THE PANIC IN RICHMOND
Richmond now entered the shadows of her darkest hour. Three armies were
threatening from the west commanded by Fremont, Milroy, and Banks, whose
forces were ordered to unite. McDowell with forty thousand men lay at
Fredericksburg and threatened a junction with McClellan, who was moving
up the Peninsula with an effective army of 105,000.
Joseph E. Johnston had under his command more than fifty thousand with
which to oppose McClellan's advance. It was the opinion of Davis and Lee
that the stand for battle should be made on the narrow neck of the
Peninsula which lent itself naturally to defense.
To retreat toward Richmond would not only prove discouraging to the
army, and precipitate a panic in the city, it meant the abandonment of
Norfolk, the loss of the navy yard, the destruction of the famous
iron-clad, and the opening of the James River to the gunboats of the
enemy to Drury's Bluff within twelve miles of the Confederate Capital.
In this crisis Johnston gave confirmation to the worst fears of the
President. He displayed the constitutional timidity and hesitation to
fight which marked every step of his military career to its tragic end.
With the greatest army under his command which the Confederacy had ever
brought together--with Longstreet, McGruder and G. W. Smith as his
lieutenants, he was preparing to retreat without a battle.
The President called in council of war General Lee, Randolph, the
Secretary of War, and General Johnston. Johnston asked that Longstreet
and Smith be invited. The President consented.
After full consultation, Davis decided, with Lee's approval to hold the
Peninsula, save the navy yard and keep command of the James. And
Johnston received orders accordingly.
With characteristic stubbornness the Field Commander persisted in his
determination to retreat without a battle.
With aching heart Davis sent him a telegram.
"Richmond, Va., May 1st, 1861.
"General Joseph E. Johnston,
"Yorktown, Va.
"Accepting your conclusion that you must soon retire, arrangements
are commenced for the abandonment of the navy yard and removal of
public property from Norfolk and the Peninsula.
"Your announcement to-day that you would withdraw to-morrow night,
takes us by surprise and must involve enormous losses, including
unfinished gunboats. Will the safety of your army allow more time?
"Jefferson Davis."
Johnston had retreated from his base at Manassas with absurd haste,
burning enormous stores and supplies of which the Confederacy was in
desperate need. The losses now occasioned by his hasty withdrawal from
Yorktown were even more serious.
The destruction of the iron-clad which had smashed the Federal fleet in
Hampton Roads sent a shiver of horror throughout the South.
* * * * *
The fiery trial through which Davis was passing brought out the finest
traits of his strong character.
He had received ample warning that one of the first places marked for
destruction by the Federal fleet passing up the Mississippi River was
his home "Briarfield." He refused to send troops to defend it. His house
was sacked, his valuable library destroyed, the place swept bare of his
fine blooded stock and the negroes deported by force.
To his wife he wrote:
"You will see the notice of the destruction of our home. If our cause
succeeds we shall not mourn our personal deprivation; if it should
not, why--'the deluge.' I hope I shall be able to provide for the
comfort of the old negroes."
Uncle Bob and Aunt Rhinah had been roughly handled by Butler's men. The
foragers utterly refused to believe them when they told of their
master's kindness in giving them piles of blankets. They were roughly
informed that they had stolen them from the house and their treasures
were confiscated amid the lamentations of the aged couple. The two
precious rocking chairs were left them but of blankets and linens they
were stripped bare.
* * * * *
With Johnston's army in retreat toward Richmond, his rear guard of but
twelve thousand men under General McGruder had demonstrated the wisdom
of Davis' position that the Peninsula could be successfully defended.
McGruder's little army held McClellan at bay for nearly thirty days. He
was dislodged from his position with terrible slaughter of the Union
forces. McClellan's army lost two thousand two hundred and seventy-five
men in this encounter, McGruder less than a thousand. Had Johnston
concentrated his fifty thousand men on this line McClellan would never
have taken it, and the only iron-clad the South possessed might have
been saved.
The daring Commander of the _Merrimac_, while McClellan was encamped
before Yorktown, had appeared in Hampton Roads and challenged the whole
Federal fleet again to fight. The _Monitor_ had taken refuge under the
guns of Fortress Monroe and refused to come out. The ugly duckling of
the Confederacy, in plain view of the whole Federal fleet and witnessed
by French and English vessels, captured three schooners and carried them
into port as prizes of war.
When Norfolk was abandoned, the iron-clad drew so much water she could
only ascend the James by lightening her until her wooden sides showed
above the water line. She was therefore set on fire and blown up on
Johnston's retreat uncovering the banks of the James to the artillery of
McClellan.
The Federal fleet could now dash up the James.
They did this immediately on the news of the destruction of the
Confederate iron-clad.
On May fifteenth, the _Galena_, the _Aroostook_, the _Monitor_, the
_Port Royal_, and the _Stevens_ steamed up the river without opposition
to Drury's Bluff within twelve miles of the Capital of the South. A
half-finished fort mounting four guns guarded this point. The river was
also obstructed by a double row of piles and sunken vessels.
If the eleven-inch guns of the _Monitor_ could be brought to bear on
this fort, it was a problem how long the batteries could be held in
action.
The wildest alarm swept Richmond. The railroads were jammed with frantic
people trying to get out. The depots were piled with mountains of
baggage it was impossible to move. A mass meeting was held on the night
the fleet ascended the river which was addressed by Governor Letcher and
Mayor Mayo.
The Governor ended his speech with a sentence that set the crowd wild
with enthusiasm.
"Sooner than see our beloved city conquered to-day by our enemies we
will lay it in ashes with our own hands!"
The Legislature of Virginia showed its grit by passing a resolution
practically inviting the President of the Confederacy to lay the city in
ruins if he deemed wise:
"_Resolved_, That the General Assembly hereby expresses its desire
that the Capital of the State be _defended to the last extremity_,
if such defense is in accordance with the views of the President
of the Confederate States, and that the President be assured that
whatever destruction and loss of property of the State or of
individuals shall thereby result, will be cheerfully submitted to."
When the Committee handed this document to Jefferson Davis, he faced
them with a look of resolution:
"Richmond will not be abandoned, gentlemen, until McClellan marches over
the dead bodies of our army. Not for one moment have I considered the
idea of surrendering the Capital--"
"Good!"
"Thank God!"
"Hurrah for the President!"
The Committee grasped his hand, convinced that no base surrender of
their Capital would be tolerated by their leader.
"Rest assured, gentlemen," he continued earnestly, "if blood must be
shed, it shall be here. No soil of the Confederacy could drink it more
acceptably and none hold it more gratefully. We shall stake all on this
one glorious hour for our Republic. Life, death, and wounds are nothing
if we shall be saved from the fate of a captured Capital and a
humiliated Confederacy--"
The Government and the city had need of grim resolution. The Federal
fleet moved up into range and opened fire on the batteries at Drury's
Bluff. The little Confederate gunboat _Patrick Henry_ which had won fame
in the first engagement of the _Merrimac_ steamed down into line and
joined her fire with the fort.
General Lee had planted light batteries on the banks of the river to
sweep the decks of the fleet with grape and cannister.
The little _Monitor_, the _Galena_, and the _Stevens_ steamed straight
up to within six hundred yards of the battery of the fort and opened
with their eleven-inch guns. The _Galena_ and the _Stevens_ were
iron-clad steamers with thin armor.
For four hours the guns thundered. The batteries poured a hail of shot
on the _Monitor_. They bounded off her round-tower and her water-washed
decks like pebbles. The rifled gun on the _Stevens_ burst and disabled
her. The _Galena_ was pierced by heavy shot and severely crippled,
losing thirty-seven of her men. As the _Monitor_ was built, it was
impossible to make effective her guns at close range against the high
bluff on which the Confederate battery was placed.
At eleven o'clock the crippled fleet slowly moved down the river and
Richmond was saved.
* * * * *
When Johnston in his retreat up the Peninsula reached the high ground
near the Chickahominy river, he threw out his lines and prepared to give
McClellan battle. He dispatched a messenger to the President at Richmond
informing him of this fact. The Cabinet was in session. A spirited
discussion ensued. The Secretary of War and the whole council were
alarmed at the prospect of battle on such an ill chosen position. His
rear would rest on an enormous swamp through which the treacherous river
flowed. There were no roads or bridges of sufficient capacity to take
his army rapidly if he should be compelled to retreat.
"I suggest, Mr. President," said the Secretary of War, "that you call
General Johnston's attention to this fact."
Davis shook his head emphatically.
"No, gentlemen. We have entrusted the command to General Johnston. It is
his business with all the facts before him to know what is best. It
would be utterly unfair and very dangerous to attempt to control his
operations by advice from the Capital."
Davis was too great a general and too generous and just to deny Johnston
his opportunity for supreme service to his country. It was the fixed
policy of the President to select the best man for the position to which
he assigned him and leave the responsibility of action on the field to
his judgment.
On the following morning instead of a report of battle the President
received a dispatch announcing that his General had decided to cross the
Chickahominy River and use its swamps and dangerous crossings as his
line of defense.
The Cabinet expressed its sense of profound relief and Davis watched his
commander with an increase of confidence in his judgment. If the narrow
roads and weak bridges across the river were guarded, an army of half
his size could hold McClellan for months. The nearest crossing was
twenty-five miles from Richmond.
General Reagan of the Cabinet rode down that night to see Hood at the
head of his Texas brigade.
At noon next day on returning to the city he saw the President coming
out of his office.
The long arm of the Chief was lifted and Reagan halted.
"Wait a minute--"
"At your service, Mr. President."
"Get your dinner and ride down to the Chickahominy with me. I want to
see General Johnston."
Reagan shouted an answer which the President failed to catch:
"You won't have to go to the Chickahominy to see Johnston!"
Joining Reagan after dinner the President rode rapidly through the
suburban district called "The Rockets," and had reached the high ground
beyond. A half mile away stretched a vast field of white tents.
"Whose camp is that?" Davis asked in surprise.
"Hood's brigade," Reagan replied.
"Why Hood's on the Chickahominy twenty-odd miles from here--"
"I camped here with them last night, sir--"
"Impossible!"
Reagan watched the thin face of the Confederate Chieftain grow deadly
pale.
"If you wish to see General Johnston, Mr. President, you'll find him in
that red brick house on the right--"
Reagan pointed in the direction of the house.
The President looked at his friend a moment, a quizzical expression
relieving his anxiety.
"Of course--it's a joke, Reagan."
"It's true, sir!"
Davis shook his head:
"General Johnston is on the Chickahominy guarding the crossings. I sent
my aide with a dispatch to him last night."
"He hadn't returned when you left the office--"
"No--"
"I thought not. There can be no mistake, sir. I saw General Johnston and
his staff enter that house and establish his headquarters there--"
"Here in the suburbs of Richmond?"
"Right here, sir--"
Davis put spurs to his horse, and waved to his aide:
"Colonel Ives--come!"
Reagan turned and rode again into Hood's camp.
The President rode straight to Johnston's headquarters. He sprang to the
ground with a quick decisive leap.
The ceremony between the two men was scant. No words were wasted.
"You have moved your army into the suburbs of Richmond, General
Johnston?"
"I have--"
"Why?"
"I consider this better ground--"
"You have left no rear guard to contest McClellan's crossing?"
"No."
"May I ask why you chose to give up the defenses of such a river without
a blow?"
"My army was out of provisions--"
"They could have been rushed to you--"
"The ground near the Chickahominy is low and marshy. The water is bad--"
"And you have come to the very gates of the city?"
"Because the ground is dry, the water good, and we are near our
supplies--"
The President's lips trembled with rage.
"And McClellan can now plant his guns within six miles and his soldiers
hear our church bells on Sunday--"
"Possibly--"
The President's eye pierced his General.
"Richmond is to be surrendered without a battle?"
"That depends, sir, upon conditions--"
The Confederate Chief suddenly threw his thin hands above his head and
faced his stubborn sulking Commander.
"If you are not going to give battle, I'll appoint a man in your place
who will--"
Before Johnston could reply the President turned on his heel, waved to
Colonel Ives, mounted his horse and dashed into the city.
His Cabinet was called in hasty consultation with General Lee.
Davis turned to his counselors.
"Gentlemen, I have just held a most amazing conference with General
Johnston. You were afraid he would fight beyond the Chickahominy. He has
crossed the river, left its natural defenses unguarded, and has run all
the way to town without pause. I have told him to fight or get out of
the saddle. In my judgment he intends to back straight through the city
and abandon it without a blow. We must face the situation."
He turned to Lee. The question he was going to put to the man in whom he
had supreme confidence would test both his judgment and his character.
On his answer would hang his career. If it should be what the
Confederate Chief believed, Lee was the man of destiny and his hour had
struck.
"In case Johnston abandons Richmond," the President slowly began, "where
in your opinion, General Lee, is the next best line of defense?"
Lee's fine mouth was set for a moment. He spoke at first with
deliberation.
"As a military engineer, my answer is simple. The next best line of
defense would be at Staten River--but--"
He suddenly leaped to his feet, his eyes streaming with tears.
"Richmond must not be given up--it shall not be given up!"
Davis sprang to his side and clasped Lee's hand.
"So say I, General!"
From that moment the President and his chief military adviser lived on
Johnston's battle line, Lee ready at a moment's notice to spring into
the saddle and hurl his men against McClellan the moment Johnston should
falter.
The Commander was forced to a decision for battle. He could not allow
his arch enemy to remove him without a fight.
The retreat across the Chickahominy had given McClellan an enormous
advantage which his skillful eye saw at once. He threw two grand
divisions of his army across the river and pushed his siege guns up
within six miles of Richmond. His engineers immediately built
substantial bridges across the stream over which he could move in safety
his heaviest guns in any emergency, either for reënforcements or
retreat.
He swung his right wing far to the north in a wide circling movement
until he was in easy touch with McDowell's forty thousand men at
Fredericksburg.
McClellan was within sight of the consummation of his hopes. When this
wide movement of his army had been successfully made without an arm
lifted to oppose, he climbed a tall tree within sight of Richmond from
which he could view the magnificent panorama.
A solid wall of living blue with glittering bayonets and black-fanged
batteries of artillery, his army spread for ten miles. Beyond them here
and there only he saw patches of crouching gray in the underbrush or
crawling through the marshes.
The Northern Commander came down from his perch and threw his arms
around his aide:
"We've got them, boy!" he cried enthusiastically. "We've got them!"
It was not to be wondered at that the boastful oratorical Confederate
Congress should have taken to their heels. They ran in such haste, the
people of Richmond began to laugh and in their laughter took fresh
courage.
A paper printed in double leads on its first page a remarkable account
of the stampede:
"For fear of accident on the railroad, the stampeded Congress left
in a number of the strongest and swiftest of our new canal-boats.
The boats were drawn by mules of established sweetness of temper.
To protect our law-makers from snakes and bullfrogs that infest the
line of the canal, General Winder detailed a regiment of ladies to
march in advance of the mules, and clear the tow-path of these
troublesome pirates. The ladies are ordered to accompany the
Confederate Congress to a secluded cave in the mountains of Hepsidan,
and leave them there in charge of the children of that vicinity until
McClellan thinks proper to let them come forth. The ladies will at
once return to the defense of their country."
The President for a brief time was free of his critics.
On May thirty-first, Johnston's army, under the direct eye of Davis and
Lee on the field, gave battle to McClellan's left wing--comprising the
two grand divisions that had been pushed across the Chickahominy to the
environs of Richmond.
The opening attack was delayed by the failure of General Holmes to
strike McClellan's rear as planned. A terrific rain storm the night
before had flooded a stream and it was impossible for him to cross.
Late in the afternoon Longstreet and Hill hurled their divisions through
the thick woods and marshes on McClellan.
Longstreet's men drove before them the clouds of blue skirmishers,
plunged into the marshes with water two feet deep and dashed on the
fortified lines of the enemy. The Southerners crept through the dense
underbrush to the very muzzles of the guns in the redoubts, charged,
cleared them, grappling hand to hand with the desperate men who fought
like demons.
Line after line was thus carried until at nightfall McClellan's left
wing had been pushed back over two miles through swamp and waters red
with blood.
The slaughter had been frightful in the few hours in which the battle
had raged. On the Confederate left where Johnston commanded in person
the Union army held its position until dark, unbroken.
Johnston fell from his horse wounded and Davis on the field immediately
appointed General Lee to command.
The appointment of Lee to be Commander-in-Chief not only intensified the
hatred of Johnston for the President, it made G. W. Smith, the man who
was Johnston's second, his implacable enemy for life. Technically G. W.
Smith would have succeeded to the command of the army had not Davis
exercised his power on the field of battle to appoint the man of his
choice.
In no act of his long, eventful life did Davis evince such clearness of
vision and quick decision, under trying conditions. Lee had failed in
Western Virginia and McClellan had out-generaled him, the yellow
journals had declared. They called Lee "Old Spade." So intense was the
opposition to Lee that Davis had sent him to erect the coast defenses of
South Carolina. The Governor of the State protested against the
appointment of so incompetent a man to this important work. Davis sent
the Governor an emphatic message in reply:
"If Robert E. Lee is not a general I have none to send you."
Davis now called the man whom McClellan had defeated to the supreme
command against McClellan at the head of his grand army in sight of the
housetops of Richmond. Only a leader of the highest genius could have
dared to make such a decision in such a crisis.
Davis made it without a moment's hesitation and in that act of
individual will gave to the world the greatest commander of the age.