The Lost Cause: A New Southern History of the War of the Confederates ... - Edward Alfred Pollard - Google Books

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Convention at Chicago.-Its declaration of principles.-M'Clellan's letter of

acceptance. Slavery no longer an issue in the war.-The constitutional point at

issue between M'Clellan and Lincoln.-The Radical wing of the Republican party.

-The Cleveland convention.-The issues of the canvass as between the Democratio

party, the Government party, and the Radical party.-How the two last

instead of the two first coalesced."Reconstruction" ante-dated.-A faint

hint of negro suffrage. The written issues of the canvass but little considered.

-The contest mainly on the fourth resolution of the Chicago "platform."-

Eloquence of the M'Clellan campaign papers.--The election of M'Clellan impossible

in view of the Federal victories of 1864.-Triumph of Mr. Lincoln and his party.-

Analysis of the popular vote in his election.-A large element of encouragement

in it. The victory of the Constitution postponed......

An intrigue in Richmond against Gen. Johnston.-Evidence of it.-Gen. Bragg's visit to

Atlanta.-Removal of Gen. Johnston from command.-The battles of Atlanta.-

Engagements of the 20th, 22d, and 28th July. Sherman's designs on the Macon

Road. Unsuccessful raids of Stoneman and M'Cook.-Hood's great mistake.-He

sends off his cavalry towards Chattanooga.-Sherman moves on the Macon Road.

-Defeat of Hardee at Jonesboro'.-Hood evacuates Atlanta, and retreats to Love-

joy's Station. Sherman's occupation of Atlanta.-His order for its depopulation.-

Atrocious character of this measure.-The fall of Atlanta a serious disaster for

the Confederates.-Visit of President Davis to the military lines in Georgia.-His

speech at Macon.-He betrays to the enemy the new military design.-Hood's new

movement to Tennessee.-Sherman follows to Gaylesville.-He turns back and

determines to traverse the State of Georgia to the sea.-His correspondence with

Grant. How the enterprise was a plain one.-No peril or genius in it.-Errors of

the Hood-Davis strategy.-Hood's Tennessee campaign. He loses the great

opportunity of the campaign at Spring Hill.-Schofield effects a retreat to

Franklin. Battle of Franklin.--Heroic conduct of the Confederate troops.-

Remarkable loss among their general officers.-Battle of Nashville.-Gen.

Grant's fears that Hood would invade Kentucky.—Probable effect of such a

movement. The enemy's plan of battle.-The second day's fight.-Hood's

assurance of victory.-A Confederate brigade gives way before a skirmish line

of the enemy.—A disgraceful panic and rout.-Hood escapes across the Tennes-

see River. His losses.--The whole scheme of Confederate defence terminated

West of the Alleghanies.

Dampaign of 1864 in the Valley of Virginia.-Its general design as a strategic auxiliary

to Richmond.-The new command of the enemy in the Valley.-Gen. Sheridan and

his forces.-Views of Gen. Lee about the relief of Richmond.-He detaches a

force under Gen. Anderson to co-operate with Early, and "stir up" the enemy

across the Potomac.—Anderson and Fitzhugh Lee find Early falling back and asking

for reinforcements.-The enemy declines a battle and retreats to Harper's Ferry.-

Strength and disposition of the Confederate forces about Winchester.-Nearly a

month consumed in marching and counter-marching.-Gen. Lee orders the return of

Gen. Anderson with Kershaw's division.-Battle of Winchester.-Gen. Grant advises

Sheridan to "go in."-Early's small force.-How it came to be scattered over

twenty-two miles.-Ramseur's division sustains the attack until the other Confed.

erate forces come up.-Gordon drives the enemy.-Happy stroke of a Confederate

battery. The enemy's infantry routed.-His cavalry get on the Confederate left

and rear and change the day.-Retreat of the Confederates.-Battle of Fisher's Hill.

-How Gen. Early's position was defective here.-He is flanked on the left, and

retreats up the Valley. The enemy pursues to Staunton.-Sheridan's barbarous

order to devastate the Valley. He burns "two thousand barns."-Reflections

upon this outrage.-Battle of Cedar Creek.-Early, reinforced, resumes the cam-

paign, and determines to make a surprise.-A flanking column of Confederates

crosses the North Fork of the Shenandoah.-Two corps of the enemy broken and

put to rout. The enemy pursued through Middletown.-How the vigour of pursuit

was lost. The foolish newspaper story about Gen. Sheridan's sudden appearance on

the field. The Confederates demoralized by pillage.-The enemy makes a counter-

charge, and sweeps everything before him.-Gen. Early's attempt to put the

censure of the disaster upon his men.-How far he was responsible for it.-True

explanation of the pause in his victory.-Removal of Gen. Early from command.-

Gen. Lee's generous letter to him.-How the newspapers berated him.-The charge

of habitual intoxication.-Review of the Valley campaign.-Its effects decisive upon

Richmond.-Remark of a Confederate general.-Some views of the management and

disposition of the Confederate cavalry forces in Virginia....

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Gen. Grant's opinion of manœuvring.-Lee his master in every branch of generalship.-

The Federals get possession of the Weldon railroad.-Action at Ream's Station.-

Operations North of James River.-Surprise and capture of Fort Harrison.-At-

tempt of the Confederates to retake it disconcerted and defeated.-Grant plans

a general advance in October.-Three corps of the enemy in motion.—Attempt

to turn the Confederate position on Hatcher's Run, and seize the Southside Rail-

road.-Defeat of the enemy and frustration of his plans.—Public attention drawn

to Georgia.-Sherman's march to the sea.-He returns from Gaylesville to Atlanta.

-The work of destruction commenced at Rome.-Burning of Atlanta.-More than

four thousand houses consumed.-Outline of Sherman's march from Atlanta.-The

country it traverses full of supplies.-Pillage of Madison.-Concentration of the

enemy's forces at Milledgeville.-An affair of militia at Griswoldsville.—Kil-

patrick's demonstration on Augusta.-Statement of Confederate forces there.-

Sherman's march to Millen.-He meets with no resistance.-His devastation of the

country. Prowess of his troops in pillage and villainy.-Nothing but militia and

hasty levies to oppose him.-Sherman's approach to Savannah.-Fort M'Allister

taken by assault.-Gallantry of the Confederate garrison.-Gen. Hardee evacuates

Savannah.-Extent of Sherman's captures.-How much of his achievements was

"simple waste and destruction."-Review of "the great march."-Absurd his-

torical comparisons in the North.-Character of Gen. Sherman.-His charlatanism.

-His proper place in history...

CHAPTER XXX VIII.

The exchange of prisoners, and their treatment in captivity.-Exceeding interest of

the subject. Slight account of prisoners in the early periods of the war.—Mr.

Boyce's proposition.-The Wool-Cobb negotiation.-The Fort Donelson captures.

-Bad faith of the Federal Government.-The cartel of 1862.-Character of Com-

missioner Ould.--His humane and zealous services.-Shameful violation of

the cartel by the Federal authoritie.-Sole:nn protest of Commissioner Ould.—

Counter-charge of the Federals.-It is disproved by Commissioner Ould.-Case of

Streight. The Federal Government declares paroles void.-Commissioner Ould

denounces the cheat.-His retaliation with respect to the Vicksburg prisoners.-

He waives the cartel, and makes a new proposition. He sends to Washington

lists of mortality in the Andersonville prison.-The Federal Government does not

reply.--Its persistent and inhuman silence.-Explanation of it.-The Washington

Government resolved to make a case of "rebel barbarity."-The site, arrange-

ments and discipline of the Andersonville prison.-Explanation of the suffering and

mortality there.-Extraordinary proposition of the Confederate Government to

release without equivalents and without formality all sick and wounded Federal

prisoners. Secretary Stanton deaf to the cry of the sufferers.-Iis great guilt.—

Exchanges resumed under Gen. Grant's authority.-Report of the joint select

committee of the Confederate Congress, appointed to investigate the condition and

treatment of prisoners of war.-Northern publications on this subject.-Refuta-

tion of "raw-head - and - bloody - bones" stories.-Humanity of the Confederate

authorities.-A terrible record of Federal cruelties.-Barbarous punishments in

Northern prisons.-Last humane proposition of Commissioner Ould.-His letter to

Gen. Grant.-A complete record of justice and humanity on the part of the Con-

federates....
616

How Sherman's march through Georgia developed a crisis in the Confederacy.-Geo-

graphical impossibility of the conquest of the South.-Address of the Confederate

Congress.-A vulgar and false estimate of the enemy's success.-Maps of conquest

and cobweb lines of occupation.-General decay of public spirit in the Con-

federacy. Popular impatience of the war.-Want of confidence in President Davis'

administration.-Bewildered attempts at counter-revolution.-Executive misman-

agement in Richmond.-How the Conscription law was cheated.-Deserters in

the Confederate armies.-Peculiar causes for it.-Its frightful extent.-How it

was not a sign of infidelity to the Confederate cause.-Condition of the commis-

sariat.—Bread taken from Gen. Lee's army to feed prisoners.-Alarming reduc-

tion of supplies.-Major French's letter.-Lee's troops bordering on starvation.—

Eight points presented to Congress.—What it did.--The condition of the currency.

-Congress curtails the currency one-third.-Act of 17th February, 1864.--Secre-

tary Seddon gives the coup-de-grace to the currency. His new standard of value

in wheat at forty dollars a bushel.-Disorders of the currency and commissariat

as contributing to desertions.-Impracticability of all remedies for desertions.-No

disaffection in the Confederacy, except with reference to faults of the Richmond

administration.-President Davis and the Confederate Congress, &c.--Three princi-

pal measures in Congress directed against the President.-Remonstrance of the Vir-

ginia delegation with reference to the Cabinet.-Resignation of Mr. Seddon.-Per-

sonal relations between President Davis and Gen. Lee.-Why the latter declined

to take command of all the armies of the Confederacy.—Want of self-assertion in

Gen. Lee's character.—Why his influence in the general affairs of the Confederacy

was negative.-Recrimination between President Davis and Congress.-A singular

item in the Conscription Bureau.-Remark of Mrs. Davis to a Confederate Senator.

-The opposition led by Senator Wigfall.-His terrible and eloquent invectives.-

A chapter of great oratory lost to the world.-An apparent contradiction in the

President's character.--The influence of "small favourites."-Jolin M. Daniel's

opinion of President Davis' tears.-Influence of the President almost entirely gone

in the last periods of the war.-The visible wrecks of his administration.-

History of "peace propositions" in Congress.-They were generalities.-Analys

of the "Union Party" in the South.-How Gov. Brown, of Georgia, was used by

it. Its persistent design upon the Virginia Legislature.-How it was rebuffed.-

Heroic choice of Virginia.-President Davis' tribute to this State.-Want of reso-

lution in other parts of the Confederacy.--Summary explanation of the decline and

fall of the Confederacy.-Proposition to arm the slaves of the South indicative of

a desperate condition.-How it was impracticable and absurd.-Not five thousand

spare muskets in the Confederacy.-Paltry legislation of Congress.-Grasping at

Gen. Sherman's new base at Savannah. He prepares to march through the Carolinas.—

Gen. Grant's first idea to bring Sherman's army to Virgina by water.-Opening

of the Carolina campaign.-Howard's movement towards Charleston.-The line of

the Salkahatchie taken.-Slocum threatens Augusta.-Junction of the two columns

in the vicinity of the Augusta and Charleston Railroad.-Scenes of license and

plunder on Sherman's march.-Savage atrocities.-The track of fire.-Sherman's

"bummers."—What was thought of them in Washington.-Sherman turns his

columns on Columbia.-Disposition of the Confederate forces between Augusta

and Charleston.-Why Columbia was not defended.-Gallantry of Gen. Wade Hamp-

ton.-Sack and destruction of Columbia.--Sherman's solemn promise to the Mayor.

-Robbery and outrage in the streets.-The Catholic Convent.-Some of the Fede-

ral soldiers tell of the proposed destruction of the town.--It is fired in twenty

places.-Horrors of the conflagration.-Scenes of misery and ruin.-Proofs that

Sherman was responsible for the fire.-Array of evidence on this subject.-Fall

of Charleston.-The city evacuated by Hardee.-Occasion of delay by President

Davis. An explosion and conflagration.-Appearance of the city after four years

of confiict.--Capture of Fort Fisher.-Fall of Wilmington.-The enemy's views of

the importance of Wilmington.-How it was to be used as another base of opera-

tions towards Richmond.-Its capture auxiliary to Sherman's movement.-The

first expedition against it.-Butler's powder-ship.-Failure of the expedition.-

The Butler-Grant controversy.-Second expedition against Wilmington.-Gen.

Bragg again on the military stage.-How the enemy effected a landing above

Fort Fisher.-Want of vigilance on the part of the Confederates.-Gen. Hoke

flanked and retreats.-The Fort taken by assault.-Co-operation of the enemy's

fleet. Its terrible fire.-Gen. Bragg evacuates Wilmington.-Grant's instructions

to Schofield to co-operate with Sherman.-The campaign in North Carolina.—

Sherman moves apparently towards Charlotte, and deflects to Fayetteville.-

Movement of the co-operating columns from Wilmington and Newbern.-Gen.

Bragg engages the enemy near Kinston.-Success of the Confederates.-Arrival

of Schofield and Terry at Goldsboro'.-Sherman pushes on there.-Gen. Johnston's

command, and distribution of the Confederate forces.-Hardee loses two-thirds

of his army by desertions. He engages the enemy near Averysboro', and is com-

pelled to fall back.—The engagement at Bentonville.-Johnston fights two corps

of the enemy and Kilpatrick's cavalry with fourteen thousand men -Success on

the Confederate right.-Johnston holds his ground against the whole of Sher-

man's army, and retreats deliberately to Smithfield.-Sherman's arrival at Golds-

boro'.-Conference at City Point of Sherman, Grant and President Lincoln....

Gen. Lee's lines around Richmond and Petersburg.-Comparison of his force with that of

the enemy.-Gen. Lee's sentiment about surrender.-Dull condition of the popu-

lace in Richmond.-Extravagant rumours.-Story of the French messenger.-The

Fortress Monroe conference.-Mr. Blair's visit to Richmond.-Notes of Presidents

Davis and Lincoln. Conversation of the former with Alexander H. Stephens.--

Official narrative of the conference in Hampton Roads.A rhetorical appeal to

the people of the Confederacy.-A day of speeches in Richmond.-President Davis'

speech at the African Church.— Its extravagant and swollen tone.-A remark on

the temper and vanity of the President.-Battle of Hare's Hill.-Design of the

action on the part of Gen. Lee.-The general disposition of his forces.-Capture of

Fort Steadman.-The Confederates falter.-What the day proved. The last

battles around Petersburg.-Why Grant hurried the final operations.-The prelim-

inary expedition of Sheridan's cavalry.-What it accomplished.-The attempt

upon Lee's right.-Desperate resource of the Confederate commander.-Battle of

Five Forks.-Misbehaviour of the Confederates.-Gen. Lee's reproach.-Bombard-

ment of the Petersburg lines.-The assault.-The Confederates' lines broken.-

Defence of Fort Gregg.-A thrilling scene of self-devotion.--The Confederates

forced back upon Petersburg.-Death of Gen. A. P. Hill.-Evacuation of Richmond.

-The city unprepared for the news.- Fright and disorder in the streets.-A

curious scene in the Capitol.-Gen. Ewell's withdrawal from the city. He fires

a number of warehouses.-A frightful conflagration.-Scenes of sublime horrour.

-Grand entree of the Federals.-Ravages of the gre.-Exultation in Northern

cities.-Stuff of Yankee newspapers.-Due estimate of Grant's achievement in the

fall of Richmond.-Definition of generalship.-The qualities of mind exhibited by

the North in the war......
679

Public feeling in Richmond after evacuation day.-President Davis' proclamation at

Danville.-New and sanguine theory of Confederate defence.-Moral effect of the

fall of Richmond.-Retreat and final surrender of Lee's army.-Crossing of the

Appomattox.-Explosion of magazines.-The wagon-train from Richmond.-

Order of Grant's pursuit.-General Lee's new hopes.-They are dashed at Amelia

Court-house. The confederates in a starving condition.-Lee abandons the route

to Danville and makes for Lynchburg, by way of Farmville.-Sufferings on the

march.-Demoralization of the troops.-Some spirited episodes.-The action of

Sailors' Creek.-The Confederates in the vicinity of Farmville.-Affairs with the

enemy.-The Confederates retreat to Appomattox Court-house, without molesta-

tion-Sense of relief among the troops.-Ominous sounds of cannon.-The exit

to Lynchburg closed by Sheridan. -Desperate adventure of Gordon's corps.-The

recoil.-A flag of truce on the scene.-Correspondence between Gens. Grant and

Lee, leading to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.-The conference

at M'Lean's house.-Gen. Lee announcing the terms of surrender.—A touching

scene at his headquarters.-Gen. Lee's farewell address to his army.-Magnani-

mous and delicate behaviour of Grant.-Gen. Lee's return to his home.-Great

exultation at Washington.-Secretary Stanton's congratulations.-Scene at the Pres-

ident's house.-Characteristic speech and last joke of Abraham Lincoln....... 700

Gen. Lee's surrender the decisive event of the war.-Strength and situation of the

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