GENERAL WASHBURNES EXPEDITION TO COFFEEVILLE. 299

alry were thrown into disorder, and some of them wounded on the same occasion. They lost none of their number, but being fresh troops were in some trepidation, as the road was narrow, and they could not deploy. Being the surgeon of the regiment at the time, and an eye-witness of the affair, the author can testify that the men exhibited a commendable gallantry. Geary having arrived, took position near the Brentville road. Throwing out a company of cavalry to invite the rebel fire, fire hundred men of Wade Hampton's Legion rushed with yells to the charge. The Union cavalry retreated within the opening infantry lines, which then closed, and the advancing Confederate columns were greeted with a withering volley of musketry, and shelled by the artillery. Their bold line, which a moment before was so audacious, now faltered, and broken, they took to flight in. wild confusion, with the loss of twenty killed and wounded. Being reinforced, they formed in an adjoining wood, but were again repelled, and forced across the Occoquan.

On the 27th, an expedition consisting of nineteen hundred cavalry and six hundred infantry, under command of General Washburne, set out from Helena, Arkansas, into Mississippi, to reach Coffeeville, and disperse a body of the enemy posted there, and destroy the bridges and telegraph offices. Embarking at Helena, they landed at Delta, and marched into the interior. Thirty-five miles was the first day's march, when the confluence of the Tallahatchie with the Coldwater river was gained, and the former stream being crossed, the march continued toward Grenada. The Central Mississippi railroad was reached, and with the Ninth Illinois cavalry, and about one hundred troops, armed with carbines and implements for destroying the railway track, telegraph, and bridges, Major Buje successfully carried his orders into execution. Moving then on the road toward Coffeeville, a skirmish took place at Mitchell's Crossroads, and the route was continued through Panola and Oakland. Near the latter place, a contest took place, and the enemy being routed, fled toward Coffeeville. The advance was discontinued, and, his object being accomplished, General Hovey ordered an immediate return. This was done, and the expedition safely reached Helena, after an absence of six days, having travelled about two hundred miles by land. On the 7th of December, 1862, the splendid steamship

300

THE STEAMSHIP ARIEL CAPTURED.

Ariel, from New York, bound to Aspinwall, and having a full complement of passengers for California, when off Cape May, Cuba, encountered the rebel pirate Alabama; although using her utmost speed, she was rapidly approached by the pirate. No attention was paid by the Ariel to the blank shot, and then two shotted guns were fired, which indicated a broadside. A ball passed over the hurricane deck, and another severed the foremast. Captain A. G. Jones, the Ariel's commander, went on board the Alabama, where he was met by Captain Semmes, and received the unpleasant intelligence that his ship was a prize, and would be destroyed on landing the passengers in Cuba. Captain Jones protested against such cruelty to the passengers, many of whom were women and children. In the interval of two days, during which negotiations were pending in regard to the Ariel, her steam valve was taken away to prevent her escape, in case of the pirate chasing another vessel. Both vessels now headed for Kingston, Jamaica, where the passengers were put on shore. Semmes eventually consenting to take bonds for the Ariel and her cargo, Captain Jones entered into securities for $228,000, payable to Jefferson Davis, on the declaration of peace. The United States marines, one hundred and twenty in number, were paroled. The pirates plundered the ship of $9,500, but the private property of the passengers was respected. The arms and cannon on board were captured. The Ariel, being in a few days released, resumed her voyage to Aspinwall, and the Alabama again proceeded on her devastating course, in pursuit of other vessels. Her commander, Raphael Semmes, was born in Maryland, and in 1837 had gained the rank of lieutenant in the United States navy. He subsequently practiced law at Mobile, was inspecter of the light-house there at a later period, and was finally dismissed for fraud. When the rebellion broke out, he was placed by the Confederate Government in command of the Alabama.

The great preparations made in November to fit out an expedition, the destination of which was unknown, under General Banks, in New York city, were now completed, and it sailed on the 4th of December. None of the frauds practiced on the Government during the war, were of a more villainous and shameful character than those in the contracts for these vessels the rottenness of many of which endan

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gered many precious lives. No less than twenty of these vessels had finally to be abandoned as worthless, and the remainder on the 14th reached New Orleans. It was supposed that the expedition would eventually sail up the great river, and assist in the assault and capture of Vicksburg.

General Butler was superseded at New Orleans by General Banks, who was welcomed and aided by him. Banks took five thousand troops to be ready for immediate operations, and in a proclamation to the loyal citizens, promised to secure their rights. Arguments were also put forth, to show the motives which should lead to the maintenance of loyalty to the Federal Government.

General Butler had done good service at New Orleans, and his government, which was efficient and vigorous, had nothing of the barbarous inhumanity with which it was stigmatized by the Confederates. By just, and, at the same time, stringent measures, he maintained order in a community which it was no easy task to rule. When he undertook the government, as we have shown heretofore, affairs were in a state of anarchy. The improved condition of the people, and their conformity to the Federal Government, are the best comments on his wise and useful administration. General Butler now returned North.

The great prices of provisions and necessaries prove that the blockade of the Southern ports from the commencement of the war was effective to all intents and purposes. A barrel of flour, at Charleston, South Carolina, costing thirtysix dollars; potatoes four dollars per bushel; shoes, sixteen dollars per pair.

We must again direct the attention of the reader, to the great movements of the contending armies on the Rappahannock, where Burnside ha now brought up his pontoon trains, and a great battle was 'mpending.

26

CHAPTER XXX.

DECEMBER, 1862.

BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG-DIFFICULTY OF LAYING THE FONTOONS-THE BOMBARDMENT-THE TROOPS CROSS-REBEL DEFENCES-FRANKLIN COMMENCES THE BATTLE ON THE LEFT-ITS INCIDENTS AND RESULT-THE RIGHT AND CENTRE-FRENCH AND HOWARD ATTACK THE STRONG REBEL POSITION-BRILLIANT CHARGE-STERN CONFLICT ON THE CENTRE-GALLANTRY OF THE UNION GENERALS-HEROISM OF THE TROOPS-FEDERAL AND REBEL LOSSES-THE SANITARY COMMISSION-THE RETREAT-BATTLE OF CANE HILL.

FREDERICKSBURG is situated on the southern bank of the Rappahannock. Its communication with the rebel capital, and the numerous turnpikes which radiate from this centre, made it of importance during the blockade of the Potomac, at which time it was the rebel dêpot of supplies. The enemy evacuated it when McClellan advanced on Yorktown, and it was then occupied by McDowell. When the latter fell back, after the Seven Days' battles, the enemy again took possession. Burnside, when marching to the aid of Pope, in 1862, held it for a few days, after which the Confederate banner again waved over its hills. The valley here is narrow; three terraces on the southern bank have each an area of from a quarter to half a mile. The town is situated on the steep slopes of one of these wooded terraces. On another, the great battle took place, and the third mounted the bristling batteries of the foe. The Stafford hills, on the northern bank, commanded the town, and the Union artillery being placed on these, rendered the passage of troops possible. The hills on the south side, bristling with the formidable guns of the enemy, presented such a position of natural and artificial defence, together with the row of strong, carefully constructed intrenchments, as might well cause the most resolute leader to pause, before ordering his troops to assault them.

The construction of the pontoon bridges began on the night of December 10th, 1862. Hooker, Sumner, and

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Franklin were within six miles of each other, with their concentrated forces. Each man carried three days' rations, and sixty rounds of cartridges. Innumerable camp fires cast their glare upon the scene, where orderlies dashed to and fro, artillery carriages rumbled, the music of patriotic songs swelled loudly upon the keen wintry air, and the distant fire of musketry occasionally startled the echoes of the hills. Long ere daylight every warrior was responsive to the shrill bugle sound. The regiments started toward the river, where the pontoons were being laid amid great peril on account of the rebel sharpshooters, who took aim from every window and behind every cover. The sun had risen, and the work was still incomplete. The enemy's sharpshooters could not be dislodged or compelled to desist by those of the Federals, and one hundred and fifty guns shelled them from the heights with no better result; but the work could not proceed till they were silenced. The forces of the enemy were massing, and bringing up their heavy guns, to dispute the passage. In this critical moment, the Seventh Michigan regiment won undying renown. Their colonel pledged them for the perilous undertaking of crossing the river on pontoon boats, and dislodging the rebel sharpshooters. The sappers and miners were ordered to row these heroes across, but no efforts of the engineer officers could induce them to undertake the desperate attempt. The gallant Western troops rushed to the boats, and rowed themselves into the fire which assailed them. The river was two hundred yards wide, and the thousands who lined the banks, saw one brave man after another relinquish the oar, and drop down dead. The object was gained. The brave troops charged the foe up the steep slopes, and cleared the rifle pits and buildings adjacent to the stream.

Nobly the Nineteenth and Twentieth Massachusetts regiments participated. The pontoons were successfully constructed, while, in the meantime, General Franklin had laid his bridges three miles below, and crossed his entire division. Part of Hooker's division also made the passage below the city. General Franklin held the left of the line, Hooker the centre, and Sumner the right. From Port Royal, six miles from the city, the Confederate lines extended in the form of a semicircle, on the third terrace before mentioned; from Port Royal to Guinny Station (on the Richmond and