his sabre-blade into his right hand and holding it out said, “Very well,
sir, I surrender.”
At Battery D the enemy lost almost as heavily as at Battery C. Nearly
two hundred and fifty men were killed and wounded; and between three and
four hundred were taken prisoners, with arms, officers, and colors. This
fight raged with almost unparalleled fury for six hours; but it was
still comparatively early in the day when it was at an end. At half past
ten A. M. the firing had quite ceased, and the enemy had completely
retired. The white flag was at the same moment hoisted at Vicksburg. The
total loss in killed, wounded, and missing to the National troops in
this engagement was two hundred and thirty, while that of the enemy was
not less than two thousand.
MORGAN’S RAID IN INDIANA, KENTUCKY, AND OHIO.
JULY 3 TO JULY 26, 1863.
While the advance of Lee into Pennsylvania was agitating the whole
north, the rebels were making good use of their time elsewhere. A raid
by a guerrilla band under their chieftain, John Morgan, was made into
the three States of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. He designed to sweep
everything before him, and by attracting public attention to himself,
give the rebel General Lee more opportunity to carry out his plans for
the invasion of the North. His first attempt was to break off the
railroad communications by which reinforcements could be sent to the
defence of Louisville; having done this, General Buckner, from
Tennessee, with the whole rebel force under his command, was to dash
into Kentucky, capture Louisville, and in cooperation with Morgan, make
an attack upon Cincinnati.
But General Buckner was prevented from participating in this movement.
General Rosecrans’s advance upon the army of General Bragg, which took
place about this time, made it necessary that the rebel Buckner should
remain where he was. At this time Morgan, with a force of four thousand
men, was in Tennessee; he had made a feint of attacking the town of
Tompkinsville, the capital of Monroe county, in the State of Kentucky.
Brigadier-General Hobson was ordered to Tompkinsville on the 20th of
June. General Morgan immediately crossed the Cumberland river, made a
rapid advance on Columbia, where a brilliant defence was made against
them by a small force under Captain Carter, consisting of only one
hundred and fifty men of Colonel Wolford’s regiment. They were, however,
forced to retire before the guerrilla general, having first lost their
brave commander. On July 4th, Morgan attacked Colonel Moore with two or
three hundred men, at Green river bridge. There a fierce resistance was
made to the rebel advance; but it was ineffectual, and Morgan marched
onward to Lebanon, which he reached the next day. His demand for the
surrender of the city was refused by the Union commander, Colonel
Hanson, and the attack which was immediately made upon it was gallantly
repelled for seven hours. At the end of that time Colonel Hanson, to
save his men from utter destruction, was compelled to surrender. Many of
the public buildings, and the whole northern part of the town was burnt
by the guerrillas; and the men who had surrendered were forced to march
with the rebels to Springfield, keeping pace with the cavalry, and in
such haste that the march was performed by the wearied Union men in one
hour and a half, the distance being ten miles. From Springfield, the
rebels marched to Shepherdsville, and then to Bardstown. On the 7th they
reached Brandenburg, on the Ohio river, where they seized a steamer
which had stopped to take in passengers; having appropriated everything
of value to them which the vessel contained, it was run out into the
river, and anchored. A short time after, another vessel was decoyed into
their possession by hoisting signals of distress on board the McCombs,
the vessel which had already been taken. The Alice Dean, the second
vessel, went alongside the McCombs, without any suspicion, and was
immediately boarded and seized. On the following day, Morgan’s entire
force, which consisted of more than four thousand, eleven regiments, and
ten pieces of artillery, including two howitzers, were taken across the
river. The rebels then gave up the steamer McCombs, but burned the Alice
Dean, and also the bridge at Brandenburg. By this time the pursuit of
the victorious guerrilla band had begun, but the march was very slow. On
the night of July 7th, the whole Union force in pursuit, which consisted
of troops under General Hobson, artillery and cavalry under
Brigadier-General Shackelford, Colonel Wolford and his brigade, all
under command of General Hobson (who had received orders to that effect
from General Burnside), had reached a point within nine miles of
Brandenburg; and on the next day they reached the river just as the last
boat had crossed with the enemy. The rebels, still marching onwards,
reached Corrydon in Indiana, on the 8th, where considerable resistance
was made to them by the inhabitants. From Corrydon Morgan marched his
men to Salem, where they took prisoners a force of three hundred and
fifty men who had fallen back before the rebels from Palmyra;
subsequently these prisoners were paroled. At Salem, the depot of the
Louisville and Chicago railroad was burned, and General Morgan had
issued orders to burn all the mills and factories in the town, but these
were spared from destruction on the payment of one thousand dollars for
each of them. Much other damage was done in breaking, destroying and
burning; and every good horse in the town was taken out, and
appropriated to the use of the guerrilla invaders.
From Salem they went to Canton, where they took over one hundred horses;
at this place General Morgan’s right column entered the town by way of
Harristown, and his whole force was joined together, and marched in the
direction of Vienna in Scott county, which they reached at two o’clock
on the morning of the next day. There much public property was burned;
but private property was respected. The force of the guerrilla General
was again divided into two columns, one of which was sent off in the
direction of Madison, while the other under General Morgan marched in a
northerly direction, and reached Old Vernon in Jennings county on the
11th of July. A surrender of the place was demanded by General Morgan;
and on the refusal of it, the town was threatened, and half an hour
allowed for the women and children to leave the place; but when, at the
end of that time, the Union forces went out to meet the rebels they
found that they were gone. The Unionists pursued, and many of Morgan’s
band were captured. The rebels moved southward, tearing up the tracks of
the Madison and Indianapolis railroads on their way, and cutting the
telegraph wires. Changing their course to the eastward, they reached
Versailles on the 12th; they then divided into several parties, and
advanced in various directions. On Sunday night a large body proceeded
to Harrison; another party of them reached Harrison on Monday. As they
proceeded, on all sides, they helped themselves to the best horses in
the towns they passed through, and leaving their own disabled animals
behind, continued on their way. On the morning of the 14th they reached
Miamiville, having passed through Glendale, Springdale, Camp Monroe,
Sharon, Reading, and Montgomery.
At Miamiville a body of guerrillas crossed the Little Miami railroad,
and at a point known as Dangerous Crossing they placed some ties and
rails across the track near a declivity, so that when the morning train
came by the locomotive was thrown from the track, causing the death of
the fireman, and seriously injuring the engineer. The rebels then rushed
out from the woods in which they had been concealed and took prisoners a
number of Union recruits, amounting to two hundred. The prisoners were
paroled. Arrangements being now made by the National troops to cut off
the progress of the rebels by means of gunboats, General Morgan hastened
his movements, until having passed through Williamsburg, Brown county,
Sardinia, and Piketown, he reached Jackson on the evening of Thursday,
the 16th, where he remained until joined by his whole force. From
Jackson he started for the Ohio river.
During all this time the Union forces were in hot pursuit of the rebels,
but owing to all the best horses having been seized by Morgan he had
necessarily the advantage of his pursuers. So soon as it became evident
that Morgan was endeavoring to reach Gallipolis or Pomeroy on the Ohio,
the inhabitants began felling trees across the roads, and throwing in
his way every obstacle they could to interrupt and delay his progress.
Morgan’s men were much harassed in this way, and as in the course of
their raid they had lost many of their numbers by exhaustion and by
captivity the original force was greatly diminished. On Sunday, the
19th, the main body of Morgan’s guerrillas reached Buffington island,
which lies in the Ohio river, close to the Ohio shore, about thirty-five
miles above Pomeroy, and was chosen by the rebels as a place of crossing
into Virginia on account of the shoals between it and Blannerhasset’s
Island, twenty miles above. They had doubtless been well advised of the
movements of the Union forces sent from all points, to either head them
off or to keep them confined to the only route eastward for them, until
they reached the mountainous region and the eastern frontier. The
National forces were fully prepared and, indeed, expected a fight with
the rebels at this point; and it very shortly became manifest that a
severe battle was pending. On the evening of the 16th, General Judah in
command of a large Union force, started from Portsmouth, and it was even
then expected that an engagement would take place; for trustworthy
information had been received at the headquarters of Colonel P. Kinny,
commander of the post, during the afternoon, that the rebels were at
Miamiville, about eleven miles out, and as it was not the design to
either court or bring on an engagement, it being well known that the
rebels were scattered over fifty or sixty miles of country, the
necessary concentration which they must make was rather humored than
otherwise, so that the result might culminate in the complete capture or
destruction of the entire force.
General Judah kept as close as possible to the rebels, but between them
and the river, when the doing so was practicable, until Morgan reached
Jackson. Judah then pushed for Centreville, thinking that the enemy
would take that route for the river; but he avoided it, and went through
Winchester and Vinton toward Pomeroy, and thence north of that to the
scene of action.
So soon as it had been definitely ascertained that Morgan was pushing
eastward, the Union gunboats, Moose, Reindeer, Springfield, Naumkeag and
Victory, under command of Lieutenant-Commander Le Roy Fitch, were
prepared to do service in the coming engagement. These boats had been
patroling the river from an accessible point below Ripsey to Portsmouth,
but as soon as they were required upon the scene of action the Moose,
towed by the Imperial, started up the stream, and was followed at
regular distances by the rest of the boats. The Moose made the foot of
Buffington Island on Saturday night, and remained until next morning,
without changing position, on account of a dense fog.
The rebel force upon the opposite side of the shore took position under
cover of artillery, in an extensive corn and wheat field, skirted by
hills and woods on its north and east sides.
The rebels had their artillery placed on the highest elevation on the
east and completely commanded the Pomeroy road, over which General
Judah’s force came filing along unaware of the close proximity of the
enemy. It should be noted here that the old stage road to Pomeroy, over
which Morgan came, and the lower road traveled by Judah meet in an acute
angle three-quarters of a mile from the battle-field. General Judah’s
column came along the lower road within range at six o’clock, after
marching all night, having started from Pomeroy, and not being as fresh,
by five or six hours’ rest, as the enemy.
The rebels met the National troops in solid column, and moved in
battalions, and at the first fire repulsed the advance, which was too
far ahead to be assisted by the Union artillery.
Although the rebels had here their best opportunity, they did not follow
it up; and the Union troops having fallen back to bring up their
artillery, the fighting continued in a desultory manner until General
Judah got his artillery into position and drew the lines of his army
completely around the enemy. His troops then made a furious onset upon
the rebels, and drove them back over the field to the shelter of the
woods beyond. By a fortunate circumstance Commodore Fitch learned the
exact position of the enemy, and was enabled so to direct his guns as to
shower shell into the midst of their ranks, and render very signal
service to the Union troops on the field.
Unfortunately the dense fog which prevailed, prevented Colonel Fitch
doing as great execution in the rebel works as he desired, but his shots
from the larboard and forward guns were effective, and a quick
scattering took place. The Moose opened at seven o’clock, and as the
rebels were driven she kept steadily moving up the stream, throwing
shell and shrapnel over the heads of the Union soldiers into the ranks
of the enemy.
It was soon plainly perceived that Morgan’s men were being pressed hard
in all directions, and were evidently in dread of total discomfiture. An
attempt to cross into Virginia was made by a simultaneous rush toward
the river, the rebels throwing away arms and even clothing in their fear
and consternation at finding themselves hemmed in by the Union forces.
The point chosen to effect the crossing was one mile and a half above
the head of Buffington Island, and the movement would undoubtedly have
been attended with considerable success, but for the presence and
performance of the gunboats. The crossing was covered by a 20-pounder
Parrott and a 12-pounder howitzer, dragged into position by the rebels
in their hasty retreat, but before the guns could be loaded and sighted,
the bow guns of the Moose opened on the rebel guns and drove the gunners
away, after which the pieces were captured. Some twenty or thirty men
only succeeded in crossing into Virginia at this point. Several were
killed in the water, and many returned to the shore.
While this was transpiring on the river, the roar of battle was still
raging on the shore and back in the country. Basil Duke, under whose
generalship the fight was conducted, was evidently getting the worst of
it, and his wearied band of horse-thieves, raiders, and nondescripts,
began to bethink them only of escape. Many threw down their arms, were
taken prisoners, and sent to the rear. Others sought the shelter of
trees, or ran wildly from one point to another, and thus exposed
themselves far more to the deadly chances of the field than if they had
displayed courage, and stood up to the fight.
A running fight next ensued, as the main force of the enemy retreated up
stream toward a point on the Ohio shore opposite Belleville, Va. The
retreat was made as rapidly as possible, but considerable confusion was
apparent. The gunboat kept almost ahead of the retreating column, and
when practicable, threw shell over the river bank toward it.
The rebels next attempted to cross at Belleville; but the Moose, which
had reached that point, fired upon the first party which tried to land.
They then pushed further along the shore, and made an effort to cross at
Hawkinsport, but were again foiled in their attempt by the gunboat.
While the Moose was winning her laurels, the other boats of the fleet
were not failing to enact their regularly assigned part of the
programme, which was to guard the fords below the island, and prevent
any roaming squads of the rebels crossing to the much-wished-for
Virginia shore.
It is said that some of Morgan’s men sang, “Oh! carry me back to Ole
Virginny,” with a pathos and sincerity of tone quite suggestive, not, to
say touching, and it certainly cannot be denied that Captain Fitch “went
for them” with a degree of alacrity which proved his entire willingness
to assist them as far as he could.
The engagement was kept up pretty briskly, and the rebels, as a body,
effectually prevented from crossing into Virginia; the entire force was
most gallantly fought, defeated, and utterly routed. A large number of
the rebels were captured, with all of their arms, guns, and
accoutrements; and a great many of their horses, and the plunder they
had carried away from the towns they passed through. Over one thousand
and seven hundred of the guerrilla band was computed to have fallen into
the hands of the Union soldiers; and they admitted a loss of two hundred
killed and wounded on the field. The Union loss was not more than one
fourth of that number. The chief source of regret to the National troops
was, of course, that the guerrilla general had effected his escape: but
they had one and all fully determined that he should not be allowed to
roam at large for any length of time, nor have any opportunity of
collecting together another band from the remnants of his scattered
army. Accordingly, the pursuit was kept up vigorously, until on the 26th
of July, the daring guerrilla leader was made prisoner near New Lisbon,
where, with a small remnant of his men, he had tried to cross the river.
The event was announced in the following way by General Shackelford, in
a dispatch sent to General Burnside:
“By the blessing of Almighty God, I have succeeded in capturing General
John H. Morgan, Colonel Clicke, and the remainder of the command,
amounting to about four hundred prisoners.”
THE DRAFT RIOTS IN NEW YORK CITY.
JULY 13–15, 1863.
Upon the 15th day of June, President Lincoln issued a proclamation
calling for a draft of three hundred thousand men to fill the ranks of
the Union army. The proclamation was received with murmurs of discontent
from large masses of the populace in every city of the North; and the
murmurs proved to be only the foreshadowings of very serious
disturbances in New York, Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Troy, Buffalo,
and in short, every city of importance. In New York, the draft commenced
on Saturday, July 11th. It had previously been announced through the
press, that on this day the ballots for one district would be publicly
counted at the corner of Forty-sixth street and Third avenue, and that
immediately afterward the wheel would be turned, and the draft begin.
Quite a large crowd was assembled at an early hour at the office of the
Provost-Marshal of the Ninth Congressional District; and at about nine
o’clock Assistant Provost-Marshal Charles E. Jenkins stepped upon the
table and read out his orders in relation to the draft, and the manner
in which it was to be conducted. Upon the table was a large wheel,
containing the ballots, on which were inscribed the names of all those
who had been enrolled; one of the enrolling clerks, having been
blindfolded, then proceeded to make the drawings of the names. The
business began and proceeded pleasantly, and with no demonstrations even
of ill-humor; and at the close of the day, there was no cause for
apprehending a disturbance growing out of the draft. But so severe were
the apprehensions of many of the working classes, lest they should be
forced from their homes, that secret associations had been formed to
resist the draft, even at the cost of bloodshed. The next day being
Sunday, these parties took occasion to meet, and to make resolutions to
resist upon Monday, to the utmost extremity. Accordingly, upon the
morning of the 13th, a very large crowd had gathered about the corner of
Forty-sixth street and Third avenue, and for a short time the business
of the day proceeded quietly, and without any sign of disturbance; from
seventy-five to one hundred names had been drawn from the wheel and
announced, when suddenly the report of a pistol was heard in the street.
This seemed to be the signal for an attack upon the office, for almost
upon the instant a perfect shower of brickbats, paving stones, and other
missiles, were hurled from the street into the building, a proceeding
which took everybody by surprise. Following the shower of stones came an
immense crowd, who poured into the office, carrying everything before
them. The wheel containing the remaining ballots of the Twenty-second
Ward was carried by two of the clerks to the top story of the house, and
placed in a room, the inmates of which refused to have it there, when it
was placed in the hall. The Provost-Marshal, Commissioner, Surgeon,
engrossing clerks, with the members of the press, effected their escape,
by a back door. Captain Jenkins clambering a fence, and secreting
himself in the next house until a favorable moment arrived, when he made
his way home.
One of the clerks who endeavored to save some of the papers, was seized
by the crowd, the papers taken from him by force, and torn in pieces.
The mob now had possession of the building. In a few moments afterward,
a man appeared with a can of turpentine, which he poured on the floor of
the office, and, setting fire to it, the room was soon in a blaze. All
this time the mob were breaking up the pavement and assaulting the
police and men attached to the office with stones.
The fire which had been kindled in the back office, spread rapidly to
the upper part of the house, the flames in a little time communicating
to the three houses on the north side, which were of equal size with the
one occupied by the Provost-Marshal.
Around the bell-tower in Fifty-first street, the mob had sent their
friends to stop the bell from ringing. When engine Number Thirty-three,
and Hose Fifty-three were coming down Third avenue, they were cheered by
the mob, but not allowed to work.
The corner building having been nearly destroyed, one of the engineers
now mounted the engine and appealed to the crowd for permission to throw
water upon the fire, telling them that they had accomplished their
purpose in burning the Marshal’s office.
About one o’clock Chief-Engineer Decker arrived at the scene of
conflagration, and seeing how matters stood, he ordered the firemen to
go to work and extinguish the flames, and thus prevented the
conflagration from extending to the neighboring buildings.
But a great deal of damage had already been done; and not less than six
families were turned houseless into the streets.
Shortly after eleven o’clock a detachment of the Provost Guard,
numbering fifteen and a half files, belonging to the Invalid Corps, left
the Park Barracks and reached the ground about noon. Upon reaching
Thirty-fourth street, the mob began to surround them, hooting, yelling,
and groaning. The guard formed in line between Forty-fourth and
Forty-fifth streets, but were so closely pressed upon all sides, that
they were unable to “order arms.” The mob now commenced pushing and
jolting the soldiers, and throwing stones at them, when Lieutenant Reed,
who was in command of the guard, ordered his men to load, and
immediately after gave the order to “fire.” The soldiers poured a blank
volley into the crowd, and no one was hurt. The crowd, who had retreated
a short distance when the firing occurred, quickly rallied, and closing
upon the guard, wrested arms from their hands, and discharged several of
the pieces which had been reloaded. The soldiers, thus attacked,
retreated quickly, but were pursued by the infuriated throng.
The pursuit was kept up as far as Twentieth street, when it was
abandoned, and a majority of the men escaped. One of the soldiers was
pursued up Forty-first street to First avenue, where a crowd of some
twenty men surrounded him, knocked him down, and beat him until he was
insensible. A number of women joined in, and one of them endeavored to
stab him with a bayonet, but another woman took the weapon out of her
hand, and carried it off. The soldier was left dead on the walk.