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of burning material were set by a southwest wind directly toward the line of vessels moored on the edge of the channel opposite the yard, and nearly all of these, too, were speedily enveloped in flames.

The scene, at this time, was grand and terrific beyond description. The roar of the conflagration was loud enough to be heard at a distance of miles; and to this were added occasional discharges from the heavy guns of the old Pennsylvania, ship-of-the-line, as they became successively heated.

When the destruction of the ship-houses was certain, the Pawnee, which arrived on Saturday, and had been kept under steam, was put in motion, and, taking the Cumberland in tow, retired down the harbor, out of the reach of danger, freighted with a great portion of valuable munitions from the yard, and the commodore and other officers. The ships proceeded as far down as the barricades at the narrows, where the Cumberland was left at anchor, and the Pawnee continued on to Fortress Monroe. The Cumberland subsequently passed out.

It afterwards appeared that the ship Pennsylvania was burnt, and the Merrimac, Columbus, Delaware, and Raritan, Plymouth, and Germantown were scuttled and sunk, and a vast amount of the machinery, valuable engines, small arms, chronometers, &c., had been broken up and rendered entirely useless. Besides the ship-houses and their contents, the range of buildings on the north line of the yard (except the Commodore's and Commander's houses), the old marine barracks, and some workshops were burnt. Much of value, however, was not destroyed. The great dry-dock was uninjured. The large number of two thousand five hundred cannon, of all kinds and sizes, fell into the hands of the State of Virginia; also shot, shell, and other warlike missiles to a very large amount. Besides these, the machinery of the yard was generally uninjured. A collection of ship-building and outfitting material, large and valuable, including a number of steel plates and iron castings, was found ready for use, and capable of being turned to account.

Old Fort Norfolk, used as a magazine, was taken by the Virginia authorities without resistance. Within were three thousand barrels of powder, containing three hundred thousand pounds; also, a large number of shells and other missiles, loaded, and for that reason necessary to be kept in magazines.

The value of the property destroyed was estimated at several millions. The cost of the immense and magnificent ship-houses and their contents formed a considerable item in the account, and so did that of the Pennsylvania. "It brings tears into our eyes," said a citizen of Norfolk, "when we realize the destruction of this noble ship, so long the ornament of our harbor, and the admiration of thousands from all parts of the country who visited our waters." That splendid specimen of naval architecture,

the new and beautiful frigate Merrimac, and four or five other vessels, were given to the flames, or with their valuable armament sunk in the deep water.

On the same day an order was issued by Gen. Taliaferro, prohibiting the collector of the port from accepting any draft from the United States Government, or allowing the removal of deposits, or any thing else, from the custom-house. The collector, being informed that on his refusal to obey the order a file of men would be sent down to occupy the premises, acquiesced.

On the 20th the Richmond Grays, a fine company numbering one hundred rifle muskets, arrived. They brought with them fourteen pieces of rifle cannon of large size, one of the pieces weighing ten thousand pounds, and three box cars filled with ammunition of various kinds, to be distributed to the patriotic companies by the wayside.

On the night previous, four companies of Petersburg riflemen and infantry, numbering in all four hundred men, reached Norfolk. They were followed by two additional companies of one hundred each.

On the 22d, three companies of troops from Georgia arrived in the express train from Weldon; the Light Guards, from Columbus, numbering eighty men; the Macon Volunteers, eighty men; and the Floyd Rifles, from Macon, eighty men. The first and last commands marched immediately to the naval hospital.

About the same time the hull of the old ship United States, in which Com. Decatur captured the Macedonian, was taken possession of at the navy-yard by an efficient crew, and towed down to the narrow part of the channel, a mile below Fort Norfolk, where she was moored across the channel and sunk. Only a few feet brought her in contact with the bottom. Any naval force that might attempt to pass up the harbor must remove the hulk, while, in the mean time, the shot and shells from the two forts aboveone on the right and the other on the leftwould be poured into them. Norfolk thus was occupied by Confederate troops, who remained in undisturbed possession through the year.

Excitement both at the North and the South now ran high. Events daily occurred which added fuel to the flame. Besides those already narrated in connection with the secession of the several States, space will permit here merely a summary of other isolated incidents in the order of time in which they took place. On April 19th, the steamer Star of the West was boarded off Indianola, by a party of volunteers from Galveston, and captured without resistance. She had been sent out to convey to New York the force of regular troops to be withdrawn from that State. On the same day the President issued another proclamation declaring a blockade of the Southern ports.

On the 21st, Senator Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, was mobbed at Lynchburg, Va., and narrowly escaped.

On the 22d, the arsenal at Fayetteville,

North Carolina, was surrendered to a force of about eight hundred men, with thirty-five thousand stand of arms and some cannon, and considerable quantities of ball and powder.

On the 25th, the Legislature of Vermont, being in session, appropriated $1,000,000 to equip her volunteers.

At this time a large number of the officers of the army and navy who were natives of Southern States, sent in their resignation.

On the 26th, twenty-one thousand stand of arms were removed, by order of the Federal Government, from the arsenal at St. Louis, and taken to Springfield, Illinois, for safety.

On the 29th, the Legislature of Indiana being in session, appropriated five hundred thousand dollars to equip her volunteers. On the same day a number of Northern steamers at New Orleans were seized and appropriated.

On the 30th, the Legislature of New Jersey assembled in extra session, and authorized a loan of two millions of dollars to fit out her troops. The command of her force was given to Gen. Theodore Runyon. It immediately started from Trenton for Annapolis, in fourteen propellers, by canal to Bordentown, thence down the Delaware River. The whole brigade was armed with Minié rifles, and took also four pieces of artillery. It was stated that "the fleet of transports with a strong convoy made a novel and splendid appearance steaming in two lines up the Chesapeake Bay."

On May 3d, the Connecticut Legislature appropriated two millions of dollars for the publie defence. These appropriations continued to be made in the first months of the war, by States, cities, and towns, until the amount exceeded thirty-seven millions of dollars.

On the same day, May 3d, Gov. Letcher, of Virginia, called out the State militia to defend Virginia from invasion by Northern troops.

On the 9th, a resolution was adopted by the Congress at Montgomery, authorizing their Government to accept all the volunteers who might offer.

On the 13th, a Convention assembled at Wheeling, in Western Virginia, for the purpose of separating the counties represented from being a part of Virginia, and forming a Union State Government. On this same day the proclamation of Victoria, Queen of England, was issued, recognizing the insurrectionary States as belligerents.

On the 14th, a schooner at Baltimore found to be loaded with arms was seized by the Federal authorities.

On the 16th, the first injury was done to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, by the destruction of several bridges and portions of the track.

On the same day, the brigade of State militia under Gen. Frost at St. Louis, Missouri, surrendered to Gen. Lyon, an officer in the United States service. A camp of instruction had been formed under Gen. Frost in the western suburbs of the city, in pursuance of orders from

the Governor of the State. He had directed the other militia districts also to go into encampments with a view of acquiring a greater proficiency in military drill. It had been reported to Gen. Frost that Gen. Lyon intended to attack him, and, on the other hand, it had been reported to Gen. Lyon that it was the intention of Gen. Frost to attack the arsenal and United States troops. On the 16th, Gen. Frost addressed a note to Gen. Lyon alluding to these reports.

About the same time Gen. Lyon's troops were put in motion, to the number, as was represented, of four or five thousand, and proceeded through the city to the camp of Gen. Frost, and surrounded it, planting batteries on all the heights overlooking the camp. Long files of men were stationed in platoons at various points on every side, and a picket guard established, covering an area of two hundred yards. The guards, with fixed bayonets and muskets at half cock, were instructed to allow none to pass or repass within the limits thus taken up.

By this time an immense crowd of people had assembled in the vicinity, having gone thither in carriages, buggies, rail cars, baggage wagons, on horseback, and on foot. Numbers of men seized rifles, shot-guns, or whatever other weapons they could lay hands on, and rushed to the assistance of the State troops, but were, of course, obstructed in their design. The hills, of which there are a number in the neighborhood, were literally black with people-hundreds of ladies and children stationing themselves with the throng, but as they thought out of harm's way. Having arrived in this posttion, Gen. Lyon addressed a letter to Gen. Frost demanding an immediate surrender.

Immediately on the receipt of the foregoing, Gen. Frost called a hasty consultation of the officers of his staff. The conclusion arrived at was that the brigade was in no condition to make resistance to a force so numerically superior, and that only one course could be pursued -a surrender.

The State troops were therefore made prisoners, but an offer was made to release them on condition they would take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and not to take up arms against the Government. These terms they declined on the ground that they had already taken the oath of allegiance, and to repeat it would be to admit that they had been in rebellion.

About half-past five the prisoners left the grove and entered the road, the United States soldiers enclosing them by a single file stretched along each side of the line. A halt was ordered, and the troops remained standing in the position they had deployed into the road. The head of the column at the time rested opposite a small hill on the left as one approaches the city, and the rear was on a line with the entrance to the grove. Vast crowds of people covered the surrounding grounds and every

fence and house top in the vicinity. Suddenly the sharp reports of several fire-arms were heard from the front of the column, and the spectators that lined the adjacent hill were seen fleeing in the greatest dismay and terror. It appeared that several members of one of the German companies, on being pressed by the crowd and receiving some blows from them, turned and discharged their pieces. Fortunately no one was injured, and the soldiers who had done the act were at once placed under arrest. Hardly, however, had tranquillity been restored when volley after volley of rifle reports was suddenly heard from the extreme rear ranks, and men, women, and children were beheld running wildly and frantically away from the scene. Many, while running, were suddenly struck to the sod, and the wounded and dying made the late beautiful field look like a battle-ground. The total number killed and wounded was twenty-five. It was said that the arsenal troops were attacked with stones, and two shots discharged at them by the crowd before they fired. Most of the people exposed to the fire were citizens with their wives and children, who were merely spectators. It was now night, and the excitement in the city was indescribable. On the next afternoon a large body of the German Home Guard entered the city from the arsenal, where they had been enlisted during the day, and furnished with arms. They passed unmolested until they turned up Walnut Street, and proceeded westward. Large crowds were collected on the corners, who hooted and hissed as the companies passed, and one man standing on the steps of a church fired a revolver into the ranks. A soldier fell dead, when two more shots were fired from the windows of a house near by. At this time the head of the column, which had reached as far as Seventh Street, suddenly turned, and levelling their rifles, fired down the street, and promiscuously among the spectators, who lined the pavements. Shooting, as they did, directly toward their rear ranks, they killed some of their men as well as those composing the crowd. The shower of bullets was for a moment terrible, and the only wonder was that more lives were not lost. The missiles of lead entered the windows and perforated the doors of private residences, tearing the ceilings, and throwing splinters in every direction. On the street the scene presented, as the soldiers moved off, was sad indeed. Six men lay dead at different points, and several were wounded and shrieking with pain upon the pavements. Four of the men killed were members of the regiment, and two were citizens. Immense crowds of people filled the streets after the occurrence, and the whole city presented a scene of excitement seldom witnessed. Among the arms taken at Camp Jackson were three thirty-two pounders, a large quantity of balls and bombs, several pieces of artillery, twelve hundred rifles, of the late model, six brass field-pieces, six brass six-inch mortars,

one ten-inch iron mortar, three six-inch iron cannon, several chests of new muskets, five boxes canister shot, ninety-six ten-inch and three hundred six-inch shells, twenty-five kegs of powder, and a large number of musket stocks and barrels, between thirty and forty horses, and a considerable quantity of camp tools.

The number of prisoners taken to the arsenal was six hundred and thirty-nine privates and fifty officers. On the same day a body of secessionists were dispersed at Liberty, Missouri.

On the 17th a number of persons were arrested at Washington, on the charge of being spies from the insurrectionary States. The transportation of any articles by express, to any point further south than Washington, was also forbidden. Some fortifications were commenced by Southern troops at Harper's Ferry. The yacht Wanderer, formerly noted as having brought a cargo of slaves from Africa into the State of Georgia, was at the same time seized off Key West by the Federal steamer Crusader.

On the 19th the light ship in the Potomac River was seized by a body of Virginians, but they were pursued and the vessel recaptured.

On the 19th a collision took place at Sewell's Point, which is the projection of land on the right shore, where the Elizabeth River turns from a north to an easterly course, becoming then what is called Hampton Roads. It is on this river that Norfolk in Virginia is situated. The point was fortified immediately after the secession of Virginia. The battery placed there by her troops was the exterior of the line of batteries intended to guard the Elizabeth River, through which Norfolk is approached. This line of batteries consisted of seven, the heaviest of which was at Craney Island, mounting about thirty guns. Two batteries further inland mounted about twelve and fifteen guns respectively. The other batteries mounted from seven to ten guns. The battery at Sewell's Point commanded the vessels blockading James River, and if the guns were sufficiently heavy and effective, it could cause them to remove. party being observed perfecting the earthworks, the gunboat Star opened fire upon them with two ten-inch guns and shell. Subsequently the Freeborn, Capt. Ward, arrived, and taking a position near the shore, drove the defenders out of the works, and disabled the battery.

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The Star was struck by five shots of small calibre, all of which took effect. One ball, a six-pounder, penetrated the hull on the larboard bow, a few inches above the water line. Two of her crew were injured, and one of them, a boy, seriously. This was the first skirmish between the floating batteries of the North and land batteries of the South. On the other side, Vice-President Stephens, in an address at Atlanta, Ga., on the 23d of May, spoke of the affair as resulting in "the vessel being repulsed and disabled."

Southern troops now marched for Harper's Ferry, and on the 20th of May there were on the spot 8,000, made up from Kentucky,

Alabama, South Carolina, and Virginia. They occupied all the neighboring heights on both sides of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, and claimed to hold a position impregnable to 40,000 men, so eligible were the points of defence. They expected accessions to their number, under the belief that the United States Government intended to make an effort to replant the national flag wherever it had been displaced.

A small force was thrown over the river to the heights on the Maryland shore, thus occupying a position important to the security of Harper's Ferry. The invasion of Maryland by Virginia caused a remonstrance from Governor Hicks, addressed to Governor Letcher, of Virginia. The latter replied that the movement was unauthorized and should be countermanded. On the 14th of June the ferry was evacuated by the troops. Their total force on that day in and around the place was about 10,000. On the day when the evacuation commenced the bridge over the Potomac was destroyed, having been partly blown up and then set on fire by the retiring force. It was a long and costly structure. This retreat of the Southern troops was made in consequence of the movement of Union troops up the Potomac, from Washington, and from Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania, toward Harper's Ferry. At a later day, a small force of Confederate troops returned and burned the bridge over the Shenandoah and other property. After the passage of the Union troops across the Potomac at Williamsport, under General Patterson, the Confederate forces retired, and the ferry remained in possession of the former permanently.

On the 22d a body of men from the mainland reoccupied Ship Island, near the mouth of the Mississippi, on which the construction of an extensive fort had been commenced by the Federal Government, and destroyed the wooden work and the lighthouse structure.

On the night of the 23d of May troops from Washington proceeded to occupy the heights on the opposite side of the Potomac in Virginia. The large camps of southern troops formed in such places in Virginia, that a rapid concentration by railroad could be made, rendered it prudent for the Government to occupy these positions, which, in consequence of the railroad connections between Alexandria and Richmond, were of great importance to the security of Washington. The night of the 23d was beautiful on the Potomac. A full moon looked peacefully down, and perfect quietness prevailed over all the shores in the neighborhood of Washington. Companies of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, were stationed near and on the Long Bridge. About midnight two companies of rifles were advanced across the bridge to the neighborhood of Roach's Spring. Scouts were sent out in all directions, who managed to get past the line of Virginia pickets. Somewhat later the latter, getting the alarm, set spurs to their horses, and made off in haste down the road

toward Alexandria. Volunteers of the District of Columbia were also advanced toward Alexandria. At Georgetown, above, a movement was made about half-past eleven over the aqueduct by the Georgetown battalion. They drove off the two or three pickets on the Virginia side of the river, and soon established themselves in position. Next followed the 5th Massachusetts regiment, 28th Brooklyn regiment, Company B of the U. S. cavalry, and the 69th regiment. The last-named regiment scoured Alexandria County, and went back as far as the Loudon and Hampshire Railroad. The sight of the troops crossing the aqueduct, with their burnished weapons gleaming in the bright moonlight, was strikingly beautiful. About 2 o'clock in the morning another large body of troops passed over from Washington and the neighborhood. The 7th New York regiment halted under orders at the Virginia end of the Long Bridge; the 2d New Jersey regiment went to Roach's Spring, half a mile from the end of the bridge; the New York 25th and one cavalry company, and the New York 12th and the 3d and 4th New Jersey regiments, proceeded to the right, after crossing the bridge, for the occupation of the heights of Arlington. They were joined by the other troops, which crossed at the Georgetown aqueduct.

Ellsworth's Zouaves, in two steamers, with the steamer James Guy as tender, left their camp on the East Branch, directly for Alexandria by water. The Michigan regiment, under Col. Wilcox, accompanied by a detachment of United States cavalry and two pieces of Sherman's battery, also proceeded by way of the Long Bridge to Alexandria. At 4 o'clock A. M. the Zouaves landed at Alexandria from the steamers, and the troops, who proceeded by the bridge, also reached that town. As the steamers drew up near the wharf, armed boats left the Pawnee, whose crews leaped ashore just before the Ellsworth Zouaves reached it. The crews of the Pawnee's boats were fired upon by a few Virginia sentries as the boats left the steamship, by way of giving the alarm, but these sentries instantly fled into the town. Their fire was answered by scattering shots from some of the Zouaves on the decks of the steamers. Immediately on landing, the Zouaves marched up into the centre of the town, no resistance whatever to their progress being offered. Thus quiet possession was taken of that part of Alexandria, in the name of the United States, by that portion of the troops immediately commanded by Col. Ellsworth. The Michigan regiment, at the same time, marched into the town by the extension of the Washington turnpike, and the cavalry and artillery came in two or three streets below. The destination of both these detachments was the depot of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, which they instantly seized. They also found there a disunion company of cavalry, of thirty-five men, and as many horses, who were made prisoners, not having heard the alarm made by the

firing of the sentries below. A portion of the Virginia force escaped in cars. Thus was possession taken of the Virginia shore. Intrenching tools were conveyed over from Washington; the next day intrenchments were thrown up, and about noon a large national flag was raised within them, and thrown out to the winds. Great numbers of spectators, of both sexes, lined the heights on the east bank of the Potomac, watching the movements of the troops with eager interest. The only disastrous event occurring was the death of Col. Ellsworth, commander of the Fire Zouave regiment of New York. The intrenchments thus commenced subsequently became of immense extent, and, with those on the other sides of Washington, consisted of forty-eight works, mounting 300 guns. The whole defence perimeter occupied was about thirty-five miles.

During the next day after the occupation of Alexandria, the bridges on the railroad from that city to Leesburg were destroyed. Martial law was at once declared in Alexandria, and the command of the troops in the vicinity of Washington was given to Brig.-Gen. Irvin McDowell. From Fortress Monroe Gen. Butler advanced his forces and formed an intrenched camp at Newport News on the 27th. His object was to command Sand Island, which is about midway in, and completely guards the entrance of the James River.

A blockade of the Mississippi was commenced at this time by the Southern troops, and also a regular blockade of the ports of Savannah and Mobile by the Federal fleet.

On the 30th, Grafton, in Western Virginia, was occupied by Col. Kelly. A small force of the enemy retired on his approach. In Missouri Gen. Lyon superseded Gen. Harney, and at Washington commissions were issued to Gens. Fremont and Banks.

On the 31st an attack was made on the batteries erected by the Virginia troops at Aquia Creek, below Washington, by Commander H. J. Ward in the gunboat Freeborn, supported by the Anacostia and Resolute. He thus reported the affair:

"After an incessant discharge, kept up for two hours by both our 32-pounders, and the expenditure of all the ammunition suitable for distant firing, and silencing completely the three batteries at the railroad terminus, the firing from shore having been rapidly kept up by them until so silenced, and having been recommenced from the new batteries on the heights back, which reached us in volleys, dropping the shot on board and about us like hail for nearly an hour, but fortunately wounding but one man, I hauled the vessel off, as the heights proved wholly above the reach of our elevation. Judging from the explosion of our ten-second shells in the sand-batteries, two of which were thrown by the Anacostia, it is hardly possible the enemy can have escaped considerable loss. Several others of the Anacostia's shells dropped in the vicinity of the battery."

Another attack was made on the batteries on the 1st of June, by the Freeborn and Pawnee gunboats. Just as the firing opened the men at the batteries burned the depot houses at the end of the wharf, probably to prevent them from being in the way of their shot. They continued burning throughout the whole engagement, as it was not safe for any one to leave the batteries to extinguish the fire. The entire wharf to the

water's edge was also burned.

A slight affair had taken place on the 29th of May, previous to these two attacks, which was the first hostile collision on the waters of the Potomac.

On June 1st the first collision took place between the hostile forces in the neighborhood of Washington. Lieut. Tompkins, with a company of regular cavalry, consisting of forty-seven men, made a dash upon the village of Fairfax CourtHouse. A body of Southern troops were in possession of the village, who made a vigorous and determined resistance. The cavalry charged through the principal street, and upon their return were met by two detachments of the enemy. Again wheeling, they encountered another detachment, through which they forced their way and escaped, bringing with them five prisoners. They lost nine horses in the skirmish.

CHAPTER VII.

Southern Congress adjourns to meet at Richmond-Speeches of Howell Cobb and Vice-President Stephens-The Federal Army-Skirmish at Philippi-Attack on Pig's Point-Great Bethel-Movements in West Tennessee-Romney-Advance of Gen. Lyon to Jefferson City-Vienna-Locomotives Destroyed-Mathias Point-Other Events-Southern Privateers.

BLOODY Conflicts soon began to occur in various quarters, which renders it necessary to notice more fully the preparations each side had been making. On April 29th the insurrectionary Congress had assembled at Montgomery, in compliance with a proclamation from their President. At the opening of the session

he delivered a message recommending such measures as were necessary to conduct a vigorous defensive war. They were promptly passed, and on the 21st of May Congress adjourned to meet at Richmond, in Virginia, on July 20th. The reasons for this change of capital are given by the President of the Congress, Howell

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