Sargent, Phelps and Low, in the Thirty-seventh Congress, and Cole, Higby and Shannon in the House, and Conness in the Senate, in the Thirty-eighth Congress, were often mentioned by the President in conversation with his friends as one of the most pleasing and gratifying manifestations of devotion to the Union and promising indication of the success of the right, which he received during his first administration.

The isolation of California and the great distance from the Atlantic States deprived the people of that State of the opportunity of assisting by her citizen soldiers in a great measure in the struggle for the suppression of the rebellion. But her citizens were not wanting in zeal and enthusiasm in the loyal cause, and in whatever way they could prove their loyalty they did it heartily. As required by the national Government, two regiments of cavalry and five of infantry were organized. In 1661, a regiment of infantry and a battalion of cavalry marched across the plains into New Mexico and held that Territory for the Union; a portion were sent East by steamer, and did good service, and the residue served on the Pacific Coast. California expressed her desire, through the loyal press and her representatives, to furnish her full quota for active service; but for reasons stated, the administration declined the proffered aid to any considerable extent; but many of her citizens, anxious to serve in the Union army, left their business and went East and entered the service in the Eastern States.

At a parting interview with the President on the 21st of March, 1865, a few days before his assassination, I remarked, "I leave this evening for California, and it would give me pleasure to bear the intelligence to her citizens that at no distant day you would visit our golden State, and I can assure you that you will find warm and loyal hearts who will give you a generous welcome." The President said, as he took me by the hand, "I have long desired to see California; the production of her gold mines has been a marvel to me, and her noble stand for the Union, her generous liberal offerings to the sanitary commission, and her loyal representatives she has sent to labor for the preservation our nation have endeared your people to me, and not anything would give me more pleasure than a visit to the Pacific shore, and to say in person to your citizens, 'God bless you for your devotion to the Union,' but the unknown is before us. I may say, however, that I have it now in purpose, when the railroad is finished, to visit your wonderful State."

CHAPTER XXII.

BATTLE AT BULL RUN-APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL M'CLELLAN.

The rebellion found the Government no less prepared to meet it than it found the people wanting in military knowledge and experience. None seemed to doubt but that the rebellion might be put down in a few months. While the loyal citizens were ready and desirous to aid the Government by furnishing men and money required for the security of the Union and subduing the rebellion, they became impatient at the apparent tediousness of the military movement. This impatience of the people as well as that of the loyal press for a time, was one of the difficulties the administration had to endure and contend with during the first years of the war. The President had a proper respect for the wishes and opinions of the people, and the design and efforts of his administration were so to direct and lead the people that they would be prepared and ready to act when he acted and to give support and aid to the measures of his administration when they were ripe for execution. On the first of May the safety of the national capital was assured. Fortress Monroe was reinforced, Cairo was occupied by the Government forces, and the military and naval operations were being enlarged. The first by the organization of the different military departments, and the second by measures taken to more effectually close the Southern ports.

At this time secessionists were plotting in St. Louis to seize the Government arsenal and arms in that city. General Lyon promptly thwarted the scheme and secured the arms for the Union forces. The rebel forces were concentrating at Manassas, and rebel troops held Harper's Ferry. General Butler was in command at Fortress Monroe with a force of twelve thousand men. On the 10th of June occurred the first considerable battle of the war at Big Bethel, the result of which was not favorable to the Union forces. On the 24th of May General Mansfield, with the Union troops, crossed the Potomac from Washington thirteen thousand strong, and were set to work in the erection of forts for the defense of Washington. On the 17th of June Western Virginia repudiated the ordinance of secession of Virginia and in

convention formed a new State Government and appointed F. H. Pierpon Governor. This was the first step towards "reconstruction," and the movement was with the direct approval and sanction of the President. Secessionists were there, and rebel troops had been sent from old Virginia to Western Virginia to hold that part of the State and the people to the Southern confederacy.

Early in June a campaign was arranged for the expulsion of the rebel forces, and Generals Morris and Rosecrans were placed in command. On the 23d of June General McClellan arrived and assumed command of the Union forces. On the 10th of July the battle of Rich Mountain was fought, which resulted in a Union victory and the surrender of Colonel Pegram with one thousand prisoners. On the same day General Garnett, who was advancing with rebel forces to the support of Colonel Pegram, was attacked by the Union troops; his forces were routed and he was killed. These victories for that time cleared out the rebels in Western Virginia. These successes, together with General McClellan's manner of their announcement, won that wonderful confidence which was afterwards accorded to that General. Those that were present in that campaign are well aware how little he had to do with its planning or with the battles by which victory was secured. After the completion of the defenses of Washington on the Virginia side of the Potomac, the Union forces were organized under the command of General McDowell, and under the pressure of popular impatience it was determined to give battle to the rebel army which had concentrated at Manassas. The popular cry, on to Richmond," and the short term of service of many of the volunteers called out for ninety days, forced General Scott to order a general forward movement on the 15th of July.

The rebel General had called in his forces from Harper's Ferry and other points and awaited the attack of the Union army. On the 16th of July the Union army, commanded by General McDowell, moved from their camps near Washington on the enemy. The attack was made on the 21st, which at first was successful, but the rebel army, during the battle, was reinforced by Johnson's forces from Winchester, which caused a panic among some of the Union regiments, and the result was the defeat and retreat of the Union forces towards Washington, sadly demoralized. General Sheridan said: "The Union troops fought bravely and well, both armies were fairly defeated, and it either had stood fast the other would have run." As it was, the Union forces retreated and the rebel forces were too badly beaten to pursue. The loyal citizens were overwhelmed with mortification and disappointment at the result of the battle. A brilliant victory had been anticipated, but they were not disappointed nor discouraged. They said: "It is bad luck, but we must try it again." The soldiers went into the action with the idea that all they

had to do was to make a bold appearance and the rebels would run. This impression was now dispelled, as they had found a foeman worthy of their steel. The President felt deeply and keeply the result of this battle. As he walked back and forth between the White House and the War Department, all could see that he suffered now from the great burden resting upon him. Peace had been put far away by the result-Providence seemed to have ordered it. A thousand battles were yet to be fought. A thousand plagues were yet to be endured before the public mind would let the bondman go.

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After the battle of Bull Run General Sherman's brigade occupied Fort Corcoran. The Sixty-ninth New York regiment, three months men, were quartered there. One morning after the review, one of the Captains stepped up to General Sherman and said: "Colonel, I am going to New York to-day; what can I do for you?" The Colonel answered: "How can you go to New York? I have signed no leave for you." The captain replied, saying, “No; that he did not want a leave. He had engaged to serve three months, and had already served more than that time, and was going home." General Sherman turned to him and said: 'Captain, this question of your term of service has been submitted to the rightful authorities. You are a soldier and must submit to orders until you are properly discharged. If you attempt to leave without orders it will be mutiny, and I will shoot you like a dog. Go back to the fort and don't leave it without my orders." The same day the President came over from Washington to visit the soldiers. He said to General Sherman that he would like to speak to the soldiers. The General replied that he would be pleased to have him do so, but that he would ask the President to discourage all cheering. The President stood up in his carriage and made a feeling address, referring to the disaster at Bull's Run, to the high duties that still devolved on them, and the brighter days yet to come. At one or two points in his address the soldiers began to cheer, but he promptly checked them, saying, "Boys, don't cheer. I confess I rather like it myself, but General Sherman here says it is not military, and I guess we had better defer to his opinion." Soon after the address was delivered the captain before mentioned was seen making his way through the crowd to the carriage, and on his approach, he said; "Mr. President, I have a cause of grievance. This morning I went to speak to General Sherman and he threatened to shoot me." The President, who was still standing, said: "Threatened to shoot you?" Yes, sir; he threatened to shoot me." The President looked at the captain and then at General Sherman, and then stooping his tall, spare form towards the captain, said in a loud whisper that could be heard at some distance, "Well, if I were you and he threatened to shoot I would not trust him, for I believe he would do it." The captain turned and walked away, amidst the laughter of the soldiers.

The victory of the Confederates at Bull's Run, so far as the material results which followed, was a barren one. The rebels were so nearly defeated that they could not follow up their success, and the encouragement the disloyal element received was more than equalled by the increased and renewed resolution of the loyal citizens to renew the conflict at the earliest practicable period. The defeat of the Union forces rendered it necessary that there should be a change in the army officers, and accordingly General McDowell was relieved of his command in August and General McClellan was called to take command of the army of the Potomac. General Scott had recommended his appointment, and his Napoleonic dispatches from Western Virginia had pleased the people and attracted their attention. His appointment gave faith and promise of success to the people, and a rallying point for their patriotic zeal and enthusiasm. The administration had high hopes and expectations from him as a leader of the Union armies. For three months after his appointment, under his faithful supervision the organization of the troops went on, until he had at his command an army splendid in drill and equipments, imposing in members and confident of victory-and then should it have been led to the achievements of those victories and to that successful issue which the army anticipated and expected, and which the administration and the people felt was assured.

July 25, 1861, General Fremont received the appointment of Major General, and was assigned to the military department of the West with his headquarters at St. Louis. Previous to his arrival at St. Louis had occurred the battle of Wilson's Creek. The Union troops were led by Generals Lyon and Sigel against the rebel forces under Ben McCulloch. It was the second important battle of the rebellion, and resulted in the death of General Lyon and the orderly retreat of the Union forces under General Sigel. The battle could not be considered a defeat of the Union troops as General Lyon with his force of six thousand men had inflicted so much injury on McCulloch's army of twenty-two thousand that General Sigel was not molested on his retreat. General Fremont, on his arrival at St. Louis, found the affairs of the State in a most unhappy condition. It contained many disunionists, and there were many secession emissaries from the rebel States who were determined, if possible, to carry the State over to the Confederacy; and to make matters more complicated, the Union sentiment was divided. There were the Union slavery party and the anti-slavery Union party. General Fremont's movements and sentiments were in unison with the principles of the anti-slavery party. On the 31st day of August, General Fremont issued a proclamation declaring martial law, also that the real and personal property of all persons in the State who should take up arms against the United States was declared confiscated to the public use, and their slaves