measures which were ever adopted by any American Congress. They will probably receive their reward; and by the decision of a just posterity, when the storms and perils of this disastrous time shall have passed away, they will be classed with the Floyds and Davises of the present era, with the Burrs and Arnolds of a former age.

It is not necessary here to enumerate all even of the most important of the bills which were passed by Congress during this extraordinary session. It will be sufficient to observe, that every appropriation which the safety and honor of the nation required, was liberally made. Such harmony and unanimity had never before existed in any American Congress. So far indeed did these qualities prevail, that they led to the occurrence of a phenomenon unknown before in the annals of modern legislation. We read in the history of the Christian Church, of certain harmless and perhaps excusable expedients termed "pious frauds," which were resorted to in different ages and countries, for the purpose of accomplishing results in themselves beneficent and good.* In the present case a measure was adopted which may with equal propriety be termed a patriotic fraud, by which two separate and independent bills were passed, apparently by accident, doubtless by design, which in effect conferred on the President the power to summon a million of men into the field, if he should deem that number necessary for the defence and preservation of the Union. To whom the credit or the blame of this patriotic fraud ought to be attributed, there can be but little doubt; for in legislative adroitness of this kind, the chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means had few superiors.

The civil war in Missouri now assumed more tragical features from day to day. The inhabitants of that State were thoroughly divided on the subject of Secession, and the greater ferocity and cruelty which characterize many of the inhabitants of those outposts of civilization, produced the effect that there the war assumed a more desperate character than it had yet exhibited in any other scene of conflict. Two rival governors claimed the executive authority of the State. Two camps and two armies were gradually collected. The Rebels were commanded by General Claiborne Jackson, the Federal troops were led by General Nathaniel Lyon; and it was evident, from the hostile and vigorous spirit which characterized both armies, that a collision between them was imminent.

In a republican government such as our own, every man regards himself as a political sovereign, and each one claims the right to interfere in the administration of public affairs. Nor do these individual sovereigns choose to recognize any difference between things military and things civil; all alike must be subject to their scrutiny and jurisdiction. This disposition was very clearly exhibited in reference to the operations of

* Vide Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History, vol. 1, pp. 65, 112

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what was absurdly termed the "Grand Army," by those whose patriotism was more ardent than their sagacity was penetrating. By this term were meant the Federal troops who were collected at Washington; and during the early portion of July great impatience was expressed by some leading journals, chiefly in New York, that so powerful an army should be allowed to remain so long in ignoble repose. A general complaint or appeal was made by those journals, that it was high time something decisive should be done, that a battle should be fought, that a victory should be achieved, merely, if for nothing else, to show the Rebels how utterly insignificant they were, and to demonstrate to the world that the Federal Government was omnipotent, and could crush with its finger the whole body of the presumptuous foe.

It was doubtless in consequence of the impatience of these military tyros, and the pertinacious clamors for a battle with which they persecuted the Commander-in-Chief and the Secretary of War, that orders were at length issued, that on the 17th of July the Grand Army, numbering thirty thousand men, should move forward toward Richmond, under the com. mand of General Irwin McDowell. This army, though composed of the best possible raw materials, though brave, though patriotic, though ardently devoted to the cause of the Union, was nevertheless, in the opinion of every man of scientific military attainment, little more than an armed mob; for it is not possible for any human power to convert the mere citizen into a real soldier by six weeks drilling. The military editors, however, prevailed, and the following dispositions were made: The first division, under General Tyler, forming the right centre, marched toward Vienna. The column of the extreme right, commanded by Colonel Hunter, moved toward Centreville. The left centre column, under the orders of Colonel Miles, proceeded by the Little River turnpike toward Fairfax Court House. The column of the extreme left, led by Colonel Heintzelman, advanced by the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.

Previous to this date Fairfax had been occupied by a number of Rebel troops. On the morning of the 17th they abandoned their position without making any resistance. The Federal forces first entered the town at noon on that day. The Secession flag still waved insultingly from the Court House; but it quickly gave place to the national colors. The Rebel troops who had retreated from Fairfax were about five thousand in number, and were commanded by General Bonham, who had recently been a member of Congress from South Carolina.

On the 18th of July the march of the Federal army was resumed toward Manassas Junction. The fourth brigade of General Tyler's division, commanded by Colonel Richardson, led the advance. General Tyler pushed forward with his staff, and a small escort, to reconnoitre the position of the enemy. When he reached a height opposite to Bull Run, he discovered, in a long slope or valley which stretched out before him,

a number of the Rebel cavalry and infantry moving in the distance. He immediately sent back orders for two twenty pounders to be brought forward. With these he attacked the enemy, then distant about a mile and a half. This cannonading commenced at half past twelve o'clock. Soon the Rebels brought forward a battery of four guns, with which they responded to the Federal artillery. Their shots exhibited such excellent markmanship that it was evident they had taken the range of their guns before. The first body of Federal troops which arrived at the scene was the brigade of Colonel Richardson. He was directed by General Tyler to advance on the right along the outskirts of the forest, for the purpose, if possible, of capturing the enemy's guns. The brigade proceeded to execute the order; but when they approached the spot at which the Rebel guns had been posted, an attack was suddenly made upon them by a strong force of the enemy. These had in reality formed an ambuscade, and they now poured a deadly deluge of rifle shot into the Federal ranks, while concealed in trenches, lying behind embankments, and sheltered by the woods. Soon the field was covered with a dense cloud of smoke, and the Federal troops fought under the immense disadvantage of not knowing the ground, and of being unable to see the foe. Not expecting to encounter so fierce and general an attack, our artillery was not provided with sufficient ammunition to maintain a lengthened contest. After the lapse of an hour from the commencement of the engagement, the Federal troops retired. The enemy did not advance from their position, but continued to fire upon the retreating column. The latter brought away with them all their guns. The killed on the Federal side were about sixty, with an equal proportion of wounded. The loss of the enemy is unknown to us. It was probably much less than our own, in consequence of the superior advantages possessed by them, both in position and in numbers. Seven regiments only were engaged on the Federal side. Four times as many troops joined in the action on the part of the Rebels. The effect of this rebuff to our arms was extremely injurious. It gave hope to the Rebels, and depressed the Federals. It was doubtless an imprudent movement to permit a detachment of troops to advance into what might be, and into what actually proved to be, a treacherous and deadly ambuscade; for they encountered the risk of being overpowered by vastly superior numbers. In such a dilemma the bravest will falter, the most valiant fail.

And now the critical moment was approaching when a great and memorable conflict was destined to occur. During several months all the martial zeal of the seceding States had been expended in concentrating their military resources at one favorable point, in order that, at that point, they might resist, and if possible hurl back the advancing forces of the Federal Government. The position which they had selected as the scene of this achievement was a spot till then unknown to fame-a spot

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scarcely marked down on any general map; but a spot fated thenceforth to be immortal as Manassas Plains. It was admirably adapted by nature to the purpose of defence; and its natural advantages had been increased and improved by the insidious use of every device known to the military art, of which it was capable. The place consists of a succession of hills, nearly equidistant, protected in front by a deep and thickly wooded ravine. It lies half way between the eastern spur of the Blue Ridge on the one hand, and the Potomac river on the other. Its more elevated points command the whole intervening country. The right wing of the intrenchments extended toward the head of the Occoquan, where the thick forest rendered an approach difficult and dangerous. The left occupied a rolling table land, interspersed with successive elevations which fully commanded its entire expanse. The centre of the Rebel army was posted precisely upon the key of the whole admirably-chosen position. That position had been as effectively fortified as it had been admirably chosen. A line of batteries had been erected two miles in extent, whose outline was zigzag in shape, and was strengthened, at the necessary points, with bastions and other structures, with all the skill of a Vauban or a Cohorn. The Rebel camp was abundantly watered by mountain rivulets which murmured through it, on their way to the tranquil bosom of the Potomac. In the rear there lay a fertile country, where wheat, oats, corn, pasture and meadow fields, furnished ample subsistence to the troops. The number of men whom Beauregard had assembled at this point it is impossible for us precisely to state; but the lowest conjecture, based upon the most reliable evidence within our reach, would make it about forty thousand men. These were composed of an enraged and frantic conglomeration of human beings, chiefly from South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Virginia; though smaller contingents had been furnished by several other seceding States. They were well provided with artillery and ammunition. The larger portion of their guns had been directly stolen from the United States; and these the Rebels now purposed to employ against the government which they had defrauded.

The energy and ability which General Beauregard had exhibited in collecting, training, and fortifying this army, had inspired them with the utmost confidence in his abilities and in his fortunes. He and his officers had inflamed the passions of their troops to the highest pitch, by all the arts of the demagogue and the soldier. No means had been neglected which might render this formidable host confident of success, contemptuous of their opponents, efficient in combat, and comparatively safe within the shelter of powerful and well constructed batteries. Traitors at Wash ington and elsewhere, had given the enemy timely warning of the approach of the Federal army. They were not, therefore, to be taken by surprise. As the decisive moment approached the last stirring appeal was made

The Rebels were reminded that the hour of victory, the hour of glory, and the hour of revenge, had at length arrived. Now was the time to slake, in a deluge of Yankee blood, that growing thirst for vengeance which had been accumulating during half a century. Now was the time to demonstrate to the world the immeasurable superiority of the native of the South over the native of the North. And to a deadly combat with such a foe, superior in numbers, in position, and in artillery, the Federal forces marched, little conscious of the real nature of the service before them.