THE SURRENDER OE ARKANSAS POST.

441

During the progress of the battle the enemy had at one time emerged from their works, and attacked the Federal right wing, with the intention of making their escape in the direction of Little Rock. Here a desperate fight occurred; but the result was that they were intercepted and repulsed by the division which had crossed from the White river, and which had been expressly detailed for that duty. The enemy were then compelled to abandon this undertaking and return to their works.

At length, at half-past four o'clock, General Churchill, the commander of the Confederate troops, determined to yield, and sent out a flag of truce proposing a capitulation. The answer given was that an unconditional surrender would alone be accepted. Immediately after the return of the flag, the Rebel colors were hauled down, and the works given up. Colonel Dunnington, who commanded the fort and its garrison, requested permission to surrender to Admiral Porter. This request was complied with. General Churchill, who commanded the troops that had been stationed in the fort, surrendered to General McClernand. As these two officers approached each other, the latter exclaimed: "I am sorry to meet you under such circumstances; but your men fought bravely in defending the fort." Churchill replied that "it had not been his intention to surrender so soon, but that the event had been hastened by treachery within his lines." The fortifications were then entered by the victors. Four thousand eight hundred and ninety-one of the garrison were surrendered as prisoners of war, and paroled. A thousand of them were on the sick-list. All the stores artillery, munitious of war, and several thousand stand of small arins, became the prizes of the conquerors. The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded, and missing, was five hundred and fifty. That of the Federals was about one hundred and twenty-nine killed, eight hundred and thirtyone wounded, and seventeen missing. This heavy loss was to be attributed to the fact that at the commencement of the bombardment the shells of the gunboats passed over the fort, and fell among the Federal troops in the rear, and that some time elapsed before the exact range could be obtained.

The

This victory was of the utmost importance to the Union cause. fort at Arkansas Post had been erected by the Confederates for the defence of the passage of the Arkansas river. This stream was the highway to Little Rock, the capital of the State. The fortifications were so situated, and were of such strength, that they completely commanded the trade of the river. By this capture it became comparatively easy for Federal vessels and troops to ascend to Little Rock, and also to communicate with Generals Blunt and Herron in the interior; thus dispensing with the transportation of supplies to them over a long and tedious route from Rolla.

The chief merit of this conquest was due to the tremendous and destructive firing of the gunboats, whose artillery were much more formidable

can war.

than those of the Federal land forces. The gunboats were skilfully commanded by Admiral David D. Porter, whose prominence in many of the desperate struggles on the Mississippi had already rendered him one of the chief heroes of the war. This officer was born in 1814. He entered the navy as midshipman in 1829, aboard the Constellation. In 1835 he passed his examination, and then served six years on the coast survey. He was commissioned a lieutenant in 1841, and served during four years on board the Congress with that rank. He was subsequently placed on active duty under Commodore Tatnall, in the Mexican Gulf, and took an active part in the naval operations which were connected with the Mexi At a later period he commanded one of the steamers of the California mail company. It was while holding this position that he boldly defied the Spanish authorities at Havana, and ran his ship into the harbor of that city in the face of the shotted and threatening guns of Moro Castle. Immediately after the commencement of the Rebellion he was placed in command of the steam sloop-of-war Powhattan, which carried an armament of eleven guns. He distinguished himself greatly in the reduction of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, below New Orleans, on which occasion he commanded the mortar fleet. After the reduction of New Orleans he proceeded up the Mississippi, and took part in several engagements. He was subsequently ordered to the James river, and while on his way thither in the Octorara, he captured the Anglo-Rebel steamer Tubal Cain. He was soon afterward appointed to the supreme command of the naval forces on the Mississippi, with the rank of rearadmiral, though his squadron was held distinct from the Western Gulf blockading squadron under Admiral Farragut. His first exploit after his promotion to this important position was the attack and capture of Arkansas Post.

Ilis associate in this achievement, Major-General John A. McClernand, was a native of Ohio, and was known, previous to the commencement of the war, as a prominent lawyer and politician in Illinois. He took a leading part, as a friend of Mr. Douglas, in the Charleston Convention. When hostilities began, he abandoned his profession and entered the military service of his country. He soon obtained the rank of brigadiergeneral of volunteers, and distinguished himself in the engagements at Belmont, Forts Henry and Donelson, and especially at Pittsburg Landing. His skill and gallantry were justly rewarded by his elevation to one of the highest positions in the army. Having superseded General Sherman, on the 2d of January, in command of the Federal army before Vicksburg, his success at Arkansas Post soon afterward furnished ample evidence that the change was a fortunate one for the promotion of the inte rests of the Union

GENERAL BURNSIDE SUCCEEDED BY GENERAL HOOKER: 413

CHAPTER XL.

GENERAL BURNSIDE RESIGNS THE COMMAND OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC-HE IS SUCCEEDED BY GENERAL HOOKER-THE ARMY IN WINTER QUARTERS-IMPORTANCE OF THE QUESTION OF NEGRO TROOPS IN THE ARMY-POLICY OF DIFFERENT PARTIES RESPECTING IT-EXPLOITS OF THE REBEL STEAMER ORETO-DESTRUCTION OF THE STEAMBOAT HATTERAS-EXPEDITION OF GENERAL WEITZEL UP THE BAYOU TECHE-DEATH OF COMMODORE BUCHANAN-SKIRMISH AT WOODBURY, TENNESSEE-SECOND SIEGE OF FORT DONELSON— ITS RESULT-FEDERAL VICTORY OVer general PRYOR ON THE BLACKWATER, VIRGINIATRIUMPH OF CONFEDERATE RAMS IN THE HARBOR OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA SKETCH OF COMMODORE INGRAHAM-THE PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL CURRENCY BILL THE CONSCRIPTION LAW-LOSS OF THE FEDERAL STEAMER QUEEN OF THE WEST-CAPTURE OF THE FEDERAL IRON-CLAD INDIANOLA-DESTRUCTION OF THE REBEL STEAMER NASHVILLE-ATTACK ON FORT M'ALLISTER-RESOLUTIONS OF CONGRESS DENOUNCING FOREIGN INTERVENTION-REMAINING MILITARY EVENTS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 1863— ENGAGEMENTS AT STRASBURG, VIRGINIA-AT HARTWOOD CHURCH, VIRGINIA-AT BRADYVILLE, TENNESSEE AT THOMPSON'S STATION, TENNESSEE.

AFTER the repulse of the Federal army at Fredericksburg, and the failure of General Burnside as its commander to fulfil the expectations which had been entertained throughout the nation of important and felicitious results from his abilities and experience, he asked to be relieved from his command, and his request was reluctantly complied with by the President. On the 26th of January, 1863, General Joseph Hooker, who had been appointed his successor as commander of the army of the Potomac, arrived at Falmouth, and assumed his new duties. General Burnside, in retiring from the command, issued an address to the troops, in which he urged them to remain faithful in their devotion to their country, until, by continued success, the Rebellion was crushed. On the following day, his successor published an address to the army, in which he informed them that by direction of the President he had assumed the command of the forces at Falmouth. He also complimented them upon their former triumphs, and encouraged them to hope for more important and brilliant results in the future. The new general-in-chief entered upon his duties with energy and vigor, and with the confidence and good wishes both of the army and the nation.

From the date of the accession of General Hooker to the command of the army of the Potomac, a period of several months was destined to elapse, during which that army may be said to have remained at Falmouth in winter quarters. The work of reorganization, which devolved on General Hooker, was an immense one, and some time necessarily elapsed before its completion. Important changes and improvements were introduced, and new plans were formed and developed in reference to future operations, which involved extensive labors and profound deliberation. It was not

until the spring of 1863 had fairly opened that this colossal army again moved to encounter the enemy. During the interval, events of interest were transpiring elsewhere in the Republic, both of a civil and military character, to which we will now direct our attention.

It became evident to every observant mind, as the war progressed, that the relation of the negro race in the United States to it, and their future fate, assumed more prominence from day to day. That party in the Federal Congress who were termed radical Republicans, of whom the most prominent were Messrs. Wilson and Sumner, of Massachusetts, Stevens and Kelley, of Pennsylvania, and Trumbull and Lovejoy, of Illinois, were desirous that a law should be passed providing for the employment of troops of African descent in the Federal armies. It was the secret conviction of every intelligent person that the negro community were in a great measure, though without any will or fault of their own, one of the causes of the war, and that it was just that they should be made to endure a portion of its burdens and sufferings. Another class felt convinced, in consequence of the reverses which had recently befallen the Federal arms, that the assistance of the free negroes, as well as of those who had been emancipated in the South by the troops of the Union, would soon be indispensably necessary to the ultimate success of the Federal cause, and therefore that no real patriot could oppose the employment of them in that capacity. The conservative Republicans and the Democrats in Congress opposed the measure, on the ground that it was unnecessary; that it was revolutionary; that it would be repulsive to the feelings of the inhabitants of the loyal slave States, and even insulting to the Federal white soldiers.

On the 28th of January, Mr. Stevens introduced a bill into the House of Representatives authorizing the employment of African troops in the Federal armies. A spirited debate ensued, in which the subject was fully discussed on both sides. But the proposition proved to be premature; it was therefore withdrawn for the present by that astute manager, and it was not until a later period that he and his associates were able to secure its passage by the House, its confirmation by the Senate, and its approval by the President.*

*The bill proposed by Mr. Stevens, and eventually passed by Congress, was as follows:

"Be it enacted, etc., That the President be, and he is hereby authorized, to enroll, arm, equip, and receive into the land and naval service of the United States, such number of volunteers, of African descent, as he may deem useful to suppress the present Rebellion, for such term of service as he may prescribe, not exceeding five years; the said volunteers to be organized according to the regulations of the branch of service in which they may be enlisted, to receive the same rations, clothing, and equipments as other volunteers, and a monthly pay not to exceed that of the volunteers; to be officered by white or black persons appointed and commissioned by the President, and to be governed by the rules and articles of war, and such other rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the President.

THE REBEL CRUISERS ORETO AND ALABAMA.

445

At the commencement of 1863, the Confederate Government had succeeded in adding several formidable vessels to their marine forces. Among these was the steam-corvette Oreto, which had been confined in the harbor or Mobile, and succeeded in escaping therefrom during the night of the 16th of January. She was chased by several of the blockading squadron, but was not overtaken. Her escape was chiefly due to her superior sailing qualities, her speed being greater than that of her pursuers. This vessel was built in Liverpool, England, and its owners pretended that she was intended for the Italian government. She carried a complement of eight heavy guns; she registered seven hundred and fifty tons, and was one of the best constructed vessels of her class then afloat. After arriving in the vicinity of Cuba her genuine character was revealed. Her commander was Captain John Newland Maffit, who had been originally appointed to the United States navy from New York, but subsequently became a citizen of Georgia. When the Federal navy was reduced during the administration of Mr. Pierce, Captain Maffit was dropped from the service. When the Rebellion commenced he tendered his services to Jefferson Davis, and was accepted. He was subsequently appointed to the command of the Oreto, or Florida.

On the 17th of January, the commander of the Alabama, another of the piratical cruisers of the Rebel Government, was guilty of a most dastardly outrage upon the United States steamer Hatteras. This vessel was among those which succeeded in making their escape after the conquest of Galveston by the Confederates. The Alabama came within sight of the Brooklyn and other Federal war vessels off Galveston. As soon as she was noticed the IIatteras was despatched to ascertain who the stranger was. When she came within hailing distance Captain Blake demanded the name of the ship. The answer given was that she was her majesty's steamer Spitfire. Blake then replied that he would send a boat on board of her. While this was being done the Alabama suddenly poured a tremendous broadside into the Hatteras. The latter replied feebly from her small battery of four light guns, and immediately commenced to sink. She soon filled and went to the bottom, but her officers and most of her crew were

'Provided, That nothing herein contained, or in the rules and articles of war, shall be so construed as to authorize or permit any officer of African descent to be appointed to rank or to exercise military or naval authority over white officers, soldiers, or men in the military or naval service of the United States; nor shall any greater pay than ten dollars per month, with the usual allowance of clothing and rations, be allowed or paid to privates or laborers, of African descent, which are or may be in the military or naval service of the United States. Provided further, That the slaves of loyal citizens in the States exempt by the President's proclamation of January 1st, 1863, shall not be received into the armed service of the United States, nor shall there be recruiting offices opened in either of the States of Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee or Missouri, without the consent of the Governors of the said States having been first obtained."