The American Annual Cyclopaedia and Register of Important Events of the Year, 1861-1865, vols. 1-5. New York: Appleton & Co., 1868.

United States Army Operations, 1862, Part 1

ARMY OPERATIONS. 1862 At the commencement of the year 1862, the position of the Federal forces was as follows: At Fortress Monroe and Newport News under the command of General Wool, there were estimated to be 15,000 men in a good state of organization and discipline. Thence proceeding up the Potomac, General Hooker's division, including General Sickles's brigade, was south of Washington, and partly on the Maryland side of the Potomac. They numbered about 10,000 men. Southwest of Washington, and in the neighborhood of that city, was the mass of General McClellan's army, consisting of a large portion of the men who had volunteered from the middle and eastern States, for the war. They were organized into eight divisions, and becoming disciplined for future operations. The divisions of Generals Keyes and Casey were in and around Washington, that of General Stone was at and near Poolesville, and that of General Banks near Damestown, with detachments on the Potomac to Williamsport. The entire force thus organized, was not far from 160,000 men, which, in connection with other troops on the line of railroad to Baltimore, at that city, and in the vicinity, was something less than 200,000 men. This force before Washington was subsequently designated as the Army of the Potomac. It was organized into divisions, each commanded by a major-general, or by a brigadier-general acting as a major-general; and each division consisted of three brigades, each brigade of four, a few of five, regiments of infantry, making twelve infantry regiments in a division, one regiment of cavalry, and three and sometimes four batteries of artillery, or about twenty pieces. To each division generally one regiment of cavalry was assigned, and one or two of them had four instead of three batteries. Further up the Potomac, was General Kelly's force, of which General Lander soon took command, looking up the valley of the Shenandoah, toward Winchester. General Rosecrans was in western Virginia, with a force somewhat less than 20,000 men.

 At Louisville, in Kentucky, General Buell had collected and combined the scattered Federal forces, arid was now organizing and preparing for future operations, an army of more than 100,000 men. At St. Louis and Cairo, General Halleck was performing a similar service, and at the same time holding in check the Confederate forces in Missouri, and preparing to drive them entirely over its southern border. The force he was thus organizing, was nearly equal to that under General Buell in Kentucky.

 On the western frontier preparations were also making for an expedition, which was designed to be more than 20,000 strong, for the purpose of penetrating from Kansas to the Gulf of Mexico. A naval force was also collected at Cairo and St. Louis, to cooperate, by gunboats, with the military force, at important points on the western rivers. The entire Federal force, including the troops under General Sherman in South Carolina, and those under General Burnside on their way to North Carolina, and the regiments designed for the expedition under General Butler, made not more than 450,000 to 475,000 in the field.

The position and force of the Confederate army at the commencement of the year, were nearly as follows: At Norfolk and Yorktown there was a considerable force, probably over 30,000 men. The larger portion of this force was at Yorktown. A small force also manned batteries on the James and York rivers. The army before Washington was fortified on a very extended line. Its right wing rested upon the Potomac, beyond Fredericksburg, and at Stafford Court House, Dumfries, &c, and thus formed a support to the batteries which blockaded the Potomac river, and endangered the navigation between Washington and the lower Potomac into Chesapeake Bay. The main body was at Centreville and Manassas. The former place was strongly fortified, and held not le6s than 75,000 troops. The left wing occupied Aldie and Leesburg, and considerable forces were stationed at Winchester and Martinsburg. This entire force has been estimated to have reached 175,000 men, under General Joseph Johnston. A small force was in western Virginia.

In Kentucky, the Confederate forces were stationed at Prestonburg, nazel Green, Bowling Green, Columbus, Hickman, Donelson and Fort Henry, and amounted to 30,000 men.

The points occupied by the Confederate forces in Tennessee, were Cumberland Gap, Nashville, Waverly, Humboldt, Chattanooga, Jonesboro, Memphis, and forts Osceola, Wright, Randolph, Rector and Harris. These troops amounted to 20,000 men.

There were also Confederate troops stationed at Vicksburg, Natchez, New Orleans. Mobile, Savannah, Charleston, and at various points in' Missouri. The total force under arms, was not far from 350,000 men.

The Confederate forces at this time occupied half of Missouri, nearly half of Kentucky, including the strong positions of Columbus and Bowling Green, western Virginia, nearly as far north as the Kanawha river, the whole of eastern Virginia, except a few miles around Washington and Fortress Monroe and Newport News, the whole of North Carolina, except Hatteras Inlet, the whole of Florida except Key West, and Santa Rosa Island, and all the rest of the Southern States.

The results of the previous year when compared with the purposes entertained by the citizens of the North, appear most insignificant. But this is not a true view of the case. It was too soon to expect results, and nothing was done which had any influence upon the termination of the war. These gigantic combatants were yet unprepared for the conflict. Armies had been collected and hastily equipped, and the work of organization and discipline to change raw militia into men of war was progressing on both sides. So unused, however,

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Page 26 were the people to such events, that a speedy close of the contest had been anticipated by them. War, in their minds, was to be begun, carried on, and closed up with the despatch of ordinary enterprises.

It was not only necessary to organize and discipline armies, but to provide food, munitions, and transportation, and to organize artillery reserves, the engineer corps, the pontoon trains, the telegraphs, and the hospitals; but also to manufacture or import from other countries cannon, carriage harness, cavalry equipments, small arms, artillery, camp equipage, bridge trains, &c. The time required to secure these objects, under the most favorable circumstances, was even longer than had been assigned for the duration of hostilities by the people of both the Northern and Southern States.

The Federal Government proposed to blockade the coast to cut off the Confederate States from all communication with other nations. The recovery of the Mississippi valley, by which the western States of the Confederacy would be separated, and the outlet of the Northwest to the ocean recovered, was also a part of the purpose of the Government. The recovery of the Border Slave States by actual military force, and their protection against invasion by the Confederate Government, which claimed them as a part of its Union, was the occasion of the most active and extensive military operations. It was anticipated that the signal success which would attend the execution of these purposes, would so emphatically convince the Southern people of the irresistible power of the North as to satisfy them that the attainment of their independence was hopeless. At the same time it was believed their efforts of resistance would so exhaust their limited resources as to make a return to the Union on their part a necessity. Such appear to have been the purposes of the Federal Government, and such were the views of the people. On the opposite side, the purposes of the Confederate Government were no less determined, and the views of the people no less sanguine and exalted. A defence was to be made to the last extremity, and if this was successful, an invasion of the enemy was to follow, when the smoking ruins of Philadelphia, New York, and Cincinnati would wring humiliating conditions from the North. The year which passed has thus witnessed most stupendous military operations conducted on a theatre which was almost the size of a continent, with a profusion of expenditure and a waste of resources sufficient to engulf most nations. The actors in these terrific scenes now stand forth to receive the judgment of mankind not only upon their skill, ability, and sincerity, but upon those higher and nobler qualities which are the jewels of humanity.

The military operations in the interior of the country have been conducted chiefly with a reference to the lines of the railroads and the water courses. The facilities for the transportation of supplies and for the concentration of men furnished by these railroads and the rivers, in a country so covered with woods, and so poorly supplied with common roads, has resulted in making some of them the base of all important movements. At the beginning of the year preparations were vigorously pushed forward both at the West and with the Army of the Potomac. The forces of each side on the line between the Federal and Confederate States maintained their respective positions during the month of January, excepting in eastern Kentucky. There Colonel Humphrey Marshall had a few months previous intrenched the Confederate forces under his command, consisting of a few regiments of infantry, one battery of artillery, and five or six companies of cavalry at a town called Paintville. It was expected in the Confederate States that he would be able to sweep the whole of eastern Kentucky, take possession of Frankfort, the seat of the State Government, and set up the authority of the Provisional Governor Johnson. Meanwhile Colonel John A. Garfield, commanding a brigade of Union forces, having the 42d Ohio and 14th Kentucky infantry and a squadron of Ohio cavalry, advanced to encounter the Confederate force. Embarrassed by the difficulty of moving supplies at that low stage of the Big Sandy river, it was the 7th of January when his advance, consisting of five companies of the 42d Ohio, under Lieut.-Colonel Sheldon, reached Paintville. The Confederate force had then evacuated its intrenchments two and a half miles south of the town, but a part of it was placed in ambush at Jennie Creek, two miles west. This body was driven out immediately by Colonel Bolles, of the 1st Virginia cavalry, who had come up. At the same time Colonel Garfield, with eight companies of the 42d Ohio and two companies of the 14th Kentucky, moved upon the main position of the enemy, who were found to have hastily retreated. On the next day the 40th Ohio, Colonel Cranox, and six companies of the 1st Kentucky cavalry joined Colonel Garfield; a part of the 22d Kentucky, under Lieut.-Colonel Munroe, had also reached him. With a portion of this force, the pursuit of the enemy was immediately commenced up the road along the Big Sandy river.

The following despatches from Colonel Garfield describe his movements:

                                                                  PAINTSVILLE, January 8.

To Captain J. B. Fry, Assistant Adjutant-General:

I entered this place yesterday with the42d Ohio, the 4th Kentucky, and 300 of the 2d Virginia cavalry. On hearing of my approach, the main rebel force left their strongly intrenched camp and fled. I sent my cavalry to the mouth of Jennie Creek, where they attacked and drove the rebel cavalry, which had been left as a vanguard, a distance of five miles, killing three and wounding a considerable number.

Marshall's whole army is now flying in utter confusion. He had abandoned and burned a large amount of his stores. We have taken fifteen prisoners. Our loss is two killed and one wounded. I start in pursuit to-morrow morning.

             (Signed)     J. A. GARFIELD,

                     Colonel commanding Brigade.

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SECOND DESPATCH.

To Captain J. B. Fry, Assistant Adjutant-General:

I left Paintsville od Thursday noon with 1,100 men, find drove in the enemy's pickets two miles below Prestonburg. The men slept on their arms. At 4 o'clock yesterday morning we moved toward the main body of the enemy at the forks of Middle Creek, under command of Marshall. Skirmishing with his outposts began at 8 o'clock, and at 1 p. m. we engaged his force of 2,500 men and 3 cannon, posted on the hill—fought them until dark, having been reenforced by 700 men from Paintsville, and drove the enemy from all their positions. He carried off the majority of his dead and all of his wounded.

This morning we found twenty-seven of his dead on the field. His killed cannot be less than sixty. We have twenty-five prisoners, ten horses, and a quantity of stores. The enemy burned most of his stores, and fled precipitately. To-day I have crossed the river, and am now occupying Prestonburg. Our loss is—two killed and twenty-five wounded.

              (Signed)    J. A. GARFIELD,

                       Colonel commanding Brigade.

This was a rapid and spirited movement on the part of Colonel Garfield, and it resulted in forcing Colonel Humphrey Marshall with his troops to retire from eastern Kentucky.

On the 16th of January Colonel Garfield issued the following address to the inhabitants:

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH BRIGADE,

PAINTSVILLE (KENTUCKY), January 16, 1862.

Citizens of the Sandy Valley:

I have come among you to restore the honor of the Union and to bring back the Old Banner, which you all once loved, but which, by the machinations of evil men and by mutual misunderstanding, has been dishonored among you. To those who are in arms against the Federal Government I offer only the alternative of battle or unconditional surrender. But to those who have taken no part in this war, who are in no way aiding or abetting the enemies of the Union—even to those who hold sentiments averse to the Union, but yet give no aid and comfort to its enemies—I offer the full protection of the Government, both in their persons and property.

Let those who have been seduced away from the love of their country to follow after and aid the destroyers of our peace lay down their arms, return to their homes, bear true allegiance to the Federal Government, and they shall also enjoy like protection. The army of the Union wages no war of plunder, but comes to bring back the prosperity of peace. Let all peace-loving citizens who have fled from their homes return and resume again the pursuits of peace and industry. If citizens have suffered from any outrages by the soldiers under my command, I invite them to make known their complaints to me, and their wrongs shall be redressed and the offenders punished. I expect the friends of the Union in this valley to banish from among them all private feuds, and let a liberalminded love of country direct their conduct toward those who have been so sadly estranged and misguided, hoping that these days of turbulence may soon be ended and the days of the Republic soon return.

                            J. A. GARFIELD,

                  Colonel commanding Brigade.

But the most important action of the month was fought at a place called Webb's Cross Roads on the 19th. It is known as the battle of Mill Springs, although this place is about five miles distant from the spot where the battle was fought. For three months previous the Federal General Schoepff had been stationed at Somerset, a small town in south-eastern Kentucky, with a force of about 8,000 men. The object was to prevent the advance of the Confederate force any further north. At the same time the Confederate General Zollicoffer, with nearly the same force, was intrenched directly south on both banks of the Cumberland river, for the purpose of defending the approach to the Cumberland Gap and the road into east Tennessee against any Federal force. About two weeks previous to the action, General Zollicoffer was reenforced by the division under General Crittenden, which had been previously stationed at Knoxville, Tennessee. General Crittenden took command, and issued the following proclamation:

DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, MILL SPRINGS. KENTUCKY,

                                                             January 6,1862.

To the People of Kentucky:

When the present war between the Confederate States and the United States commenced, the State of Kentucky determined to remain neutral. She regarded this as her highest interest, and, balancing between hope for the restoration of the Union and love for her Southern sisters, she declared and attempted to maintain a firm neutrality.

The conduct of the United States Government toward her has been marked with duplicity, falsehood, and wrong. From the very beginning, the President of the United States, in his Messages, spoke of the chosen attitude of Kentucky with open denunciation, and on the one hand treated it with contempt and derision, while on the other hand he privately promised the people of Kentucky that it should be respected. In violation of this pledge, but in keeping with his first and true intention, he introduced into the State arms which were placed exclusively in the hands of persons known or believed to be in favor of coercion, thus designing to control the people of Kentucky, and to threaten the Confederate States. Then the Government of the Confederate States, in self-defence, advanced its arms into your midst, and offer you their assistance to protect you from the calamity of Northern military occupation.

By the administration of your State Government, Kentucky was being held to the United States, and bound at the feet of Northern tyranny. That Government did not rest upon the consent of your people. And now, having thrown it off, a new Government has been established and Kentucky admitted into the Southern Confederacy. Can Kentuckians doubt which Government to sustain? To the South you are allied by interest, by trade, by geography, by similarity of institutions, by the ties of mood, and by kindred courage. The markets of the North do not invite your products—your State is, to the centre of its trade, society, and laws, but a distant province, despised for its customs and institutions—your heroic lineage forbids association in arms with their warriors of Manassas, of Leesburg, and of Belmont; and your former devotion to the Union must intensify your hatred toward that section which has, in its Abolition crusade, broken to pieces the Constitution, and which is now vainly endeavoring to destroy the liberty of the Southern States!

At first you may have been deceived as to the purposes of the North. They talked of restoring the Union. Do you not see that it is hopelessly lost in the storm of war, and that, while the rotten Government of the North is shaking over its ruins, the South has erected out of them a new, powerful, and free constitutional republic! And now, indeed, the mask is thrown off, and you find the North, through its President, and Secretary of War, and public journals, and party leaders, giving up the claim of Union, and 'proclaiming the extinction of slavery and the subjugation of the South. Can you join in this enterprise? The South would never in any event consent to a reconstruction. She is contending with unconquerable spirit, with great Page 27 military power, with unbroken success, for constitutional freedom, and for her own national government. Where is your spirit of other days, that you do not rush to her victorious standard? Shall the sons of Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi, and other Southern States, with whom you have gathered the laurels on other battle fields, win them all in this war of independence, while you are inactive and lost in slothful indolence? May the proud genius of my native Kentucky forbid it.

In these mountains, where freedom and patriotism stir the human heart, can you sleep with the clarion of a glorious war ringing in your ears? True, you have refused to bear the arms and wear the livery of Northern despotism. Their base hirelings have been among you, but have not seduced yon into their ranks. Will you stay at home and let noble bands of soldiers, armed in your cause as in their own, pass on to battle fields, on your own soil, consecrated by no deed of your valor?

Having assumed command of the forces of the Confederate States on Cumberland river, in south-eastern Kentucky, I make this appeal to you. You are already assured that we come among you as friends and brothers, to protect you in your personal liberties and property, and only to make war against the invaders of your home and our common enemies. I invoke you to receive us as brothers, and to come to our camp and share with ns the dangers and the honor of this struggle. Come to these headquarters, as individuals or in companies, and you will be at once accepted and mustered in with pay and arms from the Government of the Confederate States. At first many Kentuckians entered the army of the South for the great cause it supports; now this has become the cause of Kentucky, and it is your duty to espouse it. Duty and honor unite in this call upon you. Will you join in the moving columns of the South, or is the spirit of Kentucky dead.?

                                      GEO. B. CRITTENDEN,  Major-General.

Previous to the junction of the force of General Crittenden with that of General Zollicoffer, General Buell, in command of the Federal department, with his headquarters at Louisville, had detached from his main body a division under General Geo. E. Thomas to attack the rear of General Zollicoffer, whose position was a strong one. It was about fifteen miles south-west of Somerset, forty miles south-east of Columbia, and six miles below the head of steamboat navigation. It was considered to be one of the three Confederate strongholds in Kentucky— the first being Columbus, in the extreme West; the second, Bowling Green in central Kentucky ; and the third, this one in the southeast, commanding the coal mines and many of the salts wells south of the Cumberland, and suitable to check any Federal advance into east Tennessee. The hills on the immediate bank of the river are between three and four hundred feet in height and their summits were fortified. The actual situation of the Confederate force has been variously represented. It was nearly destitute of supplies, and upon hearing of the approach of the Federal force, the choice was presented to General Crittenden, either to retreat without striking a blow, or to remain in his position and be stormed out, or to surrender upon the approach of starvation, or to make an advance. The latter measure was chosen, and for this reason the Confederate general was found without his intrenchments and making an attack upon the approaching force. It is probable, however, that the Federal force was supposed to be much smaller than it in truth was, and hence the Confederate general was tempted to advance and make . an attack. That day (Sunday) he was defeated and retired to his intrenchments. During the night he abandoned his camp, and by the aid of a small steamboat crossed the Cumberland with his entire force. The Federal forces most actively engaged were: the 9th Ohio, Colonel McCook; 2d Minnesota, Colonel Van Cleve; 4th Kentucky, Colonel Fry; 10th Indiana, Colonel Munson; with the batteries of Capts. Stanhart and Wetmore. These were supported by the 14th Ohio, Colonel Steadman; and the 10th Kentucky, Colonel Haskin. The force of General Schoepff came up and joined in the pursuit. The Confederate force consisted of the 15th Mississippi, Colonel Walthal; 19th Tennessee, Colonel Cummings; 20th Tennessee, Captain Battle; 25th Tennessee, Captain Stouton; 17th Tennessee, Colonel Newman; 28th Tennessee, Colonel Murray; 29th Tennessee, Colonel Powell; 16th Alabama, Colonel Wood, with two batteries. The Federal loss was 88 killed and 194 wounded; the Confederate loss was 190 killed (among whom was General Zollicoffer), 60 wounded, and 89 prisoners. The forces of General Thomas and General1 Crittenden were about equal. The force of General Schoepff, however, was equal to a reserve for General Thomas. The artillery of General Thomas was of longer range than the Confederate guns. The following order of thanks was issued by President Lincoln in consequence of this victory:

                              WAR DEPARTMENT, January 22, 1862.

The President, commander-in-chief of the army and navy, has received information of a brilliant victory achieved by the United States forces over a large body of armed traitors and rebels at Mill Springs, in the State of Kentucky.

He returns thanks to the gallant officers and soldiers who won that victory; and when the official reports shall be received, the military skill and personal valor displayed in battle will be acknowledged and rewarded in a fitting manner.

The courage that encountered and vanquished the greatly superior numbers of the rebel force, pursued and attacked them in their intrenchments, and paused not until the enemy was completely routed, merits and receives commendation.

The purpose of this war is to attack, pursue, and destroy a rebellious enemy, and to deliver the country from danger menaced by traitors. Alacrity, daring, courageous spirit, and patriotic zeal, on all occasions and under every circumstance, are expected from the army of the United States.

In the prompt and spirited movements and daring battle of Still Springs, the nation will realize its hopes, and the people of the United States will rejoice to honor every soldier and officer who proves his courage by charging with the baronet and storming intrenchments, or in the blaze of the enemy's fire.

    By order of the President.

              EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

This victory opened the path into east Tennessee, but no advantage was taken of it by the Federal Government. It also produced an exhilaration in the North far above its importance.

Page 28 Some important reconnoissances were made in western Kentucky at this time, extending even to the Tennessee line. The country around Fort Columbus was fully explored, the length and condition of the roads ascertained, the number of bridges and their strength, the depth of the streams without bridges, and the sentiments of the inhabitants. Fort Henry was twice approached by the gunboat Lexington, and its strength estimated. These reconnoissances were made by forces from the Department of Missouri, then under the command of Major-General Halleck. Early in January troops began to concentrate at Cairo, Paducah. and Fort Jefferson from different quarters. To such an extent had this progressed that, in the public mind, it was supposed that a great movement was on foot.

The plan of the campaign in the West now began to be manifest. At the time when General Buell was ordered to the command of the department of the Ohio, the views of the Government were favorable to an expedition to the Cumberland Gap and into east Tennessee, for the purpose of seizing the Virginia and east Tennessee line of railroad and affording aid to the loyal citizens. The Confederate line of defence had now become so fully developed, with its strong positions of Bowling Green and Columbus, that the propriety of an expedition by the forces in Kentucky into east Tennessee became a question for military investigation. The mountainous character of the country through which the Gap had to be roached, the roughness of the roads, rendering the conveyance of artillery extremely difficult and slow, and subjecting an army at every interval to formidable resistance, were discouraging obstacles to an advance in that direction.

On the other hand, the movement of troops from Cairo up the Cumberland river by transports and gunboats against Nashville, so as to reach the rear of the Confederate army under General Buckner, presented an easy manner of breaking the enemy's line and compelling the evacuation of Kentucky. Its successful achievement might be attended with the capture of the Confederate force at Bowling Green. These views finally prevailed and measures were taken to carry them into execution. The original plan of the western campaign had been for a military and naval expedition to proceed from St. Louis and Cairo down the Mississippi river. For this purpose the gunboats were originally constructed. They were found to be of sufficiently light draft to navigate the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, and the cooperation of the western department under General Halleck was also secured. Indeed the Mississippi river expedition was thus diverted at the outset, and General Halleck, by order of the President, assumed the entire command After a union of these two armies, they were expected to control the whole country to New Orleans.

The reconnoissance of Fort Henry had convinced Com. Foote, in command of the western fleet of gunboats, that it could be easily reduced by his gunboats. At an early day he applied to General Halleck for permission to attack the fort. These views undoubtedly had an important influence on the plan of the western campaign.

The States which contributed chiefly to the force organized by General Buell in Kentucky were: Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, as follows: Ohio, thirty regiments of infantry, two and half regiments of cavalry, and eight batteries of artillery; Indiana, twenty-seven regiments of infantry, one and half regiments of cavalry, and five batteries of artillery; Illinois, three regiments of infantry; Kentucky, twenty-four regiments of infantry, four regiment, of cavalry, and two batteries of artillery; Pennsylvania, three regiments of infantry, two regiments of cavalry, one battery of artillery; Michigan, three regiments of infantry, one battery of artillery; Wisconsin, three regiments of infantry; Minnesota, two regiments of infantry, and one battery of artillery; Tennessee, two regiments of infantry. Besides these there were of regulars, three regiments of infantry, and three batteries of artillery. Thus making one hundred and two regiments of infantry, ten regiments of cavalry, and twenty-one batteries of artillery; which might be summed up as follows: infantry 100,000, cavalry 11,000, artillerists 3,000; total 114,000 men, and 126 pieces of artillery. This army was divided into four grand divisions under the command of Generals Alexander McDowell McCook, Geo. H. Thomas, Ormsby M. Mitchell, Thos. L. Crittenden. Among the brigade commanders, of whom there were twenty, were the following officers: Ebenezer Dumont, Albin Schoepff, Thos. J. Wood, Wm. Nelson, Richard W. Johnson, Jerre T. Boyle, Jas. S. Negley, Wm. T. Ward. The force organized by General Halleck, with his headquarters at St. Louis, was concentrated at that place and Cairo and Paducah, excepting that portion which was in the field m the State of Missouri. It was somewhat less in numbers than the army of General Buell. For operations in Kentucky and Tennessee it was placed under the command of General Grant. It was drawn chiefly from the States adjacent to Missouri.

The naval force prepared to cooperate with the military consisted of twelve gunboats carrying an armament in all of one hundred and twenty-six guns. None of these guns were less than 32-ponnders, some were 42-ponnders, and also 9 and 10-inch naval columbiads. In addition, each boat carried a rifled Dahlgren 12-ponnder boat howitzer on the upper deck. Several of the larger guns on each boat were rifled.

The boats were built very wide, in proportion to their length, giving them almost the same steadiness in action that a stationary land battery would possess. They were constructed Page 29 with the sides sloping upward and downward from the water line, at an angle of forty-five degrees. The bow battery on each boat consisted of solid oak timber twenty-six inches in thickness, plated on the exterior surface with iron two and a half inches thick.

The side and stern batteries were somewhat thinner, but had the same thickness of iron over that portion covering the machinery.

The boats were built so that in action they could be kept "bow on;" hence the superior strength of the bow battery. Broadsides were so arranged as to be delivered with terrible effect while shifting position. To facilitate movements in action, the engines and machinery were of the most powerful kind. The boilers were five in number, constructed to work in connection with or independent of each other. Seven of these boats only were iron clad. The number of mortar boats ordered was thirty-eight. Each one which was built, carried a mortar of 13-inch calibre. The charge of powder for the mortar was about twenty-three pounds. Each boat was manned by a captain, lieutenant, and twelve men. Formidable as this naval force appears, its preparation was very tardily undertaken by the Government, and at the moment when first needed, but few of the boats were ready.

On the 27th of January, the President of the United States appeared as commander-in-chief of the army and navy, and issued the following order:

EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 27,1862.

PRESIDENT'S GENERAL WAR ORDER, NO. 1.

Ordered, That the 22d day of February, 1862, be the day for a general movement of the land and naval forces of the United States against the insurgent forces.

That especially

The Army at and about Fortress Monroe,

The Army of the Potomac,

The Army of Western Virginia,

The Army near Munfordsville, Kentucky,

The Army and Flotilla at Cairo,

And a Naval Force in the Gulf of Mexico,

be ready for a movement on that day.

That all other forces, both land and naval, with their respective commanders, obey existing orders for the time, and be ready to obey additional orders when duly given.

That the Heads of Departments, and especially the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, with aft their subordinates, and the General-in-Chief, with all other commanders and subordinates of land and naval forces, will severally be held to their strict and full responsibilities for the prompt execution of this order.

                                              ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

This order was unproductive of direct military effect, but was viewed as an indication of the President's desire that active measures should be taken speedily toward the initiation of hostilities. General McClellan still continued to be general-in-chief, and all the movements of General Buell up to the occupation of Nashville, and those of Generals Halleck and Grant, were made under his instructions up to the 11th of March, when the order of the President was issued, relieving him "from the command of the other military departments."

By the “Army near Munfordsville, Kentucky," were designated the forces of General Buell. After the battle of Mill Springs, movements were made by order of General Buell, as if with the purpose of advancing into eastern Tennessee in force. The Cumberland river was crossed at Waitsboro, and a column was pushed toward Cumberland Gap, while two brigades were moved from General Buell's centre toward his left. The Confederates understood that east Tennessee was the destination of these troops, and hastily sent a large force by railroad from Bowling Green, through Nashville to Knoxville. But the army of General Thomas, instead of going to east Tennessee, turned back to Danville and subsequently marched to join General Nelson, at Glasgow, and flank Bowling Green on the left. Thus, instead of dividing his forces, General Buell concentrated them by a movement from the left to the centre. Meanwhile the centre of General Buell's force, under General Mitchell, had been advanced toward Munfordsville, on the road to Bowling Green.

By the term "The Army and Flotilla at Cairo," was designated the military force of General Halleck's department, collected at Cairo, Paducah, and Fort Jefferson, under General Grant, together with the gunboats, and intended for the Tennessee river expedition.

A movement against Fort Henry on the Tennessee river was at once undertaken. This fort is situated near the line of Kentucky and Tennessee, on the east bank of the stream. It stands on the low lands adjacent to the river, about the high water mark, and being just below a bend in the river, and at the head of a straight stretch of about two miles, it commands the river for that distance, and very little else. On Saturday night, February 1, the gunboats St. Louis, Cincinnati, Carondolet, Essex, Tyler, and Lexington, in an incomplete state of preparation, being the only ones manned, left Cairo, and proceeded to the mouth of the Tennessee at Paducah. Here they were joined by the gunboat Conestoga and a fleet of transports, with a land force under General Grant, and on Monday afternoon proceeded up the river. By Tuesday all were anchored about eight miles below the fort, which being an unfavorable place for the debarkation of troops, a reconnoissance was made by the Essex, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. A suitable place for the landing, encampment, and general rendezvous of the troops was found just below the range of the guns of the fort. The troops were landed during the afternoon, and the transports returned to Paducah for more regiments. By Thursday morning, February 6, a large force was gathered, and a body of troops under General Smith were also landed on the west side of the river, where it was supposed that a considerable Confederate force was encamped. The troops after being landed were formed into two divisions; the first, consisting of the 8th, 18th, 27th, 29th, 30th, and 31st, making one brigade; and the 11th, 20th, 45th, and 48th Illinois regiments making

Page 30

This page contains a map of Fort Henry.

another brigade, with one regiment (the 4th Illinois), and four independent companies of cavalry, and four batteries of artillery, under General McClernand. This division was ordered to move across the country to a point on the road leading from the fort to the town of Dover, on the Cumberland river, for the purpose of preventing reinforcements to the enemy and cutting of his retreat. The second division consisted of the 7th, 9th, 12th, 28th, and 41st Illinois regiments, the 11th Indiana, 7th and 12th Iowa, 8th and 13th Missouri, with artillery and cavalry, under General Smith. About ten o'clock the land force commenced the march over the hilltops, and the gunboats began to move under steam toward the fort. Passing up the narrow passage to the westward of the island below the fort, they were protected from its guns until within a mile, and emerged in line of battle, the St. Louis, Lieut. Paulding, on the left, next the Oarondolet, Commander Walke, next the flag ship Cincinnati, Commander Stembel, and next upon the right the Essex, Commander Porter. The other boats acted as a reserve. Firing upon both sides soon commenced, but the gunboats continued to approach until within six hundred yards of the Confederate batteries. The action lasted for one hour and a quarter, when the flag on the fort was hauled down. Meantime the high water and muddy roads prevented the arrival of the land forces under General Grant, and the Confederate troops in the fort retired, and escaped. Commodore Foote, commanding the naval portion of the expedition, says: "The garrison, I think, must have commenced their retreat last night, or at an early hour this morning. Had I not felt it an imperative necessity to attack Fort Henry to-day, I should have made the investment complete and delayed until to-morrow, so as to secure the garrison. I do not now believe, however, the result would have been any more satisfactory."

This Confederate force was supposed to number between four and five thousand. The fort was armed with twenty guns, 32 and 84-pounders, including one 10-inch Columbiad. Before the close of the action a shot entered the boiler of the Essex, which resulted in wounding and scalding twenty-nine officers and men. Eighty-three prisoners were taken, among whom was Brigadier General Tilghman, and a large amount of stores, and everything belonging to the retiring force. On the gunboats two were killed and nine wounded in the action, and on the part of the Confederates five killed and ten wounded.

The result of this action occasioned great joy in the Northern States. The Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles, sent the following despatch to Com. Foote:

                              NAVY DEPARTMENT, February 9,1862.

Your despatch announcing the capture of Fort Henry, by the squadron which you command, has given the highest gratification to the President, to Congress, and the country. It was received and read in both Houses of Congress in open session. The country appreciates your gallant deeds, and this department desires to convey to you and your brave associates its profound thanks for the service you have rendered.

                          GIDEON WELLES.

                                Secretary of the Navy.

Flag Officer A. H. Foote, U. S. N., commanding the United States naval forces, Cairo, 111.

By the possession of Fort Henry the Federal forces were in the rear of Columbus on the Mississippi, and within ten miles of the bridge by which the railroad connection was made between Columbus and Bowling Green. There was now no obstacle to the passage of the gunboats to the sources of the Tennessee river in northern Alabama.

Immediately after the surrender, Commander Phelps was ordered to proceed with the gunboats Conestoga, Tyler, and Lexington, up the river to the railroad bridge, and to destroy so much as would prevent its use by the enemy, and thence proceed as far up the river as the stage of water would permit, and capture the gunboats and other vessels which might be useful to the enemy.

After dark, on the same day, the expedition arrived at the bridge for the railroad crossing about twenty-five miles above Fort Henry, where considerable camp equipage was destroyed. Thence the expedition proceeded as far up the river as Florence in Alabama, at the foot of the Muscle shoals. Here the enemy burnt six of their steamers and two were captured, beside a half complete gunboat and considerable lumber. Two hundred stands of arms, a quantity of stores and clothing wore also seized, and the encampment of a regiment destroyed. This sudden appearance of the Federal gunboats was like an unexpected apparition to the inhabitants, and loyal and friendly feelings were manifested on every side.

The next step of Commodore Foote was to return to Cairo to prepare the mortar boats for operations against Fort Donelson. He desired a delay of a few days to complete them, believing that thereby the garrison, however extensive, could be shelled out without much loss of life to the Federal force. But General Halleck regarded an immediate attack as a military necessity, and it was made although the fleet was reduced to a crippled state, and the loss of life was considerable. There is no question of the correctness of General Halleck's views relative to the attack; the deficiency resulted from a degree of precipitation in the entire movement after the issue of the President's proclamation.

At this time General Crittenden, in command of the right wing of General Buell's army, having advanced to the left bank of Green river near South Carrollton and manoeuvred in front of the Confederate (General Buckner's) force, suddenly retreated to Calhoun on Green river. Steamers were there awaiting him, on which his force was embarked and taken down the Green river to the Ohio, down the Ohio, and Page 32 up the Cumberland, 'where a junction was effected with General Grant's army.

Troops were also sent from St. Louis, Cairo, and Cincinnati, until the following regiments and batteries were under the command of General Grant, not including the force brought by General Crittenden:

Illinois Infantry.—7th, Colonel John Cook, acting brigadier-general; Lieut.-Colonel Andrew J. Babcock; 8th, Colonel Richard J. Oglesby, acting brigadier-general; Lieut.-Colonel, Frank L. Rhodes; 9th, Colonel Augustus Marsey; 10th, Colonel James D. Morgan; 11th, Colonel Thomas E. R. Ransom; 12th, Colonel John McArthur; 16th, Colonel Robert F. Smith; 18th, Colonel Michael K. Lawler; 20th, Colonel C. Carroll Marsh; 22d, Colonel Henry Dougherty (invalid); Lieut.-Colonel II. E. Hart; 2'7th, Colonel Napoleon B. Buford; 28th, Colonel Amory K. Johnson; 29th, Colonel James S. Riordan; 30th, Colonel Philip B. Fouke, absent; Lieut.-Colonel E. B. Dennis; 31st, Colonel John A. Logan; 32d, Colonel John Logan; 41st, Colonel Isaac C. Pugh; 45th, Colonel John E. Smith; 46th, Colonel John A. Davis; 48th, Colonel Isham N. Haynie; 49th, Colonel Wm. R. Morrison, wounded; Lieut.-Colonel, Thomas G. Allen; 50th, Colonel Moses M. Bane; 52d, Lieut.-Colonel John S. Wilcox; 55th, Colonel David Stuart; 57th, Colonel S. D. Baldwin.

Illinois Artillery.—2d regiment, Colonel Silas Noble; 3d regiment, Colonel Eugene A. Carr; 4th regiment, Colonel T. Lyle Dickey; 7th regiment, Colonel William Pitt Kellogg. Illinois

Artillery Batteries.—Schwartz's, Dresser's, Taylor's, McAllister's, Richardson's, Willard's, and Buell's; in all, thirty-four guns.

Troops from other States.—3d Iowa, Colonel N. G. Williams; 7th Iowa, Colonel John G. Lauman; 11th Iowa, Colonel Abraham F. Hare; 12thIowa, Colonel Jackson J. Wood; 13th Iowa, Colonel Marcellus M. Crocker; 14th Iowa, Colonel William T. Shaw; 8th Missouri, Colonel Morgan M. Smith; 13th Missouri, Colonel Crafts J. Wright; 1st Missouri Artillery, Major Cavender; 11th Indiana, Colonel George F. McGinniss; 23d Indiana, Colonel Wm. L. Sanderson; 48th Indiana, Colonel Norman Eddy; 52d Indiana, Colonel James M. Smith.

General Lewis Wallace commanded a third division, in which were the following regiments who were engaged in the battle at Donelson: 28th Kentucky, Colonel James L. Shackelford; 81st Indiana, Major Fred. Arn; 44th Indiana, Colonel Hugh B. Reed; 17th Kentucky, Colonel John McHenry.

The force of General Grant had grown within a few days into almost gigantic proportions. Its numbers have been variously stated. After the surrender of Donelson, General Halleck sent the following despatch to General Hunter:

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF St. LOUIS, Feb'y 15.

To Major-General D. Hunter,

Commanding Department of Kansas at Fort Leavenworth:

To you more than any other man out of this department, are we indebted "for our success at Fort Donelson. In my strait for troops to reenforce General Grant, I applied to you. You responded nobly, by placing your forces at "my disposal.

This enabled us to win the victory. Receive my most heartfelt thanks.

(Signed)      H. W. HALLECK, Major-General.

A respectable authority wrote as follows, on the morning of February 14:

At eleven o'clock last night we arrived within two miles of the fort. Here we found the Carondolet at anchor. She had been engaging the enemy during the afternoon, at a distance of a mile, had fired about two hundred shots, and retired without receiving any damage. By six o'clock this morning, sixteen transports had arrived from St. Louis, Cairo and Cincinnati, carrying in all about 10,000 troops, cavalry, artillery and infantry. The debarkation occupied about four hours. The sight of such strong reinforcements encouraged all our men greatly. Knowing already that the fort was surrounded by General Grant command—estimated at 30,000—we felt that such a large addition to his numbers would make assurance doubly sure.

Senator Trumbull thus stated, in the Senate of the United States, his view of the force engaged: "I think there is a disposition to overestimate the number of men upon both sides in the field. We have seen a statement within a few days going the rounds of the papers, that Fort Donelson was invested by an army of fifty thousand men; I have seen it in a number of papers; but when we come to see what regiments were there, instead of being fifty thousand, there were not thirty thousand men. A gentleman direct from Cairo, well acquainted with all the troops engaged in that gallant affair, informs me that the number of our troops was less than twenty-eight thousand."

The Confederate regiments in the fort were reported as follows:

Regiments.—Tennessee, 11; Mississippi. 8; Texas, 1; Kentucky, 2; Arkansas, 1; Virginia, 4; Alabama, 1.

Cavalry Battalions.—Alabama, 1; Tennessee, 1; Mississippi, 1.

The location of the fort was on a fine slope, one hundred and fifty feet high, on a slight bend on the west side of the Cumberland river. At this point the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, both running north, approach within about twelve miles of each other. Opposite on the Tennessee is situated Fort Henry. There were two batteries at Fort Donelson—the first about twenty-five feet above the water, consisting of nine guns, eight 32's and one 10-inch; the second having one rifled 82-pounder and two 82-pound carronades, located sixty feet higher up. The main fort was in the rear of these batteries, occupying a high range cloven by a deep gorge opening toward the south. The outworks consisted in the main of rifle pits. Along the front of the extension line, the trees had been felled and the brush cut and bent over breast high, making a wide abatis very difficult to pass through. The Confederate camp was behind the hill and beyond the reach of shot and shell from the gunboats.

At three o'clock on the afternoon of February 14, Com. Foote began the conflict with four Page 33 iron-clad gunboats and two wooden ones. It continued for an hour and a quarter, and the latter part of the time within four hundred yards of the fort, when the wheel of one vessel and the tiller of another were shot away, and both rendered unmanageable, and drifted down the river. At this time the Confederates appeared to be deserting their batteries along the water. The other boats were injured between wind and water, and fifty-four had been killed and wounded, when all retired. Com. Foote deeming his services to be less required on the spot than at Cairo, "until damages could be repaired, and a competent force brought up from that place to attack the fort," retired to Cairo. At the same time he sent a gunboat up the Tennessee to render the railroad bridge above Fort Henry impassable. This had not been done by Lieut. Phelps who had gone up that river with three gunboats.

The land forces under General Grant left Fort Henry on the 12th of February, in two divisions, stated by General Grant as "about fifteen thousand strong,"—six regiments having been sent round on transports. The head of the marching column arrived within two miles of Fort Donelson at twelve o'clock. The Confederate fortifications were from this point gradually approached and surrounded, with occasional skirmishing on the line. The next day the investment was extended on the Confederate flanks, and drawn closer to their works, with skirmishing all day. That night the gunboats and reënforcements arrived. On the next day the attack of the gunboats was made, and after its failure General Grant resolved to make the investment as perfect as possible, and to partially fortify and await the repairs to the gunboats. This plan was frustrated by a vigorous attack upon his right under General McClernand, by the enemy. The battle was closely contested for several hours, and with considerable advantage to the enemy, when they were finally repulsed, having inflicted upon the Union troops a loss of one thousand two hundred in killed, wounded, and missing. At this time General Grant ordered a charge to be made on the left by General Charles F. Smith with his division. This was brilliantly done, and the contest here, which continued until dark, resulted in giving to him possession of part of the intrenchments. Soon after this charge was commenced, an attack was ordered by General Grant to be made by General Wallace of the third division, and two regiments of the second division, on the other Confederate flank, by which it was still further repulsed. At the points thus gained, all the troops remained for the night, feeling that, notwithstanding the brave resistance, a complete victory awaited them in the morning. The result of this conflict convinced the Confederate officers that without fresh troops they would be unable to hold their position on the next day. Generals Pillow and Floyd determined therefore to withdraw as no reënforcements would reach them, leaving General Simon B. Buckner in command. By means of two or three small steamboats these officers retired during the night taking about five thousand troops with them. Early the next morning a flag of truce was sent to General Grant with the following letter:

HEADQUARTERS, FORT DONELSON, February 16,1862.

SIR: In consideration of all the circumstances governing the present situation of affairs at this station, I propose to the commanding officer of the Federal forces the appointment of commissioners to agree upon terms of capitulation of the forces at this post under my command. In that view I suggest an armistice until twelve o'clock today. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. B. BUCKNER. Brigadier-General C. S. Army. To Brigadier-General U. S. Grant, Commanding United States forces near Fort Donelson. The reply of General Grant to this letter was as follows:

                                      HEAD-QUARTERS ON THE FIELD,

                                           FORT DONELSON, February 16, 1862.  

To General S. B. Buckner:

SIR: Yours of this date, proposing an armistice and the appointment of commissioners to settle on the terms of capitulation, is just received. No terms, except unconditional and immediate surrender, can be accepted. I propose to more immediately on your works.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

                                      U. S. GRANT,

                    Brigadier-General Commanding.

The answer of General Buckner was as follows:

HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPT. (TENS.), February 16, 1862.

Brigadier-General U. S. Grant, U. S. Army:

SIR: The distribution of the forces under my command, incident to an unexpected change of commanders, and the overwhelming force under your command, compel me, notwithstanding the brilliant success of the Confederate arms, to accept the ungenerous and unchivalrous terms which you propose.

I am, sir, your servant,

                                                     S. B. BUCKNER.

                                              Brigadier-General C. S. Army.

The fort was subsequently given up and occupied by the Union troops.

In the action 231 were killed and 1,007 wounded on the Confederate side. The number was larger on the Union side. About 10,000 prisoners were made, and 40 pieces of cannon and extensive magazines of all kinds of ordnance, quartermasters' and commissary stores were captured.

The following is a list of the regiments which were captured at Fort Donelson: 49th Tennessee regiment, Colonel Bailey; 48d Tennessee regiment, Colonel Abernethy; 27th Alabama regiment, Colonel Jackson; 42d Tennessee regiment, Colonel Quarrells; Captain Guy's battery; 26th Tennessee regiment, Colonel Silliard; 14th Mississippi regiment, Colonel Baldwin; 18th Tennessee regiment, Colonel Palmer; 2d Kentucky regiment, Colonel Hanson; 20th Mississippi regiment, Major Brown; Captain Milton's company; 15th Virginia regiment, Lieut. Haslep; Texas regiment, Colonel Gregg; 16th Arkansas regiment, Colonel Lee; Captain Oreston's cavalry; 15th Tennessee regi-

Page 34 This page contains a map of Fort Donelson.

A "Water Batteries— Lower Battery, 8 32-pounder guns; 1 10-inch Columbiad. Upper Battery, 1 32-pounder heavy rifled gun; 2 82-pounder carronades. B Rifle Pits, carried by General Smith's division. C General Grant's Headquarters during the siege. I) Part of Confederate Intrenchments, carried by a portion of General McClernand’s division. E Fallen Timber. F Confederate Tents. G Confederate Log Huts. H Woods.

Page 35 ment, Major Clark; one Company, Colonel Lugg; Porter's artillery; 8d Tennessee regiment, Colonel Brown; 8th Kentucky regiment, Captain Lyon; 30th Tennessee regiment, Major Humphrey; 32d Tennessee regiment, Colonel Cook; 41st Tennessee regiment, Colonel Forquehanor; Mississippi regiment, Colonel Davidson. A portion of the Federal troops in General McClernand's division were under arms two days and nights, amid driving storms of snow and rain. The fall of the fort occasioned great rejoicing in the Northern cities. The commanding general (Grant) thus addressed his troops:

                       HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT OF WEST TENN.,

                               FORT DONELSON, February 17,1862.  

The General commanding takes great pleasure in congratulating the troops of this command for the triumph over rebellion gained by their valor on the 13th, 14th, and 15th instant

For four successive nights, without shelter during the most inclement weather known in this latitude, they faced an enemy in large force in a position chosen by himself. Though strongly fortified by nature, all the additional safeguards suggested by science were added. Without a murmur this was borne, prepared at all times to receive an attack, and with continuous skirmishing by day, resulting ultimately in forcing the enemy to surrender without conditions.

The victory achieved is not only great in the effect it will have in breaking down rebellion, but has secured the greatest number of prisoners of war ever token in any battle on this continent.

Fort Donelson will hereafter be marked in capitals on the map of our united country, and the men who fought the battle will live in the memory of a grateful people.

                                         By order                 U. S. GRANT,

                                   Brigadier-General Commanding.

The following is the order of General Halleck:

HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI.

                ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19,1862.

The Major-General commanding the department congratulates Flag-Officer Foote, Brigadier-General Grant, and the brave officers and men under their command on the recent brilliant victories on the Tennessee and Cumberland.

The war is not ended. Prepare for new conflicts and new victories. Troops are concentrating from every direction. We shall soon have an army which will be irresistible. The Union Flag must be restored everywhere, and the enthralled Union men in the South must be set free. The soldiers and sailors of the Great West are ready and willing to do this. The time and place have been determined on. Victory and glory await the brave I

       By command of Major General HALLECK.

                      N. H. McLean, Assistant Adjutant-General.

The Confederate Congress being at that time in session, the following Message was addressed to that body by President Davis

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, March 11, 1862.

To the Speaker of the Hose of Representatives:

I transmit herewith copies of such official reports as have been received at the War Department of the defence and fall of Fort Donelson.

They will be found incomplete and unsatisfactory. Instructions have been given to furnish further information upon the several points not made intelligible by the reports. It is not stated that reinforcements were at any time asked for; nor is it demonstrated to have been impossible to have saved the army by evacuating the position; nor is it known by what means it was found practicable to withdraw a part of the garrison, leaving the remainder ta surrender; nor upon what authority or principles of action the senior Generals abandoned responsibility by transferring the command to a junior officer.

In a former communication to Congress, I presented the propriety of a suspension of judgment in relation to the disaster at Fort Donelson, until official reports could be received. I regret that the information now furnished is so defective. In the mean time, hopeful that satisfactory explanation may be made, I nave directed, upon the exhibition of the case as presented by the two senior Generals, that they should be relieved from command, to await further orders whenever a reliable judgment can be rendered on the merits of the case.

                                                    JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The successful operations against Fort Donelson were followed by the immediate evacuation of Bowling Green by the Confederate troops under General Johnston. The centre of General Buell's army under General Mitchell was advancing from Munfordsville upon Bowling Green on the 14th of February, and by a forced march reached the river at that place on the next day. He immediately began to reconstruct the bridge, which had been burned some hours previous to his arrival, and took possession of the fortifications on the next day.

Since the battle of Mill Springs the intention of holding Bowling Green had been given up by the Confederate commander, and the troops were gradually withdrawn. About the 25th of January General Floyd, with a command composed of his brigade and those of Generals Wood and Breckinridge, left Bowling Green and went to Nashville and east Tennessee. The brigade of General Buckner about the same time moved in the direction of Hopkinsville, near which place he manoeuvred in front of General Crittenden until the latter left to join General Grant, when General Buckner fell back and combined his forces with those at Fort Donelson. The force then remaining at Bowling Green consisted of the brigades commanded by Generals Hardee and Hindman, which were chiefly Arkansas regiments, and twelve in number. This force, being about 8,000 men, was totally inadequate to defend the position against the forces of General Mitchell and the reserve of General Buell commanded by General McCook.

On the 19th of February Com. Foote left Fort Donelson with six gunboats Conestoga and Cairo on an armed reconnoissance. At Clarksville he learned that nearly two thirds of the citizens had fled in alarm, and therefore issued a proclamation, assuring "all peaceably disposed persons that they could with safety resume their business avocations, and requiring only the military stores and equipments to be given up and holding the authorities responsible that it should be done without reservation." Clarksville is on the line of railroad communication between Memphis and Nashville and Memphis and Bowling Green and Louisville. Below the town were two small forts which were taken by the Federal force without any resistance. They mounted three guns each. One span of the railroad bridge had also been destroyed.

Page 36 The fate of Nashville was now settled. With a high state of the water of the Cumberland river, there were no obstacles to the immediate approach of the gunboats with a force on transports. The centre of General Buell's army had already arrived Bowling Green, within two days' march of Nashville. Its progress had been attended with many difficulties, and Brigadier-General Mitchell in command issued the following address to his soldiers:

                              BOWLING GREEN, February 19, 1963.

Soldiers of the Third Division! You have executed a march of forty miles in twenty-eight hours and a half. The fallen timber and other obstructions opposed by the enemy to your movements, have been swept from your path. The fire of your artillery and the bursting of your shells announced your arrival. Surprised and ignorant of the force that had thus precipitated itself upon them, they tied in consternation.

In the night time, over a frozen, rocky, precipitous pathway, down rude steps for fifty feet you have passed the advance guard, cavalry, and infantry, and before the dawn of day, you have entered in triumph a position of extraordinary natural strength, and by your enemy proudly denominated the Gibraltar of Kentucky.

With your own hands, through deep mud, in drenching rains, and up rocky pathways next to impassable, and across a footpath of your own construction, built upon the ruins of the railway bridge, destroyed for their protection, by a retreating and panic-stricken foe, you have transported upon your own shoulders your outrage and camp equipage.

The General commanding the department, on receiving my report announcing these facts, requests me to make to the officers and soldiers under my command the following communication:

"Soldiers who by resolution and energy overcome great natural difficulties, have nothing to fear in battle, where their energy and prowess arc taxed to a far less extent. Your command have exhibited the high qualities of resolution and energy, in a degree which leaves no limit to my confidence in them in their future movements.

 "By order of                         "Brigadier General BUELL,

                                      "Commanding Department of the Ohio."

Soldiers! I feel a perfect confidence that the high estimate placed upon your power, endurance, energy, and heroism, is just. Your aim and mine has been to deserve the approbation of our commanding officer, and of our Government and our country. I trust you feel precisely as does your commanding General, that nothing is done while anything remains to be done.

By order of Brigadier-General O. M. MITCHELL, Commanding.

The certainty of the capture of Nashville showed to the Confederate generals the danger in which Columbus, their strong position on the Mississippi, was placed. Even the occupation of Clarksville by the Union forces put into their possession that part of the railroad running to Columbus, and opened the way to approach that position from the rear. At the same time the river in front was under the control of the Federal gunboats. General Beauregard, having previously retired from his command at Manassas, was now the commanding officer in this Confederate department with General Johnston. Orders were accordingly issued on the 18th of February to destroy a portion of the track and bridges of the Memphis and Ohio railroad preparatory to a removal of the forces at Columbus to Island No. Ten, about forty-five miles below on the Mississippi river.

At the same time preparations were made to remove the Confederate stores and other public property from Nashville. The near approach of the Federal forces filled the authorities of the State with great alarm. The Legislature, which had just been convened in extra session, retired with Governor Harris to Memphis, taking the archives and treasury of the State. Extreme measures and the destruction of property were proposed by the Governor to the citizens, but without gaining their approval. The railroad and the suspension bridges over the river were, however, destroyed.

Page 37 After taking possession of Clarksville, Com. Foote returned to Cairo for the purpose of obtaining an additional gunboat and six or eight mortar boats. Meantime the troops of General Grant, under Brigadier-General Smith, were pushed forward to Clarksville, and at the request of General Smith, Lieut. Bryant, of the gunboat Cairo, preceded seven transports with the brigade of General Nelson up the river to Nashville. They arrived on the 24th. The troops were landed without any opposition, as there was not any hostile force on the banks of the river. On the same day the advance of General Buell's centre from Bowling Green arrived on the opposite side of the river, to see the Stars and Stripes . already floating in triumph from the staff on the State capitol. The Confederate force under Gen. Albert S. Johnston retired to Murfreesborough, a small town thirty-two miles distant on the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad. Here they were soon after joined by the force under the Confederate General Crittenden.

An invasion having now been commenced within the limits of the States attached to the Confederacy, the Major-General commanding the department of Missouri issued the following order for the regulation of the troops:

                    HEADQUARTEES, DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI, 

                                     ST. LOUIS, February 22.

The Major-General commanding the department desires to impress upon all officers the importance of preserving good order and discipline among their troops as the armies of the West advance into Tennessee and the Southern States. Let us show to our fellow citizens in these States that we come merely to crush out rebellion, and to restore to them peace and the benefits of the Constitution and the Union, of which they have been deprived by their selfish and unprincipled leaders.

They have been told that we come to oppress and plunder. By our acts we will undeceive them; we will prove to them that we come to restore, not to violate, the Constitution and laws in restoring to them the flag of the Union. We will assure them that they shall enjoy under its folds the same protection of life and property as in former days.

Soldiers, let no excess on your part tarnish the glory of our arms. The orders heretofore issued in this department in regard to pillaging, marauding, the destruction of private property and stealing, and the concealment of slaves, must be strictly enforced.

It does not belong to the military to decide upon the relation of master and slave. Such questions must be settled by civil courts. No fugitive slave will, therefore, be admitted within our Tines or camps except when especially ordered by the General commanding. Women, children, merchants, farmers, mechanics, and all persons not in arms, are regarded as noncombatants, and are not to be molested in their persons or property. If, however, they aid and assist the enemy, they become belligerents, and will be treated as such. If they violate the laws of war, they will be made to suffer the penalties of such violation.

Military stores and public property must be surrendered , and any attempt to conceal such property by fraudulent transfer or otherwise, will be punished; but no private property will be touched unless by orders of the General commanding.

Whenever it becomes necessary to levy forced contributions for the supply and subsistence of our troops, such levies will be made as light as possible, and be so distributed as to produce no distress among the people. All property so taken must be receipted and fully accounted for, as heretofore directed.

These orders will be read at the head of every regiment, and all officers are commanded to strictly enforce them.

   By command of Major-General HALLECK.

             N. H. McLean, Assistant Adjutant-General.

The effect of these military operations was a great excitement in the neighboring Confederate States. To witness their strongest positions for defence flanked and evacuated without a blow, to see other fortified points compelled to a quick surrender by an irresistible force of men and gunboats, revealed to them the gigantic contest in which they were engaged. They said: "No people were ever engaged in a more serious struggle. It is emphatically a combat for life or death." The Governor of Mississippi issued a proclamation calling upon every citizen able to bear arms to have his arms in readiness. Boards of police in all the counties of the State were required to appoint " enrollers" preparatory to drafting, and to establish gun shops to repair arms. The Governor of Arkansas issued a proclamation drafting into immediate service every man in the State subject to military duty, and requiring them to respond within twenty days. Governor Harris of Tennessee issued a proclamation, saying: "As Governor of your State and Commander in Chief of its army, I call upon every able-bodied man of the State, without regard to age, to enlist in its service. I command him who can obtain a weapon to march with our armies. I ask him who can repair or forge an arm to make it ready at once for the soldier. I call upon every citizen to open his purse and his storehouses of provision to the brave defenders of our soil. I bid the old and the young, wherever they may be, to stand as pickets to our struggling armies." Thus was set on foot a system of measures which led to the passage of a conscription act by the Confederate Congress and the raising of an immense Confederate army during the ensuing summer months.

Meanwhile, on the morning of the 4th of March, an expedition consisting of the gunboats Louisville, Carondelet, St. Louis, Pittsburg, Lexington and four mortar boats, left Cairo for Columbus on the Mississippi. Transports with the following troops formed a part of the expedition: 42d and 27th Illinois, 6 companies of the 55th Illinois, four companies of the 71st Ohio and one company of the 54th Ohio. On arrival the fort was found to be unoccupied, except by two hundred and fifty of the 2d Illinois regiment, who had reached it by a land march a short time previous. The enemy had commenced the evacuation on the 26th ult. Almost everything difficult to move had been more or less destroyed. Still a large amount of army material was obtained. The enemy had retired down the river.

At Nashville order was speedily restored. Colonel Matthews of the 51st Ohio was appointed provost marshal and the troops were all quartered without the city. An immense amount of military stores of the Confederate Government was found in the city. They consisted Page 38 of pork, beef, rice, corn and molasses. General Buell removed his headquarters to the city, and the reserve of his army under General McCook had arrived and were in quarters before the 2d of March.

This division in its progress had protected the railroad and repaired the bridges and roads on the route to Louisville. All of General Buell's force was concentrated at Nashville and encamped along the different turnpikes leading from the city in a southerly direction at distances from two to five miles from the city, with pickets extending to the distance of ten miles.

Thus the Confederate line of defence from the Mississippi east to the mountains was swept away. The strongholds were evacuated and the less impregnable positions captured. There was nothing to withstand the triumphant march of the Federal forces southward over the country but the military force which might be gathered from the Confederate States. Was Tennessee therefore restored to the Union? Opposition presented itself everywhere. The Federal flag wherever waved was in the hands of individuals, and might indicate the true sentiments of the bearer, or might be upheld to cover and conceal the real disloyalty of his heart. Public bodies and representatives of established organizations made no such display. That Tennessee which ono year previous reposed in peace under the folds of the national flag, now stood aloof and claimed that her allegiance was due to another power. This power she hoped would soon return and eject the invaders. Thus it was evident the territory was acquired by the Federal forces, but the hearty allegiance of the people would never be restored while the Confederate Government remained safe and strong in its seat at Richmond.

Meantime important events had taken place elsewhere. The military and naval expedition under General Burnside was making important captures in the most populous and fertile part of the State of North Carolina. His force, being engaged at the time in active operations, was not included in the order of the President for a general advance. This army corps comprised throe brigades. The first, under the command of Brigadier-General John G. Foster, consisted of the 23d, 24th, 25th and 27th Massachusetts, and the 10th Connecticut regiments; the second, under the command of Brigadier-General Jesse L. Reno, consisted of the 51st New York, 51st Pennsylvania, 21st Massachusetts, 6th New Hampshire, and 9th New Jersey regiments; the third, under the command of Brigadier-General General John G. Parke, consisted of the 8th and 11th Connecticut, 53d and 89th New York, and a battalion of the 5th Rhode Island, together with battery F of the Rhode Island artillery. These three brigades numbered about 16,000 men and required more than 80 transports to take them to their destination—5 vessels to transport the horses, 8 or 10 to carry the supplies, a siege train and 2 pontoon bridge schooners, a division hospital, and ono for the signal corps. The naval portion of the expedition was under the command of L. M. Goldsborough, subsequently raised to the rank of rear admiral.

The chief of staff was Commander A. L. Case, staff medical officer, S. C. Jones, signal officer, H. G. B. Fisher. The names of the steam gunboats and of their commanders were as follows:

Name.  Guns.   Commander.   Rank.

Stars and Stripes 1 A. Herden Lieut. Commanding.

Valley City 4  J. C. Chaplin.

Underwriter 2 N. V. Jcflbrd..""

Hetzel 2 H. K. Davenport. Lieut. Com'd'g.

Delaware 6 S. P. Quackenbush..""

Shawsheno 2 T.G.Woodward Act. Master.

Lockwood 8 G. L. Graves ""

Ceres J. McDiarmld ""

Morse 2 Peter Hays "u

Whitehead 1 Charles A. French...." u

J. N. Seymour.. 2 F. S. Welles"

Philadelphia.... 2  S. Reynolds ""

Henry Brincker. 1 J. E. Giddings M  

Granite 1 E. Boomer ""

General Putnam 2 McCook Lieut Com'd'g.

Hunchback 4 E. R. Calhoun Act. Lieut. Com.

Southfield 4 C. F. W. Behm Act. Vol. Lt Com.

Com. Barney ... 2 K. D. Kenshaw Act Lt Com.

Com. Perry 2 Chas. W. Plusscr...Lieut Com'd'g.

Total 51

To these may also be added the Virginia, Louisiana, Young America, Jenny Lind. These steamers were of three classes: screw and side wheel tugs, navy screw gunboats, and armed ferry boats. Their armaments consisted chiefly of 30-pounder Parrotts rifled, and long smooth 32's, 64's, and some of much heavier caliber. A coast division of gunboats, with the transports, consisted of the Picket, 4 guns, Pioneer, 4 guns, Hussar, 4 guns, Vidette, 3 guns, Ranger, 4 guns, Chasseur, 4 guns.

The transport portion of the expedition was under the command of Samuel F. Hazard of the U. S. navy.

Nothing had been withheld that was necessary to secure success, and the accomplished officers, the disciplined and gallant men, and the abundant material awakened the most sanguine expectations on the part of the Government and the people.

The expedition sailed from Hampton Roads on the 12th of January, consisting of over 100 vessels of all classes.

the order to sail was issued on Saturday night the 11th, and by daylight on Sunday morning the largest portion of the fleet had passed outside the capes. Some vessels, and especially the water boats, refused to leave the capes. The first part of the day was pleasant, with a light wind from the southwest. During the afternoon it was thick weather, and the sailing vessels were generally obliged to cast off from the steamers and take care of themselves, and two or three of the canal boats, with hay and horses on board, broke away and were blown ashore. The expedition was bound to Hatteras Inlet, which is an entrance from the ocean to Pamlico Sound. It is a narrow passage with seven feet of water on the bar, and difficult to enter in rough weather without danger Page 39 of grounding. The entrance to the inlet was commanded by two forts, which were captured by an expedition under General B. F. Butler and Commodore Stringham during the preceding year. Annual Cyclopedia, 1861—Expeditions.)

The wind changed to the southeast and continued blowing in that quarter for several days after the vessels began to arrive. This brought in a considerable sea or swell, which made it dangerous for all the vessels drawing much water to cross the bar and attempt to enter except at the top of the tide. Those drawing the least water got in first, the others anchored outside watching an opportunity. In this perilous situation, with a high sea, a strong wind blowing on shore, and shoal water, with a crooked channel, several days passed during which the fleet was endeavoring one by one to get within the inlet. The steamer City of New York grounded on the bar, and the sea swept clean over her and quickly reduced her to a wreck. The gunboat Zouave sunk in the inlet, and two or three other small vessels were equally unfortunate. Within the inlet the anchorage was narrow and the change of the tide brought the vessels in contact, and the roughness of the water caused a constant chafing of rigging and spars, and crashing of bulwarks.

For two days the wind and sea were so high as to prevent all communication with the outer vessels, or with each other. the Now Jersey regiment was then called to enter upon its work, with mourning in its ranks. Its Colonel, J. W. Allen, and its Burgeon, F. S. Weller, were drowned by the overturning of a small boat in the breakers at the inlet.

The gale increased; dark clouds swept down from the east and seemed almost to touch the vessels' masts as they swayed to and fro. A single person here and there appeared on some vessel's deck, holding on by the rail or the rigging, and a few scattered groups of the soldiers who had been landed, were seen hurrying on the beach as if in search of shelter from the fury of the blast. The tents of the Massachusetts 24th, which had been pitched on the beach, were swept away, and the poor soldiers spent a fearful night, exposed to the peltings of a pitiless storm, with yet a more fearful night to follow. Even the brave commander of the expedition was heard to exclaim in suppressed tones, "This is terrible 1 When will the storm abate?"

This violent storm was followed by a high tide, and on the 24th, nearly all the vessels which had arrived were within the entrance, and by the 26th repairs had been made and the force was ready to move. Fortunately the few Confederate gunboats on the sound kept aloof and made no attack.

Preparations were now made for a speedy movement. The object was to proceed up Pamlico Sound, and open the passage into Albemarle Sound. This passage was called Croatan Sound, and was bounded on the one side by the mainland and on the other by Roanoke Island, which is low and marshy. As this was the principal communication between Pamlico and Albemarle, the enemy had erected fortifications in the upper part of the passage, on Roanoke Island, and had also obstructed it by piles and sunken vessels. They had a fleet of seven small gunboats, prepared to contest the passage, and stationed near the batteries.

On the 3d of February, General Burnside issued the following general orders:

HEADQUARTERS. DEPARTMENT OR NORTH CAROLINA,

                   PAMLICO SOUND, February 8, l862

GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 5.

This expedition being about to land on the soil of North Carolina, the General Commanding desires his soldiers to remember that they are here to support the Constitution and the laws, to put down rebellion, and to protect the persons and property of the loyal and peaceable citizens of the State. In the march of the army, all unnecessary injuries to houses, barns, fences, and other property will be carefully avoided, and in all cases the laws of civilized warfare will be carefully observed.

Wounded soldiers will be treated with every care and attention, and neither they nor prisoners must be insulted or annoyed by word or act.

With the fullest confidence in the valor and the character of his troops, the General Commanding looks forward to a speedy and successful termination of the campaign.

By command of Brigadier-General General A. E. BURNSIDE.

Lewis Richmond, Asst. Adj.-General

Further orders relative to signals, and to the disembarkation of the troops, were issued on the next day.

Everything being ready, the forward movement commenced at half past seven on the morning of the 5th of February. The naval squadron following the flag officer's vessel, headed the fleet. Their course was at first southward, following the zigzag channel, until it finally became north by west. At regular and short intervals the gunboats filled their places in the line, and with scarcely perceptible motion, steadily stretched away to the horizon. Next camo the transports and gunboats carrying the troops, consisting of sixty-five vessels, of all classes and characters. Each brigade formed three columns, headed by the flag: ship of the brigade. Each large steamer had one, two, and in some instances, three schooners in tow. The aisles between the three columns of vessels were kept unbroken, through the whole length, which extended almost two miles over the surface of the sound, except by the two or three small propellers whose duty consisted in conveying orders.

At sundown the fleet came to anchor about ten miles from the southern point of Roanoke Island. The next morning, at eight o'clock, it was in motion. The preceding beautiful day was followed by a stormy one, and anchors were again dropped at the entrance of the inlet or strait. This was the day on which Fort Henry was taken. The next morning was clear, and the sun rose in a sky marked only with clouds enough to give it peculiar beauty. By ten o'clock all preparations had been made, and the Page 40 gunboats moved forward, entering the inlet. The flag ship of General Burnside next followed, but the remainder of the transports were detained nearly two hours. A gun fired from one of the Confederate gunboats announced the approach of the Federal squadron. At half past eleven the conflict commenced between the gunboats at long range, but it was noon before they were engaged in close action. The Confederate boats gradually retired, drawing their opponents within range of the forts, when fire was opened by the latter.

The contest between the boats and the battery continued with varied energy during the next three hours, in which time the barracks within the forts were consumed. At three o'clock the troops began to land, under the protection of the fire of three of the gunboats. At this time the Confederate gunboats drew near and recommenced the action, which was continued until their ammunition was exhausted. They then retired up the inlet or sound. The battery continued to fire until the Union gunboats retired for the night. The bravery of the Confederate defence was admitted on every side. On the Federal side, five had been killed and ten wounded. In the fort, the Confederates reported one killed and three wounded, and in the gunboats five wounded, and the largest gunboat sunk, and another disabled.

By four o'clock the transports had all arrived, and the first body of troops were landed unobstructed at five o'clock. In a short time six thousand were on shore, and the remainder of the force landed soon after.

The next morning the troops started in three columns, the centre under General Foster, composed of the 23d, 25th, and 27th Massachusetts, and 10th Connecticut; the next, or left flanking column, under General Reno, consisted of the 21st Massachusetts, 61st New York, 9th New Jersey, and 51st Pennsylvania; the third, or right flanking column, under General Parke, consisted of the 4th Rhode Island, first battalion of the 5th Rhode Island, and the 9th New York. The approach to the enemy was by a road through a swamp, on each side of which was a thick underbrush. An earthwork about thirty-five yards wide had been erected across the road for defence. The attack was bravely made, as it had been planned, upon the enemy's position, and after a most spirited and splendid defence, as reported by the assailants, they were obliged to give way before this overwhelming force, and retiring further up the island were overtaken, and Colonel Shaw, their commander, surrendered. Thus six forts, forty guns, over two thousand prisoners, and three thousand stand of arms were captured. The Union loss was thirty-five killed and two hundred wounded. The Confederate loss in killed was reported to be sixteen, and wounded thirty-nine. The artillery of each side consisted of some heavy pieces, such as 100-pound Parrotts, and a 100-pound Sawyer gun captured by the Confederates some time previous. The contest between the battery and the gunboats, in the morning, was unimportant, and the latter proceeded to remove the obstructions in the channel.

On the reception of the report of General Burnside at Washington the following order was issued by President Lincoln:

                                       WASHINGTON, February l5.

The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, returns thanks to Brigadier-General Burnside and Flag Officer Goldsborough, and to General Grant and Flag Officer Foote, and the land and naval forces under their respective commands, for their gallant achievements in the capture of Fort Henry and at Roanoke Island. While it will be no ordinary pleasure for him to acknowledge and reward in a becoming manner the valor of the living, he also recognizes his duty to pay fitting honor to the memory of the gallant dead. The charge at Roanoke Island, like the bayonet charge at Mill Springs, proves that the close grapple and sharp steel of loyal and patriotic citizens must always put the rebels and traitors to flight. The late achievements of the navy show that the lag of the Union, once borne in proud glory around the world by naval heroes, will soon again float over every rebel city and stronghold, and that it shall forever be honored and respected as the emblem of Liberty and Union in every land and upon every sea. By order of the President.

(Signed)                                EDWIN M. STANTON,

                                                     Secretary of War.

                   GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.

On the afternoon of the next day after the surrender, Commodore Rowan, by order of Com. Goldsborough., with fourteen steamers, proceeded toward Elizabeth city. It is the capital of Pasquotank county, North Carolina, situated on the Pasquotank river, about twenty miles from its mouth and thirty miles from Roanoke Island. That night the fleet anchored about eighteen miles from the city. Next morning, the 10th, on approaching the town, seven Confederate gunboats and one schooner were discovered, and after a brief contest they retired under the guns of a small fort, were set on fire, and abandoned. This fort on Cobb's Point, mounting four guns, was also abandoned. At the same time the town was deserted by the Confederate forces, after having set on fire some of the houses, which were burned. All the Confederate gunboats were destroyed excepting one. Two were killed and about twelve wounded on the Union gunboats. The loss on the other side is not known. Commander Rowan immediately sent the gunboats Louisiana, Underwriter, Commodore Perry, and Lockwood, under Lieut. A. Maury, to Edenton, on the west end of Albemarle Sound. It is the capital of Chowan county and is at the head of Edenton bay, which opens into Albemarle Sound a little below the mouth of Chowan river. On the 12th the town was taken possession of by Lieut. Maury. Part of a light artillery regiment, from one to three hundred in number, withdrew without firing a gun. No fortifications existed, nor was any opposition made. Eight cannon and one schooner on the stocks were destroyed. Two schooners with four thousand bushels of corn were captured on the sound, and six bales of cotton taken from the custom house wharf.

On the next day, the 14th, Lieut. Jeffers was sent by Lieut. Maury with the gunboats Underwriter, Lockwood, Shawshene, and Whitehead, towing a couple of schooners to the mouth of the Chesapeake and Albemarle canal. The enemy were found engaged in placing obstructions in the mouth of the canal. These works were completed by sinking the two schooners and burning all that remained above water. This small expedition then returned to the month of North River. This was two days before the surrender of Fort Donelson. On the 18th of February the joint commanders of the Union forces in North Carolina issued the following proclamation, declaring to the people of that State the object of their mission:

                        ROANOKE ISLAND, NORTH CAROLINA, 

                                                            February 18, l862

To the People of North Carolina:

The mission of our joint expedition is not to invade any of your rights, but to assert the authority of the United States, and to close with you the desolating war brought upon your State by comparatively a few bad men in your midst.

Influenced infinitely more by the worst passions of human nature than by any show of elevated reason, they are still urging you astray to gratify their unholy purposes.

They impose upon your credulity by telling you of wicked and even diabolical intentions on oar part; of our desire to destroy your freedom, demolish your property, liberate your slaves, injure your women, and such like enormities—all of which, we assure you, is not only ridiculous, but utterly and wilfully false.

We are Christians as well as yourselves, and we profess to know full well, and to feel profoundly, the sacred obligations of the character.

No apprehensions need be entertained that the demands of humanity or justice will be disregarded. We shall inflict no injury, unless forced to.do so by your own acts, and upon this you may confidently rely.

Those men are your worst enemies. They, in truth, have drawn you into your present condition, and are the real disturbers of your peace and the happiness of your firesides.

We invite you, in the name of the Constitution, and in that of virtuous loyalty and civilization, to separate yourselves at once from these malign influences, to return to your allegiance, and not compel us to resort further to the force under our control.

The Government asks only that its authority may be recognized; and we repeat, in no manner or way does it desire to interfere with your laws constitutionally established, your institutions of any kind whatever, your property of any sort, or your usages in any respect.

          L. M. GOLDSBOROUGH, Flag Officer,

Commanding North Carolina Blockading Squadron.

            A. E. BURNSIDE, Brigadier-General,

Commanding Department of North Carolina.

It may be thought that this part of North Carolina was in a very defenceless condition. In many respects this was not so. It cost the United States two military and naval expeditions before it was reached. The first expedition, under the command of General Benjamin F. Butler and Commodore S. H. Stringham, consisted of the steam frigates Minnesota and Wabash, and armed steamers Monticello, Pawnee, and Harriet Lane, and the steam transports Adelaide and George Peabody, and the tug Fanny. The steam frigate Susquehanna also joined the expedition. The military force consisted of 880 men. These forces captured the forts at the entrance of Hatteras Inlet, and made no further advance. The result of the expedition was the acquisition of the forts captured, the control of the island in which they were located, and the closing of. the inlet against the passage of vessels running the blockade. The expedition under General Burnside entered the inlet and captured the fortifications on Roanoke Island and destroyed the Confederate navy, when the country lay at its mercy. Small fortifications and some military force was found, however, at every town of any importance. No civil, commercial, or political changes were made such as to indicate that the inhabitants regarded themselves as restored to the Union. Those in whose hands was held the local civil and political power, retired to safe quarters upon the approach of the Federal force. They acknowledged another allegiance due to a power which they believed or hoped would yet be able to expel the Union troops. So long as that power retained its strength they either feared or declined to acknowledge allegiance elsewhere. That invariable follower of the invasion of hostile armies, the provost marshal, or military governor, attended the footsteps of the Burnside expedition as he has almost every other which has entered within the limits of the Confederate States during this year.

On the 19th of February a reconnoitering expedition left Edenton for Winton, the capital of Hereford county, situated near the head of navigation on the Chowan river, about fifty miles above its mouth. It consisted of the flotilla under the command of Commander Rowan and a company of Colonel Hawkins' New York  regiment. This force had been informed at Elizabeth City, that five hundred Union men at Winton had raised " the Stars and Stripes" and desired protection. Upon arriving opposite the landing of the town, which was a short distance in the rear, a perfect shower of balls and buckshot were fired upon the advancing vessel. The river here is about a hundred yards wide and the banks high. The boats ascended and brought their guns to bear and fired several shells, and retired about eight miles down the river for the night. The next morning they returned and shelled the village. The military were landed and found it deserted, when the buildings were set on fire and burned.

The movements of the Federal forces caused efforts to be made by the State authorities to resist them. On the 22d Governor Clark issued the following proclamation:

NORTH-CAROLINIANS! Our country needs your aid for its protection and defence against an invading foe. The President of the Confederate States has made a requisition upon our State to complete her quota of troops in the field. Our own borders are invaded by the enemy in force, now threatening an advance to deprive us of liberty, property, and all that we hold dear, as a self-governing and free people. We must resist him at all hazards and by every means in our power. He wages a war for our subjugation—a war forced upon us in wrong and prosecuted without right, and in a spirit of vengeful wickedness without a parallel in the history of warfare among civilized nations.

As you value your rights of self-government and all the blessings of freedom—the hallowed endearments of home and fireside, of family and kindred—I call upon you to rally to their defence, and to sustain the noble and sacred cause in which we are engaged. North Carolina has always proved true, constant and brave, in the hour of trial and of danger. Never let it be said, that in the future she has failed to maintain her high renown. If we are threatened now more than heretofore, and upon our own soil, let our exertions be equal to every demand on our patriotism, honor, and glory. No temporary reverses dampened the ardor of your ancestors, even though the enemy marched in columns through the State. The fires of liberty still burned brightly in their breasts.

They were moved to new energy and resisted by gallant deeds, with abiding hope and unflinching courage and perseverance, bravely contending with enemies at home as well as the foreign foe, until, after a struggle of seven long years, our independence was achieved and acknowledged. Let us imitate their glorious example. The enemy is redoubling his efforts and straining every nerve to overrun our country and subjugate us to his domination—his avarice and ambition. Already it is proposed in their Congress to establish a territorial government in a portion of our State. Now is the time to prove our zeal and animate by example. I call upon the brave and patriotic men of our State to volunteer, from the mountains to the sea.

You are wanted both to fill up our quota in the confederate army and for the special defence of the State. I rely, with entire confidence, on a prompt and cheerful response to this call upon your patriotism and valor. Tender yourselves in companies and squads, under officers of your own selection. You will be at once accepted and organized into regiments under the laws that are or may be made, and which it is my duty to execute. The Adjutant-General will issue the necessary orders for this purpose.

Fellow citizens! Your first allegiance is due to North Carolina. Rally to her banners. Let every man do his duty and our country will be safe.

Given under my hand and the seal of the State, at Raleigh, this twenty-second day of February, 1862.

 [Seal]                                                        HENRY T. CLARK.

Preparations were now made by General Burnside for an attack upon Newborn. This city is situated at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers, about fifty miles from Pamlico Sound near its southern extremity. It is second in commercial importance in the State, and is connected by railroad with Raleigh the capital. On the 11th of March the troops intended for the expedition were embarked and ordered with the naval force to rendezvous at Hatteras Inlet. The latter force was under Commander Rowan, Com. Goldsborough having been ordered to Hampton Roads. These forces having combined left Hatteras the next morning and arrived about sunset at Slocum's Creek, eighteen miles below Newborn, and the place selected for disembarking the troops. The landing was effected the next morning with great enthusiasm under cover of the gunboats, and after a toilsome march of twelve miles through the mud, the head of the column reached, that evening, within a mile and a half of the Confederate stronghold. The remainder came up during the night with eight pieces of artillery, chiefly boat howitzers. The gunboats shelled the road in advance of the march of the troops, and covered their encampment at night. Early the next morning General Foster's brigade was ordered by General Burnside to proceed up the main country road to attack the enemy's left, General Reno up the railroad to attack the enemy's right, and General Parke to follow General Foster and attack the enemy in front, with instructions to support either or both brigades. The engagement which ensued continued for four hours, and resulted in carrying a continuous line of Confederate field work, over a mile in length, protected on the river flank by a battery of thirteen heavy guns and on the opposite flank by a line of redoubts over half a mile in length for riflemen and field pieces in the midst of swamps and dense forests. This line was defended by eight Confederate regiments of infantry, five hundred cavalry, and three batteries of field-artillery, each of six guns.

The position was finally carried by a brave charge, which enabled the Federal force to gain the rear of all the batteries between that point and Newbern. This was done by a rapid advance of the entire force up the main road and railroad, while the gunboats proceeded up the river throwing their shot into the forts and in front of the advancing forces. The enemy in retreating destroyed the country road bridge and the draw of the railroad bridge over the river Trent, thus preventing pursuit, and escaped by the railroad. Meantime the gunboats arrived at the wharves and commanded the city, but it was not occupied by the troops until General Foster's brigade was brought up by the vessels. Thus eight batteries containing forty-six heavy guns, three batteries of light artillery containing six guns each, two steamboats, a number of sailing vessels, wagons, horses, a large quantity of ammunition, commissary and quartermasters' stores, forage, and two hundred prisoners were captured. The Union loss was ninety-one killed and four hundred and sixty-six wounded. The Confederate loss was severe, but not so great, as they were effectually covered by their works. They retired to Tuscarora about ten miles from Newbern. General Gatlin being indisposed, they were commanded by General O. B. Branch.

On the next day General Burnside issued the following address to his force:

HEADQUARTERS. DEPT. OF NORTH CAROLINA,

NEWBERN, March 15.

General Order, No. 17.

The General Commanding congratulates his troops on their brilliant and hard won victory of the 14th. Their courage, their patience, their endurance of fatigue, exposure and toil, cannot be too highly praised. After a tedious march, drawing their howitzers by hand through swamps and thickets, after a sleepless night, in a drenching rain, they met the enemy in his chosen position, found him protected by strong earthworks, mounting many and heavy guns, and in an open field themselves—they conquered. With such soldiers, advance is victory.

The General Commanding directs with peculiar pride, that, as a well-deserved tribute to valor in this second victory of the expedition, each regiment engaged shall inscribe on its banner the memorable name "Newbern."

           By command of Brigadier-General

                                              A. E. BURNSIDE.

     LEWIS RICHMOND, Adjutant-General.

This page contains a map of Beaufort and Newberne, N.C.


Source: The American Annual Cyclopaedia and Register of Important Events of the Year, 1861-1865, vols. 1-5. New York: Appleton & Co., 1868.