captured another large train, loaded with supplies. In the fight on the
16th, Gillem captured all of Vaughn’s train, about seventy-five wagons;
and on the 20th Colonel Wade captured, near Saltville, a supply train of
fifteen wagons, with ninety mules and seventy-five negroes.
EXPEDITIONS AT THE CLOSE OF 1864.
Several expeditions of importance were undertaken at this period, which
had important bearings on the movements of the grand armies, but our
limits will not permit extended details.
DESTRUCTION OF FEDERAL DEPOT AT JOHNSONVILLE, TENN.—On the 28th of
October, General Forrest reached the Tennessee at Fort Hieman, and
captured a gunboat and three transports. On the 2d of November, he
planted batteries above and below Johnsonville, on the opposite side of
the river, isolating three gunboats and eight transports. On the 4th he
opened his batteries on the place, and was replied to from the gunboats
and the garrison. The gunboats became disabled, and were set on fire, as
also were the transports, to prevent them from falling into the hands of
the enemy. The fire extended to the levee and the storehouses, and
property to the value of one and a half million dollars was consumed.
The place was not occupied by the enemy, who withdrew on the following
day, crossing to the north side of the Tennessee river, above
Johnsonville, moving towards Clifton, and subsequently joined Hood’s
army, near Franklin.
DESTRUCTION ON THE MISSISSIPPI CENTRAL RAILROAD.—Soon after General
Sherman commenced his march from Atlanta, two expeditions, one from
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and one from Vicksburg, Mississippi, were
started by General Canby to cut the enemy’s line of communication with
Mobile and retain troops in that field. The expedition from Vicksburg
was under the command of Brevet Brigadier-General E. D. Osband (Colonel
Third United States colored cavalry). He reached the Mississippi Central
railroad on the 27th of November, and, after an obstinate engagement,
destroyed the bridge and trestle work over Big Black river, near Canton,
thirty miles of the road, and two locomotives, two thousand six hundred
bales of cotton and one hundred and sixty thousand dollars worth of
stores at Vaughan station. About the same time an expedition organized
under the direction of General Canby, consisting of a cavalry force
under General Davidson, left Baton Rouge. Thence it marched to
Tanghipiho and destroyed the railroad to Jackson, burning bridges and
railroad buildings. Thence it moved to Franklinville, capturing a mail
and prisoners. Thence it moved to West Pascagoula. These movements
caused a great panic in Mississippi, and created alarm for the safety of
Mobile, thus effectively cooperating with General Sherman.
* * * * *
A cavalry expedition, under Brevet Major-General Grierson, started from
Memphis on the 21st of December. On the 25th he surprised and captured
Forrest’s dismounted camp at Verona, Mississippi, on the Mobile and Ohio
railroad, destroyed the railroad, sixteen cars loaded with wagons and
pontoons for Hood’s army, four thousand new English carbines, and a
large amount of public stores. On the morning of the 28th he attacked
and captured a force of the army at Egypt, and destroyed a train of
fourteen cars; thence turning to the southwest he struck the Mississippi
Central railroad at Winona, destroyed the factories and large amounts of
stores at Bankston, and the machine shops and public property at
Grenada, arriving at Vicksburg January 5.
* * * * *
FOSTER’S EXPEDITION UP BROAD RIVER, S. C.—On the 29th of November, 1864,
General Foster, commanding Department of the South, also sent an
expedition, _via_ Broad river, to destroy the railroad between
Charleston and Savannah. The troops were commanded by Brigadier-General
J. P. Hatch, and a naval force under Commander G. H. Preble formed a
part of the expedition.
The transports arrived at Boyd’s Point a little after daylight on
Tuesday morning, the 29th, and in a short time men, horses, artillery
and supplies were on shore. On the next day the enemy were encountered
in force on the Grahamsville road, at a place called Honey Hill. The
batteries of the rebels were intrenched in the woods, and great bravery
was evinced by the naval brigade and by colored troops in several
charges which were made, in which they suffered severe loss. The
musketry fire was terrific. For seven hours the din was kept up, almost
drowning the artillery discharges. The position of the rebels at Honey
Hill proved too strong to be carried by General Foster’s command, and
the Federals were compelled to retire. The total casualties of the Union
force numbered eight hundred and ten.
REBEL PRIVATEERS—THE ALABAMA, THE FLORIDA, AND THE SHENANDOAH.
On the 19th of June, 1864, the steamship Alabama, a rebel privateer,
built, equipped, and manned in Great Britain, but commanded by a
Confederate officer, was brought to bay in the harbor of Cherbourg,
France, by the United States sloop-of-war Kearsarge, Captain Winslow.
For nearly two years the Alabama had been roaming the seas unmolested,
avoiding a conflict with United States vessels of war on numerous
occasions where opportunities were offered to meet an antagonist on
equal terms, but committing serious depredations among merchant vessels,
destroying property of the value of nearly ten millions of dollars. For
these acts her commander, Captain Semmes, was feted and lauded by
leading English journals and merchants as a hero. The Alabama was
launched, armed and delivered to her Confederate commander in British
waters, with the full knowledge of the government authorities, and in
face of the protest of Mr. Adams, the American Minister at the Court of
St. James. Her crew were nearly to a man British subjects, recruited in
British ports, and her gunners were trained in Her Majesty’s
practice-ship Excellent. Her battery consisted of eight guns—one
one-hundred-pounder rifle, one sixty-eight-pounder rifle, and six
thirty-two-pounders. She was rated as a third-class sloop-of-war, and
was considered a model of beauty and speed. Her commander and crew were
received with warm welcome and flattering honors at numerous British and
French ports, and every facility afforded the vessel for supplies and
repairs. Great anxiety was felt and expressed among naval officers of
England and France, that Captain Semmes should avail himself of one of
the many opportunities afforded of meeting a Federal cruiser of equal
power in fair and honorable combat. This test of skill and courage was
carefully avoided by the Confederate commander, till on the date above
named, after submitting to a blockade of five days in the harbor of
Cherbourg by the United States sloop-of-war Kearsage, a vessel of equal
armament and tonnage, Captain Semmes, seeing there was no escape,
reluctantly assented to the combat.
The battery of the Kearsarge consisted of seven guns—two eleven-inch
Dahlgrens, throwing shell or shot of one hundred and thirty-eight
pounds, four thirty-two-pounders, and one twenty-eight-pounder rifle.
The conflict took place within sight of the harbor of Cherbourg, and was
witnessed by thousands of the inhabitants. At twenty minutes past ten A.
M., Sunday, June 19, the Alabama was discovered standing out,
accompanied by a French iron-clad steamer. When the Alabama was descried
the Kearsarge was about three miles from the entrance of the harbor, and
to avoid any question as to the line of jurisdiction, as well as to draw
the Alabama off shore, so that if disabled she could not flee in for
protection, the Kearsarge stood to seaward until she had attained the
distance of about seven miles from the shore. At fifty minutes past ten
she came quick about and approached the Alabama, and at fifty-seven
minutes past ten the Alabama commenced the action with her starboard
broadside at one thousand yards’ range. At eleven the fire was returned
by the Kearsarge, and the vessels came fairly into action at about nine
hundred yards’ distance.
Captain Winslow says it was soon apparent that Semmes did not seek close
action, and fears were entertained that after some fighting he would
make for the shore. To defeat this Captain Winslow determined to keep
full steam on, run under the stern of the Alabama, and rake; but the
Alabama, by sheering and keeping her broadside to the Kearsarge, was
forced with a full head of steam into a circular track.
On the seventh rotation the Alabama headed for the shore, disabled and
at the mercy of the Kearsarge. A few well directed shots brought down
her flag, a white one was displayed, and the fire of the Kearsarge was
reserved. In about two minutes the Alabama again opened fire. The
Kearsarge replied, steamed ahead and laid across the bows of the Alabama
for raking. The fire of the Kearsarge being again reserved, boats were
lowered and an officer in one of them came alongside at ten minutes past
twelve o’clock and surrendered the Alabama. Six officers and sixty-four
men were brought on board the Kearsarge. At ten minutes past three
o’clock the Kearsarge let go her anchor in seven fathoms water.
In an engagement of one hour and ten minutes, the great superiority of
the American vessel and gunnery was evinced, and the British corsair
struck her colors while in a sinking condition, and went down in the
waves of the British channel. The crew of the Alabama had suffered
serious loss in the combat, and the wounded were engulfed with the
vessel, while some eighty or ninety of the survivors, among whom was
Captain Semmes, were left struggling in the waves.
The Alabama was accompanied from Cherbourg by an English private yacht,
the Deerhound, owned and sailed by Mr. John Lancaster, a warm friend and
sympathizer with Semmes. When the Alabama lowered her flag the boats of
the Kearsarge were immediately put out to save the survivors, and
Captain Winslow signalled to the yacht and two French pilot boats to
assist in this work of humanity. Lancaster picked up Semmes and several
others of the officers and crew, and, regardless of the neutrality of
his country, steamed off to Cowes, and set them at liberty. One hundred
and fifteen of the crew reached the shores of England and France.
The Alabama is reported to have discharged three hundred and seventy or
more shot and shell in this engagement, but inflicted no serious damage
on the Kearsarge. Thirteen or fourteen took effect in and about the
hull, and sixteen or seventeen about the masts and rigging.
The Kearsarge fired one hundred and seventy-three projectiles, of which
one alone killed and wounded eighteen of the crew of the Alabama, and
disabled one of her guns.
Three persons were wounded on the Kearsarge.
* * * * *
The rebel privateer Florida was captured in the port of Bahia, Brazil,
on the 7th of October, 1864, by the United States war-steamer Wachusett,
Captain N. Collins. The particulars of that capture may be briefly
detailed.
The Florida arrived at Bahia on the night of the 6th of October. Bahia
is in the bay of San Salvador, on the Atlantic coast of Brazil, eight
hundred miles northeast from Rio Janeiro. The Florida came there to get
coal and provisions, and to repair her engine. Mr. Wilson, U. S. Consul
at Bahia, protested to the Brazilian Government against the Florida’s
admission to the port, and asked that a penalty should be exacted from
her for burning a United States vessel within Brazilian waters, near the
Island of Fernando de Norenha. The Government answered the protest
respectfully, but decreed that the Florida was rightfully in a neutral
port. The Wachusett was also in port at that time. Captain Collins
challenged the Florida to go out and fight, but the challenge was
declined. Thereupon he determined to capture the rebel steamer and carry
her away. This design was put into execution on the night of October
7th, at which time Captain Morris, of the Florida, and many of the crew
were on shore. The Wachusett ran into the Florida, striking her on the
quarter, and at the same time carrying away her mizen-mast and mainyard.
Little or no resistance was offered to the capture. A hawser from the
Wachusett was made fast to the Florida, and so the latter was towed to
sea. Twelve officers and fifty-eight seamen were captured with her.
From Bahia she was taken to St. Thomas, where several of the prisoners
were transferred to the U. S. sloop-of-war Kearsarge, Captain Winslow,
for transportation to Boston. The Florida, meanwhile, furnished with a
crew of loyal Americans, sailed from St. Thomas to Fortress Monroe,
where, on the 28th of the same month, she was accidentally run into by
an army transport, and sunk in nine fathoms of water.
The Florida was built in England for the Italian Government—it was
said—but was purchased by rebel agents in Liverpool, and surreptitiously
sent to sea in the rebel service in March, 1862. She was about seven
hundred and fifty tons burthen, carrying three masts and two smoke
stacks.
* * * * *
The most formidable, and also the most destructive of all the rebel
privateers during the rebellion, was an iron-clad steamer of great
speed, known as the Shenandoah, built and fitted out for the rebels in a
British port. She was more than a match for the majority of American
war-vessels, and roamed the ocean undisputed, at one time destroying the
whaling and fishing vessels by scores in the North Atlantic, and again
intercepting the richly laden China and India merchant vessels, carrying
on her devastation for months after the surrender of the rebel armies,
and the destruction of all semblance of a Confederate government. She
was finally surrendered by her commander to the British authorities and
delivered to the United States Consul at Liverpool in November, 1865.
THE ST. ALBANS RAID.
OCTOBER 19, 1864.
During the whole course of the rebellion Canada was a place of refuge
for numerous rebels of all grades, from the special minister and envoy
to foreign powers, or the quasi general, to the lowest incendiary, who
by a certain party were all well treated, and allowed social privileges.
Many plots were there formed, for the purpose of inflicting injury on
the American cause, all of which found warm sympathizers and abettors
among the anti Federal Canadians.
Early in October a party of Confederates was organized by Bennet H.
Young, an officer holding a commission from Jefferson Davis, who
appointed a rendezvous on the Canada line, for the purpose of crossing
to Vermont and robbing the banks at St. Albans.
St. Albans is a flourishing town, situated three miles east of Lake
Champlain, twenty-three miles from Rouse’s point—where the railroads
converge, going north—and sixteen miles from the Canada line. The raid
was made upon it on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 19th October.
Business hours had not passed and the banks were still open. The
attacking party numbered twenty-five or thirty persons. These men had
come over from Canada and quietly congregated at the various hotels in
St. Albans, holding no noticeable communication and awakening no
suspicion. Their plan was a bold one, and was successfully executed. On
the day mentioned, at about three o’clock in the afternoon, they
suddenly congregated, in squads, and made a simultaneous attack on the
St. Albans, the Franklin county, and the First National Banks. At each
bank they drew their revolvers, threatening instant death to all the
officers present if any resistance was made. They then robbed the
drawers and vaults of all specie, bills, and other valuable articles
that they could lay their hands upon.
At the St. Albans bank these ruffians compelled the tellers to take the
oath of allegiance to the Confederate Government. At the Franklin bank
they thrust the cashier, Mr. Beardsley, together with a Mr. Clark, into
the safe, and left them, where they must infallibly have suffocated, but
for the timely arrival of assistance, after the robbers had decamped.
At the First National bank some resistance was made to them, by Mr.
Blaisdell, one of the bank officers. But, in general, they met with no
opposition. The attack was so sudden and unexpected that at first the
citizens were panic-stricken, and the utmost confusion prevailed in the
town.
[Illustration: CONFEDERATE GENERALS. HOOD. HARDEE. TOOMBS. TWIGGS.
SIMMONS. CHEATHAM. BUCKNER. A. S. JOHNSTON.]
Parties of the raiders rushed about, from place to place, discharging
their pistols in every direction. Their weapons were seven-shooters, and
each man carried several of them. A number of citizens were killed—the
first victim being Mr. E. J. Morrison, who was shot down at the door of
Mrs. Beattie’s millinery store. Among the killed were a woman and a
little girl.
Having completely pillaged the banks, and murdered a number of the
citizens of St. Albans, they closed their foul work by seizing horses
from the farmers’ wagons and from livery stables, and so made good their
escape. Within half an hour from the beginning of the raid they galloped
away from the town.
The raiders were promptly pursued by a party of armed citizens of St.
Albans, under Captain Conger. The pursuit lay in the direction of
Sheldon Creek, at which point the flying robbers set fire to the bridge,
in order to protect their retreat. They were, however, followed into
Canada, where fourteen of them were captured by the pursuing party, and
surrendered to the Canadian authorities. These men were claimed by the
United States, under the extradition treaty, as burglars and robbers.
Their examination was commenced at St. Johns, before an ordinary
magistrate, who set them at liberty, and restored to the robbers the
plunder which had been taken from them. This unwarrantable decision was
overruled by higher colonial authorities, and some of the raiders were
again arrested and a new trial instituted. The men were released,
however, and the only concession made was the surrender of that portion
of the money which had been obtained from the robbers, and lodged in the
Canada banks.
ADVANCE OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
MAY 3, 1864.
General Grant was called to the command of all the armies of the United
States on the 13th of March, 1864, at which time the Army of the
Potomac, numbering over one hundred thousand men, was encamped on the
north side of the Rapidan. General Lee, with an opposing Confederate
army of nearly equal force, was posted in a series of earthworks on the
southern bank of the upper Rapidan. His position was a very strong one,
and the construction of his defences had called forth the skill of an
able body of engineers, and was the product of several months’ labor.
During the months of March and April General Grant visited the several
commanders in person of the various departments contiguous to
Washington, and imparted to them his general plan of the campaign,
giving each department commander written instructions to guide him in
the part assigned to him in the eventful movements which were soon to
take place. He also communicated by letter to the heads of each
department throughout the country, giving such definite information and
instructions to all, as their peculiar position and circumstances called
for. His headquarters he declared to be with the Army of the Potomac in
the field. General Meade was retained as commander of that army, and
through him General Grant gave orders for its evolutions—General Meade
exercising all the responsibilities which were common to chief
commanders in the field.
General Butler, with about thirty thousand troops, was then in the
vicinity of Fortress Monroe, preparing to ascend the James, and
cooperate with the Army of the Potomac, by a demonstration towards
Richmond.
Major-General Meade was instructed that Lee’s army would be his
objective point; that wherever Lee went he would go also. For his
movement two plans presented themselves: One to cross the Rapidan below
Lee, moving by his right flank; the other above, moving by his left.
Each presented advantages over the other, with corresponding objections.
By crossing above, Lee would be cut off from all chance of ignoring
Richmond or going North on a raid. But if Meade took this route all he
did would have to be done while the rations he started with held out;
besides, it separated him from Butler, so that he could not be directed
how to cooperate. If he took the other route, Brandy Station could be
used as a base of supplies until another was secured on the York or
James river. Of these, however, it was decided to take the lower route.
It was designed that all the armies throughout the country which were
placed in antagonism with opposing rebel forces, should assume the
offensive about the 1st of May.
The movement of the army of the Potomac commenced early on the morning
of the 4th of May, under the immediate direction and orders of
Major-General Meade. Before night the whole army was across the Rapidan,
(the Fifth and Sixth corps crossing at Germania Ford, and the Second in
advance,) with the greater part of its trains, numbering about four
thousand wagons, meeting with but slight opposition. The average
distance travelled by the troops that day was about twelve miles.
General Grant had anticipated a bold opposition from the rebels while
crossing the river, and was much relieved when that result was obtained
without opposition. Toward night there was severe skirmishing along the
line and some loss was suffered on both sides. That night the army
encamped along a line some seven or eight miles in extent. The Second
corps occupied the old battle-ground at Chancellorsville. The Fifth,
under General G. K. Warren, was at the Wilderness Tavern, and the Sixth,
under General Sedgwick, at Germania Ford, where Generals Grant and Meade
established their headquarters.
On Thursday morning, before the dawn of day, the Federal troops prepared
to resume their march. They advanced in three columns, by roads leading
to the south. General Warren was on the right, General Hancock occupied
the centre, and General Sheridan with his cavalry covered the extreme
left. The troops had not proceeded far before there were indications of
the approach of the enemy from the west, advancing in great force,
bearing on the centre of the Federal lines. The rattling and irregular
fire of the skirmish line gave premonition of the approaching contest,
which became serious at noon.
THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
MAY 5–7, 1864.