RELEASE OF MASON AND SLIDELL. 95 of the Southern Confederacy. News from England soon arrived. The supposed insult to the British flag caused a feeling of indignation through all parts of the kingdom, which was inflamed by the press, and the probability was, that the Government would be borne on by public sentiment to declare war against the United States. This was indicated by military preparations, and troops were ordered to Canada. This delighted the South, which had lost all hopes of a recognition from England, Now, in the event of a quarrel, what might not be expected? Meanwhile, Mason and Slidell lay in Fort Warren, and the demand came for their release. Both in England and the North, there was great anxiety as to what answer the Cabinet at Washington would make to this momentous question. In a long and able reply by Secretary Seward, the conclusion was, that Captain Wilkes did not take the vessel into a neutral port for adjudication of the case, and, on this ground simply, the prisoners were surrendered. The duty of a vessel of a nation waging war toward neutral ships, which carry articles, etc., contraband of war, or which are suspected, is to arrest and bring to trial, and not to make both seizure and adjudication, which would give the captain of every gunboat power to seize any vessel, and be himself the judge of his own seizure. The vessel, too, was bound to its own, and not to a belligerent port, and if the seizure of Mason and Slidell could legally be made on the voyage from the West Indies to England, might it not have been, "while passing from Southampton to Havre ?" The people acquiesced in the decision made by Government, the popular clamor subsided, and the absence of the prisoners was no serious loss to the country. Congress was to meet in December, and some of the western members, who reached the capital during the last days of November, denounced the Fabian policy of McClellan in no measured terms, and it became highly probable that a party would be formed against him. He possessed the entire confidence of the President, who had resolved to stand firmly by him. It was thought that the discovery of his designs by the enemy delayed McClellan. Some said that he was not ready, and nothing would make him move until he was; while others said that the Secretary of War stood in his way. News now ca ne that made the people highly 96 ATTACK BY FORT PICKENS ON REBEL BATTERIES. indignant. This was that the Nashville, which started with Mason and Slidell, had burned the American merchantman, the Harvey Birch, at sea, and brought her crew prisoners into English waters, and that now the same protection was extended to her as to the ships of other nations. The Tuscarora, sent to seize the pirate when she got on the seas, had also arrived, and was informed by the English Government that the rebel steamer must have twenty-four hours' start before she could pursue her. This right of all belligerent vessels which circumstances led to a neutral port, must be granted the rebel vessel; a concession that stirred up angry passions in the American people. The month now drew to a close. McClellan, by an order, prohibited intemperance among his troops, and encouraged their attendance at divine service. It was thought that an advance from Port Royal to the interior would be made. It was a question, what would be done with the slaves who flocked thither for protection. Much cotton was burned at this time by the Confederates, to keep it out of the possession of the Unionists. The long expected attack of Fort Pickens, in Florida, on the rebel batteries opposite, took place on the 22d of November. The steamers Niagara and Richmond took part in the contest. In consequence of a change of wind, next morning there was not a sufficient depth of water for the vessels to get within effective range. The enemy had not suffered much, though his works were badly deranged, and his winter-quarters interfered with. The Richmond had one killed and six wounded. Fort Pickens was without a breach. The cannonade was terrible, but nine months had made the defences so complete that no result of importance took place. Lieutenant Jewett, on the 7th, with the frigate Santee, burnt the schooner Royal Yacht off Galveston harbor, an exploit of great gallantry. CHAPTER X. DECEMBER, 1861. OPENING OF CONGRESS-DIFFICULTIES BEFORE IT-THE MILITARY AND NAVAL FORCES-ESCAPE OF THE SUMTER-POPE IN MISSOURI-FIGHT AT MOUNT ZION-FIGHT AT ROWLETT'S STATION-BATTLE AT CAMP ALLEGHANY-BATTLE OF DRAINSVILLE-STONE FLEET AT CHARLESTONEMBARRASSMENT OF THE PRESIDENT. In the beginning of the month, the attention of the public was called to the opening session of Congress. The army raised had done nothing, McClellan still held his divisions on the Potomac. The capital was blockaded, the vast sums voted to carry on the war had been expended, and were found insufficient. How would Congress, in regard to the great powers which the President had been obliged to pursue, act? Would it justify and sustain, or condemn and disallow his course? Our relations with foreign countries were complicated, agitation and feverish excitement pervaded the masses, and the Cabinet was thought to be disunited. To whom, as a leading spirit, could the nation turn? Who was to be the Joshua to lead the anxious people to the promised land? The President's Message was an able state document. Its spirit was sanguine, and full of trust in the prosperous issue of events, but its deficiency in the warlike animus disappointed the popular sentiment. The men of the West, themselves active, were for an energetic course. They had now an immense influence, and anxiety prevailed as to whether their action would be conservative or otherwise. The committee appointed to inquire into the system of frauds which robbed the treasury, discovered sad abuses in the contract system, and this was expected to be fully reported. There existed apprehensions, also, that the war policy might be changed. It was clear that the financial difficulties of the country would form an important subject for consideration, and though the utmost good-will toward the Government prevailed, the mode by which the immense amounts required could be raised, was a matter by no means 98 THE MILITARY AND NAVAL FORCES. obvious. The difficulties in this respect would not be met by an increased tariff, a direct tax, nor without a guarantee better than the customs. The only mode to be adopted, though liable to many objections from European precedents, was internal taxation, and Congress determined on the issue of a hundred and fifty millions in treasury notes, the interest thereon to be secured by a tax bill. The Reports of the Secretaries of War and of the Navy indicated the forces of the country for the military service and also the number of seamen and marines. These were six hundred and eighty-two thousand nine hundred and seventy-one soldiers. Of these, the volunteer militia amounted to six hundred and forty-two thousand six hundred and thirty-seven. The regular army numbered twenty thousand three hundred and thirty-four, and seamen and marines twenty-two thousand. The rebels, unable to raise a force to meet this immense levy, resorted to the unpopular method of drafting. The news that the Sumter had escaped from the port of Martinique, where she had been blockaded for a long time by the Iroquois, arrived in the early part of this month. The country, greatly mortified at such an occurrence, blamed the commander of the Iroquois, and he was denounced. It was afterward found that no blame could be attached to him, and he was fully acquitted. In Missouri, General John Pope was in command of all the Federal troops between the rivers Missouri and Osage, including the greatest portion of the army which Fremont led to Springfield. Strict orders against the Confederates were issued by Halleck, and the advantage of these orders soon became very evident. In Arkansas, a battle took place near Bushy creek, between a Union Cherokee chief, named Opothleyholo, a Federal ally, and the rebels, commanded by Colonel Cooper. The Chickasaws, Creeks, and Choctaws fought against the Union. The tragedies of savage Indian warfare were enacted here, and the loyal Indians, rendered houseless, suffered much in the inclemency of the severe winter season. Towns were sacked, and Missouri was one scene of devastation. This state of affairs was about to undergo a change. On the 15th, General Pope, with four thousand men, left Sedalia, intending to inte cept the supplies and recruits for Price's FIGHT AT MOUNT ZION. 99 army, on their way south. After fifteen miles' march, an encampment was made, and twenty-six miles were traversed the next day. When about six miles from Chilhowee, he encountered the enemy, numbering twenty-two hundred, and scattered their forces. He gained possession of their cavalry tents, baggage, and wagons, pursued them all day, and the day and night following. The pursuit was led by Lieutenant-colonel Brown. At Johnstown, he heard that the rebel force was as low as five hundred. Colonel Brown, on the 18th, joined the main body advancing toward Warrensburg, and the whole force proceeded in quest of a large body of the enemy, supposed to be at no great distance. Scouts found that they were marching toward Milford, to encamp there. Pope came on them in the afternoon, on the Blackwater, opposite the mouth of Cedar creek. At this place the rebels were ready to dispute the passage of a long and narrow bridge, to carry which, was the order to Lieutenant Gordon, of the Fourth Ohio cavalry. Lieutenant Armery advanced with the regular cavalry, and dismounting his men, and leaving every fourth man to hold the horses, led his force with sabres and revolvers, as skirmish Little result was effected on either side, till the arrival of the artillery, when the rebels fled, pursued in hot haste by the cavalry. They made another stand, but being outflanked, surrendered, and Colonel Davis returned to Pope's camp late at night, where the men saluted him with loud. cheering. The army moved back to Sedalia next day, when much suffering was occasioned by the intense cold. Fifteen hundred prisoners, twelve hundred stand of arms, a hundred wagons, and army supplies fell to the victors. With a loss of only twelve men, the infantry, in five days, had marched a hundred miles, and the cavalry twice that dis tance. On the 28th, a fight took place at Mount Zion, in Missouri. On the 24th, General Prentiss, with five companies of cavalry, left Palmyra for Sturgeon, and on hearing of a force of the enemy at Hallsville, Boone county, sent forward Captain Howland, who, finding the enemy near the town, had a skir mish, lost one man, and then retired. On their report, Prentiss sent his cavalry forward, with Colonel Glover, and five companies of sharpshooters, under Colonel Birge, in all numbering four hundred and seventy men, who began |