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31, Strenuous efforts
throughout the revolted states had now increased and were still
increasing the rebel army, while McClellan's effective
force had become considerably 
diminished
by the necessity of keeping open his communications, by sickness,
continual skirmishing, and the battles since leaving Yorktown. His
great reliance was on being reënforced by
McDowell,1 from Fredericksburg, and in preparation for
this junction he had sent forward a column under General Fitz-John
Porter,2 who routed a body of the enemy at Hanover
Court House, May 27.
32. But the Confederate
general, before the battle of Fair Oaks, had taken steps to
prevent the junction of McDowell with McClellan. Stonewall
Jackson, in the Shenandoah Valley,3 had been
reënforced to twenty thousand men, and ordered to attack
Banks, -- then at Strasburg, with a command reduced to less than
six thousand men, -- threaten Washington, and oblige McDowell to
turn his attention northward. This plan Jackson carried out with
consummate skill, and his campaign may be considered the most
brilliant and successful thus far of the War. Having compelled
Banks to retreat across the Potomac, the rebel leader so skilfully
manaeuvred (sic) his force that he completely neutralized the
three armies of Frémont, Banks, and McDowell, together
amounting to more than sixty thousand men.
33. Jackson, with
the design of getting in Banks's rear, and cutting off his
retreat, first fell upon and overwhelmed a small force at Front
Royal, May 23. But Banks, too quick for his nimble foe,
immediately began a masterly retreat down the Valley. he
marched fifty-three miles in two days, continually skirmishing
with his pursuers. At Winchester he turned upon and
confronted them in a conflict of several hours, and then resumed
the retreat. He finally reached the Potomac, opposite
Williamsport, where, by noon of the 26th, his wearied army had
crossed, having lost less than a thousand men, and but a few
wagons of an immense train.
34. The retreat of Banks
created great alarm throughout the loyal states. Washington
was thought to be in danger; and McDowell was drawn away from
reënforcing McClellan.
1 See p. 266, ¶ 28. 2 See p. 270, ¶ 37. 3 See p. 266, ¶ 27.
QUESTIONS. -- 31. What is said of the numbers in the rebel army? How was McClellan's effective force diminished? Upon what did he rely? What is said of the action at Hanover Court House? 32. What had the Confederate general already taken steps to prevent? Give an account of Stonewall Jackson's brilliant campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. 33. What was Jackson's first movement, and with what design? What can you tell of Banks's retreat down the valley? 34. What was the result of Banks's retreat?
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Jackson, having given his wearied army
but a single day's rest, began a rapid retreat, and, though hotly
pursued by the Federals, now concentrating upon him, escaped with
his prisoners and booty to join Lee before Richmond.
Frémont from the
west, and Shields1 (now under McDowell) from the east,
set out to intercept Jackson at Strasburg; but he slipped between
them, and hurried on up the valley, closely followed and harassed
by a superior force. Banks, too, joined in the pursuit. At
Cross Keys, June 8, the Confederate chief turned upon
Frémont's army, and held it in check while he crossed the
Shenandoah and burned the bridge. The next day he defeated the
advance of Shields, at Port Republic. The pursuit of
Jackson was then given over.
35. It was nearly a month
after the battle of Fair Oaks before McClellan was ready to
advance upon Richmond. But on the very day fixed upon for this
movement, Lee, now joined by Jackson, attacked the Union troops on
the north side of the Chickahominy, threatened their
communications with White House, and determined McClellan to make
a change of base, and transfer his army to the banks of the
James.
This change of position offered several
advantages to the Union commander. It would remove his army
from life unhealthy swamps of the Chickahominy, bring him near his
base of supplies, give him the protection of the Federal gunboats,
and secure for him a safe line of retreat in case of defeat.
McClellan had been taught the possible necessity of this change by
a raid made by the Confederate General Stuart,2 about
the middle of June. Stuart, starting north from Richmond, with
fifteen hundred cavalry, passed entirely round the Union army,
having destroyed some of the Federal stores near White House and
taken a number of prisoners, with the loss of but a single
man.
36. McClellan's movements
were attended by a succession of terrible battles, which continued
through seven days, known as the Seven Days before
Richmond, and which culminated, July 1, in the disastrous
repulse of the Confederates at Malvern Hill. These battles
cost the Union army more than fifteen thousand men, and the
Confederates more than nineteen thousand. The contending forces
numbered about one hundred thousand effective men on each side.
McClellan took position at Harrison's Landing; Lee led his army
back to Richmond.
1 See p. 266, ¶ 27. 2 See p. 292, ¶ 13.
QUESTIONS. -- What did Jackson now do? Give a more particular account of Jackson's retreat up the valley. 35. When was McClellan ready to advance upon Richmond? Why did he change his plans, and what change of base did he determine upon? -- What were the advantages of this change of position? How had McClellan been taught the possible necessity of this change? 36. What can you tell of the Seven Days before Richmond?
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37. The
movements before Richmond were began by General
Hooker,1 who, June 25, advancing his line in front of
Fair Oaks, met with a stubborn resistance from the enemy. An
action,
known as the battle of Oak Grove, ensued.2 The
next day the Confederates attacked General McCall's division,
north of the Chickahominy, near Mechanicsville, and were
repulsed with heavy loss.3 During the night, however,
the Union troops were 
withdrawn
from this position to Gaines's Mill, where, June 27,
General Porter,4 with thirty-five thousand men, made a
stand against nearly twice his number,5 while his
trains were transferred across the Chickahominy, on their way to
the James, a change of base having now been decided upon.
Meanwhile General Magruder, with another part of the Confederate
army, held the Union troops south of the river from properly
supporting Porter. The latter maintained the unequal struggle till
night, when he crossed the river and joined the main army. During
the next day the rebels remained in doubt as to McClellan's
purposes, and thus gave him a day's start of them, which he
improved by moving the principal part of his army across White Oak
Swamp.
38. On the morning
of the 29th, the intention of the Union commander having become
known, Lee began to cross the river in pursuit. Magruder attacked
the rear guard under Sumner, at Savage's Station. Sumner
maintained his ground till dark, when he, too, withdrew across the
swamp, having secured a safe passage to the Union artillery and
trains. The Confederate pursuit was in two columns: one, led by
Jackson, followed in the track of the national troops; the other,
under Longstreet,6 passed around to the south of the
swamp, in order to attack them on the flank. But General
Franklin,7 confronting Jackson on the 30th, held him
back at White Oak Swamp, while, at no great distance, Generals
McCall, Sumner, Hooker, and Kearny 8 stubbornly beat
back the impetuous charges of Longstreet, at Charles City Cross
Roads.9 During the night, the troops
1 See p. 213, note 1; p. 217, note 2; p. 253, note 3. and p. 277. ¶¶ 55,56.
2 This action also called the battle of King's School-House.
3 This action is also Palled the battle of Beaver Dam Creek. 4 See p. 268, ¶ 31.
5 This action is also called the battle of Cold Harbor.
6 See p. 217, ¶ 2, and p. 278. ¶ 57.
7 see p. 213, note 1, and p. 281, ¶ 68. 8 See p. 217, note 2, and p. 272, ¶ 42.
9 This action is called variously Glendale, White Oak Swamp, Frazier's Farm.
QUESTIONS. -- 37. When and by whom were the movements before Richmond begun? In what action did they result? What can you tell of the battle at Mechanicsville? Of the battle at Gaines's mill? How were the Union troops south of the river kept from supporting Porter? 18. What can you tell of the Federal retreat and the attack upon the rear guard at Savage's Station? Of the Confederate pursuit and the action at Charles City Cross-Roads?
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that had held Jackson and Longstreet in check joined the rest
of the army at Malvern Hill. The rebels charged upon this
strong position, July 1, but were mowed down by artillery, and
fearfully repulsed. At a heavy cost, Lee had raised the siege of
the rebel capital.
39. During these operations near
Richmond, the armies under Frémont,1
Banks,1 and McDowell1 were consolidated
(June 27) as the Army of Virginia, and placed under General
Pope.2 Upon this Frémont resigned, and was
succeeded by Sigel.3 in the latter part of July
General Halleck4 arrived in Washington to take
the position of general-in-chief of the armies of the
Union.
40. Lee next turned his attention to the Army
of Virginia, which was threatening Richmond from the north. A
campaign ensued, and continued through the month of August, in
which, after several sanguinary actions, beginning with one at
Cedar Mountain, and ending with a series of battles fought
near the old battle-ground of Bull Run, the Union army was
outnumbered, and driven to the intrenchments opposite Washington.
In this campaign Pope was aided by troops recalled from the
Carolinas and West Virginia. McClellan also brought up his army
from the James, but too late effectually to stem the tide of
disaster. The loss on each side was severe.
41. Lee began his operations
against Pope by sending forward a strong column under Jackson, who
met the Union advance, commanded by, General Banks, near Cedar
Mountain, August 9. A severe action followed, in which
Jackson, though more than doubly outnumbering his antagonist,
failed to gain any decisive advantage. Pope now moved his whole
command to the Rapidan. The Confederates fell back across that
river to await the approach of Lee, who was urging forward his
main army to overwhelm Pope before he could be reënforced.
Perceiving his danger the Union general withdrew to the north bank
of the Rappahannock, where he successfully resisted every
attempt of the Confederate army to cross till the 24th. Meanwhile
General Stuart, with rebel cavalry, made a dash upon Catlett's
Station, thirteen miles in Pope's rear, and seized prisoners,
horses, and the baggage of General Pope and his
staff.
1 See p. 266, ¶ 28. 2 See p. 259, ¶ 18.
3 See p. 258, ¶ 15. 4 See p. 256, ¶¶ 9, 10.
5 "Probably the entire rebel loss from Cedar Mountain to Chantilly did not fall short of fifteen thousand men; while Pope's, if we include stragglers who never rejoined their regiments, must have been fully double that number." -- Greeley's American Conflict.
QUESTIONS. -- What of the final repulse of the pursuers at Malvern Hill? 39. How was the army of Virginia formed and under whom placed? Who was appointed general-in-chief of the armies of the Union? 40. To what did Lee next turn his attention? What can you tell of the campaign that ensued? 41. How did Lee begin his operations against Pope? What can you tell of the battle near Cedar Mountain? Why was Lee urging forward his main army? Where did Pope make a stand? What is said of Stuart's dash upon Catletts Station?
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42. On the 26th,
Jackson, having crossed the river at a point farther up than the
Union army
could guard, made his way through Thoroughfare Gap, and severed
Pope's railroad communications with Washington.
The Federal commander immediately fell
back from the Rappahannock. On the 27th, General Hooker's division
engaged the Confederate troops, under General Ewell, near
Kettle Run,1 and drove them from the field. Then
followed heavy battles on the plains of Manassas. At
Groveton, August 29, a battle was begun, which was renewed
the next day on the field of Bull Run,2 when Pope was
again forced to fall back. Two days later occurred the last battle
of this campaign, at Chantilly, in which among the Federal
killed were the able Generals Stevens and Kearny.3 The
Union troops now sought the defences of Washington. For two weeks
they had been marching and fighting almost incessantly, and were
worn down with fatigue and hunger.
43. Pope Soon after, at his own request,
was relieved from command, and his exhausted army, united with
what was left of the Army of the Potomac, was placed under the
command of McClellan, for the defence of Washington.
Flushed with success, Lee now pushed north, crossed the Potomac
near Point of Rocks, for the invasion of Maryland, and
entered Frederick. McClellan started at once to meet him, so
marching as to protect both Washington and Baltimore. On the 14th
of September his advance overtook the rear of the Confederates,
already on their way to the Cumberland Valley, at South
Mountain, and drove them across the mountain, after a battle
which lasted the whole day.
44. The next day Harper's Ferry,
with a garrison of near twelve thousand men, shamefully
surrendered to a detachment under General Jackson, after but a
feeble resistance. The Federal cavalry, over two thousand men,
broke through the rebel lines before the surrender and escaped.
Jackson immediately joined Lee, who, after the battle of South
Mountain, had taken position west of Antietam Creek, Dear
Sharpsburg. Here, September 17, was fought the great battle of
Antietam,4 which raged furiously from daylight
till dark, and compelled Lee to recross the Potomac.
1 Near Bristoe Station 2 See p. 243, ¶ 11. 3 See p. 270, ¶ 38.
4 Also called the battle of Sharpsburg.
QUESTIONS. -- 42. What did Jackson do on the 26th, and what movement did Pope make in consequence? What is said of the engagement the next day near Kettle Run? What can you tell of the battles which followed? What was the condition of the Union troops when they reached Washington? 43. With what was Pope's army united, and under whose command? What can you tell of the invasion of Maryland, and the battle of South Mountain. 44. Give an account of the surrender of Harper's Ferry. Of the battle of Antietam.
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45. Lee entered
Maryland, hoping to find the people ready, when supported by his
army, to join in the rebellion; but they gave him a cold
reception. This invasion created great excitement and alarm
throughout Pennsylvania, especially in the southern counties of
the Cumberland and Susquehanna valleys. The men sent their wives
and children and movable property farther north, while they
themselves hastened to take up arms to repel the invaders.
McClellan's army numbered nearly ninety thousand men. It is
probable that Lee's army was about one third less. In this
campaign, lasting two weeks, the rebels give their loss in killed
and wounded as more than eleven thousand men. They also lost more
than six thousand prisoners.1 The Federal loss, not
including the garrison at Harper's Ferry, was near fifteen
thousand. Among these fell General Reno, at South Mountain, and
Generals Mansfield,2 Richardson, and Rodman, at
Antietam.
McClellan did not immediately pursue the
Confederates. While he remained in Maryland the rebel General
Stuart,3 already famous for his bold cavalry raids,
dashed across the Potomac, and penetrated as far as Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania. Sweeping entirely round the Union army, he recrossed
into Virginia.
46. The administration
expressed much dissatisfaction at the inactivity of
McClellan,4 who did not cross into Virginia till the
latter part of October. Early the next month an order reached him,
near Front Royal, to surrender his command to General
Burnside.5 This general, about the middle of the
month, concentrated his forces on the Rappahannock, opposite
Fredericksburg, intending to march upon Richmond from that point.
The Union troops crossed the river, and, December 13, were
signally defeated in an attempt to carry the Confederate works in
the rear of the city. On the night of the 15th, Burnside recrossed
the river, before Lee was aware of his intention.
By some mismanagement in supplying
Burnside with pontoons for crossing the Rappahannock, he was
obliged to wait opposite Fredericksburg. This delay gave the
rebels time to secure and fortify the heights in the rear of the
city. The Federal army lost, in this attack, fourteen thousand
men; the Confederates not much more than one third as
many.
47. When Pope was attacked by the
rebel army, General Cox,6 with troops from West
Virginia, was called to his assistance. This left that region
open to a body of rebels, who entered the Kanawha valley, and
occupied Charleston. In November, however, Cox returned with
national troops, and the rebels
retired.7
1 To these losses maybe added thousands who according to the rebel General Hill, straggled from the army.
2 See p. 211, ¶ 2. 3 See p. 271, ¶ 41; and p 269, ¶ 25.
4 See p. 266, ¶¶ 28,29. 5 See p. 264, ¶ 25.
6 See p. 247, ¶ 16. 7 See p. 282, ¶ 71.
QUESTIONS. -- 45. What further particulars can you give of Lee's invasion of Maryland? -- What is said of General Stuart's raid? 46. Who superseded McClellan, and when? What is said of the battle of Fredericksburg? -- Give some further particulars. 47. What is said of operations in West Virginia?
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© 1999, 2000, 2001 for NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller