this City of New York (where its ideas and vital aims were more generally cherished than even in South Carolina or Louisiana), that I confidently hoped for an immediate and palpable, rather than a remote and circuitous triumph of the Union, now and evermore blended inseparably with Emancipation-with the legal and National recognition of every man's right to himself. Thenceforward, with momentary intervals of anxiety, depression, and doubt, it has been to me a labor of love to devote every available hour to the history of the American Conflict. This Volume is essentially Military, as the former was Civil: that is, it treats mainly of Armies, Marches, Battles, Sieges, and the alternations of good and ill fortune that, from January, 1862, to May, 1865, befell the contending forces respectively of the Union and the Confederacy. But he who reads with attention will discern that I have regarded even these under a moral rather than a purely material aspect. Others have doubtless surpassed me in the vividness, the graphic power, of their delineations of 'the noise of the captains, and the shouting:' I have sought more especially to portray the silent influence of these collisions, with the efforts, burdens, sacrifices, bereavements, they involved, in gradually molding and refining Public Opinion to accept, and ultimately demand, the overthrow and extinction of Human Slavery, as the one vital, implacable enemy of our Nationality and our Peace. Hence, while at least three-fourths of this Volume narrates Military or Naval occurrences, I presume a larger space of it than of any rival is devoted to tracing, with all practicable brevity, the succession of Political events; the sequences of legislation in Congress with regard to Slavery and the War; the varying phases of Public Sentiment; the rise, growth, and decline, of hopes that the War would be ended through the accession of its adversaries to power in the Union. I labor under a grave mistake if this be not judged by our grandchildren (should any of them condescend to read it) the most important and interesting feature of my work. I have differed from most annalists, in preferring to follow a campaign or distinct military movement to its close before interrupting its narration to give accounts of simultaneous movements or campaigns in distant regions, between other armies, led by other commanders. In my historical reading, I have often been perplexed and confused by the facility wherewith chroniclers leap from the Euphrates to the Danube, and from the Ebro to the Vistula. In full view of the necessary inter-dependence of events occurring on widely separated arenas, it has seemed to me preferable to follow one movement to its culmination before dealing with another; deeming the inconveniences and obscurities involved in this method less serious than those unavoidable (by me, at least) on any dif ferent plan. Others will judge between my method and that which has usually been followed. I have bestowed more attention on marches, and on the minor incidents of a campaign, than is common: historians usually devoting their time and force mainly to the portrayal of great, decisive (or at least destructive) battles. But battles are so often won or lost by sagaciously planned movements, skillful combinations, well-conducted marches, and wise dispositions, that I have extended to these a prominence which seemed to me more clearly justified than usually conceded. He was not an incapable general who observed that he chose to win battles with his soldiers' legs rather than their muskets. As to dates, I could wish that commanders on all hands were more precise than they usually are; but, wherever dates were accessible, I have given them, even though invested with no special or obvious consequence. Printed mainly as foot-notes, they consume little space, and do not interrupt the flow of the narrative. The reader who does use. not value need not heed them; while the critical student will often find them of decided Should any one demur to this, I urge him to examine thoughtfully the dates of the dispatches received and sent by McClellan between his retreat to Harrison's bar and Pope's defeat at Groveton; also, those given in my account of his movements from the hour of his arrival at Frederick to that of Lee's retreat from Sharpsburg across the Potomac. I trust it will be observed by candid critics that, while I seek not to disguise the fact that I honor and esteem some of our commanders as I do not others, I have been blind neither to the errors of the former nor to the just claims of the latter-that my high estimation of Grant and Sherman (for instance) has not led me to conceal or soften the lack of reasonable precautions which so nearly involved their country in deplorable if not irremediable disaster at Pittsburg Landing. So with Banks's mishap at Sabine Cross-roads and Butler's failure at Fort Fisher. On the other hand, I trust my lack of faith in such officers as Buell and Fitz John Porter has not led me to represent them as incapable or timorous soldiers. What I believe in regard to these and many more of their school is, that they were misplaced that they halted between their love of country and their traditional devotion to Slavery-that they clung to the hope of a compromise which should preserve both Slavery and the Union, long after all reasonable ground of hope had vanished; fighting the Rebellion with gloved hands and relaxed sinews because they mistakenly held that so only was the result they sighed for (deeming it most beneficent) to be attained. If the facts do not justify my conviction, I trust they will be found so fairly presented in the following pages as to furnish the proper corrective for my errors. Without having given much heed to rival issues, I presume this volume will be found to contain accounts (necessarily very brief) of many minor actions and skirmishes which have been passed unheeded by other historians, on the assumption that, as they did not perceptibly affect the great issue, they are unworthy of record. But the nature and extent of that influence is matter of opinion, while the qualities displayed in these collisions were frequently deserving of grateful remembrance. And, beside, an affair of outposts or foraging expeditions has often exerted a most signal influence over the spirits of two great antagonist armies, and thus over the issues of a battle, and even of a campaign. Compressed within the narrowest limits, I have chosen to glance at nearly every conflict of armed forces, and to give time to these which others have devoted to more elaborate and florid descriptions of great battles. It has been my aim to compress within the allotted space the greatest number of notable facts and circumstances; others must judge how fully this end has been achieved. Doubtless, many errors of fact, and some of judgment, are embodied in the following pages: for, as yet, even the official reports, &c., which every historian of this war must desire to study, are but partially accessible. I have missed especially the Confederate reports of the later campaigns; only a few of which have been made public, though many more, it is probable, will in time be. Some of these may have been destroyed at the hasty evacuation of Richmond; but many must have been preserved, in manuscript if not in print, and will yet see the light. So far as they were attainable, I have used the reports of Confederate officers as freely as those of their antagonists, and have accorded them nearly if not quite equal credit. I judge that the habit of understating or concealing their losses was more prevalent with Confederate than with Union commanders; in over-estimating the numbers they resisted, I have not been able to perceive any difference. It is simple truth to say that such over-estimates seem to have been quite common on both sides. I shall be personally obliged to any one, no matter on what side he served, who will furnish me with trustworthy data for the correction of any misstatement embodied in this work. If such correction shall dictate a revision of any harsh judgment on friend or foe, it will be received and conformed to with profound gratitude. My convictions touching the origin, incitements, and character, of the War from which we have so happily emerged, are very positive, being the fruits of many years' almost exclusive devotion to National affairs; but my judgments as to occurrences and persons are held subject to modification upon further and clearer presentments of facts. It is my purpose to revise and correct the following pages from day to day as new light shall be afforded; and I ask those who may feel aggrieved by any statement I shall herein have given to the public, to favor me with the proofs of its inaccuracy. Unwilling to be drawn into controversy, I am most anxious to render exact justice to each and all. The subject of Reconstruction (or Restoration) is not within the purview of this work, and I have taken pains to avoid it so far as possible. The time is not yet for treating it exhaustively, or even historically; its importance, as well as its immaturity, demand for its treatment thoughtful hesitation as well as fullness of knowledge. Should I be living when the work is at length complete, I may submit a survey of its nature, progress, and results: meantime, I will only avow my undoubting faith that the same Divine Benignity which has guided our country through perils more palpable if not more formidable, will pilot her safely, even though slowly, through those which now yawn before her, and bring her at last into the haven of perfect Peace, genuine Fraternity, and everlasting Union-a Peace grounded on reciprocal esteem; a Fraternity based on sincere, fervent love of our common country; and a Union cemented by hearty and general recognition of the truth, that the only abiding security for the cherished rights of any is to be found in a full and hearty recognition of Human Brotherhood as well as State sisterhood-in the establishment and assured maintenance of All Rights for All. New York, July 21, 1866. H. G. INDEX BY I. Texas and New Mexico in 1862...... 17 Twiggs's Treason-Texas State Convention passes Ordinance of Secession-Surrender of the Regulars --Their Loyalty and Sufferings-New Mexico re- peals Act legalizing Slavery-Canby in command- Prepares to hold New Mexico-Sibley Brigade- Fort Craig-Sibley declines to attack-Battle of Valverde-Heroism and Death of McRae-Fight at Apaché Pass-Rebels occupy Santa Fé-They II. Missouri and Arkansas in 1862..... Price returns to Missouri-Guerrilla Operations- Rains and Stein routed-Capture of Milford-Price retreats to Arkansas-Sigel's Retreat from Benton- ville-Battle of Pen Ridge-Rebels defeated-The War among the Indians-Fight at the Cache- Guerrilla operations-Fight at Newtonia-Hind- man driven into Arkansas Cooper routed at Maysville-Battle of Prairie Grove." III. Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama in Battle of Mill Spring-Capture of Fort Henry- Naval Bombardment of Fort Donelson-Gen. Pil- low's Sortie-Countercharge of Lew Wallace and C. F. Smith-Escape of Floyd and Pillow-Surren- der by Buckner-Retreat of Sidney Johnston from the Cumberland across the Tennessee-Nashville recovered-Columbus, Ky.-New Madrid-Island No. 10-Fort Pillow-Memphis - First Siege of Vicksburg-Grant moves up the Tennessee to Pitts- burg Landing-Sidney Johnston advances from Corinth, Miss-Assails Grant's front near Shiloh Church-Sherman and McClernand driven-Grant borne back-Buell and Lew Wallace arrive-The Rebels driven-Losses-Halleck takes Corinth- 41 IV. Burnside's Expedition to N. Carolina. 73 Roanoke Island carried-Elizabeth city submits- Defenses of Newbern stormed-Newbern surren- dered-Fort Macon reduced-Fight at South Mills -Foster advances to Kinston-Fails to carry V. Butler's Expedition to the Gulf-Cap- Gen. B. F. Butler concentrates 15,000 men on Ship 81 VI. Virginia in '62-McClellan's Advance. 107 Obstinate Delays-The Routes to Richmond-Bat- tle of Kernstown-Raid of the Iron-clad Merrimac or Virginia in Hampton Roads-McClellan on the Peninsula Siege of Yorktown-Battle of Williams- burg-Fight at West Point- Advance to the Chicka- hominy-Recovery of Norfolk-Strength of our Artnies-McClellan's Complaints Fight at Mc- Dowell-Jackson surprises Front Royal-Banks driven through Winchester to the Potomac-Jack- son retreats-Fremont strikes Ewell at Cross-Keys -Jackson crosses the South Fork at Port Repub- lic, and beats Tyler-Heth routed by Crook at VII. McClellan before Richmond. Fitz John Porter worsts Branch at Mechanicsville -McClellan partially across the Chickahominy- Battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines -- McClellan reenforced, but still grumbles and hesitates-Stone- wall Jackson joins Lee-A. P. Hill attacks our right at Mechanicsville-Battle of Gaines's Mill- Swamp Bridge-Rebels attack, and are repelled with loss at Malvern Hill-MéClellan retreats to Harrison's Bar-Hooker returns to Malvern- VIII. Gen. Pope's Virginia Campaign......172 Pope appointed to command the forces of Fremont, Banks, and Mc Dowell-Advances to the Rapidan- Banks worsted by Jackson at Cedar Mountain- Pope retreats across the Rappahannock-Jackson flanks his right-Strikes the Railroad in his rear at Bristow-Seizes Manassas Junction-Compelled to retreat Longstreet hurrying to his rescue- Jackson worsts King-Two Days' Battle of Gaines- ville and Groveton, or Second Bull Run - Pope driven back on Centerville-Jackson flanks his right, and attacks Kearny at Chantilly-Pope re- treats to the defenses of Washington, and gives place to McClellan-His Losses-McClellan's fail- ure to support Pope-His Correspondence with IX. Lee's Invasion of Maryland in 1862..193 McClellan crosses the Potomac, and advances to Frederick-Address to Maryland-McClellan fol- lows to Frederick-Lee's plans discovered-He is intent on the capture of Harper's Ferry-McClellan fights and beats his rear-guard at Turner's Gap- Franklin drives Howell Cobb out of Crampton's Gap-Miles surrenders Harper's Ferry, with 12,000 men, to Stonewall Jackson McClellan follows Lee to the Antietam-Battle of Antietam or Sharps- burg-Losses-Lee retreats across the Potomac- Porter follows-McClellan hesitates to pursue- J. E. B. Stuart raids around his Army-McClellan moves down to the Rappahannock-Is relieved by X. Tennessee-Kentucky-Mississippi- Bragg's Invasion-Corinth.......212 Bragg crosses the Tennessee and Cumberland- Kirby Smith routs M. D. Manson and Nelson at Richmond, Ky. Bragg captures 4,000 men at Munfordsville-Advances to Frankfort, and inau- gurates Richard Hawes as Governor of Kentucky- Buell follows him from the Tennessee to Bardstown and Springfield-Battle of Perryville-Bragg re- treats out of Kentucky by Cumberland Gap-Rose- crans fights Price at fuka-Price retreats to Ripley, Miss.-Van Dorn assails Rosecrans at Corinth-Is i beaten off with great slaughter-Van Dorn pursued XI. Slavery in the War-Emancipation...232 Patrick Henry on Federal Power over Slavery- Edmund Randolph-John Quincy Adams-Joshua R. Giddings- Mr. Lincoln-Gov. Seward - Gen. Butler-Gen. Fremont-Gen. T. W. Sherman-Gen. Wool-Gen. Dix--Gen. Halleck-Gen. Cameron- His Report revised by President Lincoln-Seward to McClellan-Gen. Burnside-Gen Buell-Gen. Hooker-Gen. Sickles-Gen, McCook-Gen. Double- day-Gen. Williams-Col. Anthony-Gen. Hunter -Overruled by the President-Gen. McClellan on the Negro-Horace Greeley to Lincoln-The Re- sponse-Do. to the Chicago Clergymen-Lincoln's First Proclamation of Freedom-The Elections of 1862-Second Proclamation of Freedom-Edward Everett on its Validity. XII. Slavery and Emancipation in Congress. 256 E. R. Potter on Emancipation by War-Lincoln for colonizing the Blacks-Congress forbids Mili- tary Officers returning Fugitives from Slavery- Abolishes Slavery in the District of Columbia- Lincoln proposes, and Congress enacts, Compen- Bated Emancipation-Prohibits Slavery in the Ter- ritories-Confiscates the Slaves of Rebels-Opens Diplomatic Intercourse with Liberia and Hayti- Requires Equality in Education and Punishment between Whites and Blacks-Right of Search on the African Coast conceded-Fugitive Slave Act repealed-Confinement of suspected Slaves in Fed- eral Jails forbidden-Coastwise Slave-Trade for- bidden-Color no Impediment to giving Testimony. XIII. Rosecrans's Winter Campaign, 1862-3.270 The Army of the Ohio at Bowling Green-Reorgan- ized by Rosecrans-Morgan's Raids-Surprise of Moore at Hartsville-Our Advance from Nash- ville-Battle of Stone River, near Murfreesboro'- 12 Sullivan at Parker's Cross-Roads-Morgan captures Elizabethtown-Gen. H. Carter's Raid into East Tennessee-Wheeler raids down the Tennessee to Fort Donelson-Beaten off by Col. Harding -Van Dorn captures 1,500 Unionists at Spring Hil -Col. A. S. Hall defeats Morgan at Vaught's Hill -Gordon Granger repulses Van Dorn at Franklin -Col. A. D. Streight raids into Northern Georgia -Is overpowered and captured near Rome. PAGE XIV. Siege and Capture of Vicksburg....286 Position and Importance of Vicksburg-Grant moves against it from Lagrange-Advances to Oxford, Miss.-Van Dorn captures Holly SpringsMurphy's Cowardice-Grant compelled to fall back-Hovey and Washburn on the ColdwaterGen. Win. T. Sherman embarks 30,000 men at Memphis-Debarks on the Yazoo, north of Mem phis--Com. Porter's Gunboats-Sherman, storms the Yazoo Bluffs-Repulsed at all points with heavy loss-Attempts to flank by Drumgould's Bluff-Is baffled-Superseded by Gen. McClernand -Who invests and captures the Post of ArkansasGen. Grant assumes command-Debarks-Digging the Canal--Proves an Abortion-Yazoo Pass Expedition--Stopped at Greenwood-Compelled to return-Grant tries the Sunflower route-Batlled again-The Queen of the West raids up Red River Disabled and abandoned-The Indianola cap- XV. Texas and Louisiana in 1863-Cap- .322 Galveston-Retaken by Com. Renshaw-Surprised by Magruder, and carried-Our Fleet diaabled and beaten-Disaster at Sabine Pass-The Alabama captures the Hatteras-Gen. Banks in command at New Orleans-Clearing the Atchafalaya-Fight at Carney's Bridge-Farragut passes the Batteries at Port Hudson-Banks returns to Berwick's Bay-Advances to Opelousas and Alexandria, La-Moves thence to Bayou Sara, and crosses the Mississippi-Invests Port HudsonCombined Attack on its Defenses-Repulsed with a loss of 2,000-Bank. presses the Siege-Second Attack-The Rebel supplies exhausted-Gardner surrenders-Dick Taylor surprises Brashear City -Fighting at Donaldsonville-Franklin attacks Sabine Pass, and is heaten off-Dana surprised at Morganzia Burbridge surprised near Opelousas -Gen. Banks embarks for the Rio Grande-Debarks at Brazos Santiago, and takes Brownsville -Capture of Aransas Pass and Pass Cavallo-Fort Esperanza abandoned-Indianola in our handsBanks returns to New Orleans. XVI. Army of the Potomac under Burnside and Hooker-Fredericksburg --Chancellorsville.... .342 Gen. Burnside in command in Virginia-Crosses the Rappahannock-Attacks Lee's Army, strongly posted on the Southern Heights-Is repulsed with heavy loss-Recrosses the River-A fresh Advance arrested by the President-The Mud March -Rebel Raids in Virginia-Burnside gives place to Hooker-Stoneman's Raid on Lee's rearHooker crosses the Rappahannock, and advances to Chancellorsville -His right wing turned and shattered by Jackson- Pleasanton checks the Enemy-Jackson mortally wounded-Desperate fighting around Chancellorsville-Hooker stunned Our Army recoils-Sedgwick storms Marye's Heights--Strikes Lee's Rear-Is driven across the River-Hooker récrosses also-Stoneman's Raid a Failure-Longstreet assails Peck at Suffolk-Is' beaten off with loss. XVII. Lee's Army on Free Soil-Gettysburg Lee silently flanks Hooker's right, and moves northward-Cavalry Fight near Fairfax-Milroy, at Winchester, surprised and driven over the Potomac, with heavy loss-Cavalry encounters along the Blue Ridge-Jenkins raids to Chambersburg-Lee crosses the Potomac-Hooker and Halleck at odds-Hooker relieved- Meade in command-Ewell at York-Collision of vanguards at Gettysburg-Reynolds killed-Unionists outnumbered and driven-Howard halts on Cemetery Hill-Sickles comes up-Hancock takes command-Meade arrives-Both Armies concen 367 trated-Sickles driven back with loss-Rebel Advance checked-Night falls-Rebel Grand Charge led by Pickett-Terribly repulsed-Lee retreatsHeavy losses-Feeble pursuit by Sedgwick-Lee halts at Williamsport-Meade hesitates-Lee gets across the Potomac-Kilpatrick routs the Rebel rear-guard-Meade crosses at Berlin, and moves down to the Rappahannock-Fight at Manassas Gap-Dix's Advance on Richmond-Pleasanton crosses the Rapidan-Lee flanks Meade, who retreats to Centerville-Warren worsta A. P. Hill -Lee retires across the Rappahannock-Imboden surprises Charlestown-Gen. D. A. Russell storms Rappahannock Station, capturing 1,600 prisoners -Meade crosses the Rapidan-Affair of Mine Run-Toland's raid to Wytheville-Averill's to Lewisburg-Fight at Droop Mountain. PAGE XVIII. The Chattanooga Campaign........404 Fight at Wauhatchie-Sherman arrives from XIX. The War in Missouri and Arkansas, .446 Marmaduke attacks Springfield, Mo.-Is repulsed XX. The Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida |