determined to attack and dislodge them. He therefore ordered Colonel Duryea, with his regiment of Zouaves, and Colonel Townsend with his Albany troops, to cross the river at Hampton at midnight, and thence pursue their march toward Great Bethel. At the same time the regiment of Colonel Bendix, with a number of men from Vermont and Massachusetts, who were stationed at Newport News, were directed to advance so as to effect a junction with the forces sent from Fortress Monroe, at Little Bethel, three miles distant from the position of the enemy.

The entire expedition seems to have been badly planned. So great was the neglect of the commanding officer, that proper signals had not been arranged between the troops proceeding from Newport News and those from Fortress Monroe, by means of which they could recognize each other in the darkness. Accordingly, the first disaster which took place resulted from the want of such recognition. Duryea's Zouaves passed Little Bethel between three and four o'clock in the morning. The regiment of Bendix soon followed, and took up its position at the intersection of the roads. As Colonel Townsend's regiment approached for the purpose of making a junction with them, they were mistaken for the enemy and were fired into. After a number had been slain and wounded the error was discovered, the firing ceased, and the united body advanced toward Great Bethel.

As soon as the Federal troops came within range of the guns of the Rebels, the latter opened upon them with a formidable array of artillery. The Federals attempted to advance, and by a rapid charge and bold assault, to obtain possession of the works. But they were saluted with such a hail-storm of shot, and the expert riflemen of the foe seconded the efforts of their artillery so effectively, that the utmost bravery and desperation proved of little avail. Terrible havoc was produced in the ranks of the Federal troops, partly through the confusion and incompetency of General Pierce, who commanded the expedition, and partly in consequence of the immense advantage in artillery and position possessed by the Rebels. At length it became evident that further effort would be vain, and after an unequal and disastrous contest of two hours, the order to retreat was given. As the beaten troops retired they were pursued by the cavalry of the enemy, and some were slain on both sides.

One of the chief disasters of this disgraceful day was the death of Lieutenant John T. Greble, who accompanied the expedition in command of the few cannon which were taken with it. During the engagement he had acted with great gallantry, and the chief impression produced upon the enemy was effected by the skill and vigor with which he worked his two guns. Eleven artillerists of the regular army had been placed under his orders. When at last the command to retreat was given, he directed his cannon to be limbered up, and was about to retire, when a cannon ball struck him on the right temple. He fell and expired instantly.

DEATH OF LIEUTENANT GREBLE.

117

This young officer, whose early and heroic death at this period rendered him the first martyr to the cause of the Union from among the officers of the regular army, had commenced, and until that hour had pursued, a career of more than ordinary brilliancy and promise. He was a native of Philadelphia, and at the time of his decease was twenty-seven years of age. His early education was received in the High School of the city of his birth. Having obtained admission to the Academy at West Point, he graduated in that institution with honor in 1854. He received the rank of brevet second lieutenant, and was subsequently ordered to Florida, where he served two years in the war against the Seminole Indians. In March, 1857, he was promoted to a first lieutenancy, and was afterward appointed to a position on the Academical Staff at West Point. In October, 1860, he was ordered to Fortress Monroe; and there he remained until May, 1861, when he was transferred to his last command-that of the artillery at the advanced post of Newport News.

Lieutenant Greble was descended from ancestors who had held honorable positions in the army of the American Revolution. He had always distinguished himself in the performance of his official duties by superior intelligence, fortitude, and energy. In the battle of Great Bethel he had displayed the utmost coolness and heroism. It was he who, when the firing took place between the several Federal regiments, first discovered the mistake, rode up to the combatants, and succeeded in putting an end to the work of mutual destruction. He then exclaimed in agony that he had rather himself been shot, than that such a disaster should have taken place. He seems in fact to have entertained a foreboding of the fatal result of the expedition; and remarked to a brother officer, when he received the order to accompany it: "this is an ill-advised and badly. arranged movement, no good will come from it; and as for myself, I shall not return from the battle-field alive." After the action began he was left alone with his men on the field, by the confused and irregular operations of the troops; but he remained undaunted, working his guns with the utmost resolution, and with much success. Several officers, at a later period of the combat, seeing his exposed position, urged him to take better care of himself, and suggested that he should dodge the balls. He replied contemptuously, "I never dodge, nor will I retreat till I hear the notes of the bugle commanding it." At length these notes reached his ears, and not till then did he think of retiring. During the progress of battle he sighted every discharge of his guns in person. It was noticed that his aim was extremely accurate. When he fell, the troops retreated, leaving his body on the field. A short time afterward Lieutenant-Colonel Warren and Captain Wilson rallied a few of the men, returned, rescued. his remains and the two cannon, and then sadly joined in the general flight. The Federal loss was seventeen killed, forty-five wounded.

While the destructive tide of Secession was surging to and fro like a

mighty deluge, devastating the once fair domains of the South, it is gratifying to notice an opposite current arising in the western portion of Virginia, in favor of the time-honored Union. A convention had been called together at Wheeling consisting of delegates from many of the western counties of the State, for the purpose of deliberating on the propriety of disavowing the acts of the Richmond Convention, in adopting the secession ordinance; and to form a new State which should remain a constituent portion of the Union. On the 17th of June the final decision was made in reference to the subject. A unanimous vote was given by the Convention in favor of the establishment of a separate Commonwealth, which was then named Kanawha, but was afterward called West Virginia, and in favor of its admission to the Federal Union. There was not a dissenting voice, but a small number of the delegates were absent. There were fifty-six ballots cast in favor of the measure; and the declaration which embodied the action of the Convention was signed by each of those fifty-six.

In the meantime the martial events of the Rebellion progressed, and the future plans and purposes of the armed traitors became more apparent. The force of fifteen thousand men which, under the Rebel General Johnston, had taken possession of Harper's Ferry, evacuated that place, as already stated, on the 14th of June, after destroying a large portion of the public property which there existed. The motive of this withdrawal was judicious on the part of the Rebels; it being simply for the purpose of rendering their forces more available in connection with the anticipated struggle at Manassas. On the 18th of June they inflicted a slight reverse upon that portion of the Federal troops, consisting of the First Ohio regiment, which was commanded by General Schenck. They had placed a concealed battery on an eminence adjacent to the railroad to Vienna; and when the cars which contained these troops approached that town, they were suddenly fired upon. The Federal loss was eight killed and twelve wounded; a temporary panic ensued; but the troops ultimately resumed their journey, and reached their destination without further opposition.

More important and decisive events were now about to transpire in Western Virginia. On the 6th of May, 1861, General George B. McClellan was appointed to the command of the regiments raised in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and he formed the plan, in conjunction with General Morris, of an invasion of Virginia from the West. This project he submitted to the War Department. The evident ability and skill which it exhibited gained it an immediate approval, and McClellan at once proceeded to active operations. On the 23rd of June that officer commenced to execute his purposes. The plan to which we have referred was in substance as follows:-The main army of the Rebels in Western Virginia, commanded by General Garnett, was then posted at Beverly, about fifty miles south of Grafton. It was proposed to attract and to occupy their

THE BATTLE OF RICH MOUNTAIN.

119

attention by marching a force toward them from Grafton through Philippi; while another division should proceed in a parallel line through Clarksburg and Buckhannon, and penetrating further to the south, reach a point in their rear, prevent their retreat, and by a combined attack, vanquish and capture them.

This admirable arrangement was executed in spite of unexpected difficulties, in an equally admirable manner. The Rebels anticipating no attack except in their front, took a new position twelve miles north of Beverly, and strongly fortified it. General Morris then led a brigade of Ohio and Indiana troops toward the enemy from the north. At Bealington, when within range of their guns, he halted, fortified his position, completely obstructed their further advance, and then waited the operations of McClellan. That officer also executed his part of the plan with signal energy and ability. With the main body of the Federal troops which had been posted at Grafton he advanced through Clarksburg to Buckhannon. At Rich Mountain he unexpectedly found a rebel force of two thousand men, under General Pegram, posted in a strong position. He divided his troops into two divisions; placed one under command of Colonel Rosecrans, and himself led the other. Pegram's position was turned by a flank march through the woods. Many of his men were killed and taken; a total rout ensued; and on the following day the main body, under Pegram, was compelled to surrender. A small detachment afterward effected their escape.

When these fugitives reached the camp of General Garnett, they quickly apprised him of his real danger. Then it was that he attempted to retreat to Beverly; for had he reached that position he might have effected his escape from superior numbers, by crossing the mountains at Cheat Mountain Gap. He might thus have joined the rebel forces in Central Virginia or else have united with the troops of General Wise stationed on the Kanawha. But he was defeated in the accomplishment of this purpose by the energy and promptitude with which McClellan executed his part of the plan. His timely advance toward Beverly interrupted the movement. Only one alternative, therefore, yet remained to General Garnett, which was to retreat by a road running to the northeast, up Cheat river, until he could obtain a passage through the mountains into the central valley of Virginia. He immediately abandoned his baggage and artillery, and commenced a rapid march toward St. George.

The Federal commander immediately detected this movement and pursued the retiring foe. Then followed a grand and desperate chase, which was in itself an extraordinary achievement. During forty hours, with one single intermission, the Federal forces continued the pursuit. Through a mountainous, rugged, often almost impassable country, sometimes by fording rivers, sometimes by facing storms of wind and rain, they advanced; and at length reached the rear of the exhausted and retreating Rebels.

A

The latter were at once attacked with the utmost energy and resolution. decisive victory was gained. The Rebels abandoned their camp, their few remaining guns, some prisoners, and fled in the utmost precipitation. Their commanding officer, General Garnett, who seems not to have been deficient in courage or skill, was slain during the engagement. The scattered wreck of his army sought safety, and disappeared from view, in the deeper and remoter recesses of the mountains.

It must be admitted that few military plans were ever conceived with greater sagacity, or executed with more signal ability, than this. To whom the credit both of the plan and of its execution may be due is another question. It is clear that it was first known as an enterprise proposed by General Morris, who was in command of the Federal forces stationed at Grafton previous to the arrival of General McClellan. But as General Morris was not a professional soldier, it is probable that the complete conception of the arrangement is to be chiefly attributed to McClellan. To him also was assigned the execution of much the more difficult portion of the combination. In the practical part of the achievement the honors must to some extent be divided among several brave men. Colonel Rosecrans fulfilled his commission with equal valor and skill. Captain Benham, the principal staff officer of General Morris, also distinguished himself. Nevertheless, with that partiality with which mankind generally over-praise those whom they elevate to the position of favorites, the sole glory of the brilliant movement was attributed, by the popular voice, to the most prominent actor in it.

One of the inevitable consequences produced by a revolution, either civil or military, is, that it develops latent greatness of character, and gives an opportunity to men of superior ability to attain eminence, who would otherwise have remained comparatively obscure. This remark applies with truth to the Southern Rebellion. Among its other results its stirring events introduced George Brinton McClellan to the special notice and scrutiny of mankind.

This officer was born in Philadelphia in December, 1826. In his sixteenth year, having chosen the military profession as his future pursuit, he entered the academy at West Point. He ranked second in his class for merit and ability among a number of young men, all of whom were his seniors. He graduated in 1846, and received a commission as brevet second lieutenant of engineers. The war with Mexico breaking out, he assisted in training an engineer company which had been raised at West Point, and then proceeded with them to active service.

He landed with General Scott at Vera Cruz, and took part in all the battles which signalized the career of that commander in Mexico. The progress of his promotion was rapid, but not more rapid than was the development of his merit. In August, 1847, he was breveted first lieutenant for his gallantry at the battles of Contreras and Churubusco. In