Chapter I: Front Matter (1)

PICTORIAL HISTORY
OF THE
WAR FOR THE UNION.
A COMPLETE AND RELIABLE
=History of the War=
FROM ITS
COMMENCEMENT TO ITS CLOSE:
GIVING A GRAPHIC PICTURE OF ITS ENCOUNTERS, THRILLING INCIDENTS,
FRIGHTFUL SCENES, HAIR BREADTH ESCAPES, INDIVIDUAL DARING, DESPERATE
CHARGES, PERSONAL ANECDOTES, ETC., GLEANED FROM EYE-WITNESSES OF, AND
PARTICIPANTS IN, THE TERRIBLE SCENES DESCRIBED—A TRUTHFUL LIVING REFLEX
OF ALL MATTERS OF INTEREST CONNECTED WITH THIS THE MOST GIGANTIC OF
HUMAN STRUGGLES.
TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE CHRONOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE WAR.

BY MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS.

EMBELLISHED WITH OVER TWO HUNDRED ILLUSTRATIONS.

TWO VOLUMES.

VOL II.

NEW YORK:
BENJAMIN W. HITCHCOCK, No. 14 CHAMBERS STREET,
PUBLISHER Of SUBSCRIPTION BOOKS.

1867.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866,

BY BENJAMIN W. HITCHCOCK,

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of New York.

TO

MAJOR-GENERAL

WILLIAM T. SHERMAN,

ONE OF THE BEST MEN AND BRAVEST PATRIOTS THAT EVER FOUGHT FOR A GRATEFUL
COUNTRY,

THESE VOLUMES ARE

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.

ANN S. STEPHENS.

NEW YORK, _January, 1886_.

CONTENTS

PAGE The Position of the Contending Forces in May, 1862 15 The March of the Army of the Potomac to White House, Va. 16 General McClellan and the Government 17 Stonewall Jackson’s Raid in the Shenandoah: Retreat of Gen. Banks 19 The Investment and Occupation of Corinth, Miss., May, 1862 21 Occupation of Norfolk, Va., by General Wool’s troops 27 Destruction of the rebel iron-clad Merrimac 28 Battle of Hanover Court House, Va., May 28, 1862 29 „ Fair Oaks, Va., May 31 and June 1, 1862 33 „ Seven Pines, Va., June 1, 1862 36 „ Cross-Keys, Va., June 8, 1862 38 The Seven Days’ Battles—Battle of Oak Grove, Va. 40 Battle of Gaines’ Mill, Va., June 26, 1862 41 Change of Base of the Army of the Potomac 45 Battles of Allen’s Farm and Savage’s Station, Va. 46 Battle of Nelson’s Farm, Va., June 30, 1862 48 „ Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862 49 Evacuation of Pensacola, May 9, 1862 52 Capture of Forts Pillow and Randolph—Occupation of Memphis, June 4–6, 1862 55 New Combinations—Battle of Cedar Mountain, Va. 58 Battle of Manassas, or Bull Run 61 „ Chantilly 63 Movements of McClellan 64 Battle of South Mountain, Md., Sept. 14, 1862 65 Surrender of Harper’s Ferry, Sept. 15, 1862 69 Battle of Antietam, Sept, 17, 1862 70 McClellan’s Army on the Potomac, October, 1862 82 Operations in Kentucky, June to September, 1862 87 Battle of Richmond, Ky., Aug. 30, 1862 90 Bragg’s Invasion—Battle of Munfordsville, Ky., Sept. 14–16, 1862 93 Battle of Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862 94 „ Iuka, Miss., Sept. 19, 1862 96 „ Corinth, Miss., Oct. 3–4, 1862 99 Gen. Burnside takes command of the Army of the Potomac, Nov. 10, 1862 104 Advance of the Army of the Potomac, Nov. 20, 1862 106 Burnside’s Army before Fredericksburg 107 Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862 109 Operations in Tennessee—Battle of Murfreesboro’, Dec. 31, 1862 111 North Carolina at the close of 1862 119 Battle of Pocotaligo Bridge, S. C., Oct. 22, 1862 122 Battle of Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 6, 1862 123 Operations in Missouri in 1862 123 Naval Operations in 1862 126 Battle of Drury’s Bluff, Va., May 15, 1862 126 Naval Operations on the Mississippi, May to December, 1862 127 Hooker’s Campaign in Virginia, Jan. 26, 1863 130 General Stoneman’s Cavalry Raid, May 1, 1863 131 Hooker’s Advance to Kelly’s Ford, on the Rapidan 134 Battle of Chancellorsville, Va., May 1–4, 1863 136 The Second Day’s Fight, May 2 139 The Third Day’s Fight, Sunday, May 3 144 Sketch of the Life of Stonewall Jackson 146 The Rebel Invasion in Maryland and Pennsylvania 149 Capture of General Milroy’s Army at Winchester, Va., June 14, 1863 152 Capture of Martinsburg, Va., June 14, 1863 153 Attack on Carlisle, Pa., July 1, 1863 154 Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1–3, 1863 156 The Vicksburg Campaign, December, 1862-July, 1863 166 Repulse of General Sherman’s Army, Jan. 3, 1863 171 Capture of Fort Hindman, Ark., Jan. 10–11, 1863 173 Sketch of the Life of Rear-Admiral D. D. Porter 176 Sketch of the Life of Major-General John A. McClernand 179 Expedition of the ram “Queen of the West” 181 The Vicksburg Canal 182 Expedition down the Coldwater, April 2, 1863 184 Passing the Vicksburg Batteries, April 16–22, 1863 186 Capture of Grand Gulf, Miss., April 29-May 3 187 Bombardment of Haines’ Bluff, April 29, 1863 189 Capture of Fort Gibson, Miss., May 1, 1863 190 Grierson’s Raid from Mississippi to Louisiana, April 17-May 2, 1863 192 Battle of Raymond, Miss., May 12, 1863 196 Capture of Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863 199 Battle of Baker’s Creek, or Champion Hill, Miss. 202 Battle of Big Black Bridge, Miss., May 17, 1863 205 Capture of Haines’ Bluff, May 18, 1863 207 Bombardment and Assault of Vicksburg, May 19–23, 1863 209 Capture of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863 221 Battle at Helena, Ark., July 4, 1863 222 Morgan’s Raid in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, July 3–26, 1863 226 The Draft Riots in New York City, July 13–15, 1863 232 Operations in Tennessee in 1863 249 Battle of Fort Donelson, Tenn., Feb. 3, 1863 249 Battle near Franklin, Tenn., March 5, 1863 251 Colonel Streight’s Expedition into Georgia, May 3, 1863 254 Capture of Hoover’s Gap by Colonel Wilder’s Brigade 255 Colonel Wilder’s Expedition from Manchester to Anderson, Tenn. 258 Advance of General Rosecrans against Chattanooga 260 The Battle of Chickamauga, Tenn., Sept. 19, 1863 261 Sketch of Major-General George H. Thomas 267 Operations in North Carolina in 1863 268 Expedition against Rocky Mount, N. C., July 24, 1863 271 Operations in South Carolina in 1863 272 Attack on Fort Sumter, April 7, 1863 273 Capture of the rebel iron-clad Atlanta, June 17, 1863 276 Siege of Charleston, S. C., commenced July 3, 1863 277 Attack on Morris Island, S. C., July 10, 1863 278 Assault on Fort Wagner, S. C., July 11, 1863 279 Bombardment of Fort Sumter, S. C., August 17–23, 1863 280 The “Swamp Angel” 281 Operations in Arkansas—Capture of Little Rock, July 1, 1863 286 Operations in Southern Virginia in 1863 290 The Siege of Suffolk, April 11-May 3, 1863 290 The Siege of Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 17-Dec. 6, 1863 294 Operations in Tennessee, Sept. 20-Dec. 31, 1863 297 Battle of Lookout Mountain, Nov. 24, 1863 301 Sherman’s Advance against Mission Ridge, Nov. 24, 1863 303 Battle of Missionary Ridge. Nov. 25, 1863 305 Battle of Ringgold, Ga, Nov. 28, 1863 309 Department of the Gulf in 1863 310 Operations on the Teche and Atchafalaya rivers, Fla. 315 Battle of Irish Bend, La., Apr. 13, 1863 315 Attack on Port Hudson, La., May 27, 1863 319 Assault of Port Hudson, La., June 14, 1863 321 Surrender of Port Hudson, July 9, 1863 327 Miscellaneous Naval Operations in 1863 329 The Field of Operations in January, 1864 331 Sherman’s Expedition against Meridian, Miss. 332 General Smith’s Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 11, 1864 333 The Red River Expedition, March 10-May 16, 1864 334 Battle of Sabine Cross-Roads, April 8, 1864 337 Battle of Pleasant Hill, La., April 9, 1864 340 Operations in Georgia: Battle of Tunnel Hill, Feb. 22, 1864 348 Reconnoissance and Battle at Rocky Face Ridge, Feb. 25, 1864 350 Capture of Union City. Tenn., March 25, 1864 350 Attack on Paducah, Ky., March 26, 1864 351 Capture of Fort Pillow, Tenn., April 12, 1864 353 Operations in Florida in 1864 355 Battle of Olustee. Feb. 20, 1864 357 Battle at Bachelor’s Creek, N. C., Feb. 1, 1864 359 Capture of Plymouth, N. C., Apr. 19, 1864 359 Destruction of the rebel iron-clad Albemarle 362 Capture of Fort Fisher and Wilmington, N. C. 363 Kilpatrick’s Cavalry Raid toward Richmond, Feb. 28-March 5, 1864 374 Operations in Arkansas in 1864 377 Invasion of Missouri, September, 1864 379 Operations in Georgia: General Sherman’s March to Atlanta 381 Capture of Rome, Ga., May 19, 1864 384 Battle of Kenesaw Mountain June 14, 1864 389 Battle of Little Kenesaw, June 24, 1864 392 Battle before Atlanta, July 22, 1864 394 Stoneman’s Cavalry Expeditions in July, 1864 396 The Siege of Atlanta, and its Capture 398 Hood’s Campaign in Alabama and Tennessee 404 Battle of Allatoona, Ga., October 5, 1864 407 Preparations for Sherman’s Grand March 408 The Burning of Rome, Ga., November 11, 1864 408 The Destruction of Atlanta, November, 1864 409 The Battle of Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864 411 The Battle of Nashville, Tenn., December 15–17, 1864 413 Continuation of the Siege of Charleston in 1864 418 Operations in Middle and Western Virginia in 1864 419 Battle of Piedmont, Va., June 5, 1864 421 Battle of Opequan Creek, Va., Sept. 19, 1864 428 Battle of Fisher’s Hill, Va., Sept. 21, 1864 430 Battle of Cedar Creek, Va., Oct 19, 1864 431 Sketch of the Life of Major-General Sheridan 432 Battle of Morristown, Tenn., Nov. 13, 1864 434 Stoneman’s Raid into Western Virginia, Dec. 12–20, 1864 434 Expeditions at the close of 1864 440 Rebel Privateers—the Alabama, the Florida, and the Shenandoah 442 The St. Albans Raid, Oct. 19, 1864 446 Advance of the Army of the Potomac, May 3, 1864 449 Battle of the Wilderness, Va., May 5–7, 1864 451 Battle of Spottsylvania, May 8–12, 1864 456 Sketch of the Life of General Sedgwick 457 Battle of Coal Harbor, Va., June 1–3, 1864 464 General Grant’s Change of Base, June 12–15, 1864 468 Operations on James River, Va., May 4–10, 1864 469 Battle of Fort Darling, Va., May 12–16, 1864 473 Assaults on the Intrenchments at Petersburg, Va., June 8–18, 1864 475 Engagement on the Weldon Railroad, near Petersburg, Va. 478 Engagements at Reams’s Station, Stony Creek, etc., June 22–29, 1864 479 Sherman’s March from Atlanta to Savannah, Nov. 16—Dec. 22, 1864 480 Capture of Fort McAllister, Ga., Dec. 13, 1864 488 Capture of Savannah, Ga., Dec. 21, 1864 489 Grand Naval Combat in Mobile Bay—Capture of Forts Morgan, Powell and Gaines 490 Sherman’s March from Savannah to Goldsboro’, N. C., Jan.-March, 1865 493 Battle of Averasboro’, March 15–16, 1865 494 Battle of Bentonsville, March 20, 1865 495 Capture of Charleston, S. C., Feb. 18, 1865 496 Gen. Schofield’s March to Goldsboro’: Battles at Kingston, N. C., Mch. 7–10, 1865 499 The Siege of Petersburg, Va., June 15, 1864 501 Explosion of Pleasants’ Mine, and Battle before Petersburg, July 29, 1864 503 The “Dutch Gap Canal” projected by General Butler 504 The War Summer of 1865 505 Battles on the Weldon Railroad, Va., August, 1864 505 Battle of Reams’s Station, Va., Aug. 28, 1864 506 Battle of Chapin’s Bluff, Va., Sept. 28, 1864 509 Army of the James: Battle before Richmond, Oct. 7, 1864 511 Battle of Hatcher’s Run, Oct. 27, 1864 512 Close of the Campaign: Battle of Five Forks, Va., April 1–3, 1865 517 Sheridan’s Expedition in the Shenandoah Valley, Feb. 27-March 19, 1865 519 Expedition against St. Mark’s, Fla., March 4–12, 1865 521 Stoneman’s Expedition in North Carolina, March 20-Apr. 13, 1865 523 General Wilson’s Expedition in Alabama, March 22-Apr. 20, 1865 525 Capture of Mobile and the Rebel Fleet, April 12-May 4, 1865 526 Evacuation of Richmond and Petersburg, April 3, 1865 532 Surrender of General Lee and his Army, April 9, 1865 534 Sketch of the rebel General Lee 538 Assassination of President Lincoln, April 14, 1865 541 Sketch of the Life of Abraham Lincoln 547 The Attempt to Assassinate Secretary Seward, April 14, 1865 548 The Inauguration of President Johnson, Apr. 15, 1865 549 The Close of Sherman’s Campaign. Surrender of General Johnston 552 Farewell Address of General Sherman to his Army 554 History of the Birkenhead Rams, built for the Pacha of Egypt 556 The Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln, Jan. 1, 1863 558 Proclamation of Secretary Seward announcing the Adoption of the Constitutional Amendment Abolishing Slavery 560 List of Vessels captured by the Confederate Navy during the War 561

INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOLUME II.

PAGE ILLUSTRATED TITLE, 1 UNION HEROES, 53 UNION HEROES, 77 BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO’, 117 CAPTURE OF A BATTERY BY GENERAL ROUSSEAU, 117 HOUSE USED FOR CONFINEMENT OF REBEL SYMPATHIZERS AT ST. LOUIS, 177 UNION HEROES, 197 UNION HEROES, 219 ANDREWS LEADING THE RIOTERS, 235 PROVOST GUARD ATTACKING THE RIOTERS, 269 CONFEDERATE GENERALS, 287 BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE, 307 PURSUIT TO RINGGOLD, GA., 307 CAMP SCENE.—ASSORTING THE MAIL, 325 CAMP SCENE.—THE NEWS DEPOT, 325 CONFEDERATE GENERALS, 345 VIEW OF PARROTT GUN BURST ON BOARD THE SUSQUEHANNA AT THE ATTACK ON FORT FISHER, 367 CONFEDERATE GENERALS, 385 GENERAL HOSPITAL AT SAVANNAH, GA., 405 CONFEDERATE GENERALS, 425 CONFEDERATE GENERALS, 447 BATTLE OF COAL HARBOR, VA., 465 HOOD’S HEADQUARTERS AT ATLANTA, 485 SHERMAN’S HEADQUARTERS AT ATLANTA, 485 CHARGING A BATTERY ON THE WELDON RAILROAD, 507 CAPTURE OF A RAILROAD TRAIN, 507 CONFEDERATE PORTRAITS, 527

PORTRAITS.

UNION.

PAGE ANDREWS, GEO. L., Brig.-Gen., 219 AUGUR, C. C., Maj.-Gen., 197 GRANT, U. S., Lieut.-Gen., 13 GRAHAM, LAWRENCE P., Brig.-Gen. 77 GILLMORE, Q. A., Maj.-Gen., 53 HARNEY, W. S., Brig.-Gen., 197 JOHNSON, ANDREW, President U. S., 550 KEITH, Brig.-Gen., 77 MARCY, R. B., Inspector-Gen., 197 MEADE, GEO. G., Maj.-Gen., 53 MEAGHER, T. F., Brig.-Gen., 77 MEIGS, M. C., Maj.-Gen., 219 MILROY, ROBT. H., Maj.-Gen., 197 MITCHELL, O. M., Maj.-Gen., 197 RICKETTS, JAMES B., Brig.-Gen., 77 ROUSSEAU, L. N., Maj.-Gen., 53 SHERMAN, W. T., Maj.-Gen., 43 SHERIDAN, PHILIP H., Maj.-Gen., 433 SHEPLEY, GEO. F., Brig.-Gen., 219 SLOCUM, H. W., Maj.-Gen., 53 STONE, CHAS. P., Brig.-Gen., 219 STONEMAN, GEO., Maj.-Gen., 53 THOMAS, GEO. H., Maj.-Gen., 267 WARD, J. H. H., Brig.-Gen., 77 WHITE, JULIUS, Brig.-Gen., 219

CONFEDERATE.

BEAUREGARD, P. G. T., Maj.-Gen., 345 BRAGG, BRAXTON, Maj.-Gen., 287 BOWEN, Maj.-Gen., 425 BRANCH, L. O’B., Brig.-Gen., 385 BUCKNER, SIMON B., Maj.-Gen., 447 BORHAM, L., Brig.-Gen., 527 CHEATHAM, B. F., Maj.-Gen., 447 COLQUET, Brig.-Gen., 385 CRITTENDEN, G. B., Brig.-Gen., 385 COOPER, SAMUEL, Brig.-Gen., 527 DAVIS, JEFFERSON, 97 EWELL, RICHARD S., Lieut.-Gen., 287 FLOYD, JOHN B., Maj.-Gen., 385 GARNETT, RICH. B., Brig.-Gen., 287 HARDEE, WM. J., Lieut.-Gen., 447 HOOD, Maj.-Gen., 447 HAMPTON, WADE, Maj.-Gen., 425 HANSOM, ROGER, Brig.-Gen., 425 HILL, A. P., Maj.-Gen., 287 JOHNSON, B. T., Brig.-Gen., 385 JOHNSTON, JOS. E., Lieut.-Gen., 287 JACKSON, “STONEWALL,” Lt.-Gen., 137 JOHNSTON, A. S., Maj.-Gen., 447 LEE, FITZHUGH, Maj.-Gen., 287 LONGSTREET, JAMES, Lieut.-Gen., 287 LEE, ROBERT E., General, 539 LOVELL, MANSFIELD, Maj.-Gen., 385 MAFFITT, J. N., Capt., 527 MAGRUDER, J. B., Maj.-Gen., 287 MARSHALL, H., Maj.-Gen., 425 MASON, JAMES M., 527 MORGAN, JOHN H., Maj.-Gen., 345 MCCULLOCH, BENJ., Maj.-Gen., 345 POLK, L. K., Maj.-Gen., 345 PILLOW, G. J., Maj.-Gen., 425 PRICE, STERLING, Maj.-Gen., 345 RAINS, G. J., Brig.-Gen., 385 RHETT, THOS. S., Brig.-Gen., 385 STEPHENS, ALEXANDER H., 157 STUART, J. E. B., Maj.-Gen., 345 STEWART, GEORGE, Gen., 425 SMITH, G. W., Maj.-Gen., 425 SEMMES, RAPHAEL, Capt., 527 SLIDELL, JOHN, 527 SMITH, E. KIRBY, Lieut.-Gen., 345 TOOMBS, ROBERT, Maj.-Gen., 447 TWIGGS, DAVID E., Maj.-Gen., 447 VAN DORN, EARL, Maj.-Gen., 425 ZOLLICOFFER, F. K., Maj.-Gen., 345

THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

The month of May, 1862, found the great armies of the Union threatening the forces of the rebellion at all points. A firm determination filled every northern bosom. Many a glorious battle field had taught the soldiers on both sides how to fight and how to endure. Unbounded heroism filled the whole nation. Never on this earth had so broad and glorious a country groaned under a harvest of iron. The defeat of Bull Run, instead of disheartening the people, fired them with new courage and that unconquerable resolution, which is the best part of National heroism.

New Orleans had been captured by the invincible Farragut, by a series of brilliant naval victories. He was then a commodore, but has since been raised by these really wonderful exploits to the highest rank in the navy.

The sea coast had been blockaded from Fortress Monroe to the Rio Grande. Generals Butler and Burnside had carried their fleets in safety to Hatteras Inlet, and had set up the old flag upon the shores of the Carolinas. General Hunter had established himself in Florida. The Army of the West, moving southward along the banks of the Mississippi, aided by the gunboat flotilla of Commodore Foote, had captured Island Number Ten, fought and won the great battle of Pittsburg Landing, and led by General Halleck, had invested Corinth. In the East, General McClellan, at the head of the Army of the Potomac, was moving up the Peninsula, in the advance upon Richmond. The whole nation watched his movements with anxious hopefulness, inspired by his successes in the West, backed by General Scott’s high recommendation. This history has already recorded the siege and capture of Yorktown, and the victory of Williamsburg, and has touched upon the engagement of West Point. The latter took place on the 7th of May, and was but one of the many lesser battles, which formed a stormy prelude to the terrible Seven Days’ Fights, among the swamps before the city of Richmond. Its purpose was the establishment of the Union arms at West Point, which would necessarily force the Rebels to abandon all their works on the Peninsula, between Yorktown and that place. Its success crowned the triumph that had meanwhile been achieved at Williamsburgh. It lasted from about ten o’clock in the morning, till about three o’clock in the afternoon, and ended in the repulse of the Rebels, who were thus, at all points, retiring before the gallant soldiers of the Union. The losses at the battle of West Point, as reported by General Franklin, were forty-nine killed, one hundred and four wounded, and forty-one missing.

THE MARCH TO WHITE HOUSE.

The narrative, terminating at the close of the first volume of this history, with the battle of West Point, now concerns itself with the onward march of the Army of the Potomac. On the 9th of May, General McClellan effected a junction with the forces under the command of General Franklin, at West Point; and hence, partly by land and partly by water, the whole army moved up the Pamunkey river towards a place called White House, twelve miles distant. The roads at this time were in a bad condition for travel, owing to heavy rains; and therefore the advance was made but slowly. It was not until the 16th inst., that General McClellan established his headquarters at White House, where he organized a permanent depot for supplies. These coming up the York river by water, could be landed at West Point and brought hence by railroad. From White House the march continued toward the Chickahominy river. No material opposition was anywhere encountered. The rebels were massing their forces beyond the Chickahominy, in front of Richmond, and preparing for the desperate, decisive struggle.

On the 20th of May the left wing of the Union Army reached the Chickahominy, at a point called Bottom’s Bridge. The bridge had been destroyed by the enemy, but the stream was immediately forded by General Casey’s troops, and the bridge was rebuilt. In the mean while the centre and the right wing were advanced to the river above, driving the rebels out of the village of Mechanicsville. The lines now extended from Mechanicsville, on the right, to Seven Pines, on the left, the latter being a strong position on the Bottom’s Bridge road, on the further side of the Chickahominy.

GENERAL M’CLELLAN AND THE GOVERNMENT.

Here the advance was stayed. As early as the 10th of May, General McClellan, well assured of the strength of his foe, and of the nature and place of the opposition that would be made by the rebels, had represented to the War Department the comparative numerical weakness of his army, and the necessity for its reinforcement. Much correspondence now ensued, between him and the President, on this subject. It was General McClellan’s desire to rest his army on the James river, to receive his reinforcements by that channel, and to move on Richmond from that quarter. On the other hand, it was the opinion of the President, and the Secretary-of-War, that his army ought to rest upon the Pamunkey, receive reinforcements by land, if at all, and move on Richmond by means of bridges across the Chickahominy. General McDowell, at the head of between 35,000 and 40,000 men, was, at this time, in the neighborhood of Fredericksburg. The proper disposition of this force was also a point in controversy between General McClellan and the authorities at the capital. The former requested that McDowell’s troops might be sent to him, and sent by water. The latter dreaded to send them, lest, by so doing, they might uncover the City of Washington, and expose it to a rebel raid. On the part of General McClellan it was urged that no such apprehension need be entertained; that the bulk of the enemy’s forces were massed for the defence of Richmond; that to conquer the rebels there, would be the surest method of securing the safety of Washington; that the presence of McDowell’s corps would so strengthen his hands as to make victory certain; that, should the rebels attempt a raid on Washington, their route would be by way of Gordonsville and Manassas, on which they could readily be checked; and, finally, that the coming of McDowell’s troops by land would render their timely arrival less certain than it would be in the event of their coming by water, while it would equally render them unavailable for the defense of Washington. The opinion of the Government, however, prevailed; and, in the end, the plan of General McClellan’s campaign was materially changed. He had designed to approach Richmond by the east and south. Resting on the Pamunkey, his purpose was now to approach it by the north. This change in the plan of the campaign necessitated the division of his army by the Chickahominy river, and the bridging of that river in many places. On the 18th of May the Secretary-of-War notified him that General McDowell’s corps would be sent forward by land from Fredericksburg, to form a junction with the right wing of the Array of the Potomac. Awaiting this reinforcement, General McClellan employed himself in strengthening his position, and in building the necessary bridges across the Chickahominy. On the 24th of May he was notified that the critical position of General Banks’ troops, consequent upon a sudden raid, by Stonewall Jackson, up the Valley of the Shenandoah river, had occasioned the recall of General McDowell, and that the Army of the Potomac must proceed without reinforcements.

General McClellan has been bitterly censured for his alleged slothfulness and hesitation, at this juncture; nor can it be denied that his advance towards Richmond was made slowly and with extreme caution. It must be remembered, however, that to march through sloughs of mire, in the face of a powerful and well intrenched foe, is far less easy than to advance on paper, and conquer enemies with printers’ ink. This is not a partisan history—its design is simply to record facts and to do justice. Subsequent events have shed much light upon General McClellan’s Peninsular Campaign. That he had not over-estimated the power of the rebel forces, was conclusively shown in the bloody and terrible seven days’ battles. That he was obliged to deviate from his own chosen plan is evident, and is not denied: yet that plan was the same which was ultimately adopted by General Grant, in the final campaign of the war. Richmond when finally taken, was approached from the east and south, and not from the north. General McClellan may have been overcautious; but his tactics were wise, and his patriotism stainless.

The following is the language of General McClellan’s Report, as to several essential points: “The land movement obliged me to expose my right in order to secure the junction; and as the order for General McDowell’s march was soon countermanded, I incurred great risk, of which the enemy finally took advantage, and frustrated the plan of my campaign. Had General McDowell joined me by water, I could have approached Richmond by the James, and thus avoided the delays and losses incurred in bridging the Chickahominy, and would have had the army massed in one body, instead of being necessarily divided by that stream....

“In view of the peculiar character of the Chickahominy, and the liability of its bottom land to sudden inundations, it became necessary to construct between Bottom’s Bridge and Mechanicsville, eleven new bridges, all new and difficult, with extensive by-way approaches.

“The entire army could, probably, have been thrown across the Chickahominy immediately after our arrival, but this would have left no force on the left bank to guard our communications or to protect our right and rear. If the communication with our supply depot had been cut by the enemy, with our army concentrated upon the right bank of the Chickahominy, and the stage of water as it was for many days after our arrival, the bridges carried away, and our means of transportation not furnishing a single day’s supplies in advance, the troops must have gone without rations, and the animals without forage, and the army would have been paralyzed.

“It is true I might have abandoned my communications and pushed forward toward Richmond, trusting to the speedy defeat of the enemy and the consequent fall of the city, for a renewal of supplies; but the approaches were fortified, and the town itself was surrounded with a strong line of intrenchments, requiring a greater length of time to reduce than our troops could have dispensed with rations.

“Under these circumstances, I decided to retain a portion of the army on the left bank of the river until our bridges were completed.”

STONEWALL JACKSON’S RAID: RETREAT OF GEN. BANKS.

While the Army of the Potomac was thus occupied in bridging the Chickahominy, and while General McClellan and the President were in correspondence, the rebels did not remain idle. On the 23rd of May commenced the well-remembered raid, up the valley of the Shenandoah, which was the occasion of a serious panic at Washington, and even further north than New York; which prevented the junction of McDowell’s and McClellan’s forces; and which involved the splendid retreat of General Banks from Strasburgh to Winchester, and thence to Williamsport on the Potomac river. The distance is fifty-three miles, and the retreat was accomplished in forty-eight hours. The Army of the Shenandoah, commanded by General Banks, consisted of about six thousand men, while the forces of the rebel raiders numbered upwards of twenty thousand, and were led by the brilliant and dashing Stonewall Jackson. The advance of the rebels was made up the valley, to the westward of the Blue Ridge, and the first point attacked was Front Royal. Here the enemy encountered the First Maryland Regiment, Col. Kenly, which was attacked with great fury, and driven back towards Strasburgh. Col. Kenly fought with wonderful valor, and was heartily sustained by his men. The fighting, indeed, was of almost unexampled severity, but the regiment was soon overpowered by numbers. Colonel Kenly, when asked to surrender, shot the rebel who thus summoned him to yield: and finally, when overpowered, broke his sword in halves, to avoid surrendering it. He was shot, but only wounded, and was placed in an ambulance. In that ambulance he was subjected to much suffering, for want of surgical aid.

As soon as General Banks received news of this disaster at Front Royal, and knew that General Jackson was advancing in force, he perceived his danger and ordered a retreat. And now commenced a race between the two armies, for the town of Winchester. Had Jackson reached that point first, he would have intercepted the little band of Union soldiers, cut off their supplies, and forced their surrender. But the celerity and courage of General Banks’s forces proved their salvation. They retired, indeed, in the face of superior numbers; but they retired fighting. At Newtown, at Kernstown, and at Winchester they were closely pushed by the pursuing foe; but, at every point of attack, the enemy was checked and held at bay. The severest encounter took place at Winchester. General Gordon’s brigade was here engaged, and gained great honor by its gallantry and coolness. The regiments constituting it were the Second Massachusetts, Lieut-Col. Andrews; the Third Wisconsin, Col. Ruger; the Twenty-seventh Indiana, Col. Colgrove; and the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania, Col. Murphy. The stability with which this brigade opposed itself to overwhelming numbers undoubtedly saved General Banks’ Army. General Gordon thus describes its final retreat:

“I fell back slowly, but generally in good order. The Second Massachusetts in column of companies moving by flank, the Third Wisconsin in line of battle moving to the rear. On every side above the surrounding crest surged the rebel forces. A sharp and withering fire of musketry was opened by the enemy from the crest upon our centre, left and right. The yells of a victorious and merciless foe were heard above the din of battle, but my command was not dismayed. The Second Massachusetts halted in a street of the town to reform its line, then pushed on with the column, which, with its long train of baggage-wagons, division, brigade, and regimental, was making its way in good order towards Martinsburgh.

“My retreating column suffered serious loss in the streets of Winchester: males and females vied with each other in increasing the number of their victims by firing from the houses, throwing hand-grenades, hot water, and missiles of every description. The hellish spirit of murder was carried on by the enemy’s cavalry, who followed to butcher, and who struck down with sabre and pistol the helpless soldier sinking from fatigue, unheeding his cries for mercy, indifferent to his claims as a prisoner of war.

“This record of infamy is preserved for the females of Winchester. But this is not all: our wounded in hospital, necessarily left to the mercies of our enemies, I am credibly informed were bayoneted by the rebel infantry. In the same town, in the same apartments, where we, when victors on the field of Winchester, so tenderly nursed the rebel wounded, we were even so more than barbarously rewarded.”

THE INVESTMENT AND OCCUPATION OF CORINTH.
MAY 12–30, 1862.

The decisive battle of Pittsburgh, on Monday, April 7th, terminated in the retreat of the vast army of rebels, which fell back to Corinth. During the latter part of the same week, Gen. Halleck arrived on the field to assume the chief command of the Federal Army. The success of Gen. Pope’s division at New Madrid, and at Island No. 10, placed his superb army of about twenty thousand strong, at Halleck’s disposal; and they were now ordered to join the grand army under the commander-in-chief. They were assigned position at Hamburgh, four miles above Pittsburgh Landing, fronting on the extreme left of the Federal lines. Several changes were now made in the organization of the Federal army. The divisions of Sherman and Crittenden were added to Grant’s _corps d’armée_. This gave Grant eight divisions. The reserve of Grant’s forces were composed of the divisions of Gen. Lew. Wallace, Crittenden, and McClernand; the former command of the latter being conferred upon Brig.-Gen. John A. Logan. While McClernand was placed in command of this reserve, Gen. Thomas was placed in chief command of the remaining divisions of Grant’s forces.

In the field position, Grant’s forces constituted the right, Buell’s the centre, and Pope’s the left.

The first advance was ordered on April 29, the entire army moving toward the common centre, Corinth. Wallace held the extreme right. McClernand moved along the lower Corinth road, to a point one and a half miles west of Monterey. Sherman moved directly for a hill commanding Monterey, and occupied it on the morning of the 30th of April.

Every thing on the route indicated the haste with which the enemy had retreated, after his defeat. Gun carriages, caissons, wheels, tents, and all the apparatus of war, broken or burned, strewed the whole line of march.

On the same day Gen. Wallace dispatched a force to cut the Ohio and Mobile railroad at Bethel, south of Purdy, in order to sever the rebel communication to the northward. Three battalions of cavalry, and one of infantry, under command of Col. Morgan L. Smith, executed this commission. They found the rebels in position near Purdy, in a piece of woods. While the infantry and a detachment of cavalry engaged the enemy, Colonel Dickey, with two battalions of cavalry moved to the railroad. They destroyed a bridge a hundred and twenty feet in length, and the conductor, engineer, and four others were taken prisoners.

Buell struck direct from Pittsburgh Landing toward Corinth, while Pope’s division pushed forward from Hamburgh towards the lower point.

On the 3d of May, a reconnoissance in force toward Farmington was ordered. The country is uneven and difficult to penetrate, and both time and caution were necessary. Generals Paine and Palmer of Pope’s command, were detailed for this important duty. The regiments selected were the Tenth, Sixteenth, Twenty-second, Twenty-seventh, Forty-second and Fifty-first Illinois Volunteers, Tenth and Sixteenth Michigan Volunteers, Yates’ Illinois Sharpshooters, Houghtaling’s and Hercock’s batteries, and the Second Michigan cavalry. The column proceeded about five miles on the Farmington road, where they encountered the enemy’s cavalry pickets. A skirmish ensued, in which the rebels lost eight killed, and the same number of their wounded, were made prisoners. The enemy was compelled to fall back, after a second skirmish, and at 3 o’clock, p. m., the vanguard came up from a swamp they had crossed, and the fight commenced in earnest. The enemy was strongly posted on an elevated piece of ground which was flanked by a part of the force, and the rebels were obliged to fall back half a mile, yielding their former position to the Federals, who pressed them closely. The two regiments of infantry having secured a position commanding the left flank of the rebels, poured upon them such a destructive fire, that their infantry abandoned their artillerists. The latter, finding themselves forsaken, hastily withdrew their guns to a new position, from which they were soon dislodged, and fled with all speed to Corinth. General Pope’s advance was thus put in possession of Farmington.

This successful movement of General Pope’s advance was a cause of great annoyance to the rebels, and on the 9th of May they came out in overwhelming force to drive him back. The enemy numbered about thirty-five thousand, under command of Bragg, Price, Van Dorn, and Ruggles. General Pope had been specially directed not to engage the enemy in force. Under these circumstances he was obliged to encounter the shock of this large body, with only a single brigade, which, however, was advantageously posted. The enemy threw forward five or six regiments, with artillery, to engage this brigade, holding their immense reserve in readiness to attack the Federal reinforcements, which they supposed would be brought on the field. After five hours of desperate resistance, General Pope withdrew his advance, with a loss of forty killed, and about one hundred and twenty wounded. The rebels, surprised by the obstinate resistance of this small force, and their sudden retreat, made no pursuit, but fell back to their own intrenchments, after having suffered a much greater loss.

Three different “parallels” were constructed along the Federal lines, from the time of the first investment to the occupation of Corinth. The construction of these works compelled the rebels to fall back further upon their centre, until the last was completed.

On the 17th of May a brilliant engagement took place, under the command of General W. T. Sherman which resulted in the capture of a position known as Russell’s house, the place being owned and occupied by a gentleman of that name. The possession of this ground being important to the Federal advance, General Sherman directed General Hurlbut to take two regiments and a battery of artillery up the road to Russell’s house. General Denver with an equal force, composed of the Seventieth and Seventy-second Ohio, and Barrett’s battery, took a different road, so as to arrive on the enemy’s left, while his front was engaged. General Morgan L. Smith, with his brigade, and Bouton’s battery, were directed to follow the main road, and drive back a brigade of the enemy that held the position at Russell’s. General Smith conducted his advance in a very handsome manner, the chief work as well as the loss falling upon his two leading regiments, the Eighth Missouri and the Fifty-fifth Illinois. The firing was very brisk, but the enemy’s pickets were driven steadily back till they reached their main position at Russell’s, where they made an obstinate resistance. At first the Union artillery worked to a disadvantage, owing to the nature of the ground, but then finally succeeded in gaining an elevation whence they shelled the house, when the enemy immediately retired in confusion, leaving the field in possession of the victors. The Federal loss was ten killed, and thirty-one wounded. The enemy left twelve dead on the ground.

Preparations were constantly progressing for the final assault, which was appointed for the 28th of May. Occasional skirmishes took place in which the rebels always lost ground, as the great body of the Federal forces slowly but surely closed around them. On the morning of the 28th, General Pope sent Colonel Elliott to cut the line of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. This was accomplished with great skill. On the same day the whole army slowly advanced to the point of attack. On the left, the division under General Pope approached so near the rebel lines as to discover that the retreat of the enemy had begun.

It was nine o’clock on the morning of Wednesday the 28th, before Pope opened on the left and began the reconnoissance, which soon became general, as was evinced by rapid firing in McKeon’s division, and further to the right in Sherman’s. The right and center had encountered no enemy until they had reached the swamp and pushed through it toward the creek. Pope, on the contrary, met a determined resistance, and at night his line was but little further advanced than the third parallel of the center and right. Operating in an open space of some miles in extent he had not been able to advance his lines with the rapidity of Buell and Thomas. But the engagement began when the right and center reached the swamp, and while yet the left was striving to obtain the same position. There was no distinguishing anything. Along the whole line where the fight was raging, sharp reports, shouts, commands, and cheers, were heard, but nothing could be seen, save occasionally the white smoke rising from the leveled weapons which had just been discharged. The ambulances were slowly filled. The wounded soldiers were brought from the swamps, and the surgeons gathered around them. Cries of pain, curses, and groans, mingling with the wilder shouts of the excited combatants, who were hidden by the woods, arose distinctly. This style of skirmishing was kept up during the whole day. The combatants on the right and center maintained their original position, and Thomas and Buell bivouacked where they had fought—in the damp, miry swamps. The night was spent in preparations for an advance in the morning.

The resistance of the rebels to Pope’s advance was more stubborn, and the conflict during the day was more determined, more exciting, and resulted in greater loss than in both the other corps. He was opposed both by infantry and artillery. The crossing at the creek was defended by a battery of rifled guns, which Pope had found exceedingly effective, and he was content, when night came, to rest in the plain, and make his preparations for reducing the battery at early dawn. The troops of the three divisions bivouacked on the field, where they had stood mostly inactive the whole day, Hamilton’s left resting on the Farmington road.

The position obtained at Russell’s House on the 17th, had been strongly intrenched as a base for the operations of W. T. Sherman’s division on the 28th. On that day he was ordered to advance and secure a log-house standing on a ridge, giving a near and commanding position. The place was then held by the enemy—supposed to be in strong force.

The house was a double log-building standing on a high ridge on the southern end of the large field to which the Union pickets had advanced. The enemy had taken out the chinks and removed the roof, making it an excellent block house, from which he could annoy the Union pickets, in security. The large field was perfectly overlooked by this house, and by the ridge along its southern line of fence, which was covered by a dense grove of heavy oaks and underbrush. The main Corinth road runs along the eastern fence, while the field itself, three hundred yards wide, by five hundred long, extended far to the right into the low land of Phillip’s creek, densely wooded and impassable to troops or artillery. On the eastern side of the field, the woods were more open. The enemy could be seen at all times, in and about the house and the ridge beyond, but the Federal pickets could not appear on that side of the field without attracting a shot.

General J. W. Denver, with his brigade and the Morton battery of four guns, was ordered to march from the Union lines at eight A. M., keeping well under cover as he approached the field; General Morgan L. Smith’s brigade, with Barrett’s and Waterhouse’s batteries, was ordered by Sherman to move along the main road, keeping his force well masked in the woods to the left; Brigadier-General Veatch’s brigade moved from General Hurlbut’s lines through the woods on the left of and connecting with General Morgan L. Smith’s, and General John A. Logan’s brigade moved down to Bowie Hill Cut of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and thence forward and to the left, connecting with General Denver’s brigade on the extreme right.

Two twenty-pound rifled guns of Silfversparre’s battery, under the immediate supervision of Major Taylor, chief of artillery, were moved silently through the forest to a point behind a hill, from the top of which could be seen the house and ground to be contested. The guns were unlimbered, loaded with shell and moved by hand to the crest. The house was soon demolished by Major Taylor’s battery, when the troops dashed forward in splendid style, crossed the field, drove the enemy from the ridge and field beyond, into another dense and seemingly impenetrable forest. When the enemy reached the ridge, he opened with a two-gun battery on the right, and another from the front and left, killing three of General Veatch’s men. The Union artillery soon silenced his, and by ten A. M. the Federals were masters of the position. Generals Grant and Thomas were present during the affair and witnessed the movement, which was admirably executed both by the officers and men.

The enemy, evidently annoyed at this unexpected repulse, sallied out in some force to regain the lost position, but they were repulsed after a brisk fire of musketry and artillery. The new position won was near Corinth, and the work of intrenching went on during the night of the 28th. On the morning of the 29th, a line of defences was constructed, which gave the Federals a powerful foothold within thirteen hundred yards of the enemy’s main works.

The whole division of Sherman lay in a slightly curved line, facing south; his right resting on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, near a deep cut known as Bowie Hill Cut, and his left resting on the main Corinth road, at the crest of the ridge, there connecting with General Hurlbut, who, in turn, on his left, connected with General Davies, and so on down the whole line to its extremity. So near was the enemy, that the sound of his drums and sometimes of voices in command could be heard, while the rumble of the railroad cars, coming and going to and from Corinth was easily distinguished. For some days and nights, cars had been arriving and departing frequently. On the night of the 29th, they had been more active than usual, and Sherman’s suspicions were aroused. Before daybreak on the 30th, he instructed the brigade commanders and the field officer of the day, to feel forward as far as possible, but all reported the enemy’s pickets still in force in the dense woods to his front. About six A. M., a curious explosion, sounding like a volley of large siege pieces, followed by others singly, and in twos and threes, arrested attention. Soon after a dense smoke arose from the direction of Corinth. Sherman immediately put in motion two regiments of each brigade by different roads, and soon after followed with the whole division, infantry, artillery and cavalry. To his surprise, the enemy’s chief redoubt was found within thirteen hundred yards of the inner line of intrenchments, but completely masked by the dense forest and undergrowth. Instead of a continuous line of intrenchments encircling Corinth, his defenses consisted of separate redoubts, connected in part by a parapet and ditch, and in part by shallow rifle-pits; the trees being felled to afford a good field of fire to and beyond the main road.

General Morgan L. Smith’s brigade moved rapidly down the main road, entering the first redoubt of the enemy at seven A. M., May 30th. It was completely evacuated, and he pushed on into Corinth and beyond, to College Hill, there awaiting Thomas’ orders and arrival. General Denver entered the enemy’s lines at the same time, seven A. M., at a point midway between the wagon and railroads, and proceeded on to Corinth, about three miles from his camp; and Colonel McDowell kept further to the right, near the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. By eight A. M., all Sherman’s division was at and beyond Corinth.

On the whole ridge extending from Sherman’s into Corinth, and to the right and left could be seen the abandoned camps of the enemy; flour and provisions were scattered about, everything indicating a speedy and confused retreat. In the town itself, many houses were still burning, and the ruins of warehouses and buildings containing commissary and other stores were yet smouldering; but there still remained piles of cannon balls, shells and shot, sugar, molasses, beans, rice, and other property, which the enemy had failed to carry off or destroy.

The enemy had for some days been removing their sick, and their valuable stores, and had sent away on railroad cars a part of their effective force on the night of the 28th. But, of course, even the vast amount of their rolling stock could not carry away an army of a hundred thousand men.

The rebels were, therefore, compelled to evacuate the place, and began the march by ten o’clock on the night of the 29th—the columns filling the roads leading south and west all night; the rear-guard firing the train which led to the explosion and conflagration, that gave the first intimation that Corinth was evacuated.

OCCUPATION OF NORFOLK, VA.

While these events were happening, before Richmond and in the valley of the Shenandoah, the rebels were not idle elsewhere.

On the evening of the 10th of May, General Wool verified his opinion as to the easy capture of Norfolk, by landing his troops at Ocean View, under the direction of Captain Cram, and commenced his march upon the city.

The route lay through pine woods and over roads in only tolerable condition. The infantry regiments being first landed, started at once upon their march, the principal object being to secure the bridge across Tanner’s Creek, which would be a shortening of the route by several miles. The leading regiments under General Weber, reached the bridge about one o’clock, and found it burning, it having been fired by a small force of rebels then on the opposite bank. They had also planted a couple of small guns, with which they now opened fire upon our advance. General Mansfield considered that this effort to beat back our approach could not be resisted without artillery and a larger force; and started on a return to hurry forward the batteries and a reinforcement. General Wool in the mean time decided to push forward, and led the column by a roundabout route toward Norfolk.

In spite of the heat of the day, the Union troops reached the entrenched camp at about half past four o’clock, and were in possession at twenty minutes before five. The entrenchments were strongly fortified with earthworks, on the top of which were found twenty-nine pieces of artillery. When just about to enter the city the troops were met by a flag of truce. The Mayor of the city, who had come out under the flag, was met by General Wool and Secretary Chase. They entered a cottage by the road side, for the purpose of conferring together, and there the Mayor of Norfolk informed General Wool of the purport of his visit, explaining that he had come to surrender the city into the hands of the United States, and to ask protection for the persons and property of the citizens. General Wool’s reply was that the request was granted in advance. He then immediately took possession of the city, and appointed Brigadier-General Egbert L. Viele to be Military Governor, with directions to see that the citizens were protected in all their civil rights.

At this point it is necessary to look backward for a few days at the doings of the rebels, in order to explain the burning of the Merrimac.

DESTRUCTION OF THE MERRIMAC.

Commodore Tatnall, early in May, received orders to take up his position upon the James river, in such a way as would entirely prevent the Union forces from ascending it. On the next day he was ordered to endeavor to protect Norfolk, too, which placed him in his original position.

On the day following, Commodore Hollins reached Norfolk with orders from the rebel Secretary of the Navy, Honorable S. R. Mallory, to communicate with Commodore Tatnall and such officers as he might select, in regard to the best disposition to be made of the rebel steamer Virginia—better known at the North as the Merrimac.

On the 8th of May the Union forces attacked the Sewell’s Point battery; and Commodore Tatnall immediately undertook its defence, with the Merrimac. Six of our vessels, including the Monitor and Naugatuck, were actively engaged in the bombardment of the rebel batteries on Sewell’s Point and Craney Island. The Merrimac evinced a decided disinclination to come out into the roadstead; and, as the National vessels were equally disinclined to go up to her, the combat ceased.

The Monitor had orders to engage the Merrimac, in only such a position as would enable the Union iron-clad, and other vessels engaged, to run her down.

The demonstration had one good effect; that of ascertaining the fact that the number of guns, at the principal work on Sewell’s Point, was greatly reduced, and the force of men posted there comparatively small. On the 10th of May the rebels learned that a large force of Union men were marching rapidly upon Norfolk, and later in the day that the Union troops occupied the city. They at once endeavored to put in force a design to get up the river, and aid in the defence of Richmond, trusting to be able to do this before the Union officers should learn of their intention. Before daybreak the next morning, however, it was found that the Merrimac was not fit for action; and the rebel flag-officer in command determined, with the concurrence of the first and flag-lieutenants, to land the crew at Craney Island, the only means of retreat left open to them; and, as it was otherwise impossible to prevent the Merrimac from falling into our hands, to destroy her before we could capture her. The vessel was accordingly put ashore, near the main land, the crew was landed, and in a few minutes sheets of flame rose into the air fore and aft of the proud rebel iron-clad. For more than an hour she burned fiercely; tongues of fire licked her sides and shot up livid streams of light through the dense smoke, and at 5 o’clock on the morning of May 11th, with a loud report, like a roar of baffled rage, agony, and mortification, she blew up, scattering her ruins far and wide; and the morning sun shone down on nothing of the Merrimac save wreck and smoke.

THE BATTLE OF HANOVER COURT-HOUSE.
MAY 23, 1862.

On Wednesday, May 28th, one of the most brilliant achievements was consummated which distinguished the great, patriotic war for the Union.