Bitter were the complaints in congress and in the country. Yet, amidst all this disappointment and this night of gloom, a lofty patriotism sustained the north, which still hoped on, confident that right would win, that the union would survive, and, now that the great Lincoln had spoken out on New Year's Day for human freedom, that slavery and disunion would perish together. The tide of war was soon to turn, though anxious days were still in store, indeed, had come,-for Lee, emboldened by Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, once more flew northward, spurred on by the cry, now ringing forth from southern camps, of "On to Washington." ON TO WASHINGTON 548. Lee's Second Invasion of the North.-Lee broke camp in the early part of June and started on his second invasion of the north. His plan was to pass northward, east of the range of the Blue Ridge, cross into Maryland, and carry his troops forward to the fertile valleys in Pennsylvania, where he expected to find rich plunder and much-needed supplies-it being the harvest time. He hoped to draw after him Hooker's entire army, defeat it on the free soil of the north, then march on Baltimore-perhaps the national capital itself. No sooner had Lee crossed the mountains, than Hooker gave chase. Lee, crossing the Potomac at Williamsport and Shepherdstown, passed through Maryland, and was soon encamped at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He sent detachments out to capture Carlisle, and extort $100,000 tribute from the city of York. His cavalry in the meantime-10,000 strong-charged across the country, laying it waste in every direction. 549. Meade Succeeds Hooker in Command.-Hooker had all the while been conducting a most admirable advance. But after his defeat at Chancellorsville, he had become so embittered against General-in-Chief Halleck that he complained to Lincoln of that general's unkind treatment. Lincoln, fearful lest this lack of harmony should endanger union success, relieved Hooker from command and appointed General George G. Meade in his stead. The latter at once assumed command and pushed rapidly forward in quest of Lee. GETTYSBURG 550. The First Day's Battle of Gettysburg-July 1.-The advance forces of the two armies met unexpectedly on the morning of July 1, in the vicinity of the little village of Gettysburg, and a hard fought battle ensued. In this bat tle General Reynolds lost his life, and the union troops were forced to withdraw south of the city to Cemetery Ridge,-a hook-shaped hill about three miles in length. At its southern extremity is Round Top, a mound about four hundred feet high commanding the valley to the west. A little to the north of this, on the crest of the hill, is Little Round Top,also commanding the valley to the west. From this point the ridge runs northward toward the town, then turns to the east, completing the hook and terminating abruptly in Culp's Hill, which commands the valley to the north and east. It was to this ridge that Reynold's troops had retired after the death of that officer. General Hancock soon arrived upon the field, and recognized the importance of holding Cemetery Ridge as a vantage position to the union army. During all that night, Meade's hosts were pushed rapidly forward to this position, and when day broke on July 2, the morning sun shone upon the union army intrenched on Cemetery Ridge, 80,000 strong, eager and ready for battle. Across the valley to the west, was Seminary Ridge, upon which Lee had gathered his forces during the night— also about 80,000 strong and as eager for the contest as was the army of the Potomac. 551. The Second Day's Battle-July 2.-Little Round Top was the key to the union position, and this Lee resolved to take by assault. At four o'clock in the afternoon of July 2, a confederate force advanced up the hill under the enthusiasm of the southern yell, and furiously fell upon General Sickles's men, and a two hours' bloody battle ensued. While this battle was on, a confederate force swept up the hill to Little Round Top. A hand-to-hand encounter followed, in which prodigies of valor were displayed on both sides, the confederate force finally yielding and retreating down the slope, leaving their dead and wounded scattered upon the field. At ten o'clock at night, the second day's battle ceased, and the soldiers slept upon their arms. 552. The Third Day's Battle-July 3.-The struggle was reopened at noon on July 3 by an artillery battle. At the end of two hours, the confederate batteries suddenly ceased firing. A moment of ominous stillness fell upon both armies. When the smoke lifted, a large confederate force under Pickett, one of Lee's ablest generals, was seen advancing across the valley in battle array. Lee had planned to carry the union position at the point of the bayonet! On came Pickett's men, charging up the slope of Cemetery Ridge, exciting the admiration of the union army all along the battle line. The union artillery hailed shot and shell upon this advancing host. Men were literally mowed down in windrows, but their places quickly filled. Up, up came Pickett's men to the very muzzles of the union guns! There they were hurled back and rushed madly, wildly, down the slope, their lines broken and shattered, and now in utter rout. The invincible army of the south had been broken like a reed. Meade had won the day at Gettysburg! 553. Situation at the Close of the Year 1863.-Gettysburg was the turning point of the war. At the very moment Pickett's men were meeting their bloody repulse on the slope of Cemetery Ridge, Pemberton was flying the white flag above his fortifications at Vicksburg. On July 5 Lee gathered together his now shattered and crippled army, and retreated down the passes of the Blue Ridge through the Shenandoah valley, to his old camping ground in Virginia, across the Rappahannock. Meade gave chase, but slowly. In a few weeks he, too, arrived on the soil of Virginia, and encamped across the river from Lee's position. Here the two armies remained, watching one another, cautiously seeking an opportunity to strike. Efforts failing, both armies went into winter quarters, and practically remained inactive until the following spring. Thus, at the close of the year, Lee's invasion had been repelled, the Mississippi was opened and patrolled by union gunboats, the blockade of the southern ports was more effective than ever, and the strong position of Chattanooga was securely held by the union army. IMPORTANT BATTLES OF 1863 NAME OF Place Where Date Chancellors ville Chancellorsville, May 2-3..... Maj. Gen. J. Gen. R. E. Lee Va. July 1-3. Port Hudson .Port Hudson, La. July 8 ... Chickamauga. Chickamauga, Ga. Sept. 19-20. Hooker Maj.-Gen. N. P. Maj.-Gen. Banks Maj.-Gen. U. S. Gen. B. Bragg Chattanooga Chattanooga, Nov. 23-25.. Tenn. 554. Plan of Operations for 1864.-One day in the spring of 1864, two men met in conference in the parlor of a prominent hotel in Cincinnati. Spread out on a table before them lay some especially prepared military maps, which both were eagerly scanning. Before the meeting ended, the two parties to this conference had decided upon the plan of operations for the union armies in 1864. These two men were union generals,—one of them, General Ulysses S. Grant, the other, General William T. Sherman. Grant, with the army of the Potomac, was to capture Lee's army; while Sherman was to carry the ravages of war into the heart of the confederacy, capture Johnston's army, touch at some point upon the Atlantic coast, and then march northward to intercept Lee, should he attempt to escape from Grant at Richmond. IN THE CENTER WITH SHERMAN TO THE SEA 555. Sherman's Campaign against Atlanta-May 5 to September 2.-When Sherman parted with his superior in Cincinnati, he hastened south, determined to move as soon as |