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By another executive order from the maintain itself. Some reverses, which War Department, dated February 14th, perhaps were unavoidable, suffered by the political prisoners held under arrest newly-levied and insufficient forces, disat Fort Lafayette, and elsewhere, were couraged the loyal, and gave new hope generally directed to be released on their to the insurgents. Voluntary enlistment simple parole. The order set forth the seemed to cease, and desertions composition in which the rebellion had found menced. Parties speculated upon the the nation, and the circumstances under question, whether the conscription had which the arrests had been made. "Every not become necessary to fill up the ardepartment of the government was para-mies of the United States. In this emerlyzed by treason;" when "the Capitol was beleagured and its connection with all the States cut off;" when, "even in the portions of the country which were most loyal, political combinations and secret societies were found furthering the work of disunion; while from motives of disloyalty or cupidity, or from excited passions or perverted sympathies, individuals were found furnishing men, money, materials of war, and supplies to the insurgents' military and naval force. Armies, ships, fortifications, navyyards, arsenals, military posts, and garrisons, one after another, were betrayed or abandoned to the insurgents."

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The situation was unprecedented, and little or no provision had been made, or was in working operation for its requirements. Congress had not anticipated, and so had not provided for the emergency. The municipal authorities were powerless and inactive. The judiciary machinery seemed as if it had been designed not to sustain the government, but to embarrass and betray it. Foreign intervention was openly invited, and industriously instigated by the abettors of the insurrection, and it became imminent, and has only been prevented by the practice of strict and impartial justice, with the most perfect moderation in our intercourse with other nations. The public mind was alarmed and apprehensive, though, fortunately, not distracted or disheartened. It seemed to be doubtful, whether the National Government, which one year ago had been thought a model worthy of universal acceptance, had indeed the ability to defend and

gency, the President felt it his duty to employ with energy the extraordinary powers which the constitution confides to him in cases of insurrection. He called into the field such military and naval forces authorized by existing laws as seemed necessary. He directed measures to prevent the use of the post-office for treasonable correspondence. He subjected passengers to and from foreign countries to new passport regulations; and he instituted a blockade; suspended the habeas corpus in various places, and caused persons who were represented to him as being engaged, or about to engage in disloyal and treasonable practices, to be arrested by special civil, as well as military agencies, and detained in military custody, when necessary, to prevent them, and deter others from such practices. Examinations of such cases were instituted, and some of the persons so arrested have been discharged from time to time, under circumstances or upon conditions compatible, as was thought, with the public safety."

From this explanation of the course which had been pursued, the Secretary, turning to the indications of safety at the present time, proceeded to set forth the motives for the relaxation of the previous rigor, and the terms proposed by the government for the opening of the prison doors. "Meantime, a favorable change of public opinion has occurred. The line between loyalty and disloyolty is plainly defined. The whole structure of the government is firm and stable. Apprehensions of public danger, and facilities for treasonable practices, have diminished

ARMIES OF THE POTOMAC.

with the passions which prompted the heedless persons to adopt them. The insurrection is believed to have culminated, and to be declining. The President, in view of these facts, and anxious to favor a return to the normal course of the administration, as far as a regard to faith and the public welfare will allow, directs that all political prisoners, or State's prisoners, now held in military custody, be released on their subscribing a parole engaging them to render no aid or comfort to enemies in hostility to the United States. The Secretary of War will, however, in his discretion, except from the effect of this order, any persons detained as spies in the service of the insurgents, or others whose release at the present moment may be deemed incompatible with the public safety. To all persons who shall be so released, and shall keep their parole, the President grants an amnesty for any past offences of treason or disloyalty, which they may have committed. Extraordinary arrests will, hereafter, be made under the direction of the military authorities alone."

To carry this order into effect a special commission was appointed, consisting of Major-General John A. Dix, commanding in Baltimore, and the Hon. Edwards Pierrepont of New York, who were authorized to examine the cases of the state prisoners, and summarily determine whether they should be discharged, or remain in military custody, or be remitted to the civil tribunals for trial."

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By the side of this order appeared another, announcing that, "on and after the 26th of February, the President, by virtue of the act of Congress, takes military possession of all the telegraph lines in the United States. All telegraphic communications in regard to military operations, not expressly authorized by the War Department, or the proper officers, were absolutely forbidden, and newspapers publishing intelligence in violation of the regulation, were excluded there

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after from receiving information by telegraph, or from transmitting their papers by railroad."

Military operations in January and February were chiefly confined to the navy and the forces in the West. The great army on the Potomac, under the command of General McClellan, remained in the vicinity of the forts before Washington, exercised in drills and parade, gathering its enormous equipments, waiting the signal for an advance upon the enemy, who were in force at Manassas, with their outposts extending to within a few miles of Washington. While they held this advanced position their batteries were erected at commanding points below, along the Potomac, seriously interfering with the navigation of the river. So adroitly were their counsels kept that little was known of the actual numbers. of the army confronting Washington. The greatest exaggeration prevailed on the subject, raising the estimate to two or three hundred thousand, when eighty thousand, at any time, would probably have been a very liberal calculation. Schooled in hardships, and encouraged by the memories of Bull Run, they would doubtless, however, acting on the defensive, have proved themselves formidable antagonists to superior numbers of assailants. The farewell address of General Beauregard, from his camp near Centreville, on taking leave of his command, on the 30th of January, previous to his departure to the Southwest, was confident and spirited :-"Soldiers of the First Corps, Army of the Potomac,-My duty calls me away, and to a temporary separation from you. I hope, however, to be with you again, to share your labors and your perils, and in defence of your homes and our rights, to lead you to new battles, to be crowned with signal victories. You are now undergoing the severest trial of a soldier's life: the one by which his discipline and capacity for endurance are thoroughly tested. My faith in your patriotism, your devotion and de

termination, and in your high soldierly which the Union troops entered by a qualities, is so great that I shall rest as- spirited movement, putting its defenders sured you will pass through the ordeal to rapid flight. One rebel was killed resolutely, triumphantly. Still, I cannot and seven wounded, including a captain. quit you without deep emotion, without One only of the attacking party was even deep anxiety, in the moment of our wounded. Four hundred cavalry and country's trials and dangers. Above all, two companies of infantry abandoned I am anxious that my brave countrymen, the town. Having set fire to several here in arms, fronting the haughty array large buildings filled with ample stores and muster of Northern mercenaries, of provisions, Major Webster brought should thoroughly appreciate the exi- his force off in safety before the enemy gency, and hence comprehend that this could bring up reinforcements to interis no time for the Army of the Potomac rupt their return.* -the men of Manassas-to stack their arms and quit, even for a brief period, the standards they have made glorious by their manhood. All must understand this, and feel the magnitude of the conflict impending, the universal personal sacrifices this war has entailed, and our duty to meet them as promptly and unblenchingly as you have met the enemy in line of battle."

The opening of the new year found General McClellan recovering from an attack of fever, which, though it kept him from the field, was not suffered to interfere with his direction of the army. There were some slight movements in Western Virginia. An expedition, consisting of portions of an Ohio and Virginia regiment, with a detachment of Indiana cavalry, in all about seven hundred and fifty men, under command of Major Webster, of the 25th Ohio, was sent by General Milroy from his camp at Huttonsville, in Randolph county, to attack the enemy in Huntersville, the capital of the neighboring county of Pocahontas, where there was a depot of supplies. Starting the last day of December, the force braving the wintry severity of the mountain region, traversed the intervening fifty miles, passing over Elk Mountain, and coming, on the 4th of January, upon the outposts of the enemy at Greenbrier river, near the point of attack. The pickets of the Confederates were driven in, and a number of their cavalry pursued to the town,

The same day an attack, a counterpart of the affair just described, was made in force by the Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson upon the Union outposts in Morgan county, Virginia, guarding the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. The party left Winchester on the 1st of January, and after a march of universal hardships in the severe cold, without protection of tents or blankets, encountering a storm. of snow, rain, and hail, on the night of the 3d, reached Bath the next day, and prepared to attack the small body of Union troops at Bath, which, with some sharp skirmishing, retreated before them, crossing the Potomac six miles distant at Hancock. This town was then approached by the rebels, and its surrender was demanded on the 5th, by General Jackson, with a threat of bombardment. This General Lander, who was in command, met by opening fire on the enemy's position on the opposite hill. Firing was kept up for an hour, without loss of life on either side, when the assault was abandoned. The rebels contented themselves with burning a bridge on the Potomac and breaking up a portion of the railroad track.

On the 8th, a detachment of General Kelley's command, led by Colonel Duning of the 5th Ohio, advancing from Romney some thirty miles, surprised an inferior force of the enemy at Blue Gap. The attack was made with spirit, and re

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial, Huttons

ville, January 7, 1862.

LANDER'S ATTACK AT BLOOMING GAP.

sulted in the rapid dispersion of the rebels. Two pieces of artillery were taken with a few prisoners. A number of killed were found. No loss was suffered by the Unionists, who returned after destroying several houses of the rebel officer Colonel Blue, and others, used for quarters, bringing off considerable booty of cattle and stores.

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forty miles south of Romney. He has captured two hundred and twenty-five beef cattle, and he broke up the guerrilla haunt there. Two of his men were badly wounded, but several of the rebels were killed. The enemy has thus been driven out of this department. I respectfully commend Colonel S. S. Carroll to your notice. He is a most efficient and gallant officer. Lieutenants H. G. Armstrong, A. A. G., and Fitz James O'Brien, Aid-de-Camp, joined me in the charge, by which the rebel officers were captured and confidence restored, after the cavalry had been checked. O'Brien was shot through the breast by a rebel whilst out scouting."

The most important of these operations in this region of Western Virginia, was a forced reconnoissance, led by General Lander, on the night of the 13th of February and following morning, against the rebel position at Blooming Gap, on the eastern border of Hampshire county. "We ran down and captured," says he, in his dispatch to General McClellan, The officer last mentioned will be re"seventeen commissioned officers, among membered by our readers as the spirited them colonels, lieutenant-colonels, cap- volunteer, at the opening of the war, tains, etc. We engaged them with four whose animated account of the march to hundred cavalry. Our infantry was not the relief of Washington has been given near enough to support the cavalry, and on a previous page of this work. On the enemy were retiring. We have in the return of the militia regiment. in all seventy-five prisoners, and killed thir- which he then served, he endeavored to teen of the enemy, and lost two men and raise a company for a volunteer regisix horses at their first fire. I led the ment; and failing in this undertaking, charge in person, and it was a complete sought employment on some general's surprise. Colonel Carroll, commanding staff. General Lander, in January, met the 5th or 8th Ohio, made a very daring this wish by appointing him one of his and successful reconnoissance immediate- aids. He then entered on active service ly afterwards to Unger's Store. Major Frothingham is entitled to great credit for building, under my direction, in four hours, in the dead of night, a complete bridge across the Great Cacapon at an unfrequented mountain road. Two columns of two thousand men each marched thirty-two miles, and one column fortythree miles, since four P. M. yesterday, besides bridging the river. The papers taken and my own reconnoissance to the south prove the country clear, and that Jackson and Loring are at Winchester. We made a move and occupied the Blooming Gap and Point Hill, on the belief, by information obtained from deserters, that General Casson's brigade was there. General Dunning has just arrived at New Creek from Moorfield,

in Virginia. Daring to a fault, he was foremost with the gallant Lander in encountering the foe. "I have not space," says the writer of a genial tribute to his memory, "to detail the events in O'Brien's brief but glorious career as a soldier; how, in the brilliant skirmish at Blooming Gap, Lander, O'Brien, and two soldiers dashed upon an ambuscade and captured three officers and eight men :how O'Brien retained the sword and accoutrements of the rebel captain as trophies-the same trophies which were so soon to be borne upon his own coffin :— how, two days later, February 16th, O'Brien headed a body of cavalry which encountered a superior force of the enemy; how he met the rebel leader, when

*Ante vol. i. p. 168

two simultaneous shots were heard; the In about a fortnight after the action just one fired by O'Brien carried instant described he died in the camp at Paw death; that which he received pierced Paw, whence he dated his last dispatch his shoulder; but he still rallied his of victory. A generous tribute was paid men, and brought off all, save himself, to his memory by his friend and companunharmed."* The wound, which was ion in arms, General McClellan, in the not at first thought dangerous, grew following General Order, of the 6th of worse; amputation became necessary; March: "The Major-General commandthe operation was performed, and was ing, with deep regret, announces to the succeeded by lock-jaw, which terminated army of the Potomac the loss of Brigain death, April 6th. The remains of the dier-General Frederick W. Lander, the deceased were brought to the city of New commander of one of its divisions, who York, and interred at Greenwood, with died at Camp Chase, on the Upper Potomilitary honors, by his old comrades of mac, on the afternoon of the 2d instant, the 7th regiment. from the effects of a wound received in the affair with the rebels at Edwards' Ferry on the 22d of October, 1861. The public services of the deceased, then known as Colonel Lander, in connection with the overland route to the Pacific, had made his name familiar to the American people. At the commencement of this unhappy rebellion, he was among the first who volunteered to support with his

The brilliant affair at Blooming Gap was made the text of a special bulletin from the War Department. It was felt that the brilliant services of General Lander, who had shown so much spirit in his command, though suffering from the effects of a wound received in a reconnoissance at Ball's Bluff the day after the unfortunate engagement at that place, made some particular tribute to his gal-life the Constitution and laws of his counlantry appropriate; while any evidence of energy in Virginia was eagerly accepted in earnest of the future. "The President," wrote Secretary Stanton, on the 17th of February, in this official bulletin to General Lander, "directs me to say that he has observed with pleasure the activity and enterprise manifested by yourself and the officers and soldiers of your command. You have shown how much may be done in the worst weather and worst roads by a spirited officer at the head of a small force of brave men, unwilling to waste life in camp when the enemies of their country are within reach. Your brilliant success is a happy presage of what may be expected when the army of the Potomac shall be led to the field by their gallant general." Having cleared his department of the enemy, General Lander, unable, from his ill health, to perform active service, asked to be relieved from duty. The request, from such a man, was ominous. * Obituary notice, Harper's Weekly. April 26, 1862.

try. From the beginning of the military
operations which have restored Western
Virginia to the Union-from the origi-
nal movement upon Phillippa, where his
qualities as a leader of troops were strik-
ingly displayed-to the complete expul-
sion of the rebels from his department,
in which he exhausted his fading ener-
gies, his conduct has elicited the admira-
tion of his countrymen. His invaluable
services at Rich Mountain were recog-
nized by the Government in his appoint-
ment as a Brigadier-General, and his last
efforts were rewarded by the official ap-
proval and thanks of the President. Tall
of stature, and of great strength and ac-
tivity, with a countenance expressive of
intelligence, courage and sensibility, Gen-
eral Lander's presence was commanding
and attractive. As a military leader, he
combined a spirit of the most daring en-
terprise with clearness of judgment in
the adaptation of means to results.
a man, his devotion to his country, his
loyalty to affection and friendship, his

As

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