of Secretary Seward to Mr.
Adams in relation to (note), i. 631 ; indignation caused
in England by the seizure of, i. 632 ; demand of Earl
Russell for the liberation of (note), i. 632 ; dispatch of
Mr Seward in reply to Earl Eussell (note), i. 633-640 ;
dispatch of M. Thouvenel advising the liberation of
(note) i 641 ; Earl Russell on the questions of interna
tional law involved in the seizure of (note), i. 643-646 ;
surrender of to the British, i. 647.
Mason, James Murray, biographical sketch of, i. 624 ; his
letter to Earl Russell giving his reasons for leaving En
gland, iii. 204.
Massachusetts Eighth Regiment, machinists and engineers
in, i. 201 ; command of assumed by General Butler, i.
203
Massachusetts Sixth Regiment, attack upon by the Balti-
more mob, i. 186-188.
Massacre at Fort Pillow, iii. 320.
Massacre at Snicker's Gap, iii. 486.
Matthias, attempt of Captain Ward to take possession of,
MaVofof New York, language of respecting the seizure
of arms intended for the South, l. 91.
Maysville, Ark., battle of, ii. 627.

Maysville, Term., capture of by Wheeler, iii. 243.
Meade, General, biographical sketch of, iii. 162 ; at An
tietam, ii. 428 ; wounded, ii. 431, 443 ; his report of
operations at Antietam, ii. 453 ; supersedes General
Hooker in command of the Army of the Potomac, iii.
153 ; his account of the Gettysburg campaign, iii. 156-
161 ; his pursuit of General Lee, iii. 264-270 ; consoli
dates the Army of the Potomac, iii. 340. See Army of
the Potomac.
Mechanicsville, Confederate account of the action at, ii
322.
Memminger, Charles Gustavus, biographical sketch of, i.
102 ; commissioner from South Carolina to Virginia, i.
9 ; a leading secessionist, i. 44 ; position of in the Con
federate cabinet, i. 101 ; on the depreciation of the
Confederate currency, iii. 293.
Memorandum of verbal instructions to Major Anderson,
i. 73.
Memorial adopted by the Legislature of Georgia in favor
of Jefferson Davis, iii. 677.
Memphis, secession meeting at disturbed, i. 54 ; naval en
gagement off, ii. 267 ; results of the action (note), ii.
268 ; surrender of, ii. 269.
Mercedita steamer, capture of by a Confederate ram off
Charleston, ii. 604.
Merchants, Northern, great losses entailed on by the se
cession movement, i. 41.
Mercier, M., visit of to Bichmond, ii. 616.
Meridian, General Sherman's expedition to, iii. 302-304.
Merrimac, steamship, partial destruction of at Norfolk
navy-yard, i. 181 ; altered and covered with iron by the
Confederates, ii. 89 ; vessels sunk by in Hampton Roads,
ii. 90, 92 ; her contest with the Monitor, ii. 94-97 ; re
appearance of in Hampton Roads, ii. 132 ; destruction
of, ii. 231.
Merritt, General, his raid in Loudon and Fauquier coun
ties, Va., iii. 499.
Mervine, Captain William, his account of the cutting out
of the schooner Judah at Pensacola,, i. 527.
Message, Jefferson Davis', recommending a conscription
law (note), ii. 161 ; of January, 1863, extracts from, ii.
634, 635 ; of December 7th, 1863, iii. 291.
Message, President Buchanan's, of December 4th, 1861, i.
22-36.
Message, President Lincoln's opinions on his first, i. 119 ;
of July 5th, 1861, remarks on, i. 352; of December 1st,
1862, ii. 629 ; of December 7th, 1863, iii. 284.
Mexicans, Confederate overtures rejected by the, ii. 210.
Mexico, services of Jefferson Davis in the war with, i. 93 ;
Napoleon's reasons for interfering in, ii. 621.
Middletown, Sheridan's victory at, iii. 497.
Miles, Colonel, conduct of at Harper's Ferry, ii. 467-469 ;
mortally wounded, ii. 464, 468 ; opinion of the Con
gressional Commission on the conduct of at Harper's
Ferry, ii. 471.
"Military bill," passed by the legislature of Missouri, i.
252 ; condemnation of by General Harney, i. 253.
Militia call of President Lincoln for seventy-five thou
sand, after the fall of Fort Sumter, i. 163 ; circular to
State governors calling for, after the fall of Fort Sum
ter i. 167 ; replv of Southern governors to the Presi
dent's call for, i. 168 ; movement of Northern, toward
Washington, i. 186 ; rapid organization of in the North-

724

ANALYTICAL INDEX

ern States, i. 209 ; rapid assemblage of after the Presi
dent's proclamation, i. 216 ; called out in Pennsylvania
by Governor Curtin, ii. 422 ; large force of called out
to resist Lee's invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania,
iii. 164.
Milledgeville, occupation of by General Sherman, iii. 540.
Mill Spring, battle of, ii. 20.
Milwaukie, iron-clad, sunk by a torpedo in Mobile Bay,
iii. 619.
Mine at Petersburg, construction of commenced by Gene
ral Burnside, iii. 458 ; description of, iii. 459 ; explosion
of, followed by a disastrous assault, iii. 462-464 ; causes
of failure, iii. 465 ; decision of a court of inquiry in re
lation to, iii. 465, 466.
Mine at Petersburg sprung by the Confederates, iii. 466.
Mint in North Carolina seized by the governor, i. 230.
Missionary Ridge, described by General Rosecrans, iii. 215 ;
battle of, iii. 238.
Mississippi, action of on the election of Lincoln, i. 22 ;
early secession movements in, i. 46 ; secession ordinance
passed in, i. 85 ; movements of Generals Grant and
Sherman in, ii. 565 ; General Grierson's report of his
raid in, ii. 659-668.
Mississippi River, limits of the military department of the
(note), ii. 119 ; free navigation of proclaimed by the
Confederate Congress, ii. 635 ; Porter's services on the,
ii. 669-680 ; operations against guerrillas on the, iii.
251-254 ; operations of Admiral Farragut on the, iii.
22-30 ; command of secured, iii. 30.
Missouri, character of the population of, i. 244 ; disloyalty
of the legislature, i. 245 ; ' ' military hill' ' passed by the
legislature of, i. 252 ; order addressed to General Har
ney in relation to troubles in, i. 312 ; General Fremont's
campaign in, i. 460-469 ; operations of General Hunter
in, i. 656 ; Jeff Thompson driven out of, ii. 211 ; unset
tled state of, ii. 212 ; guerrilla warfare in, ii. 371, iii.
57, 58 ; rebels driven out of by General Schofield, ii.
527 ; operations of Generals Curtis, Brown, and Blunt
in, ii. 561-565 ; emancipation ordinance passed by the
convention of, iii. 59 ; political dispute in, iii. 60 ; fur
ther military operations in, iii. 271 ; Price's invasion of,
iii. 517-521.
Mitchell, Captain J. K. , destroys the floating battery Lou
isiana, ii. 200 ; surrenders to Captain Porter, ii. 202.
Mitchell, General O. McKnight, biographical sketch of
(note), ii. 164 ; third division of General Buell' s army
commanded by, ii. 17 ; advance of to Bowling Green,
ii. 37 ; operations of in Alabama and Tennessee, ii. 163,
273 ; succeeds General Hunter in the Department of the
South, ii. 522 ; death of, ii. 522 ; succeeded by General
Hunter, ii. 522.
Mitchell's Creek, battle of, iii. 618.
Mobile, causes for separation declared hy Southern leaders
at, i. 45 ; seizure of the fort at by secessionists, i. 82 ;
efforts made for the defence of, ii. 278 ; operations of
General Canby and Admiral Thatcher against, iii. 614-
621 ; surrender of to General Granger, iii. 621.
Mobile Bay, description of the entrances of, iii. 411.
Mobile Forts, Admiral Farragut's operations against, iii.
410-424.
Mob of New Orleans, destruction of property by, ii. 184.
Mobs at St. Louis attack Union volunteers, i. 249, 250.

Money, appropriations of by Congress for war purposes, i
357.
Monitor, contest of with the Merrimac, ii. 94-97.
Monitors, failure of in the attack on the Charleston forts,
iii. 82-90.
Monocacy, battle of, iii. 371.
Montauk, iron-clad, attack by the on Fort McAllister, ii.
611.
Montgomery, gathering of Southern delegates at, i. 92 ;
commissioners sent from to Washington, i. 130 ; sur
render of to General Wilson's forces, iii. 628.
Moorefield, Confederates defeated at by General Averill,
iii. 375.
Morgan, General George W., account of his defence of
Cumberland Gap, ii. 502-506 ; address of to his troops,
ii. 505 ; force under the command of (note), ii. 505.
Morgan, General John H., defeat of at Lebanon by Gen
eral Dumont, ii. 274 ; his capture of a railroad train at
Woodland, ii. 275 ; various expeditions of, ii. 362 ; his
report of a Kentucky raid, ii. 364-369 ; operations of in
Tennessee and Kentucky, ii. 586 ; routed by General
Stanley in Tennessee, iii. 38 ; raid of in Kentucky and
Ohio, iii. 42-45 ; his command surrounded by Union
forces, iii. 44 ; part taken by gun-boats in the pursuit
of (note), iii. 44; pursuit of by General Shackelford, iii.
45 ; surrender of the greater part of his force, iii. 45 ;
capture of, iii. 45 ; confinement of in the Columbus
Penitentiary (note), iii. 45 ; his raid in Kentucky to
Cynthiana, iii. 370 ; surprised at Greenville and killed,
iii. 522.
Morning Light, capture of the, off Galveston by the Con
federates, ii. 602, iii. 196 ; destruction of, ii. 603.
Morrill tariff, signing of the last act of President Buchanan,
i. 122.
Morris Island, General Gillmore's operations for the pos
session of, iii. 92-107.
Morris, Major, command of Fort McHenry assumed by, i.
222.
Morristown, Tenn., battle of, iii. 523.
Mortality among slaves during the war, iii. 694.
Mosby, Captain John S., his capture of General Stoughton,
iii. 116 ; surprised and wounded, iii. 117 ; Union cav
alry surprised by near Warrenton Junction, iii. 144 ; a
Union supply train captured by at Berryville, iii. 484.
Mosquito Inlet, Fla., expedition to, ii. 87.
Mound City, gun-boat, explosion of on the White River,
ii. 270.
Mountain Department, limits of the (note), ii. 119.
Muldraugh's HOI, Ky., Union force at captured by Colo
nel Morgan, ii. 586.
Mule meat eaten at Vicksburg during the siege, iii. 6.
Mulligan, Colonel, his defence of Lexington against Gen
eral Price, i. 445-449 ; his own account of the defence
of, i. 449-452 ; Fremont's reasons for not sending aid
to (note), i. 476 ; death of at Bunker Hill, iii. 374.
Munfordsville, Ky., battle of, ii. 13 ; General Hindman's
report, ii. 14 ; account of General Bragg's capture of,
ii. 483.
Murfreesboro, capture of by Colonel Forrest, ii. 369 ; Gen
eral Rosecrans' report of the battle of, ii. 587-595 ; re
treat of General Bragg from, ii. 595 ; Union losses at
(note), ii. 596 ; threatened by Forrest's cavalry, iii. 563.

• ANALYTICAL INDEX.

725

N.
Nansemond, battery at the mouth of the, attacked by
Captain Faunce, i. 271 .
Napoleon, Ark., Federal military dep6t at, seized by State
troops, i. 231.
Napoleon, Emperor, proposition of to England and Rus
sia in relation to American affairs, ii. 617 ; extract from
a speech of (note), ii. 620 ; letter of to General Forey
explaining his American policy, ii. 621 ; policy of with
regard to Mexico and the United States, iii. 207-213 ;
extract from a speech of, iii. 211 .
Nashville, occupation of by General Buell, ii. 37 ; disloy
alty of the people of, ii 37 ; members of the city coun
cil of, ejected from office, ii. 138 ; secession feeling in,
ii. 276 ; defence of by General Negley, ii. 585 ; opera
tions of Forrest against the communications of, iii. 553 ;
concentration of General Thomas' forces at after the
battle of Franklin, iii. 562 ; attempted investment of
by General Hood, iii. 562 ; details of Hood's defeat at,
iii. 563-567 ; General Thomas' special field order for
the battle of (note), iii. 564.
Nashville, Confederate steamer, escape of from Beaufort,
N. C, explained (note), ii. 76 ; attempts made to de
stroy, ii. 611 ; burnt (note), ii. 612.
National War Committee of New York (note), ii. 531 ;
resolutions of, and correspondence with Secretary Stan
ton (note), ii. 532.
Navy, condition of the, July 5th, 1861, i. 355 ; condition
of at the beginning of the war, i. 367, 368 ; condition
of at the close of 1862 ; ii. 630 ; services of on the
Western rivers, ii. 669-680 ; condition of at the close of
1863, iii. 285 ; report of the Secretary of the for 1863, iii.
290.
Navy Department, expenditures of the, during the war,
iii. 694.
Navy, Southern, great inferiority of, i. 366 ; list of vessels
composing, in 1861, i. 516 ; list of officers commanding,
i. 517.
Navy-yard, Norfolk, destruction of Federal property at,
i. 178-183.
Navy-yard, Pensacola, seizure of by Florida and Alabama
troops, i. 86 ; partially burned, i. 567.
Negley, General, advance of to Chattanooga, ii. 274 ; op
erations of in defence of Nashville, ii. 585.
Negro cook, William Tillman, recaptures the " S. J. Wa
ring," i. 520.
Negroes, importation of forbidden by the Confederate
constitution, i. 93 ; offer of aid by General Butler in
case of insurrection in Maryland, i. 211 ; regiment of
organized by General Hunter, ii. 278 ; capture of the
gun-boat Planter by, ii. 279 ; cruel treatment of by the
New York draft rioters, iii. 185-190 ; President Lin
coln on the enlistment of, iii. 285.
Negroes at Beaufort, S. C, loyalty of, i. 612; ravages
committed by (note), i. 614 ; unwilling to work, i. 615.
Negro sharpshooters at Vicksburg, u. 574.
Negro troops, massacre of at Fort Pillow, in. 320 ; as-
sault made by on Cemetery Hill at Petersburg, m. 463 ;
gallantry of at New Market Heights, iii. 501.
Nelson, General, operations of in Eastern Kentucky, n.
10 ; second division of Buell's army commanded by, ii.
17 • division of at the second battle of Shiloh (note), u.
150 ; his fatal dispute with Jefferson C. Davis, u. 485.

Netherlands, property taken from the protection of the
flag of by General Butler, ii. 288.
Neutrality, proclamation of issued by the British govern
ment, i. 375-377 ; orders of the English and French
governments enjoining, i. 374, 375 ; language of the
Queen's speeches in relation to, ii. 614 (note)* 620.
Newbern, N. C, operations of Burnside and Goldsborough
for the capture of, ii. 68-75 ; description of, ii. 70 ; ope
rations of General Foster from, ii. 553 ; demonstration
of General Hill against, iii. 74 ; threatened by a Con
federate force under General Pickett, iii. 327.
Newburg, Indiana, capture of by Morgan's men, ii. 362.
New England, limits of the military department of (note),
ii. 119.
New Hope Church, battle of, iii. 382.
New Iberia, occupation of by General Banks, iii. 14.
New Ironsides, narrow escape of the from a torpedo, iii.
109, 110.
New Jersey, people of in favor of pacific measures, i. 90.
New Madrid, capture of by General Pope, ii. 45-48 ; Gen
eral Pope's report (note), ii. 46.
New Market, battle of, iii. 366.
New Market Heights, gallantry of negro troops at, iii. 501.
New Mexico, limits of the military department of (note),
ii. 119 ; invasion of by Texans under General Sibley, ii.
206-210.
New Orleans, effect in of the news of the election of Pres
ident Lincoln, i. 21, 22 ; Commodore Hollins' attack on
the blockading fleet off, i. 527-530 ; expedition against
under Butler, Farragut, and Porter, ii. 173-193 ; Far
ragut's report of the siege and capture of (note), ii. 185-
188 ; Porter's report of operations against, ii. 190-205 ;
energetic action of General Butler at, ii. 287 ; his mili
tary rule at, ii. 526 ; arrival of General Banks at, ii. 555 ;
Butler's farewell address to the people of, ii. 555-558.
Newport News, taken possession of by General Butler, i.
269.
New Salem, Hlinois, residence of Abraham Lincoln in, i.
14.
Newtonia, Mo., rebels driven out of by General Schofield,
ii. 527.
New York, great Union meeting in, at Union Square, i.
183 ; draft riots in, iii. 177-190 ; attempts of Kennedy
and others to burn, iii. 679.
New York military department (note), ii. 119.
New York Seventh Regiment, departure of for Washing
ton, i. 195 ; details of the adventures of on the way to
Washington, i. 195—203 .
Niagara, part taken by in the bombardment of Pensacola,
i. 565!
Niagara Falls, attempts to initiate peace negotiations at,
iii. 634.
Norfolk, Va. , entrance to the harbor of obstructed by or
der of Governor Letcher, i. 174 ; destruction of Federal
property in the navy-yard at, i. 178-183 ; demonstra
tion of General Reno against, ii. 171 ; attack upon
urged by President Lincoln, ii. 230 ; surrender of by
Mayor Lamb, ii. 231.
Northampton and Accomack Counties, Va., restoration of
to Federal authority, i. 594 ; proclamation of General
Dix to the people of, i. 594.
North Anna, crossed and recrossed by General Grant, iii.
353, 354.

726

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

North Carolina, action of on the election of President Lin
coln, i. 22 ; ports of included in the blockade, i. 221 ; pro
gress of in secession, i. 230 ; language of the governor of
on the Presidential call for volunteers, i. 230 ; Confede
rate constitution adopted by, i. 231 ; proclamation of
Burnside-and Goldsborough to the people of, ii. 69 ; mil
itary department of (note), ii. 119 ; operations of Burn
side in, ii. 165-172 ; policy of Governor Stanley in, ii.
287 ; movements of General Foster and others in, ii.
621 ; further operations of General Foster, ii. 553 ; other
military movements, iii. 74-80, 327-331, 573.
Northern States, resources of compared with those of the
Southern, i. 359-370.
Ny River, Va., battle of the, iii. 353.

Oath to be taken by persons seeking the benefits of the
amnesty proclamation, iii. 287, 698.
Oath to be taken by persons accepting office, iii. 700 ;
large class of persons excluded by it, iii. 701.
O'Brien, Colonel, murder of by the anti-draft rioters in
New York, iii. 183.
Officers of the army and navy, resignation of, i. 66, 129.
Ohio, action of the Democratic convention of, June 11th,
1863, iii. 51 ; Vallandigham nominated for Governor of,
iii. 61.
Olinde, iron-clad ram. See Stonewall.
Olmstead, Colonel, his surrender of Fort Pulaski to Gene
ral Hunter, ii. 79.
Olustee, battle of, iii. 325 ; death of Colonel Abbott at,
iii. 325.
" On to Richmond," the cry of, i. 383.
Opdyke, George, correspondence of with Secretary Stan
ton (note), ii. 532.
Opelousas, occupation of by General Banks, iii. 15.
Operatives, English and French , sufferings of, consequent
on the war in America, ii. 613, 621.
Orangeburg, occupation of by General Blair, iii. 598.
Orders, congratulatory of Generals Hooker and Lee, iii.
142, 143.
Ord, General, services of at the battle of Drainesville, i.
590 ; his report of the pursuit after the battle of Corinth
(note), ii. 514.
Ordinance of South Carolina to dissolve the Union, i. 46.
Orleans princes, retirement of from the Union army, ii. 308.
Osage River, bridge built over by General Fremont, i. 460.
Osband, Colonel, his expedition from Vicksburg against
Hood's communications, iii. 571.
Osborn, Lieutenant-Colonel, works captured by at Tran
ter's Creek, ii. 286.
Osceola, Mo. , capture and burning of, i. 469.
Osterhaus, Colonel, services of at the first battle of Pea
Ridge, ii. 53. P.
Pacific, limits of the military department of the (note), ii.
119.
Paducah, secession plot discovered at, ii. 276 ; repulse of
Forrest at, iii. 319.
Palmer, Colonel, his pursuit of Hood south of the Ten
nessee, iii. 670 ; his defeat and capture of General Lyon,
iii. 571.
Palmer, General, in command of the fourteenth corps un
der Sherman, iii. 376.

Palmerston, Lord, remarks of in the House of Commons
on American affairs, i. 374 ; remarks of in relation to
British-built rebel cruisers, iii. 200.
Palmetto flag, raised over Federal buildings in Charleston,
i. 65.
Palmetto Ranche, Texas, skirmish at, iii. 670.
Pamlico Sound, expedition to, ii. 59-66.
Panic of Union troops at the siege of Fort Donelson, ii. 33.
Panic in Maryland, occasioned by Early's invasion, iii.
371, 374 ; after Sheridan's retreat down the Shenandoah
valley, iii. 486.
Paris, Ky., surrender of to Morgan, ii. 367.
Paris, Tenn., capture of by Federal troops, ii. 45.
Parke, General, third brigade commanded by, in the at
tack on Newbern, ii. 72.
Patrick Henry, gun-boat. Union vessels cut out by, at
Hampton Cove, ii. 132.
Patterson, General, placed in command of the Pennsyl
vania department, i. 220 ; crosses the Potomac into
Virginia, i. 330 ; his apology for not keeping Johnston
in check at Winchester, i. 419 ; services of at the battle
of Williamsburg, ii. 222.
Pawnee, steam sloop, sent with reinforcements to Fort
Sumter, i. 139.
Payne, his attempts to assassinate Secretary Seward, iii.
662.
Peabody, Charles A., mission of to New Orleans, ii. 558.
Peace conference, plan recommended by the, i. 111.
Peace convention assembled in Washington, i. 91.
Peace negotiations at Richmond, Niagara Falls, and Fort
ress Monroe, iii. 633-636.
Peach Tree Creek, battle of, iii. 390.
Pea Bidge, first battle of, ii. 51-53 ; second battle of, ii«
55-58 ; killed and wounded at, ii. 58.
Pegram, Colonel, defeat of by Rosecrans at Rich Mount
ain, i. 334 ; surrender of to McClellan, i. 337 ; driven
over the Cumberland by General Gillmore, iii. 42.
Pemberton, General, his surrender at Vicksburg, ii. 656 ;
appeal of to his troops, iii. 7, 8.
Peninsula, operations of McClellan on the, ii. 236-248.
Peninsula battles, ii. 299-345 ; McClellan's report of, ii.
308-313 ; Prince de Joinville's account of, ii. 313-321 ;
Confederate account of, ii. 321-340 ; McClellan's address
in relation to, ii. 338 ; general orders of after the, ii.
339 ; Confederate review of, ii. 340-344 ; incidents of,
ii. 344 ; Confederate killed and wounded in, ii. 345.
Pennsylvania, formation of the military department of, i.
220 ; preparations made in to resist invasion, ii. 422 ;
Stuart's cavalry raid into, ii. 475 ; Lee's invasion of and
Maryland, iii. 145 ; Early's raiders in, iii. 374.
Pennsylvania line-of- battle ship, destruction of at Norfolk
navy-yard, i. 181.
Penrose, Colonel, dispersal of his force near Winchester,
iii. 485.
Pensacola, seizure of Fort Barrancas and the navy-yaTd at,
by Florida and Alabama troops, i. 86 ; bombardment of,
i. 565-568 ; occupation of by a Union force under Gen
eral Arnold, ii. 277.
People, Northern and Southern, comparative earnestness
of, i. 364, 365.
' ' Permanent Government' ' of the Confederacy, inaugura
tion of, iii. 113.
Perry, brig, capture of the Savannah by, i. 518.

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

727

Perryville, General McCook's report of the battle at, ii.
486-491 ; Bragg's report (note), ii. 492.
Petersburg, description of, iii. 438 ; operations of General
Grant against, iii. 437-481 ; disastrous assaults upon
the defences of, iii. 441-444 ; construction of the great
mine at by Burnside, iii. 458 ; explosion of the mine
and disastrous assault, iii. 462-464 ; operations of Gen
eral Grant against, iii. 500-516, 636-640 ; operations at
till the battle of Five Forks, iii. 643-651 ; the final
struggle at, iii. 651-653.
Petrel privateer, destruction of by the St. Lawrence frig
ate, i. 524.
Peyton, Baillie, loyal efforts of in Tennessee, ii. 45.
Phelps, General, his occupation of Ship Island, i. 653,
and Biloxi, i. 654.
Phelps, Lieutenant S., his operations on the Tennessee
River, ii. 29 ; welcome of by the Tennesseans, ii. 29.
Philippi, march of Colonels Kelley and Lander upon, i.
293 ; flight of the secessionist troops from, i. 294.
Phillips, Wendell, hustled in Boston, i. 90.
Piatt, General, commendation of by General Pope, ii. 417.
Pickens, Governor, independence of South Carolina de
clared by, i. 47 ; correspondence of Major Anderson
with, respecting the attack on the Star of the West, i.
83-85.
Pierce, General, his unsuccessful attempt to surprise Lit
tle Bethel, i. 271-274 ; account of his unfortunate at
tempt on Big Bethel, i. 275-279 ; letter of to the Boston
Journal, i. 279.
Pierpont, Frank H., chosen provisional governor in West-
em Virginia, i. 299 ; first message of, i. 300-303 ; calls
upon the Federal government for military aid, i. 300 ;
reply of Secretary Cameron to, i. 300-304.
Pigeon's Ranche, New Mexico, battle of, ii. 209.
Pike, General Albert, Indian allies of the Confederates
commanded by, at the battles of Pea Ridge, ii. 58.
Pilot Knob, Mo., defence of by General Ewing, iii. 518.
Pillow, General, part taken by in the battle at Belmont,
Mo., i. 552 ; escape of from Fort Donelson, ii. 36.
Piracy, debate in the House of Lords relating to, i. 378.
Pirates, British, hanged by General Jackson, i. 379 ; South
ern privateers declared to be, i. 169.
Pittsburg, cannon detained at by the citizens, i. 66 ; pub
lic expression of loyalty by the citizens of, i. 67.
Pittsburg Landing, condition of the Union army at, ii.
139 ; negligent guard kept at, ii. 141 ; battle of, ii. 141
-146 ; second battle of, ii. 147-156 ; killed and wounded
at the battles of (note), ii. 155 ; Beauregard's Teport of
the two battles of (note), ii. 156-161 ; concentration of
troops at under General Halleck, ii. 162.
Planter, gun-boat, capture of by the negro pilot Robert
Smalls, ii. 279.
Pleasant Hill, battle of, iii. 312.
Pleasonton, General, at Antietam. ii. 448 ; his operations
against Price in Missouri, iii. 519-521. ^
Plots, secret, suspicion of in New York, i. 91.
Plymouth, N. C, prisoners made by Sergeant Green at,
ii. 521 ; siege of by General Hoke, iii. 327 ; surrender
of iii- 329 ; recapture of, iii. 573.
Pocotaligo Creek and Coosahatchie River, General Bran
nan's report of operations on, ii. 522-526 ; Beaure
gard's report, ii. 526. , . ,,
Police commissioners of Baltimore, protest of against the

arrest of Kane (note), i. 348 ; reply of General Banks to
(note), i. 349 ; arrest of by General Banks, i. 350.
Polk, General Leonidas, letter of to Governor Magoffin
justifying his occupation of Columbus, Ky., i. 488 ; res
olutions of the Kentucky legislature denouncing the
action of, i. 489 ; his report of the battle of Belmont,
Mo., i. 557 ; killed at Pine Mountain, iii. 384.
Poolesville, approach of General Stuart to, ii. 477.
Pontoons, Burnside delayed before Fredericksburg for want
of, ii. 540.
Pope, Captain, his report of Hollins' attack on the block
ading fleet below New Orleans, i. 529.
Pope, General John, operations of in Missouri, i. 471 ; his
report of operations in western Missouri, i. 658 ; prison
ers taken hy, i. 661 ; operations of against Island No.
10, ii. 137, and against Corinth, ii. 272 ; his pursuit of
Beauregard, ii. 273 ; appointed to command the Army
of Virginia, ii. 348 ; his address to the army, ii. 349 ;
Confederate response to the confiscation orders of, ii.
350 ; letter of Jefferson Davis in relation to the orders
of, ii. 352 ; movements of in Virginia, ii. 353 ; his re
port of the battle of Cedar Mountain, ii. 354-357 ; Gen
eral Halleck's congratulatory letter to (note), ii. 357;
his report of his Virginia campaign, ii. 382-418 ; pipu-
lar censure of, ii. 418 ; transferred to the Department
of the Northwest, ii. 418.
.Population of Northern and Southern States, i. 360.
Porter, Admiral, biographical sketch of (note), ii. 175 ;
mortar boats in the New Orleans expedition commanded
by, ii. 173 ; his report of operations against Forts Jack
son and St. Philip, La., ii. 190-205 ; report of in rela
tion to the gun-boat Arkansas, ii. 297 ; his report of
operations against Arkansas Post, ii. 582-584 ; Vicks
burg batteries passed by the fleet of, ii. 644 ; services
of at the siege of Vicksburg, ii. 669 ; operations of at
Grand Gulf, ii. 674-678 ; his capture of Haines' Bluff
and fourteen forts, ii. 677 ; his report of an attack on
the Vicksburg batteries, ii. 678 ; his fleet of steamers in
the Red River expedition, iii. 308 ; perilous return of
his vessels down the Red River, iii. 313-315 ; his expe
dition against Fort Fisher in connection with Generals
Butler and Weitzel, iii. 578-585 ; his letter in reply to
General Butler, iii. 584 ; his second expedition against
Fort Fisher, iii. 585-591.
Porter, General, made provost-marshal at Washington, i.
570 ; Pope's complaints of the conduct of in the Vir
ginia campaign, ii. 401, 403, 404, 406, 414 ; at Antie
tam, ii. 434.
Port Gibson, movement of General Grant's forces toward,
ii. 645.
Port Hudson, situation and defences of, iii. 16, 17 ; disas
trous assaults made on by General Banks, iii. 17, 18 ;
continued siege of, iii. 19-21 ; passage of the batteries
at by Admiral Farragut, iii. 23-27 ; surrender of to
General Banks, iii. 21.
Port Republic, bridge at carried by General Jackson, ii. 263.
Port Royal, S. C, details of the expedition against, i.
598-609 ; description of, i. 601-603 ; defences of, i.
602-605 ; mode of attack on the forts at, i. 606 ; Con
federate account of the defence of (note), i. 607-609 ;
expectations not realized from the expedition against, i.
610 ; inactivity of Union troops at, ii. 77 ; condition of
negroes at, ii. 77.

728

ANALYTICAL INDEX?

Portsmouth, destruction of the navy-yard at by General
Huger, ii. 231.
Potomac, fortifications on the, rapidly extended, i. 672 ;
skirmishes on, i. 572 ; Confederate batteries on, i. 592 ;
limits of the military department of (note), ii. 119 ; oper
ations of General McDowell on the, ii. 130.
Potosi, Mo., munitions of war seized at by Captain Coles,
i. 253.
Potter, General, repulse of his division near Fort McRae,
Va., iii. 504.
Powhatan, steam sloop, sent with reinforcements to Fort
Sumter, i. 139.
Powell, Lewis Payne, his attempt to assassinate Secretary
Seward, iii. 662.
Prairie Grove, General Blunt's report of the battle of, ii.
561.
Preamble of the Confederate Constitution, i. 92.
Prentiss, General, made prisoner with three regiments at
Pittsburg Landing, ii. 134 ; his repulse of General
Price at Helena, ii. 69, 70.
President's message (Buchanan's) of December 4th, 1860,
i. 22-36 ; (Lincoln's) first, i. 119 ; of July 5th, 1861, i.
353 ; of December 1st, 1862, ii. 629 ; of December 7th,
1863, iii. 284.
Press, British, language of offensive to Northern senti
ment, i. 374.
Press, Northern, unanimous in favor of war after the fall
of Fort Sumter, i. 163 ; enthusiastic loyalty of, i.
164; McClellan's suggestions to the, i. 571.
Press, Northern Democratic, on the call for troops after
the fall of Fort Sumter, i. 166.
Press, Southern, earnest appeals of, ii. 116.
Prestonburg, Ky. , defeat of General Marshall at by Colo
nel Garfield, ii. 15.
Price, Captain, a fort in the Richmond defences captured
by, iii. 512.
Price, General Sterling, biographical sketch of, i. 434 ;
truce made by with General Harney in Missouri, i.
254 ; his report of the Biege and surrender of Lexing
ton, Mo., i. 452-454; pursuit of by Fremont, i. 460 ;
driven out of Springfield by General Curtis, i. 663 ; de
feat of at Sugar Greek, i. 664 ; pursuit of into Arkansas
by General Curtis, ii. 49 ; defeat of at the battle of
Iuka, ii. 506-510 ; repulsed at Helena by General Pren
tiss, iii. 69, 70 ; his disastrous invasion of Missouri, iii.
517-521.
Prices in Vicksburg during the siege, iii. 7.
Prince de Joinville's account of McClellan's retreat from
the Chickahominy, ii. 313-320.
Prisoners of war, cruel treatment of in the South, iii. 277-
280, 679-686 ; the Secretary of War on the exchange
of, iii. 290 ; put to hard labor by General Butler, iii.
506.
Pritchard, Colonel, account of his capture of Jefferson
Davis, iii. 676.
Privateering, debate in the House of Lords relating to, i.
378 ; remarks of Lord Brougham on, i. 378, 379 ; pro
position of Mr. Seward to assent to the action of the
Congress of Paris abolishing, i. 515,.
Privateers, Southern, declared to be pirates, i. 169 ; feel
ing in the- North with regard to, i. 170 ; threat of the
President to treat them aspirates, i. 171 ; proclamation
in relation to, i. 171 ; depredations of, i. 514-527. ' |

Proclamation, Beauregard's, from Camp Pickens, Va., i. 386.
Proclamation, Butler's, at Baltimore, i. 226-228.
Proclamation, Fremont's, establishing martial law in
Missouri, i. 456 ; ordered to be modified by President
Lincoln, i. 457 ; letter of Holt to the President in rela
tion to, i. 457.
Proclamation, Governor Hicks', calling for volunteers, i.
228.
Proclamation, Governor of Arkansas, ii. 210.
Proclamation, Governor of North Carolina's, April 26th,
1861, i. 230.
Proclamation, Jefferson Davis' , offering letters of marque.
i. 169.
Proclamation, McClellan's, at Grafton, Va., i. 333.
Proclamation, neutrality, issued by the British Govern
ment, i. 375-377.
Proclamation, President Lincoln's, calling for seventy-fivo
thousand militia after the fall of Fort Sumter, i. 163 :
replies of Southern governors, i. 168 ; in relation to
Southern privateers, and the blockade of Southern ports,
i. 169; calling for volunteers for three years, i. 220 ;
response of Northern States, i. 221 ; in relation to the
Confiscation Act (note), ii. 307 ; emancipating slaves, ii.
529 ; his second emancipation, ii. 636 ; public opinion
in Europe respecting it, ii. 639, 640 ; establishing mar
tial law and suspending the habeas corpus (note), ii.
633; of May 8th, 1863, ordering a draft, iii. 175;
offering annesty, iii. 286-288.
Products of free and slave States, comparative value of,
i. 368, 369.
Protest of Senators against the act to define and punish
conspiracies, i. 358.
Provisions, scarcity of in the South, iii. 294.
Pulaski, General Schofield directed to assume command
at, iii. 657 ; evacuation of by General Schofield, iii. 559.
Putman, Colonel, killed in the assault on Fort Wagner,
iii. 100. Q.
Quantrell, his invasion of Kansas, iii. 62 ; Gen. Ewing's
report of the pursuit of, iii. 62-65 ; his attack on Gen
eral Blunt's command, iii. 72.
Queen of the West steamer, account of her fight with
the Vicksburg, ii. 669 ; loss of the ii. 671-673.
Questions proposed to Abraham Lincoln in relation to
slavery, i. 17. R.
Raid of General Stuart on the Peninsula, ii. 299-305.
Rail-splitting feat of Abraham Lincoln, i. 14.
Raleigh Standard, mobbed for its Union sentiments, iii. 79.
Rams, attempts by means of to raise the blockade of
Charleston, ii. 603-606 ; at Liverpool, supposed to be
building for the Confederates, iii. 202-204.
Rapidan, battle on the, iii. 269.
Rappahannock, operations of General McDowell on the, ii.
131 ; retreat of General Pope's army over the, ii. 393 ;
recrossing of prevented by rains, ii. 395 ; line of the
abandoned by General Pope, ii. 399 ; crossing of by-
General Burnside, at Fredericksburg, ii. 542 ; hia
recrossing, ii. 547 ; General Hooker's nine days' cam
paign on the, iii. 118-131.
Rappahannock Station, General Pope's entire force at, ii.
395 ; battle of, iii. 268.
Raymond, battle of, ii. 648.

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

729

Reagan, John H., position of, in the Confederate cabinet,
i. 93 ; taken prisoner with Jefferson Davis, iii. 675.
Reams' Station, battle of, iii. 477.
Reconstruction measures after the close of the war, iii.
698-701.
Bed River, blockade of the by Admiral Farragut, iii. 28,
29 ; naval engagement on the, iii. 29.
Red River expedition, iii. 307-316 ; situation of Shreve
port, iii. 307 ; land naval forces, iii. 308 ; operations on
the Atchafalaya, iii. 308 ; account of the capture of
Fort de Russey by General A. J. Smith, iii. 308, 309 ;
occupation of Alexandria by General Banks' forces, iii.
309 ; skirmish near Natchitoches, iii. 309 ; General
Banks' march from Natchitoches toward Shreveport,
iii. 310 ; battle of Sabine Cross Roads, iii. 310, 311 ; re
treat of General Banks to Pleasant Hill, iii. 311 ; battle
of Pleasant Hill won by General A. J. Smith, iii. 312 ;
Admiral Porter at Grand Ecore, iii. 312 ; perilous return
of the fleet down the river, iii. 313 ; passage of batter
ies, iii. 314 ; fleet released by means of a dam erected by
Lieut.-Col. Bailey, iii. 314, 315 ; Alexandria evacuated
and burnt, iii. 315, 316 ; abandonment of the expedi
tion, iii. 316 ; co-operative movements of General Steele
m Arkansas, iii. 316-318.
Beeder, Governor of Arkansas, his reply to the President's
call for troops, i. 169.
Relay House, taken possession of by General Butler, i.
213 ; action of General Butler at, i. 221.
Eeno, General, part assigned to in the attack ou Newbern,
ii. 73 ; demonstration of against Norfolk, ii. 171 ;
General Pope's testimony to the gallantry of, ii. 415.
Benshaw, Commander, Galveston captured by, ii. 597 ;
death of in the explosion of the Westfield, ii. 601.
Report of the Secretary of the Navy for 1863, iii. 290.
Report of the Secretary of the Treasury for 1863, iii.
288.
Report of the Secretary of War for 1863, iii. 289.
Reports of the Secretaries made to Congress December,
1862, ii. 630.
Republican Convention of 1860, i. 10, 19.
Republican party in the United States, origin and history
of, i. 6-11.
Resaea, General Johnston driven out of by General Sher
man, iii. 379-381 ; capture of by General Hood, iii. 531.
Resignation of army and navy offiors at the outbreak of
the rebellion, i. 66, 129.
Resources of Northern and Soutnern States compared, i.
359-370 ; population in 1860, i. 359 ; proportion of
white males between eighteen and forty-five, i. 360 ;
value of slaves to the South in a military point of view,
iii. 361 ; agricultural pursuits easily adapted to the
necessities of war, i. 361 ; soldiers in the field in the
seceded States in October, 1861, i. 362 ; table show
ing the relative capacity of the States to supply
soldiers i. 362; entire numerical strength of the
Federal' armies, July 2d, 1862, i. 363 ; sentiment of the
people in both sections, i. 363-365 ; material resources,
i 365 ; munitions of war in the South at the beginning
of the war, i. 365, 366 ; inferiority of the Southern
marine i 366 ; condition of the Federal navy at the
beginning of the conflict, iii. 367, 368 ; agricultural re
sources, i. 368, 369 ; manufactures, i. 369 ; area, l. 370.
Results of the war, iii. 694. 260

Revenue cutter, "William Aiken," betrayed to the
secessionists, i. 81.
Review of the Seven Days' battles on the PeninBula, ii.
340-344.
Rewards offered for the arrest of Jefferson Davis and
others, iii. 674.
Reynolds, General J. J., operations of in Western Vir
ginia, 504-509.
Rhoddy, General, driven over the Tennessee by Colonel
Phillips, iii. 301.
Rice, General, death of at Spottsylvania Court-House, iii.
348.
Richardson, General, at Antietam, ii. 431, 437, 443; mor
tally wounded, ii. 431, 445.
Richmond, retreat of the Confederates toward, after the
battle of Williamsburg, ii. 236 ; visit of M. Mercier to,
ii. 616 ; General Butler's scheme for the capture of by
surprise, iii. 333 ; cavalry raid of General Kilpatrick
and Colonel Dahlgren to, iii. 334-337 ; movement of
General Grant against with the view of drawing Lee's
troops from Petersburg, iii. 459-462 ; demonstration
made against by the tenth and second corps, iii. 469-
472 ; movements of the Army of the James toward,
iii. 500-503, 504-507, 508, 509 ; evacuation of by the
Confederates, iii. 653 ; views of Jefferson Davis on the
evacuation of, iii. 671 .
Bichmond convention, delegates from Western Virginia
opposed to secession, i. 239.
Rich Mountain, battle of, i. 334 ; Confederate account of
the battle of, i. 342.
Rifle cannon, English, used at the siege of Fort Sumter, i.
146.
Binaldo, gun-boat, Mason and Slidell taken on board of
from Fort Warren, i . 647 .
Riot at Baltimore, i. 186-190 ; arrival of the Sixth Regi
ment of Massachusetts militia ; i. 186 ; railroad track
obstructed, i. 187 ; fight between the mob and the sol
diers, i. 187 ; killed and wounded, i. 189 ; Captain Fol-
lembec's account (note), i. 189 ; city and State authori
ties powerless, i. 190.
Riot at Dayton, Ohio, iii. 47.
Riots at Albany and Philadelphia, iii. 53.
Riots in New York occasioned by the attempted enforce
ment of the draft, iii. 177-190 ; provost-marshal's of
fice set on fire, iii. 178 ; Bullls Head Hotel and Colored
Orphan Asylum burnt, iii. 178 ; enrolling office burnt,
iii 179 ; the Governor's proclamation, iii. 179 ; Herald
reporter's account, iii. 181-184, 186-189 ; Col. O'Brien
killed and mutilated, iii. 183 ; cruel treatment of ne
groes, iii. 185, 189 ; address of Archbishop Hughes, iii.
185 ; ' money voted by the aldermen, iii. 185 ; Mayor
Opdyke's proclamation, iii. 190 ; large number of troops
ordered to the city, iii. 190.
Eiver's bridge, on the Salkahatchie, carried by Generals
Mower and G. A. Smith, iii. 597.
Roane, General, assumes command of the Confederate
forces in Arkansas after the retreat of Price and Van
Dom, ii. 211.
Roanoke Island, description of and of the neighboring
waters (note), ii. 62 ; capture of, ii. 62-66.
Roanoke Biver, Macomb's gun-boat expedition on, iii.
515 ; Colonel Frankle's expedition on, iii. 585.
Eoberts, General, commendation of by Gen. Pope, U. 417.

730

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

Robinson, Captain, Fort McHenry preserved by the reso
lution of, i. 221.
Rochester, abolition meetings broken up at by citizens, i.
90.
Rockingham County, Va., destruction effected in by Sher
idan's troops, iii. 492.
Rodgers, Captain, killed in the attack on Fort Wagner,
iii. 103.
Rodgers, Commander C. R. P., his report of the occupa
tion of Warsaw Island (note), i. 615 ; his report of the
expedition against Seabrook, S. C, i. 619-621 ; his re
port of the surrender of St. Augustine, ii. 85.
Rodgers, Commodore, expedition of up the James River,
ii. 233-235 ; services of at Malvern Hill, ii. 313.
Rodman, General, at Antietam, ii. 450, 451.
Roebuck, Mr., speech of in favor of "recognition," iii.
207.
Romney, Va., capture of by Colonel Wallace, i. 297 ; cap
ture of by General Kelley, i. 510 ; Confederate account
of the capture of (note), i. 510.
Rosecrans, General William S. , biographical sketch of, i.
495 ; sent against Colonel Pegram at Rich Mountain, i.
333 ; defeat of Colonel Pegram, i. 334 ; operations of
on the Gauley River, i. 496-504 ; account of his defeat
of Price at Iuka, ii. 506-510 ; retreat of to Corinth, ii.
510 ; account of his defeat of Price and Van Dorn at
Corinth, ii. 510-514 ; his report of the repulse of Van
Dorn and Lovell (note), ii. 510 ; his report of the battle
of Corinth, ii. 516-521 ; advance against Gen. Bragg at
Murfreesboro, ii. 586 ; his report of the battle of Mur
freesboro or Stone Creek, ii. 587-595, his report of ope
rations in Middle Tennessee, iii. 31-39 ; his report of
operations closing with the battle of Chickamauga, iii.
213-230 ; retires within the intrenchments of Chatta
nooga, iii. 230 ; his communications attacked by Forrest
and Wheeler, iii. 231 ; superseded by General Thomas,
iii. 233 ; measures taken by in Missouri to repel the in
vasion of Price, iii. 517.
Rosser, General, raid of on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road, iii. 499.
Rost, Mr. sent as commissioner to France by the Confed
erate States, i. 372.
Rouse, Lieutenant, improper parolement of, hy Colonel
Miles, ii. 469, 472.
Rousseau, General, at the battle of Chaplin Hills, ii. 487,
490, 491 ; his cavalry raid from Decatur to Marietta, iii.
389.
Rowan, Commander, Captain Lynch's flotilla destroyed
by in the harbor of Elizabeth City, ii. 66 ; services of in
the capture of Newbern, ii. 74 ; operations of against
the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, ii. 170.
Russell, Lord John, remarks of in the House of Commons
on American affairs, i. 373 ; opinion of on the war with
the South, i. 622 ; dispatch of demanding the surrender
of Mason and Slidell (note), i. 632 ; language of in rela
tion to American affairs, ii. 613 ; on President Lincoln's
emancipation proclamation, ii. 639 ; remarks of in rela
tion to supposed Confederate rams, iii. 202.
Russell, Mr. his account of the flight of the Federal army
from Bull Run, i. 410.
Russellville, Ky., secession convention held at, ii. 6.
Russia, attitude of toward the United States at the begin
ning of the war, i. 380.

Rutherford's Creek, Wilson's pursuit of Hood obstructed
by, iii. 568. S.
Sabine. City, expedition sent against by General Banks,
iii. 254.
Sabine Cross Roads, battle of, iii. 311.
Sabine Pass, capture of by Acting-Master Crooker, ii. 598 ;
recapture of by Major O. M. Watkins, ii. 602 ; unsuc
cessful naval attack upon, iii. 255-259.
St. Albans' banks robbery, iii. 679.
St. Augustine, Fla., surrender of to Commodore Dupont,
ii. 85.
St. John's River, Fla., expedition to, ii. 84.
St. Lawrence, frigate, capture of the privateer Petrel by,
i. 524.
St. Louis, arsenal at saved from the secessionists, i. 246 ;
Union volunteers raised at, i. 247 ; mobs at attack
Union volunteers, i. 249, 250 ; collision betwe*en citi
zens of and the troops of Colonel Kallmau, i. 318 ;
General Fremont's conduct at, i. 459 ; repression of
secessionists in by General nalleck, i. 658 ; threatened
by Price in the fall of 1864, iii. 519.
St. Nicholas, steamer, details of the capture of by a
" French Lady" (note), i. 526.
Salem Heights, battle of (note), iii. 129, 130.
Salines Crossing, Ark., battle of, iii. 317, 318.
Salisbury, N. C, battle of, iii. 613.
Salkahatchie River, the passage of forced by Generals
Mower and G. A. Smith, iii. 597.
Saltworks in Florida, destruction of, iii. 276.
Saltworks in Virginia, expedition of General Burbridge
against, iii. 522 ; destruction of by Stoneman's troops,
iii. 525.
San Antonio, Texas, surrender of the arsenal at by General
Twiggs to the State authorities, i. 129.
San Jacinto, steamer, the English mail steamer Trent in
tercepted by, i. 627.
Santa Rosa Island, night attack upon Billy Wilson's regi
ment at, i. 558-564 ; Colonel Harvey Brown's report of
the attack upon, i. 560-564 ; Billy Wilson's report,
i. 563.
Sassacus, gun-boat, her contest with the Confederate ram
Albemarle, iii. 331.
Savage Station, battle of, ii. 330.
Savannah, New York vessels seized in the harbor of, i.
91 ; approach of General Sherman's forces to on the
march from Atlanta, iii. 545 ; investment of by Sher
man, iii. 549 ; escape of General Hardee from, iii. 550 ;
occupation of by the troops of General Sherman, iii.
550 ; Sherman's dispatch announcing the fall of, iii. 550 ;
General Geary appointed military governor of, iii. 551 ;
field orders in relation to the preservation of order in,
iii. 651 ; conduct of the people of, iii. 552 ; left by
Sherman in charge of General Foster, iii. 596.
Savannah, Southern privateer, cruise and capture of, i.
517 ; officers and crew of committed for trial as pirates,
i. 519.
Saunders, Gen., mortally wounded near Knoxville, iii. 244.
Schenck, General, unfortunate expedition of toward Vi
enna, Va., i. 323-326.
Schoepf, General Alvin, biographical sketch of, ii. 23 ;
defeats General Zollicoffer at Camp Wild Cat, Ky., ii.
8 ; at the battle of Chaplin Hills, ii. 489.

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

731

Schofield, General, drives the rebel forces out of Missouri,
ii. 627 ; and defeats them at Maysville, ii. 527 ; retreats
to Springfield, ii. 528 ; in command of the Army of the
Ohio under Sherman, iii. 376 ; retreat of from Pulaski
to Franklin before Hood, iii. 559 ; his repulse of Hood
at Franklin, iii. 561 ; falls back to Nashville, iii. 562 ;
sent to North Carolina with his corps, iii. 692 ; oper
ations of against Wilmington, iii. 593-595 ; movements
of from Wilmington to Goldsboro, iii. 607-609.
Scholefield, Mr., extract from a speech of at Birmingham
on American affairs, ii. 615.
Schurz, General Carl, at the battle of Chancellorsville
iii. 120.
Scott, General Winfield, letter of to President Buchanan
in October, 1860, i. 39 ; safety of Washington secured by,
i. 91 ; confession of after the battle of Bull Run, i!
569 ; his letter of resignation, i. 595 ; order read to by
President Lincoln, i. 596 ; remarks of in reply to the
President, i. 596 ; letter of Secretary Cameron to, i. 597 ;
tribute of General McClellan to the character of, i. 597.
Seabrook, S. C, expedition against, i. 618-621 ; destruc
tion of Confederate works, i. 621.
Sea King, screw steamer. See Shenandoah.
Secession, early threats of made by Southern leaders, i. 7 ;
advocated by the Southern press, i. 8 ; reasons given
for by the Convention of South Carolina, i. 47-51 ;
action in relation to taken in the Maryland legislature,
i. 213.
Secession of Tennessee, i. 231-237.
Secession ordinance of South Carolina, i. 46 ; passed in
Alabama and Florida, i. 85 ; in Georgia, i. 86 ; in Mis
sissippi, i. 185.
Secessionville, repulse of General Benham at, ii. 281 ; de
scription of (note), ii. 281.
Sedalia, Mo. , General Price at, iii. 520.
Sedgwick, General John, biographical sketch of, iii. 346 ;
at Antietam, ii. 431-441 ; at Fredericksburg, iii. 125-
129 ; defeat of at Salem Heights, iii. 129 ; death of, iii.
346.
Seizure by the rebels of Forts Pulaski, Macon, and Mor
gan, i. 82.
Selma, approach of General Wilson to, iii. 625 ; defences
of carried by assault, iii. 626 ; General Winslow left in
command of, iii. 627.
Selma, gun-boat, capture of by the Metacomet, iii. 418.
Semmes, Captain Baphael, biographical sketch of, ii. 426 ;
his vessel, the Alabama, sunk by the Kearsarge, iii.
430 ; his escape in the Deerhound to England, iii. 430 ;
intrusted with the defence of Danville after the evacu
ation of Petersburg and Richmond, iii. 673. See Ala
bama.
Senators, Southern, departure of from Washington, i. 89.
Seven Days' battles in front of Richmond, General
McClellan's report of, ii. 308-313 ; Prince de Joinville's
account of, ii. 313-320 ; Confederate account, ii. 321-
340 ; Confederate killed and wounded in, ii. 345.
Seven Pines, battle of, ii. 240-247 ; General Johnston's
report (note), ii. 247 ; killed and wounded at (note), ii.
245, 246.
Seventh Regiment, the New York, departure of for
Washington, i. 195 ; details of the adventures of on the
way to Washington, i. 195-203.
Sewall's Point, opposite Fortress Monroe, attack upon by

gun-boats, ii. 229 ; fortified by the Virginians, i. 266 ;
attack upon by Captains Eagle and Ward, i. 267.
Seward, William H., biographical sketch of, i. 122-124;
speech of in December, 1860, on Southern disaffection, i.
41-43 ; appointed Secretary of State in President Lin
coln's cabinet, i. 122 ; reply of to the Montgomery
commissioners, i. 130 ; letter of to Governor Hicks in
relation to the passage of troops through Baltimore, i.
193 ; dispatches of in relation to the Trent affair (note),
i. 631, 633-640 ; reply of to the dispatch of the French
government proposing an armistice, ii. 624-629 ; Payne's
attempt to assassinate, iii. 662.
Seymour, General, his operations in Florida, iii. 323-326 ;
occupation of Jacksonville, iii. 323 ; advance of Colonel
Henry toward Sanderson, iii. 323 ; rapid advance of
General Seymour, iii. 324 ; battle of Olustee, iii. 325 ;
the retreat to Jacksonville, iii. 326.
Seymour, Governor Horatio, language of in relation to the
arrest of Vallandigham, iii. 52 ; proclamation of on the
occasion of the New York draft riots, iii. 179.
Shackelford, General, his pursuit and capture of Morgan,
iii. 45 ; driven from Bean Station by Bushrod Johnson,
iii. 249-251.
Shelbyville, General Polk's corps at, iii. 32.
Shenandoah, Confederate cruiser, history of, iii. 688-691 ;
description of, iii. 688 ; at Melbourne, iii. 689 ; ravages of
in the Arctic Ocean, etc., iii. 689; surrender at Liver
pool, iii. 690 ; letter of Captain Waddell giving an
account of her cruise (note), iii. 690; letter of Mr. Seward
in relation to the surrender of, iii. 691 ; sold at Liver
pool (note), iii. 691.
Shenandoah Valley, operations of General Banks in, ii.
120-126 ; the advance to Winchester, ii. 121 ; Gene
ral Shields' report of the battle of Winchester, ii. 121-
125 ; forces and losses on both sides (note), ii. 125 ;
advance to Mount Jackson, New Market, and Sparta, i:
126 ; occupation of Front Royal and Strasburg, ii. 249 ;
Stonewall Jackson's movement on Front Royal, ii.
250, 251 ; the retreat of Banks from Strasburg to Win
chester, ii. 252 -255 ; General Banks' account of his
re-treat, ii. 251-258 ; Union losses, ii. 258 ; retreat and
pursuit of Jackson, ii. 260-264 ; measure of General
Pope for the security of the valley, ii. 383 ; movement
of General Early down after the retreat of General
Hunter from Lynchburg, iii. 370 ; Sheridan's operations
in, iii. 481-499 ; comparative forces of Sheridan and
Early, iii. 482 ; the fighting near Newtown, iii. 483 ;
advance of Sheridan to Cedar Creek and Strasburg, iii.
483 ; supply train surprised by Mosby, iii. 484 ; retreat
of Sheridan, iii. 484 ; fight at Crooked Run, iii. 485 ;
gallantry of Colonel Penrose, iii. 485 ; evacuation of
Martinsburg by Colonel Averill, iii. 486 ; panic in
Maryland, iii. 486 ; Sheridan at Bolivar Heights and
Halltown, iii. 487 ; Sheridan resumes the offensive, iii.
488 ; defeat of General Early at Winchester, iii. 489 ;
Early driven from Fisher's Hill, iii. 490 ; pursued to
Brown's Gap, iii. 491 ; devastation of the valley by
Sheridan's troops, iii. 491-493 ; property destroyed in
Rockingham County and in Luray and Little Fork
valleys, iii. 492 ; return of Sheridan to Cedar Creek, iii.
493 ; the Federalists surprised and routed at Cedar
Creek by Early, iii. 495 ; battle of Middletown, iii. 497 ;
retreat of Early to Mount Jackson and New Market, iii.

732

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

498; further movements of Generals Sheridan and
Early, iii. 499.
Sheridan, General, his raid against Lee's communications
with Richmond, iii. 849, 350 ; expedition of against the
railroad between Gordonsville and Charlotteville, iii.
368 ; appointed to command the Middle Military Divi
sion, iii. 375 ; operations of in the Shenandoah valley
against Early, iii. 481-499 ; his great raid from Win
chester toward Lynchburg and along the James, iii.
640-643 ; operations of concluding with the battle of
Five Forks, iii. 648-651 ; his pursuit of Lee's forces to
Jettersville, iii. 653-655 ; comes up with Lee at Deaton
ville, iii. 656 ; gives the final check to Lee's cavalry at
Appomattox Station, iii. 657 ; sent to Texas to operate
against Kirby Smith, iii. 670.
Sherman, Brigadier- General T. W., biographical sketch of,
i. 600 ; commands the land forces in the Port Boyal ex
pedition, i. 600 ; proclamation of to the people of South
Carolina (note), i. 611.
Sherman, Major-General W. T, appointed to command
the Federal forces in Kentucky, i. 493 ; superseded by
General Buell, i. 494 ; gallantry of at the battle of
Pittsburg Landing, ii. 144 ; report of after the second
battle of Shiloh (note), ii. 154 ; operations of against
Vicksburg, ii. 567-582 ; expedition of from Vicksburg
to Meridian, iii. 302-304 ; his return to Vicksburg, iii.
304 ; assumes command of the military division of the
Mississippi, iii. 341 ; details of his Atlanta campaign,
iii. 376-409 ; composition of the three armies under his
command, iii. 376 ; turns Johnston's position at Dalton,
iii. 378 ; attacks Johnston at Resaca, iii. 379 ; compels
Johnston to evacuate Resaca, iii. 380 ; captures Allatoo
na Pass, iii. 382 ; compels Johnston to evacuate his po
sitions on Kenesaw, Pine, and Lost Mountains, iii. 383-
386 ; his march to the Chattahochee, iii. 386, 387 ;
crosses the Chattahochee, iii. 389 ; series of operations
against Atlanta, iii. 390-404 ; his removal of civilians
from Atlanta, iii. 406 ; correspondence of with General
Hood and Mayor Calhoun in relation to the removal of
civilians (notes), iii. 406-408 ; his operations against
Hood after the fall of Atlanta, iii. 526-532 ; General
Corse's defence of Allatoona Pass, iii. 529 ; pursuit of
Hood to Resaca, iii. 531 ; retreat of Hood to Gadsden,
iii. 532 ; new plan of campaign, iii. 533 ; preparations
for the great march through Georgia, iii. 535 ; special
field orders to regulate the conduct of troops on the
march (note), iii. 535 ; burning of Atlanta, iii. 636 ;
order of march, iii. 537 ; Macon threatened, iii. 539 ;
occupation of Milledgeville, iii. 540 ; appeals of Con
federate leaders to the people of Georgia, iii. 542 ;
crossing of the Oconee, iii. 643 ; Kilpatrick defeats
Wheeler at Waynesboro, iii. 544 ; crossing the Ogeechee,
iii. 544 ; approach to Savannah, iii. 545 ; capture of
Fort McAllister by General Hazen, iii. 548 ; communi
cation effected with the fleet, iii. 549 ; investment of
Savannah, iii. 549 ; evacuation of Savannah by General
Hardee, iii. 550 ; enormous waste and destruction effect
ed by the army on the march to Atlanta, iii. 551 ; the
march from Savannah to Goldsboro, iii. 595-609 ; deten
tion by floods, iii. 596, 597 ; crossing the Salkahatchie,
¦ iii. 597 ; movement on Orangeburg, iii. 598 ; Augusta
threatened, iii. 544, 698 ; advance to the Congaree, iii.
599 ; occupation of Columbia, iii. 599 ; burning of Co

lumbia, iii. 600 ; correspondence with Wade Hampton
in relation to the burning of Columbia, etc. (note) , iii.
600, 601 ; advance to Cheraw, iii. 602 ; Kilpatrick sur
prised by Wade Hampton, iii. 603 ; destruction of the
old arsenal at Fayetteville, iii. 603 ; battle of Averys
boro, iii. 604 ; battle of Bentonville, iii. 605 ; Tetreat of
Johnston to Smithfield, iii. 606 ; junction with the
force under General Schofield at Goldsboro, iii. 606-609 ;
final operations against Johnston in North Carolina, iii.
666-670 ; pursuit of Johnston to Smithfield, iii. 666 ;
rapid retreat of Johnston, iii. 667 ; conference between
Johnston and Sherman, iii. 667 ; second conference, iii.
668 ; basis of agreement (note), iii. 668 ; reasons of Sec
retary Stanton for disapproving the basis of agreement,
iii. 669 ; surrender of the army of Johnston, iii. 669.
Shields, General James, biographical sketch of (note), ii.
125 ; operations of in the valley of the Shenandoah, ii.
121 ; his report of the first battle of Winchester, ii.
121-125.
Shiloh, first battle of, ii. 141-146 ; second battle, ii. 147-
156 ; Beauregard's report of the two battles of (note), ii.
156-161.
Ship Island, occupation of by General Phelps, i. 653 ; de
scription of, i. 653.
Shreveport, -La. , situation and importance of, iii. 307.
Sibley, General, his invasion of New Mexico with a body
of Texans, ii. 206 ; his proclamation in New Mexico
(note), ii. 207.
Sickles, General, important services of at the battle of
Chancellorsville, iii. 123.
Siege of —
Atlanta, iii. 376-409.
Charleston, ii. 280-286, iii. 80-90, 92-111, 274, 610. 611.
Corinth, ii. 271, 510.
Fort Anderson, iii. 591-593.
Fort Donelson, ii. 31-36.
Fort Fisher, iii. 577-585, 585-591
Fort Henry, ii. 27, 28.
Fort McAllister, ii. 611, iii. 548.
Fort Macon, ii. 165-169.
Fort Morgan, iii. 423.
Fort Pillow, iii. 319, 320.
Fort Pulaski, ii. 78-82.
Fort Sumter by Beauregard, i. 135-156.
Fort Wagner, iii. 92-107.
Harper's Ferry, ii. 455-465.
Hatteras Forts, i. 531-543.
Knoxville, iii. 243-248.
Lexington, Mo., i. 445-449.
Memphis, ii. 267-269.
Mobile, iii. 614-621.
Mobile Forts, iii. 410-424.
Nashville, iii. 562.
Newbern, ii. 68-75.
New Orleans, ii. 173-193.
Petersburg, iii. 437-481, 600-516, 636-640, 643-651.
Plymouth, iii. 327-329.
Port Hudson, iii. 17-21.
Port Royal, i. 598-609.
Savannah, iii. 545-550.
Vicksburg, ii. 281-298, 567-582, 640-658.
Wilmington, iii. 575-595.
Yorktown, ii. 212-218.

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

733

Sigel, General Franz, biographical sketch of, i. 426 ; his
conduct at the battle of Carthage, i. 427 ; his retreat to
Carthage and Sarcoxie, i. 428 ; his report of the battle
of Wilson's Creek, i. 440-442 ; conducts the retreat to
Rolla, i. 444 ; services of at the second battle of Pea
Ridge, ii. 55, 56 ; appointed major-general, ii. 58 ; val
uable services of in General Pope's Virginia campaign,
ii. 415 ; commendation of by Pope, ii. 415 ; defeat of at
New Market, iii. 366 ; driven out of the Shenandoah
valley, iii. 371.
Sister's Ferry, General Slocum at, iii. 597.
" S. J. Waring," capture and recapture of the, i. 520.
Slavery, opinions of Abraham Lincoln in relation to, in
1837, i. 15; in 1858, i. 17-19; speech of A. H. Ste
phens on the subject of, i. 100 ; premature action of
Fremont in relation to in Missouri, i. 454-458 ; the ab
olition of one of the great results of the war, iii. 695.
Slaves, regulations respecting, in the Confederate consti
tution, i. 93 ; how far an element of Southern military
strength, i. 361 ; Jefferson Davis' order in relation to
when taken in arms, ii. 639 ; gradual emancipation of
in Missouri, iii. 59 ; mortality among during the war,
iii. 694.
Slaves, fugitive, language of President Lincoln in regard
to the surrender of, i. 113 ; excluded by General Hal
leck from Federal camps, i. 658 ; article of war in rela
tion to, ii. 530.
Slave States, opinion of Abraham Lincoln as to the ad
mission of more, i. 17, 18 ; comparative value- of the
products of, i. 368, 369 ; area of i. 370.
Slave trade, hope of the revival of held out to the mean
whites of the South, i. 8 ; forbidden by the Confederate
constitution, i. 93.
Slave trade between States, opinion of Abraham Lincoln
as to, i. 17, 18.
Slemmer, Lieutenant, Fort Pickens preserved to the Uni
ted States by, i. 160.
Slidell and Mason. See Mason and Slidell.
Slidell, John, biographical sketch of, i. 623.
Slocum, General, appointed to succeed Hooker in com
mand of the twentieth corps, iii. 399 ; defeats Hardee
near Averysboro, iii. 605 ; repulses Johnston near Ben-
t&nville, iii. 605.
Small-pox, South Carolina convention adjourned to avoid,
i 46.
Smalls, Robert, account of his capture of the gun-boat
Planter, ii. 280. . .
Smith, Caleb B., appointed Secretary of the Interior m
Lincoln's cabinet, i. 122.
Smithfield, retreat of General Johnston to after the battle
of Bentonville, iii. 606.
Smith, General A. J., his capture of Fort de Russey m.
308 • services of at the battle of Pleasant Hill, m. 312 ;
defeats Marmaduke and Forrest, iii. 518 ; movements
of against Price, iii. 518, 519, 521.
Smith, General Kirby, operations of in Kentucky, u. 480
-482 ; surrender of, iii. 671.
Smith, General William S.. movement of his cavalry col
umn from Colliersville toward Meridian, in. 305 ; driven
back by Forrest, iii. 306. ^
finifker's Gan, massacre at, iii. 486,
SoldSs, number of Southern in the field October let
1861, i. 362; comparative ability of Northern and

Southern States to raise, i. 362 ; actual number of North
ern, July 2d, 1861, i. 363 ; number of in the Federal
and Confederate armies at the beginning of 1864, iii.
298, 299.
Somerset, battle of, ii. 20.
South Carolina, the first State to move toward secession,
i. 9, 44 ; effect in of the news of the election of Lin
coln, i. 21 ; convention of in December, 1860, i. 46 ;
declaration of causes which induced the secession of, i.
47-51 ; operations of Generals Hunter and Benham in,
ii. 278-286 ; General Sherman in, iii. 599.
South Carolina commissioners, abrupt departure of from
Washington, i. 69 ; correspondence of with President
Buchanan, i. 69-80 ; second letter of to President Bu
chanan, i. 75.
Southern States, resources of compared with those of the
Northern States, i. 359-370.
Southfield, gun-boat, sunk by the ram Albemarle, iii. 328.
South Mountain, account of the battle of, ii. 423-425 ;
Union and Confederate losses at, ii. 474.
South Side Railroad, movement of General Warren against
the, iii. 503 ; movement of the Army of the Potomac
toward, iii. 509 ; further movements against, iii. 646 ;
grand movement by the left against, iii. 636-640.
Spanish Fort, Mobile, description of, iii. 615 ; investment
of by General Canby's forces, iii. 618 ; surrender of, iii.
620.
Specie of the Richmond banks, capture of, iii. 675.
Speech of Alexander H. Stephens at Savannah on the ob
jects of the Southern rebellion, i. 100.
Speech of Senator Crittenden on the Union, in Congress,
i. 38.
Speech of Wm. H. Seward in December, 1860, on South
ern disaffection, i. 41-43.
Spottsylvania Court-House, retreat of General Lee on, iii.
345 ; battles around, iii. 347 ; retreat of General Lee
from, iii. 353.
Springfield, niinois, Abraham Lincoln practices law in, in
1837, i. 15.
Springfield, Missouri, Major Zagonyi's brilliant cavalry
charge at, i. 465 ; concentration of troops at, under
Fremont, i. 472 ; arrival of General Hunter at, i. 474 ;
large force concentrated at by General Price, i. 662 ;
occupation of by General Curtis, i. 663 ; description of
Price's winter quarters at (note), i. 663 ; General Brawn's
report of his defence of against Marmaduke, ii. 564 ; bat
tle of: see Wilson's Creek.
Springfield Landing, raid of Logan against, iii. 20.
Standard newspaper, of Raleigh, mobbed for its Union sen
timents, iii. 79.
Stanley, Hon. Edward, policy of as governor of North
Carolina, ii. 287 .
Stanley, General, at the battle of Iuka, ii. 508.
Stanton, Secretary Edwin M. , energetic action of, ii. US I ;
his order taking possession of telegraph lines (note), ii.
120 ; his draft orders of 1862, ii. 346-348 ; his corre
spondence with George Opdyke, ii. 532 ; remarks on his
report of December, 1862, ii. 630 ; his reasons for dis
approving the agreement between Sherman and John
ston, iii. 669.
Star of the West, sent with reinforcements to Fort Sum
ter i. 82 ; fired upon and compelled to retire, i. 83.
State rights, Calhoun the apostle of, i. 5.

734

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

States, free and slave, comparative value of the products
of, i. 368, 369.
States, Northern and Southern, comparative resources of,
i. 359, 370.
State sovereignty, doctrine of asserted by Southern lead
ers, i. 5, 6.
Staunton, occupation of by Sheridan's troops, iii. 641.
Steadman, General, at the battle of Chaplin Hills, ii. 490.
Steele, General, advantages obtained by over Price in Ar
kansas, iii. 71 ; co-operative movements of in Arkansas
in connection with the Red River expedition, iii. 316-
818 ; movement of his column from Pensacola toward
Mobile, iii. 617.
Stellwagen, Commander, Appalachicola occupied by, ii.
277.
Stephens, Alexander H., biographical sketch of, i. 99 ;
opposed to hasty secession action in Georgia, i. 86 ;
chosen provisional vice-president of the Confederate
States, i. 93 ; speech of at Savannah on the objects of
the Southern rebellion, i. 100 ; refused an audience hy
President Lincoln, iii. 295 ; object of his mission (note),
iii. 295 ; at Fortress Monroe as peace commissioner, iii.
635.
Stevens, General, repulse of at James Island, ii. 281-284 ;
death of, ii. 413 ; General Pope's testimony to the gal
lantry of, ii. 416.
Stokes, Captain James H., arms in the St. Louis arsenal
secured by, i. 246.
Stone fleets for the obstruction of Southern harbors, i.
648-652 ; English and French objections to, i. 650 ;
English precedents for, i. 651.
Stone, General Charles P. , command of on the Potomac, i.
573 ; operations of, resulting in the battle of Ball's Bluff,
i. 574-585 ; orders of to Colonel Baker, i. 576, 585 ; ex
tract from his report of the battle of Ball's Bluff, i. 583 ;
arbitrary nature of the arrest of, ii. 120 ; supposed
charges against (note), ii. 120.
Stoneman, General, repulse of at Williamsburg, ii. 219 ;
operations of on the Chickahominy, ii. 238 ; at the
battle of Fredericksburg, ii. 545 ; his cavalry expedi
tion to co-operate with General Hooker, iii. 131-139 ;
expedition of against the railroad communications of
Atlanta, iii. 396 ; made prisoner with a large propor
tion of his command, iii. 397 ; operations of against
Breckinridge, in East Tennessee, iii. 524 ; raid of from
Knoxville to Salisbury, iii. 613 ; large amount of war
material destroyed by, iii. 614.
Stone Biver, General Rosecrans' report of the battle of, ii.
587-595.
Stonewall, iron-clad ram, history of the, iii, 687, 688.
Stony Creek Station, General Gregg's raid against, iii. 513.
Stoughton, General, capture of by Mosby, iii. 116.
Stout, Captain, his account of the recapture of the brig
"Cuba,"i. 522.
Stragglers from General Pope's army in Virginia, ii. 411.
Strasburg. advance of Sheridan to, iii. 483.
Streight, Colonel, capture of his force by Forrest, iii. 40.
Stringham, Commodore Silas H, biographical sketch of,
i. 532 ; account of his operations against the Hatteras
forts, i. 531 ; vessels under his command, i. 531 ; the
landing near Hatteras Inlet, i. 533 ; fire opened on Fort
Clark, i. 534 ; white flag hoisted on Fort Hatteras, i.
535 ; surrender of the forts made on his flag-ship, i. 638 ;

General Butler's account of his co-operation with, i. 536
-542.
Strong, General, his assault on Fort Wagner, iii. 97-100.
Stuart, General J. E. B., cavalry raid of on the peninsula,
ii. 299-305 ; his report of a cavalry expedition into
Pennsylvania, ii. 475-478 ; at the battle of Fredericks
burg, ii. 550 ; death of in a cavalry fight near Rich
mond, iii. 350.
Sturgis, General, his report of the battle of Wilson's
Creek, i. 435-440 ; General Pope's testimony to the
gallantry of, ii. 417 ; at Antietam, ii. 451 ; defeat of
near Guntown, Miss., iii. 40.5 ; recapture of his wagons
by Grierson, iii. 572.
Suffolk, Va., siege of, iii. 166 ; Union garrison withdrawn
from, iii. 167.
Sugar Creek, Ark., defeat of Price and Ben McCulloch at
i. 664.
Sullivan, General, at the battle of Iuka, ii. 508.
Sullivan's Island, battery erected on at the siege of Fort
Sumter, i. 145.
Sulphur Springs, Va., General Pope's operations at, ii. 395
-397.
Sumner, General, at Antietam, ii. 431, 441 ; at the battle
of Fredericksburg, ii. 543.
Sumter, privateer, history of the, i. 523 ; names of her
officers (note), i. 524.
Surgeons' report on the treatment of prisoners of war in
the South, iii. 277-280.
Surrender of —
General Jeff. Thompson in Arkansas, iii. 670.
General Joseph Johnston in North Carolina, iii. 669.
General Kirby Smith in Texas, iii. 671.
General Richard Taylor in Alabama, iii. 670.
General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court-House, iii.
658, 659.
Sussex Court-House, destruction of buildings at by tro6ps
of General Warren, iii 515.
" Swamp Angel," Parrott gun so called (note), iii. 104.
Sykes, General, at Antietam, ii. 438.
T.
Tallahassee, Confederate cruiser, depredations of, iii. 435,
436.
Taney, Judge, opinion of on the power to suspend the
writ of habeas corpus, i. 346.
Tariff, clause in the Confederate constitution relating to
a, i. 93.
Tatnall, Commodore Josiah, his account of the destruc
tion of the Merrimac (note), ii. 231.
Taylor, General Richard, operations of in western Louis
iana, iii. 19 ; surrender of, iii. 670.
Tazewell, East Tennessee, capture of by guerrillas, i. 369.
Tecumseh, monitor, sunk by the explosion of a torpedo
in Mobile bay, iii. 417.
Telegraph lines, order of Secretary Stanton taking posses
sion of (note), ii. 120.
Tennessee, public opinion in adverse to secession, i. 53,
54 ; decision of the people of against holding a conven
tion to consider secession, i. 232 ; league entered into
with the Confederate States, i. 232 ; military resources
placed under the control of the Confederate States, i.
232 ; sections of the act submitting the question of se
cession to the people of, i. 233-236 ; declaration of in-

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

735

dependence of the State of, i. 234 ; decision of the peo
ple of, i. 237 ; loyalty of the people of, ii. 29 ; Andrew
Johnson appointed military governor of, ii. 42 ; guer
rilla warfare in, ii. 369 ; military operations of General
Rosecrans in to the battle of Chickamauga, iii. 213 -230 ;
further operations in till the battle of Lookout Mount
ain, iii. 230-239 ; operations of General Burnside in, iii.
240-251 ; military movements in at the beginning of
'1864, iii. 100; operations of Forrest and Hood and
Schofield and Thomas in, iii. 553-573.
Tennessee, Middle, General Rosecrans' report of opera
tions in, iii. 31-39.
Tennessee, ram, description of, iii. 413 ; account of the
capture of by Farragut's fleet in Mobile bay, iii. 419-421.
Tennessee River, operations of Lieutenant Phelps on the,
ii. 29.
Terrill, General, at the battle of Chaplin Hills, ii. 488,
497.
Territories, opinion of Abraham Lincoln as to slavery in
the, i. 17, 19.
Terry, Captain, important services of at the second battle
of Shiloh, ii. 151.
Terry, Colonel, death of at the battle of Munfordsville, ii. 14.
Terry, General, reconnoissance made by toward Richmond,
iii. 506 ; account of his capture of Fort 'Fisher, iii. 586
-591 ; his advance on Wilmington, iii. 594.
Texas, ordinance of secession passed in, i. 87 ; Federal
posts and property in surrendered by General Twiggs, i.
129 ; naval operations on the coast of, ii. 597-603 ; ex
peditions sent to by General Banks, iii. 254, 263 ; Sher
idan sent to, to operate against Kirby Smith, iii. 670.
Theodora, steamer, escape of Mason and Slidell in from
Charleston, i. 625.
Thibodeaux, occupation of by Union troops, ii. 627.
Thomas, Adjutant-General, inquiries made by, into the
conduct of Fremont in Missouri, i. 475.
Thomas, General George H., biographical sketch of, ii. 23 ;
third division of Buell's army commanded by, ii. 17 ;
advance of toward Somerset, ii. 18 ; defeats Generals
Zollicoffer and Crittenden at Mill Spring, ii. 20 ; services
of at Chickamauga, iii. 226 ; supersedes General Bose-
crans, iii. 233 ; services of at Lookout Mountain, iii.
238 ; in command of the Army of the Cumberland under
Sherman, iii. 376 ; sent to Nashville by Sherman, iii.
528 ; left to cope with Hood in Tennessee, iii. 534 ; his
available force when Hood entered Tennessee, iii. 557 ;
account of his campaign against Hood, iii. 557-571 ;
favored by Hood's delays, iii. 558 ; fight at Spring Hill,
iii. 559 ; Columbia evacuated, iii. 559 ; necessity of
making a stand at Franklin, iii. 560 ; battle of Franklin,
iii. 561 ; attempt of Hood to invest Nashville, iii. 562 ;
offensive taken against Hood, iii. 563 ; battles in front
of Nashville, iii. 564-566 ; pursuit of Hood's broken
army by General Wilson, iii. 567 ; pursuit hindered by
rains and swollen rivers, iii. 568 ; escape of the remains
of Hood's army over tbe Tennessee Biver, iii. 569 ; co
operative expeditions, iii. 571-573.
Thompson, General Jefferson, defeat of near Frederick-
town, Mo., i. 470; driven out of Arkansas, ii. 211;
flight of from Memphis, ii. 269 ; surrender of in Arkan
sas, iii. 670.
Thompson, Secretary, implication of in the Indian trust
lind defalcation, i. 66.

Thoroughfare Gap, movement of General Jackson through
on the Manassas Railroad, ii. 398.
Thouvenel, M., message sent to by Mr. Seward, i. 372 ;
dispatch of advising the surrrender of Mason and Sli
dell (note), i. 641.
Tilghman, General, biographical sketch of, ii. 25 ; sur
renders Fort Henry to Captain Foote, ii. 28 ; testimony
of Captain Foote to his gallantry, ii. 28.
Tillman, William, the negro cook, recaptures the " S. J.
Waring," i. 520.
Times, Chicago, suppressed by General Burnside, iii. 56.
Times, Hartford, protest of against the call for troops after
the fall of Fort Sumter, i. 166.
Times, New York, language of after the fall of Fort Sum
ter, i. 165.
Tompkins, Lieutenant, night attack made by, on Fairfax
Court-House, i. 222.
Toombs, Robert, biographical sketch of, i. 102 ; position
of in the Confederate cabinet, i. 93.
Torpedoes, numbers of them found in Yorktown by the
troops of McClellan, ii. 218 ; in Charleston harbor, iii.
109 ; in the James River, iii. 364 ; vessels sunk by in
Mobile bay after the surrender of the city, iii. 621 .
Tower, General, gallantry of his brigade under General
Pope in Virginia, ii. 409 ; commendation of by Pope,
ii. 416.
Towrisend, Colonel, collision of his troops with those of
Colonel Bendix on the march to Little Bethel, i. 273.
Trade, direct, with Europe, advocated hy the Southern
press, i. 8.
Treasury report for 1863, iii. 288.
Tribune, New York, office of mobbed by anti-draft rioters,
iii. 179.
Troops, number of Southern in the field October 1st, 1861,
i. 362 ; comparative ability of Northern and Southern
States to raise, i. 362 ; actual number of Northern, July
2d, 1861, i. 363 ; number of in the Federal and. Con
federate armies at the beginning of 1864, iii. 298, 299.
Truce, tacit, at Petersburg, iii. 479.
Tranter's Creek, N. C, engagement at, ii. 286.
Treason, how defined by the Constitution, i. 358.
Treasury, national, threatened with bankruptcy in 1860,
i. 41.
" Trent affair," details of the, i. 621-647. See Mason and
Slidell.
Trumbull, Senator, provisions of the confiscation act pro
posed by, i. 257.
Tullahoma, rebel camp at, iii. 31.
Turkey Bend, battle of. See Malvern Hill.
Twiggs, General Daniel E., biographical sketch of, i. 129 ;
Federal posts and property surrendered by in Texas, i.
129.
Tybee Island, occupation of by Federal troops, i. 617.
Tyler, General, advance of to Centreville, i. 392 ; defeat
of at Blackburn's Ford, i. 393-397 ; cause of his defeat,
i. 398 ; important services of his division at Spottsyl
vania Court-House, iii. 353. U.
Union, supposed attachment of the Southern people to
the, i. 41 ; meetings in Northern States, i. 89 ; resolu
tions to sustain adopted in various Northern legislatures,
i. 90 ; enthusiasm of the Northern people in favor of

736

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

preserving the, i. 184 ; great meeting m favor of at
Frederick, Md.,i. 222.
Union, Bangor, protest of against the call for troops after
the fall of Fort Sumter, i. 166.
Union City, capture of by General Forrest, iii. 318.
V.
Vallandigham, Clement L., arrest of at Dayton, Ohio,
iii. 47 ; tried by a military commission at Cincinnati,
iii. 48 ; charge and specification against, iii. 48 ; his
speech in defence, iii. 49 ; sentence of the military com
mission, iii. 50 ; sentence commuted by the President,
iii. 51 ; sent within the enemy's lines at Shelbyville,
iii. 51 ; nominated for Governor of Ohio by the Demo
cratic Convention, iii. 51 ; escape of to Canada, iii. 51 ;
public opinion in relation to, iii. 52 ; remarks of Presi
dent Lincoln on the arrest of, iii. 52.
Valverde, New Mexico, battle of, ii. 208.
Van Alen, General, left as military governor in York-
town, ii. 218.
Van Buren, Ark., General Blunt's report of the capture of,
ii. 563.
Vance, Colonel, elected governor of North Carolina, iii. 79.
Vance, General, made prisoner by Colonel Palmer, iii. 301.
Van Doran, General, forces under the command of at the
battles of Pea Rridge (note), ii. 50 ; superior strategy of
at the battles of Pea Ridge, ii. 58 ; Holly Springs cap
tured by, ii. 566 ; exploits of in Tennessee, iii. 38 ; death
of, iii. 40.
Varuna, gun-boat, Captain Boggs' report of the exploits of
on the Mississippi (note), ii. 183.
Vessels belonging to New York seized in the harbor of
Savannah, i. 91.
Vicksburg, situation of, ii. 289 ; bombardment of by
Commodore Farragut, ii. 290 ; attempt to turn the
course of the Mississippi from by means of a canal, ii.
290 ; details of the fight with the rebel gun-boat Arkan
sas and other naval operations at, ii. 291-298 ; details
of General Sherman's operations against, ii. 567-582 ;
killed and wounded in Sherman's attack upon, ii. 577 ;
causes of Sherman's failure at, ii. 581 ; General Grant
prepares to operate against, ii. 584 ; General Grant's
report of the siege of, ii. 640-658 ; prosecution of the
canal, ii. 641 ; the Mississippi connected with Lake
Providence and with Coldwater, iii. 641 ; difficulties
and plans, ii. 642, 643 ; batteries 'passed by Admiral
Porter, ii. 644 ; futile naval attack, ii. 645 ; approach
to Port Gibson, ii. 646 ; demonstrations to receive the
enemy, ii. 647 ; Sherman and McPherson move toward
Jackson, ii. 648 ; occupation of Jackson, ii. 649 ; pro
gress toward the city, ii. 650-652 ; continues skir
mishing, ii. 653 ; general assault on the defences, ii.
654 ; dispatches stating the result of the assault, ii.
655 ; terms of surrender granted to General Pemberton,
ii. 656 ; results of the surrender, ii. 657, 658 ; losses on
both sides, ii. 658 ; condition of after its surrender hy
Pemberton, iii. 5 ; prices of provisions in after the siege,
iii. 7 ; Colonel Osband's expedition from against Hood's
communications, iii. 571.
Vicksburg batteries passed by ships of Admiral Porter's
fleet, ii. 674 ; Porter's report of his attack upon, ii. 678.
Vicksburg, steamer, account of her fight with the Queen
of the West, ii. 669.

Viele, General Egbert, appointed military governor of
Norfolk, ii. 231.
Vienna, Va., the command of General Schenck surprised
near, i. 323-326.
Virginia, effect in of the news of the election of Abraham
Lincoln, i. 22 ; strong attachment to the Union among
the people of, i. 52, 53 ; ports of included in the block
ade, i. 221 ; limits of the military department of (note),
ii. 19 ; General Pope's report of his campaign in, ii.
382-418 ; inactivity of the opposing armies in at the
beginning of 1864, iii 332.
Virginia, iron-clad steamer. See Merrimac.
Virginia Convention, preamble and resolution sent by to
President Lincoln, i. 173 ; reply of the President, i.
173 ; ordinance of secession of, i. 174.
Virginia, Western. See Western Virginia.
Volunteers, the President's proclamation of May 3d calling
for, i. 220 ; rapid response of the Northern States to the
call for, i. 221 ; President Lincoln authorized to call
out 500,000, i. 357. W.
Waddell, Captain, letter of in relation to his cruise in the
Shenandoah, iii. 690.
Wade, Senator, speech of in Congress, against compromise
with the South, i. 40.
Walker, Leroy Pope, biographical sketch of, i. 103 ; posi
tion of in the Confederate cabinet, i, 101 ; letter of to
Governor Magoffin, requesting military aid, i. 477.
Wallace, Colonel, capture of Bomney, Va., by, i. 297.
Wallace, General, services of at the siege of Fort Donelson,
ii. 34; at Pittsburg Landing, ii. 145; at the second
battle of Shiloh, ii. 151 ; defeat of at Monocacy Junc
tion, iii. 371.
Ward, Captain, attacks the batteries at Acquia Creek,
i. 269 ; killed in an attack on Mathias Point, i. 326.
Ward's Bluff, on the James River, repulse of Union gun
boats at, ii. 234.
Warner, Colonel, letter of to Major Clan in relation to the
removal of civilians from Atlanta, iii. 409.
War, preparations made for in South Carolina, i. 65 ; the
Northern press unanimously in favor of after the fall of
Fort Sumter, i. 163.
War orders of President Lincoln (notes), ii. 118, 119.
Warren, General, expedition of against the Weldon Rail
road, iii. 514, 515 ; his corps placed under the orders of
General Sheridan, iii. 649 ; superseded by General Griffin
in the command of the fifth corps, iii. 651.
Warrenton, slow advance of General McClellan toward, ii.
478 ; batteries at engaged by Admiral Farragut, iii. 27.
Warrenton turnpike, battle of, ii. 405 ; culpable absence
of General Porter at, ii. 406 ; Union losses at, ii. 407.
Warrington, near Pensacola, the burning of, i. 567.
Warsaw, Mo., arrival of General Fremont at, i. 460.
Warsaw Island, taken possession of by Commodore Rodg
ers (note), i. 615.
Washburn, General, movements of in western Texas, iii.
263.
Washington, fears for the safety of, i. 91 ; measures taken
for the security of, i. 185 ; safety of secured by the
rapid assemblage of Northern militia, i. 217 ; formation
of the military department of, i. 219 ; disposition of the
Federal armies near, i. 320 ; force at before the battle of
Bull Run, i. 382 ; discipline enforced by General McClel-

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

737

lan among the soldiers at, i. 570 ; measures taken for
the safety of after General Banks' retreat down the
Shenandoah valley, ii. 258 ; necessity for the protection
of, ii. 383, 384, 399 ; threatened by the approach -of
General Early's forces to, iii. 373.
Washington, N. C, occupation of by a Federal force, ii.
76 ; Lieutenant Murray's report of an expedition
against (note), ii. 169 ; surprised by a rebel force, ii.
521 ; investment of by General Hill, iii. 74 ; movement
of Union troops for the relief of, iii. 75-77 ; siege of
raised by the rebels, iii. 77 ; evacuation of by the Fed
eral garrison, iii. 329 ; plundered and left in ashes by
the retreating troops, iii. 330.
Washington, Colonel John A., killed at the battle of
Cheat Mountain, i. 507.
Waterloo Bridge, Va., General Pope's operations at, ii
395-397.
Watkins, Major Oscar M., account of his recapture of
Sabine Pass, ii. 602.
Waynesboro, battle of, iii. 641.
Weber, General, at Antietam, ii. 442.
Weehawken, monitor, sunk at the entrance of Charleston
harbor, iii. 275.
Weitzel, reconnoissance of toward Richmond, iii. 508 ; in
structions of for the Fort Fisher expedition, iii. 577 • his
opinion as to the practicability of carrying Fort Fisher
by assault, iii. 588.
Weldon Railroad, movements of General Grant's forces
against, iii. 445, 447-449 ; the City Point Railroad ex
tended to, iii. 479 ; series of battles for the possession
of the, iii. 472-478 ; General Warren's and other expe
ditions against, iii. 513-515.
Welles, Gideon, biographical sketch of, i. 127 ; appointed
secretary of the navy in President Lincoln's cabinet, i.
122 ; remarks on his report of December, 1862, ii. 630.
Wessels, General H. W., his defence of Plymouth, iii. 328.
Western Virginia, undoubted loyalty of, i. 53 ; social and
geographical characteristics of, i. 237 ; few slaves in, i.
238 ; disputes of with Eastern Virginia in relation to
taxation, i. 238 ; delegates from to the Richmond Con
vention opposed to secession, i. 239 ; convention held
in, at Wheeling adverse to secession, i. 239 ; appeal ad
verse to secession addressed to the people of, i. 239-243 ;
formation of military companies in, i. 243 ;¦ action of
the people of in favor of the Union, i. 237-243 ; pro
ceedings of the Convention held in, i. 299 ; first mes
sage of the provisional governor of, F. H. Pierpont, i.
300 ; Secretary Cameron on tbe affairs of, i. 300-304 ;
appeal of Governor Letcher to the people of, i. 304 ;
Confederate force sent to invade, i. 332 ; operations of
General McClellan in, i. 332-343 ; admitted into the
Union as a new State, ii. 633 ; partisan warfare in, iii.
168-74 ; operations of General Averill in, iii. 273 ; mil
itary operations in at the beginning of 1864, iii. 332,
333 ; operations of Generals Sigel and Hunter in, iii.
365-370.
Westfield, destruction of the, at Galveston, ii. 601.
West Point, Miss., battle of, iii. 306.
Westport, battle of, iii. 520.
Whaley, Colonel R. V., surprised by Confederate cavalry
at Guyandotte, W. Va., i. 510.
Wheeler, General, Union wagon train captured by, aided
by Forrest, iii. 231 ; routed by General Crook, iii. 233 ;
261

his raid against Sherman's communications, iii. 404 ;
defeated by General Kilpatrick at Waynesboro, iii. 544.'
Wheeling, convention held at, adverse to secession, i. 239 ;
appeal of to the people of Western Virginia, i. 239 ; fast
kept at, i. 243 ; convention reassembled at, i. 299.
White, General, commendation of by General Pope, ii.
17 ; conduct of at Harper's Ferry, ii. 466-468
White, Major Frank J., raid of to Lexington and Warren-
burg, Mo., i. 461.
White House, Va., McClellan's headquarters at, ii. 237.
White Oak Swamp, passage of by McClellan's troops, ii.
311, 318, 319 ; Confederate account of the action at, ii.
332 ; White River expedition under Captain Kilty and
Colonel Fitch, ii. 269.
" Wide Awakes," processions of in 1860, i. 19.
Wigfall, Senator, singular visit of to Fo'rt Sumter, during
Beauregard's bombardment, i. 149.
Wilcox, General, at the battle of Fredericksburg, ii. 544.
" Wilderness," the battles of the, iii. 343-345.
Wilkes, Captain, details of his seizure of Mason and Sli
dell on the English mail steamer Trent, i. 626-629;
banquet given to in Boston, i. 630 ; public opinion in
England and America in relation to the conduct of, i.
681 ; action of disavowed by the American government,
i. 633 ; dispatches of Mr. Seward in relation to the con
duct of (notes), i. 631, 633-640 ; dispatches of Earl Rus
sell (notes), i. 632, 643-647 ; dispatch of the French min
ister, Thouvenel (note), i. 641, 642.
Williamsburg, Va., battle of, ii. 219-227.
Williams, General, his defence of Baton Rouge, ii. 377-
380 ; death of, ii. 380.
Wilmington, series of operations resulting in the surren
der of, iii. 575-595 ; large illicit trade carried on at, iii.
575 ; natural obstacles to the effectual blockade of, iii.
575, 576 ; land and naval forces organized to operate
against, ii. 577 ; General Grant's instructions for the
commander of the land forces (note), iii. 577 ; descrip
tion of the forts at the entrances of Cape Fear River,
iii. 578, 579 ; account of the powder-boat and its explo
sion, iii. 580, 581 ; Admiral Porter's bombardment of
the forts, iii. 581, 582 ; unsuccessful operations of the
land forces, iii. 582, 583 ; correspondence between Gen
eral Butler and Admiral Porter, iii. 583, 584 ; second
series of operations against the forts, resulting in their
capture by assault, iii. 585-591 ; operations resulting in
the capture of Fort Anderson, iii. 591-593 ; ascent of
Cape Fear River by the fleet, iii. 594 ; occupation of tho
city by Generals Cox and Terry, iii. 595.
Wilmot proviso, voted for by Abraham Lincoln when in
Congress, i. 16.
Wilson, Captam, cannon brought off by at Big Bethel, i.
280.
Wilson, General, cavalry expedition of against the Wel
don and Danville railroads, iii. 451-455 ; his pursuit of
of Hood after his rout from Nashville, iii. 567 ; details
of his great cavalry raid through the South, iii. 622-631 ;
force under his command, iii. 622 ; the order of march,
iii. 623 ; Cuxton's brigade detached, iii. 623 ; the ene
my's movements, iii. 624 ; rout of Forrest's command
near Plantersville, iii. 625 ; Selma taken by assault, iii.
626 ; bridge constructed over the Alabama River, iii.
627 ; the surrender of Montgomery, iii. 628 ; Columbus
taken by assault, hi. 629 ; capture of Fort Tyler, iii.

738

ANALYTICAL INDEX.

629 ; occupation of Macon, iii. 630 ; account of Gene
ral Cuxton's march, iii. 630 ; vast amount of property
destroyed, iii. 631.
Wilson's Creek, Major Sturgis' account of the battle at, i.
435^40 ; General Sigel's account, i. 440 ; killed and
wounded at, i. 442.
Winchester, General "Shields' report of the first battle of,
ii. 121-125 ; killed and wounded at (note), ii. 125 ;
General Banks attacked by Jackson's forces at, ii. 255 ;
defeat of Early by General Averill near, iii. 373 ; de
cisive defeat of Early at by General Sheridan, iii. 489.
Winder, General J. H., his conduct in relation to prisoners
of war at Andersonville, iii. 685.
Winslow, Captain, biographical sketch of, iii. 426 ; account
of his fight with the Alabama, iii. 428-431.
Winthrop, Major Theodore, biographical sketch of, i. 281;
death of at Big Bethel, i. 279, 280.
Winton, N. C, expedition against, ii. 68.
Wirz, Captain Henry, biographical sketch of, iii. 685 ;
trial and execution of, iii. 686.
Wise, Colonel 0. Jennings, made prisoner at the capture
of Roanoke Island, ii. 66.
Wise, Governor, in command of Confederate troops in the
Kanawha valley, i. 332 ; Gen. Cox sent to check, i. 333.
Wistar, General, his unsuccessful attempt to capture Rich
mond by surprise, iii. 333.
Woodbury, part assigned to in the attack on Fredericks
burg, ii. 542.
Woodland, capture of a railroad train at by Morgan, ii.
275.
Woods, Colonel, operations of on the Yazoo River, ii. 377.
Wool, General, how far responsible for the loss of Harper's
Ferry, ii. 472.
Women Order of General Butler at New Orleans, ii. 288 ;
Beauregard's address in relation to (note), ii. 288.

Wright, General, in the attack on James Island, ii. 284.
Wright, Major Frank, exploits of near Lebanon and at
Linn Creek, i. 463, 465.
W.yman, Colonel, killed in an attack on Vicksburg, ii. 574.
Wytheville, Va. , destruction effected at by General Stone
man, iii. 525. Y.
Yancey, Mr. sent as commissioner to England by the
Confederate States, i. 372.
Yazoo City, expeditions against, ii. 677, 679.
Yazoo Pass, attempt of General Grant to make use of the,
ii. 642.
Yazoo River, operations of Colonel Woods and Commo
dore Davis on the, ii. 377 ; made by General Sherman
his base of operations against Vicksburg, ii. 569.
Yellow Book, the French, disclosures of, iii. 621.
York Biver, movement of General Franklin on the, ii. 228.
Yorktown, advance of General McClellan toward, ii. 131 ;
siege of by McClellan, ii. 212-218 ; position of the
Federal force, ii. 212 ; the cannonade opened, ii. 213 ;
force of the enemy, ii. 214 ; unsuccessful assault, ii..
216 ; siege battery got into position, ii. 217 ; unexpected
evacuation by the Confederates, ii. 218 ; large number
of torpedoes found in the city, ii. 218.
Z.
Zagonyi, Major Charles, brilliant cavalry charge of al
Springfield, Mo., i. 465.
Zeigler, Colonel, Guyandotte, in Western Virginia, burned
by the troops of (note), i. 511.
Zollicoffer, General Felix K., biographical sketch of, ii.
22; letter of to Governor Magoffin in relation to his
occupation of Cumberland Gap, i. 491 ; defeat of at
Camp Wild Cat, by General Schoepf, ii. 8 ; reinforced at
Cumberland Gap, ii. 6; death of, ii. 20 (note), and 21.

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