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Perceiving indications of confusion, Gen. Holmes was ordered to open upon the column with artillery. He soon discovered that a number of batteries, advantageously posted, supported by an infantry force superiour to his own, and assisted by the fire of the gunboats in James River, guarded this part of the line. Magruder, who had reached the Darbytown road, was ordered to reinforce Holmes, but, being at a greater distance than had been supposed, he did not reach the position of the latter in time for an attack. Huger reported that his progress was obstructed; but about 4 P. M., firing was heard in the direction of the Charles City road, which was supposed to indicate his approach. Longstreet immediately opened with one of his batteries, to give notice of his presence. This brought on the engagement; but Huger not coming up, and Jackson having been unable to force the passage of White Oak Swamp, Longstreet and Hill were without the expected support.

Battle of Frazier's Farm.

The superiourity of numbers and advantages of position were on the side of the enemy. He occupied the open high lands constituting "Frazier's Farm," five miles northeast of Darbytown. The place was good for defence; the woods right and left of it swarmed with skirmishers; the ascending grade of the road was swept by cannon, while all attempts to flank the enemy's left would meet with broadsides from the gunboats at Curl's Neck, in the James River, two and a half miles distant.

The Confederates pressed forward under an incessant storm of lead; sixteen pieces of artillery belching forth shell, canister, and grape upon them, while they had but one battery on their side, which could not be got into position. The battle raged furiously until nine o'clock in the night. By that time, the enemy had been driven with great slaughter from every position but one, which he maintained until he was able to withdraw under cover of darkness. At the close of the struggle nearly the entire field remained in our possession, covered with the enemy's dead and wounded.

After the engagement, Magruder was recalled, to relieve the troops of Longstreet and Hill. The command of the latter was, indeed, prostrated by almost superhuman exertions. It had won the battle of Mechanicsville, fought five hours at Gaines' Mills, marched over a terrible road and circuitous route of forty miles, and had now borne the chief part in another of the series of engagements that had tracked the lines of Richmond with fire and destruction.

Battle of Malvern Hill.

Early on the 1st of July, Jackson reached the battle-field of the previous day, having succeeded in crossing White Oak Swamp, where he

captured a part of the enemy's artillery and a number of prisoners. He was directed to continue the pursuit down the Willis Church road, and soon found the enemy occupying a high range, extending obliquely across the road, in front of Malvern Hill. On this position, of great natural strength, he had concentrated his powerful artillery, supported by masses of infantry, partially protected by earthworks. Immediately in his front the ground was open, varying in width from a quarter to half a mile, and sloping gradually from the crest, was completely swept by the fire of his infantry and artillery. To reach this open ground, our troops had to advance through a broken and thickly-wooded country, traversed, nearly throughout its whole extent, by a swamp passable at but few places, and difficult at those. The whole of it was within range of the batteries on the heights, and the gunboats in the river, under whose incessant fire our movements had to be executed. Jackson formed his line with Whiting's division on his left, and D. H. Hill's on the right, one of Ewell's brigades occupying the interval. The rest of Ewell's, and Jackson's own division were held in reserve. Magruder was directed to take position on Jackson's right, but before his arrival two of Huger's brigades came up and were placed next to Hill. Magruder subsequently formed on the right of these brigades, which, with a third of Huger's, were placed under his command. Longstreet and A. P. Hill were held in reserve, and took no part in the engagement.

The position taken by McClellan enabled him to turn at bay, with his rear protected by the James, and flanks partially covered by gunboats. From the magnificent bluff might be seen the Federal gunboats cruising in the river. The hill was crowned with numerous artillery. Owing to the obstacles presented by the woods and swamp, the Confederates had been unable to bring up sufficient artillery to oppose successfully the extraordinary force of that arm employed by the enemy.

The Confederate line of attack was not formed until a late hour in the afternoon. A general advance was to be made at a given signal. On the left, D. H. Hill pressed forward across the open field, and engaged the enemy gallantly, breaking and driving back his first line; but a simultaneous advance of the other troops not taking place, he found himself unable to maintain the ground he had gained against the overwhelming numbers and numerous batteries of the enemy. Jackson sent to his support his own division and that part of Ewell's which was in reserve, but owing to the increasing darkness and intricacy of the forest and swamp, they did not arrive in time to render the desired assistance. Hill was therefore compelled to abandon part of the ground he had gained, after suffering severe loss.

On the right, a more terrible and dramatic action was to occur. It was past four o'clock, and if anything was to be attempted, the work must be

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quick and desperate. An order had been dispatched by Gen. Magruder to bring up from all the batteries thirty rifle pieces, if possible, with which he hoped to shatter the enemy's infantry. It was soon evident that the artil lery could not get up in time. Magruder determined to trust to the impetuous valour of his troops, and with fifteen thousand infantry to storm the hill at Crew's house. There was a run of more than six hundred yards up a rising ground, an unbroken flat beyond of several hundred yards, one hundred pieces of cannon behind breastworks, and heavy masses of infantry in support! The brigades advanced bravely across the open field, raked by the fire of the cannon, and the musketry of large bodies of infantry. Some were broken and gave way; others approached close to the guns, driving back the infantry, compelling the advanced batteries to retire to escape capture, and mingling their dead with those of the enemy. To add to the horrors of the scene, and the immense slaughter in front of the batteries, the gunboats increased the rapidity of their broadsides, and the immense missiles coursed through the air with great noise, tearing off the tree-tops, and bursting with loud explosions.

Towards sunset the concussion of artillery was terrific; the hill was clothed in sheets of flame; shells raced athwart the horizon; the blaze of the setting sun could scarcely be discovered through the canopy of smoke which floated from the surface of the plains and rivers. Piles of dead lay thick close to the enemy's batteries, and the baleful fires of death yet blazed among the trees, where our shattered columns had sought an imperfect cover behind the slight curtain of the forest.

It was now dark, and little could be done. The attack on Malvern Hill had failed for want of concert among the attacking columns. The assaults of the Confederates were too weak to break the Federal line, and, after struggling gallantly, sustaining and inflicting great loss, they were compelled successively to retire.

But the action of Malvern Hill was to be the last important incident of the drama of Richmond, and another day was to complete and reveal to the world McClellan's grand catastrophe. As night fell, the enemy silently retreated from Malvern Hill. In the morning of the 2d July it was discovered that McClellan had again retired, and was in full retreat, and Lee instantly recommenced the advance, although it rained in floods. But the Federals seemed to have vanished once more in the densely-timbered swamp. The outposts saw no signs of them, and most of the day was lost before it was ascertained whither McClellan had fled. Towards night it was discovered he had conducted his whole force by a narrow road through a thick swampy wood, several miles in extent, and was safe under his gunboats at Harrison's Landing.

McClellan had managed his retreat with skill. He had at last obtained a position on the river, our advance to which could be made but by one

road, and that narrow, and swept with numerous artillery. He immediately began to fortify his position, which was flanked on each side by a creek, the approach to his front being commanded by the heavy guns of his shipping in addition to those mounted in his entrenchments. He had reached at last a safe cover for his shattered columns; but after a scries of defeats that had demoralized his command, inflicted upon him a loss of not less than twenty thousand in killed and wounded, and was fatal to his designs upon Richmond. The immediate fruits of the Confederate success were the relief of Richmond from a state of siege; the rout of the great army which had so long menaced its safety; more than ten thousand prisoners, including officers of high rank; the capture or destruction of stores of the value of millions, and the acquisition of thirty-five thousand stand of small arms, and fifty-two pieces of superiour artillery.

It is true that this success, great as it was, fell below public expectation in Richmond, which had looked for the capitulation or annihilation of McClellan's entire forces, after they had been driven from the north side of the Chickahominy. Of this disappointment, Gen. Lee writes: "Under ordinary circumstances, the Federal army should have been destroyed. Its escape was due to causes already stated. Prominent among these was the want of correct and timely information. This fact, attributable chiefly to the character of the country, enabled Gen. McClellan skillfully to conceal his retreat, and to add much to the obstructions with which nature had beset the way of our pursuing columns. But regret that more was not accomplished, gives way to gratitude to the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe for the results achieved."

The expression of pious thanks was fervently repeated by Jackson. He wrote, in his official report: "Undying gratitude is due to God for this great victory-by which despondency increased in the North, hope brightened in the South, and the capital of Virginia and of the Confederacy was saved."

It was indeed a glorious success. A week before, and an invading army, superiour to the Confederates in numbers, and in the material of war, closely beleaguered their capital, and vauntingly proclaimed its speedy conquest. Now the remains of that confident and threatening host lay on the banks of James River, anxious only to recruit from the effects of disastrous defeats; and Richmond, erect and exultant, was secure in the protection of an army whose fresh victory had been obtained over a force that had had every resource that could be summoned to its assistance, every possible addition of numbers within the reach of the Federal Government, and every material condition of success to insure for it the great prize of the capital of the Confederacy.

CHAPTER XVIII.

EFFECT OF M'CLELLAN'S DEFEAT IN THE NORTH.-ORGANIZATION OF ANOTHER FEDERAL ARMY UNDER GEN. POPE.-POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF POPE'S APPOINTMENT.-NEW MEASURE OF VIOLENCE IN THE WAR.-M'CLELLAN'S IDEAS OF THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR.—HIS HARRISON-BAR LETTER."-DIVISIONS OF SENTIMENT IN THE NORTH AS TO THE CHARACTER AND MEASURES OF THE WAR.-POSITION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.-THE RADICALS IN CONGRESS.-THEIR ANTI-SLAVERY DESIGN. THEIR THEORY OF REVENGE UPON THE SOUTH.-CARDINAL ERROUR OF THIS POLITICAL SCHOOL.-DECLARATION OF WENDELL PHILLIPS.—SYSTEM OF SPOLIATION AND DISFRANCHISEMENT IN THE SOUTH.-GEN. POPE'S ADDRESS TO HIS ARMY IN VIRGINIA.-HIS WAR UPON NON-COMBATANTS.-LEGALIZATION OF PLUNDER.-IRRUPTION OF THE NORTHERN SPOILSMEN INTO VIRGINIA.-POPE'S MILITARY LINES.-GEN. LEE BETWEEN TWO FORCES.-HE SENDS JACKSON AGAINST POPE. HE THREATENS M'CLELLAN'S COMMUNICATIONS.—BATTLE OF CEDAR RUN.-BANKS AGAIN DECEIVED BY JACKSON.—A RAPID AND SEVERE ENGAGEMENT.GEN. LEE MOVES OUT TO THE LINES OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK.—ADVENTUROUS MOVEMENT OF JACKSON TO REACH POPE'S REAR. HIS PERILOUS POSITION. HE IS APPARENTLY IN THE JAWS OF DESTRUCTION THE AFFAIR OF MANASSAS AND BRISTOE STATION.-THE SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS.→ LONGSTREET'S MARCH TO REINFORCE JACKSON. HIS PASSAGE OF THOROUGHFARE GAP.HIS TIMELY AND CRITICAL ARRIVAL ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE.—A CLOSE CONTEST.FIGHTING AT TEN PACES.-THE BATTLE OF THE FIRST DAY NOT DECISIVE.-DISPOSITION OF THE TWO ARMIES FOR THE GREAT CONTEST OF THE SECOND DAY.-JACKSON AT CLOSE QUARTERS.—HE DRIVES THE ENEMY. THE WHOLE CONFEDERATE LINE OF BATTLE 'ADVANCING.-A SUBLIME SPECTACLE.-SCENES ON THE BANKS OF BULL RUN.-POPE RETREATS TO CENTREVILLE AND THENCE TOWARDS WASHINGTON.-JACKSON STRIKES HÍM AGAIN.-ENGAGEMENT AT OX HILL.-POPE'S IMMENSE LOSSES.-HIS ABSURD CLAIM OF VICTORY.—LUDICROUS CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN POPE AND HALLECK.-RAPID AND BRILLIANT CHANGE IN THE FORTUNES OF THE CONFEDERACY.-THE WAR TRANSFERRED FROM THE INTERIOUR TO THE FRONTIER.ALARM IN THE NORTH.-POPULARITY IN THE CONFEDERACY OF AN OFFENSIVE WAR.—A TRUE STATEMENT OF GEN. LEE'S DESIGNS IN CROSSING THE UPPER POTOMAC AND INVADING MARYLAND.--WHY HE DID NOT MOVE UPON WASHINGTON AND ALEXANDRIA.—HIS PROCLAMATION AT FREDERICK.-WEAK RE

SPONSE OF THE MARYLANDERS.—EXPLANATION OF THIS.-CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY, &Ø. -HOW JACKSON INVESTED IT.-M'CLELLAN AT THE HEAD OF THE FEDERAL ARMY.-HIS INACTIVITY.--HE BECOMES ACQUAINTED WITH LEE'S PLANS BY A CURIOUS ACCIDENT.—HE PRESSES FORWARD TO RELIEVE HARPER'S FERRY.—FIGHT IN BOONESBORO' GAP.—GEN. LEE RETIRES TO SHARPSBURG. MEANWHILE JACKSON COMPLETES THE REDUCTION OF HARPER'S FERRY.-BATTLE OF SHARPSBURG.-COMPARATIVE STRENGTH OF THE TWO ARMIES.-FLUO