McDowell About to Join McClellan-Shield's Division Detached from Banks-Jackson Resolves to Attack Banks-Gallant Defense of Kenley at Front Royal-Banks Resolved to Fall Back to the Poto- mac-The Rear Guard Cut Off-Panic in the Train-A Critical Situation-Battle at Winchester-The Retreat Continued-A Sad Sunday-The Army Reaches the Potomac in Safety and Crosses into Maryland-Banks as a General-Fright of the Secretary of War- The Militia Called Out-Success of Jackson's Plan-McDowell and Quiet Along the Coast-Pensacola Evacuated-Halleck at Corinth-The Enemy's Communications Cut Off-Naval Action at Fort Wright- Repulse of the Rebel Fleet-Fight at Farmington, Near Corinth- Gallant Cavalry Charge-Corinth Evacuated-Elliot's Cavalry Expe- dition-Butler at New Orleans-His Various Orders-Mitchell in Alabama-State of Affairs at the Close of the Month-Importance of a Victory before Richmond-Anxious State of the Public Mind..450 Movements at the West-Evacuation of Memphis-Naval Action Before it-Total Wreck of the Rebel Fleet-Expedition up the White River-Explosion on Board the Mound City-Fort at Saint Charles Captured by Colonel Fitch-Butler at New Orleans-Pierre Soule Sent North Under Arrest-Chattanooga Taken-Buell Supposed to be Advancing to the Relief of East Tennessee-Gratification of the People-Sufferings of the Unionists there-Parson Brownlow- Keeps the Old Flag Flying-Heroism of his Daughter-Relieved and Comes North-His Story of the Barbarities of the Rebels-His Re- ception in the Northern Cities-Governor Johnson at Nashville- CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. Fremont Starts in Pursuit of Jackson-His Energy-His Cavalry Am- bushed-Battle of Cross Keys-Retreat of Jackson and Attack on Shields' Advance, at Port Republic-Abandonment of the Pursuit- Public Disappointment at Jackson's Escape-Object of his Raid- Perplexity of Government-The President Reorganizes the Virginia Department-General Pope Placed in Command-His Address to the Army-Movement Against Charleston-Battle of James Island—He- roism of the Eighth Michigan and Seventy-ninth Highlanders-Our 27 McClellan Before Richmond-Labor of the Soldiers-McClellan's Ad dress to the Army-McDowell Expected-Rebel Knowledge of his Plans-McCall's Division Sent to his Support-The Force Left with which to Attack Richmond-Anxiety of McClellan-Insufficiency of his Force to Protect his Right Flank-Stuart's Cavalry Raid-Encir- cles our Entire Army-Attacks a Rail Road Train-Attempts to Cross the Chickahominy-Its Return to Richmond-Effect on the Rebel Army-Balloon Ascension in View of the Rebel Capital- Movements and Rumors-Rebel Plan to Destroy McClellan's Army..483 Proximity of our Earth Works to those of the Enemy-Character of the Ground between them-McClellan Resolves to Seize it-Arrange- ments for the Battle-Heintzelman's and Kearney's Divisions- Hooker's Brigade-The Battle-McClellan's Arrival on the Field- His Enthusiastic Reception-Takes Personal Command-Gallant Ef- fort of Captain Dusenbury-The Enemy Beaten at all Points-Mc- Clellan's Dispatch to Washington-Public Expectation-Preparations to Celebrate the Fall of Richmond-Perplexity of our Government- Great Plan of the Rebel Leader, Lee-McClellan Informed that Mc- Dowell would not be Sent to his Aid-Effect of the News-Trying Situation-Final Determination-Its Discovery by the Enemy....495 THE GREAT REBELLION. CHAPTER I. PRIOR TO 1861. CAUSES OF THE REBELLION-DANGER OF SECTIONAL PARTIES-HISTORY OF SLAVERY IN THE GOVERNMENT-CAUSES OF HOSTILITY BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH-MISSOURI COMPROMISE-HOSTILE LEGISLATION OF THE STATESCONGRESS—THE WHIG AND DEMOCRATIC PARTIES-NECESSity of a new PARTY IN THE PLACE OF THE WHIG-THE REPUBLICAN PARTY-SOUTHERN CONSPIRATORS-THEIR PLAN-ELECTION OF LINCOLN FIRST STEPS TOWARDS DISUNION. THE HE Rebellion of 1861 stands out unique and extraordinary, in all the features that compose it. Whether viewed in its colossal proportions-suddenly summoning to the field nearly a million of men—or in the purely imaginary evils that produced it, or the benign and equitable form of government sought to be overthrown, or the state of civilization and Christianity in which it occurred, or the totally visionary good it proposed to obtain, or the frightful, appalling evils which were sure to follow,-it forms one of the most extraordinary chapters in human history that the pen of the historian was ever called upon to record. States having a common interest and origin, baptized in the same patriotic blood, were arrayed against each other in deadly strife-families divided, parents against children, and brothers against brothers-churches with a common faith and communion split asunder, and ministers and people who had wept at the same altar, suddenly began to pray each for the other's discomfiture; and the happiest land the sun ever 32 CAUSES OF THE REBELLION. shone upon became drenched in fraternal blood, and filled with sighs and lamentations; and posterity will ask for what? Volumes will unquestionably be written on the causes that led to these appalling evils, and the guilt be placed upon this or that class or section, according to the peculiar views or prejudices of the writer. The time has not yet come for the people to receive a just, dispassionate account of them. A generation, at least, must pass away, before this can be done. With the frightful catastrophe which has overtaken us, full in view, no section or party is willing to accept the responsibility of its existence. All know the immediate cause of it. The north and south were at length arrayed against each other in two great political parties on the question of slavery. The northern party triumphed, and though no illegal act was charged against it, and no pretense offered that it had not succeeded in a legitimate, constitutional way, the defeated southern party refused to accept the decision of the ballot box, and rushing into open revolt, proceeded to organize a government of its own. Unreasonable, unnatural, and criminal as this course appears, it was in perfect keeping with the history of former republics, and an event, which every one not blinded by fanaticism, or selfishness, or ignorance, or contempt of the past, could easily have foretold without any spirit of prophecy. It makes no difference what the cause may be, whether slavery, unequal legislation, or imaginary evils; whenever east and west, or north and south, shall now, or hereafter, stand arrayed against each other in hostile political parties, if the attitude is maintained, peaceful dissolution or civil war must follow. It was in view of this possible calamity, that Washington, in his farewell address, used the following language: "In contemplating the causes that may disturb our Union, it occurs as matter of serious concern, that any ground shall have been furnished for characterizing parties by geographical discrimi |