525. Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley: Washington Threatened.-At this juncture, the unwelcome news was received at the national capital that General Thomas J. Jackson was moving down the Shenandoah valley, sweeping everything before him and threatening Washington. At the battle of Bull Run, Jackson, on account of his firm stand, had won the nickname "Stonewall." Lincoln, recognizing in him a general of great ability, had good cause to be alarmed at the turn affairs had taken, and at once ordered McDowell north to the defence of the national capital. He then directed General Nathaniel P. Banks at Harper's Ferry, and General John C. Fremont at Franklin, to move to the Shenandoah valley and capture the raiding general. But that dashing leader, having accomplished the purpose for which he was sent north,-to threaten Washington and thereby force the return of McDowell's army to the north,—saw it was high time that he rejoin his chief at Richmond. He accordingly turned southward, and, by a series of brilliantly and rapidly executed movements, outgeneralled Fremont, Banks, and several other union commanders, and carried his entire force down by rail to join Lee in his contest with McClellan.

526. The "Seven Days' Fight" before Richmond-June 26 to July 1. McClellan, disappointed at not receiving reinforcements under McDowell, and fearful lest he could not protect his supplies on the York River, resolved on changing his base to the James River,-an undertaking which required the greatest skill in its accomplishment. It was necessary for his army to shield and defend a train of 5,000 wagons loaded with provisions; 25,000 head of cattle; and large quantities of reserve artillery and munitions of war.

Lee, unaware of McClellan's intention, fell upon the union right at Mechanicsville (June 26), thereby precipitating the series of battles known as the "Seven Days' Fight" before Richmond. Jackson failed to arrive on the 26th, thus causing Lee's failure at Mechanicsville. However, on the

following day, Jackson's troops, elated with their northern victories, came rolling into the station at Richmond, and Jackson hastened to join his chief on the battlefield of Gaines's Mill (June 27), where Lee had attacked General Fitz-John Porter. Porter maintained an unequal contest with this combined confederate army through all that day, but he was finally forced from the field. On the morning of the 28th, he burned his bridges behind him, and hastened forward to cover the retreat of McClellan's army. On the 29th, a battle was fought at Savage's Station, in which the confederates were repulsed, and on the 30th another at White Oak Swamp, where the union army repeatedly drove back the confederate advance and remained in possession of the field until nightfall, when it retired. On the same day was fought the fierce battle of Fraizer's Farm. The following day (July 1), McClellan made his final stand at Malvern Hill. His position was here impregnable. Lee, however, unwilling to give up the contest, gave battle at Malvern, but his ill-advised attack resulted only in the useless destruction of life. Lee, foiled and disappointed, finally gave up the battle; and on the night of July 1, 1862, under cover of a storm, McClellan retired to Harrison's Landing, on the James River.

527. The Effect of McClellan's Failure to Capture Richmond. The retreat from the York to the James was said by McClellan's friends to have been conducted most skillfully, but this did not appease the north. The country had little use for a general who was great only in flight. The campaign which had begun with such high hopes to the country was condemned as an inexcusable failure and the army of the Potomac and its now much abused leader were soon recalled to the north. The gloom which fell upon the north at this time was as great as that which had followed the disaster at Bull Run. The loyal governors recommenced recruiting, and President Lincoln, on the very day McClellan had accomplished his change of base (July 1), issued a call for

300,000 volunteers.

"We are coming, Father Abraham, 300,000 more" was the refrain which went up from every recruiting station throughout the length and breadth of the loyal states.

POPE'S ARMY OF VIRGINIA MEETS WITH DISASTER

528. The Army of Virginia Created. In the state of Virginia, were three separate and distinct military departments over which McClellan, who commanded the army of the Potomac, had no control-that of the Rappahannock under General McDowell, that of the Shenandoah under General Banks, and that of the western part of the state under General Fremont. Following the raid of Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah valley, these three departments were united and became the army of Virginia, with General John Pope as its commanding officer. Following the unsuccessful peninsular campaign, the country now looked to Pope to retrieve McClellan's failure.

529. Pope's Campaign and the "Second Bull Run."-Pope posted his army at the eastern base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the upper valley of the Rappahannock, so that he could protect the Shenandoah valley, hold the Rappahannock River from its source to its mouth, and be within safe distance of Washington, should his presence be needed there. Shortly after the "Seven Days' Fight," Lee had sent Stonewall Jackson north on another of his daring raids, and a little later General James Longstreet was sent to join with Jackson in defeating Pope before McClellan could come to his assistance. On August 29 the second battle of Bull Run followed. On that day the issue was about equal on both sides, but on the 30th, Longstreet having arrived, the battle ended disastrously to the union arms. On September 2, the army of Virginia was merged into the army of the Potomac, with McClellan again the chief general in the field under Halleck. Pope was transferred to a western command.

LEE CROSSES THE POTOMAC-ALARM AT THE NORTH

530. Invasion of Maryland.-Bull Run was hardly won ere Lee, with an army of 60,000 men, crossed the Potomac at Leesburg and began the invasion of Maryland. McClellan at once gave chase with the army of the Potomac, numbering more than 80,000 men. Lee now passed westward through the gaps of South Mountain, hoping to reach Pennsylvania by the little mountain valley west of that range of the Blue Ridge. McClellan by this time was close upon Lee's heels, and on the 15th, brought Lee to bay on Antietam Creek-a little stream entering into the Potomac a short distance above Harper's Ferry.

531. Battle of Antietam-September 17.-On the early dawn of the morning of the 17th of September, General Hooker"fighting Joe Hooker," as his troops called him-opened the engagement on the

union side. The battle which followed was one of the most sanguinary of the entire war, McClellan losing one-sixth of his army and Lee one-fourth of the men who had crossed the Potomac with him two weeks before. Only night put an end to the fearful carnage, and both armies ceased their fighting, content to let the other rest. While the union army had been badly shaken, Lee's army had been so shattered and crip

pled that it needed but a vigorous attack on the morrowsuch as Grant waged at Shiloh-to end the struggle. But McClellan waited for reinforcements all through that day. On the morning of the 19th of September, he prepared to renew the battle, but he was too late-Lee under cover of the night had escaped with his now sullen and discouraged army across the Potomac into Virginia. McClellan made no effort to pursue Lee. President Lincoln finally lost all patience with McClellan, and removed him from the command of the army of the Potomac, placing in his stead General Ambrose E. Burnside.

BURNSIDE A1 FREDERICKSBURG

532. Battle of Fredericksburg-December 13.-Having gathered an army of more than 100,000 men, Burnside moved down the Rappahannock and took a position on the north side of that stream across from Fredericksburg. That city refused to surrender and on the following day Lee's army arrived and intrenched itself on the heights surrounding the city. Burnside, impatient to attack, crossed the stream on pontoon bridges on the 11th and 12th of December and on the 13th gave battle. At the foot of the height, immediately back of Fredericksburg, was a sunken road, and, on its lower side, an old stone wall, behind which was massed, four ranks deep, a confederate force. Up the slope leading to this breastwork the union troops swept time after time to within but a few yards of the wall, but they were met each time by a sheet of flame, piling the dead and wounded in heaps upon the field. The same daring and bravery which had characterized the union troops at Antietam were repeated over and over, but all to no purpose-Fredericksburg was another field of carnage, and this time the victory rested with the army of the south. Burnside soon retired as chief of the army of the Potomac, General Hooker succeeding to the command.