BOUNTIES FOR RECRUITS.

463

The promptness with which the country responded to the call, would have reflected the highest credit on its patriotism, but for the manner in which that response was made. Instead of the bone and sinew of the land stepping forward to sustain the Government in its last great effort, every man seemed desirous to shirk personal responsibility, and nontax-payers, or men of small means, in the various towns, voted away fabulous sums for bounties to get recruits from any-where and every-where, and of all conditions, to fill up their quotas often forcing on the Government the halt, the lame, and the blind, and at the best, mere mercenaries, who would enlist for the enormous bounties, but without any intention of risking their lives in battle.

Getting such men away, after they had enlisted, became a regular business, so that, of the five hundred thousand called for, not more than half ever reached the field, and probably not half of those, the front. At all events, one hundred and fifty thousand strong-bodied, patriotic, willing men, would have been worth more than the whole half-million proved to be. Nor was this the worst of it. The country got saddled with a debt, in the shape of bounties, that bore heavily on its industry. Had the war been prolonged another year, the North would, unquestionably, have broken down under this false and ruinous system.

The month, moreover, was distinguished for peace negotiations-ludicrous, except from the importance of the personages, on one side or the other, engaged in them. Colonel Jacques, of Illinois, a Methodist clergyman who had enfisted in the army, and a Mr. Kirke, by some extraordinary process, appointed themselves peace ambassadors to Richmond, and though clothed with no authority, were permitted to pass through our lines to the rebel Capital, where they actually had an interview with the rebel President and Members of his Cabinet, and talked over, with the gravity

464

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

of two potentates, the momentous question of peace, and the duties of the two Governments.

What motive Davis could have had for seriously entering into such a discussion with these unauthorized, unknown and uninfluential men, unless that he wished to give utterance to views that might help the peace-party North, it is difficult to conjecture. That a fighting parson, ranking no higher than a colonel, and an obscure individual spoken lightly of among business men at home, should by any management, have got into this position, will remain one of the curious things of the war.

The other attempt was equally absurd, though dignified by the employment of a little more political machinery.

Early in July, Horace Greeley, of The New York Tribune, received a letter from W. Cornell Jewett-a political adventurer, who had acquired at home and abroad a certain doubtful notoriety-stating that some prominent rebels then residing in Canada, desired to have an interview with him at Niagara Falls, respecting terms of peace. It was flattering to Mr. Greeley, to be thus selected out among all the dis tinguished men of the country as the proper person to influence the President, and stand in the great gap that divided the North and South. Fully impressed with the responsibility thus laid upon him, he addressed a letter to the President, and vouchsafed to state conditions of peace, which he thought the President might safely adopt.

A few days after, the notorious rebel agent, George N. Saunders, informed Mr. Greeley that Clement C. Clay, of Alabama, Professor Holcomb, of Virginia, and himself were ready, the moment they could be assured of their personal safety, to proceed at once to Washington and enter on their momentous mission.

To this Mr. Greeley replied, that if they were "duly accredited from Richmond, as the bearer of propositions looking to

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

465

the establishment of peace," &c., that he was "authorized by the President of the United States to tender them his safe-conduct on the journey proposed," and that he would accompany them "at the earliest time convenient" to them.

That accredited ambassadors for peace should fear to come to the head of a Christian Nation, in this enlightened age, without having a promise that their heads should not be cut off, was certainly very extraordinary, and not very complimentary to Mr. Lincoln's civilization.

To this offer, these gentleman replied that there had been some misapprehension, as they were not accredited from Richmond as the bearers of dispatches, but, being in the confidential employment of the Confederate Government, familiar with its wishes, views, &c., they had no doubt if the rebel President was aware of what they had done, that they would be at once accredited, &c. On the reception of this statement, Mr. Greeley telegraphed to Washington for further information, and received the following extraordinary document:

To whom it may Concern:

"EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 18th, 1864.

Any proposition which embraces the restoration of peace, the integ rity of the whole Union, and the abandonment of Slavery, and comes by. and with an authority that can control the armies now at war against the United States, will be received and considered by the Executive Government of the United States, and will be met by liberal terms, on substantial and collateral points, and the bearer or bearers thereof, shall have safe-conduct both ways.

Signed,

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.”

This was certainly a very safe circular, but not one that should have proceeded from the Executive Mansion, for it cannot be regarded as a serious act-it must have been either a political move to disarm the peace-party, or a somewhat grave joke, which would put an end to Mr. Greeley's importunity, and, at the same time, throw a shell into this self-constituted embassy. Viewed in this light, it was,

466

FAILURE OF A POOR SCHEME.

perhaps, a good stroke of policy. Though correspondence and lengthy statements followed this denouement, the whole thing collapsed, and was heard of no more.

It was very plain to the President, and to every man of common sense, that if Jefferson Davis wanted peace on the only terms the North would accept it, he would not have to go around by way of Canada, to commence negotiations. The two Capitals were close to each other, and no such farce as this was needed to bring the conflicting powers face to face, if both were desirous of peace.

Personal notoriety and political effect were, doubtless, the motives that prompted these gentlemen to undertake this self-imposed task.

FORTS

CHAPTER XXXIII.

AUGUST, 1864.

MORGAN AND GAINES-DEFENSES

OF MOBILE BAY-A LAND FORCE UNDER SENERAL GRANGER SENT TO CO-OPERATE WITH FARRAGUT-ARRIVAL OF THE TECUMSEH-FARRAGUT READY TO RUN THE REBEL BATTERIES-MORNING OF THE BATTLE-THE SHIPS LASHED TWO TOGETHER THE BROOKLYN TO LEAD THE FLEET AGAINST FARRAGUT'S WISHES-THE FIRST GUNTHE BROOKLYN FEARING TORPEDOES-BACKS AND AWAITS THE FLEETFARRAGUT LASHED IN THE MAIN-TOP, SEEING THE DELAY, TAKES THE LEAD JUST AS THE TECUMSEH GOES DOWN-HE SENDS A BOAT TO SAVE THE SURVIVORS STEAMS AHEAD-ENTERS THE BAY-ATTACKED BY REBEL GUNBOATS THE SELMA CAPTURED BY THE METACOMET-THE REBEL RAM TENNESSEE ATTACKS THE FLEET-THE COMBAT-SURRENDER OF THE RAM-THE TECUMSEH-A BRAVE ENSIGN-GALLANT DEEDS AND GALLANT MEN-SURRENDER OF FORTS POWELL AND

FORT MORGAN-ITS

GAINES-SIEGE AND BOMBARDMENT OP

SURRENDER-DISGRACEFUL

CONDUCT OF ITS COM.

MANDER AND OFFICERS-MOBILE NOT TAKEN-CAPTURE OF THE PRIVATEER GEORGIA.

THE

FARRAGUT ENTERS MOBILE BAY.

HE beginning of August was made memorable by one of the most gallant naval achievements on record. Farragut, who had been lying for a long time, outside of Mobile harbor, the entrance to which was defended by two forts-Morgan and Gaines-determined, the moment that the iron-clads which he had asked for arrived, to force his way inside, when he knew they must surrender. The former fort, located on a long spur of land, commanded the two channels to the east, while the latter commanded the Beyond these, toward the city, the channel was obstructed by piles driven deep into the mud. into the mud. Several rebel steamers were also in the bay, and a formidable iron

western one.