224

REBEL RAM ARKANSAS.

gunboats, the Carondelet and Queen of the West, and a battering ram, the Lancaster. The object was to prevent the rebel ram from aiding the people of Vicksburg, who were waiting for her auxiliary efforts in the defence of that city. Colonel Ellet sailed up the narrow river Yazoo some eight miles, when the Arkansas attacked him with her heavy guns. The Federal boats dropped down the river to get more sea room, and the Arkansas promptly followed, keeping up her fire. The Union vessels and the ram had reached a place near the mouth of the Yazoo. In an attempt by the Carondelet to grapple with and board the ram, the latter opened her steam pipe, and deluged the boarders with steam and hot water. The Carondelet did likewise, and in this singular encounter both ran aground. While the Carondelet remained grounded, the Arkansas, more fortunate, was able to free herself; and escaping, she continued her way to Vicksburg. She had to run the gauntlet of the Union fleet, however, before reaching that place. She passed the Louisville without inflicting or receiving much damage. Her shots in the encounter with this vessel, pierced the side of the latter. One of her shot perforated the Benton, and killed one man. In her course, the Cairo, Hartford, Richmond, and three gunboats attacked her in succession, but she reached her destination with trifling injury, and was hailed by the rebel forces with the greatest enthusiasm. The rebel Generals Breckinridge and Van Dorn, at that time commanded the troops in Vicksburg. The Union loss in these engagements, was fourteen killed and fifteen wounded. The escape of the Arkansas through the Federal fleet, was not flattering to the Union commanders, and the latter, on other occasions, strove to recover their lost laurels by more energetic attacks upon the enemy.

Among the spirited actions which at this time occurred in the southwest, was a guerilla fight on July 15th, at Memphis, Missouri. The combat was between a part of Colonel Merritt's cavalry, three hundred strong, together with a detachment from Major Rodgers' battalion of one hundred men, and the lawless rebel bands of Dunn and Porter, six hundred strong. At the commencement of the action, the enemy were concealed in heavy brush and timber. Major Clopper, at the head of the little band before mentioned, attacked them with resolution, and drove them from their

ANOTHER ANTI-SLAVERY MESSAGE.

225

position; and after six desperate hand to hand assaults, forced them from the field, on which they left a large number of dead and wounded. This blow was a destructive one to the guerillas, who lost one hundred and twenty men in the action. The Union loss was eighty killed and wounded.

On July 16th, John Morgan, the rebel marauder, crossed the Kentucky river from Lawrenceburg, with one thousand men, and approached Paris, Kentucky. Intelligence of this movement reached Lexington, and General Green Clay Smith proceeded to attack him with a body of cavalry inferior to him in numbers. Having assaulted the position of the guerilla chief, the latter, after a slight resistance, fled. The fleet horses which these guerillas had stolen, bore them safely beyond pursuit, and proceeding to Winchester, in Clarke county, they purposed there to increase their numbers.

The Emancipation Act, after passing both Houses of Congress, was approved by President Lincoln on the 17th of July. This act was in pursuance of the vigorous measures of the administration, to destroy rebellion in the rebel States by every lawful means possible.

The substance of this act provided, that whoever should thereafter be guilty of treason against the United States, should either suffer death, or be fined and imprisoned, and his slaves, if he have any, should be declared free; and also, that if any person should in any way encourage and assist the existing rebellion, he should be fined and imprisoned, and his slaves, if he have any, should be set free; that no person thus aiding the rebellion, should thereafter be able to collect debts which might be due him in the loyal States, or in the District of Columbia; that the slaves of rebels should be free, and that no fugitive slave who had escaped, should be restored to his master, unless the loyalty of the latter to the Federal Government could be proved, and that he had not in any way aided the rebellion against it. By this act, the President could employ negroes in suppressing the rebellion, and make provision for the settlement and colonization of such of the slaves as, having received freedom by the provisions of this act, might desire to locate themselves beyond the limits of the United States. This act was doubtless a heavy blow to the insurgents, as well as in the most perfect accordance with abstract justice.

226

ATTACK ON THE REBEL RAM ARKANSAS.

In North Carolina, a large portion of the forces under General Burnside had been sent from Newbern to the Army of the Potomac, under McClellan. The troops who remained, were now placed under General John G. Foster. He sent two expeditions, on the 29th of July, inland from Newbern, for the double purpose of ascertaining the strength of the enemy, and of proving the efficiency of the Federal troops yet remaining. One detachment, under Colonel Lee, was sent to Trenton, on the Trent river; the other, commanded by Colonel Fellows, to Pollocksville, thirteen miles from Newbern. The detachment under Colonel Lee, had an encounter with some rebel pickets, who fled. A pursuit by some of the Third New York cavalry was made. The fleeing rebels fired the bridge across the Trent; the flames were quenched by the pursuers, who occupied the nearly deserted town, and after refreshing themselves, returned and joined the force under Colonel Fellows at Pollocksville. This town was also found evacuated; and on the third day after setting out, the forces returned to Newbern.

The triumph of the rebel ram Arkansas, which escaped from the Federal fleet and reached Vicksburg, had a demoralizing effect on the Union troops, and injured the cause. To counteract this, Lieutenant-colonel A. W. Ellet proposed to Commodore Davis to attack her again with the steam ram Queen of the West, on the stipulation that while thus engaged, Commodores Davis and Farragut should engage the rebel batteries above and below Vicksburg, and prevent their disabling or injuring his vessel. The proposition was acceded to, and Ellet manned the ram with a selected crew, July 27th. On passing the flag-ship of Commodore Davis, the latter waved his hand and cried "good luck," which, being misinterpreted for an order to "go back," Ellet was some time in rectifying the mistake.

On reaching the Arkansas, the shore batteries opened fire upon the Queen of the West with great fury, and the strength of the current against which she had now to encounter the rebel ram, lessened the precision and force of her blow. Little damage, therefore, was inflicted on the enemy. Colonel Ellet now found a rapid retreat the only way of escape. He had to run the fire of four batteries. Steaming up the river, the Queen of the West was in a critical situation; she had

CREATION OF NEW GRADES IN THE NAVY. 227

already received twenty-five shots; balls had penetrated her smoke stack, and one carried off a steam pipe. As Colonel Ellet lay flat on his back, several heavy shot passed over his head. The pilot house was pierced by a fifty pound shot, which the helmsman very narrowly escaped. When the vessel reached a point beyond the range of the rebel guns, she was found to be considerably damaged, with several of her crew wounded, and her whole fabric resembled a wreck. The heroism of this gallant officer and his crew has never been surpassed.

The importance of the navy in suppressing the rebellion, caused a new arrangement in the grades in the service, by which those who had distinguished themselves would have a fairer opportunity of promotion, and higher dignities were conferred on the meritorious veteran commanders.

CHAPTER XXIII.

AUGUST, 1862.

PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA-POPE MASSES AT CULPEPPER-BATTLE of CEDAR MOUNTAIN-HEROISM OF CRAWFORD'S BRIGADE-GALLANTRY OF BANKS, CRAWFORD, AND OTHER GENERALS-BUFORD PURSUES THE ENEMY-DEATH OF LIEUTENANT DUTTON-LEE'S DESIGNS IMMINENT DANGER OF POPE-ATTEMPT TO TURN THE UNION RIGHT-ATTACK ON CATLETT'S STATION-DEATH OF GENERAL BOHLEN-FIGHT AT KETTLE RUN-THE ENFMY CROSS THE RIVER-THEIR POSITION-MCCLELLAN'S TARDINESS IN REINFORCING POPE THE LATTER AT MANASSAS-PLAN AND BATTLE OF MANASSAS-DISOBEDIENCE TO ORDERS OF FITZ JOHN PORTER-BRAVERY AND DEATH OF COLONEL KOLTES-RETREAT OF POPE ON CENTREVILLE-DEATH OF GENERALS STEVENS AND KEARNEY-THE ARMIES WITHIN THE DEFENCES OF WASHINGTON-POPE RESIGNS HIS COMMAND-CHARGES AGAINST PORTER.

THE task assigned to the Army of Virginia, under General Pope, was exceedingly important and hazardous. This duty consisted in the defence of Washington, keeping guard in the Shenandoah valley, making bold efforts on the northern approaches of Richmond, and preventing the rebel army from attacking McClellan at Harrison's Landing. By carrying out these designs, the troops of the latter could be removed from the banks of the James in safety, and combining with the Army of Virginia, the Federal capital would be secure, whilst the combined forces could move on a new line against Richmond.

The order of evacuation from Harrison's Landing was not complied with promptly. On the 14th of August, eleven days later than the order for the removal of the army to Acquia creek, the evacuation began. This delay cost the nation millions of treasure, and the loss of thousands of as brave men as ever stood up in the ranks of war.

There was great apprehension that ere McClellan could join the army of Virginia, the rebels would march heavy forces on Washington, which would place Pope in great peril. If the latter general should meet with a defeat, Washington might fall. The removal of the army of McClellan was all important; his remarkable want of promptitude was therefore very mysterious.