National Cemetery at Gettysburg.—Lincoln.

[One of the most interesting events of the year 1863 was the inauguration of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg (Nov. 19). It took place in the presence of a vast concourse of visitors, and an oration was delivered by Edward Everett. The brief address of President Lincoln, on that occasion, was especially admired for the touching pathos of its sentiment and the simple beauty of its diction. Of all his utterances, this is doubt-' less the most expressive of the purity and loftiness of his character.]

1. FOURSCORE and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now, we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.

2. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here; but it can never forget what they did here.

3. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us; that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Union Victories in the South.-In the mean time, General Grant, having gained a series of victories over the Confederate forces in the southwest, succeeded in taking Vicksburg, after a siege of several months (July 4th); and Port Hudson having soon afterward surrendered to Gen. Banks, the Mississippi was completely opened. Gen. Rosecrans, who, in the beginning of the year, had gained an important victory over a large Confederate army under

Gen. Bragg, at Murfrees-bo-ro (Jan. 2, 1863), was attacked near Chick-a-mau'ga Creek by Bragg, and compelled to fall back (Sept. 20.) The timely arrival of Hooker and Grant, the latter of whom took the command, enabled the Union army to gain a decided victory, after a three days' conflict; and Bragg was driven back into Georgia (Nov. 25).

Operations of Grant, Sherman, and Thomas.—Gen. Grant, having been appointed commander-in-chief of all the armies of the Union, arranged, in the spring of 1865, two campaigns-one against Richmond, under his own direction, and the other against Atlanta, under Gen. Sherman. The latter, by a series of masterly movements, compelled the Confederates to retreat, and finally succeeded in taking Atlanta (Sept. 2), which having destroyed, he made his memorable march through Georgia to the sea-coast, and occupied Savannah (Dec. 21). Meanwhile, Gen. Thomas, who had been left by Sherman with a considerable force in Tennessee, attacked the Confederate army under Hood, and, after a battle of two days, routed it with great slaughter (Dec. 15).

Grant's Campaign in Virginia.—In Virginia, Gen. Grant had in the mean time encountered the Confederate army under Lee; and after a series of terrific battles, compelled it to retreat toward Richmond; but Grant, having transferred his army to the south bank of the James, Lee, whose movements had been conducted with consummate skill, occupied Petersburg, and thus compelled the Unionists to lay siege to that city (June).

Operations in the Shenandoah Valley.-The valley of the Shenandoah River was the scene of frequent and severe conflicts. During the siege of Petersburg, Lee detached twenty thousand men, under Gen. Early, to invade Maryland. Having defeated the Union forces under Gen. Wallace, he crossed the Potomac and threatened Washington and Baltimore. Grant hurried off troops for the defense of Washington, and a strong force was organized for Sheridan, who relieved Hunter from command. On the 19th of September, Sheridan attacked and routed Early near Winchester; and, three days after, at Fisher's Hill, he routed the Confederates again. Just a month after his victory at Winchester, his troops, then at Cedar Creek, were suddenly attacked and driven from the field, he, at the time, being absent. Arriving at this critical time, he arranged his lines, repulsed an attack, assailed in return, and, for the third time, routed Early's army. This incident is poetically described in the following lines.

Sheridan's Ride.-Read.

UP from the South at break of day,
Bringing to Winchester fresh dismay,
The affrighted air with a shudder bore,

Like a herald in haste to the chieftain's door,

The terrible grumble, and rumble, and roar,

Telling the battle was on once more,
And Sheridan twenty miles away.

And wider still those billows of war
Thundered along the horizon's bar;
And louder yet into Winchester rolled
The roar of that red sea uncontrolled,
Making the blood of the listener cold,
As he thought of the stake in that fiery fray,
And Sheridan twenty miles away.

But there is a road from Winchester town,
A good, broad highway leading down;

And there, through the flush of the morning light,
A steed as black as the steeds of night
Was seen to pass, as with eagle flight,
As if he knew the terrible need:
He stretched away with his utmost speed;
Hills rose and fell; but his heart was gay,
With Sheridan fifteen miles away.

Still sprung from those swift hoofs, thundering South,
The dust, like smoke from the cannon's mouth,
Or the trail of a comet, sweeping faster and faster,
Foreboding to traitors the doom of disaster.

The heart of the steed and the heart of the master
Were beating like prisoners assaulting their walls,
Impatient to be where the battle-field calls;

Every nerve of the charger was strained to full play,
With Sheridan only ten miles away.

Under his spurning feet the road
Like an arrowy Alpine river flowed,

And the landscape sped away behind

Like an ocean flying before the wind;

And the steed, like a bark fed with furnace ire,
Swept on, with his wild eyes full of fire.

But lo! he is nearing his heart's desire;

He is snuffing the smoke of the roaring fray,

With Sheridan only five miles away.

The first that the general saw were the groups

Of stragglers, and then the retreating troops;

What was done? what to do? a glance told him both.

Then, striking his spurs, with a terrible oath,

He dashed down the line, 'mid a storm of huzzas,

And the wave of retreat checked its course there, because The sight of the master compelled it to pause.

With foam and with dust the black charger was gray;
By the flash of his eye, and the red nostril's play,
He seemed to the whole great army to say,
"I have brought you Sheridan all the way
From Winchester, down to save the day."
Hurrah! hurrah for Sheridan!

Hurrah! hurrah for horse and man!
And when their statues are placed on high,
Under the dome of the Union sky-
The American soldier's temple of fame-
There, with the glorious general's name,
Be it said, in letters both bold and bright,
"Here is the steed that saved the day,
By carrying Sheridan into the fight

From Winchester, twenty miles away!"

Destruction of the Alabama.-The Confederates, by means of English-built privateers, sailing under the Confederate flag, succeeded in destroying a large number of American merchantmen. Semmes, in the Alabama, resumed * his career of destruction, luring vessels by hoisting the British flag ; but the Alabama was at last met (June 19) by the Kearsarge (ke'ar-sarj), Captain Winslow, and, after a short contest, was sunk.

Victory by Admiral Farragut.-Of all the achievements of the army or navy of the United States during the war, none were more brilliant than that of Admiral Farragut in Mobile Bay (Aug. 5th). He succeeded in passing Forts Morgan and Gaines, at the entrance of the bay, and then gained a complete victory over the Confederate fleet. The two forts were afterwards captured.

Occupation of Wilmington.—The active operations of 1865 began with the reduction of Fort Fisher, the main defense of Wilmington. This was accomplished (January 15th) by eight thousand men, under General Terry, aided by Admiral Porter's fleet. About a month before, Butler had made a demonstration against the fort, but deeming the works too strong to be carried by his force, returned to Fortress Monroe. Wilmington was occupied by the Federal troops a few days after the capture of the fort (Feb. 22d).

Victories gained by Sherman.—Sherman, having halted at Savannah only long enough to refit his army, was again in motion by the 1st of February. On the 17th he captured Columbia, compelling the Confederates, by this achievement, to evacuate Charleston. He next entered North Carolina, fought and defeated General Hardee (March 16th), and, four days later, gained a victory over General J. E. Johnston.

Occupation of Richmond.-Surrender of Lee.-On the 29th of March (1865) the final movement of the national forces, which Gen. Grant had

*He had previously commanded the steamer Sumter, and captured a great many vessels.

gathered around Richmond commenced; and, after ten days' marching and fighting, the campaign was ended. On the 3d of April, both Petersburg and Richmond were occupied by the nation's victorious troops. The retreating army was hotly pursued by Sheridan; and, on the 9th, Lee, overtaken and surrounded, surrendered to Grant near Appomattox Court-House.

Evacuation of Richmond.-Pollard.

[When Lee found that his position at Petersburg was no longer tenable, he immediately sent a telegram to Davis in Richmond, containing very nearly the following words: My lines are broken in three places, Richmond must be evacuated this evening." This occurred on Sunday, April 2d, and the dispatch reached Mr. Davis while he sat in church, where it was handed to him amid the fearful silence and apprehension of the congregation. The Confederate President hurried from the church, and a rumor was immediately circulated that the city was to be abandoned. The following description is from E. A. Pollard's Southern History of the War.]

1. MEN, women, and children rushed from the churches, passing from lip to lip news of the impending fall of Richmond. And yet it was difficult to believe it. To look up to the calm, beautiful sky of that spring day, unassailed by one single noise of battle; to watch the streets unvexed by artillery or troops, stretching away into the quiet, hazy atmosphere, and believe that the capital of the Confederacy, so peaceful, so apparently secure, was in a few hours to be the prey of the enemy, and to be wrapped in the infernal horrors of a conflagration!

2. It was late in the afternoon when the signs of evacuation became apparent to the incredulous. Wagons on the streets were being hastily loaded at the departments with boxes, trunks, etc., and driven to the Danville dépôt. Those who had determined to leave with the fugitive government looked on with amazement; then, convinced of the fact, rushed to follow the government's example. Vehicles suddenly rose to a premium value that was astounding; and ten, fifteen, and even a hundred dollars, in gold or Federal currency, was offered for a conveyance.

3. Suddenly, as if by magic, the streets became filled with. men, walking as though for a wager, and behind them excited negroes with trunks, bundles, and luggage of every description. All over the city it was the same-wagons, trunks, bandboxes, and their owners, a mass of hurrying fugitives, filling the streets.