The Battle of Shiloh (The Battle of Pittsburg Landing)

Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing), BATTLE OF. After the capture of Fort Donelson in 1862. General Grant prepared to push towards Corinth, an important position at the intersection of the Charleston and Memphis, Mobile and Ohio railways. Possession of that point would give the National troops control of the great railway communications between the Mississippi and the East, and the border slave-labor States and the Gulf of Mexico. Passing up the Tennessee River, the main body of Grant's troops were encamped, at the beginning of April, between Pittsburgh Landing, on that stream, and Shiloh Meeting House, in the forest, 2 miles from the river bank.

MAP OF THE SHILOH CAMPAIGN

Almost the first intimation of the near presence of the Confederates was the wild cry of pickets flying into camp, and the sharp attack upon Sherman's troops by Hardee's division, before daylight had fairly appeared. It was a surprise. Screaming shells dashed through the forest and bullets whistled among the tents. The Confederates had rushed into the camp, driving half-dressed, half-armed soldiers before them, dealing death and terror in every direction. Prentiss's division was next attacked; his column was shattered, and he, with a large portion of his followers, were made prisoners, his camp being captured by the Confederates. The struggle soon became general, and for ten hours the battle raged with varying fortune on both sides. Gen. W. H. L. Wallace. of the Nationals, and General A. S. Johnston, of the Confederates, had been killed. On both sides the slaughter was severe, and the National army was pushed back to the river, then brimful with a spring flood. The day was a devastating loss for the Union troops. All the Union camps were occupied by the Confederates but one—that of General Wallace, of which General MacArthur was now in command. In the rear of this the smitten army had gathered at twilight, in a space not more than 400 acres in extent, on the verge of the river. They could be hushed hack no farther. Beauregard telegraphed to Richmond a shout of victory.

The Nationals were in a most perilous position. A single vigorous blow then given would have justified this shout. Beauregard gave feeble ones that were parried by two gunboats on the river, which had just arrived, and by a hastily formed battery on the shore. That evening the van of Buell's army also appeared on the opposite side of the river; and at midnight, Gen. Lew. Wallace, who had been detained by misinformation, arrived. In the morning twilight (April 7) Wallace's troops opened the battle anew on the Confederate left; where Beauregard commanded in person. Others soon joined in the battle, and it became general all along the line. The Confederates fought gallantly, but were speedily pushed hack by a superior force. When they perceived that all was lost, they fled in the direction of Corinth, in a blinding storm of rain and sleet, and halted on the heights of Monterey, covered in their retreat by a rear guard of 12,000 men, led by General Breckinridge. The Confederates had lost over 10,000 men in the engagement and retreat. Fully 3,000 died during the flight to the heights of Monterey. The National loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners was about 15,000. The slain on the battlefield were buried; the dead horses were burned. The hospital vessels sent down the Tennessee were crowded with the sick and wounded. Beauregard valliant army fell back to Corinth, and Grant was about to pursue and capture it, when General Halleck, his superior in rank, came up and took the chief command, and caused the army to loiter until the Confederates, recuperated, were ready for another battle.

The Battle of Antietam

Antietam, BATTLE OF. After the surrender of Harper's Ferry, Sept. 15, 1862, Robert E. Lee felt himself in a perilous position, for General Franklin had entered Pleasant Valley that very morning and threatened the severance of his army. Lee at once took measures to concentrate his forces. He withdrew his troops from South Mountain and took position in the Antietam valley, near Sharpsburg, Md. Jackson, by swift marches, had recrossed the Potomac and joined Lee on Antietam Creek. When the Confederates left South Mountain, McClellan's troops followed them. Lee's plans were thwarted, and he found himself compelled to fight.

"BURNSIDE BRIDGE," ANTIETAM CREEK

McClellan was very cautious, for he believed the Confederates were on his front in overwhelming numbers. It was ascertained that Lee's army did not number more than 60,000. McClellan's effective force was 87,000. McClellan's army was well in hand (Sept. 16), and Lee's was well posted on the heights near Sharpsburg, on the western side of Antietam Creek, a sluggish stream with few fords, spanned by four stone bridges. On the right of the National line were the corps of Hooker and Sumner. In the advance, and near the Antietam, General Richardson's division of Sumner's corps was posted. On a line with this was Sykes's (regular) division of Porter's corps. Farther down the stream was Burnside's corps. In front of Sumner and Hooker were batteries of 24-pounder Parrott guns. Franklin's corps and Couch's division were farther down the valley, and the divisions of Morrell and Humphrey, of Porter's corps, were approaching from Frederick. A detachment of the signal corps, under Major Myer, was on a spur of South Mountain.

As McClellan prudently hesitated to attack, the Confederates put him on the defensive by opening an artillery fire upon the Nationals at dawn (Sept. 16, 1862). He was ready for response in the course of the afternoon, when Hooker crossed the Antietam with a part of his corps, commanded by Generals Ricketts, Meade, and Doubleday. Hooker at once attacked the Confederate left, commanded by "Stonewall Jackson," who was soon reinforced by General Hood. Sumner was directed to send over Mansfield's corps during the night, and to hold his own in readiness to pass over the next morning. Hooker's first movement was successful. He drove back the Confederates, and his army rested on their arms that night on the ground they had won. Mansfield's corps crossed in the evening, and at dawn (Sept. 17) the contest was renewed by Hooker. It was obstinate and severe. The National batteries on the east side of the creek greatly assisted in driving the Confederates away, with heavy loss, beyond a line of woods. It was at this time, when Hooker advanced, that Jackson was reinforced. The Confederates swarmed out of the works and fell heavily upon Meade, when Hooker called upon Doubleday for help. A brigade under General Hartsuff pressed forward against a heavy storm of missiles, and its leader was severely wounded. Meanwhile Mansfield's corps had been ordered up, and before it became engaged the veteran leader was mortally wounded. The command then devolved on General Williams, who left his division in the care of General Crawford, and the latter seized a piece of woods nearby. Hooker had lost heavily; Doubleday's guns had silenced a Confederate battery; Ricketts was struggling against constantly increasing numbers on his front; and the National line began to waver, when Hooker, in the van, was wounded and taken from the field. Sumner sent Sedgwick to the support of Crawford, and Gordon and Richardson and French bore down upon the Confederates more to the left. The Nationals now held position at the Dunker Church, and seemed about to grasp the palm of victory (for Jackson and Hood were falling back), when fresh Confederate troops, under McLaws and Walker, supported by Early, came up. They penetrated the National line and drove it back, when the unflinching Doubleday gave them such a storm of artillery that they, in turn, fell back to their original position. Sedgwick, twice wounded, was carried from the field, and the command of his division devolved on General O. O. Howard. Generals Crawford and Dana were also wounded. Franklin was sent over to assist the hard-pressed Nationals. Forming on Howard's left, he sent Slocum with his division towards the centre. At the same time General Smith was ordered to retake the ground on which there had been so much fighting, and it was done within fifteen minutes. The Confederates were driven far back. Meanwhile the divisions of French and Richardson had been busy. The former received orders from Sumner to press on and make a diversion in favor of the right. Richardson's division, composed of the brigades of Meagher, Caldwell, and Brooks (who had crossed the Antietam at ten o'clock), gained a good position. The Confederates, reinforced by fresh troops, fought desperately. Finally, Richardson was mortally wounded, and Gen. W. S. Hancock succeeded him in command, when a charge was made that drove the Confederates in great confusion. Night soon closed the action on the National right and centre. General Meagher had been wounded and carried from the field, when the command of his troops devolved on Colonel Burke. During the fierce strifes of the day Porter's corps, with artillery and Pleasonton's cavalry, had remained on the east side of the stream, as a reserve, until late in the afternoon, when McClellan sent over some brigades.

On the morning of the 17th the left, under Burnside, engaged in a desperate struggle for the possession of a bridge just below Sharpsburg. That commander had been ordered to cross it and attack the Confederates. It was a difficult task, and Burnside, exposed to a raking fire from the Confederate batteries and an enfilading fire from sharp-shooters, was several times repulsed. Finally, at a little past noon, two regiments charged across the bridge and drove its defenders away. The divisions of Sturgis, Wilcox, and Rodman, and Scammon's brigade, with four batteries, passed the bridge and drove the Confederates almost to Sharpsburg. A. P. Hill, with fresh troops, fell upon Burnside's left, mortally wounding General Rodman, and driving the Nationals nearly back to the bridge. Gen. O. B. Branch, of North Carolina, was also killed in this encounter. The Confederates were checked by National artillery on the eastern side of the stream, and, reserves advancing under Sturgis, there was no further attempt to retake " the Burnside Bridge," as it was called. Hill came up just in time to save Lee's army from destruction.

Darkness ended the memorable struggle known as the Battle of Antietam. The losses were very severe. McClellan reported his losses at 12,460 men, of whom 2,010 were killed. The losses fell heavily upon certain brigades. That of Duryee retired from the field with not more than twenty men and four colors. Of the brigades of Lawton and Hays, on the Confederate side, more than one-half were lost. On the morning of the 18th both parties seemed more willing to rest than to fight; and that night Lee and his army withdrew in the darkness, recrossed the Potomac at Williamsport, and planted eight batteries on the high Virginia bank that menaced pursuers. There had been a very tardy pursuit. At dark on the evening of the 19th, Porter, who was on the left bank of the river, ordered Griffin to cross the stream with two brigades and carry Lee's batteries. He captured four of the guns. On the next morning (Sept. 20) a part of Porter's division made a reconnaissance in force on the Virginia side, and were assailed by Hill in ambush, who drove them across the Potomac and captured 209 of the Nationals.

The Battle of Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg, BATTLE OF. Robert E. Lee's evacuation of Maryland after the battle on Antietam Creek occurred on Sept. 19-20, 1862. Lee rested a few days on the Virginia side of the Potomac, and then marched leisurely up the Shenandoah Valley. McClellan did not pursue, but, after twice calling for reinforcements, he declared his intention to stand where he was, on the defensive, and "attack the enemy should he attempt to recross into Maryland." The government and the loyal people, impatient of delay, demanded an immediate advance.

"The Battle of Fredericksburg" Volunteers Crossing the River

On Oct. 6 the President instructed McClellan to " cross the Potomac and give battle to the enemy, or drive him South. Your army must now move," he said, " while the roads are good." Twenty-four days were spent in correspondence before the order was obeyed, McClellan complaining of a lack of men and supplies to make it prudent to move forward. At length, when October had nearly passed by and Lee's army was thoroughly rested and reorganized, and communications with Richmond were re-established, the Army of the Potomac began to cross the river (Oct. 26), 100,000 strong. The Nationals were led on the east side of the Blue Ridge, but failed to strike the retreating Confederates over the mountain in flank or to get ahead of them; and Lee pushed Longstreet's troops over the Blue Ridge to Culpeper Courthouse, between the Army of the Potomac and Richmond, ready to dispute the advance of the Nationals. Quick and energetic movements were now necessary to sever and defeat, in detail, Lee's army.

On Nov. 5 MeClellan was relieved of command, and General Burnside was put in his place. A sense of responsibility made the latter commander exceedingly cautious. Before he moved he endeavored to get his 120,000 men well in hand. Aquia Creek was made his base of supplies, and he moved the army towards Fredericksburg on Nov. 10. Sumner led the movement down the left bank of the Rappahannock. By the 20th a greater portion of Burnside's forces were opposite Fredericksburg, and their cannon commanded the town. Sumner demanded the surrender of the city (Nov. 21). It was refused. The bridges had been destroyed. A greater portion of the inhabitants now fled, and the town was occupied by Confederate troops. Lee's army, 80,000 strong, was upon and near the Heights of Fredericksburg by the close of November, and had planted strong batteries there. The army lay in a semicircle around Fredericksburg, each wing resting upon the Rappahannock, its right at Port Royal and its left 6 miles above the city. Pontoons for the construction of bridges across the Rappahannock were not received by Burnside until the first week in December. Then 60,000 National troops under Sumner and Hooker lay in front of Fredericksburg, with 150 cannon, commanded by General Hunt. The corps of Franklin, about 40,000 strong, was encamped about 2 miles below.

On the morning of Dec. 11 the engineers went quietly to work to construct five pontoon bridges for the passage of the National army. Sharpshooters assailed the engineers. The heavy ordnance of the Nationals on Stafford Heights opened upon the town, set it on fire, and drove out many troops. The sharpshooters remained. They were dislodged by a party that crossed the river in boats, the bridges were rebuilt, and by the evening of the 12th a greater portion of the National army occupied Fredericksburg, and on the morning of the 13th made a simultaneous assault all along the line. The Confederates, with 300 cannon, were well posted on the heights and ready for action. The battle was begun by a part of Franklin's corps, Meade's division, supported by Gibbon's, with Doubleday's in reserve. Meade soon silenced a Confederate battery, but very soon a terrible storm of shells and canister-shot, at near range, fell upon him. He pressed on, and three of the assailing batteries were withdrawn. Jackson's advance line, under A. P. Hill, was driven back, and 200 men made prisoners, with several battleflags as trophies. Meade still pressed on, when a fierce assault by Early compelled him to fall back. Gibbon, who came up, was repulsed, and the shattered forces fled in confusion; but the pursuers were checked by General Birney's division of Stoneman's corps.

The Nationals could not advance, for Stuart's cavalry, on Lee's right strongly menaced the Union left. Finally, Reynolds, with reinforcements, pushed back the Confederate right to the Massaponax, where the contest continued until dark. Meanwhile, Couch's corps had occupied the city, with Wilcox's between his and Franklin's. At noon Couch attacked the Confederate front with great vigor. Kimball's brigade, of French's division, led, Hancock's following. Longstreet was posted on Marye's Hill, just back of the town. Upon his troops the Nationals fell heavily, while missiles from the Confederate cannon made great lanes through their ranks. After a brief struggle, French was thrown back, shattered and broken, nearly one-half of his command disabled. Hancock advanced, and his brigades fought most vigorously. In fifteen minutes, Hancock, also, was driven back. Of 5,000 veterans whom he led into action, 2,013 had fallen.

Howard's division came to the aid of French and Hancock; so, also, did those of Sturgis and Getty. Finally, Hooker crossed the river with three divisions. He was so satisfied with the hopelessness of any further attacks upon the strong position of the Confederates, that he begged Burnside to desist. He would not yield. Hooker sent 4,000 men in the track of French, Hancock, and Howard, to attack with bayonets only. These were hurled back by terrific volleys of rifle-balls, leaving 1,700 of their number prostrate on the field. Night soon closed the awful conflict, when the Army of the Potomac had 15,000 less of effective men than it had the day before. Burnside, intent on achieving a victory, proposed to send his old corps, the 9th, against the fatal barrier (a stone wall) on Marye's Hill, but Sumner dissuaded him, and, on the 14th and 15th, his troops were withdrawn to the north side of the Rappahannock, with all his guns, taking up his pontoon bridges. Then the Confederates reoccupied Fredericksburg.

The Battle of Bull Run

(Battle of Second Manassas)

Bull Run, SECOND BATTLE OF: The second battle of Bull Run (or Manassas) was fought on Aug. 29-30, 1862. the fighting on the first day being sometimes called the battle of GROVETON. On the morning after the battle at Groveton, Pope's army was greatly reduced. It had failed to prevent the unity of Lee's army, and prudence dictated its immediate flight across Bull Run, and even to the defenses of Washington.

The Battle of Bull Run

But Pope determined to resume the battle the next morning. He had received no reinforcements or supplies since the 26th, and had no positive assurance that any would be sent. He confidently expected rations and forage from McClellan at Alexandria (a short distance away), who was to supply them; and it was not until the morning of the 30th ( August, 1862) , when it was too late to retreat and perilous to stand still, that he received information that rations and forage would be sent as soon as he (Pope) should send a cavalry escort for the train— a thing impossible. He had no alternative but to fight. Both commanders had made dispositions for attack in the morning. Lee's movements gave Pope the impression that the Confederates were retreating, and he ordered McDowell to pursue with a large force, Porter's forces to advance and attack then, and Heintzelman and Reno, supported by Ricketts's division, were ordered to assail and turn the Confederate left. This movement, when attempted, revealed a state of affairs fearful to the National army. The latter, as their advance moved forward, were opened upon by a fierce fire of cannon, shot, shell, and bullets, and at the same moment a large number of Lee's troops were making a flank movement that might imperil the whole of Pope's army. A very severe battle soon occurred. Porter's corps, which had recoiled at the unexpected blow, was rallied, and performed specially good service; and Jackson's advanced line was steadily pushed back until five o'clock in the afternoon, when Longstreet turned the tide of battle by pouring a destructive artillery fire upon the Nationals. Line after line was swept away, and very soon the whole left was put to flight. Jackson advanced, and Longstreet pushed his heavy columns against Pope's centre, while the Confederate artillery was doing fearful execution. The left of the Nationals, though pushed back, was unbroken, and held the Warrenton pike, by which alone Pope's army might safely retreat. Pope had now no alternative but to fall back towards the defenses at Washington. At eight o'clock in the evening he gave orders to that effect. This movement was made during the night, across Bull Run, to the heights of Centreville, the brigades of Meade and Seymour covering the retreat. The night was very dark, and Lee did not pursue; and in the morning (Aug. 31) Bull Run again divided the two great armies. So ended the second battle of Bull Run.

The Battle of Chancellorsville

Chancellorsville, BATTLE OF. in April, 1863, Hooker, in command of the Army of the Potomac, became impatient, and resolved to put it in motion towards Richmond, notwithstanding his ranks were not full. Cavalry under Stoneman were sent to destroy railways in Lee's rear, but were foiled by the high water in the streams.

THE RUINS OF CHANCELLORSVILLE

After a pause, Hooker determined to attempt to turn Lee's flank, and, for that purpose, sent 10,000 mounted men to raid in his rear. Then he moved 36,000 of the troops of his right wing across the Rappahannock, with orders to halt and intrench at Chancellorsville, between the Confederate army near Fredericksburg and Richmond. This movement was so masked by a demonstration on Lee's front by Hooker's left wing, under General Sedgwick, that the right was well advanced before Lee was aware of his peril. These troops reached Chancellorsville, in a region known as  "The Wilderness," on the evening of April 30, 1863, when Hooker expected to see Lee, conscious of danger, fly towards Richmond. He did no such thing, but proceeded to strike the National army a heavy blow, for the twofold purpose of seizing the communications between the two parts of that army and compelling its commander to fight at a disadvantage, with only a part of his troops in hand. Hooker had made his headquarters in the spacious brick house of Mr. Chancellor, and sent out Pleasonton's cavalry to reconnoiter. A part of these encountered the Confederate cavalry, under Stuart, and were defeated.

Lee had called " Stonewall " Jackson's large force to come up when he perceived Sedgwick's movements. Lee left General Early with 9.000 men and thirty cannon to hold his fortified position at Fredericksburg against Sedgwick, and, at a little past midnight (May 1, 1863), he put Jackson's column in motion towards Chancellorsville. It joined another force under General Anderson at eight o'clock in the morning, and he, in person, led the Confederates to attack the Nationals. Hooker had also disposed the latter in battle order. Aware of the peril of fighting with the Wilderness at his back, he had so disposed his army as to fight in the open country, with a communication open with the Rappahannock towards Fredericksburg. At eleven o'clock the divisions of Griffin and Humphreys, of Meade's corps, pushed out to the left, in the direction of Banks's Ford, while Sykes's division of the same corps, supported by Hancock's division, and forming the centre column, moved along a turnpike. Slocum's entire corps, with Howard's, and its batteries, massed in its rear, comprising the right column, marched along a plank road. The battle was begun about a mile in advance of the National works at Chancellorsville, by the van of the centre column and Confederate cavalry. Sykes brought up his entire column, with artillery, and, after a severe struggle with McLaws, he gained an advantageous position, at noon, on one of the ridges back of Fredericksburg. Banks's Ford, which Lee had strenuously sought to cover, was now virtually in possession of the Nationals, and the distance between Sedgwick, opposite Fredericksburg, and the army at Chancellorsville was shortened at least 12 miles.

Meanwhile, Slocum and Jackson had met and struggled fiercely on the plank road. Perceiving Jackson endeavoring to flank Slocum, and his strong column over-lapping Sykes's flank, Hooker, fearing his army might be beaten in detail before he could successfully resist the furious onslaught of Jackson, ordered its withdrawal behind his works at Chancellorsville, the Confederates following close in the rear of the retreating troops. So ended the movements of the day. Hooker's position was a strong one. The National line extended from the Rappahannock to the Wilderness church, 2 miles west of Chancellorsville. Meade's corps, with Couch's, formed his left; Slocum's, and a division of Sickles's, his centre, and Howard's his right, with Pleasonton's cavalry near. Lee's forces had the Virginia cavalry of Owen and Wickham on the right, and Stuart's and a part of Fitzhugh Lee's on the left. McLaws's forces occupied the bridge on the east of the Big Meadow Swamp, and Anderson's continued the line to the left of McLaws. Such was the general disposition of the opposing armies on the morning of May 2.

Lee was unwilling to risk a direct attack on Hooker, and Jackson advised a secret flank movement with his entire corps, so as to fall on Hooker's rear. Lee hesitated, but so much did he lean on Jackson as adviser and executor that he consented. With 25,000 men Jackson made the perilous movement, marching swiftly and steadily through the thick woods, with Stuart's cavalry between his forces and those of the Nationals. But the movement was early discovered; the Nationals, however, believing it to be a retreat of the Confederates towards Richmond. Sickles pushed forward Birney's division to reconnoiter, followed by two brigades of Howard's corps. Birney charged upon the passing column, and captured a Georgia regiment, 500 strong, but was checked by Confederate artillery. The Nationals now held the road over which Jackson was moving. Disposition was made to pursue the supposed fugitives, when Jackson made a quick and startling movement towards Chancellorsville, concealed by the thick woods, at six o'clock in the evening, suddenly burst forth from the thickets with his whole force, like an unexpected and terrible tornado, and fell with full force upon Howard's corps (the 11th), with tremendous yells, just as they were preparing for supper and repose. Devens's division, on the extreme right, received the first blow, and almost instantly the surprised troops, panic-stricken, fled to the rear, communicating their alarm to the other divisions of the corps. The Confederates captured men and guns and a commanding position, while the fugitives, in evident confusion, rushed towards Chancellorsville, upon the position of General Schurz, whose division had already retreated. The tide of affrighted men rolled back upon General Steinwehr.

While the divisions of Devens and Schurz were reforming, Steinwehr quickly changed front, threw his men behind some works, rallied some of Schurz's men, and checked the pursuit for a brief space. But the overwhelming number of the Confederates speedily captured the works. These disasters on the right were partially relieved by Hooker, who sent forward troops at the double-quick, under Generals Berry and French, and also a courier to apprise Sickles, who had pushed some distance beyond the National lines, of the disaster to the 11th Corps and his own peril. He was directed to fall back and attack Jackson's left flank. He was in a critical situation, but Pleasonton saved him by a quick and skilful movement, greatly assisting in checking the pursuit. This was done long enough for Pleasonton to bring his own horse-artillery and more than twenty of Sickles's guns to bear upon the Confederates, and to pour into their ranks a destructive storm of grape and canister shot. Generals Warren and Sickles soon came to Pleasonton's assistance, when there was a severe struggle for the possession of cannon. Meanwhile Lee was making a strong artillery attack upon Hooker's left and centre. Soon a great misfortune befell the Confederate commander, in the loss of " Stonewall " Jackson, the strong right arm of his power. Jackson had sent for Hill, and was anxious to follow up the advantage he had gained by extending his lines to the left and cutting off Hooker's communication with the United States Ford. While waiting for Hill, he pushed forward with his staff, on a personal reconnaissance, and, when returning, in the gloom of evening, his men, mistaking them for National cavalry, fired upon them and mortally wounded the great leader. No more fighting occurred in that part of the field. Birney's division drove back the Confederates at midnight, recovered some lost ground, and brought back some abandoned guns and caissons. During the night a new line of entrenchments was thrown up by the Nationals; but Hooker's forces were in a very perilous position on Sunday morning, May 3. When he heard of the movement of Jackson on Saturday morning, he had called from Sedgwick Reynolds's corps, 20,000 strong, and it arrived the same evening. Hooker's force was now 60,000 strong, and Lee's 40,000. The former ordered Sedgwick to cross the river and seize and hold Fredericksburg and the heights behind it, and then, pushing along the roads leading to Chancellorsville, crush every impediment and join the main army. Each army made disposition for a battle on Sunday morning. Stuart advanced to the attack with Lee's left wing, and when he came in sight of the Nationals he shouted, " Charge, and remember Jackson!" With thirty pieces of artillery presently in position on an elevation, his men made a desperate charge under cover of their fire, and were soon struggling with Sickles's corps and four other divisions. These were pushed back, and a fierce battle ensued, the tide of success ebbing and flowing for more than an hour. During this struggle Hooker had been prostrated, and Couch took command of the army. Almost the whole National army became engaged in the battle, at different points, excepting the troops under Meade and Reynolds. Couch fell back towards the Rappahannock, and, at noon, Hooker, having recovered, resumed chief command.

Lee's army was now united, but Hooker's was divided. Sedgwick had seriously menaced Lee's flank, but had not joined Hooker. After a hard conflict and the loss of 1,000 men, Sedgwick had captured the Confederate works on the heights back of Fredericksburg, and sent Early, their defender, flying southward with his shattered columns. Intelligence of these events made Lee extremely cautious. Sedgwick, leaving Gibbon in command at Fredericksburg, marched for Chancellorsville, when Lee was compelled to divide his army to meet this new peril. He sent McLaws with four brigades to meet Sedgwick. At Salem church they had a sanguinary conflict. The Confederates won, and the losses of Sedgwick, added to those sustained in the morning, amounted to about 5,000 men. Hooker, at the same time, seemed paralyzed in his new position, for his army appeared being beaten in detail. On the following morning, perceiving that Hooker's army had been much strengthened, Lee thought it necessary to drive Sedgwick across the Rappahannock before again attacking the main body. Early was sent to retake the Heights of Fredericksburg, and he cut Sedgwick off from the city. Early was reinforced by Anderson, by which Sedgwick was enclosed on three sides. At six o'clock in the evening the Confederates attacked him. His forces gave way and retreated to Banks's Ford, and before morning the remains of Sedgwick's corps had crossed the Rappahannock over pontoon bridges. Gibbon also withdrew from Fredericksburg to Falmouth that night, and, on Tuesday, Lee had only Hooker to contend with. He concentrated his forces to strike Hooker a crushing blow before night, but a heavy rain-storm prevented. Hooker prepared to retreat, and did so on the night of May 5 and morning of the 6th, crossing the Rappahannock and returning to the old quarters of the army opposite Fredericksburg. The losses of each army had been very heavy. That of the Confederates was reported at 12,277, including 2,000 prisoners. and that of the Nationals was 17,197, including about 5,000 prisoners. The latter also lost thirteen heavy guns. about 20,000 small-arms, seventeen colors, and a large amount of ammunition. The Union Generals Berry and Whipple were killed.

The Battle of Gettysburg

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Gettysburg, BATTLE OF. On the day when General Meade took command of the Army of the Potomac, June 28, 1863, Robert E. Lee was about to cross the Susquehanna at Harrisburg and march on Philadelphia. The militia of Pennsylvania, who had shown great apathy in responding to the call for help, now, when danger was at their door, turned out with considerable spirit; and Lee, observing this, and hearing that the augmented Army of the Potomac was in Maryland and threatening his rear and flanks, immediately

Gettysburg Battle Map

POSITION OF THE NORTHERN AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES, SUNSET, JUNE 30, 1863.

abandoned his scheme for further invasion, and ordered a retrograde movement. On the same day, confederate J. E. B. Stuart, with a large force of cavalry, crossed the Potomac, pushed on to Westminster, at the right of the Nationals, crossed over to Carlisle, encountering Kilpatrick and his cavalry, and followed Ewell in his march towards Gettysburg. Confederate General James Longstreet had been ordered to cross the South Mountain range, and press on through Gettysburg to Baltimore to keep Meade from cutting Lee's communications. Lee hoped to crush Meade, and then march in triumph on Baltimore and Washington; or, in case of failure, to secure a direct line of retreat into Virginia. Meanwhile Meade was pushing towards the Susquehanna with cautious movement, and on the evening of June 30 he discovered Lee's evident intention to give battle at once. On the day before, Kilpatrick and Custer's cavalry had defeated some of Stuart's a few miles from Gettysburg. Buford's cavalry entered Gettysburg; and on the 30th the left wing of Meade's army, led by General Reynolds, arrived near there. At the same time the corps of A. P. Hill and James Longstreet were approaching from Chambersburg, and Ewell was marching down from Carlisle in full force. On the morning of July 1 Buford, with 6,000 cavalry, met the van of Lee's army, led by General Heth, between Seminary Ridge (a little way from Gettysburg) and a parallel ridge a little farther west, when a sharp skirmish ensued. Reynolds, who had bivouacked at Marsh Creek, a few miles distant, was then advancing with his own corps, followed by Howard's, having those of Sickles and Slocum within call. The sound of firearms quickened his pace, and he marched rapidly to the relief of Buford, who was holding the Confederates in check. While Reynolds was placing some of his troops on the Chambersburg road, the Confederates made an attack, when a volley of musketry from the 56th Pennsylvania led by Col. J. W. Hoffman, opened the decisive battle of Gettysburg. Meredith's " Iron Brigade" then charged into a wood in the rear of the Seminary, to fall upon Hill's right, under General Archer. The Nationals were pushed back, but other troops, under the personal direction of Reynolds, struck Archer's flank, and captured that officer and 800 of his men. At the moment when this charge was made, the bullet of a Mississippi sharp-shooter pierced Reynolds's neck, when he fell forward and expired. General Doubleday had just arrived, and took Reynolds's place, leaving his own division in charge of General Rowley. Very soon the Mississippi brigade, under General Davis, was captured, and at noon the whole of the 1st Corps, under General Doubleday, was well posted on Seminary Ridge, and the remainder of Hill's corps was rapidly approaching.

Howard's corps, animated by the sounds of battle on its front, pressed rapidly forward, and reached the field of strife at a little past noon. He left Steinwehr's brigade on Cemetery Hill, placed General Schurz in temporary charge of the corps, and, ranking Doubleday, took the chief command of all the troops in action. The Confederate numbers were continually augmented, and, to meet an expected attack from the north and west, Howard was compelled to extend the National lines, then quite thin, about 3 miles, with Culp's Hill on the right, Round Top on the left, and Cemetery Hill in the centre, forming the apex of a redan. At about three o'clock in the afternoon there was a general advance of the Confederates, and a terrible battle ensued, with heavy losses on both sides. The Nationals were defeated. They had anxiously looked for reinforcements from the scattered corps of the Army of the Potomac. These speedily came, but not until the preliminary engagement in the great battle of Gettysburg was ended. General Meade was at Taneytown, 13 miles distant, when he heard of the death of Reynolds, and he ordered General Hancock, Howard's junior, to leave his corps with Gibbons and take the chief command at Gettysburg. He arrived just as the beaten forces were hurrying towards Cemetery Hill. He reported to Meade that he was satisfied with Howard's disposition of the troops. The latter had called early upon Slocum and Sickles, and both promptly responded. Sickles joined the left of the troops on Cemetery Hill that night. Hancock had gone back; and, meeting his own corps, posted it a mile and a half in the rear of Cemetery Hill. Meade had now given orders for the concentration of his whole army at Gettysburg, and he aroused them at one o'clock in the morning of July 2, when only the corps of Sykes and Sedgwick were absent. Robert E. Lee, too, had been bringing forward his troops as rapidly as possible, making his headquarters on Seminary Ridge. On the morning of the 2nd a greater portion of the two armies confronted each other. Both commanders seemed averse to taking the initiative of battle. The Nationals had the advantage of position, their lines projecting in wedge-form towards the Confederate centre, with steep rocky acclivities along their front. It was late in the afternoon before a decided movement was made. Sickles, on the left, between Cemetery Hill and Round Top, expecting an attack, had advanced his corps well towards the heaviest columns of the Confederates. Then Lee attacked him with Longstreet's corps. There was first a severe struggle for the possession of the rocky eminence on Meade's extreme left, where Birney was stationed. The Nationals won. Meanwhile there was a fierce contest near the centre, between Little Round Top and Cemetery Hill.

While yet there was strife for the former, General Crawford, with six regiments of Pennsylvania reserves, swept down its northwestern side with tremendous shouts, and drove the Confederates through the woods to the Emmettsburg road, making 300 of them prisoners. Generals Humphreys and Graham were then in an advanced position, the former with his right on the Emmettsburg road, when Hill, advancing in heavy force from Seminary Ridge, fell upon him and pushed him back, with a loss of half his men and three guns. In this onset Sickles lost a leg, and Birney took command of the corps. Elated by this success, the Confederates pushed up to the base of Cemetery Hill and its southern slope, throwing themselves recklessly upon supposed weak points. In this contest Meade led troops in person. Finally Hancock, just at sunset, directed a general charge, chiefly by fresh troops under Doubleday, who had hastened to his assistance from the rear of Cemetery Hill. These, with Humphreys's shattered regiments, drove the Confederates back and recaptured four guns. The battle ended on the left centre at twilight. Then the battle was renewed on the National right, where General Slocum was in chief command. Ewell had attacked him with a part of his corps at the time Longstreet assailed the left. The assault was vigorous. Up the northern slopes of Cemetery Hill the Confederates pressed in the face of a murderous fire of canister and shrapnel to the muzzles of the guns. Another part of Ewell's corps attempted to turn the National right by attacking its weakened part on Culp's Hill. The Confederates were repulsed at the right centre; and, after a severe battle on the extreme right of the Nationals, the Confederates there were firmly held in check. So ended, at about ten o'clock at night, the second day's battle at Gettysburg, when nearly 40,000 men of the two armies, who were " effective " thirty-six hours before, were dead or wounded. The advantage seemed to be with the Confederates, for they held the ground in advance of Gettysburg which the Nationals had held the previous day. During the night Meade made provision for expelling the Confederate intrusion on the National right by placing a heavy artillery force in that direction.

Under cover of these guns a strong force made an attack, and for four hours Geary's division kept up a desperate struggle. Then the Confederates fell back, and the right was made secure. Now Ewell was repulsed on the right, and Round Top, on the left, was impregnable; so Lee determined to strike Meade's centre with a force that should crush it. At noon (July 3) he had 145 cannon in battery along the line occupied by Longstreet and A. P. Hill. All night General Hunt, of the Nationals, had been arranging the artillery from Cemetery Hill to Little Round Top, where the expected blow would fall. Lee determined to aim his chief blow at Hancock's position on Cemetery Hill. At 1 o'clock P.M. 115 of his cannon opened a rapid concentrated fire on the devoted point. Four-score National guns replied, and for two hours more than 200 cannon shook the surrounding country with their detonations. Then the Confederate infantry, in a line 3 miles in length, preceded by a host of skirmishers, flowed swiftly over the undulating plain. Behind these was a heavy reserve. Confederate General George Pickett, with his Virginians, led the van, well supported, in a charge upon Cemetery Hill. In all, his troops were about 15,000 strong. The cannon had now almost ceased thundering, and were succeeded by the awful roll of musketry. Shot and shell from Hancock's batteries now made fearful lanes through the oncoming Confederate ranks. Hancock was wounded, and Gibbons was placed in command. Pickett pressed onward, when the divisions of Hayes and Gibbons opened an appalling and continuous fire upon them. The Confederates gave way, and 2,000 men were made prisoners, and fifteen battleflags became trophies of victory for Hayes. Still Pickett moved on, scaled Cemetery Hill, burst through Hancock's line, drove back a portion of General Webb's brigade, and planted the Confederate flag on a stonewall. But Pickett could go no farther. Then Stannard's Vermont brigade of Doubleday's division opened such a destructive fire on Pickett's troops that they gave way. Very soon 2,500 of them were made prisoners, and with them twelve battleflags, and three-fourths of his gallant men were dead or captives. Wilcox supported Pickett, and met a similar fate at the hands of the Vermonters. Meanwhile Crawford had advanced upon the Confederate right from near Little Round Top. The Confederates fled; and in this sortie the whole ground lost by Sickles was recovered, with 260 men captives, 7,000 small-arms, a cannon, and wounded Unionists, who had lain nearly twenty-four hours uncared for. Thus, at near sunset, July 3, 1863, ended the battle of Gettysburg. During that night and all the next day Lee's army on Seminary Ridge prepared for flight back to Virginia. His invasion was a failure; and on Sunday morning, July 5, his whole army was moving towards the Potomac.

This battle, in its far reaching effects, was the most important of the war. The National loss in men, from the morning of the 1st until the evening of the 3d of July, was reported by Meade to be 23,186, of whom 2,834 were killed, 13,709 wounded, and 6,643 missing. Lee's loss was probably about 30,000. The battleground is now the National Soldiers' Cemetery, nearly all of the Confederate dead having been removed to Southern cemeteries. The battlefield is now studded with State and regimental monuments marking the most important spots in the three days' battle. Near the centre of the battlefield stands a national monument of gray granite, erected at a cost of $50,000, and also a bronze statue of General Reynolds.

Almost immediately after the battle the government determined to acquire and set apart the battlefield for a National Soldiers' Cemetery. On Nov. 19, 1863, the field, which then contained the graves of 3,580 Union soldiers, was dedicated by President Lincoln, who delivered the following memorable speech:

The Battle in the Wilderness

Wilderness, BATTLE OF THE. At midnight on May 3, 1864, the Army of the Potomac, fully 100,000 strong, fresh and hopeful, and with an immense army train, began its march towards Richmond. The right was composed of the corps of Warren and Sedgwick, and the left of that of Hancock. Warren's cavalry, preceded by that of Wilson, crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford on the morning of the 4th, followed by Sedgwick. The left, preceded by Gregg's cavalry, and followed by the entire army train of wagons, 4,000 in number, crossed at Ely's Ford at the same time. Burnside's 9th Corps, left behind in anticipation of a possible move of Robert E. Lee on Washington, crossed the Rapidan and joined the army on the 5th, when the whole force had pushed on into the region

known as "The Wilderness," beyond Chancellorsville, and well on the right flank of the Confederate army lying behind strong entrenchments on Mine Run. The whole force of the National army was now about 130,000 men, of whom a little more than 100,000 were available for battle. When Lee discovered this movement he pushed forward nearly his whole army to strike the flanks of the Nationals on their march. This movement failed. On the 5th, Warren, who was followed by Sedgwick, sent the divisions of Griffin and Crawford to make observations. The former was struck by General Richard Ewell's corps, and the latter by General A. P. Hill's a little later.

The march was suspended. Crawford was withdrawn, and Griffin, reinforced by Wadsworth's division, with Robinson's in support, soon defeated the advance of  confederate general Richard Ewell; but, being continually reinforced, the Confederates soon defeated the Nationals. It was now past noon. Grant was satisfied that Robert E. Lee's troops were near in full force. The country was so covered with shrub oaks, bushes, and tangled vines that no observations could be made at any great distance. Grant ordered up Sedgwick's corps to the support of Warren; while Hancock, who was nearly 10 miles away, on the road to the left, marched back to join Warren. Getty's division of Sedgwick's corps was posted at the junction of two roads, with orders to hold the position at all hazards until the arrival of Hancock. The fighting, where it was begun in the morning, continued fierce until 4 P.M., when both armies fell back and entrenched within 200 yards of each other. Getty held his ground against severe pressure by  A. P. Hill until Hancock's advance reached him at three o'clock.

He then made an aggressive movement, and fighting was kept up until dark, with heavy losses on both sides. Burnside's corps was brought up in the night and placed between Hancock and Warren.

Meanwhile General Robert E. Lee brought up General James Longstreet's corps to the support of A. P. Hill. And now each party in the contest was strengthened by an addition of 20,000 men. Just before 5 A.M. Ewell attacked the National right, and was repulsed. A very little later Hancock advanced his force against the Confederate right; while Wadsworth, who had prepared to strike Hill's left the night before, assailed him heavily. The Confederates were driven back a mile and a half, passing Lee's headquarters in the retreat. The flight was checked by James Longstreet's advancing column. Hancock, expecting to be assailed by Longstreet, had attacked with only half his force. The latter's advance having been checked, he resumed his flank movement; but at that moment he was wounded and carried from the field, and his command devolved on Gen. R. H. Anderson. In the afternoon Robert E. Lee projected the entire corps of Longstreet and Hill against Hancock, who had been reinforced and was strongly defended by breastworks. He stood firm until about four o'clock, when a fire in the woods attacked the brush and pine logs of his breastworks. The wind blew the heat and smoke in the faces of his troops and drove them from their defenses, when the Confederates dashed forward and penetrated their lines.

But they were almost instantly repulsed, and Lee was compelled to abandon what he intended as a decisive assault. Night came on, and after dark Lee threw Ewell's corps forward against Sedgwick. There was some hard fighting and much confusion. Confederate General Richard Ewell captured the most of two brigades, and then fell back. So ended the battle in the Wilderness, without decisive results on either side, and with a mutually heavy loss. In the two days the Nationals lost about 18,000 men, of whom 6,000 were made prisoners. Generals Hays, Wadsworth, and Webb were killed.  Longstreet's wounds disabled him for several months. The Wilderness is a wild plateau, covered with a dense growth of dwarf trees and vines and brambles, and sloping every way to cultivated fields. It is along the south bank of the Rapidan River, about 10 miles in width and 15 in length.

General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the Sea

Sherman's March to the Sea. General Grant arranged two campaigns for the year 1864. One, under his own immediate direction, was for the seizure of Richmond, the Confederate capital; the other was for the seizure of Atlanta, Ga., the focus of several converging railways. The latter expedition was led by General Sherman. His army numbered nearly 100,000 men, comprising the Army of the Cumberland, led by Gen. George H. Thomas; the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Gen. J. R. McPherson: and the Army of the Ohio, led by Gen. J. M. Schofield.

SHERMAN AND HIS GENERALS

When, on May 6, 1864, Sherman began to move southward from the vicinity of Chattanooga, his army was confronted by a Confederate force of 55,000 men, led by confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, and arranged in three corps, commanded respectively by Generals Hardee, John Hood, and Polk. This army then lay at Dalton, at the parting of the ways —one leading into east Tennessee and the other into west Tennessee.

To strike that position in front was, at least, perilous; so Sherman began a series of successful flanking movements. When he flanked the Confederates at Dalton, they fell back to Resaca Station, on the Oostenaula River, on the line of the railway between Chattanooga and Atlanta. There a sharp battle was fought on May 15. Joseph Johnston took his next position at Allatoona Pass, and Sherman massed his troops at Dallas, westward of that post, where a severe battle was fought May 25. Johnston finally pressed on to Marietta and Atlanta, where, towards the middle of July, he was succeeded by Hood.

SHERMAN'S TROOPS BURNING A RAILROAD STATION.

Atlanta was captured by Sherman, who entered it Sept. 2, 1864. Late in October Sherman prepared for a march through Georgia from Atlanta to Savannah. See Burning of ATLANTA.

When he resolved to march through the heart of Georgia from Atlanta to the sea, he delegated to General Thomas full power over all the troops under his (Sherman's) command excepting four corps. He also gave him command of two divisions of A. J. Smith's, then re-turning from the expulsion of Price from Missouri, also of the garrisons in Tennessee, and all the cavalry of the military division excepting a division under Kilpatrick, which he reserved for operations in Georgia. General Wilson had just arrived from Petersburg to take command of the cavalry of the army. He was sent to Nashville to gather up all the Union cavalry in Kentucky and Tennessee, and report to Thomas. It was believed that Thomas now had strength sufficient to keep General John Bell Hood out of Tennessee, whose force then was about 35,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry. When, on Nov. 1, Hood was laying a pontoon bridge over the Tennessee at Florence for the invasion of Tennessee, Sherman, who had pursued him, turned his forces towards Atlanta, his troops destroying all the mills and foundries at Rome, and dismantling the railway from the Etowah River to the Chattahoochee. The railways around Atlanta were destroyed, and on Nov. 14 the forces destined for the great march were concentrated around the doomed city.

Those forces were composed of four army corps, the right wing commanded by Gen. O. O. Howard, and the left wing by Gen. H. W. Slocum. Howard's right was composed of the corps of Generals Osterhaus and Blair, and the left of the corps of Gen. J. C. Davis and A. S. Williams. General Kilpatrick commanded the cavalry, consisting of one division.

Sherman's entire force numbered 60,000 infantry and artillery and 5,500 cavalry. On Nov. 11 Sherman cut the telegraph wires that connected Atlanta with Washington, and his army became an isolated column in the heart of an enemy's country. It began its march for the sea on the morning of the 14th, when the entire city of Atlanta—excepting its courthouse, churches, and dwellings—was committed to the flames.

GENERAL SHERMAN MOVING OUT OF ATLANTA.

The buildings in the heart of the city, covering 200 acres of ground, formed a great conflagration; and, while the fire was raging, the bands played, and the soldiers chanted the stirring air and words, " John Brown's soul goes marching on!"

For thirty-six days that army moved through Georgia, with very little opposition, pillaging the countryside. It was a sort of military promenade, requiring very little military skill in the performance, and as little personal prowess, as well trained union troops were deployed against defenseless citizens. It was grand in conception, and easily executed. Yet on that march there were many deeds that tested the prowess and daring of the soldiers on both sides. Kilpatrick's first dash across the Flint River and against General Joseph Wheeler's cavalry, and then towards Macon, burning a train of cars and tearing up the railway, gave the Confederates a suspicion of Sherman's intentions. There was widespread consternation in Georgia and South Carolina, for the invader's destination was uncertain.

Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard was sent from the Appomattox to the Savannah to confront the Nationals. He sent before him a manifesto in which he said, "Destroy all the roads in Sherman's front, flank, and rear," and, "be trustful in Providence." Benjamin H. Hill, of Georgia., in the Confederate Congress at Richmond wrote to the people of his State: " Every citizen with his gun and every negro with his spade and axe can do the work of a soldier. You can destroy the enemy by retarding his march. Be firm!" The representatives of Georgia in the Confederate Congress called upon their people to fly to arms.

MAP SHOWING SHERMAN'S MARCH TO SEA

"Remove your negroes, horses, cattle, and provisions from Sherman's army," they said, " and burn what you cannot carry away. Burn all bridges and block up the roads in his route. Assail the invader in front. flank, and rear, by night and by day. Let him have no rest." And Governor Brown, before he fled from Milledgeville on the approach of the Nationals, issued a proclamation ordering a levy en masse of the whole white population of the State between the ages of sixteen and forty-five, and offering pardon to prisoners in the penitentiary if they would volunteer and prove themselves good soldiers. But the people did none of these things, and only about 100 convicts accepted the offer.

All confidence in President Davis and the Confederate government had disappeared in Georgia, and a great portion of the people were satisfied that it was, as they expressed it, " the rich man's war, and the poor man's fight," and would no longer lend themselves to the authorities at Richmond. The National army moved steadily forward. At Griswoldsville there was a sharp engagement (Nov. 22, 1864) with a portion of Hardee's troops sent up from Savannah, and several brigades of militia. The Confederates were repulsed with a loss of 2,500 men. Howard could have taken Macon after this blow upon its defenders, but such was not a part of Sherman's plan. The Nationals were attacked at the Oconee River while laying a pontoon bridge, but the assailants, largely composed of Wheeler's cavalry, were defeated. 

Kilpatrick made a feint towards Augusta to mislead the Confederates as to Sherman's destination, also to cover the passage of the army over the Ogeechee River, and, if possible, to release Union captives in the prison pen at Millen. Kilpatrick and Wheeler had several skirmishes, but no severe battles. On Nov. 30, Sherman's whole army, excepting one corps, had passed the Ogeechee. This was a most skilful maneuver; and then, having destroyed the principal railways in Georgia over long distances, Sherman was prepared to make a final conquest of the State.

Moving on seaward, the division of Hazen had a severe skirmish (Dec. 4, 1864) at Statesburg, south of the Ogeechee. The Confederates were dispersed. On the same day Kilpatrick fought Wheeler on the railway between Millen and Augusta, drove him from his barricades through Waynesboro, and pushed him 8 miles, while a supporting column of Union infantry under Baird were tearing up the railway and destroying bridges.

When Sherman reached Millen, the Union prisoners had been removed; and he pushed on, amid swamps and sands, with the city of Savannah, where Hardee was in command, as his chief object. Kilpatrick and Baird covered the rear of the wing columns between the Ogeechee and Savannah rivers. There was some skirmishing, but no Confederates in force were seen until within 15 miles of Savannah. All the roads leading into that city were obstructed by felled trees, earthworks, and artillery. These were turned, and by Dec. 10, 1864 the Confederates were all driven within their lines, and Savannah was completely beleaguered; but the only approaches to it were by five narrow causeways. They had broken communications, so that no supplies could be received in Savannah. Sherman sought to make the Ogeechee an avenue of supply, oceanward, for his army, and to communicate with the Union fleet outside. The latter was soon effected. Fort McAllister, near the mouth of the Ogeechee, was in the way, and, on the 13th, Slocum ordered General Hazen to carry it by assault. It was a strong, enclosed redoubt, garrisoned by 200 men. It was carried, and this was the brilliant ending of the march from Atlanta to the sea.

It opened to Sherman's army a new base of supplies. Sherman communicated with the officers of the fleet, and, on Dec. 17, he summoned Hardee to surrender. Hardee refused. Perceiving the arrangements made to cut off his retreat to Charleston, Hardee secretly withdrew on the dark and stormy night of Dec. 20, 1864, and, with 15,000 men, escaped to that city. The National army took possession of Savannah on Dec. 22. 1864.

ATTACK ON FORT McALLISTER.

On the 26th Sherman wrote to President Lincoln: " I beg to present to you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton." On his march Sherman had lived generously off the country, helping himself to the private property of Southern familes. He appropriated to the use of the army 13,000 beeves, 160,000 bushels of corn, more than 5,000 tons of fodder, besides a large number of sheep, swine, fowls, and quantities of potatoes and rice. He forced into the service 5,000 horses and 4,000 mules. He captured 1,328 prisoners and 167 guns, and destroyed 20,000 bales of cotton. Fully 10,000 negroes followed the flag to Savannah, and many thousands more, chiefly women and children, were turned back at the crossings of rivers.

Sherman appointed Jan. 15, 1865, as the day for beginning his march northward from Savannah. The 17th Corps was sent by water to a point on the Charleston and Savannah Railway, where it seriously menaced Charleston. The left wing, under Slocum, accompanied by Kilpatrick's cavalry, was to have crossed the Savannah on a pontoon bridge at that city; but incessant rains had so flooded the swamps and raised the streams that the army was compelled to cross higher up, and did not effect the passage until the first week in February. Savannah and its dependencies were transferred to General Foster, then in command of the Department of the South, with instructions to cooperate with Sherman's inland movements by occupying, in succession, Charleston and other places. Sherman notified General Grant that it was his intention, after leaving Savannah, "to undertake, at one stride, to make Goldsboro an open communication with the sea by the Newbern Railway. Feints of attacks on Charleston kept Hardee from interfering with Sherman's inland march.

Wheeler had been putting obstructions in his pathway to Columbia; but the movements of the Nationals were so mysterious that it distracted the Confederates, who could not determine whether Sherman's objective was Charleston or Augusta. His invasion produced widespread alarm. Sherman's army steadily advanced in the face of every obstacle. They drove the Confederates from their position at Orangeburg and began destroying the railway there.

HEADQUARTERS OF GENERAL SHERMAN IN SAVANNAH.

On Feb. 18 they began a march directly to Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, driving the Confederates before them wherever they appeared. Sherman's march was so rapid that troops for the defense of the capital could not be gathered in time. He was in front of Columbia before any adequate force for its defence appeared. Beauregard was in command there, and had promised much, but did little. On Feb. 17 the Nationals entered Columbia; and on the same day Charleston, flanked, was evacuated by Hardee. The rear guard of the Confederates, under Wade Hampton, on retiring, set fire to cotton in the streets; and the high wind sent the burning fiber into the air, setting fire to the dwellings, and in the course of a few hours that beautiful city was in ruins. Sherman, after destroying the arsenal at Columbia, left the ruined city and pressed on with his forces to Fayetteville, N. C., his cavalry, under Kilpatrick, fighting the Confederate cavalry led by Wheeler many times on the way. He left a black path of desolation through the Carolinas 40 miles in width. Arriving at Fayetteville, Sherman opened communications with the National troops at Wilmington.

General Sherman was promoted major general, United States army, in August, 1864, and lieutenant - general in July, 1866. On March 4, 1869, he succeeded General Grant as general-in-chief of the armies of the United States. He was retired on his own request, Feb. 8, 1884, on full pay. He died in New York City, Feb. 14. 1891.