CHAP. LIV.] Lee assigned to the Confederate command. LEE'S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. 389 stroying forage and supplies, capturing prisoners, and returning with impunity to Richmond. The middle of June (14th) came. It brought nothing but the telegram "All quiet in every direction." McClellan's force was now 156,838, of whom 115,102 were present for duty. General Johnston having been disabled at Fair Oaks, the command of the Confederate army had been devolved on General Robert E. Lee.. He had been appointed in March general in chief, an office specially created for him. His plan was to construct fortifications for Richmond, so that the city might be defended by a minimum of men, and then, tak ing the mass of the army, to operate with it on the north of the Chickahominy, and break McClellan's communications with York River. He therefore began at once to strengthen his army in front of Richmond by rapidly drawing to it all the forces within reach. He intended Lee's plan of to strike a decisive blow against the dilatocampaign. ry and hesitating McClellan. For this purpose, among other re-enforcements, Stonewall Jackson was brought from the Valley, every means being used to deceive McClellan as to what was going on, and with so much success that he was led to believe that the movement was in the other direction, and that re-enforcements were being sent from Richmond to Jackson. It was not until June 24th that McClellan discovered the truth— Jackson being then close upon him, making ready to attack his rear. At once McClellan took alarm, telegraphing to Washington that he was about to be assailed by 200,000 men-that if his army should be destroyed by such overwhelming numbers, it was his purpose to die with it and share its fate. But, in truth, the force of his antagonist was but little more than half his own: it amounted to about 80,000 McClellan's ground less alarms. men. CHAPTER LV. THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. SECOND PERIOD-THE RETREAT. Stonewall Jackson, after throwing the North into consternation by a brilliant offensive movement in the Shenandoah Valley, made good his junction with the army of Lee in front of Richmond. The Confederates, taking the initiative, compelled McClellan to change his base. He retreated, during a week of fighting, to James River. The Peninsular campaign ended in a complete triumph for the Confederacy. The national government withdrew the Army of the Potomac to the front of Washington. Stonewall Jackson's FOR a clear comprehension of the second period of the Peninsular campaign, it is necessary to recampaign. late the operations of Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley: they constitute a brilliant por tion of the military annals of the Confederacy. In the autumn of 1861, after the battle of Bull Run, Jackson had been assigned to the command of the Confederate forces in the Shenandoah Valley. Banks's movement left. Two days (February 24th, 1862) after the time desig nated by the President's order for the simulon the Confederate taneous movement of the national armies, Banks took possession of Harper's Ferry, partly with a view to the reconstruction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and partly for the purpose of threatening the Confederate left flank. This movement, togeth er with advices received from female spies in Washington that McClellan was about to advance on Richmond, led to the evacuation of Manassas, Johnston, who commanded the Confederate forces there, falling back toward Richmond. Under these circumstances, Jackson also retired up the CHAP. LV.] Jackson retires up the Valley. STONEWALL JACKSON'S CAMPAIGN: 391 Valley, so as to be in easy communication with Johnston; he evacuated Winchester on the 11th of March. Learning, however, that Shields, of Banks's corps, who was following him, had been weakened by the withdrawal of a part of his force, he determined to turn upon him. Shields feigned to retreat, and concealed his true strength. In an action which took place (March 23d) at Winchester, the Confederates accordingly suffered a severe defeat. They were compelled to resume their retreat up the Valley, and remained in communication with Johnston until he went to the Peninsula to confront McClellan. At that time Ewell's division was sent to Jackson, increasing his force by about 10,000 men. The purpose of the Confederate government in retain. ing this large force in the Valley was to threaten Washington and embarrass the movements of McClellan in the Peninsula. Position of the na Jackson was therefore now confronting three national armies—that of Fremont, on his left; that of tional armies. Banks, before him; that of McDowell, on his right. Jackson checks Fremont had been ordered by the President to come down to Franklin and Harrisonburg, converging toward Banks. Jackson, learning this, determined to strike at them in succession. Leav ing Ewell to confront Banks, he himself rapidly moved against Fremont's advance, compelling it to retreat to Franklin. Then, quickly crossing the Shenandoah Mountains, he rejoined Ewell at Newmarket, and, moving up the Valley between the Blue Ridge and the Masanutten range to Front Royal, he accomplished a double object; he created a panic in Washington, and, indeed, as we shall and attacks Kenly see, all throughout the North, and fell in overwhelming force on Colonel Kenly, who at Front Royal. was at Front Royal, capturing many prisoners and guns, and a large amount of stores. This was on the 23d of May. About a week before this time (May 17th), the national government, desirous of re-enforcing McClellan in the CHAP. LV.] Detachments sent to McClellan, THE RETREAT OF BANKS. 393 Peninsula, had ordered Shields to leave Banks's corps and join that of McDowell, which was on its march to McClellan, Banks being or dered to fall back to Strasburg and there fortify himself. He was thus left with about 6000 men to defend the valley. Banks, weakened, is attacked by Jack son, Banks heard of the disaster at Front Royal on the evening of its occurrence. He saw his peril. He retreated instantly from Strasburg (May 24th), the Confederate advance already appearing. His losses in this forced march were great, but he gained Winchester by midnight. He was unable to rest there more than a couple of hours, for Jackson was fast enveloping him. He resumed his flight, turning upon his pursuers whenever he could, in order to give time for his trains to escape. As he passed through Winchester, the women threw from the windows hot water and missiles of every description on his troops. In the course of the afternoon he reached Martinsburg, a march of 22 miles, and, resting his footsore troops only two hours and a half, marched again twelve miles, and gained the Potomac opposite Williamsport the same night. and, caused to retreat precipitately, In this pursuit Jackson captured two guns, more than 9000 small-arms, and more than 3000 prisoners. Banks's loss in killed and wounded was about 200. "Never," says that general-not a very soldierly confession" were there more grateful hearts in the same number of men than when at midday, on the 26th, we stood on the opposite shore" of the Potomac. escapes across the Potomac. "The scene on the river when the rear-guard arrived was of the most animated and exciting description. A thousand camp-fires were burning on the hill-side, a thousand carriages of all sorts were crowded upon the banks of the broad stream between |