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12. McDowell
set out with about thirty-five thousand men, and occupied Fairfax
Court House and Centreville, the rebels withdrawing at his
approach. But little resistance was encountered till the 18th,
when 
the
advance found a rebel force at Blackburn's Ford, on Bull
Run. After a sharp conflict the Federals fell back upon
Centreville, but resumed their march early on the 21st. On
reaching Bull Run, McDowell's army, by the necessity of
keeping open his line of communication, and by the return of three
months' men1 whose term of service had expired, was
considerably reduced. Beauregard had in all about thirty thousand
men. At eleven the battle was opened by a Union division, under
Colonel David Hunter,2 who had crossed Bull Run at
Sudley Spring. Soon the cannonade extended to Blackburn's Ford,
some five miles down the stream. The principal action was near
Stone Bridge, about two miles south of Sudley Spring. The rebels
at first broke and fell back in disorder; but General Joseph E.
Johnston3 brought reënforcements from the
Shenandoah Valley to the battle-field in season to turn a Federal
victory into a Federal rout. The Union loss was about three
thousand men, besides -- either captured or abandoned in the
retreat -- twenty-seven cannon and a large amount of small arms,
ammunition, tents, and supplies. The Confederates lost about two
thousand men, and were in no condition to pursue their demoralized
enemy.4
13. Though the
people of the loyal states were astounded at news of this disaster
they were not discouraged. They learned by this severe lesson the
necessity of suitable preparation, and roused themselves to fresh
exertions. Congress appropriated five hundred millions of
dollars for carrying on the war, and authorized the president to
raise five hundred thousand men, The next day after the battle
General George B. McClellan,5 who had been
conducting a brilliant campaign in West Virginia, was summoned to
take command of the army on the Potomac. This army
attempted no military operations of importance till the next
year.6 Meanwhile it was assuming formidable
proportions, and acquiring that perfection of discipline essential
to success. The rebels, whose flag for along time flaunted in
sight of the national capital, were gradually pushed back till the
Federal troops occupied the positions they had held before
the
1 See p. 240, ¶ 3. 2 See p. 294, ¶ 17. 3 See p. 197, note 3; p. 217, note 2; and p. 309, ¶ 56.
4 "In our condition," said the Confederate General Johnston, "pursuit could not be thought of; for we were almost as much disorganized by our victory as the Federals by their defeat. Next day, many, supposing the war was over, actually went home. A party of our soldiers, hearing that a friend lay wounded twenty miles off, would start out to go and see him; or that another acquaintance was dead, they would go and bury him." -- Swinton.
5 See p. 217, note 2; p. 247, ¶ 16. 6 See p. 266, ¶ 28.
QUESTIONS. -- 12. What particulars can you give of the advance. and the affair at Blackbum's Ford? Of the main action? 13. What effect had news of this disaster on the people of he loyal states? What did Congress do? Who was appointed to the command of the army on the Potomac? What of this army for the rest of the year?
21*
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battle of Bull Run. Lieutenant-General
Scott,1 weighed down by age and infirmities, retired
from active service,
and, November 1, General McClellan succeeded him as
general-in-chief of the armies of the United States.
14.
There was in this, as in all the military departments throughout
the rest of the year, much skirmishing between outposts.
Scarcely a day passed when there were not somewhere on the
extended line of operations2 one or more encounters
which resulted in considerable loss. Indeed, this characterized
the war throughout its whole duration. Only the more important of
these conflicts can be mentioned in this history.
15. On the Potomac, above
Washington, General Charles P. Stone was in command of a Union
army at Poolesville. Wishing to make a demonstration upon the
enemy at Leesburg, he sent about two thousand men across the river
at Ball's Bluff, October 21. This force was overpowered,
and not having sufficient means for recrossing the river, lost
nearly half its number. The commander of the expedition, Colonel
Edward D. Baker, senator from Oregon, was among the killed. The
loss of the enemy was less than one third that of the
Federals.3 Two months later General Edward O. C. Ord
routed the rebels at Dranesville (December 20), in which
direction he had moved for the double purpose of procuring forage
for his horses and of pressing back the
enemy.4
16. Meanwhile important events had been
taking place in West Virginia. The people of this section
of the state, strongly loyal, had called a convention at Wheeling,
disavowed the
1 For more than half a century General Scott had taken a prominent part in public affairs, and in prosecuting war and negotiating peace had proved his right to rank with the first commanders and the first statesmen of the age. On his retirement from office he received the most Signal marks of public affection and veneration. He died at West Point, New York, in 1866, full of years and honors. See pp. 242, 418; 214, 411; 211, ¶ 1; 202, ¶¶ 3, 4; 198, 119; 197, ¶ 6; 196, 414; 182, 127; 179, ¶ 16; 174, ¶ 5. 2 See p. 243, ¶ 10.
3 The battle at Ball's Bluff is known also as the battle of Leesburg Heights, and as the battle of Edwards' Ferry. 4 See p. 266, ¶ 27.
QUESTIONS. -- What is said of Generals Scott and McClellan? 14. What is said of skirmishing in this and other departments? Of encounters? 15. Give an account of the action at Ball's Bluff.
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ordinance of secession, established a loyal
government, and taken steps to be admitted to the Union as a
separate State. Late in June General McClellan1
took command here in person, and in a vigorous campaign of less
than a month, drove from intrenchments ten thousand insurgent
troops, and left the inhabitants free to organize for the
Union.
The soil of West Virginia was early
stained by the blood of civil war. Colonel Kelley 2
occupied Grafton, May 30, the rebels deserting the place on
his approach, and four days later, assisted by Colonel
Lander,3 routed near a thousand of them at
Philippi. Colonel Wallace4 made a dash into
Romney, and dispersed a rebel force which had been
stationed there. After McClellan took command, Colonel William S.
Rosecrans5 routed, in a severe fight, July 11, a body
of rebels under Colonel Pegram, intrenched at Rich
Mountain, near Beverly. This action put the Confederate forces
in that region on the move to escape. McClellan directed a hot
pursuit and they were overtaken on the 13th at Carrick's
Ford. An engagement followed, in which they were put to
flight, and their general, Robert S. Garnett, was slain. Another
rebel force was in the Kanawha Valley, near Charleston,
under General Wise. General Jacob D. Cox6 was sent into
that region, and in a short time cleared it of armed rebels. In
this short campaign the Union forces killed in battle two hundred
and fifty insurgents, and took a thousand prisoners and large
quantities of spoils.
17. General Rosecrans5
succeeded McClellan in command in West Virginia, where the rebels
soon reappeared under General Robert E. Lee,7
Virginia's ablest soldier, and General John B. Floyd.8
The Union arms were successful in almost every encounter, and
before the end of the year this region, for the most part, had
been again cleared of Confederate troops.
On the 10th of September Generals
Rosecrans and Benham attacked Floyd, strongly posted near
Carnifex Ferry. A spirited action ensued, and was ended by
the darkness, under cover of which Floyd evacuated his position,
and retreated across the Gauley River, leaving to the victors camp
equipage, baggage, and small arms. General Lee, who had recently
been appointed to the chief command in West Virginia, failing to
dislodge the Union troops, under General Joseph J. Reynolds, at
Cheat Mountain,
1 See p. 273, ¶ 46. 2 See p. 248, ¶ 17. 3 See p. 266, ¶ 27. 4 See p. 295, ¶ 19.
5 See p. 301, ¶ 38. 6 See p. 273. ¶ 47.
7 Robert E. Lee bad remained in the favor and confidence of the Federal government till the Virginia convention passed a secession ordinance. He then took command of the state force of Virginia, in opposition to the nation which had educated, trusted, and honored him, and which he had sworn to support. See p. 217, note 2; p. 226, ¶ 7; and p. 308, ¶ 52.
8 See p. 240, note 2, and p. 255,¶ 5.
QUESTIONS. -- Who took command in West Virginia, and when? What is said of McClellan's campaign and its results? -- Give some account of the earlier military operations in West Virginia. Of military operations in this region after McClellan took command. 17. Who succeeded McClellan in command in West Virginia? Under whom did the rebels soon reappear? Results of operations in this region for the rest of the year? -- Give some particulars of military operations in West Virginia after General Rosecrans took command.
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about the middle of September joined Floyd and Wise, in the
Kanawha Valley, making their united force twenty
thousand strong. Early in October, Reynolds inflicted considerable
loss upon a detachment of the enemy encamped on Greenbrier
River; and near the end of the month General Benjamin F.
Kelley1 fell upon a force of Confederates a few miles
from Romney, and compelled them to beat a precipitate
retreat. On the approach of winter most of the Confederates were
withdrawn from West Virginia. Floyd was transferred to
Tennessee.2
18. In Missouri3 the
struggle between loyalty and secession began early in the year.
The governor, Claiborne F. Jackson, was determined to take the
state out of the Union, in opposition to the wishes of a majority
of its people. But the energy of Lyon3 foiled his
design.
To accomplish his treasonable purpose
Jackson established camps of instruction in different parts of the
state. One of these, near St. Louis, was named Camp
Jackson, and here had been gathered twelve hundred troops,
armed by the Confederate government. On the 10th of May Captain
Lyon, with a body of home-guards, suddenly surrounded the camp and
took the whole force prisoners. A mob followed Lyon, and making a
violent demonstration against his men, the latter fired into the
crowd, killing and wounding a number of persons. Jackson next
attempted to carry out his design from Jefferson City, the capital
of the state. He issued a proclamation calling out the militia to
repel Federal invasion. A rebel force was entering the state from
Arkansas, to assist him.
19. Lyon gave the governor no time
to prepare. With three thousand such troops as he could collect,
he started for Jefferson City. Jackson fled, but made a stand with
his adherents near Booneville. On the 18th of June Lyon was
upon him, and after a sharp engagement put him again to fight
towards the south-western part of the state, where the insurgents
were collecting in considerable numbers. The Federal Colonel Franz
Sigel,4 with about fifteen hundred men, had been
despatched to meet the enemy in that quarter. After gaining some
advantages Sigel found himself confronted, July 5, near
Carthage, by a superior and increasing force of the enemy,
and, after a gallant contest, retreated and rejoined
Lyon.
20. Near the end of July General John C.
Frémont5 assumed chief command in Missouri.
He immediately set about organizing an army and preparing a fleet
of gunboats and mortar boats to operate on the Mississippi and its
tributaries. Bands of rebel marauders were forming in different
parts of the state.
1 see p. 247, ¶ 16. 2 See p. 273, ¶ 47. 3 See p. 242, ¶ 5. 4 See p. 291, ¶ 10. 5 See p. 214, ¶ 3, and p. 271,¶ 39.
QUESTIONS. -- 18. What is said of the struggle in Missouri? -- Give an account of the capture of Camp Jackson? What did Governor Jackson next do? 10. Give an account of Lyon's movements and the engagement near Booneville. Give an account of Colonel Sigel's operations near Carthage. 20. When did Frémont assume command in Missouri? What did he act about doing? What is said of rebel marauders?
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General John Pope1 was sent into
North Missouri, and quickly restored order in that region. An
insurgent army, full twenty thousand strong, under Generals
Price2 and McCulloch,3 soon gathered around
Lyon, who bad pressed the rebels to the south-western part of the
state.
21. In this emergency, Lyon,4
though outnumbered four to one, advanced against the enemy, and,
August 10, attacked them at their camp on Wilson's Creek,
where was fought, except that at Bull Run, the severest battle of
the year. After a conflict of six hours, in which the enemy were
repeatedly driven from the field, the Union troops fell back, thus
leaving South-western Missouri open to the rebels.
In this battle General Price was in
command of disloyal Missourians; General McCulloch, of rebel
invaders from Arkansas. After the conflict had raged for some time
with varying success, Lyon ordered a bayonet charge. Putting
himself at the head of a body of troops who had lost their leader,
he exclaimed, "Come on, brave men! I will lead you." The charge
was made, and the enemy again fled; but during the struggle the
heroic Lyon was slain. The loss was severe on both
sides.
22. The last of the same month
Frémont proclaimed martial law in Missouri, and
declared the slaves of rebels freemen -- a declaration which the
president modified so as to restrict its operation to slaves
actually assisting the rebellion. Lexington fell into the
hands of the enemy, September 20, after a gallant defence by
Colonel James A. Mulligan, who, with but little more than
twenty-five hundred men, behind intrenchments, held out four days
against ten times as many men, under General Price, and only
surrendered after he had exhausted his ammunition, and the supply
of water had been for three days cut off from the brave
garrison.
23. In October Frémont,
with an army of thirty thousand men, took the field in person, and
marched towards Springfield in pursuit of the foe.' Early the next
month be was relieved, General Hunter' taking his place. Later in
the month,
1 See p. 213 note 1; and p. 275, ¶ 50. 2 See p. 301, ¶ 33.
3 See p. 258, ¶ 15. 4 See p. 248, ¶ 18.
5 One of the most brilliant exploits of the war was a charge made by one hundred and sixty horsemen of a body of cavalry known as Frémont's Body-guard, under Major Zagonyi, an Hungarian refugee. On the 25th of October, perceiving the rebels, estimated at two thousand, drawn up ready to receive them, near Springfield, the charge wall sounded. On rushed the body-guard, in the face of a murderous fire, with irrepressible enthusiasm, shouting, "Frémont and the Union!" The enemy were routed, and fled in every direction.
6 See p. 245, ¶ 12.
QUESTIONS. -- Who was sent to North Missouri, and with what result? Around whom did a large insurgent army gather, and under what generals? Where was Lyon? 21. Give an account of the battle on Wilson's Creek. -- What further particulars can you give of this battle? 22. What is said of Frémont's proclamation of martial law? What is said of the defence and surrender of Lexington? 23. What further is said of Frémont? By whom was he relieved. and who, later in the month, took command in the department?
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