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renown. We have made long marches, heat and storm you attacked the enemy, crossed rivers, surprised the enemy in strongly intrenched in the depths of a his intrenchments, and whenever we tangled wilderness, and again on the have fought we have inflicted heavier hills of Fredericksburg, fifteen miles disblows than we have received. We tant, and by the valor that has trihave taken from the enemy five thou-umphed on so many fields, forced him sand prisoners and fifteen colors, cap- once more to seek safety beyond the tured and brought off seven pieces of Rappahannock. While this glorious artillery, and placed hors du combat victory entitles you to the praise and eighteen thousand of his chosen troops. gratitude of the nation, we are espeWe have destroyed his depots filled cially called upon to return our gratewith vast amounts of stores, damaged ful thanks to the only Giver of victory his communications, captured prisoners for the signal deliverance He has within the fortifications of his capital, wrought. It is, therefore, earnestly reand filled his country with fear and con- commended that the troops unite on sternation. We have no other regret Sunday next in ascribing to the Lord than that caused by the loss of our of Hosts the glory due his name. Let brave companions, and in this we are us not forget in our rejoicing the brave consoled by the conviction that they soldiers who have fallen in defence of have fallen in the holiest cause ever their country; and, while we mourn submitted to the arbitrament of battle." their loss, let us resolve to emulate In a dispatch to President Davis, their noble example. The army and dated on the third, at Milford, General the country alike lament the absence Lee thus announced his successes on the for a time of one to whose bravery, field. "Yesterday General Jackson pen- energy and skill they are so much inetrated to the rear of the enemy, and debted for success. The following letter drove him from all his positions from the from the President of the Confederate Wilderness to within one mile of Chancel- States is communicated to the army as lorsville. He was engaged at the same an expression of his appreciation of its time in front by two of Longstreet's divi- success: sions. Many prisoners were taken, and the enemy's loss in killed and wounded is large. This morning the battle was renewed. He was dislodged from all his positions around Chancellorsville, and driven back toward the Rappahannock, over which he is now retreating. We have again to thank Almighty God for a great victory. I regret to state that General Paxton was killed, General Jackson severely, and Generals Heth and A. P. Hill slightly wounded." This was followed on the seventh by a congratulatory address from General Lee to his army: "With heartfelt gratification, the General commanding expresses to the army his sense of the heroic conduct displayed by officers and men during the arduous operations in which they have just been engaged. Under trying vicissitudes of

"I have received your dispatch, and reverently unite with you in giving praise to God for the success with which He has crowned our arms. In the name of the people, I offer my cordial thanks to yourself and the troops under your command, for this addition to the unprecedented series of great victories which your army has achieved. universal rejoicing produced by this happy result will be mingled with a general regret for the good and the brave who are numbered among the killed and wounded.'

The

Of the Union losses in this movement to Chancellorsville no exact official returns have as yet been given to the public. An estimate of the day gives the result, exclusive of the loss in Sedgwick's corps, at over 1,500 killed, 9,000

wounded, and about 2,500 prisoners, before he left the lines. The enemy's showing, if the calculation be correct, skirmishers appeared ahead of him, and an unusally large proportion of wounded. he turned to ride back. Just then some General Berry was the most conspicu- one cried out, "Cavalry, charge!" and ous of the officers who fall in the en- immediately the regiment fired. The gagement. Essentially a man of the whole party broke forward to ride people, a representative of the industry through our line to escape the fire. and energy of the inhabitants of his na- Captain Boswell was killed, and carried tive state of Maine, he had risen by his through the line by his horse, and fell own exertions in the community to posts among our own men. Colonel Couchof honorable distinction in civil and mil- field, chief of staff, was wounded by his itary life and with ardent patriotism had side. Two couriers were killed. Major devoted his life to the service of his Pendleton, Lieutenants Morrison and country. Smith, escaped uninjured. General Jackson was immediately placed on a litter and started for the rear. The firing attracted the attention of the enemy, and was resumed by both lines. One litter-bearer was shot down, and the General fell from the shoulders of the men, receiving a severe contusion, adding to the injury of the arm, and injuring his side severely. The enemy's fire of artillery on this point was terrible. General Jackson was left for five minutes, until the fire slackened; then placed in an ambulance, and carried to the field hospital at Wilderness Run. He lost a large amount of blood, and at one time told Dr. McGuire he thought he was dying, and would have bled tc death, but a tourniquet was immediately applied. For two hours he was near pulseless from the shock. As he was being carried from the field, frequent inquiries were made by the soldiers, Who have you there?" He told the Doctor, 'Do not tell the troops I am wounded.'

The enemy, who suffered heavily in casualties to officers, mourned an irreparable loss in General Jackson, whose enthusiasm as a soldier and practical ability in the field had so often on the bloody ground of Virginia turned the tide of battle in favor of the Confederates. The peculiar circumstances of his fall on the field and the incidents of his death-bed were thus related in the Richmond Enquirer of May 13th: "General Jackson having gone some distance in front of the line of skirmishers on Saturday evening (the 2d), was returning about eight o'clock, attended by his staff and part of his couriers. The cavalcade was in the darkness of the night mistaken for a body of the enemy's cavalry, and fired upon by a regiment of his own corps. He was struck by three balls, one through the left arm, two inches below the shoulder joint, shattering the bone and severing the chief artery; another ball passed through the same arm between the elbow and the wrist, making its exit through the palm of the hand; a third ball entered the palm of the right hand about its middle, passing through, and broke two bones. He was wounded on the plank road, about fifty yards in advance of the enemy. He fell from his horse, and was caught by Captain Wormley, to whom he remarked, “All my wounds are by own men." He had given orders to fire at anything coming up the road,

"After the reaction, a consultation was held between Drs. Black, Coleman, Walls and McGuire, and amputation was decided upon. He was asked, 'If we find amputation necessary, shall it be done at once?' He replied, 'Yes, certainly, Dr. McGuire-do for me whatever you think is right.' The operation was performed while he was under the influence of chloroform, and was borne well. He slept on Sunday

"STONEWALL" JACKSON.

137

morning, was cheerful, and in every well. He did not complain of any pain way was doing well. He sent for Mrs. in his side, and wanted to see the memJackson, asked minutely about the bat-bers of his staff, but was advised not. tle, spoke cheerfully of the result, and said: 'If I had not been wounded, or had an hour more of daylight, I would have cut off the enemy from the road to the United States Ford, and we would have had them entirely surrounded, and they would have been obliged to surrender, or cut their way out. They had no other alternative. My troops sometimes may fail in driving the enemy from a position, but the cnemy always fail to drive my men from a position.' This was said smilingly. He complained this day of the fall from the litter, although no contusion or abrasion was apparent as the result of the fall. He did not complain of his wounds; never spoke of them unless asked. On Sunday evening he slept well. On Monday he was carried to Chancellor's house, near Guinney's depot. He was cheerful; talked about the battle, gallant bearing of General Rhodes, and said that his Major-General's commission ought to date from Saturday, the grand charge of his old Stonewall brigade, of which he had heard; asked after all his officers; during the day talked more than usual, and said: 'Men who live through this war will be proud to say, "I was one of the Stonewall brigade," to their children.' He insisted that the term Stonewall belonged to them, and not to him. During the ride to Guinney's he complained greatly of heat, and besides wet applications to his wounds, begged that a wet cloth be applied to his stomach, which was done, greatly to his relief, -as he expressed it. He slept well on Monday night, and eat with relish the next morning. On Tuesday his wounds were doing very well. He asked, 'Can you tell me, from the appearance of my wounds, how long I will be kept from the field?' He was greatly satisfied General Lee announced the death of when told they were doing remarkably | General Jackson to the army in a gen

On Wednesday his wounds looked remarkably well. He expected to go to Richmond this day, but was prevented by rain. This night, while his surgeon, who had slept none for three nights, was asleep, he complained of nausea, and ordered his boy, Jim, to place a wet towel over his stomach. This was done. About daylight the surgeon was awakened by the boy saying, 'The General is in great pain.' The pain was in the right side, and due to incipient pneumonia and some nervousness, which he himself attributed to the fall from the litter. On Thursday Mrs. Jackson arrived, greatly to his joy and satisfaction, and she faithfully nursed him to the end. By Thursday evening all pain had ceased. He suffered greatly from prostration. On Friday he suffered no pain, but prostration increased. On Sunday morning, when it was apparent that he was rapidly sinking, Mrs. Jackson was informed of his condition. She then had free and full converse with him, and told him he was going to die. He said: 'Very good; very good. It is all right.' He had previously said: I consider these wounds a blessing. They were given me for some good and wise purpose. I would not part with them if I could.' He asked of Major Pendleton: 'Who is preaching at headquarters to-day? He sent messages to all the Generals. He expressed a wish to be buried in Lexington, in the valley of Virginia. During delirium his mind reverted to the battlefield, and he sent orders to General A. P. Hill to prepare for action, and to Major Hawks, his commissary, and to the surgeons. He frequently expressed to his aids his wish that Major-General Ewell should be ordered to command his corps.'

eral order on the 11th: "With deep grief the Commanding-General announces the death of Lieutenant-General T. J. Jackson, who expired on the 10th inst., at 3.15, P. M. The daring skill and energy of this great and good soldier, by the decree of an all-wise Providence, are now lost to us; but while we mourn his death, we feel that his spirit

still lives, and will inspire the whole army with his indomitable courage and unshaken confidence in God as our hope and strength. Let his name be a watchword to his corps, who have followed him to victory on so many fields. Let the officers and soldiers imitate his invincible determination to do everything in the defence of our beloved country.'

CHAPTER LXXXVIII.

GENERAL GRANT'S OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI.-SIEGE OF VICKSBURG,
JANUARY-JULY, 1863.

e

WHEN General McClernand, as pre-expedition was led against the work. viously narrated,* at the beginning of The land forces under General McClerJanuary, took command of the "Army nand consisted of the two corps of his of the Mississippi," after the unsuccess- army under Generals Morgan and Sherful movement upon Vicksburg, his first man, comprising ten brigades of Westproceeding was to direct the forces of ern troops with artillery and cavalry which he had been placed in charge by while Rear-Admiral David D. Porter General Grant, against Fort Hindman, detailed for the purpose and commanded an important stronghold of the enemy in person the three ironclads Louisville, on the Arkansas river, fifty miles above Baron de Kalb and Cincinnati, with all its mouth. Situated at a bend of the the light draft gunboats of the fleet. stream, this formidable work,-a regularly constructed square bastioned fort, the sides three hundred feet in length, with casemates and surrounded by a wide and deep ditch, mounting eleven guns, including three Columbiads and four Parrotts, with outer defences, effectually controlled the passage of the river, protected Little Rock, the capital of the State, about a hundred miles above, and sheltered Post Arkansas, the village at which it was built, and the surrounding fertile country. With such advantages it afforded a convenient base of operations for marauding attacks on the Union transports on the Mississippi, and its reduction became a necessary preliminary to the further necessarily protracted movements before Vicksburg. A joint military and naval

* Chapter lxxxii.

On the 9th of January the naval vessels and transports had ascended the river, and a landing of the troops was effected on the left bank, about four miles below the fort. A portion of the levee at right angles with the river within a mile and a half of the work constituted an outer line of defence, which was further protected by earthworks and rifle-pits. The enemy, however, abandoning the levee, an attempt was made on the 10th to push a body of troops into the interior to make a detour and surround the fort. was found to be impracticable in consequence of a swamp which lay in the way and it was determined to advance directly to the attack by the road along the river. The ironclads meanwhile were sent up towards the fort to try the range of their guns, while one of the

This

CAPTURE OF FORT HINDMAN.