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CH. XVII.]

DESTRUCTION OF THE KAM ARKANSAS.

Farragut determined to pass the batteries at Vicksburg. Accordingly, on the 28th of June, he did so, early in the morning, and eight out of the ten vessels under orders reached a part of Davis's fleet above, at the mouth of the Yazoo River. Davis joined Farragut at once above Vicksburg. The rebel ram Arkansas had been carried up the Yazoo River in May, and Col. Ellet went to look after and if possible destroy her; but he was unsuccessful. On the 15th of July, the Arkansas, completely iron-clad, and with ten guns, steamed down the Yazoo, dashed in among our gun boats and other vessels, and finally arrived in safety under the fortifications of Vicksburg.

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than 2,000 effective men, Gen. William's being in command.

Aware of the approach of the enemy, on the 4th of August, Gen. Williams placed his troops in position outside the town, and the next morning the rebels appeared. The ram Arkansas, having repaired damages, was a short distance above, expecting to take part in the encounter. The attacking force was estimated at 6,000 men; Williams had only about one-third that number in good condition, but many of those on the sick list joined their comrades on the field, and fought with their accustomed bravery. Our limits do not

admit of giving details; suffice it to say, that for five hours, under a blazing Annoyed at this, Farragut the same sun, the battle raged, and with the aid evening, repassed the batteries, intend- of the gun boats the rebels were defeating to bombard the Arkansas in pass- ed. Exhaustion and the intense heat passed. ing; but the darkness prevented his rendered it impossible to pursue the carying out his plan. As the water in enemy to any purpose. Gen. Williams the Mississippi was falling, Farragut was killed in the thickest of the fight, dropped down the river and reached and our entire loss was reported to be New Orleans, July 28th. Davis sailed nearly 300. up the river, and in conjunction with Gen. Curtis, made a successful expedition up the Yazoo River.

For the present, at least, nothing further could be done with Vicksburg, and the rebels determined to regain possession of Baton Rouge. The ram Arkansas was to attack our few gun boats at the place, while Breckenridge from Camp Moore was to assault it by land. Our force at Baton Rouge, at the beginning of August, was weak, not more

soil of tough clay and the low state of the water show ed that the plan was impracticable. Vicksburg there

fore remained as it was, a formidable rebel post, requiring immense effort and labor to subdue.

The ram Arkansas, part of her ma chinery being out of order, did not engage in the fight; but the next morning, Commander W. D. Porter, in the Essex, determined to make another effort for her destruction. Accordingly, as he writes in an off hand way to Farragut :-"This morning (August 5th) I steamed up the river; and at ten A.M. attacked the rebel ram Arkansas, and blew her up. There is not a fragment of her left. Her engines having given way, the ram was backed on shore and set on fire, and the crew, to the number of about 200, escaped."

The district of Lafourche, southwest

1862.

Lafourche district, and by this, as well as other measures, caused the United States authority to be felt and respected by the inhabitants.

of New Orleans, which has been termed portant combats, Weitzel obtained, in the garden of Louisiana, for its richness, some four days, complete possession of was occupied by staunch secessionists, the entire district. Butler, with his usual who hated the United States heartily, promptitude, applied the confiscaand utterly detested the commanding tion act of July, 1862, to the general of the Gulf department and his doings. In the month of May, Col. Kinsman visited Lafourche district, and gave the people significant warning of what was in store for them if they re- For some reasons never made public, sisted the authority of the United but not difficult to imagine, the governStates. Col. Keith, at a later date, was ment had determined, early in Novemin the same region, hunting after those ber, to recall Gen. Butler, and place wretches known as guerrillas, and by Gen. Banks in command, adding Texas his promptitude in administering justice, to the department of the Gulf. Butler, repeated the warnings previously given. unaware of this, was as busy as ever, In the latter part of October, it was hoping and praying for reinforcements; determined by Gen. Butler to send an but on the evening of December 14th, expedition into this region and bring it Gen. Banks arrived at New Orleans, directly under his control. General and made known to Butler that his Weitzel was placed in command of the services were no longer required in the forces, a brigade of infantry and the re- department. On the 24th, Butler left quisite artillery and cavalry. By rapid New Orleans and returned to the North; movements, a spirited and successful Banks having entered upon his duties action at Labadieville, and some less im- on the 16th of December.

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Hunter in command of the department of the South-Smallness of his force- His proclamation - Excitement produced - Perplexities of the question - President Lincoln's views - Repudiation of Hunter's proclamation - Treatment of the blacks - Robert Small's exploit - Subject of arming the negroes-Diversity of opinion and action Military operations attempted against Charleston - Some fighting, but with no success to the Union cause More troops wanted - Mitchel succeeds Hunter His zeal in his work - Several expeditions projected — Sickness in the army - Death of Gen. Mitchel - Closing proceedings of CongressAct authorizing additional issue of treasury notes Three important bills acted upon, the Homestead, the Pacific Railroad, and the one condemning and punishing polygamy in Utah - Navy arrangements as to the grades of officers, etc. - Confiscation act - Its significance - Congress adjourns.

As for the government, its position was by no means an easy one. The president and his cabinet were distress

GEN. HUNTER, on the 31st of March, | were enraged at this bold interference took command of the department of with the rights of property, especially the South, comprising the states of property in slaves. South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. His force was insufficient for any aggressive measures against the rebels, and he was principally occupied ined and even anxious on this subject. watching their movements. This officer, being considerably in advance of public sentiment on the perplexing question of slavery and what to do with the negroes in the insurrectionary states, issued an order from Hilton Head, in which he said, "slavery and martial law in a free country are

altogether incompatible. The 1862. persons in these three states, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, heretofore held as slaves, are therefore declared forever free."

Public attention was at once aroused. Hunter's course was applauded by some, and denounced by others. Some rejoiced at the prospect of the speedy extinction of slavery; others, secession sympathizers at the North especially,

The pressure upon Mr. Lincoln from almost every quarter was exceedingly severe and constant. He did not know what to do or say, so as to satisfy his own conscience and deal justly with the several parties concerned. Sincerely desirous to do what was right, the president for a long time urged the gradual emancipation of the slaves, the compensating the owners for making them free, and also the sending them away out of the country, to South America or else where. But the necessity of some definite line of policy was pressing heavily upon the government; the question could not much longer be delayed, in the midst of our mighty struggle for the supremacy of law and order. Loyal men differed widely on

the subject. Some urged the presid- the rebellion. Hunter was certain that ent to take decisive steps at once; the blacks would make good soldiers, while others opposed and denounc- if properly instructed, and he bestowed any such course in strong, even ed much attention upon giving them fierce language. Mr. Lincoln had repu- the opportunity of fitting themselves diated Fremont's attempt in 1861 (see for the work sooner or later before them. p. 87), to emancipate slaves in Missouri. The president dared not, as yet, to go to the length which Fremont and Hunter had gone. It may be doubted, indeed, whether or or no the country would have sustained him just then. At all events, whatever the future might develop, he felt called on to issue a proclamation, under date of May 19th, in which he expressly disclaimed the action of Hunter, and refused to pronounce any decision upon the vexed question of freeing the slaves in the rebel states, at the present.*

Although the president had seen fit thus to decide upon Gen. Hunter's order in regard to the slaves in the department of the South, he did not interfere with various efforts which were being made to improve the condition of the negro, and render him available for service to the cause of the Union against

* Mr. Lincoln pleaded earnestly, in this same procla mation, for the policy of emancipation. "You cannot, if you would," he said, addressing the people of the border states, "be blind to the signs of the times. I

beg of you a calm and enlarged consideration of them, ranging, if it may be, far above partisan and personal politics." On the 12th of July, he held a conference

with the members of Congress from Maryland, Dela

ware, Kentucky and Missouri, and begged of them to press the subject upon the attention of their constitu

ents.

The measure recommended by the president in such earnest terms was discussed in the states just named, but not adopted by any one. We may mention in the present connection, that at a later date, September 22d,

Mr. Lincoln issued a proclamation, in which was plain

ly foreshadowed the conclusion at which the government arrived, at the close of the year 1862, upon the

subject of emancipation. See McPherson's "History of the Rebellion," pp. 227-228.

1862.

On the 13th of May, a slave, named Robert Small, who had been acting as pilot for some time on board the steam tug Planter, in the harbor of Charleston, succeeded in bringing the vessel out from under the batteries of the forts, and delivering to the Union blockading squadron a rebel gun boat which was employed in military service in the bay. The Planter was a high-pressure side-wheel steamer, armed with two guns, and had on board four large guns under way for Fort Ripley, in the harbor. Small, who had the entire management of the matter in his hands, embraced the favorable moment when the officers had gone on shore, and taking with him 8 men, 5 women and 3 children, all negroes, he passed Fort Sumter very early in the morning, giving the proper signal, and steaming rapidly out of range of the guns. The rebel colors were hauled down, a white flag was raised, and Small and his company were soon under the pro tection of the stars and stripes. In accordance with the recommendation of Commodore Dupont, Congress passed an act, giving Small and his companions the benefit of their having transferred the rebel steamer to the Union authorities. One half of the value of the Planter and the property on board of her, as per appraisement, was appor tioned among them, they, for the pre

sent, receiving the interest, until such

CH. XVIII.]

OPERATIONS AGAINST CHARLESTON.

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time as it might be expedient to pay for an attack upon Charleston. The the principal sum.

information brought by the pilot Small, The subject of arming the negroes of the state of the fortifications, the excited no little attention among the troops, and means of defence in and people generally, as well as in Congress. around the harbor, encouraged the atHunter, in reply to a resolution of in- tempt, and an approach to the city quiry, said that this arming of the seemed practicable from below by the blacks was "a complete and even mar- Stono River. Accordingly, on the 20th vellous success." The loyal portion of of May, several gun boats were sent the community were evidently tending by Commodore Dupont to that river; to the view which finally prevailed, occupation was taken of the inlet by viz., that the necessities of war requir- the squadron, and preparations rapidly ed the employment of the negro in help- made to lodge a force on James Island, ing to put down the great rebellion. with a view of gaining possession of its Various precedents were, on search, batteries, and, in case these were suc found for such employment; in the cessfully overcome, pushing to the Ashrevolution, in the war of 1812, in Jack-ley River, where Charleston might be son's New Orleans' campaign, etc. The assailed out of reach of the powerful governors of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, on the new call for 300,000 mei, caused the blacks to be enrolled in these states. The governor of Ohio, however, refused to accept their services; and in the army generally, there was a dislike to the bringing in the blacks and placing them by the side of white soldiers. In fact, the question was beset with peculiar difficulties, and it required not only a modification of popular feeling but especially time to bring it to anything like a settlement.

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forts in the harbor. On the 29th of May, an unsuccessful effort was made to destroy the rebel line of communication by the Charleston and Savannah Railroad at Pocataligo. On the 2d of June, Hunter and Benham were landed on James Island, waiting the arrival of Gen. Wright with cavalry, artillery and additional infantry from Edisto Island. Severe storms, bad roads, and insufficient means of crossing the river, delayed operations materially, and gave the rebels an opportunity to obtain reinforcements. During a week or more, sharp skirmishes were frequent; and on the 16th of June, an attack was made by order of Benham, upon the entrenched works of the enemy. Our troops fought gallantly, but after a severe struggle failed of success, having lost some 700 in killed, wounded and missing. The forces on James Island soon after returned to their quarters at Hilton Head.

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