this City of New York (where its ideas and vital aims were more generally cherished than even in South Carolina or Louisiana), that I confidently hoped for an immediate and palpable, rather than a remote and circuitous triumph of the Union, now and evermore blended inseparably with Emancipation-with the legal and National recognition of every man's right to himself. Thenceforward, with momentary intervals of anxiety, depression, and doubt, it has been to me a labor of love to devote every available hour to the history of the American Conflict. This Volume is essentially Military, as the former was Civil: that is, it treats mainly of Armies, Marches, Battles, Sieges, and the alternations of good and ill fortune that, from January, 1862, to May, 1865, befell the contending forces respectively of the Union and the Confederacy. But he who reads with attention will discern that I have regarded even these under a moral rather than a purely material aspect. Others have doubtless surpassed me in the vividness, the graphic power, of their delineations of 'the noise of the captains, and the shouting:' I have sought more especially to portray the silent influence of these collisions, with the efforts, burdens, sacrifices, bereavements, they involved, in gradually molding and refining Public Opinion to accept, and ultimately demand, the overthrow and extinction of Human Slavery, as the one vital, implacable enemy of our Nationality and our Peace. Hence, while at least three-fourths of this Volume narrates Military or Naval occurrences, I presume a larger space of it than of any rival is devoted to tracing, with all practicable brevity, the succession of Political events; the sequences of legislation in Congress with regard to Slavery and the War; the varying phases of Public Sentiment; the rise, growth, and decline, of hopes that the War would be ended through the accession of its adversaries to power in the Union. I labor under a grave mistake if this be not judged by our grandchildren (should any of them condescend to read it) the most important and interesting feature of my work. I have differed from most annalists, in preferring to follow a campaign or distinct military movement to its close before interrupting its narration to give accounts of simultaneous movements or campaigns in distant regions, between other armies, led by other commanders. In my historical reading, I have often been perplexed and confused by the facility wherewith chroniclers leap from the Euphrates to the Danube, and from the Ebro to the Vistula. In full view of the necessary inter-dependence of events occurring on widely separated arenas, it has seemed to me preferable to follow one movement to its culmination before dealing with another; deeming the inconveniences and obscurities involved in this method less serious than those unavoidable (by me, at least) on any different plan. Others will judge between my method and that which has usually been followed. I have bestowed more attention on marches, and on the minor incidents of a campaign, than is common: historians usually devoting their time and force mainly to the portrayal of great, decisive (or at least destructive) battles. But battles are so often won or lost by sagaciously planned movements, skillful combinations, well-conducted marches, and wise dispositions, that I have extended to these a prominence which seemed to me more clearly justified than usually conceded. He was not an incapable general who observed that he chose to win battles with his soldiers' legs rather than their muskets. As to dates, I could wish that commanders on all hands were more precise than they usually are; but, wherever dates were accessible, I have given them, even though invested with no special or obvious consequence. Printed mainly as foot-notes, they con-* sume little space, and do not interrupt the flow of the narrative. The reader who does use. not value need not heed them; while the critical student will often find them of decided Should any one demur to this, I urge him to examine thoughtfully the dates of the dispatches received and sent by McClellan between his retreat to Harrison's bar and Pope's defeat at Groveton; also, those given in my account of his movements from the hour of his arrival at Frederick to that of Lee's retreat from Sharpsburg across the Potomac. I trust it will be observed by candid critics that, while I seek not to disguise the fact that I honor and esteem some of our commanders as I do not others, I have been blind neither to the errors of the former nor to the just claims of the latter-that my high estimation of Grant and Sherman (for instance) has not led me to conceal or soften the lack of reasonable precautions which so nearly involved their country in deplorable if not irremediable disaster at Pittsburg Landing. So with Banks's mishap at Sabine Cross-roads and Butler's failure at Fort Fisher. On the other hand, I trust my lack of faith in such officers as Buell and Fitz John Porter has not led me to represent them as incapable or timorous soldiers. What I believe in regard to these and many more of their school is, that they were misplaced-that they halted between their love of country and their traditional devotion to Slavery-that they clung to the hope of a compromise which should preserve both Slavery and the Union, long after all reasonable ground of hope had vanished; fighting the Rebellion with gloved hands and relaxed sinews because they mistakenly held that so only was the result they sighed for (deeming it most beneficent) to be attained. If the facts do not justify my conviction, I trust they will be found so fairly presented in the following pages as to furnish the proper corrective for my errors. Without having given much heed to rival issues, I presume this volume will be found to contain accounts (necessarily very brief) of many minor actions and skirmishes which have been passed unheeded by other historians, on the assumption that, as they did not perceptibly affect the great issue, they are unworthy of record. But the nature and extent of that influence is matter of opinion, while the qualities displayed in these collisions were frequently deserving of grateful remembrance. And, beside, an affair of outposts or foraging expeditions has often exerted a most signal influence over the spirits of two great antagonist armies, and thus over the issues of a battle, and even of a campaign. Compressed within the narrowest limits, I have chosen to glance at nearly every conflict of armed forces, and to give time to these which others have devoted to more elaborate and florid descriptions of great battles. It has been my aim to compress within the allotted space the greatest number of notable facts and circumstances; others must judge how fully this end has been achieved. Doubtless, many errors of fact, and some of judgment, are embodied in the following pages: for, as yet, even the official reports, &c., which every historian of this war must desire to study, are but partially accessible. I have missed especially the Confederate reports of the later campaigns; only a few of which have been made public,, though many more, it is probable, will in time be. Some of these may have been destroyed at the hasty evacuation of Richmond; but many must have been preserved, in manuscript if not in print, and will yet see the light. So far as they were attainable, I have used the reports of Confederate officers as freely as those of their antagonists, and have accorded them nearly if not quite equal credit. I judge that the habit of understating or concealing their losses was more prevalent with Confederate than with Union commanders; in over-estimating the numbers they resisted, I have not been able to perceive any difference. It is simple truth to say that such over-estimates seem to have been I shall be personally obliged to any one, no matter on what side he served, who will The subject of Reconstruction (or Restoration) is not within the purview of this work, New York, July 21, 1866. H. G. INDEX BY CHAPTERS. ** Battle of Mill Spring-Capture of Fort Henry- Naval Bombardment of Fort Donelson-Gen. Pil- low's Sortie-Countercharge of Lew Wallace and C. F. Smith-Escape of Floyd and Pillow-Surren- der by Buckner-Retreat of Sidney Johnston from the Cumberland across the Tennessee-Nashville recovered-Columbus, Ky.-New Madrid-Island No. 10-Fort Pillow--Memphis-First Siege of Vicksburg-Grant moves up the Tennessee to Pitts- burg Landing-Sidney Johnston advances from Corinth, Miss-Assails Grant's front near Shiloh Church-Sherman and McClernand driven-Grant borne back--Buell and Lew Wallace arrive-The Rebels driven-Losses-Halleck takes Corinth- IV. Burnside's Expedition to N. Carolina. 73 Roanoke Island carried-Elizabeth city submits-- Defenses of Newbern stormed-Newbern surren- dered-Fort Macon reduced-Fight at South Mills - Foster advances to Kinston - V. Butler's Expedition to the Gulf-Cap- Gen. B. F. Butler concentrates 15,000 men on Ship 81 VI. Virginia in '62-McClellan's Advance. 107 Obstinate Delays-The Routes to Richmond—Bat- tle of Kernstown-Raid of the Iron-clad Merrimac or Virginia in Hampton Roads--McClellan on the Peninsula-Siege of Yorktown-Battle of Williams- burg-Fight at West Point- Advance to the Chicka- hominy Recovery of Norfolk-Strength of our Armies McClellan's Complaints- Fight at Mc- Dowell-Jackson surprises Front Royal-Banks driven through Winchester to the Potomac-Jack- son retreats-Fremont strikes Ewell at Cross-Keys -Jackson crosses the South Fork at Port Repub- lic, and beats Tyler-Heth routed by Crook at VII. McClellan before Richmond.........140 Fitz John Porter worsts Branch at Mechanicsville -McClellan partially across the Chickahominy- Battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines - McClellan rëenforced, but still grumbles and hesitates-Stone- wall Jackson joins Lee- ·A. P. Hill attacks our right at Mechanicsville-Battle of Gaines's Mill- Pope appointed to command the forces of Fremont, Banks, and McDowell-Advances to the Rapidan- Banks worsted by Jackson at Cedar Mountain- Pope retreats across the Rappahannock-Jackson flanks his right—Strikes the Railroad in his rear at Bristow-Seizes Manassas Junction-Compelled to retreat - Longstreet hurrying to his rescue Jackson worsts King-Two Days' Battle of Gaines- ville and Groveton, or Second Bull Run - Pope driven back on Centerville Jackson flanks his right, and attacks Kearny at Chantilly-Pope re- treats to the defenses of Washington, and gives place to McClellan-His Losses-McClellan's fail- IX. Lee's Invasion of Maryland in 1862..193 McClellan crosses the Potomac, and advances to Frederick-Address to Maryland-McClellan fol- lows to Frederick-Lee's plans discovered-He is intent on the capture of Harper's Ferry-McClellan fights and beats his rear-guard at Turner's Gap- Franklin drives Howell Cobb out of Crampton's Gap-Miles surrenders Harper's Ferry, with 12,000 men, to Stonewall Jackson-McClellan follows Lee to the Antietam-Battle of Antietam or Sharps. burg-Losses-Lee retreats across the Potomac- Porter follows― McClellan hesitates to pursue-- J. E. B. Stuart raids around his Army-McClellan Inoves down to the Rappahannock-Is relieved by X. Tennessee-Kentucky-Mississippi- Bragg crosses the Tennessee and Cumberland Kirby Smith routs M. D. Manson and Nelson at Richmond, Ky.-Bragg captures 4,000 men at Munfordsville-Advances to Frankfort, and inau- gurates Richard Hawes as Governor of Kentucky- Buell follows him from the Tennessee to Bardstown and Springfield-Battle of Perryville-Bragg re- treats out of Kentucky by Cumberland Gap—Rose- crans fights Price at Iuka-Price retreats to Ripley, Miss.-Van Dorn assails Rosecrans at Corinth—Is 212 XI. Slavery in the War-Emancipation.....232 Patrick Henry on Federal Power over Slavery- Edmund Randolph--John Quincy Adams—Joshua R. Giddings-Mr. Lincoln-Gov. Seward - Gen. Butler-Gen. Fremont-Gen. T. W. Sherman-Gen. Wool-Gen. Dix-Gen. Halleck-Gen. Cameron- His Report revised by President Lincoln-Seward to McClellan-Gen. Burnside-Gen. Buell-Gen. Hooker-Gen. Sickles-Gen, McCook-Gen. Double- day-Gen. Williains-Col. Anthony-Gen. Hunter -Överruled by the President-Gen. McClellan on the Negro-Horace Greeley to Lincoln-The Re- spense-Do. to the Chicago Clergymen-Lincoln's First Proclamation of Freedom-The Elections of 1862-Second Proclamation of Freedom-Edward Everett on its Validity. XII. Slavery and Emancipation in Congress. 256 E. R. Potter on Emancipation by War-Lincola for colonizing the Blacks-Congress forbids Mili- tary Officers returning Fugitives from Slavery— Abolishes Slavery in the District of Columbia- Lincoln proposes, and Congress enacts, Compen- sated Emancipation-Prohibits Slavery in the Ter- ritories-Confiscates the Slaves of Rebels-Opens Diplomatic Intercourse with Liberia and Hayti- Requires Equality in Education and Punishment between Whites and Blacks-Right of Search on the African Coast conceded-Fugitive Slave Act repealed-Confinement of suspected Slaves in Fed- eral Jails forbidden-Coastwise Slave-Trade for- bidden-Color no Impediment to giving Testimony. XIII. Rosecrans's Winter Campaign, 1862-3.270 The Army of the Ohio at Bowling Green-Reorgan- ized by Rosecrans-Morgan's Raids-Surprise of Moore at Hartsville-Our Advance from Nash- ville-Battle of Stone River, near Murfreesboro'— XIV. Siege and Capture of Vicksburg....286 Position and Importance of Vicksburg-Grant moves against it from Lagrange-Advances to Ox- ford, Miss.-Van Dorn captures Holly Springs— Murphy's Cowardice-Grant compelled to fall back-Hovey and Washburn on the Coldwater-- Gen. Wm. T. Sherman embarks 30,000 men at Memphis-Debarks on the Yazoo, north of Mem- phis Com. Porter's Gunboats-Sherman storms. the Yazoo Bluffs-Repulsed at all points with heavy loss-Attempts to flank by Drumgould's Bluff-Is baffled-Superseded by Gen.McClernand -Who invests and captures the Post of Arkansas- Gen. Grant assumes command-Debarks-Digging the Canal-Proves an Abortion-Yazoo Pass Ex- pedition-Stopped at Greenwood-Compelled to return-Grant tries the Sunflower route-Baffled again-The Queen of the West raids up Red River -Disabled and abandoned-The Indianola cap- tured by the Webb and Queen of the West-The Indianola blown up in a panic-The Webb flees up Red River-Grant moves down the Mississippi- Com. Porter runs the Vicksburg Batteries-Grier- son's Raid to Baton Rouge-Porter attacks the Bat- teries at Grand Gulf-Grant crosses at Bruinsburg -Sherman feints on Haines's Bluff-Crosses the Mississippi at Hankinson's Ferry-Fight at Port Galveston-Retaken by Com. Renshaw-Sur- XVI. Army of the Potomac under Burn- Gen. Burnside in command in Virginia-Crosses Lee silently flanks Hooker's right, and moves trated-Sickles driven back with loss-Rebel Ad- PAGK XVIII. The Chattanooga Campaign............404 Morgan's Raid through Kentucky into Indiana and Ohio-He is surrounded, routed, and captured -His Imprisonment and Escape-Rosecrans ad- vances from Murfreesboro' by Shelbyville and Tullahoma, to the Tennessee at Bridgeport Bragg flanked out of Chattanooga-Rosecrans eagerly pursue-Bragg concentrates at Lafayette, and turns upon his pursuers-Rosecrans concen- trates on the Chickamauga-Desperate battle there -Rosecrans, worsted, retreats to Chattanooga- Losses-Rosecrans superseded-Pegram's raid in- to Kentucky-Saunders's into East Tennessee→→ Burnside crosses the Cumberland Mountains- Knoxville liberated — Burnside rētakes Cumber- land Gap, with 2,000 prisoners-Longstreet impel- led by Bragg against him-Wolford struck at Phil- adelphia, Tenn.-Fight at Campbell's Station→→→→ Burnside withdraws into Knoxville-Longstreet besieges and assaults-Is repulsed with loss- Raises the Siege and retreats-Grant relieves Rose-. crans-Hooker and Slocum hurried to the Tennes- see-Wheeler's and Roddy's raids-Grant reaches Chattanooga — Hooker crosses the Tennessee Fight at Wauhatchie Sherman arrives from Vicksburg-Grant impels attacks on Bragg by Granger, Hooker, and Sherman-Hooker carries Lookout Mountain-Bragg, on Mission Ridge, at- tacked from all sides and routed-His Bulletin- Hooker pursues to Ringgold-Cleburne checks him in a gap in White Oak Ridge-Sherman and Grap- ger dispatched to Knoxville-Losses at Mission Marmaduke attacks Springfield, Mo.-Is repulsed XX. The Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida in 1862-3-Siege of Charleston..455 Siege and Capture of Fort Pulaski by Gillmore- Sinking of Stone Fleet in Charleston Harbor- Com. Dupont sweeps down the Coast to St. Au- gustine-Union Movement at Jacksonville-Pen- sacola and Jacksonville abandoned-Edisto Island relinquished-Gen. Hunter attacks Secessionville, and is repulsed-Gen. Brannan threatens the Sa- vannah Railroad-Fight at Coosawhatchie-De- struction of the Nasliville-Dupont repulsed at Fort McAllister-The Isaac Smith lost near Le- garéville-Iron-clad Raid from Charleston-The Mercedita and Keystone State disabled-Beau- regard and Ingraham proclaim the Blockade of Charleston raised-Dupont with his Iron-clads at- tacks Fort Sumter, and is repulsed-Col. Montgom- ery's Raid up the Combahee-The Atlanta comes out from Savannah-Capt. Rogers, in the Wee- hawken, disables and captures her-Gen. Gillmore seizes half of Morris Island-Gen. Strong assaults Fort Wagner, and is bloodily repulsed-Gillmore opens Trenches-The 'Swamp Angel' talks to Charleston-The Rebels driven out of Fort Wagner -Com. Stephens assaults Fort Sumter-Charles- ton bombarded from Wagner-Foundering of the |