” 24—Fort Smith Arkansas, seized. Cairo, Ill., occupied by
Union troops.
Maj. Sibley surrenders 450 U. S. troops to Col. Van Dorn, in
Texas.
” 26—Gov. Brown, of Geo., forbids payment of debts to
Northern people.
” 27—A steamer at Cairo, loaded with military stores for the
South, seized.
Blockade extended to ports of Virginia and North Carolina.
” 29—The Maryland House of Delegates votes against secession,
63 to 13.
Governors Harris of Tennessee and Moore of Louisiana seize
government property.
May 1—The Legislature of N. C. and Tenn. prepare for formal
secession.
” 3—President Lincoln calls for 82,714 additional troops.
Fourteen companies of Kentucky troops offer themselves to the
government, though the Governor had refused a levy.
” 4—Gen. McClellan takes command of the department of the
Ohio.
” 6—Virginia admitted into the Confederacy. Tennessee and
Arkansas pass Ordinances of Secession.
” 10—A rebel force in St. Louis surrenders to Capt. Lyon.
Gen. R. E. Lee takes command of Southern troops in Virginia.
” 13—Convention called at Wheeling to organize a new State.
” 14—Vessels with stores and property for the South seized at
Baltimore.
” 15—Massachusetts offers U.S. Government $7,000,000 to carry
on the war.
” 16—Gen. Scott orders the fortification of Arlington Heights.
” 17—Confederates commence fortifying Harpers Ferry.
” 18—Gen. Butler takes command of Department of Virginia.
” 19—Sewalls Pt. attacked by U S. steamers. Two schooners,
with Southern troops, captured.
” 20—North Carolina formally secedes. Kentucky proclaimed
neutral.
” 21—Southerners blockade the Mississippi at Memphis.
” 24—Alexandria and Arlington Heights occupied by Union
troops.
” 26—Western Virginia voted largely in favor of the Union.
” 27—One hundred slaves fled to Fortress Monroe. Gen. Butler
declared them “contraband” of war.
” ”—Two steamers engage the rebel batteries at Acquia Creek.
June 1—Various skirmishes between parties of the hostile
armies.
” 3—Senator S. A. Douglas, of Illinois, died.
Battle of Philippi, Va. Union Col. Kelly wounded but
victorious. Gen. Beauregard assumed command of Confederate
forces at Manassas Junction. Voluntary contributions of
northern States in aid of the Government over $32,000,000.
BATTLE OF BIG BETHEL.
” 10—Three Federal regiments defeated. 16 killed, 41 wounded.
” 11—Skirmish at Romney. Wheeling Convention meets.
” 14—Harper’s Ferry evacuated and burnt by Southern forces.
” 15—Confederate privateer, Savannah, brought, a prize, to
New York.
” 17—Wheeling Convention of Unionists determine to make West
Virginia an independent State.
” 18—Battle of Booneville, Mo. Gen. Lyon defeats Confederate
Gen. Price.
” 20—At Cole Camp, Mo., Union men defeated; at Liberty, Mo.,
Southerners overcome.
” 23—Forty-eight locomotives of Baltimore and Ohio R. R.
destroyed by Southern forces; value, $400,000.
” 26—President Lincoln recognizes the Wheeling government as
that of Virginia.
” 29—Southern privateer, Sumter, escapes through blockade at
New Orleans.
July 2—Battle near Martinsburg, Va., Gen. Patterson, Union,
and Gen. Jackson, Confederate.
” 3—Southern men captured at Neosho, Mo. Consisted of 94 men.
” 4—Southern forces seize Louisville and Nashville railroad.
” 5—Congress assemble at Washington. President calls for
400,000 volunteers, and $400,000,000 to put down the
rebellion.
Battle of Carthage, between Sigel, Union, and Gen. Jackson,
Southern. Gen. Sigel retreated.
” 11—Nine Southern Senators expelled from U. S. Congress.
” 12—Battle of Rich Mountain, Va. Col. Rosecrans, Union,
defeated Col. Pegram, taking 800 prisoners and his camp
stores.
” 13—Confederates under Gen. Garnett, defeated at Carrick’s
Ford, by Gen. Morris. Gen. Garnett killed.
” 15—Col. Stuart, commanding Confederate cavalry, attacks
Union forces at Bunker Hill, Va., and is defeated.
” 16—Skirmishes at Millville, Mo., and Barboursville, Va.
” 18—Outposts of the two armies fight at Blackburn’s Ford,
on Bull Run, some 20 miles from Washington. Southern troops
withdraw.
BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
” 21—This was the first great battle. The Confederate
government aims at the capture of Washington. Their forces,
under Gen. Beauregard, about 22,000, afterwards strengthened
by 6,000, are attacked by Union army under Gen. McDowell,
with 28,000 men. It turns in favor of McDowell until arrival
of Confederate reinforcement of 6,000, when Union army was
totally defeated, the fugitives flying in great disorder
to the defenses of Washington. Yet Confederates lost more
in wounded, and failed to take the National Capital, the
preservation of which was the supreme point to the Union
forces. The South gained the _battle_, and the Union gained
the _cause_.
” 25—Gen. McClellan takes command of the Army of the Potomac.
Aug. 1—Confederate forces at Harpers Ferry retreat to
Leesburg.
” 2—Congress authorized the raising of 500,000 men and
$500,000,000 to suppress the insurrection, providing for the
last by tax and tariff.
Gen. Lyon repulses the Confederates at Dug Spring, Mo.
” 5—Commodore Allen bombarded Galveston, Texas.
” 7—Hampton, Va., burned by Southern forces.
BATTLE OF WILSON’S CREEK, MO.
” 10—Gen. Lyon, (Union,) with about 5,000 men, attacked
Gen. McCullough, (Confederate,) with over 10,000. Gen. Lyon
killed. Federal losses in killed, wounded, and missing,
1,211; Southern losses over 1,600. Union forces retreated to
Springfield. McCullough too much shattered to follow.
” 12—President Lincoln proclaimed Sept. 30, a Fast Day.
” 14—Gen. Fremont declared martial law in St. Louis.
” 15—President Davis ordered all northern men to leave the
South in 40 days.
” 16—President Lincoln forbids commercial intercourse with
the South.
” 23—Cherokee Indians take part with the South.
” 28—Capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark, N. C., by Gen.
Butler and Com. Stringham.
” 31—Gen. Fremont proclaims freedom of slaves and confiscates
property of disunionists in Missouri. President Lincoln
countermands it.
Sept. 1—Southerners defeated at Boonville, Va., and town
destroyed.
” 4—Confederate Gen. Polk occupies Columbus, Ky. Southern
forces, attempting to cross Potomac at Great Falls, repulsed.
” 10—Gen. Banks attacks Confederate Gen. Floyd, in intrenched
camp, at Carnifex Ferry. Gen. Floyd retreats in the night.
” 12—Battle of Cheat Mountain, a Union victory. Col. J. A.
Washington killed.
” 18—Secession members of Maryland Legislature imprisoned.
” 19—Arrest of Gov. Morehead and others for treason, in
Louisville, Ky.
” 20—Col. Morehead, Union, besieged, at Lexington, Mo., and
compelled to surrender with over 2,000 men, after a fight of
four days.
Oct. 2—Battle of Chapmanville, Va. Confederates defeated.
” 3—Battle of Greenbriar, Va. Federal success.
” 4—Confederate success at Chicamacomico, Va. Federals
retreated.
” 5—Steamer Monticello drives Southern forces from
Chicamacomico.
” 7—Confederate Iron Clad Merrimac appears at Fortress Monroe.
” 11—Confederate Commissioners Slidell and Mason escape from
Charleston, S. C.
” 16—U. S. troops recapture Lexington, Mo. Battle of Pilot
Knob, Mo. Unionists successful.
” 21—Battle of Balls Bluff. U. S. forces under Col. Baker,
member of Congress, 1,900 strong, defeated with loss of 918
men. Col. Baker killed.
Gen. Zollicoffer defeated by U. S. troops at Camp Wild Cat,
Ky.
” 25—Gen. Kelly gains a battle against Confederates at
Romney, Va.
” 29—U. S. naval and military force of 27,000 men and 75
vessels leave Fortress Monroe for the South.
Nov. 1—Gen. Scott retires from command of the Union army.
Gen. McClellan appointed Gen. in Chief. Gen. Floyd fails in
his attack on Gen. Rosencranz, at Gauley, Va.
” 2—Gen. Fremont superseded by Gen. Hunter in Mo.
” 4—Houston, Mo., taken by Union troops.
” 7—Com. Dupont and Gen. Sherman capture Forts Walker and
Beauregard, S. C., and occupy Beaufort and Hilton Island.
Gen. Grant captured Confederate camp at Belmont, Mo.,
opposite Columbus. Reinforcements arriving he retired.
” 8—Mason and Slidell, Confederate Commissioners to Europe,
were taken from British steamer Trent, by U. S. ship San
Jacinto. On subsequent demand of the English government they
were given up.
” 10—Union soldiers having been killed by inhabitants of
Guyandotte, Va., the town was burnt in retaliation.
” 15—The San Jacinto arrived at Fortress Monroe with Slidell
and Mason.
” 28—Bombardment of Pensacola, Fla., by Ft. Pickens and U. S.
war vessels.
” 27—Gen. McClellan orders observance of the Sabbath in the
army.
” 29—Skirmish at Warsaw, Mo. Town partly destroyed.
” 30—Fight at Salem, Mo. Southern forces defeated.
Dec. 3—Congress met at Washington.
” 4—Two Congressmen and Senator Breckenridge of Ky., expelled
for treason.
” 5—Naval engagement at Cape Hatteras.
Forces of U. S. army and navy reported very near 700,000 men.
” 9—Confederate Congress declares Kentucky a State in the
Southern Confederacy.
” 13—Gen. Milroy defeats Confederate Col. Johnson, at Camp
Alleghany.
” 16—Platte City, Mo., burnt by Southern forces.
” 17—More than 20 vessels, filled with stone, sunk at the
entrance of Charleston and Savannah harbors.
” 18—Gen. Pope captured 1,300 Southerners and 1,000 stand of
arms at Millford, Mo.
” 31—U. S. navy increased from 42 vessels at beginning of the
war to 246, of all kinds, up to this date.
1862.
Jan. 1—Mason and Slidell leave Ft. Warren, Boston Harbor, for
England.
” 2—Success of Unionists on Port Royal Island, near
Charleston, S. C.
” 4—Gen. Milroy defeats Confederates at Huntersville, Va.
” 7—Confederate defeat at Romney. U. S. troops capture stores
in Tucker Co., Va.
” 8—Union victory by Gen. Palmer at Silver Creek, Mo.
” 10—Humphrey Marshall defeated by Union troops in Kentucky.
Senators Johnson and Polk of Mo., expelled from the U. S.
Senate.
” 11—Simon Cameron, U. S. Sec. of War, resigned; E. M.
Stanton appointed.
Naval engagement on the Mississippi near the mouth of the
Ohio; Union vessels superior.
” 12—125 vessels and 15,000 troops, under Gen. Burnside, sail
for the South.
” 18—Ex-President Tyler dies.
” 19—Union victory at Mill Spring, Ky., by Gen. Shoepf over
Gen. Zollicoffer and Gen. Crittenden. Much spoil taken; Gen.
Zollicoffer killed.
” 27—Bishop Ames and Gov. Fish of New York appointed to visit
prisons in the South, to look after the interests of Union
prisoners. Confederate authorities refuse to receive them.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE SECOND PHASE OF THE WAR.
The previous period, though abounding in battles, so-called, were really
skirmishes of detached bodies without any well defined plan. It covered
much of the surface of all the Border States, but especially Virginia and
Missouri, and was a trial of bravery and strategy in which both parties
learned how to fight, and of what metal their opponents were made.
The Second Period covered about eleven months—from the advance of the
Federal armies on the South in West and East, in Feb., to the close of
the year.
This period is defined in its commencement, by the surrounding of the
southern territory on nearly all sides by the Union forces, both naval
and military; and the inauguration of aggressive movements both by sea
and land; and in its close by the failure of the two southern Generals,
Bragg in the West, and Lee in the East, in the endeavor to break through
this beleaguering line. It was an immense and desperate conflict.
In the West it began by the attack of Grant on Fts. Henry and Donelson,
followed up by the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and various other
operations in Tennessee and Mississippi; the advance of McClellan on
Richmond, and his campaign in the Peninsula, his failure and return to
Washington; the strengthening of the Southern Army, and the advance of
Lee northward into Maryland and his defeat there. The disasters to the
Union army in Virginia served to check the successes of the Western Army
under Grant, Sherman, Buell, Rosecranz and others; the Confederate forces
in the West were increased under Bragg, who checked the advance of U. S.
troops eastward at Chattanooga, and he himself assumed the offensive, by
invading Kentucky. He was compelled to retreat again to Chattanooga. Thus
there was an alternation of great successes and great reverses on both
sides.
The Union Army commenced with about 600,000 men, and the Southern with
about 400,000. They both largely added to these during the campaign.
Meanwhile the navy was not idle. A foothold was gained in South Carolina,
and in North Carolina, as well as at Norfolk, Virginia, the mouth of the
Mississippi was opened by Admiral Farragut, and New Orleans captured.
The compression of a vast naval and land force was applied in all
directions, even west of the Mississippi. Missouri had been quieted by
driving the organized forces into the border of Arkansas, and inflicting
on them a heavy blow at Pea Ridge. This, however, was not followed up;
the disasters to the Union cause in Virginia, and the rebound of the
Confederates in East Tennessee, requiring concentration.
The South had shown the most determined bravery, and great steadiness in
disaster; and activity, and ability in making the most of circumstances.
The speed with which she collected other levies and armies and used them
within the campaign greatly impressed the authorities and people of the
Federal government. They were convinced that the blacks left at home to
till the ground, or employed in the fortifications and other labor of
the war, contributed much to the strength of the South; enabling them to
concentrate all their resources on a given point with extreme rapidity,
and to use all their best fighting material. After so vast an outlay, to
see their immense armies defied and the Northern States threatened with
invasion was discouraging. Hitherto slavery had not been interfered with
much, in deference to the sentiment in the Border States, and the views
of the democratic party. The Union administration determined to weaken
the South by abstracting as much as possible of the slave element from it
and to use it themselves. The issue of the Proclamation of Emancipation
marks a Third Phase of the War.
1862.
Feb. 3—The Federal government decides to treat crews of
privateers taken in arms, not as pirates, but as prisoners of
war.
” 5—Jesse D. Bright, of Indiana, expelled from the U. S.
Senate.
” 6—Com. Foote, acting in concert with Gen. Grant, advances
up the Tennessee river in Ky., and captures Fort Henry.
” 8—Gen. Burnside and Com. Goldsborough capture forts, forces
and war material on Roanoke Island, in Albemarle Sound, N. C.
” 10—Gunboats of Confederate government taken or destroyed.
” 12—Gen. Grant invests Ft. Donelson, on Cumberland river, Ky.
” 13—Gen. Curtis advances to Springfield, Mo.
U. S. Congress determine to construct 20 iron clad gunboats.
” 15—Bowling Green, Ky., evacuated by Southern forces.
” 16—Gen. Grant captures Ft. Donelson, with 13,300 prisoners.
” 18—Gen. Curtis drives Confederates out of Missouri into
Arkansas.
Confederate Congress assemble at Richmond Va.
” 19—Jefferson Davis and A. H. Stevens elected permanent
President and Vice-President of Confederate States for six
years.
” 21—Defeat of Union forces at Clarksville, New Mexico.
” 23—Nashville, Tenn., occupied by Union forces.
” 27—Columbus, on the Mississippi, in Ky., evacuated by
Confederates.
Mar. 2—Severe encounter between Union gunboats and
Confederate battery at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. Union
success.
” 3—Gen. Beauregard assumes command of Southern army in
Mississippi.
” 6-8—Gen. Curtis defeats Gen. McCullough at Pea Ridge, Ark.
Curtis’ army 22,000, McCullough’s 35,000. McCullough killed.
” 9—First trial of Monitors. The formidable Merrimac, a
Confederate iron clad vessel, conquered by the Monitor.
” 11—Gen. McClellan’s command confined to the army of the
Potomac.
” 12—Com. Dupont takes possession of Jacksonville, Florida.
” 13—Confederates evacuate New Madrid, Mo., in haste, leaving
$1,000,000 of military stores.
” 14—Newburn, N. C., captured by Gen. Burnside. Immense
stores taken.
” 18—Confederate fortifications at Acquia Creek, Va.,
evacuated.
” 23—Battle of Winchester, Va. Southern forces defeated.
” 28—Fight at Union Ranch, New Mexico. Union troops 3,000,
Texans 1,100. Result undecided.
Apr. 6-7—Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh. First
day’s battle fought by Beauregard and Johnston, Confederate
Generals, with 40,000 available troops, by Gen. Grant with
33,000. He was supported by gunboats in the Tennessee river.
Attack and defense desperate, and the slaughter fearful. The
second day Beauregard had no more than 20,000 effective men.
Grant was reinforced by Buell, and his effective force was
45,000. It was great honor to Union troops not to recognize
defeat on the 6th, and highly creditable to Confederates
to make a desperate stand and inflict an immense loss on
Federals on the 7th. They were almost annihilated but
retreated without immediate pursuit.
” 8—Island No. 10, Mississippi river, captured.
” 11—Ft. Pulaski captured by Gen. Hunter, commands entrance
to Savannah, Geo. Gen. Mitchell occupies Huntsville, Ala.
” 12—Gen. Mitchell captures 2,000 prisoners at Chattanooga,
East Tennessee.
” 16—Slavery abolished in the District of Columbia, by U. S.
Congress.
” 18—Gen. McClellan’s advance attacked on the Peninsula, Va.
” 19—Successes of Union Gens. Burnside and Reno, in North
Carolina.
” 25—Com. Farragut, passing the forts, captures New Orleans.
” 28—Forts Jackson and St. Philip, at mouth of Mississippi
below New Orleans, surrender.
” 29—Gen. Mitchell defeats Confederates at Bridgport, Ala.
May 1—Union cavalry captured at Pulaski, Tenn.
” 3—Yorktown evacuated by Southern troops. Occupied by
McClellan.
” 5—Battle of Williamsburg, Va. Lasts all day. Unionists
successful.
” 7—Southern Gen. Lee attacks McClellan’s army but is
repulsed.
” 8—Union Gen. Milroy repulsed at McDowell’s, Va., after a
five hour’s fight.
” 9—Pensacola, Fla. evacuated by Southern forces.
” 10—Norfolk, Va., occupied by Union forces. The Merrimac,
Gosport Navy Yard, and vast quantities of stores destroyed by
retreating Confederates.
” 15—The Agricultural Department created by Congress.
” 12—Natchez, on the Mississippi river, surrendered to
Farragut.
” 17—Union forces drive Confederates over the Chickahominy,
Va.
” 24—Southern success at Front Royal, Va., over Col. Kenley.
” 25—Gen. Banks, defeated at Winchester, Va., retreats across
the Potomac.
” 27—Confederates defeated at Hanover, Va.
” 30—Union troops occupy Corinth, Mississippi.
” 31—Battle of Fair Oaks. Union troops repulsed.
June 1—Battle of Fair Oaks renewed. Southern forces repulsed
with heavy loss.
” 6—Gunboats capture Memphis, Tenn., and Confederate vessels.
” 8—Battle of Cross Keys, Va. Gen. Fremont defeats Stonewall
Jackson.
” 14—Union forces defeated on James Island, near Charleston,
S. C.
” 18—Union troops occupy Cumberland Gap, Tenn.
” 19—Congress prohibits slavery in the Territories.
” 26—Six days fight before Richmond commenced at
Mechanicsville. Union forces repulsed.
” 27—Bombardment of Vicksburg. Gen. Fremont relieved of
command. Battle before Richmond renewed.
” 28—Severe battles before Richmond; enemy repulsed at night.
Unionists fall back.
” 29—Battles of Peach Orchard and Savage’s Station, Va.
Federal repulse.
” 30—Battle of White Oak Swamp. McClellan continues to
retreat toward James river. Confederates repulsed with loss.
July 1—Battle of Malvern Hill. Southern forces repulsed. End
of 6 days fight.
President Lincoln calls for 600,000 volunteers.
Internal Revenue Bill passed Congress. Polygamy forbidden in
the United States.
Union Pacific Railroad chartered by Congress.
” 7—Fight at Bayou Cache, Ark. Gen. Curtis, Union, defeats
Gen. Pike, Southern.
” 9—Hamilton, N. C., captured by Federal troops.
” 11—Southern Gen. Morgan enters Glasgow, Ky. Gen. Halleck
appointed Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. armies.
” 13—Southern forces capture Murfreesborough, Tenn. Stores
and prisoners taken.
” 17—Cynthiana, Kentucky, captured.
” 18—Southern raid into Indiana. Gen. Twiggs died.
” 22—Siege of Vicksburg abandoned by U. S. forces.
This month is generally disastrous to eastern and western
Union armies. Confederate armies become strongly aggressive,
and advance north into Ky., and toward Maryland.
Aug. 3—Gen. Jeff. Thompson, Confederate, defeated near
Memphis, Tenn.
” 4—U. S. Sec. of War ordered a draft of 300,000 men to serve
for nine months.
” 5—Battle of Baton Rouge, La. Gen. Breckinridge defeated.
” 10—Battle of Cedar Mountain. Gen. Jackson fails to drive
Gen. Banks.
” 16—Gen. McClellan evacuates the Peninsula.
” 21—Gen. Sigel obtains an important and bloody advantage on
the Rappahannock.
” 26—Confederate Gen. Ewell drives Unionists from Manassas,
Va.
Union expedition up the Yazoo river, Mississippi, is
successful.
” 27—Gen. Pope defeats Gen. Ewell at Haymarket, Va.
” 28—Battle of Centreville. Gen. Jackson repulsed.
” 29—Battle of Groveton, near Bull Run, Va. Confederates
repulsed, but renewed the fight next day and Gen. Pope
withdrew.
” 30—Battle near Richmond, Ky. Union Gen. Nelson defeated
with heavy loss.
” 31—Battle of Weldon, Va., a Union victory. The general
operations of this month by the main armies east and west
largely in favor of the South, notwithstanding heavy losses
inflicted and successes gained in detached engagements by
the U. S. troops. The armies under Lee and Bragg pressed on
northward with incredible vigor. No repulses or defeats could
stop their headlong rush.
Sept. 1—The last of Gen. Pope’s battles in Va., near
Washington. Two of his generals were killed, Kearney and
Stevens. The enemy retired, leaving their dead and wounded.
In 6 days Pope had lost near 10,000 in killed and wounded.
Battle at Britton’s Lane, Tenn. Confederates fled.
Union Army evacuate Lexington, Ky. Fight at Jackson, Tenn.
” 2—McClellan put in command of army for the defense of
Washington.
” 5—Confederate army cross the Potomac to Frederick, Maryland.
Attack on Union troops at Washington, N. C. It is repulsed.
” 6—Col. Lowe recaptured Clarksville, Tenn.
” 8—Gen. Lee issues a proclamation to the Marylanders.
” 9—Col. Grierson overcomes Southern forces at Coldwater,
Miss.
Union forces repel the enemy at Williamsburgh, Va.
Fredericksburg, Va., evacuated by Southern forces.
” 10—Great fears of invasion in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Philadelphia and Cincinnati begin to prepare for an attack.
” 11—Ganby, Va., Maysville, Ky., and Bloomfield, Mo., taken
by Southern forces.
” 12—Charleston, S. C., bombarded and partially burnt. Fight
on Elk river, Va., and at Middletown, Maryland.
” 13—Harper’s Ferry, Va., besieged. It surrendered on the
15th with 11,500 men.
” 14—McClellan engages Lee’s army at South Mountain, Md. Lee
retired toward the Potomac. The invasion of the North was
stopped, for this time, in the East.
” 16—Munfordsville, Ky., captured by Confederates and 4,000
prisoners taken.
” 17—Lee unwilling to give up his plan of invasion, makes
another stand at Antietam creek, and a great battle was
fought. Near 100,000 men on each side. The result was
indecisive, the losses nearly equal, both in the neighborhood
of 13,000. Lee retreated across the Potomac in the night, and
Harper’s Ferry was evacuated.
” 20—Gen. Rosecrans defeats the Southerners with great loss
at Iuka, Miss.
” 22—President Lincoln issues an Emancipation Proclamation,
declaring all the slaves free, unless the Southern States
discontinued the war within 100 days.
” 27—U. S. garrison at Augusta, Ky., surrender after a very
gallant fight.
Oct. 3—Battle of Corinth, Miss. Confederates defeated with
great loss.
” 8-9—Battle of Perryville, Ky. Southern army having been
arrested in its advance and obliged to retreat before Gen.
Buell, turned on his advance and inflicted a severe blow, but
are forced to resume their retreat.
” 10—Confederate cavalry, under Stuart, make a raid on
Chambersburg, Penn. They capture 500 horses and many stores
and hastily return to Virginia.
” 14—One hundred thousand dollars sent to Sanitary Commission
from San Francisco.
” 15—Battle near Richmond, Ky.
” 19—Gen. Forrest defeated by Union forces, near Gallatin,
Texas.
” 22—Southern defeat at Maysville, Ark., by Gen. Blunt.
” 24—An English steamer bringing military stores to the
South, captured.
” 28—Confederates defeated by Gen. Herron, at Fayetteville,
Ark.
” 30—Gen. Rosecrans supersedes Buell in Kentucky. Gen.
Mitchell, the astronomer, died in S. C.
Nov. 5—Gen. McClellan relieved of command in Va. by Gen.
Burnside.
Attack on Nashville by Confederates. They are repulsed.
” 11—Southern defeat at Garrettsburg, Ky., by Gen. Ransom.
Exchange of prisoners effected.
” 16—President Lincoln enjoins on soldiers in camp and
garrison observance of the Sabbath.
” 17—Cavalry fight near Kingston, N. C. Southerners beaten.
” 22—All political State prisoners released by U. S.
government.
” 25—Newbern, N. C. attacked by Southern troops. They soon
retire.
” 28—Battle of Cane Hill, Ark. A Union victory.
Dec. 1—The Pittsburg Battery, captured on the Peninsula,
retaken by a Union force sent from Suffolk, Va.
” 5—Battle of Coffeeville, Miss. Southern loss was heavy.
” 6—Gen. Banks’ expedition for the South sailed for New
Orleans.
” 7—At Prairie Grove, Ark., Gens. Blunt and Herron defeated
Confederates.
Confederate Gen. Morgan captured several regiments of Western
troops.
” 8—Steamer Lake City destroyed by Southerners.
” 9—U. S. troops burn Concordia, on the Mississippi.
” 13—Battle of Fredericksburg. A severe repulse to the Union
army.
Gen. Foster makes a cavalry raid into the interior of N. C.,
a success.
Commodore Parker destroys Confederate salt works, five
schooners and two sloops.
” 17—Gen. Banks captures Baton Rouge, the capital of
Louisiana.
” 19—Confederates retake Holly Springs, Miss., and large
stores with 4,000 bales of cotton.
” 26—Indians, engaged in the Minnesota massacre, hung—38 in
number.
” 27—Vicksburg attacked by Gen. Sherman and gunboats,
unsuccessfully.
” 31—Battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone River, commenced with a
Federal repulse.
The Monitor that conquered the Merrimac, foundered at sea.
Act of Congress admitting West Virginia into the Union as a
sovereign State. This was to take effect 60 days after the
President’s proclamation making this announcement.
CHAPTER XXVI.
CAMPAIGN OF 1863.
The preliminary Proclamation of Emancipation, issued Sept. 22d, 1862,
was not to take effect for 100 days, or until Jan. 1st, 1863. Meanwhile
the final details of the great operations, undertaken on both sides
during 1862, were wound up. The bold efforts of the South, in the East
and West, to transfer the war into the North, and indemnify themselves
for the strict blockade of the coast by drawing supplies from the enemy,
had resulted in defeat and withdrawal; not unaccompanied with booty,
especially in the west, where Bragg’s train of supplies was said to have
been 40 miles long. The southern people had failed in the main point,
yet they had gained much. Federal reverses in the east had stopped the
victories in the west in mid career, both by withdrawing from those
armies to the east, and adding to the Confederates from the same region.
Grant and Sherman failed at Vicksburg, and Buell at Chattanooga.
Yet these reverses to the Union arms served to stimulate the north, and
to demonstrate the energy, resources, and indomitable resolution of the
National government, and to undeceive the South as to the real sentiments
of the great body of the Democratic party from which they had hoped
aid on an invasion in force. Several of the European Powers, who would
have liked to support the South, seeing the formidable character of the
General Government, drew back in fear. The South might have foreseen that
her cause was really hopeless; but she was too American not to feel an
unconquerable resolution to carry her point or perish. She strengthened
her armies and prepared for another invasion.
The Federal armies were now (Jan. 1863,) about 800,000 strong; her navy
consisted of near 450 vessels, a large number being iron-clads. The
great events of the campaign were Lee’s invasion of Pennsylvania and his
retreat after the battle of Gettysburg, and Grant’s success at Vicksburg
and Chattanooga. The resolution of the South, enveloped in the embrace
of so mighty an antagonist, was wonderful; the unfaltering spirit, and
readiness of the northern people to furnish whatever was required for
success was still more so. The whole South, at least every State, was
the theater of many contests of more or less importance; but the main
interest centered on the Mississippi river, at Chattanooga and its
vicinity, and on Gen. Lee’s army in Virginia or Pennsylvania. It was a
contest of giants; yet, struggle as she might, the South was doomed. At
the end of this year she was still strong, her armies were veterans, her
spirit unbroken. The Federal Government had gained much, but it was step
by step, inch by inch; and, in some parts, as in Virginia, what had been
gained many times over, in territory, had been as often lost. Her general
gain over the Confederate States lay most largely in the fatal process
of exhaustion to which the vast operations of the Federal government
forced the South. Increase of numbers made the battles more bloody and
wasteful of life. The three leading events in this campaign—the capture
of Vicksburg, (the battle of Chickamauga was a Confederate victory, but
balanced by that of Chattanooga,) the battle of Gettysburg, and the
battle of Chattanooga—were all decisive against the Confederates, yet
leaving her strength for a long and vigorous contest of more than a year
and a half.
1863.
Jan. 1—The year opened with a Confederate success at
Galveston, Texas. An attack by sea and land resulted in the
capture of 300 troops, the destruction of one vessel with
its crew, and the capture of another, the Harriet Lane. Com.
Renshaw was blown up with his vessel.
Confederate defeat at Lexington, Tenn., after an obstinate
fight.
Proclamation of Emancipation issued by President Lincoln.
Long, but indecisive battle of Stone River. Federal killed
and wounded, 8,000.
” 3—Union army withdraws from before Vicksburg. Southern army
retreats at Murfreesborough, Tenn.
” 7—Springfield, Mo., successfully defended by Unionists.
” 9—20,000 prisoners exchanged.
” 11—A combined attack on Fts. Hindman and Arkansas Post by
gunboats and land forces, resulted in Union success—over
7,000 prisoners.
” 12—Three Federal transports and a gunboat captured on
Cumberland river.
” 13—The Southern steamer, Florida, escapes from Mobile.
” 17—$100,000,000 issued by the U. S. government in notes to
pay the army.
” 20—Blockading vessels captured by Confederates, at Sabine
City, Texas.
” 22—Attack on Vicksburg resumed. Gen. Porter dismissed from
U. S. army.
” 25—A regiment of colored soldiers organized at Port Royal,
S. C.
” 26—Gen. Hooker succeeds Gen. Burnside, in command of the
Union Army of the Potomac, and Gens. Sumner and Franklin are
relieved from duty.
The Confederate war steamer, Alabama, destroys one vessel and
captures another.
Feb. 1—A second unsuccessful gunboat attack on Ft. McAllister.
” 5—Destruction of transports on Red River, La. Ft. Donelson
repels Southern troops.
” 12—The Florida captures the Union merchant vessel, Jacob
Bell.
” 13—The iron-clad, Indianola, runs the blockade at
Vicksburg, and is captured.
” 18—Vicksburg bombarded by gunboats—ineffectually.
” 21—The Alabama, a Confederate cruiser, destroys two vessels
on the African coast.
” 25—The Bureau of Currency and National Banks established by
U. S. Congress.
” 26—The Cherokees return to the Union, and abolish slavery.
Twenty-eight cars, with stores, destroyed by Confederates, in
Kentucky.
” 28—Confederate iron-clad, Nashville, destroyed in Ogeechee
river, Geo.
Mar. 1—Third fruitless Union attack on Ft. McAllister, Geo.
” 2—U. S. Generals increased to 358.
” 3—Congress authorizes loan of $900,000,000. These are
called _ten-forty’s_.
The President authorized to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus.
U. S. Assistant Treasurer provided by act of Congress.
Territorial government organized in Idaho.
Two U. S. gunboats destroyed.
” 5—Van Dorn (Confederate) captures Springfield, Tenn., and
many prisoners.
” 6—Van Dorn captures a considerable Union force at Franklin,
Tenn.
” 7—Gen. Minty captures a Confederate cavalry force at
Unionville, Tenn.
” 10—Colored troops captured Jacksonville, Florida.
” 14—Port Hudson, Mississippi river, attacked by the Union
gunboat fleet under Com. Farragut. The flag ship disabled and
burnt.
” 17—Gallant and successful exploit of Union cavalry at
Kelly’s Ford, Va.
” 19—An English steamer with arms for the South destroyed off
Charleston.
” 20—Defeat of Morgan (Confederate) at Milton, Tenn.
” 25—Two Union vessels lost before Vicksburg.
” 28—Confederate steamer Iris captured near Charleston, S. C.
Apr. 1—Admiral Farragut passes the batteries of Grand Gulf.
Great scarcity of many things in the Confederacy from the
strictness of the blockade, and extreme depreciation of
Confederate money. No cotton could be sold.
” 7—An attack on Fort Sumter by nine Union iron clads. They
are worsted.
The Alabama Confederate cruiser captures the U. S. ship
Morning Star.
” 10—Two Union gunboats destroyed on Cumberland river.
Van Dorn repulsed by Union General Granger, at Franklin, Tenn.
” 16—Com. Porter runs the batteries at Vicksburg successfully.
” 17—Gen. Banks vanquished Southern troops at La Teche and
Grand Lake, La.
” 22—The Queen of the West captured on Grand Lake. Grigsby,
Confederate, surprised at McMinnville, Tenn. Banks occupied
Opelousas and Washington, Miss.
” 23—Gen. Hunter informs Confederate authorities that colored
soldiers must be treated as other prisoners of war, on pain
of retaliation.
” 24—Union defeat at Beverly, Va., and victories at Weber
Falls, Ark., and on Iron Mountain Railroad, Mo.
May 1—Gen. Grant defeated the Southern troops at Port Gibson.
Gen. Pegram, Confederate, defeated at Monticello, Ky.
A third defeat of Southern troops, at South Quay, Va.
Unionists defeated at La Grange, Ark. Battle of
Chancellorsville, Va., begins.
” 2—Col. Grierson, of U. S. army, finished a daring and
successful raid through the interior of Miss. Traveled 800
miles in 16 days. Battle of Chancellorsville continued. It
was a Federal repulse. Loss each side 15,000.
” 3—Capture of Grand Gulf, Miss., by Admiral Porter.
” 2—Vallandigham arrested in Ohio for treason. He was sent
South. 100 Secessionists of St. Louis sent South for treason.
” 10—Stonewall Jackson, an able and brilliant Southern
general, died of wounds received in battle.
” 11—Gen. Logan, Union, defeats Gen. Grigg at Farnden’s
Creek, Miss. Each had about 5,000 men.
” 12—Gen. McPherson captured Raymond, Miss., from
Confederates.
” 13—Yazoo City, and $2,000,000 property, captured by Union
gunboats. Gen. Grant defeats Confederate army and captures
Jackson, Miss.
” 16—Gen. Grant defeats Pemberton at Baker’s Creek, Miss.,
with heavy loss. Each had about 25,000 men. Pemberton lost
4,000 men and next day 2,000 more.
” 18—Grant commences siege of Vicksburg, Miss.
” 26—Gen. Breckenridge, Confederate, suffered defeat in
Tennessee.
” 29—An immense train arrives in Gen. Banks’ lines near Port
Hudson: 600 wagons, 3,000 horses and mules, 1,500 cattle,
6,000 negroes. Gen. Banks fails in several attacks on Port
Hudson.
June 3—A brilliant raid by a colored regiment in South
Carolina.
” 11—Forrest, of Confederate cavalry, defeated at Triune,
Tenn.
” 15—President Lincoln calls for 120,000 militia, to repel
Lee’s invasion of Penn.
” 18—About 100,000 Southern forces enter Penn., near
Chambersburg.
” 20—West Virginia admitted as a State into the Union.
Missouri Legislature abolishes slavery.
In this month the great events of the campaign, the taking
of Vicksburg and opening the Mississippi river, and the
failure of Gen. Lee’s invasion by his loss of the battle of
Gettysburg, are rapidly approaching the grand crisis.
July—The first days of this month formed the crisis of the
war.
” 3—Gen. Lee, with 100,000 men, was defeated by Gen. Meade at
Gettysburg, Pa., with about equal numbers. Lee retreated into
Virginia. The Union losses at Gettysburg were 23,000. Lee had
lost in his 17 days in the Free States 60,000 men altogether.
” 4—Vicksburg surrendered to Gen. Grant, after a siege of 41
days. In the battles immediately preceding, under Grant, and
in this siege and capitulation, the South lost near 50,000
men. Grant’s losses were about 9,000.
Gen. Prentice defeated a greatly superior force at Helena,
Ark.
” 8—Port Hudson surrenders to Gen. Banks, with 7,000 men.
Morgan, of Confederate cavalry, invades Indiana and Ohio with
5,000 men. He is captured before he can return.
” 13—Great riot in New York city.
” 17—Gen. Sherman defeats Johnson, and occupies Jackson, Miss.
” 20—Two successful Union cavalry expeditions, in N. C. and
Va.
” 23—Battle of Manassas Gap. Unionists defeat a superior
force.
A Confederate victory at Richmond, Ky.
” 31—Confederates beaten in Kentucky.
Aug. 1—Two cavalry battles in Va.
” 4—Disastrous loss of U. S. steamer Ruth, on the
Mississippi, by fire.
” 12—Gen. Gilmore bombarded Ft. Sumter and Charleston most of
the month.
” 17—Successful cavalry raid into Mississippi to destroy
stores.
” 20—Lawrence, Kansas, attacked and destroyed by guerillas.
A guerilla war was carried on very largely this month, both
east and west of the Mississippi.
Sept. 1—Knoxville, Tenn., captured by Gen. Burnside.
Gen. Blunt defeated the Confederates, and captured Ft. Smith,
Ark.
” 6—Fts. Wagner and Gregg captured by Gen. Gilmore,
Charleston, S. C.
” 8—Cumberland Gap taken by Gen. Burnside. 2,000 prisoners.
” 10—Little Rock occupied by Union forces.
” 19-20—A terrible battle is fought at Chickamauga (in Indian
the “River of Death,”) in which Gen. Rosecrans with some
50,000 to 60,000 troops is severely defeated by Bragg, with
about 45,000. Federal losses about 15,000. Yet Bragg did not
capture Chattanooga.
” 22—Severe battle at Madison Court House, Va. Union victory.
” 28—Gen. Burnside repulses Confederates at Knoxville, Tenn.
Oct. 3—Union troops throw Greek fire into Charleston, S. C.
” 5—Chattanooga bombarded by Bragg.
” 9—Defeat of Wheeler’s Confederate cavalry, in Tenn.
” 14—Battle at Bristoe Station, Va. Favorable to U. S. troops.
” 16—Gen. Grant takes command of the Western armies.
” 17—The President calls for 300,000 more troops.
” 21—A battle in Alabama, in Mississippi, and in Tennessee.
” 27—Battle of Brown’s Ferry, near Chattanooga. Confederates
beaten.
” 28—Gen. Hooker takes Lookout Mountain.
” 31—Gen. Hooker gains the battle of Shell Mound.
Nov.—The main interest of the month gathers about the great
and decisive battle of Chattanooga, between Gens. Grant
and Bragg. All the forces to be spared on either side were
concentrated here. Chattanooga has been called, “The back
door of the Confederacy.”
Nov. 5—Chattanooga bombarded by the Southern forces.
Gen. Avery gains a Union victory at Lewisburg, Va.
” 6—The North is thrilled with indignation at barbarities
ascertained to have been perpetrated in Southern prisons.
” 7—Gen. Meade drives Southern army across the Rappahannock.
” 11—The British government makes known an intended invasion
of the North from Canada, by Confederates.
” 15—Gen. Banks takes Corpus Christi, Texas.
” 17—Charleston continues to be shelled.
Gen. Longstreet detached from Confederate army at
Chattanooga, with 15,000 men, to attack Burnside.
” 19—National Cemetery consecrated, at Gettysburg.
” 23-26—Battles of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. Southern
forces about 60,000, Grant’s about 80,000. Confederate losses
10,000, Union, 5,616. It was a blow never recovered by the
Confederacy.
” 28—Gen. Longstreet attacks Knoxville and is repulsed with
loss.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CAMPAIGN OF 1864.
There was a lull, for a time, in the tempest of war. The Confederate
forces had lost ground that they could hardly hope to regain. The
Mississippi river and Eastern Tennessee, both of supreme importance to
the Confederacy, were in possession of the Union armies, which grew ever
stronger. They were now about 1,000,000 men, and the navy had increased
to over 600 vessels. This force was soon put in vigorous hands, that
gripped fast what they once held. The misfortune of many commanders and
continual changes, from political rather than military considerations,
began to be well understood. Grant had gained so uniformly when others
had failed, he was recognized as so tenacious and unwearied, that he
received and held the confidence of the people and the government.
This was a point of great importance for shortening the war; for the
Southern people were still resolute, had still a vast country, were
on the defensive in a smaller region than before, and could resist
more effectively with a smaller army. It still made a most gallant
and determined resistance which the vast resources of the national
government did not enable them to overcome for a year and a half. The
country was still covered with detached bodies of troops. A desultory war
was maintained where strong armies failed to hold the ground, or were
concentrated at a few points. The great movements were in Virginia and
Georgia. The secondary in Tennessee, in Mississippi, and Texas.
It took a year to break the will of the Southern people after they were
really conquered. This period covers the year 1864; 1865 furnishes only
the dying struggles of the Confederacy, already mortally wounded.
1864.
The bombardment of Charleston continued during the preceding month. Some
cavalry movements were made, the President of the U. S. offered amnesty
to all who would take an oath of allegiance, and Gen. Butler announced
that the Confederate government refused to receive any more supplies for
Union prisoners from the North.
Jan. 7—Three blockade runners captured.
” 11—Two more were destroyed, making 22 in a few months.
” 25—Mr. Vanderbilt, having presented a steamer worth
$800,000 to the U. S. government, received the thanks of
Congress.
Feb. 1—The President of the U. S. ordered a draft of 500,000
men.
” 5—Two English steamers, with supplies for the South,
captured.
” 9—Cotton worth $700,000 burned at Wilmington, N. C.
” 20—Negro troops cover the retreat of a defeated white Union
force at Olustee, Fla.
” 28—The large armies being broken up or concentrated, and
the lines of communication very much interrupted, many Union
cavalry raids, aiming to break the lines of communication
by railroad completely, to lay waste the country, and to
free the negroes, who were raising supplies for the Southern
armies, in the far interior, were undertaken. That of Sherman
to Meridian, in Miss., and of Grierson and Smith, and many
smaller ones, were executed during this month. The damage to
railroads and the supplies destroyed were incalculable. 18
blockade runners and other vessels bringing supplies to the
South were destroyed during the month.
Mar. 2—Gen. Grant made Lt. General; the only one who had
reached that dignity since Gen. Washington—Gen. Scott being
Lt. Gen. only by brevet.
” 12—Gen. Grant made Commander-in-chief of the U. S. armies.
” 15—The President of the U. S. calls for 200,000 more men.
” 25—Confederate Gen. Forrest makes three assaults on
Paducah, Ky., with loss of 1,500 men, in vain.
” 28—A severe defeat inflicted on Southern forces at Cane
River, La.
Apr. 4—Gen. Marmaduke defeated by Gen. Steele, Unionist, at
Little Missouri, Ark.
” 8—Gen. Banks suffers reverses on the Red River, and
retreats with loss.
” 12—Gen. Forrest takes Ft. Pillow and massacres the
garrison, many being negroes.
” 21—Salt works in North Carolina destroyed—value $100,000.
As salt was indispensable to army operations, the utmost
effort was made to ruin as many as possible.
” 23—Governors of Western States offer the U.S. government
85,000 men for 100 days. President accepts them.
May 2—400 Union prisoners are brought to Annapolis nearly
starved.
” 4—Gen. Grant crosses the Rapidan in Va. and commences
operations in the Wilderness. He, with 140,000 men, confronts
Lee, who has 60,000.
” 5—Fighting in the Wilderness for two days without decided
result. Costs Grant 30,000 (5,000 were prisoners) and Lee
10,000. Lee was intrenched and familiar with the ground,
which was highly unfavorable to the Union army.
” 6—Gen. Sherman confronts Gen. Joe Johnson near Chattanooga.
Sherman has near 100,000; Johnson 60,000.
” 7—Lee retreats toward Spottsylvania Court-House. Union army
follows, fighting.
To this date 150,000 Southern soldiers had been made
prisoners during the course of the war.
May 8—Battle of Spottsylvania; result indecisive.
” 10—Battle of Spottsylvania continued. Still indecisive.
Losses to each side 10,000 men.
” 12—Lee and Grant fight again, without victory by either.
” 13—Sheridan destroyed Lee’s depot of supplies in his rear,
at Beaver Dam.
” 15—Sherman drives Johnson from Resaca after two days’
fighting.
” 21—Lee is flanked at Spottsylvania, and retires to the
North Anna.
” 23—Morgan (Confederate cavalry) enters Ky. with 4,000 men.
” 25—Sheridan rejoins Grant, after a brilliant series of
daring deeds in the rear of Lee. Gen. Stuart, a very able
Confederate cavalry leader, is killed in this raid.
” 27—Grant again flanked Lee, crossing the Pamunky to
Hanovertown.
June 1—Battle of Cold Harbor, north of, and near, Richmond.
It was fought with the utmost bravery and obstinacy, but
gained no more decisive end than the destruction of men and
material involved. This was very severe on Lee, from the
smaller number he had to fall back on.
” 7—Abraham Lincoln renominated for the presidency of the U.
S.
” 14—Gen. Polk (a Southern bishop) killed.
” 15—An unsuccessful assault for three days on Petersburg.
Union losses 10,000 men.
” 18—To this time Grant had lost 64,000 men—Lee 38,000 during
this campaign.
” 19—Steamer Kearsarge sinks the famous Alabama, on the coast
of France.
” 20—Petersburg strongly reinforced by Lee.
” 27—Sherman, pushing Johnson at Keneshaw, meets a severe
repulse. In one month he had driven Johnson 100 miles, fought
six battles, and killed, wounded or taken prisoner 17,000
men. He followed Grant’s principle, and “flanked” him. A
retreat was the result.
July 1—Public debt over $1,740,000,000.
” 9—Gen. Early, with 20,000 Confederate troops, passes into
Grant’s rear, and makes a hasty march north into Maryland.
This day he gained a victory over Gen. Wallace, but his
losses were so great that he was hindered in his design of
capturing Washington, though within six miles of it at one
time. He retreats, but soon turns back.
” 18—President Lincoln calls for 500,000 more troops.
” 19—Gen. Averill (Union) gives Early a check, but finally
falls back.
” 20-22—Severe battles in the neighborhood of Atlanta, Geo.
Gen. Sherman victorious. Confederate losses in all over
15,000; Union about 5,500. Union Gen. McPherson killed.
” 22—A mine, made under the fortifications of Petersburg,
completed. It was charged with 8,000 lbs. of powder.
” 28—Early sent a detachment into Penn., which burnt
Chambersburg.
” 30—Gen. Stoneman defeated and taken prisoner at Macon,
Geo., by Confederates.
The mine exploded at Petersburg, blowing up a fort and
its garrison; but, from unskillful management, proved a
Union disaster; 4,000 men were lost in killed, wounded
and prisoners. A constant artillery attack was kept up on
Petersburg through this month.
Aug. 2—Gen. Banks puts all the negroes in his region in the
army (Grand Gulf, La.).
” 3—Constant fighting at Atlanta. Hood (Confederate) repulsed.
” 5—Admiral Farragut enters Mobile bay with 18 vessels, and
captures or destroys the vessels and forts. It was the last
seaport of the Confederacy.
” 7—Union Gen. Averill gains a complete victory at Moorfield,
West Va.
” 9—Atlanta, Geo., bombarded by Sherman’s army.
” 11—The Confederate vessel Tallahassee burns 5 vessels, and
5 more in the course of Aug.
” 13—Mosby, Confederate, captures an immense supply train at
Berryville, Va.
” 19—Success of Southern forces before Petersburg. Took 2,000
prisoners.
” 21—Lee fails to dislodge Warner, who is destroying the
Weldon R. R. In three days Grant lost 4,500 men in this
undertaking.
” 31—Gen. Howard, of Sherman’s army, gains a decided victory
at Jonesborough, Geo.
Sept. 2—Gen. Hood evacuates Atlanta, Geo., a very important
place, which Sherman at once occupies. Sherman had lost
30,000 men in this campaign, the Confederates 42,000.
” 5—Gen. Morgan, an active Southern cavalry officer, is
killed at Granville, Tenn.
” 12—Sherman sends away all the families and burns a
good part of Atlanta, preparatory to great and brilliant
operations.
” 13—General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, Va.
” 16—A strong force of Confederate cavalry drive off 2,500
beeves belonging to the Union army on James river.
” 19—Sheridan defeats Early, (at Oquequan, Shenandoah
valley,) inflicting a loss of 8,000 men.
” 22—Sheridan again inflicts a loss of near 4,000 on Early,
at Fisher’s Hill, Va.
” 29—Gen. Grant advances to within ten miles of Richmond, on
the north.
Gen. Price again invades Missouri.
” 30—The blockading force captured and destroyed 50 vessels
this month.
Oct. 5—A repulse of the Southern forces at Allatoona, Geo.
” 7—The Confederate steamer Florida captured by the
Wachusett, on the coast of Brazil.
Sheridan, having laid waste the Shenandoah valley, returns
South.
” 8—Sheridan defeats the Confederates again in the Shenandoah
valley.
” 11—Maryland votes for a constitution abolishing slavery.
” 19—Sheridan annihilated Early, at Cedar Creek, by his
famous “ride from Winchester,” and rallying his men, after
they had been defeated.
Confederate refugees from Canada rob a bank in St. Albans, Vt.
” 23—Gen. Price defeated at Blue river, Missouri.
” 27—Gen. Grant closes the active campaign by an extensive
reconnaissance.
” 28—Gen. Blunt defeats Price and drives him out of Missouri.
He returns no more.
Nov.—Gen. Hood, in command of the forces in Georgia,
withdrew from the neighborhood of Atlanta, for the purpose
of destroying Sherman’s base of supplies, and invading
Tennessee and Kentucky. He had now about 40,000 men. Gen.
Thomas was sent into Tennessee, by Sherman, with a strong
force, to contend with him; and Sherman, breaking away from
his northern connections, commences his celebrated “march to
the sea,” in which he is lost to his friends for 40 days, but
reaches Savannah in safety.
” 4—Johnsonville, Tenn., bombarded. 3 gunboats and 8
transports, with $1,500,000 of stores destroyed.
” 8—President Lincoln re-elected. Gen. McClellan resigns his
commission.
” 11—A gunboat, the Tulip, blows up on Potomac river. Her
boiler burst.
” 13—Gen. Breckenridge attacks Gillem, near Morristown,
Tenn., capturing his artillery, and several hundred prisoners.
” 14—Atlanta completely destroyed by Sherman, before his
march South.
” 16—Gen. Stoneman attacks Breckenridge, at Marion, Tenn.,
and captures his artillery and 200 prisoners.
Gen. Sherman starts for Savannah through the heart of the
Confederacy, with over 65,000 troops. He destroys railroads
and lays the country waste wherever he is treated in a
hostile manner.
” 22—Sherman’s army reach Milledgeville, the capital of
Georgia. The Gov. and Legislature hastily retire. The
soldiers amuse themselves by holding a mock legislature,
passing loyal resolutions, &c.
” 24—The Union army in Va., receive nearly 100,000 pounds
of turkeys, sent from the North to supply them a Christmas
dinner.
” 25—An attempt to fire New York city miscarries.
” 30—Gen. Hood, Confederate, with 40,000 men, attacks
Schofield, 18 miles from Nashville. Gen. Schofield had
only 17,000 men. Hood made four attacks, and was each time
repulsed. He lost 6,000 men. At midnight Schofield retreated
to Nashville, and joined Thomas, followed by Hood’s army.
Dec. 1—The U. S. navy has 671 vessels, carrying over 4,000
guns, and 51,000 men. It has captured 324 vessels during the
year—during the war, 1,379—267 being steamers.
” 5—65 blockade runners, ships and cargoes worth $12,000,000,
have been captured or destroyed by the U. S. navy, at
Wilmington, N. C.
” 6—Mr. Chase, ex-Sec. of the U. S. Treasury, appointed Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court.
” 12—Gen. Sherman’s army reaches the rear of Savannah, Geo.,
which is occupied by the Confederate Gen. Hardee, with 15,000
men.
” 13—Gen. Hazen, of Sherman’s command, captures Ft.
McAllister, near Savannah. It had been frequently attacked by
gunboats, in vain.
” 15—Gen. Rousseau defeats the Southern forces under Forrest
at Murfreesborough, Tenn., with great loss.
” 15-16—Battle of Nashville, Tenn., in which Gen. Hood is
completely defeated by Gen. Thomas, Federal commander. Hood’s
flying troops pursued 200 miles. It was one of the most fatal
blows of the war for the South.
” 19—President Lincoln calls for 300,000 volunteers to finish
the war.
” 20—Gen. Stoneman, Unionist, captures forts and destroys
salt works, lead mines, and railway bridges at Saltville,
East Tennessee.
Gen. Sherman summons Savannah to surrender. Gen. Hardee
retreated in the night. Gen. Sherman takes possession next
day.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CONCLUDING CAMPAIGN.
The year 1864 closed in general disaster to the Confederacy. Sherman had
broken the Confederate power in Georgia, destroyed its communications
with the Mississippi States, and taken Savannah. Gen. Thomas had
broken up Hood’s army, in Tennessee, and Grant had closely beleagured
the Southern army in Virginia within Richmond and its defenses; while
Sheridan had dealt blow after blow on Early, in the Shenandoah Valley,
and quite ruined his army.
The future operations required the subjugation of the interiors of
North and South Carolina, the taking of a few forts on the coast, and
the capture of Lee’s army in Richmond. The only other army of strength,
the remnant of Hood’s forces, was in the Southern interior. The Federal
government was stronger than ever, both by sea and land. The Southern
people were much discouraged; their finances ruined; their fighting
men mostly disabled, scattered, forced into submission, or, hopeless
of ultimate success, had voluntarily withdrawn from the contest in so
large numbers that the Confederate forces were everywhere inferior,
and only upheld by the indomitable pride and bravery inherent in the
Anglo-American. They would submit only when necessity absolutely
compelled them; and thus saved their honor, in their own eyes. They
had made a fatal mistake, and they reaped the full harvest of ruin.
Yet, their prolonged resistance served to utterly annihilate slavery;
raised the negroes to the honorable position of Defenders of the Union;
and, the last of Jan., 1865, an amendment to the U. S. Constitution was
prepared forever abolishing slavery in the country. In the end the blacks
became citizens. We have now but a short record to complete our View of
the Civil War. The South had still over 100,000 men in arms, but they
were surrounded, cut off from supplies, outnumbered, and pressed with
relentless vigor. This was Grant’s policy.
1865.
Jan. 14—Vessels are sent from Boston and New York with large
supplies from the charitable, for Southern sufferers in
Savannah, Geo.
” 15—Ft. Fisher, on the coast of N. C., captured by Gen.
Terry, in conjunction with the U. S. fleet. It is the last
stronghold of the South on the sea.
Edward Everett died, at Boston, Mass.
” 16—The magazine at Ft. Fisher exploded, killing and
wounding 300 Union men.
” 17—A Federal monitor blown up by torpedoes, in Charleston
Harbor, S. C.
” 20—Corinth, Miss., evacuated by Southern troops.
” 23—Gen. Hood surrenders his command in the Southern army to
Gen. Taylor.
” 28—Gen. Breckenridge becomes Confederate Sec. of War.
” 29—Southern Commissioners seek an interview with President
Lincoln at Fortress Monroe, in the interest of Peace. They
failed to make any satisfactory terms.
” 31—Joint resolution of Congress to amend the U. S.
Constitution abolishing slavery (14th Amendment).
Feb.—Nine States ratify the Constitutional Amendment in this
month.
” 5—Grant suffers a repulse at Hatcher’s Run. Loss 2,000 men.
” 17—Columbia, S. C., accidentally burned on its evacuation
by Southern troops. A Confederate dollar (paper) worth but
two cents in Richmond, Va.
” 18—Union troops take possession of Charleston, S. C., as
a result of Sherman’s march from Savannah north-eastward
toward Richmond. Many buildings in Charleston burned in the
destruction of Confederate stores by the retiring army.
Gen. Lee in favor of arming the negroes for the defense of
the South. It is declined by the Confederate government,
until too late.
” 25—800 Southern soldiers desert, and come into Union lines.
Mar. 2—Sheridan completely routs Gen. Early again, taking
1,700 troops prisoners.
” 4—President Lincoln inaugurated for his second term.
” 10—Gen. Bragg defeated, at Kingston, N. C.
” 15—Gen. Hardee (Confederate) defeated by Sherman’s army.
” 18—The Confederate Congress adjourned. It never met again.
Battle of part of Sherman’s army with Johnston, Confederate,
24,000 strong. Southern forces made six assaults which were
withstood. After fighting and manouvering 3 days, Johnston
retreated having lost 3,000 men. Sherman lost 1,646.
” 25—Ft. Steadman, near Petersburg, Va., captured by
Confederates, but was immediately retaken, with 2,000
prisoners. This attack was made by Lee, preparatory to
evacuating Richmond. Grant had about 120,000 troops, Lee
70,000.
” 29—Sheridan commences an expedition to the rear of Richmond
to cut off Lee’s retreat South.
” 31—Sheridan attacked and hard pushed by Lee’s forces, but
at night they fall back.
Apr. 1—Sheridan, in turn, follows the Confederates, and
drives them toward Richmond. He takes more than 5,000
prisoners. This was the battle of Five Forks. It was fatal to
Lee’s retreat.
” 2—Grant’s forces make a grand assault. It is successful,
and Lee prepares to evacuate Richmond. President Davis leaves
his capital in haste, for Danville, N. C. Gen. Lee commences
his retreat in the night.
” 3—Richmond occupied by colored Federal troops. They find
the city in flames.
” 4—President Davis endeavors to make a stand against
disaster. He issues a proclamation from Danville.
” 9—Terms of surrender arranged by Gens. Grant and Lee.
” 10—Gen. Lee issues his farewell address to his army.
” 12—Confederate army yielded prisoners of war at Appomattox
Court House, Virginia. 27,805 Confederate soldiers paroled.
Gen. Stoneman defeats a Confederate force, at Salisbury, N. C.
Gen. Canby, Union, occupies Mobile, Ala.
” 14—President Lincoln assassinated in Washington, by J.
Wilkes Booth.
Mr. Seward stabbed in bed, but not killed.
” 15—Abraham Lincoln died at 7 A. M. The whole country is in
mourning.
Andrew Johnson assumes the office of President of the U. S.
” 18—Paine, or Powell, who endeavored to assassinate Sec.
Seward, arrested at Mrs. Surratt’s house in Washington. Mrs.
Surratt arrested.
Gen. Sherman arranges preliminaries for the surrender of
all the remaining Confederate forces, with Gen. Johnston,
commanding Southern army in N. C., with consent of
Confederate Sec. of War and Jeff. Davis. It includes the
basis of a general peace, and a policy of reconstruction.
It is sent to the Federal government for their approval or
rejection.
” 19—Funeral ceremonies of President Lincoln, at Washington.
Funeral services are held all over the North. The body is
carried in state to Springfield, Ill., stopping at prominent
places on the route; and visited by great numbers of the
people. 700,000 were said to have been in the procession at
New York.
” 21—Gen. Sherman’s arrangement with Johnston disapproved
by the government, and he is ordered to resume hostilities.
Steamboat Sultana blows up on the Mississippi, and about
1,300 U. S. soldiers returning home were killed.
” 24—Gen. Grant visits Sherman.
” 25—J. W. Booth, the assassin of the President, taken
prisoner near Port Royal, Va. Refusing to surrender, a
soldier shot him, contrary to orders. He died in 4 hours. No
assassin ever met with more universal execration than Booth.
Its necessary effect was to render the Reconstruction policy
much more stern and painful to the South.
” 26—Johnston surrenders to Gen. Sherman all the Confederate
troops in his command, on the terms granted Gen. Lee.
” 29—Arms and stores of Gen. Johnston’s army delivered to U.
S. authorities, at Greensboro, N. C.
May 2—Reward offered for capture of Jeff. Davis, of $100,000.
He was, at first, believed accessory to the murder of
President Lincoln.
” 3—President Lincoln’s remains arrive at Springfield, Ill.
” 4-9—All the Confederate forces disbanded, or surrendered to
U. S. officers, east and west of Mississippi river.
” 10—Jeff. Davis captured in Geo., in woman’s clothes.
GENERAL DATA.
The number of volunteer troops to be mustered out of the Union army, May
1st, 1865, was 1,034,064. They were mostly discharged and paid in the
next three months. The entire enlistments in the Federal army, during the
whole war, were 2,688,523. Many were re-enlistments. It is believed that
the whole number of individuals forming the armies was only 1,500,000.
75 per cent. were native Americans, 9 per cent. Germans, and 7 per cent.
Irish. Various nationalities made up the remaining 9 per cent.
Of this million and a half 56,000 were killed in battle, 35,000 died
in hospitals of their wounds received in battle, and 184,000 died in
hospitals of disease. Many afterwards died, and others were ruined in
health for life.
It has been stated by the Adjutant General of the Confederate army, since
the close of the war, that the available Confederate force during the
entire war was 600,000, and that they never had more than 200,000 in the
field at any one time. This would seem likely to be an underestimate, but
is the nearest to official data that we have. He states the entire force
opposing the 1,000,000 men in the closing campaign to have been 100,000.
There is reason to believe that the Confederates killed, and the wounded
and sick who died in hospital, was about 300,000.
The entire amount expended by the National government, by States,
counties and towns, and contributed in other ways to the comfort or
sustenance of the army, is computed at $4,000,000,000. The support of
the Southern army cannot be ascertained, but it is thought that those
expenses and the destruction of property inflicted about an equal loss on
them.
These losses in life and property are fearful; but they are the price of
Freedom and of Nationality. The general prosperity of the country has
made it richer than before, while natural increase and immigration have
filled the places vacant by death.
The South was hopeless and exhausted at the close of the war. It had been
feared that a guerrilla war, the most desolating and bloody of all wars,
would follow the defeat of the great armies. It could result only in
destruction of what remained to the Southern people, and they submitted
quietly to their fate. Various excesses and deeds of blood were indeed
committed, but they were not sympathized with by the mass of the people.
It was only the desperate and lawless class that came to the surface
naturally in war.
Many of the influential Southern leaders counseled submission to
inevitable necessity, and themselves set the example. The policy of
reconstruction adopted by the National government, excluded, at first,
all who had taken a part in the rebellion from political influence.
The loyal element, small as it was, was alone to restore the Southern
States to their place in the Union. It was, however, proposed to admit
others, both individuals and classes, to participation in political
action as they proved themselves trustworthy and loyal to the new order
of things. After some years, and when it was felt to be quite safe, these
disabilities were nearly all removed.
The most distasteful act of the General Government, to the people of
the South, was clothing the blacks with the rights of citizens. They
received the elective franchise, and assisted to rule over their former
masters. It was considered necessary, since they had now no masters to
be interested in them, to give them the power to protect themselves, and
to elevate them to something of influence and respectability by force of
the ballot. That advantage given them, they must take their chances with
others, and win their own way. They had been loyal to the Union, which
strongly recommended this policy to the government. The Northern people
who now settled in the South and the blacks mainly reorganized the State
governments. This was the chief punishment inflicted on the Southern
people in retaliation for the war they had waged with such fearful
energy. It was a clemency quite unexampled in history. No blood was
shed after they laid down their arms. The assassination of the beloved
President Lincoln made the North thoroughly angry, but no vengeance was
taken except on those believed to be immediately connected with the
atrocious deed. The most lively indignation had long been felt at the
dreadful treatment experienced by prisoners of war in some of the prisons
of the South; but the government and the people contented themselves with
the punishment of the governor of Andersonville prison, on due civil
trial and conviction.
On the whole, the conduct of the Northern people was extremely
magnanimous. The dissolution of the Union would have been an irreparable
loss to them; they resolved not to suffer it; and, with extraordinary
energy, they put in the field more than a million and a half of men, and
near 700 vessels, to subdue it, and suffered no reverses to discourage
them until this was done. When resistance ceased and the Union was
secure, they exacted only the pledges necessary to keep it safe.
Appreciating the unfortunate condition to which nearly all the before
prosperous classes of the South were reduced, they aided them in their
distress, ceased at once all hostile action, and left them to recover
from their disasters under as favorable circumstances as their own
conduct warranted. The South naturally felt an affection for her Lost
Cause, proportionate to the sacrifices she had made and the suffering she
had endured for it. Time, and busy care to develop the vast resources
that slavery had, in great part, neglected, would gradually restore them
to right feeling, and the state of mind fitting them for citizenship.
This, in part, has already taken place, and, by and by, the Bonds of the
Whole Union will be more firmly cemented than ever before. May it be soon.
CHAPTER XXIX.
HISTORY OF THE U. S. FROM 1865 TO 1874.
May 13—During the week ending with this day there was
subscribed to the U. S. seven-thirty loan $98,000,000. It was
an expression of the enthusiastic confidence of the people in
the government and its resources.
” 22-23—Grand review of Gen. Sherman’s army at Washington.
There were 200,000 men.
” 26—Kirby Smith, the last leader of a Southern military
organization, surrendered his command.
” 30—The great Sanitary Fair opened at Chicago.
” 31—Gen. Hood and his staff surrendered prisoners of war.
June 1—A day of fasting and national humiliation for the
death of President Lincoln.
” 4—Toombs, of Georgia, prominent in the early days of
secession, shot himself to avoid arrest. Yet no one was
capitally punished for treason.
” 5—The four confederates of Booth, the assassin of President
Lincoln, were found guilty. They were hanged on the 6th and
7th. These were Harold, Atzerott, Powell and Mrs. Surratt.
” 11—Gen. R. E. Lee appointed president of the Washington
College, Va. It was done by Southern people as a mark of
respect, and to furnish him a support; he having lost his
property in the war.
Sept. 20—The marking of the graves of 12,000 of the
unfortunate Andersonville prisoners completed.
” 29—Cession of 1,000,000 acres of land to the government by
the Osage Indians, for $300,000.
Oct. 20—Champ Ferguson, noted for his crimes in guerilla
warfare, hung at Nashville, Tenn.
Nov. 10—Henry Wirz, the inhuman keeper of Andersonville
prison, hung, after trial and condemnation.
Dec. 18—Secretary Seward officially announces that the 13th
Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery in the
United States, has been adopted by three-fourths of the
States, and it is now the law of the land.
1866.
Jan. 1—Third anniversary of Emancipation celebrated by the
colored people.
” 2—Funeral of Hon. Henry Winter Davis, U. S. Senator, at
Baltimore.
” 12—The Kentucky University purchases the homestead of Henry
Clay.
” 23—The 13th Constitutional Amendment reconsidered by the
Legislature of New Jersey and passed. It had been rejected in
the previous year.
” 25—Kentucky refused to pass the 13th Amendment.
” 31—Commissary and quartermaster warehouses burned, at Ft.
Riley, Kansas. $1,000,000 lost.
Feb. 2—The Civil Rights bill passed the Senate.
” 11—The U. S. Sanitary Commission closed with an anniversary
meeting at Washington.
” 12—Memorial services in honor of President Lincoln held in
the capitol, at Washington; address delivered by the Hon.
Geo. Bancroft, statesman and historian.
” 19—President Johnson vetoed the Freedmen’s Bureau bill.
” 22—The 134th anniversary of Washington’s birthday
celebrated.
” 26—Meeting held at Richmond to ratify President Johnson’s
policy.
Mar. 10—North Carolina passes a Negro Rights bill.
” 12—North Carolina passes a Negro Testimony bill.
Texas Convention declares their Secession ordinance null and
void.
” 13—The Civil Rights bill passed the House of
Representatives.
” 19—The Reciprocity Treaty with Canada expires.
” 27—The Civil Rights bill vetoed by President Johnson.
April 2—Gen. Hawley elected republican governor of
Connecticut.
” 4—Gen. Burnside elected governor of Rhode Island.
” 6-7—Civil Rights bill passed Congress over the veto.
” 30—Two churches of colored people burned by incendiaries in
Richmond, Va.
May 15—The President vetoes the bill admitting Colorado as a
State.
” 29—Gen. Scott died at West Point, N. Y.
June 3—Gen. Meade goes to Buffalo to prevent the Fenians
(Irish Patriots) from invading Canada.
” 6—President Johnson issues a proclamation forbidding
belligerent operations against Canada from the United States.
” 8-13—The 14th Constitutional Amendment passed by Congress.
July 4—Great fire at Portland, Me. Loss, $15,000,000. The U.
S. government a heavy loser by this fire.
” 23—Tennessee readmitted as a State in the Union, by joint
resolution of Congress. This was the first State readmitted
after the war.
” 25—Lieut. Gen. Grant nominated General—the highest grade
known in our military organization—never before occupied.
Vice Admiral Farragut nominated Admiral.
” 27—Hon. J. H. Harlan, Sec. of the Interior, resigns. O. H.
Browning appointed.
” 28—The Great Eastern reaches Hearts Content, Newfoundland,
with the Atlantic Telegraphic Cable, which proved successful.
It had failed in the previous year. Great rejoicings. It was
one of the most important events of this century.
” 30—Great riot at New Orleans, in which many were killed.
It was thought the result of President Johnson’s policy of
reconstruction, which was not in harmony with the system
adopted by Congress.
Aug. 1—Gen. Sherman commissioned as Lieut. General.
” 8—Queen Emma, wife of the late King of the Sandwich
Islands, arrives at New York, and is received as a National
Guest.
” 12—Telegraphic communication between New York and Europe
complete, by the Atlantic Cable.
” 31—American and English naval forces unite to break up
piracy by Chinese junks in the East Indies.
Sept. 6—The monument to S. A. Douglas, at Chicago,
inaugurated. President Johnson made many speeches on his
journey to attend this celebration, which were indiscreet,
and disrespectful to Congress. It was called his “Swinging
around the Circle,” in derision; a figure employed in one of
his speeches.
Oct. 9—Gen. Geary elected governor of Pennsylvania.
” 23—Dedication of The Stonewall Jackson Cemetery, at
Winchester, Va.
Nov. 6—State elections in 12 States are held to-day.
” 20—The Grand Army of the Republic, formed of the present
and previous officers of the U. S. Army serving in the late
war, hold a convention at Indianapolis, Ind.
” 22—Raphael Semmes, former Commander of the Confederate war
steamer Alabama, appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy in
the Louisiana State Seminary.
Dec. 7—The Louisiana Legislature rejects the 14th Amendment
to the Constitution.
” 13—Territorial Legislature of Colorado organized.
” 16—The U. S. frigate New Ironsides burned at League Island.
” 22—Massacre of nearly a hundred soldiers near Ft. Kearney.
” 24—U. S. Minister John A. Dix enters on his duties in
France.
1867.
Jan. 7—A suffrage bill for the Dist. of Columbia vetoed by
President Johnson, but passed over the veto by Congress.
Congress was laboring to harmonize the laws of the country
with the changes produced by the war. President Johnson
did his utmost to prevent the success of this policy.
Congress, however, succeeded in carrying its point. This is
an important and interesting history, since it shows how
the Representatives of the People may check and neutralize
the power of a President when his designs conflict with the
interests of the country and the purposes of the people.
” 8-10—14th Amendment ratified by two States (Missouri and
New York) and rejected by another (Virginia).
” 28—Nebraska bill vetoed, but passed over the veto.
Most of the Northern States ratified the 14th Amendment in
this month.
Feb. 20—Military government bill passed Congress.
Mar. 1—Nebraska proclaimed a State by the President.
” 2—The President vetoes the Military Government and Civil
Tenure of Office Bills. They are passed over his veto.
” 4—The 39th Congress ends, and the 40th is organized.
” 11—Military governors assigned to various districts in the
South.
” 30—The President announces the ratification of the treaty
with Russia, by which the United States bought all her North
American Possessions for $7,200,000.
Apr. 3—Gen. Burnside re-elected governor of Rhode Island.
May 13—Jeff. Davis admitted to bail in $100,000; Horace
Greeley and others furnish the bonds.
June 19—The Arch Duke Maximilian, Titular Emperor of Mexico,
shot by order of the Mexican Republican government. The
remonstrances of the U. S. government obliged the French to
withdraw their support from Maximilian.
July 13—The steamer Dunderberg, bought by France, sailed for
Cherbourg.
Aug. 1—Gov. Brownlow re-elected governor of Tennessee.
” 5—The President requires Mr. Stanton, Sec. of War, to
resign. He refuses, when the President suspends him and
appoints Gen. Grant.
” 23—Grand ovation to Admiral Farragut, by Russian officers
at Cronstadt.
Sept. 17—The National Cemetery at Antietam dedicated.
Dec. 4—The Patrons of Husbandry, or Farmers’ Grange,
organized, in Washington.
” 7—A resolution in the House of Representatives to impeach
President Johnson fails by three votes.
1868.
Jan. 1—Fifth Emancipation Anniversary celebrated by the
colored people in various places.
” 6—Censure of the President by Congress for removing Gen.
Sheridan from command of the 5th Military District.
Feb. 7—The resignation of U. S. Minister to England, Hon. C.
F. Adams, announced.
” 19—Senate refuse his seat to P. F. Thomas, of Maryland, on
account of disloyalty.
” 20—The Legislature of New Jersey withdraws its ratification
of the 14th Amendment. Ohio and Oregon did the same. This
action, considered as absurd as Secession, was not recognized.
” 21—President Johnson expels Mr. Stanton, Sec. of War, and
appoints Gen. Thomas. This is done in defiance of the Senate,
by whose “advice and consent” the Constitution requires it to
be supported.
” 24—The House of Representatives adopt articles of
impeachment of the President presented by Thaddeus Stephens,
of Pa., by a vote of 126 to 57. This was 12 more than the
requisite two-thirds.
Mar. 5—The Senate is organized as a Court of Impeachment,
Chief Justice Chase presiding.
May 16—The impeachment trial terminated by a vote in the
Senate of 35 for, to 19 against. As a two-thirds vote was
necessary the impeachment failed by three votes. A few
Republican Senators incurred great odium by voting for the
President’s acquittal.
” 20—Gen. Grant nominated for President by the Republican
Convention at Chicago.
” 22—A Chinese embassy, headed by Hon. Anson Burlingame, who
had been U. S. Minister to China and acquired the confidence
of the government of China to such an extent as to be chosen
by them as the leader of their embassy to this country and
the governments of Europe, arrived at New York.
” 29—Gen. Schofield appointed Sec. of War.
June 5—Mr. Burlingame and the Chinese embassy presented to
the President.
” 6—A Bill for the re-admission of Arkansas passes Congress.
” 9—Bills for the re-admission of North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida are passed.
” 12—Hon. Reverdy Johnson appointed Minister to England.
” 20—Bill for re-admission of Ark. vetoed by the President,
but passed over his veto by a two-thirds vote.
” 24—The Bill for the admission of the other States being
vetoed by the President was likewise passed over his veto.
July 4—Horatio Seymour of N. Y. and F. P. Blair of Mo.
nominated for President and Vice-President by the Democrats.
A political amnesty proclamation issued by the President.
” 16—Admiral Farragut received with distinguished honor by
the Queen of England.
” 20—A Bill to exclude the electoral votes of the Southern
States not re-admitted vetoed by the President and passed by
Congress over the veto.
” 21—The 14th Amendment declared ratified, and a part of the
Constitution.
” 28—Military government ceases in Arkansas, North and South
Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
Aug. 6—Jefferson Davis lands in Liverpool, England.
” 13—U. S. steamers Wateree and Fredonia destroyed during
an earthquake at Lima, Peru; 40,000 lives were lost in this
dreadful catastrophe.
Sept. 7—Negro members of the Georgia Legislature expelled on
account of race, contrary to the 14th Amendment.
” 18—Battle with the Indians on Republican River. Lt. Beecher
and others killed.
” 19—Riot at Camilla, Geo., caused by hostility of Southern
people to the political privileges of the blacks. Many
negroes killed.
” 29—Gen. Reynolds, military governor of Texas, forbids the
election in that State for President, Texas not having been
re-admitted. This was in accordance with the law of Congress
passed the 20th of July.
Oct. 17—The Legislature of Oregon withdraws its assent once
given to the 14th Amendment.
Nov. 3—U. S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax elected President and
Vice-President. Popular majority 309,722. Electoral votes for
Grant and Colfax, 214; for Seymour and Blair, 80. Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas did not vote, and Nevada was not
counted in. The whole popular vote was 5,722,984. In Florida
the electors were chosen by the Legislature.
” 27—The Indians defeated by Gen. Custer, on the Washita
river. Black Kettle, the chief, and more than a hundred
warriors killed.
Dec. 1—Ft. Lafayette, N. Y., destroyed by fire.
” 3—Political troubles in Arkansas, in which many murders are
committed.
” 7—Third session of the 40th Congress begins.
” 15—A social gathering of the Union soldiers at Chicago.
1869.
Jan. 7—John Minor Botts, a statesman of Va., imprisoned by
the Confederate government during the war for his Union
sentiments, died.
Feb. 27—A joint resolution of Congress recommends to the
States the adoption of the 15th Amendment to the Constitution.
Mar. 4—Gen. Grant inaugurated eighteenth President.
” ”—First session of the 41st Congress commenced.
” 13—James Guthrie, a statesman of Ky., died.
” 25—Hon. E. Bates, of Mo., Att’y Gen’l under Lincoln, died.
May 15—The Union Pacific Railroad was completed by joining
the two ends at Ogden, Utah. Distance from Omaha to San
Francisco 1904 miles. This completed the line of railroad
joining the Atlantic and Pacific. The greatest triumph of
engineering yet known was accomplished in the Nevada Mts., by
carrying the road to a height of over 7000 feet in 105 miles.
July 30—Hon. I. Toucey, of Conn., who had filled many offices
in the State and United States government, died.
Sept. 8—William B. Fessenden, of Me., a statesman of
reputation, died.
” 10—John Bell, of Ky., candidate for the Presidency in 1860,
died.
” 6—Gen. J. A. Rawlins, Sec. of War, died. He had been Gen.
Grant’s Chief of Staff during the war.
Oct. 8—Franklin Pierce, of N. H., ex-President, died.
Nov. 7—Rear Admiral Stewart, of U. S. Navy, died.
Dec. 24—Edwin M. Stanton, of Pa., Sec. of War during most of
the civil war, died.
This year closes a most important era in the history of the
United States, and of the world. The account with the civil
war was definitely closed, and the final seal set on the
policy of reconstruction by the inauguration of Gen. Grant,
and the continuance of the Republican party in power by the
people, together with the readmission of most of the Southern
States and the possibility of the reversal of the decision in
regard to slavery done away by the adoption of the fifteenth
Amendment to the Constitution, giving the elective franchise
to the colored population. Much emphasis was given to all
these things by the prosperity of the country, and the rapid
reduction of the debt, by the generally wise conduct of
the Southern people, and the slowly increasing prosperity
of that section. These results reacted in other countries
to strengthen the tendency to freer and more popular
governments, and seem, in some respects to have introduced
the Era of Republicanism. However slow may be the changes in
this direction, they are sure to be made.
1870.
Jan. 1—Ten years ago the cloud of civil war settled densely
over the country, and threatened its destruction. To-day that
tornado has been passed by nearly six years, and its ruins
are almost buried under the new and more thrifty growth of
all interests and industries even in the South.
” 20—H. R. Revels, of Miss., is chosen the first colored
Senator who ever represented a State in Congress.
” 23—The U. S. steamer Oneida sunk by collision with another
vessel on the coast of Japan. 176 lives lost.
Feb. 22—Hon. Anson Burlingame, head of the Chinese embassy to
the powers of Christendom, died at St. Petersburg, Russia.
Mar. 28—Gen. G. H. Thomas dies in San Francisco, Cal.
” 30—The Sec. of State proclaims the ratification of the 15th
Amendment to the U. S. Constitution by three-fourths of the
States.
June 15—Death of Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, at Baltimore, Md.
July 12—Death of Admiral Dahlgren, at Washington, D. C.
” 20—Death of M. Prevost Paradol, French Minister at
Washington.
Aug. 14—Death of Admiral Farragut, at Portsmouth, N. H.
Sept. 7—Recognition of the French Republic by the U. S.
government.
Oct. 12—Death of Gen. R. E. Lee, formerly of the Confederate
army.
1871.
Great changes have been taking place in Europe. The Emperor, Napoleon
III. taken prisoner by the Germans, his government was set aside by the
people of France who founded a Republic.
Jan. 1—At this time the German army, under the lead of the
King of Prussia (about this time made Emperor of Germany), is
besieging Paris, the capital of France.
” 17—The San Domingo Commission sail from New York.
” 28—Paris capitulates to the Germans, which ends the
Franco-Prussian war, terms of peace being soon arranged.
Feb. 12—Alice Carey, the authoress, died at New York.
” 16—An important Japanese mission to the U. S. and other
governments arrives at San Francisco.
Mar. 1—The Germans make a triumphal entry into Paris.
” 20—British House of Commons votes $265,000 for the relief
of Paris.
Apr. 20—A Bill against the Kuklux, a secret organization of
Southern conspirators and murderers, passed in Congress.
May 1—The Legal Tender Act declared Constitutional by the U.
S. Supreme Court.
” 31—The French government does not imitate our clemency to
prisoners taken in rebellion. The soldiers of the Commune are
slaughtered by thousands, by order of the Court Martial of
the government army.
June 18—An earthquake on Long and Staten Islands, N. Y.
” 20—The first Atlantic Cable of 1865, which soon broke and
became useless, is recovered and worked.
July 5—Earthquake at Visalia, Cal.
” 12—Irish Catholic riot in New York; 51 killed, 30 wounded.
” 30—Steamer Westfield explodes, killing near 100 people.
Sept. 17—The Mont Cenis Tunnel, opening a passage for a
railroad 7⅗ths miles long through the Alps from France to
Italy, inaugurated. It had been many years building.
Oct. 2—Brigham Young, the head of the Mormons in Utah,
arrested for bigamy.
” 8—A fire nearly consumes Chicago, destroying-property worth
$200,000,000 and many lives. Fires rage in the forests of
Wisconsin and Michigan. Much property, some towns, and many
persons are burned.
” 17—South Carolina placed under martial law.
$2,050,000 received in aid of the people of Chicago.
Nov. 15—Cholera appears on vessels at New York.
” 18—The Grand Duke Alexis, of Russia, arrives at New York.
He travels through the country for some months.