BATTLE AT CORRACK'S FORD. six companies of Dumont's regiment were ordered to cross the river about three hundred yards above them, to pass up the hill obliquely from our right to their left, and take them in the rear. By some mistake, (possibly in the transmission of the order,) this command crossed at about double this distance, and turned at first to their right, which delayed the effect of this movement. After fifteen minutes, however, this error was rectified, and the hill being reported as impracticable, this command, now increased to the whole regiment, was ordered down to the ford under close cover of the hill on their side, and then to take them directly in front and right at the road. The firing of Steedman's regiment and of Milroy's, now well up and in action, with repeated and rapid discharges of the artillery during the movement, decided the action at once. As Dumont reached the road, having passed along and under their whole front, the firing ceased and the enemy fled in great confusion, Dumont's regiment pursuing them about one mile further, having a brisk skirmishing with their rear for the first half of that distance, during which General Garnett was killed. "The enemy would still have been followed up most closely, and probably to the capture of a large portion of their scattered army, but this was absolutely impossible with our fatigued and exhausted troops, who had already marched some eighteen miles or more, in an almost incessant and violent rain, and the greater part of them without food since the evening, and a portion of them even from the noon of yesterday, so warm had been the pursuit on their hasty retreat from Laurel Mountain, twenty-seven miles distant. The troops 349 were, therefore, halted for food and rest at about two o'clock P. M. "The result proves to be, the capture of about forty loaded wagons and teams, being nearly all their baggage train, as we learn, and including a large portion of new clothing, camp equipage, and other stores; their headquarter papers, and military chest; also two stands of colors; also a third flag, since taken, and one fine rifled piece of artillery; while the commanding General, Robert S. Garnett, is killed-his body being now cared for by us-and fifteen or twenty more of the enemy are killed, and nearly fifty prisoners. Our own loss is two killed and six wounded, one dangerously. In concluding this report, I feel it my duty to state that, just as the action was closing, the head regiment of the body of troops under yourself, though starting, as I learn, some three hours later, the 6th Indiana, under Colonel Crittenden, came up to the field in excellent order, but unfortunately too late to aid us in the battle. The conduct of those gallant officers, Colonels Barnett, Steedman, Dumont, and Milroy, with the steady perseverance of their officers, in their long and arduous march, suffering from hunger, rain, and cold, with their gallantry in action, was most heroic and beyond all praise of mine. Their country only can appreciate and reward their services." Such was the battle of Corrack's Ford, as the passage of the stream was called from the name of the farmer occupying the place. General Garnett fell, killed on the instant by a musket shot, with no one near him at the moment, it is said, but a youth of apparently humble station in life, wearing the uniform and button of the Georgia troops, who died by his side. The remains of General Gar nett were forwarded to Grafton and tenderly cared for till they could be received by his friends, while the sword and watch which he wore at his death and other personal effects were carefully preserved and sent to his family by Captain Benham. The boy who fell by General Garnett's side was buried by the loyal Virginians, and the inscription placed at his head, "Name unknown. A brave fellow who shared his General's fate, and fell fighting by his side, while his companions fled."* the kindness due to prisoners of war, it was not in the power of the commanding officer to relieve them from any liabilities they had incurred. They were soon released, however, on oath not to take up arms against the United States. A week later General McClellan summed up the results of the campaign in a glowing Proclamation to his troops :"Soldiers of the Army of the West—I am more than satisfied with you. You have annihilated two armies, commanded by educated and experienced soldiers, The credit of this pursuit was mainly intrenched in mountain fastnesses and due to Captain Benham, who pushed on fortified at their leisure. You have in spite of orders from General Morris taken five guns, twelve colors, fifteen for his recall. The latter had no dispo- hundred stand of arms, one thousand sition to let the foe escape, but he was prisoners, including more than forty ofnot unnaturally influenced by a desire ficers. One of the two commanders of to spare the men, numbers of whom he the rebels is a prisoner, the other lost met with fallen and exhausted in the his life on the field of battle. You have rear, the perils of further suffering. killed more than two hundred and fifty Fifty-five loaded wagons, among other of the enemy, who has lost all his bagspoils, valued in all at two hundred thou-gage and camp equipage. All this has sand dollars, fell to the victors as the re- been accomplished with the loss of twenty sults of the pursuit. Among the trophies brave men killed and sixty wounded on were two flags of Georgia regiments, and your part. You have proved that Union the standard of Colonel Taliaferro's Vir- men fighting for the preservation of our ginia regiment. One of the former, above Government are more than a match for the arms of Georgia, bore the inscription our misguided and erring brothers. More "Cotton is King." than this, you have shown mercy to the Colonel Pegram meanwhile, on the vanquished. You have made long and morning of the eventful 12th, had con- arduous marches, with insufficient food, ducted his men, on their retreat, a few frequently exposed to the inclemency of miles north of Beverly, near the Tygart's the weather. I have not hesitated to Valley River, when he felt it incumbent, demand this of you, feeling that I could in consequence of the retreat of General rely on your endurance, patriotism and Garnett and "the jaded and reduced courage. In the future I may have still condition" of his command, to surrender greater demands to make upon youthe entire force "prisoners of war" to still greater sacrifices for you to offer. General McClellan. The surrender was It shall be my care to provide for you accepted, with the understanding, how-to the extent of my ability; but I know ever, that while all were received with now that by your valor and endurance you will accomplish all that is asked. *Cincinnati Gazette. IN accordance with the Proclamation by President Lincoln of the 15th April, the 37th National Congress met in special session at Washington on the 4th of July. Members from twenty-three out of the thirty-four States took their seats in the Senate. Kansas was not as yet represented, but the number of the loyal States was made good on the floor by the presence of that resolute defender of the Union, Senator Johnson from Tennessee. In the House of Representatives a quorum was also present. In the first bailot for Speaker the republican vote was divided between Galusha A. Grow of Pennsylvania, who had been second on the list of candidates for the same office in the previous Congress, and Francis P. Blair of Missouri. Out of the 159 votes cast, Mr. Grow received 71; Mr. Blair 40, 12 of the remainder being given to Mr. Crittenden. The largest vote falling short of a majority, Mr. Blair withdrew in favor of Mr. Grow, when the latter on a second ballot was elected by 99 votes. Mr. Grow's address on taking his seat as Speaker, proved characteristic of the temper of the House. Appropriately referring to the foundation of the Government in the Act of Independence which had given the day on which the present Congress had met its peculiar significance, he proceeded in a few words to depict the extraordinary position in which the country was now placed. "A rebellion," said he, "the most causeless in the history of the race, has developed a conspiracy of long-standing to destroy the Constitution formed by the wisdom of our fathers, and the Union cemented by their blood. This conspiracy, nurtured for long years in secret councils, first develops itself openly in acts of spoliation and plunder of public property, with the connivance or under the protection of treason enthroned in all the high places of the Government, and at stead of blunting the patriotic devotion of loyal citizens, seem but to have intensified its development when the existence of the Government is threatened and its honor assailed. The merchant, the banker, and the tradesman, with an alacrity unparalleled, proffer their all at the altar of their country, while from the counter, the workshop, and the plow, brave hearts and stout arms, leaving their tasks unfinished, rush to the tented field. The air vibrates with martial strains, and the earth shakes with the tread of armed men. In view of this grandest demonstration for self-preservation in the history of nationalities, desponding patriotism may be assured that the foundations of our national greatness still stand strong, and that the sentiment which to-day beats responsive in every loyal heart will for the future be realized. No flag alien to the sources of the Mississippi river will ever float permanently over its mouths till its waters are crimsoned in human gore; and not one foot of American soil can ever be wrenched from the jurisdiction of the Constitution of the United States until it is baptized in fire and blood." last in armed rebellion for the overthrow of the best Government ever devised by man. Without an effort in the mode prescribed by the organic law for a redress of all grievances, the malcontents appeal only to the arbitrament of the sword, insult the nation's honor, trample upon its flag, and inaugurate a revolution which, if successful, would end in establishing petty, jarring confederacies, or despotism and anarchy, upon the ruins of the republic, and the destruction of its liberties." Of the prompt response of the people of the country to the call of the Executive, and of the nature of the struggle upon which they were entering, he said, "The 19th of April, canonized in the first struggle for American nationality, has been reconsecrated in martyr blood. Warren has his counterpart in Ellsworth, and the heroic deeds and patriotic sacrifices of the struggle for the establishment of the republic are being reproduced upon the battle-fields for its maintenance. Every race and tongue almost is represented in the grand legion of the Union their standards proclaim in language more impressive than words, that here indeed is the home of the emigrant and the asylum of the exile. No On the 5th, President Lincoln having matter where was his birth-place, or in been, according to custom, informed of what clime his infancy was cradled, he the organization of Congress, transmitted devotes his life to the defence of his the usual Message. Like his previous adopted land, the vindication of its hon- inaugural, it was marked by individual or, and the protection of its flag, with traits of style, and an equal candor and the same zeal with which he would guard earnestness. It began with a brief rehis hearthstone or his fireside. All par- capitulation of the circumstances under ties, sects, and conditions of men not cor- which he had entered upon the Presirupted by the institutions of human bond-dency. At the beginning of his term, age, forgetting bygone rancors or preju- four months before, the functions of the dices, blend in one united phalanx for the integrity of the Union and the perpetuity of the republic. Long years of peace, in the pursuit of sordid gain, in Federal Government, excepting the THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 352 Florida. All the forts, arsenals, dock-choice of means to that end became inyards, custom-houses and the like, with dispensable. This choice was made, and the property belonging to them, were was declared in the Inaugural Address. then seized and held in open hostility to The policy chosen looked to the exhausthe Government, excepting only Forts tion of all peaceful measures, before a Pickens, Taylor and Jefferson on and resort to any stronger ones. It sought near the Florida coast, and Fort Sumter only to hold the public places and propin Charleston harbor. The forts which erty not already wrested from the Govhad been seized were filled with hostile ernment; and to collect the revenue; garrisons; others, in or near the disaf- relying for the rest on time, discussion, fected States, were menaced; new ones and the ballot-box. It promised a conwere built and armed against the Gov- tinuance of the mails, at Government A disproportionate share of expense, to the very people who were the Federal muskets and rifles had some- resisting the Government; and it gave how found their way into these States, repeated pledges against any disturband had been seized to be used against ance to any of the people, or any of their the Government. Accumulations of the rights. Of all that which a President public revenue, lying within them, had might constitutionally and justifiably do been seized for the same object. The in such a case, everything was forborne, navy was scattered in distant seas, leav- without which it was believed possible ing but a very small part of it within the to keep the Government on foot." immediate reach of the Government. Officers of the Federal army and navy had resigned in great numbers; and of those resigning, a large proportion had taken up arms against the Government. Simultaneously, and in connection with all this, the purpose to sever the Federal Union was openly avowed. In accordance with this purpose, an ordinance had been adopted in each of these States, declaring the States, respectively, to be separated from the National Union. A formula for instituting a combined government of these States had been promulgated; and this illegal organization, in the character of Confederate States, was already invoking recognition, aid and intervention from foreign Powers. Finding this condition of things, and believing it to be an imperative duty upon the incoming Executive to prevent, if possible, the consummation of such attempt to destroy the Federal Union, a The measures taken in pursuance of this resolution-the attempts made for the relief of Sumter, the call, under the war power, for defenders of the Union, the gathering of troops, and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus-have already passed under our notice, with the President's explanation or justification of them offered on this occasion.* He now further recommended that Congress "give the legal means. for making this contest a short and a decisive one, that it place at the control of the Government for the work, at least four hundred thousand men and four hundred millions of dollars. "That number of men," he urged, "is about one-tenth of those of proper ages within the regions where, apparently, all are willing to engage; and the sum is less than a twenty-third part of the money value owned by the men who seem ready * Ante, p. 121-3; 243-4. |