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ROUT OF THE FEDERAL TROOPS.

hands before he fled. McDowell, hearing heavy cannona. ding at Blackburn's ford, and fearing to be outflanked on the left, which would be entirely ruinous, drew up the reserve and took measures to arrest the enemy's pursuit.

A dreadful spectacle was now presented. The fields and roads were teeming with a disorderly, flying rout, while wagons, teams, carriages, and hacks blocked up the way, and wounded and riderless horses were madly plunging, and wounded men were raising suppliant hands to be carried off by those who were mounted. The artillery which remained rumbled on, destroying every thing in its way, and the cavalry dashed on regardless of the flying infantry. The wounded fell into the enemy's hands. The soldiers in their flight cast away every thing; and cannon, guns, arms, accoutrements, wagons, in a word, all the debris of an army strewed the way.

The reserve, under Blencker, at Centreville, drawn up in line, stayed the disorder of the fugitives, but they continued, weary and toiling, to find their way into Washington, whose inhabitants were terror-stricken. Some regiments found their way to the capital in good order, and maintained their discipline.

The news produced horror and shame at the North, and Washington it was feared would be captured. It is probable that, if Beauregard had advanced on the heels of the flying host, he might have taken Washington; but the enemy attempted no pursuit, and had got a severe drubbing before reinforcements arrived.

The Federals lost nearly three thousand in killed, wounded, and missing, including one thousand four hundred and twenty-three prisoners. Colonel Cameron, brother of the Secretary of War, was killed, and also Colonel Slocum of Rhode Island. Colonel Corcoran of New York, and Mr. Ely, member of Congress from Rochester, New York, were captured. We lost four thousand muskets, twenty-three cannon, artillery wagons, and a large quantity of stores and equipments, and much ammunition. Twenty thousand of our troops were engaged in the battle, which was perhaps equal to the actual number of the enemy before the reinforcements.

No discouragement, even for a moment, stopped the onward progress of the North in the grand determination to

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61

put down rebellion. As usual in cases of failure, some one had to be blamed; but McDowell in a great measure, and justly, escaped censure. Some blamed the newspapers and the "On to Richmond !" party; others, General Patterson; and others, the administration. It would be fair to suppose, that had General Patterson been in a condition to take care of Johnston, and Beauregard received no reinforce ments, the result of the battle would have been different, and victory, not defeat, have ensued. The time of the three months' men, however, was expiring, and whether better could have been done remains somewhat doubtful. Providence taught the nation a lesson, and the nation profited by it in the end. The contempt for the fighting qualities of the South never afterward rose to the same height, and the "Southerners" were found on many a field to be no despicable enemies, and to fight with a valor worthy a better

cause.

Many incompetent officers were soon dismissed the service. They were unfit for their positions, and many more too who succeeded them. The folly of enlisting men for three months was seen, and a regular drill was found requisite to make the citizen an efficient soldier. The lesson of humility was not lost on the nation; and the goodness of Providence watched over its destinies, and gave help in time of need.

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CHAPTER VI.

JULY-AUGUST, 1861.

CONDITION OF THE ARMY AFTER THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN-ITS DISCHARGE AND A NEW ONE RAISED-MAGNITUDE OF THE ENTERPRISE-MCCLELLAN TAKES THE COMMAND-BANKS AND FREMONT FREMONT SENT TO MISSOURI PROXIMITY OF THE REBELS TO THE CAPITAL-PATRIOTIC RISING OF THE NORTH-LYON MARCHES AGAINST MCCULLOUGH-KENTUCKY DECIDES BY VOTE TO REMAIN LOYAL-FREMONT IN ST. LOUIS-BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK; DEATH OF LYON-THE UNION ARMY RETREATS-REGRET ON THE DEATH OF LYON-SPIRIT OF THE CLERGY AT THE SOUTH.

ABOUT the time of the disaster to the Federal arms at Bull Run, the news of the surrender of Fort Filmore, in New Mexico, by Major Lynde to some Texan troops, was promulgated to the nation; and seven hundred men gave up their arms without a struggle.

The Army of the Potomac was now in a demoralized condition, military affairs were in a state of great confusion, and the time for which the men had been enlisted having expired, it became evident that a new army must now be levied. General Patterson assigned as a reason for his slow movements, the refusal of several of his regiments to fight, as their term of enlistment had expired, and the report of General McDowell went to show that ten thousand men would have required their discharge in a few days. In the face of the enemy, the Fourth Pennsylvania regiment and the Ninth New York Militia battery refused to serve another day. They demanded their discharge immediately, and when the army marched on to contend with the enemy, these troops "moved to the rear to the sound of the enemy's cannon." No arguments were listened to by them, and affairs, in the circumstances of defeat, were in no way improved. The chaos of a demoralized army is always an unhappy event, even in the case of the most hardy veterans, but the seventy five thousand three months' recruits on the expiration of their term, and upon the defeat of the army, became little better than a mob. In place of this disorganized army, a new one must be raised, drilled, and made ready for action. The President might, like Pompey, call

MCCLELLAN TAKES THE COMMAND.

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forth legions by merely stamping on the ground, but it was an enterprise of immense difficulty to raise and prepare an army of half a million of men for effective field service.

It was plain that General Scott, from age and infirmities, was not able to undertake this herculean task. The next to him, in seniority, was Major-general George B. McClellan, who had covered himself with glory in the campaign of Western Virginia.

While, therefore, Major-general Nathaniel P. Banks took command of Patterson's forces, on the Potomac, and General John C. Fremont, who had been made a major-general in the regular army, was put in command of the Western Department, including Illinois and the States between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains, General McClellan was ordered to Washington, and reached that place on the 26th of July. The appointments of McClellan and Banks were received with public favor, but many regarded that of Fremont as a political expedient, which would have an unfavorable result. Those who took this view, thought that Lyon was the man best suited to command in the Western Department, and that many defeats and losses might have been thereby avoided, at least in Missouri.

McClellan's post was no sinecure, but he manfully grappled with the difficulties before him. The capital was full of officers and soldiers, who flocked to the drinking saloons with which the place abounded, and who, forgetting subordination, became a disgrace to the military profession. While they were thus carousing, the Confederate flag waved proudly in sight. The fortifications erected by Scott proved of invaluable service, though the baffled enemy threatened the upper Potomac and the not too loyal Maryland, while batteries sealed the river below. The troops authorized to be raised by the act of Congress, were now swarming in every part of the loyal States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Never was such a levy so promptly responded to by any nation, and the number called for would, in all likelihood, be far exceeded. Patriotic hearts were fired to wipe the disgrace of defeat from the escutcheon of the North. Every Congressional district, every city and every village, poured out its willing volunteers; schools of instruction abounded, and daily dr ll, for hours, was form

64

LYON MARCHES AGAINST MCCULLOUGH.

ing as fine an army as the world ever saw. Drums beat, flags waved, enthusiasm everywhere prevailed, and the nation soon saw that success would yet crown the efforts of patriotism. For months the Army of the Potomac lay inactive, busily preparing to strike the blow which should be fatal to rebellion. Order and discipline now began to take the place of chaos and insubordination. Meantime Generals Rosecrans and Cox opposed the enemy in Western Virginia, and the State Convention of Missouri elected Hamilton R. Gamble Provisional Governor, in the place of Jackson, who had joined the Confederates.

General Lyon was now constantly occupied with the enemy, and had little time to observe the changes affecting the State. He offered battle to a portion of McCullough's forces at Dug Springs, on the 2d of August, but the enemy retired, after sustaining a severe charge of a body of cavalry. The men were suffering from heat and thirst, but after marching beyond Springfield, provisions being scarce, and the troops worn out with fatigue, Lyon determined to return to that place, with which his communication was in danger of being severed.

While the greatest joy was manifested in Congress, on the announcement by Mr. Wickliffe, member from Kentucky, that by a decisive vote, she determined to abide in the Union, John C. Breckinridge, the secessionist, was being serenaded in Baltimore. On the same day, the rebel Magruder, marching out of Hampton, where he had commanded the enemy's forces, barbarously fired and laid it in ashes. In Missouri, General Pillow was said to be at New Madrid with an army, threatening St. Louis; and Lyon, at Springfield, was threatened by McCullough and Price. On the 10th of August, Lyon was informed that Generals McCullough and Price, with overwhelming forces, were within ten miles of his command, threatening to attack him. He deemed that the loyal people of Springfield and the Union cause required him to fight, although reinforcements could not reach him. He determined to resist the enemy, and then ensued

THE BATTLE OF WILSON'S CREEK.

Lyon first planned a night attack, but was not ready in time. He then put off the fight until next day; this was