don, which was captured by Burbridge, with much stores. A portion of the salt-works at this point was also destroyed. The pursuit of Vaughn was continued by Gen. Gillem, with the support of Brown's brigade, and some loss inflicted on him. A force was also sent to the Virginia railroad near Glade Springs, which destroyed a large number of bridges and depots, a large amount of rolling stock, and the extensive iron works near Marion. Upon the advance of the Confederate Gen. Breckinridge it withdrew to Kentucky.

The operations in Middle Tennessee became very important near the close of the year. On Nov. 4th, Johnsonville, a depot for supplies on the Tennessee River, was attacked and destroyed by Col. Forrest. The value of property burned was estimated at more than six million dollars. This result was achieved by planting batteries on the opposite bank of the river and destroying the small gunboats which lay near the place for its protection.

The movement of Gen. Sherman's force toward Savannah, with the necessary reduction of the Federal forces in Tennessee, tempted Gen. Hood to advance into that State with the hope that by the coöperation of Gen. Breckinridge in East Tennessee, the entire State might be recovered and restored to the Confederacy. On Nov. 21st Gen. Hood began to move north from the Tennessee River for the capture of Nashville, and on the 23d his army took possession of Pulaski, which had been just evacuated by the small Federal force under Gen. Hatch. Pushing forward with some skirmishing, Columbia was occupied on the 26th. Meanwhile the force left under Gen. Thomas by Gen. Sherman, continued to fall back toward Nashville. The enemy appeared before Franklin on the 30th, and Gen. Schofield prepared to make a stand. The force of Gen. Hood, however, was divided into two columns, one to attack Franklin in front, and the other to move down Harpeth River, cross over it some distance east of Franklin, and endeavor to get into the Federal rear. At 4 P. M. on Wednesday, the 30th, Gen. Hood's main column made a heavy and persistent attack on Franklin in front, but Gen. Schofield, who was in command with 15,000 men, managed to hold his own until dusk, and then ordered a retreat. This was accelerated by the news of the flanking column having crossed Harpeth River several miles east of Franklin. The retreat was continued all night, and on Thursday at daylight reached a point seven miles south of Nashville, where Gen. A. J. Smith's corps was posted. The Confederate flanking column, after crossing Harpeth River attacked a Federal cavalry brigade, and compelled it to retreat. The force reached Gen. Smith's position about the same time as Gen. Schofield. The enemy followed both, and Gen. Smith being hard pressed abandoned his position and fell back to the outer line of the Nashville intrenchments, three miles from the town.

Great consternation prevailed in Nashville. Business was suspended. The citizens and the vast army of Government laborers were put under arms. The army of Gen. Thomas was put in line of battle three miles south of Nashville, and the enemy advanced to a point five miles distant. The intervening space became a scene of constant skirmishing. Meantime Gen. Hood proposed to blockade the Cumberland River, cut the Louisville and Nashville road, and thus compel Gen. Thomas to evacuate the city. To execute this purpose more effectively, he fell back from his works before the city to intrench himself in the Overton range of hills, and thus cut off Thomas from Rousseau at Murfreesboro, and with his cavalry and Breckinridge's forces cut off Bridgeport and Chattanooga.

Reënforcements were now sent to Gen. Thomas with the greatest despatch, and he determined to dislodge Gen. Hood from his position, which he had already begun to strengthen. Accordingly, early on Dec. 15th, a feint was made on Hood's right and a real attack upon his left, which resulted in driving it from the river below the city as far as Franklin's pike, a distance of eight miles. The train and headquarters of Gen. Chalmers were captured; another train of twenty wagons, together with a thousand prisoners and sixteen pieces of artillery. During the ensuing night Gen. Hood contracted his lines back to the Brentwood range of hills, massing on the Franklin pike to keep it open, in case of retreat, and to cover his large wagon train, which was moving by by-roads into the pike. On the next morning the battle was renewed. The Federal position remained unchanged from the previous day. Steedman on the extreme left, Wood connecting with him on the left of the Franklin pike. Garrard's division of A. J. Smith's corps connecting with the right of Wood's; next came McArthur, then Col. Moore, connecting with Gen. Schofield's left. Gen. Cox formed Schofield's right and Gen. Couch his left. Wilson's cavalry came up on Schofield's right, along the Hillsboro pike, with orders to operate south of the hills, and, if possible, turn the enemy's flank and cut off his retreat. Movements commenced at 10 A. M., and in the afternoon the action became close and obstinate. Near dusk the enemy began to give way, and a rout soon followed. They were pursued until dark through the gap of the hills and along the Franklin pike. Some four thousand prisoners were captured. The following is Gen. Thomas's report of this day's conflict:

HEADQUARTERS DEP'T OF THE CUMBERLAND, EIGHT MILES FROM NASHVILLE, Dec. 16-6 P. M. To the President of the United States, Hon. E. M. Stanton, and Lieut.-General Grant:

conduct yesterday, and assure you that it is not misThis army thanks you for your approbation of its placed. I have the honor to report that the enemy has been pressed at all points to-day on his line of reWilson's corps of cavalry, on the right, turned the treat to the Brentwood Hill. Brig.-Gen. Hatch, of enemy's left, and captured a large number of prisoners. The number is not reported.

Maj.-Gen. Schofield's corps, next on the left wing of the cavalry, carried several hills, capturing many prisoners and six pieces of artillery.

Maj.-Gen. Smith, next on the left of Maj.-Gen. Schofield, carried the salient point of the enemy's line, with McMillan's brigade of McArthur's division, capturing sixteen pieces of artillery, two brigadier generals, and about 2,000 prisoners.

Brig. Gen. Garrard's division, of Smith's command,

next on the left of McArthur's division, carried the enemy's intrenchments, capturing all the artillery and troops of the enemy on the line.

Brig.-Gen. Wood's troops on the Franklin Pike took up the assault, capturing the enemy's intrenchments, and in his retreat also capturing eight pieces of artillery, something over 600 prisoners, and drove the enemy within one mile of the Brentwood Hill Pass. Maj.-Gen. Stedman, commanding detachments of the different armies of the Military Division of the Mississippi, most nobly supported Gen. Wood's left, and took a most honorable part in the operations of the day. I have ordered the pursuit to be continued in the morning at daylight. Although the troops are very much fatigued, the utmost enthusiasm prevails. I must not forget to report the operations of Brig.Gen. Johnson, in successfully driving the enemy, with the cooperation of the gunboats under Lieut. Commander Fitch, from their established batteries on the Cumberland, below the city of Nashville, and of the success of Brig.-Gen. Croxton's brigade, in covering and protecting our right and rear in the operations of to-day and yesterday. Although I have no report of the number of prisoners captured by Johnson's and Croxton's command, I know they have made a large number.

I am also glad to be able to state that the number of prisoners captured yesterday greatly exceeds the number reported by telegraph. The woods, fields, and intrenchments are filled with the enemy's small arms, abandoned in the retreat. In conclusion, I am happy to state that all this has been effected with very small loss to us. Our loss probably does not

exceed 300, and very few killed. (Signed)

G. H. THOMAS, Major-General.

Early on the next morning the Federal pursuit was renewed. A large number of wounded were captured on the road to Franklin, and also stragglers. The cavalry harassed the flanks and rear of the enemy and scattered any force that offered resistance. The following is Gen. Thomas's report of the 17th:

HEADQ'S DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Near FRANKLIN, TENN., Dec. 17th, 8 P. M.

We have pressed the enemy to-day beyond Franklin, capturing his hospitals, containing over 1,500 wounded, and about 150 of our wounded, in addition to the above. Gen. Knipe, commanding a division of cavalry, drove the enemy's rear-guard through Franklin to-day, capturing about 250 prisoners and five battle-flags with very little loss on our side. Citizens of Franklin represent Hood's army as completely demoralized. In addition to the captures of yesterday, reported in my despatches of last night, I have the honor to report the capture of Gen. Rucker, and about 250 of the enemy's cavalry, in a fight that occurred about 8 o'clock last night between Gen. Rucker and Gen. Hatch of our cavalry.

The enemy has been pressed to-day both in front and on both flanks. Brig.-Gen. Johnson succeeded in striking him on the flank just beyond Franklin, capturing quite a number of prisoners-number not yet reported. My cavalry is pressing him closely through, and I am very much in hopes of getting many more prisoners to-morrow.

GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General. The entire loss of the enemy was 13,189 in prisoners, including several general and nearly

one thousand other officers of lower grades, and seventy-two pieces of artillery. During the same period over two thousand deserters were received. The Federal loss was about 10,000 in killed, wounded, and missing. Gen. Hood retired with his remaining force into the northern part of Alabama.

Some military expeditions were made near the close of the year. A force left Vicksburg under Gen. Dana, in the latter part of November, for the purpose of cooperating with Gen. Sherman by occupying the enemy in Mississippi. It reached the Mississippi Central Railroad on Nov. 25th, and after an obstinate engagement succeeded in destroying the Big Black River bridge. Several miles of the track of the railroad, including culverts, stations, 2,600 bales of cotton, two locomotives, four cars, twenty barrels of salt, and $160,000 worth of stores at Vaughan station were also destroyed.

About the same time an expedition organized under the direction of Gen. Canby, consisting of a cavalry force under Gen. Davidson, left Baton Rouge. Thence it marched to Tanghipiho and destroyed the railroad to Jackson, burning bridges and railroad buildings. Thence it moved to Franklinville, capturing a mail and prisoners. Thence it moved to West Pascagoula. These movements caused a great panic in Mississippi, and created alarm for the safety of Mobile, thus effectively cooperating with Gen. Sherman.

In December a force, consisting of five divisions under the command of Maj.-Gen. Warren, made a raid upon the Weldon Railroad. The Nottoway was reached about midday Dec. 8th, and destroyed; thence the railroad track was destroyed nearly to Bellfield station, twenty miles south. On the 10th the expedition started on its return, followed by crowds of negroes, and arrived after an absence of four days. Its loss was about a half dozen men.

At the close of the year the area of territory held by the Federal armies was about the same as at the end of the previous year. The war during the year had been the cause of immense destruction to the South, both in men and property. In the latter probably there is no parallel in modern history. Its effect was apparent in the exhausted condition of the country.

The Indians on the frontier maintained a hostile attitude during a portion of the year. The plan of operations of Maj.-Gen. Pope, who was in command, embraced three objects: first, the chastisement and subjection of the bands of Savages on both sides of the Missouri River, who continued refractory and hostile; secondly, the protection of the overland route to Idaho, by the establishment of strong military posts within the Indian country; thirdly, the security of the Minnesota and Iowa frontier against raids.

Some conflicts took place between the Indians and Gens. Sibley and Sully in the northwest, and Curtis in Kansas, by which their numbers were greatly reduced, and their provisions and property destroyed. The ferocious hostile attitude of these border tribes continued unchanged.

Several events tending to disturb the friendly relations of the United States with other countries occurred during 1864. Raiding parties were organized in Canada by persons claiming to be in the service of the Confederate States, for the purpose of liberating the prisoners of war confined on Johnson's Island, and depredating on the property of citizens of the United States. One of these parties, organized by one Bennet G. Burley, consisting of some twenty men, seized the steamer Philo Parsons, running between the city of Detroit and Sandusky, after she had left Kelly's Island in the State of Ohio. They then captured the Island Queen at Middle Bass Island, Ohio, where they put ashore all the passengers. While here they forced Walter O. Ashley, the clerk of the Philo Parsons, at the peril of his life, to deliver over his money. Burley was arrested, charged with robbery, and claimed under the Extradition Treaty; and surrendered after a hearing before the Recorder of the city of Toronto.

On the 19th of October a party of men from Canada, twenty to thirty in number, well armed, entered the village of St. Albans, in Vermont, robbed the bank in the place of fifty thousand dollars, stole horses enough to mount all the party, fired on a crowd of unarmed citizens, wounding three men, one mortally, and setting fire to one of the hotels. The whole transaction occupied only three-quarters of an hour, and the band immediately started for Canada, where thirteen of the marauders were arrested and confined at St. John's. As soon as the outrage was reported to the Canadian authorities they did every thing in their power to arrest the perpetrators; and Mr. Seward, on the 21st of October, expressed to Mr. Burnlew, of the British Legation at Washington, his "sincere satisfaction" with their proceedings. Mr. Seward regarded the outrage as a deliberate attempt to embroil the governments of England and the United States, and involve them in a border war. But he rejoiced that the officers and agents on both sides of the frontier had acted together in good faith, and with due respect on each side for the lawful rights and authority of the other. This, he adds, "is in entire conformity with the wishes of the United States." It should be added, that a great proportion of the stolen money was found on the persons of the raiders captured, and was taken possession of by the Canadian police. Lord Lyons, when the transaction occurred, was at New York, but immediately returned to Washington. The legal proceedings in the case of the prisoners were not very rapidly despatched, and early in November Mr. Seward speaks rather angrily of the requisitions for the offenders whose crimes were committed on Lake Erie, and for the burglars and murderers who invaded Vermont, remaining unanswered. In fact, the latter were discharged by Judge Coursol on a supposed technical defect in the instrument under which they were tried, released from custody, and the money restored to them. They

were thus discharged on December 14th, and again apprehended, and finally released.

It is proper here briefly to mention the revolution extensively produced in the science of offensive and defensive warfare, and particularly in the department of fortifications. The newly-developed powers of modern artillery, both as respects the greatly-enlarged calibres of siege and naval guns, and the application of the principle of rifling to guns of the largest calibres, have proved destructive to masonry forts, even when so constructed as to be regarded as im pregnable. Fort Sumter, one of the strongest forts of its class ever erected on this continent, and Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay, also a work of great strength, were both completely reduced by artillery fire, the one from land batteries at a distance of from two to three miles, and the other by the concentrated fire of the naval squadron of Admiral Farragut. In the case of Fort Sumter this result was the more remarkable as after its capture in 1861 it was strengthened by all the.resources known to engineering art, and its gorge wall, which previously was more than ten feet in thickness, was protected by an inner brick wall of twelve feet, and for a considerable portion of its height by a covering of sandbags on its outside. All its casemates were also strengthened, the traverses on its terre-plain enlarged, and every precaution possible made use of to make it impregnable. Yet seven days' bombardment at the long distances named, were sufficient to reduce it to a ruin incapable of bearing any important part in the defence of the city or harbor. .On the other hand, the sandwork Fort McAllister effectually resisted the assault of the three iron-clads in March, 1863, and the sandwork Fort Wagner, though badly located, and not judiciously defended, yet resisted two vigorous and well-conducted assaults, a severe and almost continuous bombardment from Admiral Dahlgren's squadron, and a constant cannonade from heavy batteries on Morris Island, and was only abandoned when approached and mined by a regular siege, and was found to be but little injured. Fort Fisher, a more recent example of an earthwork of great strength, though situated too near the channel so as to be exposed to the fire of the monster guns of the monitors at short range, yet withstood with but slight injury the first assault of the squadron, which concentrated upon it a fire of 539 guns; and though it might have been silenced by the fire of the fleet at the second bombardment, would hardly have been captured but for the feint of a seaward attack, which called off the attention of the garrison from the actual assault by Terry's force.

From these and other trials of the comparative powers of resistance of masonry and earthwork fortifications, the ablest engineers of the country have come to the conclusion that the best material for fortifications in general is a pure quartz sand with natural slopes; and that where the batteries of fortifications are much exposed or can be approached within short

range, they should be protected by heavy iron plating.

Major-General Gillmore, who ranks as one of the highest authorities on this subject, regards the erection of revolving iron turrets in the centre of the channels of approach to large cities as a very desirable addition to their means of harbor defence, as combining the advantages of long range and wide field of fire.

While there has been so marked a revolution in the minds of military men in regard to the subject of permanent fortifications, a change almost as marked has taken place in regard to the method of giving or receiving battle. Heretofore, when two armies have been opposed to each other in the field, and neither of them disposed to take advantage of the defences of a fortified town, they have met each other on the open plain or slope of hillside or valley without fortification, and the fortunes of the day have often been decided by a dashing charge of cavalry or the sudden assault of infantry with the bayonet. Such was the case in the earlier battles of the present war; but the troops on both sides have learned that a barricade even of the rudest character will stop many of the balls, shot, and shell which are sent on an errand of destruction toward them, and at every halt for the night or for a few hours the men, before attending to any other duty, run up barricades of rails which they cover with earth, and thus protect themselves in part from a sweeping assault like those at Shiloh and at Stone River, which would destroy or capture thousands. The primary barricade is thrown up with wonderful rapidity, and is tolerably complete within five or ten minutes. If not immediately assaulted, the men proceed to perfect it by digging

a trench inside and throwing the earth outside, thus making the protection greater; by felling the trees and undergrowth in front and arranging it as an abatis; by palisades and wire entanglements, and by placing heavy logs on the top of the barricades for protection to the sharpshooters. During General Sherman's campaigns from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and from that city to Savannah, as well as in General Grant's campaigns in Virginia, these temporary fortifications were constantly erected; and in General Sherman's report of the Atlanta campaign he says of this practice: "The skill and rapidity with which our men construct them is wonderful, and is something new in the art of war."

Though but remotely connected with the subject of fortifications, yet as pertaining to the matter of coast defences, the introduction of stationary torpedoes as a subaqueous protection merits attention. In no previous war have they been used to the same extent as in this. Various forms have been devised, and the contrivances for exploding them at the right moment for destroying the vessels which approached them, have displayed a rare ingenuity. Though considerable injury has been done by them, five or six vessels having been destroyed, yet they cannot, on the whole, be regarded as successful, as not one in five hundred, and perhaps hardly one in one thousand, have accomplished the purpose for which they were designed. Their use as a means of harbor defence seems to be conceded as justifiable by all military authorities; and if they can be made more certainly effective, they will form a very formidable addition to the means of protection to the approaches to large cities.

THE naval operations in 1864 remain to be described. The rams built in England for sea service, and which excited much anxiety near the close of the previous year, under a conviction that they were intended for the Confederates, were detained and bought by the English Government. None of this class of vessels were therefore built in English ports and suffered to enter the service of the Richmond Government.

During the hostilities in which Denmark was involved, a ram was built in a port of France for that Government. On the return of peace this ram was transferred to agents of the Government at Richmond, and placed under the

command of Capt. T. J. Page, formerly of the U. S. Navy, and called the Stonewall. She made for the port of Ferrol, in Spain, and was there blockaded by the U. S. frigates Niagara and Sacramento. She subsequently escaped and reached Havana, and was there delivered to the Spanish government. During the year 1865, she was given up by the latter to the United States.

The cruisers were more numerous and exceedingly destructive. Previous to January 30, 1864, the number of merchant vessels of the United States destroyed by them was 193; tonnage, 89,704; value of vessels at $50 per ton, $4,485,200; value of cargo at $100 per ton,

The other merchant vessels (twenty-nine) were captured in Southern harbors and rivers. Of the vessels captured by the cruisers, seventeen were bonded, and all the others burned. During 1864 a few captures were made by the Alabama before she was sunk by the Kearsarge. The Florida, Captain_Morris, appeared off the coast of Virginia in July and captured six vessels, and destroyed afterwards a number, and was finally captured in the harbor of Bahia by a U. S. steamer.

Three more cruisers also made their appearance during 1864, viz.: the Tallahassee, Olustee, and Chickamauga. The steamer Tallahassee in August visited the entire length of the coast of the Northern States, and destroyed thirty-three vessels in ten days, one of which was a New York pilot-boat. The steamer Olustee was an iron vessel of 1,100 tons burthen, schooner rigged, with two screws and very fast. Several vessels were captured by her off the coast and bound to New York in the month of November. The steamer Chickamauga also captured several vessels, which were valued at $500,000.

The most important rams for harbor service were the Tennessee and Albemarle. For the details respecting these and also the Confederate gunboats, see other pages.

On September 29th the steamer Roanoke, a passenger and freight vessel running between New York and Havana, was captured by Lieutenant Braine and some companions, who had come on board as passengers as the vessel was leaving Havana in the afternoon. The officers and crew were overpowered, made prisoners, and the vessel headed for Bermuda, where a pilot was called on board. Braine went ashore and brought on board a party, and the vessel put to sea, soon overhauling a brig with coal and provisions.

These were taken aboard, and on the next day a vessel was sent to take off the passengers. The transfer was made together with a quantity of cotton, and the steamer set on fire. The passengers and crew were taken into Five Fathom Hole, and the purser and first mate went ashore to have the Confederates as pirates arrested, which was done, but after a trial by the British authorities they were discharged. The Roanoke had on board $17,000 in greenbacks, and $4,000 in gold.

A correspondence relative to this affair ensued between the Governor of Bermuda and the Home Government, and with Mr. Adams,

the American Minister at London. The reasons on which Lieutenant Braine was discharged are stated in the following letter of Earl Russell to Mr. Adams:

FOREIGN OFFICE, January 21.

SIR: I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 21st ult. protesting against the proceedings of her Majesty's colonial authorities at Bermuda in the case of the steamer Roanoke, and enclosing copies of various documents relating thereto.

These papers refer to two different complaints The one complaint is, that persons were enlisted at Bermuda with a view to make war on a State in amity with her Majesty. The other complaint is, that certain passengers proceeding from Havana in the United States vessel Roanoke, when five hours from Havana on their voyage, rose on the captain, made themselves masters of the vessel, destroyed her, and were afterwards permitted to land on the island of Bermuda. The answer to the first complaint is, that sufficient evidence to convict the persons accused was not produced, and consequently they could not be convicted. The answer to the second complaint is, that the person arrested for a supposed piratical act produced a commission authorizing that act as an operation of war, from the Government of the so-called Confederate States, which are acknowledged by her Majesty's Government to possess all belligerent rights. (Signed,)

I am, &c.,

RUSSELL

Of all the systems adopted by the Federal Navy Department to accomplish the various and arduous objects rendered necessary by the outbreak of the war, not the least interesting is the manner in which an effective blockade of the Southern coast was secured. The length of coast to be blockaded was three thousand five hundred and forty-nine (3,549) miles. This is a greater extent than the whole coast of Europe from Cape Trafalgar to Cape North. The most serious attempts heretofore made by the great maritime powers of Europe consisted in endeavors to interdict trade at a few of the principal ports of a belligerent. The first steps of the department consisted in making every naval vessel available, recalling the foreign squadrons, increasing the force by building new vessels, and procuring for naval purposes from the merchant service every steamer which could be made a fighting vessel, and in enlarging the capacity of the navy yards, putting in requisition the foundries and work shops of the country for supplies of ordnance and steam machinery, augmenting the number of seamen, and supplying the deficiency of officers by selecting experienced and able shipmasters and others from the commercial marine. The next efforts of the department were directed toward securing several harbors, at comparatively equidistant points, as bases of operations for the several squadrons, where our naval vessels could receive their supplies, and maintain themselves at their stations and on their cruising ground without returning to northern ports for repairs and to refit. For this purpose various naval expeditions were organized. The first sailed from Hampton Roads in August, 1861, and captured the forts at Hatteras Inlet. This was followed, a few weeks later, by the capture of Port Royal,