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 2

On the 20th General Parke's brigade commenced to march from Newbern for Beaufort, and on the 23d entered Moorhead city, thirty-six miles from Newbern, and found it evacuated. It is a short distance from Beaufort and connected by a steam ferry. A flag of truce was then sent over to Port Macon, and a surrender demanded. This was refused, and vigorous measures wore at once commenced to reduce it by a siege. Beaufort is the capital of Carteret county, situated at the mouth of Newport river, and a few miles from the sea. The harbor is the best in the State, and its entrance is defended by Fort Macon.

Meanwhile, on the 20th, a naval column consisting of the gunboats Louisiana, Delaware, and Com. Perry, with the transport Admiral, having on board eight companies of the 24th Massachusetts regiment, proceeded to Washington, a small town on the left bank of the Tar river about forty miles from Pamlico Sound. On the 25th, the force arrived before the town, and were received by the authorities without opposition. Below the town obstructions had been placed in the river, and abandoned fortifications were, found on each shore adjacent. The commander, A. Maury, thus reported to his superior officer: "I found on further consultation with the authorities, on whom I made my demand for the restoration of the Hatteras Light property, that underlying an apparent acquiescence of the people of the town and neighborhood, in permitting the building of gunboats, and the construction of batteries to repel the approach of the Federal forces, was a deep-rooted, affection for the old Union, and not a little animosity for its enemies; the latter clement not being diminished by the importation of troops from a distant State. The result of this state of affairs was, as could be anticipated, the abandonment of its defences by the troops, followed by the destruction of what remained of Confederate property by the people. The launched gunboat had been towed several miles up the river, loaded with turpentine, and fired on the night of our arrival. A few hundred bushels of meal and corn left in the commissary store, were distributed to the poor by my orders. All the Hatteras Light property in the town was secured. The woods and swamps were represented as being alive with refugees from the draft. Many of them, encouraged by our presence, came in. They were bitter and deep in their denunciations of the secession heresy, and promised a regiment if called to aid in the restoration of the flag." This force returned to Newbern.

The force in the neighborhood of Fort Macon, however, was not idle. A detachment from General Parke's brigade, consisting of the 4th Rhode Island and 8th Connecticut, on the night of the 25th, crossed over and took possession of Beaufort without opposition. In the day time this passage would have been resisted by the fort. No military force was found in the town. Preparations were now made seriously to invest the fort. All communication by land or water was cut off, and guns were put into position to reduce it. The garrison consisted of nearly five hundred men under command of Colonel White. The regular siege operations commenced on the 11th of April, when a reconnoissance in force was made by General Parke. The pickets of the enemy stationed on Bogue Beach, two miles from the fort, were driven in and a good situation for the siege guns was found. Everything being in readiness, on the morning of the 25th of April, fire was opened upon the fort from a breaching battery eleven hundred feet distant, and flanking mortars planted at a distance of about fourteen hundred yards, and behind sand banks which prevented the garrison from seeing them before the fire was opened. At the same time the blockading gunboats Daylight, Commander Lockwood; State of Georgia, Commander Armstrong; Chippewa, Lieut. Payson and bark Gemsbok, Lieut. Caverdy; approached the fort and began to fire. The three steamers assisted the bark, and kept under way, steaming round in a circle and delivering their fire as they came within range, a mile and a quarter distant from the fort. After an hour and a quarter, the sea became so rough and their fire consequently so inaccurate, that the fleet retired. The action however continued between the batteries and the fort until toward evening, when the latter was surrendered with the honors of war. All the guns on the side of the fort opposite that attacked, were dismounted, and also all but three of those bearing upon the Federal force, when it became untenable. The firing of the fleet did no injury to the fort. Tie Daylight was struck by an 8-inch solid shot which entered her quarter. Seven of the garrison were killed and eighteen wounded. One was reported killed on the Federal side.

While this siege was pressed forward, General Burnside, in order to create the impression at Norfolk, Virginia, that he was approaching with his whole force, sent General Reno with the 21st Massachusetts, 51st Pennsylvania, a part of the 9th and 89th New York, "and 6th New Hampshire in that direction. Proceeding nearly to Elizabeth City, he disembarked at a point about three miles below, on the night of the 19th of April. Colonel Hawkins was ordered forward with the 9th and 89th New York and the 6th New Hampshire toward South Mills, to be followed by General Reno four hours after, upon getting the remaining troops ashore. Colonel Hawkins lost his way and came in behind General Reno on the march, and was ordered to follow. Having marched about sixteen miles, and within a mile and a half of South Mills, a Confederate force opened with artillery upon the advanced guard before it was discovered. They were found posted across the road, with their infantry in ditches, and their artillery commanding all the direct approaches. Their rear was protected by a dense forest. General Reno ordered Page 45 the 6th New Hampshire to form in a line on the left of the road and support the four pieces of artillery, while the 51st Pennsylvania and 21st Massachusetts filed to the right and passed over to the edge of the wood to turn the enemy's flank, and the New York regiments supported them. The effect of these movements, and the sharp firing that ensued, caused the enemy soon to retire in a rapid manner. The force rested until evening, and then withdrew to their boats. The Federal loss was fourteen killed and ninety-six wounded, and two taken prisoners. The Federal force remained on the field for seven hours, buried, their dead, and transported all the wounded except fourteen, so severely wounded that they could not be moved, but who were comfortably provided for and left in charge of a surgeon and chaplain. "In obedience to orders," says General Burnside, "General Reno then returned to his fleet and embarked his men." Ten or fifteen prisoners were taken, most of whom belonged to the 3d Georgia regiment. The loss of the Confederate force was unknown; thirty killed and wounded were left on the field. They reported one regiment and three pieces of artillery as the entire force engaged.

On the 23d of April, a naval expedition consisting of the gunboats Lockwood, Whitehead, and Putnam, under Lieut. Flosser, was sent to obstruct the entrance of the Dismal Swamp canal. This was done by means of sinking a schooner, and filling the canal with brush, stumps, rails, and earth, and trunks of trees.

On the 6th of June, a sharp engagement occurred eight miles from Washington near Pactolas, between a Confederate force under Colonel Singleterry and the 24th Massachusetts under Captain Potter. This latter officer had been stationed at Washington with a small force, and hearing of the gathering of the enemy, obtained reinforcements, and successfully attacked them. Seven were killed and eleven wounded on the Federal side.

Some other military movements, to be hereafter stated, took place during the succeeding months. This portion of North Carolina was held by the Union forces throughout the year. Its ports were closed to imports for the Confederate States, and its commerce ceased entirely. (See North Carolina.) The principal part of the forces under General Burnside were subsequently brought to Newport News, where they remained in transports until the Army of the Potomac returned to Alexandria. They then united with it under General Pope.

This expedition in its outfit, vigor of action, and complete achievements, showed that it was commanded by an experienced, judicious, and able officer. It was necessarily confined in its operations to the shores of the country, where it could act in concert with the gunboats. Public expectation had looked forward to see it penetrate the State of North Carolina, and occupy the eastern line of railroad connecting the Southern States with Richmond. It never was strong enough to entertain such a thought. Brave old North Carolina has always had a high reputation for soldiers. Her white population is over six hundred thousand, and her militia must have been nearly one sixth of this number. General Burnside's military force was about sixteen thousand strong. His expedition had not been in the field four months, when the Government found itself entirely without soldiers who could be sent to reenforce him.

The achievements of the military and naval expedition to the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, should be described in this connection. For an account of its outfit, departure, and occupation of Hilton Head and adjacent islands, see Annual Cyclopedia, 1861—Expeditions. Undoubtedly there was a double object in this expedition. On the one hand it was designed to seize and hold as large a district of the coast as might be practicable, and on the other prepare a base for future operations against Charleston and Savannah, South Carolina, and the great State of Georgia. The point designed for its headquarters, and for the base of future operations, was occupied at once. The first labor was to prepare Port Royal for the purposes in view. Immense cargoes of commissary stores, ordnance, and means of transportation were landed from the large ocean steamers which accompanied the expedition. Extensive warehouses were erected for the preservation of the stores; while for the security of the depot whence supplies were to be drawn for all portions of the command, and to enable as many troops as possible to be spared for distant operations, long lines of defence had to be constructed. While the works were pushed forward reconnoissances were made in every direction to ascertain the position and strength of the enemy, to learn the depth of water in the numerous creeks and inlets, and remove all obstructions that might have been placed in important channels of communication.

At the beginning of the year it was observed to be the design of the enemy to shut up the Federal troops in Port Royal Island, by placing obstructions in Coosaw river and Whale Branch, by constructing batteries at Port Royal Ferry, at Seabrook, and at or near Boyd Creek, and by accumulating men in the vicinity so as to be able to throw a force of twenty-five hundred or three thousand upon any of these points, at a short notice. It was determined to arrest their designs peremptorily, and in such a manner as would servo a subsequent purpose. Commander E. R. P. Rodgers had charge of the naval force of the expedition, consisting of the gunboats Ottawa, Lieut. Stevens, Pembina, Lieut. Bankhead, and four armed boats of the Wabash, carrying howitzers, and under the command of Lieuts. Upsher, Lane, Irwin, and Master Kempff, which were to enter the Coosaw by Beaufort river; and the gunboat Seneca, Lieut. Ammen, and tug boat Ellen, Master Budd, which were to move up Beaufort river, and approach the batteries at Seabrook and Page 46 Port Royal Ferry by Whale Branch. The tug boat, E. B. Hale, Master Foster, was added to the expedition after it started. The part assigned to the naval force was to protect the landing of the troops at Haywood's plantation, the first point of debarkation, to cover the route of the advancing column, and the second point of debarkation, and to assail the batteries on their front. The military force consisted of the 47th and 48th New York regiments, Colonels Frazer and Perry, the 79th New York, 50th and 100th Pennsylvania, and 8th Michigan, with a naval howitzer force of forty men, under Lieut. Irwin. After the forces, landed at the two points, had marched, driving all of the enemy who were seen before them, and formed a junction, they were divided into centre, right, and left wings, and ordered forward to attack the batteries of the enemy. A sharp skirmish of half an hour ensued upon their approach to the battery, when the enemy retired, and the works were completely destroyed. An incomplete work at Seabrook, two miles from Port Royal Ferry, was destroyed at the same time. The result of the expedition was the destruction of the two batteries, driving the enemy five miles into the rear, and rendering the Broad and Coosaw rivers secure for the gunboats. The land force was commanded by General Stevens. Eleven privates were wounded and two of them missing. Four of the enemy were found dead. While all the improvements were urged forward at Hilton Head, reconnoissances were constantly made. The next movement of interest took place on the 26th of January, in consequence of explorations which had been previously made, and which were of such an adventurous nature as to entitle to honor the parties engaged. The city of Savannah is about fifteen miles from the mouth of the river of that name, and situated on its right or southern bank. The approach to it by water is defended by Fort Pulaski (see Annual Cyclopedia, 1861—Forts), a casemated work on Cockspur Island, at the mouth of the river, and Fort Jackson, a barbette work on the mainland, only four miles below the city. The left bank of the river is formed by a succession of islands, and the channel is also interrupted by large and numerous ones. The network of creeks and bays which surround Hilton Head terminates to the southward in Calibogue Sound, which is separated from Savannah river at its mouth by Turtle and Jones Islands. The waters that bound two sides of Jones Island, which is triangular in shape, are called Mud and Wright rivers; the latter is the more southern, and separates Jones from Turtle Island, which lies next to Dawfuskie Island, the western shore of Calibogue Sound. The water on the third side of Jones Island is the Savannah river. This island is about five miles long, and between two and three broad. About half way between its upper and lower angles, and fronting on the Savannah, is Venus Point, where a Federal battery was subsequently placed to cut off communication between Savannah and Fort Pulaski.

Lieut. J. H. Wilson, of the topographical engineers, becoming convinced, from information obtained of negro pilots and others, that an interior passage existed, connecting Calibogue Sound with the Savannah river, and which, if passable by gunboats, might lead to cutting off Fort Pulaski from communication with Savannah, was despatched by General Sherman on a reconnoissance. Taking with him two row boats, and about seventy men of the Rhode Island regiment, he left Calibogue Sound with his negro crew and pilots, and ventured by night through the intricate passages. At this time the Union troops had not advanced beyond Dawfuskie Island, and on some of these rivers Confederate pickets were still stationed. The oars of the reconnoitering party, however, were muffled, and they passed by the pickets without discovery. Under cover of the darkness they penetrated several miles up one of these streams, leaving the pickets in their rear. If discovered, retreat or escape would have been impossible for them, as there was no opportunity of returning except on the same route by which they came. The river which they thus Page 47 explored led into no other channel, but wasted away in a marsh. They got back into another stream. Finally the creeks became so shallow to be unnavigable for any but the smallest craft. At one point an artificial channel had been constructed about two hundred yards long, called Wall's Cut. This led to the rear of Jones Island, and into both the Mud and Wright rivers, both of which, as stated above, empty into the Savannah, the former about six miles, and the latter about two miles above Fort Pulaski. This cut had, however, been obstructed by three rows of piles driven across its entire width, and by a large brig sunk in the same direction, across the channel. At high tide the reconnoitering party were able to get over the piles and pass the Brigadier The reeds on both banks were very high, and the cut altogether invisible from Savannah, while the marshy nature of the region prevented any approach by land. There was danger of meeting pickets or stray parties of sportsmen, shooting wild ducks abounding in those waters. The party remained concealed by the reeds during the day, and at night pursued their explorations. They found the channel of Mud river impassable for large vessels by reason of its shallow water, but got easily through the Wright river, and rounding the point of Jones Island, entered the Savannah. There they remained nearly all night, moving at times under the guns of Fort Pulaski, near enough to hear the challenge of the lonely sentinels, or the conversation of the gunners on the parapets before tattoo. They found the depth and bearings of the channel in all directions; went up the river beyond Venus Point, and even passed the entrance of Mud river, and then returned into the Wright, establishing to their own satisfaction that gunboats of ten feet draught could pass by that route into the Savannah, without incurring any material risk from the guns of Pulaski, which were at the nearest point a mile and three-fourth3 distant.

Upon this report General Sherman caused another and fuller reconnoissance to be made. Major Beard of the 48th New York was sent to remove the obstructions in Wall's Cut. A party of volunteer engineers and a company of the 7th Connecticut accompanied him; and while some kept a careful watch, others were engaged at the obstructions. They were removed in three weeks of unremitting night labor. All the piles were sawn off a foot below the bottom of the cut, and the brig turned lengthwise, leaving a passage wide enough for the gunboats. All this was accomplished without awakening the suspicions of the enemy, whose pickets had been withdrawn. All stragglers, white or black, who approached were seized; of these, four or five whites seemed to have been hunting, for they were in boats loaded with game; others were slaves who had escaped from Savannah. All were astonished to see their captors there. No scouts were ever detected, and no boats passed on the Savannah river except the steamers plying to Fort Pulaski from Savannah. On some nights the rain fell furiously, but the work proceeded. After the obstructions had been removed, a violent storm that lasted for several days rendered any further operations impracticable; still the pickets kept up their watch on the dismal and muddy marsh, and every straggler or spy was seized.

A naval reconnoissance was now made by Captain John Rodgers and Lieut. Barnes, in company with Lieut. Wilson. Like all the others it was made in the night. The party were able to pass through the cut, take soundings in the Wright river, enter the Savannah, and ascertain all that was necessary to determine the practicability of the passage of gunboats. Captain Rodgers reported favorably, and was willing to command the movement. It was determined therefore that a reconnoissance in force should be made, and preparations were commenced for that purpose.

It had always been known that a passage existed on the right side of the Savannah, leading from Warsaw Sound through the Wilmington river until it narrows into St. Augustine Creek, and finally empties into the Savannah just below Fort Jackson. This passage was defended by a battery. Information was however obtained from negroes of another passage leading up also from Warsaw, but much nearer to the Savannah and entering it lower down than St. Augustine Creek. This second passage is called Wilmington Narrows. Several reconnoissances were made along its course and the result was a determination by General Sherman and Com. Dupont to send a force up Wilmington Narrows, at the same time that operations should begin in the vicinity of Wall's Cut. Accordingly on the 26th of January, General Wright with the 4th New Hampshire, Colonel Whipple, 6th Connecticut, Colonel Chatfield, and 97th Pennsylvania, Colonel Guess, on the transports Cosmopolitan, Boston, and Delaware were convoyed by the gunboats Ottawa, Seneca, and others under Captain O. H. Davis to Warsaw Sound. The force then proceeded up the Wilmington Narrows for some miles and in the rear of Fort Pulaski until it arrived at a place where piles had been placed to obstruct its further progress. The gunboats remained at this spot a short distance from the Savannah during the night, while reconnoissances were made on land and water. In the morning Captain John Rodgers with three gunboats appeared on the opposite side of the Savannah in Wall's Cut. Two of these vessels passed into Wright river. About eleven o'clock in the forenoon Com. Tatnall and the five Confederate steam gunboats attempted to pass down the river with scows in tow, when fire was opened upon them by the gunboats on each side. The country on each side is so flat that but little obstruction to the sight intervened. In less than half an hour Com. Tatnall and one of his vessels were driven back; the other three escaped injury apparently and made Page 48 good their passage down to Fort Pulaski. They returned at low water and escaped uninjured. The objects of the reconnoissance being now attained the forces returned to Hilton Head. The gunboats in Wright river did not go down as far as the entrance to the Savannah, as they would be in reach of the guns of Fort Pulaski, and Captain Rodgers feared that they might get aground. This withdrawal of the boats from Wall's Cut was regarded by the Confederate commander as an abandonment of the purpose to enter the Savannah by that route. Confidence was thus restored in the minds of the citizens of Savannah, and the wisest hoped that the fort, which was the key of the city, might be enabled to detain their enemy for an indefinite length of time. The greatest consternation therefore prevailed in Savannah when the fort was ultimately captured.

General Sherman now commenced a series of measures by which to cut oft* all communication between the city and the fort. This consisted in the planting of batteries on the river. The most important one was at Venus Point on the river side of Jones Island. A road was made with almost herculean labor across its marshy surface from Wall's Cut, by the 48th New York regiment. Over this road the cannon were brought and placed in the battery. An attack was made on this battery by the Confederate gunboats on the 14th of March. After an engagement of an hour they were driven off. Another battery was placed on the extremity of Long Island, which was on the other side of the channel of the river, and still another was placed on floats at the mouth of Mud river. Some weeks were passed before this work was done and the communication entirely cut off. Preparations were next commenced for the reduction of the fort. This was to be done by batteries established on Tybee Island adjacent to Cockspur Island, on which the fort is located. These were not completed until the 9th of April, when the following order for the bombardment of the fort was issued:

General Orders—No. 17.

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES,

TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA, April 9,1862.

The batteries established against Fort Pulaski will be manned and ready for service at break of day tomorrow.

The signal to begin the action will be one gun from the right mortar of Battery Halleck (2,400 yards from the work), fired under the direction of Lieutenant Horace Porter, chief of ordnance; charge of mortar 11 lbs., charge of shell 11 lbs., elevation 55°, and length of fuse 24".

This battery (two 13-inch mortars) will continue firing at the rate of fifteen minutes to each mortar alternately, varying the charge of mortars and length of fuse, so that the shells will drop over the arches of the north and northeast faces of the work, and explode immediately after striking, but not before.

The other batteries will open as follows, viz:

Battery Stanton (three 13-inch mortars, 3,400 yards distant), immediately after the signal, at the rate of fifteen minutes for "each piece, alternately from the tight; charge of mortar 14 lbs., charge of shell 7 lbs., elevation 45°, and length of fuse 23", varying the charge of mortar and length of fuse as may be required. The shells should drop over the arches of the south face of the work, and explode immediately after striking, but not before.

Battery Grant (three 13-inch mortars, 3,200 yards distant), immediately after the ranges for Battery Stanton have been determined, at the rate of fifteen minutes for each piece, alternately from the right; charge of shell 7 lbs., elevation 45, charge of mortar and length of fuse to be varied to suit the range, as determined from Battery Stanton. The shells should drop over the arches of the south face of the work, and explode immediately after striking, but not before.

Battery Lyon (three 10-incb columbiads, 3,100 yards from the work), with a curved fire, immediately after the signal, allowing ten minutes between the discharges for each piece, alternating from the right; charge of guns 17 Ids., charge of shell 3 lbs., elevation 20°, and length of fuse 20"; the charge and length of fuse to vary as required. The shell should pass over the parapet and into the work, taking the gorge and north face in reverse, and exploding at the moment of striking, or immediately after.

Battery Lincoln (three 8-inch columbiads, 3,045 yards from the work), with a curved fire, immediately after the signal, allowing six minutes between discharges for each piece, alternating from the right; charge for gun 10 lbs., charge of shell li lbs., elevation 20*, and length of fuse 20", directed the same as Battery Lyon, upon the north face and gorge in reverse, varying the charge and length of fuse accordingly.

Battery Burnside (one 13-inch mortar, 2,750 yards from the work), firing every ten minutes, from the range as obtained for Battery Sherman; charge of Bhefi 7 lbs.; elevation 45°; charge of mortar and length of fuse varying as required from those obtained for Battery Sherman. The shells should drop on the arches of the north and northeast faces, and explode immediately after striking, but not before.

Battery Sherman (three 10 inch-mortars, 2,650 yards from the work), commencing immediately after the ranges for Battery Grant nave been determined, and firing at the rate of fifteen minutes for each piece, alternating from the right; charge of shell 7 lbs.; elevation 45°; charge of mortar and length of fuse to be fixed to suit the range as determined from Battery Grant. The shells should drop over the arches of the north and northeast faces.

Battery Scott (three 10-inch and one 8-inch columbiads, 1,177 yards from the work), firing solid shot and commencing immediately after the barbette fire of the works has ceased. Charge of 10-inch columbiads 20 lbs., elevation 41°; charge of 8-inch columbiad 10 lbs., elevation 5°. This battery should breach the pancoupe between the south and southeast faces, and the embrasure next to it in the southeast face: the elevation to be varied accordingly, the charge to remain the same. Until the elevation is accurately determined each gun should fire once in ten minutes; after that, every six or eight minutes.

Battery Sigel (five 30-pounder Parrotts and one 24pounder" James', 1,620 yards from the work), to open with 4}" fuse on the barbette guns of the fort at the second discharge from Battery Sherman. Charge for 30-pounders, Si lbs.; charge for 24-pounder, 5 lbs.; elevation, 40° for both calibers.

As soon as the barbette fire of the work has been silenced, this battery will be directed, with percussion shells, upon the walls, to breach the pancoupe between the south and southeast face, and the embrasure next to it in the southeast face, the elevation to be varied accordingly, the charge to remain the same. Until the elevation is accurately determined, each gun should fire once in six or eight minutes; after that, every four or five minutes.

Battery McClellan (two 42 and two 32-pounder James', 1,620 yards from the work) opens fire immediately after Battery Scott. Charges for 42-pounder, 8 lbs.; charge for 32-pounder, 6 lbs.; elevation of 42- Page 49 pounder, 42, and 32-pounder, 42. Each piece should fare once every fire or six minutes after the elevation has been established, charge to remain the game. This battery should breach the works in the pancoupe between the south and southeast faces, and the embrasure next to it in the southeast face. The steel scraper for the grooves should be used after every fifth or sixth discharge.

Battery Totten (four 10-inch siege mortars, 1,685 yards from the work) opens fire immediately after Battery Sigel, firing each piece about once in five minutes; charge of mortar, 31 lbs.; charge of shell, 3 lbs.: elevation, 46°.; and length of fuse, 18t". The charge of mortar and length of fuse vary, so as to explode the shell over the northeast and southeast faces of the work.

If any battery should be unmasked outside the work Battery Totten should direct its fire upon it, varying the charge of mortars and length of fuse accordingly.

The fire from each battery will cease at dark, except especial directions be given to the contrary.

A signal officer at Battery Scott, to observe the effects of the 13-inch shells, will be in communication with other signal officers stationed near Batteries Stanton, Grant, and Sherman, in order to determine the range for these batteries in succession.

By order of

                                Brigadier-General Q. A. GILMORE.

Before the bombardment was commenced on the 10th, the fort was summoned to surrender. The following is the correspondence:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,

TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA, April 10,1863.

To the Commanding Officer, Fort Pulaski:

SIR: I hereby demand of you the immediate surrender and restoration of Fort Pulaski to the authority and possession of the United States. This demand is made with a view to avoiding, if possible, the effusion of blood which must result from the bombardment and attack now in readiness to be opened.

The number, caliber, and completeness of the batteries surrounding you, leave no doubt as to what must result in case of refusal: and as the defence, however obstinate, must eventually succumb to the assailing force at my disposal, it is hoped you will see fit to avert the useless waste of life.

This communication will be carried to you under a flag of truce by Lieut. J. H. Wilson, United States Army, who is authorized to wait any period not exceeding thirty minutes from delivery for your answer.

I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,

                                  DAVID HUNTER,

                                            Major-General Commanding.

General Hunter had been placed in command of the Federal forces, and General Sherman, before completing the enterprises he had commenced, was recalled. The Confederate commander of the fort replied to this demand as follows:

HEADQUARTERS, FORT PULASKI, April 10,1862.

Major-General David Hunter, commanding on Tybee Island:

Sir: I have to acknowledge receipt of your communication of this date, demanding the unconditional surrender of Fort Pulaski. In reply I can only say that I am here to defend the fort, not to surrender it.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

                                   CHAS. H. OLMSTEAD,

                          Colonel First Volunteer regiment of

                                 Georgia, commanding post.

On this refusal, and at twenty-three minutes of eight o'clock in the morning the fire was opened. Three minutes after the fort replied from a 10-inch barbette gun, and soon after the firing became general on both sides. After eighteen hours the fort was breached in the southeast angle, and at the moment of surrender, 2 o'clock p. m. of the 11th, preparations had been commenced for storming. Forty-seven guns,' a great supply of fixed ammunition, forty thousand pounds of powder, and large quantities of commissary stores, and three hundred and sixty prisoners were taken.

It was expected at Savannah that an attack would be immediately made upon Fort Jackson, to be followed by its surrender, and that of the city also. Nothing of the kind, however, was contemplated. The Union commander was in no condition to undertake such an enterprise, and actually was obliged to content himself with holding what had been acquired. The possession of Fort Pulaski prevented any further attempts to run the blockade into Savannah by the mouth of the river.

While these operations had been going on against Fort Pulaski, the other portion of the military and naval forces at Hilton Head had not been idle. On the 28th of February Com. Dupont sailed from Port Royal in the steam frigate Wabash, accompanied by the following vessels: Ottawa, Mohican, Ellen, Seminole, Pawnee, Pocahontas, Flag, Florida, James Adger, Bienville, Alabama, Key Stone State, Seneca, Huron, Pembina, Isaac Smith, Penguin, Potomska, armed cutter Henrietta, armed transport McClellan, the latter having on board the battalion of marines under the command of Major Reynolds, and the transports Empire City, Marion, Star of the South, Belvidere, Boston, and George's Creek, conveying a brigade under the command of Brigadier-General General Wright.

On the 2d of March the expedition came to anchor in St. Andrew's Sound, and on the next morning a portion of the gunboats and transports, under Commander Drayton, proceeded down Cumberland Sound toward Fernandina on the north extremity of Amelia Island. Cumberland Sound is the passage between Cumberland Island and the mainland. Amelia Island is next in order below Cumberland Island; the north point of the former and the south point of the latter being nearly opposite. The remainder of the fleet proceeded down outside to the entrance between Cumberland and Amelia Islands. The object of sending a portion of the fleet through Cumberland Sound was to turn the works on the south end of Cumberland and the north end of Amelia Islands. The enemy having received information of the expedition, abandoned their works on its approach and retired. Fort Clinch on Amelia Island was taken possession of and garrisoned. The town of Fernandina, which was almost deserted, was occupied by the Union force, and a small steam boat loaded with stores was overtaken and captured. The Confederate force stationed at Fernandina consisted of the 4th Florida, Colonel Hopkins, with a number of companies of cavalry and light artillery. Reconnoitering expeditions were sent out in different directions with successful results. New Fernandina on Amelia Island, about a mile and a half from Old Fernandina

Page 50  Map of Fernandina Island.

Page 51 is the eastern termination of the railroad across the peninsula. The western termination is Cedar Keys, a small town located on one of a group of small islands close to the west coast of Florida. It was captured by a Union force on the 16th of January. On the same night that Fernandina was taken Commander E. R. P. Rodgers in the Ottawa ascended the St. Mary's river, and took possession of the town of that name, driving out a picket of the enemy's cavalry. This town and Fernandina were uninjured. Preparations for a most vigorous defence were found to have been made at both places, but the State troops were probably required for the Confederate army. The difficulties arising from the indirectness of the channel and from the shoals of the bar would have added to the defences by keeping approaching vessels a long time exposed to fire under great disadvantages. Having turned the property over to the military power the expedition was ready for further movements.

A principal and ultimate object of this entire expedition was, in its first conception, to take and keep under control the whole line of seacoast, especially of the State of Georgia. Having heard at Fernandina that the works at Brunswick in Georgia had been abandoned, Com. Dupont on the 7th of March despatched a force, consisting of the Mohican, Pocahontas, and Potomska, under Commander Gordon, to hold the place. It is a port of entry in the extreme southeastern part of the State of Georgia, pleasantly situated on Turtle river, and has a spacious harbor. It is the eastern terminus of the Brunswick and Florida railroad. Commander Gordon with his vessels crossed the bar on the 8th, and anchored at sundown within two miles of the forts commanding the channel. The next day he took possession of the batteries on St. Simon's Island and on Jekyl Island. When abandoned, all their guns and ammunition had been removed. The town also was entirely deserted, and nearly all the property which could be removed had been taken away. Proclamations were posted by Commander Gordon on several public buildings, urging the inhabitants to return to their homes and promising protection to the property of all good citizens. The force then retired to the vessels.

On the 13th with the Potomska and Pocahontas Commander Gordon proceeded from St. Simon's Sound through the inland passage to Darien on the Altamaha river. Piles had been driven in two places across the passage, which were removed. Darien like Brunswick was entirely deserted, and also all the plantations on St. Simon's Island. But one white man was found on the island, and one old negro, although about fifteen hundred troops had been quartered there a few months previous. The former appeared to be in great dread of the coming of the Union force, and had been told that they would destroy even women and children.

At the same time when this force was ordered to Brunswick on the 7th of March, Com. Dupont sent the gunboats Ottawa, Seneca, Pembina, and Huron, with the Isaac Smith and Ellen under Lieut. Stevens to St. John's river with instructions to cross its difficult and shallow bar, feel the forts if still held, and push on to Jacksonville and even Pilatka and capture river steamers. St. John's river empties into the Atlantic some twenty-five miles south of Fernandina. On the 11th Lieut. Stevens succeeded in crossing the bar and anchored for the night. During the evening large fires were seen in the direction of Jacksonville, which proved to have been made under the order of the Confederate commander, General Trapier, by the burning of mills, houses, and property belonging to Northern men suspected of entertaining Union sympathies. On arriving at Jacksonville during the next day, the corporate authorities came off to Lieut. Stevens and gave up the town. The 4th New Hampshire, Colonel Whipple, was landed and took possession. The location of the town is on the northern bank of the St. John's, about twenty-five miles from its mouth. It contains about three thousand inhabitants. From almost all the houses a white flag was displayed on the approach of the force, and men, women, and children of all colors turned out to see the display. A Union feeling was aroused and encouraged. A public meeting was called and resolutions adopted in favor of organizing a Union State Government and calling a convention to meet at Jacksonville for that purpose on the 10th of April, then approaching. On the 8th of April the Union commander, General Wright, evacuated the town, and then sent information of his movement to the Confederate commander, General Trapier, inviting him to come and re-occupy the town, and requesting him to take care of the women and children remaining. On the 9th the Confederate officers stood on the dock and watched the vessels sailing away. On the 10th, the Union convention, which had been warmly encouraged by these retiring officers with their force, was called to assemble. Of course it was not held. The more active Unionists had through fear left with the fleet.

Com. Dupont, immediately after having despatched Commander Gordon to Brunswick and Lieut. Stevens to Jacksonville, as above stated, proceeded himself toward St. Augustine. Arriving off the harbor he ordered Commander Rodgers to approach the city with e flag of truce, presuming that if there were any people along the coast likely to remain in their houses, they would be found at St. Augustine. As Commander Rodgers approached the city, a white flag was hoisted upon one of the bastions of Fort Marion. As he landed upon the wharf and inquired for the chief authority, he was soon joined by the mayor and conducted to the city hall, where the municipal authorities were assembled. His report to Com. Dupont proceeds as follows:

I informed them that, having come to restore the Page 52 authority of the United States, you had deemed it more proper to send in an unarmed boat to inform the citizens of your determination, than to occupy the town at once by force of arms; that you were desirous to calm all apprehensions of harsh treatment, and that you should carefully respect the persons and property if all citizens who submitted to the authority of the United States: that you had a single purpose to restore the state of affairs which existed before the rebellion.

I informed the municipal authorities that so long as they respected the authority of the Government we serve, and acted in good faith, municipal affairs would be left in their own hands, so far as might be consistent with the exigencies of the times. The mayor and council informed me that the place hod been evacuated the preceding night by two companies of Florida troops, and that they gladly received the assurances I gave them, and placed the city in my hands.

I recommended them to hoist the flag of the Union at once, and in prompt accordance with the advice, by order of the mayor, the national ensign was displayed from the flag staff of the fort. The mayor proposed to turn over to me the fire cannon mounted at the fort, which are in good condition and not spiked, and also the few munitions of war left by the retreating enemy. I desired him to take charge of them for the present, to make careful inventories and establish a patrol and guard, informing him that he would be held responsible for the place until our force should enter the harbor.

I called on the clergymen of the city, requesting them to re-assure the people, and to confide in our kind intentions toward them. About 1,500 people remain in St. Augustine, about one-fifth of the inhabitants having fled. I believe there are many citizens who are earnestly attached to the Union, a large number who are silently opposed to it, and a still larger number who care very little about the matter. There is much violent and pestilent feeling among the women; they have a theatrical desire to figure as heroines! Their minds have doubtless been filled with the falsehoods so industriously circulated in regard to the lust and hatred of our troops.

On the night before our arrival a party of women assembled in front of the barracks and cut down the Sag staff, in order that it might not be used to support the old flag. The men seemed anxious to conciliate in every way. There is a great scarcity of provisions in the place. There seems to be no money, except the wretched paper currency of the rebellion, and much poverty exists.

In the water battery at the fort are three fine army 32-pounders and two 8-inch sea coast howitzers, with shot and some powder. Several good guns were taken away some months ago. The garrison of the place left from St. Augustine at midnight on the 13th, for Smyrna, where are said to be about 800 troops, a battery, the steamer Carolina, and a considerable quantity of arms and ammunition.

The fort at this place is the second one of the old forts in Florida of which possession had then been recovered. The other is Fort Clinch at Fernandina. St. Augustine is farther south than Jacksonville and situated on the north shore of Matanzas Sound about two miles from the sea, from which it is separated by the island of Anastasia. The population exceeds two thousand.

The next object of Com. Dupont was to visit Mosquito Inlet, fifty miles farther south. It had been reported to him that the inlet was resorted, to by vessels of light draft for the introduction of arras trans-shipped from English vessels and steamers at the English colony of Nassau. Accordingly the Penguin, Lieut. T. A. Budd, and the Henry, Andrew S. W. Mather, master, were sent in advance and ordered to cross the bar and establish an inside blockade and guard from incendiarism the live oak timber on the Government lands. On their arrival they started with four or five light boats and forty-three men and moved southward into Mosquito lagoon, but when returning, they were unexpectedly fired on, upon landing, and the commanding officers and three men were killed, and several wounded, and two taken prisoners.

By these operations along the Florida coast some small steamers and other vessels were captured, and the blockade was rendered more effective by the actual occupation of the principal ports. The country appeared to be undefended and entirely unprepared to make any resistance against the overwhelming Union force. Many fortified positions were found, but the soldiers were not seen. The white population in Florida in 1860 was 77,778, and during the previous year the State sent about ten thousand men to the Confederate army. Her military strength was thus reduced to a feeble condition. Whatever progress was made in restoring the Union was defeated by the sudden evacuation of Jacksonville and the abandonment of many Union citizens there. It taught the people of the State that so long as the Confederate Government existed in security, it might at any time return and demand their allegiance.

Commodore Dupont now returned to Port Royal, leaving a small force at all the points taken. On his arrival on the 27th of March, he learned that the formidable Confederate batteries on Skidaway and Green islands had been abandoned, by which complete control was obtained of Warsaw and Ossibaw sounds and the mouths of Vernon and Wilmington rivers, which form a part of the approaches from the south to Savannah.

Toward Charleston the only movement of importance which had been made by General Sherman was the occupation of Edisto Island by the.47th New York. This took place on the 11th of February. This island is about twelve miles long and nine broad, and is about ten miles from the mainland, twenty miles from the Charleston and Savannah railroad, and forty miles from Charleston. The island was found to be entirely deserted except by the negroes. Considerable cotton was gathered, although the greater portion of that produced had been burned.

On the 31st, of March Major-General David Hunter assumed the command of the department of the South, consisting of the States of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Thus General Sherman was relieved of the command and assigned to another post. In a proclamation issued on the same day, General Hunter announced the division of his department into three districts as follows:

1. The first, to be called the Northern District, will comprise the States of South Carolina, Georgia, and Page 53 all that part of Florida north and east of a line extending from Cape Canaveral northwest to the Gulf coast, just north of Cedar Keys and its dependencies, and thence north to the Georgia line. The headquarters of this district will be at Fort Royal, South Carolina, and Brigadier-General H. W. Benham (who will relieve Brigadier-General. Sherman) is appointed to command this district and the troops therein, which troops will constitute a division, to be called the First Division of the Department of the South.

2. The second, to be called the Southern District, will comprise all of Florida and the islands adjacent, south of the said line from Cape Canaveral, extending northwest to the Gulf coast, just north of Cedar Keys. The headquarters of this district and the troops will remain, as at present, under command of Brigadier-General J. M. Brannan.

3. The third, to be called the Western District, will comprise that part of Florida west of the line before described as running north from Cedar Keys to the Georgia line. The headquarters of this district will remain at Fort Pickens, as at present, with Brigadier-General L. G. Arnold commanding.

The preparations, commenced by General Sherman for the capture of Fort Pulaski, were pushed forward by General Hunter, until the fort surrendered in April, as has been above described. The subsequent movements under General Hunter consisted in reconnoissances in force toward Charleston. The southern boundary of the harbor of Charleston is formed by James Island. This island is bounded on the north by the harbor of Charleston and the Ashley river, on the northwest by Wappoo Creek, on the south and southwest by Stono river, and on the east are a few small islands and the ocean. Wappoo Creek connects with the Ashley river in the immediate rear of Charleston, and by entering Stono river and into Wappoo Creek, gunboats can reach Charleston. The next island south of importance is John's Island, and the next Edisto Island. Between these and Hilton Head is a number of islands of much less size. Early in May Com. Dupont ordered the channel of Stono river to be sounded out and buoys to be placed. This was completed on the 20th of May, and the gunboats Unadilla, Pembina, and Ottawa crossed the bar and entered the river. Along the river, owing to its great importance as a means of access to the city, a vast number of earthwork fortifications had been erected. All of these were abandoned ns the gunboats proceeded. The distance from the mouth of the Stono to Wappoo Creek is about eight miles. Little was done in the river by the fleet for many days, except silencing some of the Confederate batteries, and preventing the erection of others in commanding points likely to be needed on the march toward Charleston, of which this was designed as a preliminary movement No signs of the approaching army appeared for two weeks, during which several reconnoissances were made by the fleet. The fire of the forts at the entrance to Wappoo Creek was drawn from two large rifled cannon at the lower battery of seven guns. The Huron and Pembina were anchored within range of these guns and within three miles of Charleston. From their mastheads could be seen a dozen spires, cupolas and observatories, the top masts of two or three large ships, and nearly all the northwestern part of the city. On the 2d of June the military advance with Generals Hunter and Benham arrived and were landed on James Island, to await the coming of General Wright with cavalry, artillery, and additional infantry from the Edisto. An important fortification which had been vacated was occupied on James Island. On the 5th the additional forces arrived, and a series of skirmishes ensued for the next ten days both on James and John's islands. On the 13th a sharp contest occurred between several New York and Pennsylvania regiments and the 47th Georgia.

Meanwhile a diversion was made by a small Confederate force against Hilton Head, which caused much consternation there, but effected nothing further.

It was soon manifest that the Confederate force had been increased, and nothing of importance could be further effected by General Hunter without reinforcements. As the Government had none at this time to send, not being able to reenforce the more important army in Virginia, military operations were comparatively suspended.

Up to this time movements of some importance had taken place in Missouri and Arkansas. Two sharp skirmishes for the numbers engaged took place,—the one at Mt. Zion, eighteen miles southwest of Sturgeon, on the 28th of December, 1861, and the other near Fayette, on the 8th of January of the year 1862. In the former, Brigadier-General Prentiss commanded, and in the latter Major Torneru. They produced no special influence on the campaign in that department. On the 29th of January, General Earl Van Dorn took command of the Confederate forces in the trans-Mississippi district, which comprised a considerable portion of the State of Missouri, with his headquarters at Little Rock. On the preceding day, the division of the Union army under the command of Colonel Jeff. C. Davis left Marseilles for Springfield. It consisted of four regiments—the 8th

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Page 54 and 22d Indiana, 37th Illinois, and 9th Missouri, with two batteries, and three companies of cavalry. The other forces immediately moved forward, and combined under General Curtis. On the 11th of February this army moved forward from Lebanon, formed in three divisions—the right under Colonel Davis, the centre under General Sigel, and the left under Colonel Carr. Six miles from Springfield on the 12th, a skirmish took place between the advance of this force and a body of Confederate troops, with serious loss to both sides. During the night a continuous fire was kept up between the pickets. On the next morning the Confederate force had retreated, and General Curtis occupied Springfield without opposition. About six hundred sick and a large amount of stores were left behind by the Confederate General Price. General Halleck, in command of this department, sent the following despatch to the commander-in-chief, General McClellan, at Washington:

                                        ST. LOUIS, February 14, 1862.

The flag of the Union floats over the court house in Springfield. The enemy retreated after a short engagement, leaving a large amount of stores and equipments, which were captured by General Curtis. Our cavalry are in close pursuit.

                               H. W. HALLECK, Major-General.

Such had been General Halleck's skilful management of this department, that a few days previous he had received the following despatch from the Secretary of "War:

                                 WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 8, 1862.

Major-General Halleck, St. Louis: Your energy and ability received the strongest commendation of this Department. You have my perfect confidence, and you may rely upon my utmost support in your undertakings. The pressure of my engagements has prevented me from writing you, but I will do so fully in a day or two.

                                 EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

As General Price retreated General Curtis followed rapidly in pursuit. On the 16th his army had advanced sixty-nine miles south of Springfield, and on the 18th had crossed the Arkansas line. Several skirmishes took place in the mountain defiles. The following despatch was sent to Washington by General Halleck:

                                 ST. LOUIS, February 18, 1862.

To Major-General McClellan, Washington:

The flag of the Union is floating in Arkansas. General Curtis has driven Price from Missouri, and is several miles across the Arkansas line, cutting up Price's rear, and hourly capturing prisoners and stores. The army of the Southwest is doing its duty nobly.

                                       H. W. HALLECK, Major-General.

On the 19th General Price had been reenforced by General McCulloch, and made a stand at Sugar Creek crossing, but was defeated after a short engagement, and retreated. Squads of recruits from Missouri, on their way to join the Confederate force, were captured at this time, among whom was Brigadier-General Edward Price, son of General Price. On the 20th General Price had been driven from his stronghold at Cross Hollows, leaving his sick and wounded, and such stores as he could not destroy. He burned his extensive barracks at that place. The Federal forces had now, for some days, been subsisting chiefly on provisions which they had captured.

On the 27th, General Halleck sent the following despatch to Washington:

                     HEADQUARTERS, ST. LOUIS, February 27.

Major-General McClellan:

General Curtis has taken possession of Fayetteville, Arkansas, capturing a large number of prisoners, stores, baggage, &c.

The enemy burnt a port of the town before they left. They have crossed the Boston Mountains in great confusion. We are now in possession of all their strongholds.

Forty-two officers and men of the Fifth Missouri cavalry were poisoned at Mud Town by eating poisoned food which the rebels left behind them. 'I he gallant Captain Dolfort died, and Lieut. Colonel Von Dutch and Captain Lehman have suffered much, but are recovering. The anger, of our soldiers is very great, but they have been restrained from retaliating upon the prisoners of war.

                                         H. W. HALLECK, Major-General.

General Price thus reported his retreat from Missouri, under date of February 23:

"About the latter part of January my scouts reported that the enemy were concentrating in force at Rolla, and shortly thereafter they occupied Lebanon. Believing that this movement could be for no other purpose than to attack me, and knowing that my command wa3 inadequate for such successful resistance as the interests of my army and the cause demanded, I appealed to the commanders of the Confederate troops in Arkansas to come to my assistance. This, from correspondence, I was led confidently to expect, and relying upon it, I hold my position to the last moment, and, as the sequel proved, almost too long; for on Wednesday, February 12, my pickets were driven in, and reported the enemy advancing upon me in force. No resource was now left me except retreat, without hazarding all with greatly unequal numbers upon the result of one engagement. This I deemed it unwise to do. I commenced retreating at once. I reached Cassville with loss unworthy of mention in any respect. Here the enemy in my rear commenced a series of attacks running through four days. Retreating and fighting all the way to the Cross Hollows in this State, I am rejoiced to say my command, under the most exhausting fatigue, all the time with but little rest for either man or horse, and no sleep, sustained themselves, and came through, repulsing the enemy upon every occasion with great determination and gallantry. My loss does not exceed four to six killed and some fifteen to eighteen wounded."

On the 1st of" March, General Curtis issued the following address to the people of the Southwest:

            HEADQUARTERS ARMY OR THE SOUTHWEST,

                  CAMP HALLECK, ARK., March 1,1862.  

I have received a private communication from an intelligent writer, a citizen of Arkansas, who Bays: " We, as citizens, have left our homes and firesides for the purpose, us we supposed, of having to defend ourselves against a brutal soldiery that would lay waste our humble homes, and outrage the chastity of our wives and daughters, and place our own lives in jeopardy. We Page 55 have organized what is called Home Guard Companies, partly of Union men and partly of Southern men, all of whom are anxious to return" to their homes. We are happy to find that you and your men are not composed ot that class of persons commonly called jayhawkers, who do not regard the rights of citizens and property, but confine the war to its legitimate object.

The falsehoods circulated concerning us have driven thousands from their homes, and I take the liberty of responding publicly to the sentiments expressed by the writer, because these falsehoods hare involved the whole community in the troubles which he seeks to mitigate.

The only legitimate object of the war is peace, and the writer only does me justice when he says I adhere to this legitimate object. Peaceable citizens shall be protected as far as possible. I act under strict orders of Major-General Halleck. The flight of our foes from their camps, and the imitation of their conduct by the citizens, in fleeing from their homes, leaving their effects abandoned as it were for the victors, have much embarrassed me in my efforts to preserve discipline in my command, as these circumstances offered extraordinary temptations.

The burning of farms and fields of grain in Missouri, and extensive barracks and valuable mills in Arkansas by the enemy, has induced some resentments on the part of my troops, which I have severely punished. Necessary supplies for my command could not keep up with my rapid movements, and peaceable citizens not being at home to sell them to my quartermasters, I am compelled to take them without purchase, mating settlement difficult and doubtful; occasioning irregularities which I have always labored to counteract. If peaceably disposed citizens will stay at home, or return home, and check the clandestine, stealthy warfare that is carried on under the cover and cloak of peaceable citizens, much of the havoc of war will be avoided, and many poor families can be protected from distress and misery. I have followed the war-path through the entire State of Missouri, have seen the havoc and devastation surrounding it, and I deplore the prospect of these disasters in the virgin soil of Arkansas.

Armed men, in the garb of citizens, are concealed by citizens, and the unfortunate condition of Missouri will be transferred to Arkansas, if you allow this complicity of yourselves in the struggle. If you do not discriminate by requiring soldiers to wear some distinctive badge, you must not complain if we cannot discriminate.

There is no honor, no glory, no good that can be gained by taking up arms in this way, to defend your homes, for we do not wish to molest them if you are peaceably disposed. We only wish to put down rebellion by making war against those in arms, their aiders and abettors. We come to vindicate the Constitution, to preserve and perpetuate civil and religious liberty, under a flag that was embalmed in the blood of our Revolutionary fathers. Under that flag we have lived in peace and prosperity until the flag of rebellion involved us in the horrors of civil war.

We have restored the Stars and Stripes to northwestern Arkansas, where I am glad to find many who rejoice to see the emblem of their former glory, and hope for a restoration of the peace and happiness they hove enjoyed under its folds. A surrender to such a flag is only a return to your natural allegiance, and is more honorable than to persist in a rebellion that surrendered to the national power at Forts Henry and Donelson, at Nashville and at Roanoke, and throughout the most powerful Southern States. Why then shall the West be devastated to prolong a struggle which the States of Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee cannot successfully maintain?

Disband your companies; surrender your arms; for in all instances where men in arms have voluntarily surrendered and taken the oath of allegiance to our common country, they have been discharged. No prisoners have, to my knowledge, been shot or bung, or tnielly treated by us.

I know of no instance where my troops have treated females with violence, and I bare not heard of a complaint of any kind. I enjoin on the troops kindness, protection, and support for women and children. I shall, to the best of my ability, maintain our country's flag in Arkansas, and continue to make relentless war on its foes, but shall rejoice to see the restoration of peace in all the States and Territories of our country —that peace which we formerly enjoyed and earnestly desire; and I implore for each and all of us that ultimate, eternal peace " which the world cannot give or take away." I have the honor to be,

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

                                                SAMUEL R. CURTIS,

    Brigadier-General Commanding Army of the Southwest.

On reaching Arkansas the forces of General Price were rapidly reenforced by regiments which had been stationed in Arkansas and the Indian Territory. Knowing this fact, General Curtis expected an attack would soon he made upon him. He therefore selected Sugar Creek, as the strongest of several strong places taken from the enemy, to make a stand against any and all odds. The position of General Curtis's force on the 6th of March was as follows: The first and second divisions, under Generals Sigel and Asboth, were four miles southwest of Bentonville under general orders to move round to Sugar Creek about fourteen miles east. The third division, under Colonel Jeff. C. Davis, had moved to take position at Sugar Creek, under orders to make some preparatory arrangements and examinations for a stand against the enemy. The fourth division was at Cross Hollows under command of Colonel E. A. Carr, about twelve miles from Sugar Creek on the main telegraph road from Springfield to Fayetteville. The number of his force is stated by General Curtis to have been not more than 10,500 cavalry and infantry with forty-nine pieces of artillery. The following were the forces engaged in the battle of Pea Ridge: 1st division, under command of Colonel Osterhaus,— 36th Illinois, 12th Missouri, 17th Missouri, battalion of 3d, two battalions of Benton Hussars cavalry, one battalion 39th Illinois cavalry, batteries A and 15, twelve guns. A brigade, consisting of the 25th and 44th Illinois, was commanded by Colonel Coler. Another brigade was commanded by Colonel Greusel.

The second division, commanded by Brigadier-General Asboth, consisted of the 2d Missouri, Colonel Schaefer; 2d Ohio battery, six guns, Lieut. Chapman: loth Missouri, Colonel Joliet; 6th Missouri cavalry, Colonel Wright; light battery of six guns, Captain Elbert; battalion 4th Missouri cavalry, Major Messaur. These two divisions were commanded by General Sigel.

The third division, commanded by Brigadier-General Jeff. C. Davis, consisted of 2 brigades: the 1st, commanded by Colonel Barton, was composed of the 8th, 18th and 221 Indiana, and an Indiana battery of six guns. The 2d brigade, commanded by Colonel White, was composed of the 37th Illinois, 9th Missouri, 1st Missouri cavalry, and a battery of four guns.

The fourth division, commanded by Colonel Carr, consisted of 2 brigades ; the 1st, commanded by Colonel Dodge, was composed of the 4th Iowa, 35th Page 56 Illinois, and an Iowa battery. The 2d brigade, commanded by Colonel Vandever, consisted of the 9th Iowa, 25th Missouri, 3d Illinois cavalry, and a battery. There were also two battalions of the Iowa 3d cavalry and a mountain howitzer battery of four guns. A considerable number of sick soldiers belonging to many of these regiments had been left at Rolla and Lebanon.

On the 5th of March, a cold, blustering day, snow having fallen so as to cover the ground, as General Curtis was engaged in writing, not apprehending an immediate attack, he was informed by scouts and fugitive citizens that the enemy were rapidly approaching to give battle. His cavalry would be at Elm Springs, twelve miles distant, that night, and his infantry had then passed Fayetteville. Couriers wore immediately sent to General Sigel and .Colonel Carr to move with their divisions to Sugar Creek.

The Confederate forces were under the command of General Van Dorn, who had arrived at their camp on the 2d of March. They were stated to be composed of between twenty-five and thirty thousand men, as follows: Missouri troops under Brigadier-General Price; Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texan troops under Brigadier-General McCulloch; Choctaw, Cherokee, and Chickasaw Indians under Brigadier-General Pike.

General Sigel, upon receiving the orders of General Curtis to march to Sugar Creek, and becoming aware of the dangerous position of his command, immediately ordered Colonel Schaefer to break up his camp, and send the cavalry company to Osage Springs to cover his right flank and to march with his regiment to Bentonville. All the other troops he ordered to be prepared to march at two o'clock on the next morning. Commencing his march in the morning, he reached Bentonville, and, retaining a small force to set as a rear guard, he sent his train forward. At ten o'clock it was reported that large masses of troops, consisting of infantry and cavalry, were moving from all sides toward the front and both flanks of the rear guard at Bentonville. By a mistake a part of this force designed to act as rear guard had gone forward, leaving about six hundred men with five pieces of the light battery. These troops were ordered by General Sigel to march in the following order: two companies of the 12th Missouri regiment at the head of the column deployed on the right and left as skirmishers, followed by the light battery; one company of the same regiment on the right and one on the left of the pieces, marching by the flank, and prepared to fire by ranks to the right and left, the remainder of the regiment being behind the pieces; two companies of cavalry to support the infantry on the right and left, and the rest of the cavalry with one piece of artillery following in the rear. Thus the troops advanced slowly in this formation, modified from time to time according to circumstances, fighting and repelling the enemy in front, on the flanks, and rear, whenever he stood or attacked, for five hours and a half, when reënforcements from General Curtis arrived. "What made this march a more difficult achievement, was the condition of the roads, which were in many places very narrow and badly cut up. This movement brought General Sigel's division to the west end of Pea Ridge, where he formed a junction with General Davis and Colonel Carr.

On this day General Curtis had been engaged in diligently preparing earthwork defences and cutting timber to check the progress of the enemy along the Fayetteville road, where they were confidently expected by him. But during the day and the ensuing night General Van Dorn moved his entire army around the west side of General Curtis's army, so that General Price occupied the Fayetteville road north of General Curtis's camp, while Generals McCulloch and Mcintosh lay north of General Sigel. Thus the Confederate forces fronted south, and the division under General Price formed their left wing. The distance apart of the main bodies of the two wings of each army was nearly three miles, thus forming in fact four distinct armies. Generals Van Dorn and Price were opposed to General Curtis, who had with him General Davis and Colonels Carr and Asboth, leaving one division to General Sigel opposed to Generals McCulloch and Mcintosh. General Curtis was thus compelled to make a change of front, and formed it almost two miles further north and resting on the brow of a range of hills 'fronting north, called Pea Ridge. In this position the enemy occupied the line of retreat for General Curtis, if defeated. The battle commenced on the 7th on the right of General Curtis's column, and raged furiously during the entire day. The brunt of it was borne by Colonel Carr's division. The Confederate forces, owing to their superior numbers, the numerous and deep ravines and the thick brush which covered the hills, succeeded in driving the Union right from the ground occupied in the morning, with a severe loss on both sides. They encamped on the battle ground during the night, and the right wing of General Curtis fell back nearly a mile. The field occupied by this portion of both armies during the day did not exceed three fourths of a mile in diameter.

On the left wing General McCulloch commenced in the morning by moving his force to the south and east, evidently intending to form a junction with Generals Van Dorn and Price. General Sigel, perceiving this movement and the effect it would have toward surrounding the Federal force, sent forward three pieces of light artillery, with a supporting force of cavalry, to take a commanding position and delay the movement of the enemy until the infantry could be brought into proper position for an attack. Hardly had the artillery obtained their position and opened fire, when an overwhelming force of the enemy's cavalry came down upon them, scattering the cavalry and capturing the artillery. This terrible onslaught of the enemy allowed their infantry to reach unmolested the cover of a dense wood. On the west of this Page 57 wood was a large open field. Here and in the surrounding wood a protracted struggle ensued between General McCulloch and the forces of Colonel Osterhaus. But the arrival of General Davis's force, as a reinforcement, so strengthened General Sigel that the enemy were finally routed and driven in all directions. At the same time Generals McCulloch and Mcintosh and a number of the Confederate officers were killed.

Thus the right wing of General Curtis was defeated, and his left was victorious. The discipline of the right wing, however, was such as to keep the troops completely together, while the right wing of the enemy, which was defeated, was greatly disorganized in consequence of their loss of officers and lack of discipline. During the night all the Confederate forces formed a junction on the ground held by their left wing, which was a strong position, and they felt confident of a complete victory on the nest day. On the Federal side the prospect was gloomy. The night was too cold to sleep without fires, and their position and nearness to the enemy would not allow fires along the advance lines. The men were exhausted by two days' fighting and the loss of sleep. The enemy's forces, in far superior numbers, held the only road for their retreat, and nearly a thousand of their companions were dead or wounded. No alternative was presented to them but to conquer or be destroyed.

"With the rising sun the battle commenced. Colonel Carrs division had been reenforced by a large part of that of General Davis, thus enabling the right barely to hold its position. General Sigel began to form his line of battle by changing his front so as to face the right flank of the enemy's position. For this purpose he first ordered the 25th Illinois, Colonel Coler, to take a position along a fence in open view of the enemy's batteries, which at once opened fire upon the regiment. He next ordered a battery of six guns, partly rifled twelve-pounders, into a line one hundred paces in the rear of the 25th infantry, on a rise of ground. The 15th Missouri then formed into a line with the 25th Illinois on their left, and another battery of guns was similarly disposed a short distance behind them. Tims more infantry with batteries in their rear was placed until about thirty pieces of artillery, each about fifteen or twenty paces from the other, were in continuous line, the infantry in front lying down. Each piece opened fire as it came in position, and the fire was so directed as to silence battery after battery of the enemy.

For two hours the Confederate forces stood unshaken before that fire, with their crowded ranks decimated and their horses shot at their grins. One by one their pieces ceased to reply. Then onward crept the infantry and onward came the guns of General Sigel. The range became shorter and shorter. No charge of the enemy could face those batteries or venture on that compact line of bayonets. They turned and fled. Again the Union line was advanced with a partial change of front, when an order to charge the enemy in the woods was given. Then the infantry rising up pressed forward into the dense brush, where they were met by a terrible volley, which was fiercely returned; volley followed volley, still the line pushed forward until more open ground was obtained, when the Confederate force broke in confusion. As General Sigel advanced, General Curtis also ordered the centre and right wing forward. The right wing turned the left of the enemy and cross-fired into his centre. This placed him in the arc of a circle. The charge was then ordered throughout the whole line, which utterly routed their forces as above stated, and compelled them to retire in complete confusion, but rather safely through the deep and almost impassable defiles of Cross Timbers. General Sigel followed toward Keetsville, and the cavalry continued the pursuit still further. The Union loss in this battle was 212 killed, 926 wounded, and 124 missing. The Confederate killed and wounded was larger in numbers, with a loss of nearly 1000 prisoners. Among their killed were Generals McCulloch and Mcintosh.

On the 9th General Van Dorn, under a flag of truce, requested permission to bury his dead, which was readily granted. In the reply to this request General Curtis said: "The General regrets that we find on the battle-field, contrary to civilized warfare, many of the Federal dead, who were tomahawked, scalped, and their bodies shamefully mangled, and expresses the hope that this important struggle may not degenerate to a savage warfare."

To this statement, General Van Dorn replied: "He hopes you have been misinformed with regard to this matter, the Indians who formed part of his forces having for many years been regarded as civilized people. He will, however, most cordially unite with you in repressing the horrors of this unnatural war; and that you may cooperate with him to this end more effectually, he desires me to inform you that many of our men who surrendered themselves prisoners of war, were reported to him as having been murdered in cold blood by their captors, who were alleged to be Germans. The general commanding feels sure that you will do your part as he will, in preventing 6uch atrocities in future, and that the perpetrators of them will be brought to justice, whether German or Choctaw."

General Curtis in answer further said: "I may say, the Germans charge the same against your soldiers. I enclose a copy of a latter from General Sigel, addressed to me before the receipt of yours, in which the subject is referred to. As' dead men tell no tales,' it is not easy to see how these charges may be proven, and the General hopes they are more 1 camp stories,' having little or no foundation. The Germans in the army have taken and turned over many prisoners, and the General has not before heard murder charged against them; on the contrary, they have seemed peculiarly anxious to exhibit Page 58 the number of their captured as evidence of their valor. Any act of cruelty to prisoners, or those offering to deliver themselves as such, on the part of the soldiers of this army, coming to the knowledge of the General commanding, will be punished with the extreme penalty of the law."

The following is General Halleck's despatch to Washington, announcing this battle:

                                                       ST. LOUIS, March 10,1862.

To Major-General McClellan:

The army of the Southwest, under Gen. Curtis, after three days' hard fighting near Sugar Creek, Arkansas, has gained a most glorious victory over the combined forces of Van Dora, McCulloch, Price, and Mcintosh. Our killed and wounded are estimated at ono thousand. That of the enemy still larger. Guns, flags, provisions, Ac, captured in large quantities. Our cavalry is in pursuit of the flying enemy.

                                    H. W. HALLECK, Major-General.

The Confederate force retired south of the Boston Mountains unpursued by General Curtis, to obtain reinforcements and to recover from their loss. Meantime reinforcements were sent to General Curtis from Kansas and Missouri. He fell back to Keetsville, and remained through the month. On the 5th of April, it being supposed that General Price was moving on Springfield, Missouri, General Curtis began a march in that direction. On that day he advanced eighteen miles and on the next twenty, to the junction of Flat Rock with James river. Failing in an attempt to cross the James, the force moved to Galena, where a crossing was effected in a rain storm. On the next day, the 9th, Bear Creek, thirteen miles, was reached, and on the 10th Forsyth, eighteen miles, where the army was concentrated. The high water of the river delayed active operations. General Price, with a body of mounted men, was encamped about five miles south and on the other side of the river. On the 16th of April an expedition was sent out under Colonel McCrellis to destroy some saltpetre works located eight miles below the Little North Fork, south side of White river. It was entirely successful. About ten thousand pounds nearly prepared for transportation were destroyed. The army next moved to West Plains, eighty-seven miles, thence to Salem, Arkansas, which is southeast of Forsyth; Missouri, and distant one hundred and seventeen miles. Thence it advanced to Batesville, crossed the White river, and took the route to Little Rock, the capital of the State.  It advanced to Searcy, fifty miles from Little Rock, where an order was received from General Halleck to send ten regiments by a forced march to Cape Girardeau and thence to Corinth. The army then fell back to Batesville, which is the capital of Independence county and the most important town in the northeastern part of the State. It is situated on the White river about four hundred miles from its mouth. The river is navigable to this point for small steamers. Such was the scarcity of supplies that the army suffered severely. An expedition was fitted out in June from Memphis to descend the Mississippi to the mouth of Arkansas and thence up the White river to Batesville. (See page 66.) It was unsuccessful. Supplies were subsequently sent by land from Missouri, which reached General Curtis about the 1st of July. His position during this period was critical, and excited much apprehension, as he was known to be nearly destitute of provisions, far distant from the sources of supply, and surrounded in the midst of a wilderness by foes. From Batesville he now advanced to Jacksonport at the confluence of the White and Black rivers, thence passing through Augusta and Clarendon he reached Helena on the Mississippi river, one hundred and seventy-five miles from Batesville.

It was reported soon after that Confederate troops under General Price were crossing the Mississippi at a point between Napoleon and Vicksburg, and General Curtis started with a body of troops on transports to make an exploration. The steam ferry boat at Napoleon, upon the approach of General Curtis, was withdrawn up the Arkansas river, whither he followed and captured it with fifteen other ferry and flat boats. A large number of boats were destroyed on the Arkansas by this expedition, which soon after returned to Helena. General Curtis was then absent until the close of September, when he was appointed to command the department of Missouri, containing the States of Missouri and Arkansas and the adjacent Indian Territory, with his headquarters at St. Louis. Helena continued to be occupied by the Federal troops, but active military operations were suspended. This closed the campaign of General Curtis.

After the departure of General Curtis from Helena on the 15th of November, an expedition under General Alvin P. Hovey, consisting of eight thousand infantry and cavalry, started for the White river; but in consequence of new bars which had formed, and the low stage of the water, it entirely failed of the object intended, and returned. The command of the post was then taken by General Steele, who had arrived with a division of troops. Subsequently General Hovey was sent upon an expedition from Helena into Mississippi to cooperate with General Grant on his advance into that State. The particulars of this expedition are stated in connection with the campaign of General Grant.

The subsequent military operations in Arkansas exerted no special influence on the conduct of the war. They may be briefly stated in this place. The Confederate forces in the State, in October, were estimated to consist of five thousand men under General Hindman, posted five miles north of Little Rock; five thousand men under General Roan, posted fifty miles southeast of Little Rock at White Sulphur Springs, near Pine Bluff on the Arkansas river; at Cross Hollows in the northwestern part of the State, between four and five thousand men, chiefly conscripts under General Rains; General Holmes, in chief command, was at Little Rock with two thousand men; General McBride was at Batesville

This page contains a map of the Mississippi River.

Page 60 with two thousand more. Small forces were also at Arkansas, Crystal Hill, and Arkadelphia. The latter post had been made the seat of government. These forces were estimated at twenty thousand men with a deficient outfit. In the northwestern part of Arkansas, near Cross Hollows, twelve miles south of Fayetteville, General Herron had a severe conflict with a Confederate force near the end of October. Again on the 28th of November General Blunt made an attack on General Marmaduke with about eight thousand men, at Cane Hill, forty-five miles north of Van Buren, which caused the Confederate force to retreat to Van Buren. Again, on the 7th of December, the combined Confederate forces under the command of General Hindman, estimated at fifteen thousand men, made an attempt to cut off reinforcements for General Blunt, ten miles south of Fayetteville. The Confederate forces advanced on the flank of General Blunt's position, and attacked General Herron with the reënforcements, who held them in check until they were attacked in the rear by General Blunt at Crawford's Prairie. The fight continued obstinate until dark, when the Confederate forces retreated across Boston Mountains. The loss was severe on both sides, and the advance of the Confederate troops into Missouri was checked.

The campaign in the West was now pushed through. The evacuation of Columbus, and the flanking of other Confederate positions on the Mississippi river by the force on the advance up the Tennessee river, led to the fitting out of an expedition to move down the Mississippi. On the 4th of March an armed reconnoissance, commanded by Flag Officer Foote and General Cullum, was made as far as Columbus. This consisted of six gunboats, four mortar boats, and three transports having on board two regiments and two battalions of infantry under General Sherman. On arriving at Columbus, it was found to have been evacuated and subsequently occupied by two hundred and fifty of the 2d Illinois on a scouting expedition. The Confederate troops had chiefly retired down the river to Island No. 10 and New Madrid. The evacuation was a consequence of the position being flanked on both sides of the river. The distances to various points down the river are as follows: Cairo to Columbus, 20 miles; Hickman, 37; Island No. 10, 45; New Madrid, 55; Point Pleasant, 87; Plumb Point, 154; Island No. 33, 164; Fort Wright, 107; Fulton Landing, 108; Hatche River, 170; Island No. 34, 170; Fort Randolph, 175 ; Port Pillow, 238; Memphis, 242;

This force returned to Cairo, and on the 14th a formidable expedition left to move down the river. The following vessels formed the fleet: flag ship Benton, Lieut. Phelps acting flag captain; gunboats Cincinnati, Commander R. N. Stembel; Caroudelet, Commander "Walke; Mound City, Commander Kelly; Louisville, Commander Dove; Pittsburgh, Lieut. Thompson commanding; St. Louis, Lieut. Paulding commanding; Conestoga, Lieut. Blodgett commanding—the only boat in the fleet not ironclad.

The mortar boats assigned to the expedition were designated numerically. Each had a mortar of 13-inch calibre and discharging a round shell weighing two hundred and fifteen pounds without its contents. The "sailing" or "running" crews of these mortar boats consisted of one captain and two men. The force to fire the mortars in action was one captain to each brace of mortars, and one lieutenant and twelve men to each boat. The Nos, of the vessels were, 5, 7, 11, 19, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30, 38, under command in chief of Captain H. E. Mayndier, U. S. Army. The steamers Hammit and Wilson, lashed together, towed four; the Pike and Wisconsin four others; Lake Erie, No. 2, towed two others. Then followed a steamer with a barge laden with coal in tow, after which came the two ordnance steamers, and two transports with the 27th Illinois, Colonel Buford, and 15th Wisconsin, Colonel Hey, infantry—the latter regiment being composed exclusively of Norwegians—and also a battery of the 2d Illinois artillery. With the gunboats on the right, followed by the mortar fleet, ordnance boats, and transports with troops, the gunboat Conestoga brought up the rear, protecting the transports, while eight or ten little screw propellers, used for conveying orders and despatches from the flag ship to the fleet, were busily darting in all directions.

The expedition reached Columbus at 1 p. m., and at 3 o'clock left for Hickman, where it arrived between five and six o'clock. A small force of Confederate cavalry left upon its approach. The town was partly deserted; a few Union flags, however, were waved. The next morning it proceeded down the river to within half a mile of the Missouri point above Island No. 10, which by an air line was two and a half miles distant, while by the river, owing to the bend, it was four miles distant. In this position the flagship opened fire upon a Confederate battery discovered on the Kentucky shore, but, owing to the distance, without effect. Two of the mortar boats then, having got into position, opened upon and soon silenced it. A largo Confederate force appeared to be encamped on that side.

Island No. 10 is situated in the corner of that bend of the Mississippi river which touches the border of Tennessee, a few miles further up the river than New Madrid, although nearly southwest of that point. It is situated about two hundred and forty miles from St. Louis, and nine hundred and fifty from New Orleans. The average depth of the water at this point is from ninety to one hundred and twenty feet, and the breadth of the stream from mainland to mainland about nine hundred yards. The current runs by the island at a moderately fast rate, and with the power of three rivers—Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio— combined. The island is near the southern, or Page 61 what might be termed the eastern bank of the river, but at this point the stream varies from its southern course and turns abruptly to the northwest, leaving this island in the southern angle of the bend. It is about forty-five miles, by the course of the river, south of Columbus, and about twenty-six miles from Hickman. It is near Obionville, which is in Obion county, in the northwest extremity of Tennessee, where it borders on Kentucky and Missouri. The Mississippi river passes to the north and to the south of Obionville, leaving a land distance between the two waters very inconsiderable, and easily walked across in less than an hour, although the voyage by water between the same points, owing to the bends in the river, is about twenty miles. The surface of the surrounding country is nearly level. Obionville is connected by a turnpike road with Columbus, in Kentucky, via Hickman, and with Troy, the capital of the county.

The fortifications on the island and mainland adjacent consisted of eleven earthworks, with seventy heavy cannon, varying in caliber from thirty-two to one hundred pounders, rifled. The bombardment commenced on the 16th of March, and continued with more or less vigor until the 7th of April. A different plan, however, was arranged for the capture of the island. This consisted in cutting a canal across a portion of the 'narrow and low peninsula, by which the transports could pass below the island, and a part of the troops with General Pope at New Madrid be taken across the river, and thus completely invest the island.

On the 21st of February, by orders of General Halleck, General Pope proceeded to Commerce in Missouri above Cairo, and was followed by a force numbering in the aggregate about forty thousand men. With this army General Pope proceeded southwardly in the early part of the last week in February, destined for New Madrid. In a direct line the distance from Commerce to New Madrid is about fifty miles, but by the road it is between sixty and seventy-five miles. On the 3d of March he arrived with his forces before New Madrid, and found the place occupied by five regiments of infantry and several companies of artillery. The defensive works consisted of one bastioned earthwork, mounting fourteen heavy guns, about half a mile below the town, and another irregular work at the upper end of the town, mounting seven pieces of heavy artillery, together with lines of intrenchment between them; six gunboats, carrying from four to eight heavy guns each, were anchored along the shore between the upper and lower redoubts. The country being perfectly level and the river so high that the guns of the boats looked directly over the banks, General Pope found the approaches to the town commanded for miles by guns of heavy caliber.

His first step was to occupy Point Pleasant, twelve miles below, in such a manner that his force could not be driven out by the Confederate gunboats, and thus blockade the river from below. He next procured siege guns from Cairo, which arrived on the 12th of March, and were placed in battery during the night within eight hundred yards of the enemy's main work, so as to command that and the river above it. The battery consisted of two small redoubts connected by a curtain, and mounting four heavy guns, with rifle pits in front and on the flanks for two regiments of infantry. As soon as day dawned on the 13th, these batteries opened fire, and were replied to by the whole of the enemy's heavy artillery on land and water. In a few hours several of the gunboats were disabled, and three of the heavy guns dismounted in the enemy's main work. The cannonading continued all day without producing any impression on the position of General Pope, other than the disabling of one gun by a round shot. The effect of the contest during the day convinced the Confederate commander that he could not hold the town, although he had previously received reinforcements of men and guns from Island No. 10. Accordingly in the night, during a violent storm of rain, he evacuated the town by crossing over to the Kentucky shore. This evacuation was made with considerable precipitation. Almost everything was left behind. Even the pickets were abandoned. "Thirty-three pieces of artillery, magazines full of fixed ammunition, several thousand stand of small arms, hundreds of boxes of musket cartridges, tents for an army of ten thousand men, horses, mules, wagons, &c, were among the spoils."

The Confederate fleet was commanded by Com. Hollins, and their land force by Generals McCown, Stewart, and Gantt. The Union loss was fifty-one killed and wounded; the Confederate loss was estimated by General Pope to be larger. A number of their dead were left unburied. By the possession of these works General Pope commanded the river, so as to cut off all communication with Island No. 10 from below. It was on the day after this evacuation that the fleet left Cairo.

In order to cut off entirely the retreat of the Confederate force from Island No. 10, it was necessary that a portion of General Pope's army should be taken across the Mississippi to the Tennessee shore. To bring down transports a channel was made, twelve miles long, six of which were through heavy timber. The trees standing in water, had to be cut off four feet below its surface. While this work was pushed forward the bombardment of the island was continued. On the night of the 1st of April, under the cover of darkness and storm, a boat expedition from the fleet, with a small force under the command of Colonel Roberts of the 42d Illinois, landed at the upper or No. 1 Fort on the Kentucky shore and spiked the six guns mounted, and retired without injury. The pickets of the enemy fired and fled, and the troops in the vicinity also retreated. As the work on the canal approached

Page 62 This page contains a map of Island No. 10

Page 63 completion, it was evident that the assistance of the gunboats would also be required to make a successful landing of the troops across the river. The enemy, to oppose any attempt that might be made to cross the river, had planted field pieces along the left bank for the distance of several miles above and below New Madrid. Gunboats were also needed to protect the transports from any gunboat of the enemy that might appear during the passage across the river. For these reasons the gunboat Carondelet, Captain Walke, undertook to run down past the batteries of the island on the night of the 4th of April. For this purpose her hull was protected in all weak places by additional covering, and a barge laden above with hay was taken in tow on her left side. Starting at ten o'clock on the night of the 4th, amid the darkness of an impending storm, she proceeded on in silence. Twice as she approached the batteries of the enemy the soot in the chimneys caught fire, and a flame five feet high leaped out from their tops, lighting brightly the upper deck of the vessel, and everything around. It was seen by the enemy, and the anxious listeners for the signal of her safety in the fleet above now heard the long roll beat in the camps on the island. At the same time five rockets were sent up from the mainland and the island, and were followed by a cannon shot from Fort No. 2. A full head of steam was now let on, to make the greatest possible speed; and while vivid flashes of lightning lit up the hurried preparations of the enemy, while peal after peal of thunder reverberated along the river, and the rain fell in torrents, the moment for coolness and heroism came. For thirty minutes the discharge of cannon and musket ball at the dark and silent object, revealed on the waters only by the lightning flash, was furious, but no injury was done. Then stopping her machinery, her officers fired the signal guns to inform their companions in the fleet that she was safe. On the night of the 6th, the gunboat Pittsburg, Lieut. Thompson, also passed the batteries. On the morning of the 7th the transports were brought into the river from the bayou where they had been kept concealed, and while the division of Colonel Paine was embarking, the gunboats ran down the river and silenced the enemy's batteries at the place of landing. Then the passage of the wide and swift river commenced, and was completed at the hour of midnight.

As soon as the troops began to cross the river the enemy began to evacuate the island and his batteries along the Kentucky shore. The divisions were pushed forward as fast as they landed, that of Colonel Paine leading. The Confederate force was driven before him, 6ays General Pope; and although it made several attempts to form in line of battle and make a stand, Colonel Paine did not once deploy his columns. It was pushed all night vigorously until, at four o'clock a. m., it was driven back on the swamps and forced to surrender. "Three generals, seven colonels, seven regiments, several battalions of infantry, five companies of artillery, over one hundred heavy siege guns, twenty-four pieces of field artillery, an immense quantity of ammunition and supplies, several thousand stand of small arms, a great number of tents, horses, and wagons were taken." The force that surrendered was under the command of General Mackall. Before abandoning Island No. 10, the Confederate officers sunk the gunboat Grampus and six transports. The force surrendered consisted of Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana regiments, and numbered about five thousand. At the island a large amount of commissary stores was found with the tents and baggage of the enemy. Besides there were eleven earthworks, with seventy heavy cannon varying in caliber from 32 to 100-pounders, rifled. The works, erected with the highest engineering skill, possessed great strength. There appeared to be no concert of action between the force on the island and that on the shore. General Pope did not lose a man or meet with an accident in crossing the river or afterward. The canal was made on the suggestion of General Schuyler Hamilton. A part of the distance the route was through a bayou. The cut made was about four miles, sufficient for steamboats of moderate size, and about one thousand trees, ranging from six inches to three feet in diameter, were sawed off" about four feet under water by means of long saws worked by hand. When the canal was finished, the water came through with such a current that the boats had to be dropped by lines nearly the whole distance. The work was done by an engineer regiment, under the superintendence of Colonel Bissell.

The position thus taken was regarded by the Confederate officers as one of the highest importance to the new line of defence proposed by them. Upon their ability to hold it depended the safety of Memphis, and of the entire Mississippi valley thereabout. This line was adopted by the Confederate commander, with his left resting on the Mississippi, his centre between Jackson, Tennessee, and Corinth, Mississippi, and his right between Florence and Decatur.

On the 12th of April the gunboats under Com. Foote, with the mortar boats, followed by the transports, left New Madrid, and stood down the river. The order of a line of battle was observed. A part of General Stanley's division, and those of Generals Hamilton and Palmer, were on the transports. Their destination was Fort Pillow or "Wright, which is situated on the first Chickasaw Bluffs, near Islands Nos. 33 and 34, and about seventy miles above Memphis. At Plum Point the Mississippi makes a sharp bend, running for some distance east wardly, and at the first Chickasaw Bluffs turns off abruptly south-southwest, which course it continues below Island No. 84, where it again bends; the convex side of the curve being to the Tennessee shore. Here are the second Chickasaw Bluffs, surmounted by Fort Randolph, some twelve Page 64 miles below Fort Pillow. The location of these fortifications was admirably adapted for defence, and in case of a determined stand it would have been very difficult to reduce them. Opposite Plum Point is the village of Osceola in Arkansas.

On the next day, at evening, the fleet arrived at Plum Point and anchored. A force of three Confederate gunboats were in sight most of the time during that day, but kept at a safe distance. The anchorage was about three and a half miles from the fort. Operations against the fort were commenced by moving the mortars to the Arkansas shore at Craighead Point, and opening upon the enemy's gunboats and batteries with shells. The distance of the contending forces across the point was three fourths of a mile, although by the river around the point it was three miles. In the afternoon of the 17th of April fire was opened from the mortars, and rapidly and accurately answered by the fort. This continued until midnight and then ceased; daily afterward it was repeated without any expectation of an immediate reduction of the fort. The high water of the river prevented cooperation of the land forces. On the 4th of May a battle occurred between the gunboats and a Confederate ram and gunboats, which has been thus related:

"The enemy appeared with four boats—three gunboats and a ram—the latter a powerful contrivance, combining immense weight and strength with high speed and admirable steering facilities. Her hull and boilers, as well as all the Confederate rams, were those of old New Orleans towboats. The upper works of these were cut away; their sides protected, in some instances with a layer of railroad iron, and in others only with bales of tightly compressed cotton, hooped and bound together, one to the other, with iron bands. Their bows were pointed and sharp, and apparently of solid iron.

"At their first appearance the gunboats manifested no disposition to come up the river, but sent the ram ahead to attack and destroy the Cincinnati, thinking then, doubtless, to run up and make an easy prey of the defenceless mortar boats. The commander of the Cincinnati perceived the movement and apprehended its intent. The ram was already halfway up to her before she was cut loose, and then the accumulated driftwood on her bows prevented her getting her head out into the stream. To back out would be to run directly upon the enemy while they were seeking to run into her, thus adding to the force of the blow with which they would strike her. In this dilemma she let fly her stern guns full into the face of the enemy, and at the same time attempted to crowd along up the shore, hoping, before moving far, to succeed in getting her head out. Her guns made not the slightest apparent impression upon the ram, which still held its course and was rapidly coming upon the entangled gunboat.

"Again the stern guns were let go full into the face of the enemy, but still her progress was not retarded in the slightest. A moment more and her tremendous weight came with terrible force upon the starboard stern quarter of the gunboat, but without inflicting any serious damage The force of the blow, however, threw the stern of the vessel in and enabled her to get headway from the shore. Then, in turning out, her broadside was discharged directly into the Confederate craft, which was backing off preparatory to renewing the assault.

"Again the gunboat prepares to open fire on her assailant, and the ram seeks an opportunity to renew the assault. The Cincinnati has worked herself away from the shore and is now more easily handled. Turning to and fro, she gives her antagonist broadside for broadside, with no apparent result. Still he comes on. As he nears his object, his steam apparatus is got ready, and his crew, armed with small arms, prepare to board the Federal craft. Commander Stembel, seeing these demonstrations, orders out carbines, boarding pikes, and cutlasses, and also puts his steam battery in readiness to give the enemy a warm reception. On they come, closer and closer, and strike! The boats collide with fearful violence, followed by the crashing of timbers, and the bending of iron, and the shouts of men, and the discharge of musketry, and, above all, another broadside directly into the enemy now immediately alongside. Amid this general uproar Commander Stembel rushes upon deck, and, seizing a pistol, with admirable aim discharged its contents into the head of the Confederate pilot, killing him instantly. The pilot's mate seized a gun in retaliation, and shot the gallant commander, just as he was turning to give his attention to some other duty, the ball entering high np on his shoulder behind, and, passing in at an upward direction through his neck, went out under his chin. He fell instantly, and was carried below.

"While this fierce engagement was in progress, the shots from the other vessels had exploded the boiler on one of the Confederate gunboats, and set fire to another which was burned to the water's edge. 

"The Cincinnati, thus released from her antagonist, sought others of the foe. It was soon after this withdrawal that the Mallory, which is also fitted as a ram, though carrying a heavy armament, moved up and singled out the crippled Cincinnati as her special victim. This craft was more lumbering and slower than the rams proper, and could not be so easily moved about. She worked very hard to get her nose into the Cincinnati's side, but every time was foiled by the movements of the latter. At last she had apparently secured the desired opportunity, and was crowding all steam to make good headway, when an unlooked-for adversary appeared. The St. Louis bore down upon her, unseen, until close on her, and then came Page 65 the unavoidable collision—the ram was cut half into and sunk immediately. Her crew perished with her, but half a dozen or so escaping by clinging to the St. Louis. This was a brilliant manoeuvre on the part of the St. Louis, relieving and probably saving the Cincinnati, which was already half sunk and almost unmanageable from the weight of water in her hold. Seeing her condition, the acting flag officer signaled her to withdraw, and she was run upon the shoal at the foot of the island, and sunk to the bottom.

The action had now lasted about forty-five minutes. One of the enemy's boats had been sunk and two blown up. The rest of their fleet was crippled. To prolong the fight was to insure its destruction. They therefore gradually fell back, under cover of the smoke, around the point to the protection of their land batteries. The Cincinnati was the only boat injured in the Union fleet. Four were wounded on board of her."

On the night of the 4th of June Fort Pillow was evacuated. Everything of value was either destroyed or removed by the Confederate officers. On the same night Fort Randolph, some miles below, was evacuated. The few guns were dismantled. Com. Ellet, in his report to the Secretary of War, said: "Randolph, like Pillow, is weak, and could not have held out long against a vigorous attack." The remark is worthy of notice, as it raises an inquiry why such an attack was not made. The forts were not attacked because this expedition, was not sustained at the critical time for its success. There were no land forces to cooperate with the fleet.

On the 13th of April the gunboats and transports arrived before Fort Pillow, and on the 4th of June this fort and the one below were evacuated, and the way clear for the fleet to attack Memphis. On the 7th of April the battle of Pittsburg Landing took place between the Federal forces, under General Grant, and the Confederate forces, under General Beauregard, which resulted in the withdrawal, by General Beauregard, of all his forces from the battle field to the strong position at Corinth. Reinforcements were required by the Federal army, and General Pope was ordered to join it. On the 21st of April he arrived in transports up the Tennessee river at Pittsburg Landing. His force numbered between twenty and twenty-five thousand men, and were taken on some thirty transports. This withdrawal of the force of General Pope put a stop to the progress of the Mississippi river expedition. The gunboats, however, were obliged to remain in such force as to prevent any movement of the Confederate gunboats np the river. Soon after the withdrawal of General Pope, Com. Foote obtained leave of absence, and the command of the fleet was taken by Charles Ellet, jr., until the arrival of Charles H. Davis, the successor of Com. Foote.

As has been stated, Forts Pillow and Randolph were evacuated on the night of the 4th of June. This evacuation was in consequence of the withdrawal of a large portion of the Confederate army from Tennessee, and their abandonment of Corinth. The positions of Fort Pillow, Randolph, and Memphis could not be held under these circumstances, and were therefore wisely evacuated.

Nothing now remained to oppose the Federal fleet but the Confederate gunboats. On the 5th of June the fleet arrived within two miles of Memphis, and came to anchor for the night. On the 6th, at 4 o'clock in the morning, the gunboats Benton, Cairo, Carondelet, Louisville, and St. Louis, and the four rams Monarch, Lancaster, No. 3, and Queen of the West, weighed anchor, and dropped slowly down toward the city. The Confederate gunboats were seen approaching in order of battle. This was in two lines, the first consisting of the Beauregard, Little Rebel, General Price, and General Bragg, the second of the General Lovell, General Van Dorn, Jeff. Thompson, and the Sumter. When within three fourths of a mile, a shot from the Little Rebel, the flag ship, fell within a short distance of the Cairo, which replied with a broadside, and soon the engagement became general. The Confederates had fewer guns than their opponents, but exceeded them in the number of gunboats. The scene of the battle was in front of the city of Memphis, and the shores were crowded with spectators. After half an hour two of the rams, Monarch and Queen of the West, which had been lying on the Arkansas side, in rear of the line of battle, steamed out toward the scene of action. The Queen of the West started directly for the Beauregard, and that gunboat fired at, but missed her. A second shot struck the ram but did her no injury, and she steamed steadily and swiftly toward her adversary. When she was within ten feet the latter swung round, and the ram missed her prey. Not discouraged, however, the Queen ran toward the General Price, which fired several shots but did no damage, and thrust her iron prow into the wheelhouse of the Price, crushing it to pieces, and causing the vessel to leak so badly that she was run to the Arkansas shore, to prevent her from sinking. The Beauregard now determined to avenge the Price, and hurried toward the Queen, while the ram in full motion was dashing toward her foe. They bore down upon each other bravely, but the skilful pilot of the enemy contrived to evade the shock of the Queen, and struck her aft so heavily that the ram was disabled and began to leak. The Monarch, seeing the state of affairs, dashed boldly at the Beauregard. The latter fired four times at the ram, and struck her bulwarks once, the ball glancing harmlessly. She could not, however, avoid the unerring aim of the Monarch, which crashed through her bow, and caused her to fill in a few minutes and go down as far as her cabin, the shallowness of the water preventing her sinking lower, and the white flag she had run up- Page 66 slopping further damage from the fleet. The Monarch then looked after her disabled consort, the Queen of the West, and towed her ashore, placing her in a position of security. The gunboats now increased their fire against the enemy, when the flag ship, having obtained an excellent range, threw a 50-pound ball from a rifled Parrott, striking the General Lovell aft above the water line, tearing a great hole in her, through which the water rushed like a torrent. She began to sink at once, giving few of the officers and crew time to save themselves. In less than four minutes the vessel had sunk in seventy-five feet of water, and passed entirely out of sight. Some of the crew went down with the Lovell, but about fifty of them leaped into the river, and were struggling in the water, when the Benton's crew arrived in advance of several other cutters from the flotilla, and just in time to see the chimneys of the hostile gunboat disappear beneath the water. Many of the crew had already begun to swim for the shore. Some six or seven, however, were rescued by the cutter, but the current was so strong that a large number were carried off and drowned. The engagement still continued warm and desperate. The smoke of the battle so obscured the boats that it was difficult to see them at any distance, yet the levee of Memphis was black with the crowd of human beings. From the time the rams made their appearance, the Confederate gunboats had been steadily falling back, though continuing to fire heavily, before the advance of the Federal gunboats.

The Jeff. Thompson, General Bragg, Sumter, and Van Dorn were the only vessels remaining, and these were so frequently struck and saw so little opportunity of escaping, that they turned their bows ashore. As soon as the Thompson reached the shore her officers and crew leaped off, and ran through the woods; but a shell exploding on the vessel, sho took fire and was burned to the water's edge. The General Bragg reached the shore about half a mile below the Thompson, and her officers and crew escaped. The Sumter followed next, and the General Van Dorn, which was a swift vessel, alone escaped down the river. The Federal fleet now came to anchor before the city. The engagement had lasted over an hour. No ono was killed on the fleet. The loss of the other side could not be stated. About one hundred were made prisoners. The other mortar boats, owing to a misconception of orders, were not engaged.

The following correspondence then ensued between Com. Davis and the city authorities:

                                   UNITED STATES FLAG STEAMER BESTOW,

                                         OFF MEMPHIS, June 5, 1862.

SIR: I have respectfully to request that you will surrender the city of Memphis to the authority of the United States, which I have the honor to represent.

     I am, Mr. Mayor, with high respect,

              C. H. DAVIS, Flag Officer commanding, etc.

To His Honor the Mayor of the City of Memphis.

The answer of the mayor was as follows:

Mayor's Office, Memphis, June 6,1862.

SIR: Your note of this date is received, and contents noted. In reply I have only to say that, as the civil authorities have no means of defence, by the force of circumstances the city is in your hands.

               Respectfully,                      JOHN PARK, Mayor.

To C. H. Davis, Flag Officer commanding, etc.

Commander Davis wrote in reply as follows:

UNITED STATES FLAG STEAMER BENTON,

                                    OFF MEMPHIS, June 6,1862. 

SIR: The undersigned, commanding the naval military forces of the United Slates in front of Memphis, has the honor to say to the Mayor and the city that Colonel Fitch, commanding the Indiana brigade, will take military possession immediately.

Colonel Fitch will be happy to receive the cooperation of His Honor the Mayor and the city authorities in maintaining peace and order. To this end be will be pleased to confer with His Honorable Mayor at the military headquarters at 3 o'clock this afternoon.

          Yours, etc.,         C. H. DAVIS,

                 Flag Officer commanding, etc.

To the Mayor of the City of Memphis.

The military occupation of the city followed, and the appointment of a provost marshal. Memphis is the most populous and important town, on the Mississippi river, between St. Louis and New Orleans. Its population in 1860 was 22,625.

About the 10th of June the gunboats St. Louis, Mound City, Lexington, and Conestoga, with the transport New National, having on board the 46th Indiana regiment, Colonel Fitch, left Memphis, on an expedition up the White river, to open communication with the army of General Curtis, and to remove the obstructions in that river. The White river is formed by the junction of three small branches, which unite a few miles east of Fayetteville, Arkansas. It flows first northwesterly into Missouri, and after making a circuit of about one hundred miles, returns into Arkansas, and pursues a southeasterly course to the mouth of Black river. Thence its direction is nearly south, until it enters the Arkansas fifteen miles above its mouth. It is navigable by steamboats to the mouth of Black river, three hundred and fifty miles, in all stages of water.

As the expedition approached St. Charles, the Mound City, being in advance, was fired on from two concealed batteries. This was returned. Meantime the troops were landed below for the purpose of marching in the rear and capturing the batteries. At this juncture a ball from a siege gun on the bluff struck the forward and left side of the Mound City and penetrated the casemate and passed through the steam drum. The vessel was immediately filled with the escaping vapor and nearly every one on board was scalded; only twenty-three of the officers and crew, numbering ono hundred and seventy-five, escaped uninjured. A horrible scene ensued. Many of the crew, frantic with pain, jumped overboard, and soma were drowned. The boats from the Conestoga, which was coming up at the time, were sent to their relief, but the enemy fired on the men in the water with grape and canister from their field pieces, killing most of those who were Page 67 attempting to escape. Meantime Colonel Fitch, learning the facts, pushed forward with his regiment and carried the works at the point of the bayonet. They consisted of two batteries, the lower of which mounted six field pieces, and the upper one three heavy siege guns. About thirty prisoners were taken, among whom was Colonel Frye, commanding the post. This expedition failed to open communication with General Curtis, as has been heretofore stated.

The military operations in Tennessee, which finally controlled the movements of the Mississippi river expedition, had paused after the capture of Nashville, as above described, but were soon resumed again. The first step consisted in fitting out a great expedition to proceed under General Grant up the Tennessee river. More than fifty-seven steamers and two gunboats were required to transport and convoy the force. It was organized in five divisions, each consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The advance was under the command of General Sherman, 2d division under General Hurlbut, 2d division under General McClernand, 4th division under General L. Wallace, 6th division under Colonel Lanman of the 7th Iowa regiment. On the 11th of March the transports began to arrive at Savannah in Tennessee. On the night of the 12th the Tyler and Lexington were sent up the river to reconnoitre as far as Eastport, forty miles above Savannah. The enemy was found constructing fortifications and with a considerable force. It was known that the Confederate forces were also concentrated along the lines of railroad south and southwest of the river.

The line of defence now adopted by the Confederate commander after his first line was broken up, had for its base the Charleston and Memphis railroad, the preservation of which was absolutely necessary to any pretence of resistance through northern Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Along this railroad are Tuscumbia and Florence at the foot of the Muscle shoals in the Tennessee river and the junction with the Florence and Nashville railroad; Decatur near the head of the lower Muscle shoal; Huntsville and Bellefontaine; Stevenson, important as the junction with the railroad from Nashville through Murfreesboro' and Chattanooga, a strong position. All these points are east of Corinth. On the west of Corinth, the railroad runs in a nearly straight line to Memphis, ninety-three miles distant; and northwest runs the road to Jackson, almost in the centre of west Tennessee.*

The Union line was the Tennessee river, extending from Paducah, Kentucky, to Eastport in Mississippi. The gunboats Lexington and Tyler,

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* The distances of these places alone the line of the Memphis and Charleston railroad are as follows : From Memphis to Germantown, 15 miles; to Collerville, 24; Lafayette, 81; Moscow. 89; La Grange, 49; Grand Junction. 52; Saulsbury. 63; Middleton, 69; Pocahontas, 75; Corinth, 98; Burns, 107 Iuka, 115; Tuscumbia. 145; Jonesboro, 168; Decatur, 188; Huntsville, 212; Bellefonte, 259; Stevenson, 272; Chattanooga, 309.

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by moving up and down the river, prevented the erection of batteries. Above Eastport, at Chickasaw Bluffs and at some other points, Confederate batteries were placed to command the navigation of the river.

On the 5th of March, General Beauregard assumed the command of the Confederate forces in this department, when he issued the following address to his soldiers:

                   HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, 

                                    JACKSON, TENNESSEE, March 5.

SOLDIERS; I assume this day the command of the army of the Mississippi, for the defence of our homesteads and liberties, and to resist the subjugation, spoliation, and dishonor of our people. Our mothers and wives, our sisters and children, expect us to do our duty, even to the sacrifice of our lives.

Our losses since the commencement of this war, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, are now about the same as those of the enemy.

He must be made to atone for the reverses we have lately experienced. Those reverses, far from disheartening, must nerve us to new deeds of valor and patriotism, and should inspire us with an unconquerable determination to drive back our invaders.

Should any one in this army be unequal to the task before us, let him transfer his arms and equipments at nee to braver; firmer hands, and return to his home.

Our cause is as just and sacred as ever animated men to take up arms; and if we are true to it and to ourselves, with the continued protection of the Almighty we must and shall triumph.

                                                  G. T. BEAUREGARD,

General Commanding.


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