Southern History of the War.-The Third Year of the War

Introduction

. The author has composed this work under many and severe difficulties. The materials were collected in Richmond, while the author was burdened with the heavy duties of public journalism. After this explanation, and in the third volume of his work, it is, perhaps, unnecessary for the author to repeat that he has not sought literary ornament, or attempted a high standard of historical composition. He has only designed to make a faithful compendium of events, which will illustrate, for the j>resent, what is most interesting in the American War, and serve as a foundation for future and more enlarged inquiries. It may be that these, his unambitious labors, will be appropriated by others, who will rear upon them a superstructure of their own ; but he cherishes the hope that he is not destined to lose to others the benefit of his early records, and that he may, at some future time, be able to compose a work on the American War, worthy of its importance, and its relations to the interests and philosophy of the present generation. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Review of the Battle of Chancellorsville.— Two Defects in the Victory of the Confederates. — " The Finest Army on the Planet." — Analysis of the Victory. — Generalship of Lee. — Services and Character of the great Confederate Leader. — His Commonplaces and his Virtues. — The Situation in Virginia. — Lee's Preparations for the Summer Campaign. — Hooker to he Maneuvered out of Virginia. — Reorganization of Lee's Army. — The Affair of Brandy Station. — The Capture of Winchester.— The Affair of Aldie's Station. — Lee's Army Crossing the Potomac. — Invasion of Pennsylvania. — Alarm in the North.— Hooker Out-Generalled and Removed. — The Mild Warfare of the Confederate Invaders. — Southern "Chivalry." — General Lee's Error. — His Splendid March from Culpepper Court House to Gettysburg. — Feverish Anticipations in Richmond. — The Battle of Gettysburg. — First Day's Engagement.— A Regiment of Corpses. — Charge of Gordon's Brigade. — The Nine Mississippi Heroes. —The Yankees Driven through Gettysburg. — A Fatal Mistake of the Confederates. — General Lee's Embarrassments. — The Second Dat. — Cemetery Hill. — Early's Attack Almost a Success. — Adventure of Wright's Brigade. — The Third Day. — Sublime Terrors of the Artillery. — Heroic and Ever-Memorable Charge of Rickett's Division on the Heights. — Half a Mile of Shot and Shell. — Pickett's Supports Fail. — The Recoil. — General Lee's Behavior. — His Greatness in Disaster. — Immense Carnage. — Death of General Barksdale, *' the Haughty Rebel." — General Lee's Retreat. — The Affair of Williamsport. — Lee Recrosses the Potomac. — Success of his Retreat. — Yankee Misrepresentation. — Review of the Pennsylvania Campaign. — Half of Lee's Plans Disconcerted at Richmond. — Results of the Battle of Gettysburg Ne gative.—Lee's Retreat Across the Potomac an Inconsequence. — Disappointment in Richmond. — The Budget of a Single Day in the Confederate Capital Page 13

Chapter II

Vicksburg, " the Heroic City." — Its Value to the Confederacy. — An Opportunity Lost by Butler. — Lieutenant-general Pemberton. — A Favorite of President Da vis. — The President's Obstinacy. — Blindness of Pemberton to the Enemy's De signs. — His Telegram to Johnston. — Plan of U. S. Grant. — Its Daring. — The Battle of Port Gibson. — Exposure of General Bowen by Pemberton. — The First Mistake. — Pemberton's Disregard of Johnston's Orders. — Grant's advance against Jackson. — Johnston's Evacuation of Jackson. — His Appreciation of the Situation. — Urgent Or ders to Pemberton. — A Brilliant Opportunity. — Pemberton's Contumacy and Stupid ity. — His Irretrievable Error. — Yankee Outrages in Jackson. — The Battle of Baker's Creek, &c. — Stevenson's Heroic Fight. — Alleged Dereliction of General Loring. — His Division Cut Off in the Retreat. — Demoralization of Pemberton's Troops. — The Enemy'a Assault on the Big Black.— Shameful Behavior of the Confederates.— A CONTENTS.

Georgia Hero.— Pemberton and the Fugitives.— His Return to Vicksburg.—Recrim inations as to the Disaster of the Big Black.— How Pemberton Was in the Wrong. — Johnston Orders the Evacuation of Vicksburg.— Pemberton's Determination to Hold It Paoe 41

Chapter III

The Defences of Vicksburg.— Pemberton's Force.— His Troops Reinspirited. — A Memorable Appeal. — Grant's Assault on the Works. — Confidence of the Yankees. — Their Repulse and Losses. — Commencement of Siege Operations. — Confidence in Richmond. — Johnston's Secret Anticipation of the Fall of Vicksburg. — His Alleged Inability to Avert it. — Critical Condition of the Confederate Armies In Numbers. — Secret Correspondence of Richmond Officials.— Mr. Seddon's Bait of Flattery. — Suf ferings of the Garrison of Vicksburg. — Johnston's Attempt to Extricate them. — Proposed Diversion in the Trans-Mississippi. — Its Failure. — A Message from Pemberton. A Gleam of Hope. — An Important Despatch Miscarries. — The Garrison Unable to Fight Their Way Out. — But Their Condition not Extreme. — Pemberton's Surrender on the Fourth of July. — Surprise in Richmond — Mendacity of the Telegraph. — -The Story of the Rats and Mules. — Pemberton's Statement as to his Supplies. — His Ex planation as to the Day of Surrender. — The last Incident of Humiliation. — Behavior of the Vicksburg Population. — A Rival of " The Beast." — Appearance and Manners of the City under Yankee Rule. — Consequences of the Fall of Vicksburg. — The Yan kee Reoccupation of Jackson. — Johnston's Second Evacuation. — The Enemy's Ravages in Mississippi. — How they Compared with Lee's Civilities in Pennsylvania. — The Fall of Port Hudson, &c. — Enemy's Capture of Yazoo City. — The Battle of Helena. — The Trans-Mississippi. — Repulse of the Confederates. — Abandonment of Little Rock. — The Trials and Sufferings of the Trans-Mississippi Department. — Hindman's Memorable Rule.— Military Autocracy. — The Generous and Heroic Spirit of the Trans-Mississippi Page 59

Chapter IV

Elasticity of the Spirit of the Confederacy.— What it Taught.— Decay of Confi dence in President Davis's Administration.— His Affection for Pemberton. — A Season of Encouraging Events.— The Campaign in Lower Louisiana.— Capture of Brashear City.— The Affair of Donaldson.— The Siege of Charleston.— Operations of the Enemy on Folly Island.— General Beauregard's Embarrassments.— Assault of the Enemy of Fort Wagner.— His Foothold on Morris Island.— Beauregard's Designs.— Bombardment of Fort Wagner.— Second Repulse of the Enemy's Assault.— Gilmore's Insolent Demand.— His Attempt to Fire Charleston.— A Noble Reply from Beaure gard.—Bombardment of Fort Sumter.— The Fort in Ruins.— Evacuation of Morris Island by the Confederates.-The Yankee Congratulations.— Devilish Penalties for " the Secession City."— Dahlgren's Part of the Programme.— His Night Attack on Sumter.-His Failure.-Safety of Charleston—Bitterness of Yankee Disappointment. --Morgan's Expedition into Indiana and Omo.-His Capture of Lebanon.-An Unnatural Encounter—Murder of Captain Magennis— The Incursion Throu-h Indi- * ana— The Yankee Pursuit— A Chaplain's Trick— Operations in Ohio— The Affair of Buffington Island— Morgan's Attempt to Escape— His Capture and Imprison ment—Results of his Expedition, Strategic and Material— The Value of Military Adventure „ ., Page CONTENTS.

Chapter V

Contrast between our Military Fortunes in the East and in the West. — Some .Reasons for our Success in Virginia. — Her Hearty Co-operation with the Confederate Authorities. — Her Contributions to the War. — General Bragg's Situation in Tennes see. — Confederate criticisms on General Rosecrans. — Opinion of the " Chattanooga Rebel." — An Extensive Movement Contemplated by Rosecrans. — Bragg's Retreat to Chattanooga. — The Yankees on a Double Line of Operations. — Buckner's Evacuation of Knoxville. The Surrender or Cumberland Gap. — President Davis's Comment on the Surrender. — The Battles of Chickamauga. — Braggs' Evacuation of Chattanooga. — Topography of the Ba.ttle.-.fie!d.— Thomas's Column of Yankees in McLemore's Cove. — Disobedience of Orders by Lieutenant-general Hill of the Confederates. — Bragg's Orders to Lieutenant-general Polk. — Two Opportunities Lost.

Note: Bragg's Secret and Official Report of the Miscarriage of His Plans. — The First Day's Engagement on the Chickamauga. — Second Day. — General Polk's Fight on our Right. — Longstreet's Successful Attack on the Left. — The Grand Charge. — Rout of the Enemy. — Longstreet's Message to Bragg. — Forrest Up a Tree*. — Bragg Declines to Pursue. — His Hesitation and Error. — His Movement upon Chattanooga. — Boast of Rosecrans. — An Empty Victory for the Confederates. — Bragg's Awkward Pause.— Discussions of the Campaign. — His Supposed Investment of Chattanooga. — Two Blunders of the Confederate Commander. — Chickamauga a Second Edition of Bull Run. Note: Observations of a General Officer of the Confederate States Army on the Campaign in the West Page lOsi

Chapter VI

Political Movements in the Fall of 1863.— The "Peace Party" in the North.— The Yankee Fall Elections. — The War Democrats in the North. — The South's Worst Enemies. — Yankee Self-Glorification. — Farragut's Dinuer-Party. — The Russian Ban quet. — Russia and Yankeedom. — The Poles and the Confederates. — The Political Troubles in Kentucky-. — Bramlette and Wickcliffe. — The Democratic Platform in Kentucky. — Political Ambidexterity. — Burnside's Despotic Orders. — The Kentucky " Board of Trade." — An Election by Bayonets. — The Fate of Kentucky Sealed. — Our European Relations.— Dismissal of the Foreign Consuls in the Confederacy.— Seizure of the Confederate "Rams" in England. — The Confederate Privateers. — Their Achievements. — British Interests in Privateering. — The Profits of So-called "Neutrality." — Naval Affairs of the Confederacy. — Embarrassments of Our Naval Enterprise. — The Naval Structures of the Confederates.— Lee's Flank Move ment in Virginia. — Affair of Bristoe Station. — Failure of Lee's Plans. — Meade's Escape to Centreville. — Imboden's Operations in the Valley. — Capture of Charlestown. — Operations at Rappahannock Bridge. — Kelley's Ford.— Surprise and Capture of Hayes' and Hoke's Brigades.— Gallantry of Colonel Godwin.— Lee's Army on the Rapidan.— The Affair of Germania Ford.— Meade Foiled.— The "On-to-Rich mond" Delayed Page 134

Chapter VII

The Chattanooga Lines.— Grant's Command.— The Military Division of the Missis- Bippi. Scarcity of Supplies in Chattanooga.— Wheeler's Raid.— Grant's Plans.— He Opens the Communications of Chattanooga. — The Affair of Lookout Valley. — Relief of Chattanooga.— The Battle of Missionary Ridge.— Bragg's Unfortunate CONTENTS. Detachment of Longstreet's Force.— His Evacuation of Lookout Mountain.— The Attack on Missionary Ridge. — Hardee's Gallant Resistance. — Rout and Panic of the Confederates.— President Davis's First Reproof of the Confederate Troops.— Bragg's Retreat to Dalton.— Cleburne's Gallant Affair.— Longstreet's Expedition Against Knoxville.— More of Bragg's Mismanagement.— Insufficiency of Longstreet's Force. —Difficulty in Obtaining Supplies.— His Investment of Knoxville.— An Incident of Personal Gallantry.— Daring of an English Volunteer.— Longstreet's Plans Discon certed.—The Assault on Fort Sanders.— Devotion of Longstreet's Veterans.— The Yankee "Wire-net."— The Fatal Ditch.— Longstreet's Masterly Retreat.— His Posi tion in Northeastern Tennessee— He Winters his Army there. — The Affalr of Sabine Pass, Texas.— The Trans-Mississippi.— Franklin's Expedition Defeated.— The Upper Portions of the Trans-Mississippi. — The Missouri " Guerillas." — Quan trell.—Romantic Incidents.— The Virginia-Tennessee Frontier.— Operations of General Sam Jones. — An Engagement near Warm Springs.— The Affair of Rogers ville.—Battle of Droop Mountain. — The Enemy Baffled. — Averill's Great Decem ber Raid.— The Pursuit.— The North Carolina Swamps.— The Negro Banditti in the Swamps.— Wild, Butler's " Jackal."— His Murder of Daniel Bright.— Confederate Women in Irons. — Cowardice and Ferocity of the Yankees Page 153

Chapter VIII

The President's Declaration to the Confederate Congress of 1863-64.— "Want of Capacity" in the Confederate Authorities. — Character of Jefferson Davis. — Official Shiftlessness at Richmond. — Early Prognostications of the War. — The " Statesmanship" of the Confederates. — Ludicrous Errors of Confederate Leaders. — What " King Cotton" might have done. — Gross Mismanagement of the Confederate Finances. — Mr. Memminger's Maladministration. — The Moral Evils of an Expanded Currency. — The Military Situation in December. — Secretary Seddon's Shameful Confession. — " De magogism" in the Confederate War Department. — Seddon's Propositions. — Military " Substitutes." — An Act of Perfidy. — Bullying in Congress. — Spirit of the Confederate Soldiery. — Lincoln's "Peace Proclamation." — Its Stupidity, Insolence, aud Out rage. — How the Confederates Replied to it. — A New Appeal Against " Recon struction." — The Slavery Question in the War. — A French Opinion. — The Abolitionists Unmasked. — Decay of European Sympathy with Them. — Review of Lincoln's " Emancipation" Policy. — The Arming of the Blacks. — The Negro Coloni zation Schemes. — Experiments of New England "Civilization" in Louisiana. — Frightful Mortality of " Freedmen." — The Appalling Statistics of Emancipation. — The Contraband.

Camps in the Mississippi Valley. — Pictures of Yankee Philanthropy. —"Slavery" Tested by the War. — The Confederates the True Friends of the African Laborer. — The System of Negro Servitude in the Confederacy. — The " War-to-the- Knife" Party in the North. — History of the " Retaliation" Policy. — The Outrages of Yankee Warfare. — President Davis's Sentimentalism. — The Record of his Unpar donable and Unparalleled Weakness.— A' Peep into Yankee Prisons. — The Torture- Houses of the North. — Captain Morgan's Experience Among "the Convict-Drivers." —President Davis's Bluster.— His Two Faces.— Moral Effects of Submission to Yankee Outrage.— The Rival Administrations in December 1863. — Richmond and Washing ton.—Mr. Lincoln's Gaiety.— New Issues for the Confederacy Page 174

Chapter IX

The Importance of the Winter Campaigns of the War.— A Series of Remarkable Events. — Encouragement of the Confederacy. — Rosser's Raid. — A Magnificent Prize.— Pickett's Expedition against Newbern.— The Fight on Bachelor's Creek— CONTENTS. Destruction of the Yankee Gunboat "Underwriter."— The Brilliant Exploit of Com mander Wood. — Results of the Expedition. — The Affair of John's Island. — General Wise's Fight. — The Battle of Ocean Pond. — History of the Yankee Expeditions into Florida. — Lincoln's Designs upon Florida. — Their Utter Defeat. — Political Jugglery of Seymour's Expedition. — Price of "Three Electoral Votes." — Sherman's Expedi tion in the Southwest.— What it Contemplated. — Grant's Extensive Designs. — The Strategic Triangle. — Grant's Proposed, Removal of the Mississippi River, — Polk's Re treat into Alabama. — Forrest's Heroic Enterprise. — His Defeat of Smith's and Grier son's Columns. — Sherman's Ketreat to Vicksburg. — His Disgraceful Failure, — The Yankee Campaign in the West Disconcerted. — The Lines in North Georgia. — Repulse of the Yankees Page 210

Chapter X

Auspicious Signs of the Spring of 1864. — Military Successes of the Confederates. — Improvements in the Internal Polity of the Confederacy — Two Important Measures of Legislation. — Revolution of our Finances. — Enlargement of the Conscription. — Theory of the New Military Law. — A Blot on the Political Record of the Confeder acy. — Qualified Suspension of the Habeas Corpus. — An Infamous Edict, but a 41 Dead letter." — An Official Libel upon the Confederacy. — The Real Condition of Civil Liberty in the South. — The Conscription not properly a Measure of Force. — im pressments but a SyHtem of Patriotic Contribution. — Development of the Yankee Government into Despotism. — An Explanation of this. — The Essence of Despotism in One Yankee Statute. — Military Resouroes of the Confeoeraoy. — Its Military System, the Best and Most Elastic in the World. — The War Conducted on A Volun tary Basis. — Supplies. — Scarcity of Meat.- — The Grain Product. — Two Centres of Sup plies. — A Dream of Yankee Hate. — Great Natural Resources of the North. — Summary of the Yankee Military Drafts. — Tonnage of the Yankee Navy. — The Yankee War Debt. — Economic Effects of the War. — Its Effects on European Industry. — Yankee Conquest of the South an Impossibility. — A Remarkable Incident of the War. — Dahloren's Raid around Richmond. — Kilpatrick's and Custar's Parts of the Expe dition. — Dahlgron and his Negro Guide.— His "Braves" Whipped by the Richmond Clerks and Artisans. — Death of the Marauder. — Revelation of his Infamous Designs., — Copy and History of 4l the Dahlgren Papers." — A Characteristic Yankee Apothe osis. — Ridiculous and Infamous Behavior of tho Confederate Authorities. — A Bru tal and Savage Threat. — President Davis in Melodrama Paoe 228

CHAPTER XL

The Current of Confederate Victories.— The Red River Expedition.— Banks' Am bitious Designs.— Condition of the Confederates West of the Mississippi.— Banks' Extensive Preparations.— A Gala Day at Vicksburg.— Yankee Capture of Fort De Kussy— Occupation of Alexandria.— Porter's Warfare and Pillage.— Banks' Con tinued Advance— Shreveport, the Grand Objective Point.— Kirby Smith's Designs- General Green's Cavalry Fight. — Battle of Mansfield.— Success of the Confeder ates.—Battle of Pleasant Hill.— The Heroic and Devoted Charge of the Confeder ates—The Scene on the Hill.— Banks Fatally Defeated.— Price's Capture of Yankee Trains.— Grand Results of Kirby Smith's Campaign.— Banks in Disgrace— Yankee Tenure of Louisiana.— Forrest's Expedition into Kentucky.— His Gallant Assault on Fort Pillow.— The Yankee Story of " Massacre."— Capture of Union City.—Con federate Occupation of Paducah.— Chastisement of the Yankees on their own Theatre CONTENTS. of Outrages— Capture of Plymouth, N. C— General Hoke's Expedition.— Capture of " Fort Wessel."— Exploit of the " Albemarle."— The Assaults upon the Town- Fruits of its Capture.— The Yankees in North Carolina Page 216

Chapter XII

Close of the Third Year of the War.— Sketch of the Suosequent Operations in Vir ginia and Georgia.— Grant's " On-to-Richmond."— The Combination Against the Confederate Capital.— The Battles of the Wilderness.— A Thrilling Crisis.— Grant on the Verge of Rout.— His First Design Baffled.— The Battles of Spottsylvania Court-house.— Death of General Sedgwick.— The Carnage of May the 12th.— Five Battles in Six Days.— Grant's Obstinacy.— " The Butcher."— Sheridan's Expedition. —Death of General "Jeb" Stuart.— Butler's Operations on the South Side of the James. — "The Beast" at the Back-Door of Richmond. — He is Driven to Bermuda Hundred by Beauregard. — Defeat of Sigel in the Valley.— Grant's Movement Down the Valley of the Rappahannoek. — His Passage of the Pamunkey. — Re-organization of General Lee's Lines. — Grant's Favorite Tactics.— Yankee Exultation at his Approach to Richmond — Caricatures of the Confederacy. — A Hasty Apotheosis. — A True The ory of Grant's " Flank Movements." — His Occupation of McClellan's Old lines. — The Battle of the Chickahominy or Cold Harbor. — A Confederate Victory in Ten Minutes. — What Had Become of Yankee Exultation. — Review of the Rival Routes to Richmond. — Grant Crosses the James River. — His Second Grand Combination Against Richmond. — Hunter's Capture of Staunton. — The Battles of PetersrUeg. — General Wise's Heroic Address. — Engagement of 16th June. — Grand Assault of 18th June. — on " the Cockade City." — A Decisive defeat of the Yankees. — Engagement at Port Walthal Junction — Sheridan's Defeat Near Gordonsville. — Hunter's Repulse at Lynchburg. — Two Affairs on the Weldon Railroad. — Grant's Second Combination a Complete Failure. — Discouragement of the North. — The Gold Barometer. — Secretary Chase's Declaration. — Sherman's " On-to- Atlanta." — His Flanking Movement. — Engagement in Resaca Valley. — Johnston's Retreat. — Engagement at New Hope. — John-ston'B Telegram to Richmond. — Defeat of Sturgis's Expedition in Mississippi. — Battle of Kenesaw Mountain. — Sherman's Successful Strategy. — The Confederates Fall Back to Atlanta. — The Battles of Atlanta. — Hood's Gallant Defence. — ....

The Military Situation in July, 1864. — Grant's Failure. — His Consumption of Troops. —Review of Yankee Atrocities in the Summer Campaign of 1864. — Sherman's Char acter. — His Letter on " Wild Beasts." — His War on Factory Girls. — Sufferings of Confederate Women and Children. — Ravages in Georgia. — Hunter's Vandalism in Virginia. — " The Avengers of Fort Pillow." — Sturgis and his Demons. — The Spirit of the Confederates. — . . . Some Words on " Peace Negotiations." — A Piratical Prop osition and an Infamous Bribe. — The Heroic Choice of the Confederates Page 261

Chapter XIII. American Ideas

: A REVIEW OF THE WAR. Sentimental Regrets concerning American History.— The European Opinion of "State" Institutions.— Calhoun, the Great Political Scholar of America. — His Doc trines.— Conservatism of " Nullification."— Its "Union" Sentiment.— Brilliant Vision of the' South Carolina Statesman.— Webster, the Representative of the Imperfect and Insolent " Education" of New England.— Yankee Libels in the shape of Party NonienelaUre— Influence of State Institutions.— How they were Auxiliary to the CONTENTS. Union. — The Moral Veneration of the Union Peculiarly a Sentiment of the South.— What the South had done for the Union. — Senator Hammond's Speech. — The States not Schools of Provincialism and Estrangement. — The Development of America, a North and South, not Hostile States. — Peculiar Ideas of Yankee Civilization. — Ideas Nursed in "Free Schools." — Yankee Materialism. — How it has Developed in the War. — Yankee Falsehoods and Yankee Cruelties. — His Commercial Politics. — Price of his Liberties. — Ideas of the Confederates in the War. — How the Washington Routine was introduced. — The Richmond Government, Weak and Negative. — No Political Novelty in the Confederacy. — The Future of Confederate Ideas. — Intellectual Barrenness of the War. — Material of the Confederate Army. — Tho Birth of Great Ideas. — The Old Political Idolaters. — Tho Recompense of Suffering Page 287 The Battle of The Wilderness. — Correspondence of the London, Herald. . Page 303

Chapter X

Journal Notes Continued. — A YTankee's Confession : Confederate Civilization. — A " Map of Busy Life" in Boston. — . , . Sickness and Reflections in Prison : Female Philosophy on the War Page 375

CHAPTER XL

Out of Prison. — My Parole. — In Yankee Atmosphere. — A Letter from Boston. — Waiting Page 382 Chkonology Page THE THffifi YEAR OF THE WAR.

Chapter I

Review of the Battle of Chancellorsville. — Two Defects in the Victory of the Con federates. — " The Finest Army on the Planet." — Analysis of the Victory. — General ohip of Lee. — Services and Character of the great Confederate Leader. — His Com monplaces and his Virtues. — The Situation in Virginia.— Lee's Preparations for the Summer Campaign. — HookerVto be Maneuvered out of Virginia. — Reorganization of Lee's Army. — The Affair of Brandy Station. — The Capture of Winchester. — The Affair of Aldie's Station. — Lee's Army Crossing the Potomac. — Invasion of Pennsyl vania. — Alarm in the North. — Hooker Out-Generalled and Removed. — The Mild Warfare of the Confederate Invaders. — Southern "Chivalry." — General Lee's Error. — His Splendid March from Culpepper Court House to Gettysburg. — Feverish Anti cipations in Richmond. — The Battle of Gettysburg. — First Day's Engagement. — A Regiment of Corpses. — Charge of Gordon's Brigade. — Tha Nine Mississippi Heroes. — The Yankees Driven through Gettysburg. — A Fatal Mistake of the Con federates. — General Lee's Embarrassments. — The Second Day. — Cemetery Hill. — Early's Attack Almost a Success. — Adventure of Wright's Brigade. — The Third Day. — Sublime Terrors of the Artillery. — Heroic and Ever-Memorable Charge of Piekett's Division on the Heights. — Half a Mile of Shot and Shell. — Pickett's Sup ports F'ail. — The Recoil. — General Lee's Behavior. — His Greatness in Disaster. — Im mense Carnage. — Death of General Barksdale, " the Haughty Rebel." — General Lee's Retreat. — The Affair of Williamsport. — Lee Recrosses the Potomac. — Success of his Retreat. — Yankee Misrepresentation. — Review of the Pennsylvania Campaign. — Half of Lee's Plans Disconcerted at Richmond. — Results of the Battle of Gettysburg Ne gative. — Lee's Retreat Across the Potomac an Inconsequence. — Disappointment in Richmond. — The Budget of a Single Day in the Confederate Capital.

In the close of a former volume, we proposed to open the Third Year of the "War with a revised and extended account of the battles fought between Fredericksburg and Chancellors ville, on the 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th of May, 1863. On examina tion, however, of what has already been written of these events, we find so little of authentic detail to add to it, that we shall content ourselves with a general reference to this important series of engagements (known collectively as the battle of Chancellorsville), and a concise statement of results. We have here again the old story of a great and bloody battle, defective in conclusion and barren in practical results. The Confederates had failed to capture Sedgwick's corps by not seizing Banks' Ford. The capture of his whole corp3 would then have been inevitable, for we held the access to Fredericksburg guarded.

As it was, Hooker was able to cross the river under cover of night with all of his army but what had been lost in the casualties of the fight ; and the Southern public were again treated to the old excuse that we had neither the men nor the facilities to pursue him. But, notwithstanding these deficiencies of our victory, it was a great and brilliant one, and it gave the Confederacy occasion of pride second to none in the war. The Confederates had whipped what Hooker entitled " the finest army on the planet." They had done this with an effective fighting force which, com pared with that of the enemy, was as three to ten. They had put thirty thousand of the enemy hors du combat, while our own casualties did not foot up more than one-third of that number. This battle, more than anything else, confirmed the fame of General Lee ; for, however it had failed in accomplish ing all that was possible, it was at least a victory won against an enemy of superior numbers, who had the advantage of the initiative and naturally secured that of position.

General Hooker had come with eight days' rations and a plan of battle combining all that was essential on paper to a com plete success. General Lee had to watch the movements of Hooker until they wrere developed ; to arrest his progress by attack ; to engage him at the same time with a flank movement with a portion of his forces ; and then to transfer his blows to Sedgwick. All this was done with a readiness of combination that showed a high order of military ability. Hooker was de feated by two critical circumstances : the flank movement of Jackson, executed with signal rapidity and decision, and the failure of Sedgwick to effect a junction. It was these movements and interpositions directed by Lee which ranked him among the greatest of modern strategists. He was now recognized as the master military mind of the Confederacy.

General Lee had, by a perceptible progress, risen to be one of the most remarkable men of the revolution. His military life had been one of steady advancement. He had graduated at West Point in 1829, at the head of his class ; and it is said that, in that severe school and early test of the soldier, he had never been marked with a demerit Or had received a reprimand. He had twice been brevetted in the Mexican war. For thirty years he had served the United States, and the period of disunion found him lieutenant-colonel of that famous regiment of cavalry of which Sydney Johnson was colonel. Upon the secession of Virginia he was appointed commander in-chief of her forces, and organized an army with a system and rapidity that at once surprised and gratified the public. When President Davis made his appointments of generals, he was the third on the list : General Cooper being first, and General Sydney Johnson second.

The appointments were made with reference to the rank held by each officer in the old army. The unfortunate campaign of General Lee in Western Virginia in the first year of the war threw a shadow on his fame ; it disap pointed his admirers and occasioned a very general denuncia tion of his ability. The battles around Richmond secured his fame. There was, in fact, but little military merit in them ; but there was a great success, and results alone are the stand ards of popular appreciation. It was when General Lee moved out to the line of the Rappahannoek that the true display of his abilities commenced; and his title to a substantial and abiding fame he had now crowned with the victory of Chancellorsville. No one had ever accused General Lee of " genius." A sedate, methodical man, putting duty before everything else, illustrating the unselfish and Christian orders of virtue, almost sublime in his magnanimity, and uniting with these qualities a fair intellectual ability and an excellent practical judgment, this modern copy of Washington had nothing with which to dazzle mankind, but much with which to win its sober admiration.

It has often been remarked how entirely limited by pro fessional routine was the circle of intellectual accomplishments in the old army of the United States. Thirty years in this school had not made General Lee an "Admirable Crichton." Outside of his profession, his conversation was limited to a few commonplaces; he knew nothing of literature, and never attempted to draw an illustration from history. But the stranger who was at first shocked at such poverty of accom plishments in one so famous was soon won to admiration by the charming simplicity of a man who knew but little out side of the line of his duty, but in that was pre-eminently able and thoroughly heroic. It may be said of him that he was one of those few self-depreciating men whose magnanimity was not sentimental, and whose modesty was not unmanly.

In taking up the thread of our story after the battle of Chan cellorsville, we must now follow this great commander in one of the most extraordinary movements of the war, and to one of its most critical and imposing fields. A great battle had now been twice fought on the line of the Rappahannoek with no other effect than driving the enemy back to the hills of Stafford. The position was one in which he could not be attacked to advantage. It was on this reflec tion that General Lee resolved to maneuver Hooker out of Vir ginia, to clear the Shenandoah Valley of the troops of the enemy, and to renew the experiment of the transfer of hostili ties north of the Potomac. It was a blow to the summer campaign of the enemy, calculated to disarrange it and relieve other parts of the Confederacy, but, above all, aimed at the prize of a great victory on Northern soil, long the aspiration of the Southern public.