the front, to concentrate his troops, and organize his command. The corps of Banks and Fremont were in the Shenandoah valley, near Middletown. One division of McDowell's corps was at Manassas Junction, and the other division was posted on the Rappahannock opposite Fredericksburg.

It was the wish of the Government, that General Pope should guard the approaches to the city of Washington, secure the valley of the Shenandoah, and at the same time, so operate in the direction of Gordonsville and Charlottsville, as to draw the rebel force from Richmond. The unfortunate termination of McClellan's Peninsula campaign, and the retreat of the Army of the Potomac to Harrison's landing, so widely separated the two armies, operating against Richmond, that co-operation became impossible. The indisposition of General McClellan to renew the campaign against Richmond, still further embarrassed the Government, and each day of delay at Harrison's landing rendered the situation of the armies more critical, and their movements more hazardous. The army in front of Washington could not be removed to the Peninsula, without endangering the safety of the National Capital, yet it was manifest, that if the armies were not united, and sent against the enemy, both McClellan and Pope would be overwhelmed and destroyed in detail. In this crisis, it was determined to withdraw the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula, and unite it with the Army of Virginia in front of Washington. It therefore became the mission of General Pope to cover as far as possible the approaches to the National Capital, and to move against the enemy's communications with the west, so as to force him to make heavy detachments from his main force at Richmond, and thus to release the army at Harrison's landing, and ensure its safe withdrawal from the Peninsula. If, as it was feared, the enemy should throw his whole force in the direction of Washington, General Pope was instructed to resist his advance at all hazards, and so delay and embarrass his movements, as to

gain sufficient time for the transfer of the Army of the Potomac to Fredericksburg or Alexandria. The most Serious apprehensions of the department at Washington were realized. As soon as the rebel authorities at Richmond discovered that General Pope, with an army of fifty thousand men, was advancing against Gordonsville, they detached a heavy force under their greatest field captain, General Jackson, and marched forward in hot haste to resist the advance of the National troops. On the 9th of August, General Banks encountered the enemy at Cedar Mountain, and a sanguinary battle was fought, which forced the enemy, under General Jackson, to retreat across the Rapidan river, and to fall back to Gordonsville. On the 15th of August, General Lee, the commander-in-chief of the Confederate forces, arrived at Gordonsville, and before the 18th, the whole rebel army was concentrated in front of General Pope.

At about the same time General Burnside, who had always been prompt and vigorous in the execution of the orders from the War Department, arrived, with the Ninth army corps, at Fredericksburg, and pushed forward with great energy, to reinforce General Pope, whose situation had now become exceedingly embarrassing.

On the 30th of July, General Halleck ordered General McClellan to remove all his sick from the Peninsula, so as to be unembarrassed in his future operations, and on the 3d of August, he ordered him to withdraw the army at Harrison's landing, to Aquia creek on the Potomac. There was no enemy present to delay the embarkation, or to retard the movements of McClellan's ariny; the general was fully aware of the critical situation, in which General Pope's army had been placed, by the withdrawal of the rebel forces from Richmond, yet it was not until the 15th of August, that "the advance corps and trains had fairly started" from Harrison's landing. The Pennsylvania Reserves had again been placed in the advance, and on the 15th, at ten o'clock in the night, General McClellan tele

graphed to General Halleck that, "McCall's division, with its artillery, is now en route for Burnside." But the sick, who had been ordered to be sent to the rear on the 30th of July, had not all been removed until the morning of the 16th of August.

On the 5th of August, General McClellan had sent General Hooker with a small force to dislodge the enemy from Malvern hill. The troops advanced by a road which led to the right of the hill, and entered the New Market road near Nelson's farm. The enemy was met and repulsed at Nelson's, and driven back to his works on Malvern hill. General Hooker immediately ordered an advance, and after a spirited engagement of an hour, drove the enemy towards Richmond on the river road, and took possession of the hill. On Wednesday night the 6th, General Longstreet arrived with a Confederate force to repel the National troops, but General McClellan had ordered Hooker to fall back to Harrison's landing, and before daylight on Thursday morning, the troops had abandoned the hill, and were marching down the river. Thus ended the hideous carnival of blood and death, that has rendered the Peninsula so sadly famous in the memory of the American people.

CHAPTER IX.

POPE'S CAMPAIGN-BULL RUN-MARYLAND CAMPAIGNSOUTH MOUNTAIN-ANTIETAM.

Position of Pope's army-Abandons the line of the Rapidan-Position on the Rappahannock-Movements of the enemy-Attempts to cross the river-Pope's army outflanked-Promised reinforcements do not arrive -Rain storm-Movement to Warrenton-March to Manassas-Battle at Bristoe station-Skirmish at Gainesville-Jackson's retreat from Manassas Pursuit-Jackson surrounded-Withdrawal of McDowell's forces-Change of plan-Porter's disobedience of orders-- General Sigel's attack on Jackson on the 29th of August-Noble conduct of General Reynolds-Desperate fighting--Heintzelman and Reno on the field-General Pope orders a charge along the front-The enemy driven from the field-Inexplicable conduct of General Porter-Situation at nightfall-Position on Saturday morning-Porter's repulse, desperate fighting along the whole line-The enemy in overwhelming numbersTurning of Pope's left-Attempt to seize the Stone bridge-Daring valor of General Reynolds and the Reserves-Official reports--Loss in Reserve regiments-March to Centreville-Condition of the troopsRations issued-Battle of Chantilly-Retirement of the army within the fortifications-Object of Pope's campaign-Transfer of the Army of the Potomac--Movements of McClellan-The rebels cross the Potomac-Pursuit by General McClellan-March of the Reserves-Meade in command-Battle of South Mountain-Spirited charge up the mountain slope-The shout of victory-The casualties-The bivouac-Pursuit of the enemy-Position on the Antietam-Hooker ordered to turn the enemy's left-The Reserves in the advance-The fight on Tuesday night-The picket line on the field-Battle of Antietam--Desperate fighting- Field won, lost and won again - Fighting on the right— Fighting on the left-The field-The casualties-Official reports.

AFTER the battle of Cedar Mountain, General Pope moved forward his whole command, and took a position on the north bank of the Rapidan. The right, commanded by General Sigel, who had relieved General Fremont of his command, rested on the Robertson river; the centre,

under General McDowell, occupied both flanks of Cedar Mountain, and the left, commanded by General Reno, of Burnside's command, held a position near Raccoon ford. The enemy rapidly collected in great force on the south bank of the Rapidan, and it was manifestly his intention to overwhelm the Army of Virginia, before it could be reinforced by the troops from the Peninsula. General Pope held on to his advanced position with great tenacity, in order to afford as much time as possible for the transfer of the Army of the Potomac. But on the 18th of August, it became evident to the commanding general, that the line of the Rapidan was no longer tenable with the small force under his command, against the overwhelming force of the enemy, which by reason of its great numbers, could engage his front, and at the same time turn either flank. General Pope, therefore, determined to fall back to the line of the Rappahannock, and in compliance with instructions received from the department at Washington, to maintain, if possible, his communications with Fredericksburg, as it was upon that line reinforcements from the Army of the Potomac were expected to reach him. All the trains were sent beyond the Rappahannock during the 18th, and before the sun went down on the 19th, the whole army with its transportation and baggage, was securely posted on the north bank of the Rappahannock; its left resting at Kelly's ford, and its right extending three miles above Rappahannock station.

Early on the morning of the 20th, the enemy drove in the pickets of General Reno's command in front of Kelly's ford, and at about the same time, made an attack opposite Rappahannock station; but, finding the crossings strongly guarded, and that it would be impossible to force the passage of the river, without heavy loss, the enemy halted his advance and brought up the main force from beyond the Rapidan. During the night of the 20th, the whole force of General Lee's command was brought forward, and on the morning of the 21st, again confronted General Pope's army at Kelly's ford