The early life, campaigns, and public services of Robert E. Lee; with a record of the campaigns and heroic deeds of his companions in arms ..

Front matter

THE LIBRARY

OF

LOS ANGELES

Introduction

THE Author proposes in this present work to assemble the most heroic names of the South in the late war, and to give to the world biographies of her most illustrious military commanders, including memoirs of all the Army divisions of the Confederacy from Virginia to the Trans-Mississippi. The plan of the work is extensive ; the collection is naturally in the shape of a galaxy ; but the picture is one, in the common light of the martial glory of the South in which all the figures are grouped.

Authenticity is more difficult in biography than in history ; the domain of anecdote is always doubtful ; and the most we can obtain of the lives of particular men comes to us through the prejudices and colours of personal narration. Sensible of the difficulties and uncertainties which beset his task, the author may yet declare that he has executed it with such care that he has admitted no statement of fact without ample authority, and mentioned not even the slightest incident without the support of credible testimony. He has been greatly assisted from the notes and memories of surviving actors of the great drama ; he has drawn something from various publications contemporary with the war — among which he would especially mention the Southern Illustrated News, one of the most interesting literary souvenirs of the Confederacy ; and he has explored for evidence every print and manuscript of the documentary history of the Bichmond Government. At least, he has not been deficient in research, however he may have used his discoveries.

It has been arranged that the biographies in this volume should cover the whole space of the action of the late war.

iv INTRODUCTION.

Including all the great commanders, they contain some name dear to each part of the former Confederacy, and thus have an interest distributed through all the States of the South.

The author's design, in short, has been to assemble the most remarkable characters of the late war, and to perform a work, in which Southern youth may look for models of true greatness ; the scholar recognize his fruitful themes ; and those yet living on the scenes of the great conflict find many subjects of tender and ennobling interest.

VIRGINIA, 1867.

LIST OF BIOGRAPHIES.

PAGE

* Lieu tenant-General " Stonewall " Jackson, 177

"Lieutenant-General Braxton Bragg 284

Lieutenant-General James Longstreet 411

Lieutenant-General J. E. B. Stuart 421

, Lieutenant-General Ambrose P. Hill 440

Lieutenant-General Daniel H. Hill 448

Lieutenant-General Richard S. Ewell 457

Lieutenant-General Jubal A Early 463

Major-General Gustavus W. Smith 482

Major-General Lafayette McLawa 487

Major-General Cadmus Wilcox 496

* Major-General George E. Pickett 509

Major-General Charles W. Field 520

Major-General Robert E. Rodes 524

Major-General Arnold Elzey 527

Major-General Sam. Jones 530

Major-General John B. Gordon. 535

Major-General Fitzhugh Lee 549

Brigadier-General Henry A. Wise 559

Brigadier-General Turner Ashby 573

Lieutenant-General Leonidas Polk 587

Major-General John C. Breckinridge 601

Major-General Mansfield LovelL 621

Major-General Earl Van Dorn 627

Brigadier-General Benjamin McCulloch 637

'Major-General John H. Morgan 645

' Lieutenant-General John B. Hood 663

Lieutenant-General Stephen D. Lee 674

Major-General Patrick Cleburne 688

Lieutenant-General Joseph Wheeler 695

Brigadier-General Felix K. Zollicoffer 705

Vi LIST OF BIOGRAPHIES.

PAOK

Lieutenant-General Alexander P. Stewart 711

Major-General Benjamin F. Cheatham 718

Major-General William B. Bate 722

Lieutenant-General "Wade Hampton 738

• Lieutenant-General Nathaniel B. Forrest 748

Lieutenant-General E. Kirby Smith 760

Lieutenant-General Simon B. Buckner 773

Major-General John B. Floyd 783

Lieutenant-General William J. flardee 808

Lieutenant-General Richard Taylor 830

Major-General Dabney H. Maury 837

Major-General John B. Magruder 840

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

Gen. Robert E. Lee Frontispiece.

The Conflagration of Richmond Vignette Title.

Lieutenant-General "Stonewall" Jackson 177

Lieutenant-General R. S. EwelL 177

Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill 177

Lieutenant-General J. Longstreet 177

General A. S. Johnston. 177

Lieutenant-General J. E. B. Stuart 177

Major-General Fitzhugh Lee 309

Major-General Earl Van Dora 309

Lieutenant-General " Dick " Taylor 309

Lieutenant-General Joseph "Wheeler. 309

Lieutenant-General A. P. Stuart 309

General Joe E. Johnston 337

Lieutenant-General Braxton Bragg 663

Lieutenant-General Kirby Smith. 663

Lieutenant-General Leonidas Polk 663

Lieutenant-General J. B. Hood 663

Lieutenant-General W. J. Hardee 663

Major-General John Morgan 663

Lieutenant-General Jubal A. Early 463

Major-General J. C. Breckinridge 463

Brigadier-General Henry A. Wise 463

Lieutenant-General "Wade Hampton 463

Brigadier-General Turner Ashby 463

Major-General J. B. Gordon 463

Major-General J. B. Magruder. 463

Chapter I. General Robert Edward Lee

Standards of human greatness. — Three classes of great men. — Nature and peculiarity of genius. — A second order of greatness. — General Lee, as in the third class of great men. — Key to his character, 33

Chapter II

The Lee family in Virginia. — " Light-Horse Harry." — Early life of Robert E. Lee. — His cadetship at West Point. — His home at Arlington Heights. — Services in the Mexican war. — Commended by G-en. Scott. — Appointed Colonel in the First Cavalry. — The John Brown raid. — Colonel Lee and the outlaws. — The first act of " rebellion " at Harper's Ferry. — Governor Wise arms Virginia, 38

Chapter III

Abraham Lincoln elected President of the United States. — Anxiety and hesitation of Lee at the commencement of hostilities. — His sense of duty. — He debates the question of his allegiance to Virginia. — His peculiar school of politics. — A reply to a Northern newspaper. — Attitude of Virginia. — A sublime struggle in Lee's mind. — He goes to Richmond. — Appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Virginia forces. — His reception by the State Convention.— Appearance and carriage of the man. — Military preparations in Virginia.— She joins the Southern Confederacy, 48

Chapter IV

Gen. Lee sent to Northwestern Virginia. — Description of the theatre of the war. — Unfortunate military councils in Richmond. — Proclamation of Gov. Letcher. — A caricature of secession. — Disaster of Rich Mountain. Gen. Lee's plans thereafter. — He is foiled at Cheat Mountain. — Marches to the Kanawha Valley. — Escape of Rosecrans. — Failure of Lee's Campaign. — He is abused and twitted in Richmond. — Scoffs of the Richmond " Examiner." — He is assigned to " the coast service." — Recalled to Richmond, and made " Commanding General." — This post unimportant, and scarcely honourable, 58

Chapter V

McClellan's march up the Peninsula. — Recollections of the "White House." — Battle of Seven Pines. — Review of condition of the Confederacy. — An act " to disband the armies of the Confederacy." — Carnival of misrule. — Gen. Lee in command of the forces around Richmond. — Nearly two-thirds of his army raw conscripts. — His adoption of Gen. Johnston's idea of concentration. — Manners of Lee as a commander. — The great battle joined. — Beaver-Dam

Creek. — Gen. Lee resting at a farm-house. — The glory of Gaines' Mills. — Brilliant audacity of Gen. Lee in delivering this battle. — Retreat of McClellan. — Frazier's Farm. — Malvern HilL — The circuit of Lee's victories broken. — His official summary of " the Seven Days' battles," ... 67

Chapter VI

General Lee the favourite of the populace. — He moves out to the line of the Rappahannock. — Cedar Run. — Bold and daring enterprise of General Lee, in detaching Jackson to the enemy's rear. — A peculiarity of his campaigns. — How he disregarded the maxims of military science. — The battles of Second Manassas. — Gen. Lee marches for the fords of the Potomac. — His address at Frederick, Maryland. — Jackson detached again. — McClellan finds an important paper. — The Thermopylae of " South Mountain Pass." — Battle of Sharpsburg. — Gen. Lee obtains a victory, but is unable to press it. — He retires to Virginia. — An authentic statement of Gen. Lee's reasons for the Maryland campaign. — His constant and characteristic idea of defending Richmond by operations at a distance from it. — Congratulations to his troops. — Moral results of the campaign of 1862. — Testimonies to South heroism, ..*...

Chapter VII

General Lee's perilous situation in North Virginia. — His alarming letter to the War Office.— The happy fortune of McClellan's removal.— The Battle of Fredericksburg. — Gen. Lee's great mistake in not renewing the attack. — His own confession of errour. — He detaches nearly a third of his army to cover the south side of Richmond. — He writes a severe letter to the Government.— The enemy's fifth grand attempt on Richmond. — Gen. Lee in a desperate extremity. — The Battles of Chancellorsville. — Three victories for the Confederates. — The masterpiece of Gen. Lee's military life, . . 93

Chapter VIII

Controversy between Gen. Lee and the War Department. — The Secretary winces. — Gen. Lee's new campaign of invasion. — How it differed from that of 1862. — Reorganization of the Army of Northern Virginia. — Some remarks on its artillery service. — Gen. Lee across the Potomac. — His orders at Chambersburg, Pa. — His errours with respect to the policy of " retaliation." — His conversation with a mill-owner. — A letter from President Davis. — Gen. Lee misunderstood and disappointed by the Richmond authorities. — Orders to Stuart's cavalry. — The Confederate army blinded in Pennsylvania for want of cavalry. — The battle of Gettysburg has the moral effect of a surprise to Gen. Lee. — The lost opportunity of the 1st July. — Why Gen. Lee fought the next day. — Temper of his army. — He assaults the enemy's centre .on the 3d July. — Recoil of the Confederates. — Gen. Lee cheering and comforting his men. — His fearful retreat, and his wonderful success in extricating his army, 101

Chapter IX

Decline of the fortunes of the Confederacy. — Operations in the autumn of 1863. — Gen. Lee's patriotic exhortation to his troops. — His great care for them. — Meeting of the chaplains in his army. — Relations between General Lee and his troops. — His habits on the battle-field. — Intercourse with his men. — Simplicity of his manners. — His feelings towards the public enemy. — How he rebuked a Yankee-phobist. — Sufferings of the Confederate troops. — Commissary Northrop. — Gen. Lee demands food for his troops. — Touching address to his half-starved men. — Anecdote of G-en. Lee and liis cook. — Personal recollections of the great commander. — An English officer's description of his person and habits, 116

Chapter X. _/_ ^

Opening of the great campaign of 1864. — Precise account of Gen. Lee's plans. — He acts with his accustomed boldness and takes the offensive. — Actions of the 5th and 6th May. — General Lee determines to lead a critical assault. — Protest of the soldiers. — Grant resorts to manoeuvre. — Spottsylvania Court- House. — General Lee again in the extreme front of his men. — A thrilling spectacle. — Heroic action of Gordon. — " Gen. Lee to the rear I " — Account of the strategy from Spottsylvania Court-House to the vicinity of Richmond. — Grant on the old battle-field of McClellan. — His army defeated in ten minutes at Cold Harbour. — His losses in one month exceed Lee's whole army. — Precise statement of the odds against Gen. Lee. — Reflections on the nature and degrees of generalship. — Comparison of the two rival commandersuifL the North and South, %&>

CHAPTER XL

Gen. Lee's private opinion of the defences of Richmond. — A serious communication to the Government, and how it was treated. — Vagaries of President Davis. — Gen. Lee decides that the safety of Richmond lies in raising the siege. — Expedition of Early across the Potomac. — Anxiety of Gen.. Lee. — He meditates taking command of the force in Maryland. — Retreat of Early. — Gen. Lee next proposes a diversion in the Valley of Virginia. — Failure of this operation. — Constant extension of Grant's left around Richmond. — Period of despondency in the South. — A letter of Gen. Lee on the question of supplies. — He proposes bringing in two or three years' supplies from Europe.— Desertion the great evil in the Confederate armies. — Difficulties of dealing with it. — Various letters and protests from Gen. Lee on the subject of discipline. — An angry comment of President Davis. — Gen. Lee a severe disciplinarian, and yet loved by his men. — Anecdote of the General and a one-armed soldier. — Skeleton returns of the army. — The popular clamour against President Davis. — Gen. Lee's quasi acceptance of the position of Commander-in-chief. — Nature and peculiar history of this rank in the Confederate armies. — Hopeful views of Gen. Lee. — Project of arming the negroes. — Growth of new hopes for the Confederacy, . . . 135

Chapter XII

Extraordinary cheerfulness of Gen. Lee. — A psychological reflection. — The Army of Northern Virginia at a third stage in its history. — Military preparations for the evacuation of Richmond. — Protests of the Government. — Gen. Lee's last and desperate resolution. — Battle of Five Forks. — Theory and results of the action. — Grant3s assault in front of Petersburg. — How Gen. Lee received it. — His remark to a staff-officer, . . . 149

Chapter XIII

The last retreat of Gen. Lee's army. — Two notable pictures. — Gen. Lee conceives a new prospect of action. — A fatal miscarriage at Amelia Court- House. — No food for the army. — Terrible sufferings of the retreat. — General despair and misery. — Action at Sailor's Creek. — Condition of the army at Appomattox Court-House. — Apparition of the white flag. — Correspondence between Generals Lee and Grant. — Authentic and detailed account of their interview at McLean's House. — Contradiction of various popular reports of tills event. — General Lee announcing the terms of surrender to hia officers. — Scenes in the encampments. — Gen. Lee's last address to his troops. — His return to Richmond. — Last tokens of affection and respect for the Confederacy, 155

Chapter XIV

An interesting interview with Gen. Lee after the surrender. — Remarks upon the Federal rule. — Indicted for " treason." — Proceedings stayed on the protest of Gen. Grant. — Explanation of Gen. Lee's course with reference to amnesty, etc. — Elected President of Washington College. — The true spirit of his advice of " submission." — His hopes for the repose and welfare of the South, 172

Chapter XV

LIEUT.-GEN. STONEWALL JACKSON.

Boyhood of Thomas Jonathan Jackson. — His experience at West Point. — His studies and habits. — A novel analysis of awkward manners. — Jackson's promotions in the Mexican war. — His love of fight. — Recollections of " Fool Tom Jackson " at Lexington. — A study of his face and character. — His prayers for " the Union." — A reflection on Christian influences in America. — Jackson appointed a colonel in the Virginia forces. — In command at Harper's Ferry. — Constitution of the " Stonewall Brigade." — Jackson promoted to Brigadier. — His action on the field of Manassas. — He turns the enemy's flank and breaks his centre. — How much of the victory was due to him. — His expedition towards the head waters of the Potomac, . . 177

Chapter XVI

Description of the Shenandoah Valley. — Its importance as an avenue to Washington. — Gen. Jackson retreats from Winchester, and returns and fights the battle of Kernstown.— His first and last defeat.— Analysis of the enemy's " On-to-Richmond." — Four armies to converge on the Confederate capital. — Situation of Gen. Jackson. — Reinforced by Ewell's division. — His rapid movement to McDowell, and its designs. — He falls upon the enemy at Front Royal. — He chases Banks' army through Winchester and across the Potomac. — President Lincoln " sets a trap " for him. — Gen. McDowell's remonstrance. — Battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic. — Summary of the Valley campaign, 190

Chapter XVII

Gen. Jackson's share in the " Seven Days' battles " around Richmond. — Shifting of the scenes of war from the James River to the Rappahannock. — Battle of Cedar Run. — Gen. Jackson moves a column between the enemy's rear and Washington. — Scenes of the march. — Battle of Groveton. — The two days' conflict on Manassas Plains. — Gen. Jackson strikes the enemy at Ox Hill. — Results of the campaign so far.— Extraordinary achievement of Jackson's command. — He moves against, and captures Harper's Ferry. — His part in the battle of Sharpsburg, 199

Chapter XVIII

Battle of Fredericksburg. — Gen. Jackson conceives the desperate enterprise of driving the enemy into the river. — But he recalls the attack.— Battle of Chancellorsville. — A night council under the pines. — The flank-march. — How Gen. Hooker was deceived. — Gen. Jackson's last dispatch. — Fury of

CONTENTS.

his attack in the Wilderness. — He is shot from his horse by his own men. — Particulars of his wound and sufferings. — His dying moments. — Funeral ceremonies in Richmond, 208

Chapter XIX

Review of G-en. Jackson's services and character. — True nature of his ambition.— The value of glory. — Religious element in Gen. Jackson's character. — Peculiarity of his religious habits. — Anecdotes. — Want of natural amiability. — Harshness of manner towards his officers. — His severe idea of war. — Destructiveness. — His readiness to forgive. — A touching personal incident. — His self-possession as a mark of " genius." — His military faculty not a partial one. — European estimates of his career. — A lesson to Northern insolence and rancour, , 220

Chapter XX

GEN. PETER Q. T. BEAUREGARD.

Early life of P. G-. T. Beauregard. — His gallantry and promotions in the Mexican War. — Life in Louisiana. — Appointment in the Confederate Army. — Defences of Charleston. — Battle of Port Sumter. — Gen. Beauregard takes command in Virginia. — His contempt of " the Yankees." — A grotesque letter. — Popular sentiment concerning the war. — Explanation of the sudden disappearance of the Union party in the South. — Gen. Beauregard's declaration of the purposes of the war. — " Beauty and Booty." — A Northern journal on Butler vs. Beauregard. — Battle of Manassas. — Complimentary letter from President Davis. — The popularity of Gen. Beauregard alarms the vanity of the President.— A scandalous quarrel. — Gen. Beauregard's political " card " in the Richmond newspapers, 231

CHAPTER XXL

Gen. Beauregard transferred to command in West Tennessee. — His order about " the bells." — He concentrates the Confederate forces at Corinth. — Battle of Shiloh. — A " lost opportunity." — Retreat to Tupelo. — He obtains a sick furlough. — President Davis deprives him of his command. — Official persecution of Gen. Beauregard. — Violent declarations of the President. — Gen. Beauregard in retirement. — A private letter on the war, . 249

Chapter XXII

Gen. Beauregard in command at Charleston. — Military importance of " the City of Secession." — Gen. Beauregard's appeal to the patriotism of the Carolinians. — Naval attack on Charleston, 1863. — Gen. Beauregard's department stripped of troops. — Unavailing remonstrance to President Davis. — G-en. Gillmore's attempt on Charleston. — Its impotent conclusion. — Fame of Gen. Beauregard as an engineer. — He receives the thanks of Congress. —Returns to Virginia in 1864.— "Battle of the Falchion and the Buzzard." — Gen. Beauregard's plan of campaign before the battle of Drewry's Bluff. — Remarkable interview with President Davis. — Connection of Gen. Beauregard with Hood's campaign. — He advises the evacuation of Richmond. — Merits of G-en. Beauregard's military career. — Description of his person and habits, 257

Chapter XXIII

GEN. ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON.

Remarkable career of Albert Sidney Johnston. — He eludes the Federal authorities in California. — Declares for the Southern Confederacy, and " annexes " Arizona. — In command of the Western armies. — Picture of a hero. — Proclamation on the occupation of Kentucky. — Foolish exaltation of Southern hopes. — True situation of Gen. Johnston. — His noble silence in the face of clamour. — Letter on the fall of Fort Donelson. — A glance at the "Western map of the war. — The Confederate line broken and the campaign transferred to the southern bank of the Tennessee river. — Battle of Shiloh. — Gen. Johnston riding on to victory. — His death-wound. — Lamentations in the South. — Tributes to his memory. — A classic inscription, . 271

Chapter XXIV

GEN. BRAXTON BRAGG.

Equivocal reputation of Gen. Bragg in the war. — His services in Mexico. — Offers his sword to Louisiana. — His command at Pensacola. — Gallant participation in the battle of Shiloh. — His reflections upon Gen. Beauregard. —In command of the Western forces. — His Kentucky campaign, as correspondent to the Virginia campaign of 1862. — Battle of Perrysville. — Gen. Bragg's retreat through Cumberland Gap. — Criticisms and recriminations touching the campaign, 284

Chapter XXV

Battle of Murfreesboro. — Interval of repose. — Retreat to Chattanooga. — Gen. Bragg refuses to fight at the instance of the War Department. — Reinforced from the Army of Northern Virginia. — Battle of Chickamauga. — A commentary in the Richmond Whig. — Violent quarrel between Gens. Bragg and Longstreet. — The disaster of Missionary Ridge. — Gen. Bragg relieved from command and appointed " military adviser " of President Davis. — Explanations in a Richmond journal. — Gen. Bragg's last service in the field. — Fall of Wilmington. — Gen. Bragg's military career criticised. — His ardent Southern patriotism, 295

Chapter XXVI

MAJ.-GEN. STERLING PRICE.

Anomaly of the Missouri Campaign. — Early life of Sterling Price. — Governor of Missouri. — His Politics. — Formation of " The Missouri State Guard." — Personal appearance of the Commander. — His correspondence with Gen. Harney. — Affair at Booneville. — Gen. Price reinforced by Gens. MoCulloch and Pearce.— Battle of Oak Hill or Wilson's Creek.— Gen. Price's movement upon Lexington. — His success. — Designs against St. Louis. — Why they were abandoned. — Retreat of the Patriot Army of Missouri. — The State joins the Southern Confederacy. — Gen. Price's Proclamation at Neosho, 309

Chapter XXVII

Gen. Price at the head of ten thousand men. — McCuUoch refuses to cooperate. — Admirable retreat of Price's army to Boston Mountains. — Hardihood of his troops. — A message from Gen. Halleck. — Gen. Van Dorn appointed Confederate Commander of the Trans-Mississippi. — Battle of Elk Horn. — Its importance. — Heroism of Gen. Price on the field. — The Missouri troops cross the Mississippi River. — Gen. Price's eloquent address to " the State Guard," 321

Chapter XXVIII

Career of G-en. Price as a subordinate. — Mortality record of the Missouri Guard. — Their participation in the battle of Corinth. — Battle of Helena. — Gen. Price's cherished idea of liberating Missouri. — His agreement with G-en. Fremont for the humanities of the war. — How the enemy violated it. — Gen. Price's last attempt to save Missouri. — His final retreat from the State. — Summary of the character of Gen. Price. — A defect in his military career. — G-en. Price as an exile, 328

Chapter XXIX

GEN. JOSEPH EGGLESTON JOHNSTON.

Some account of " the first families " of Virginia. — Ancestry of Joseph Eggleston. — Peter Johnston in the Revolutionary War, and in the State councils of Virginia. — Early life of Joseph E. Johnston. — Military tastes of the boy. — Services of Lieut. Johnston in the Florida War. — An incident of desperate courage. — Services in the Mexican War. — Bon Mot of Gen. Scott. — Johnston appointed Quartermaster-General, 337

Chapter XXX

Gen. Johnston's resignation from the United States Army. — He visits Montgomery.— Appointed a full General. — Ordered to Harper's Ferry. — The place a cul de sac. — Johnston abandons it. — Reasons for destroying the property of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. — How Gen. Johnston amused Patterson. — He asks permission to join Beauregard at Manassas Junction. — The march to Piedmont, and transportation hence to Manassas, . . . 344

Chapter XXXI

Gen. Johnston's survey of the field of Manassas. — He indicates the enemy's design to flank the Confederate left. — His anxiety about Patterson's movements,— Plan of attack upon Centre ville. — Why it failed. — Non-arrival of part of the Army of the.Shenandoah. — Popular misrepresentations of the battle of Manassas. — The real plans of action on each side. — How Gen. Johnston overlapped the flanking movement of the enemy. — His orders to Gen. Bonham to attack on Centreville. — The most brilliant opportunity of the day lost. — Gen. Johnston's published reasons for not attacking Washington. — This explanation criticised. — Evidence of McClellan. — The Confederate Army demoralized by their victory. — Sequel of Manassas, 352

Chapter XXXII

An early council of the Confederate Government. — Unpopularity of Gen. Johnston.— He indicates the value of concentration, and proposes an aggressive movement against the Potomac. — Overruled by President Davis. — Attempt to bring McClellan to battle. — Blockade of the Potomac River. — True theory of the battle of Leesburg, or Ball's Bluff. — Gen. Johnston meditates a retreat from North Virginia. — A notable Council of War in Richmond. — Gen. Johnston's advice overruled by President Davis and Gen. Lee. — Transfer of Johnston's Army to Yorktown. — Why he abandoned the Peninsula. — Gen. Johnston's share in Jackson's Valley Campaign. — Battle of Seven Pines. — How its results were limited. — Gen. Johnston wounded. — He loses command of the Army of Northern Virginia, .361

Chapter XXXIII

Gen. Johnston's designs against McClellan. — Why he considered his wound fortunate for the Confederacy. — Anecdote of a dinner-party in Richmond. — Gen. Johnston's mission to the west. — True nature of his appointment and powers. — Rather a Local Secretary of War than a Commanding-General. — Interesting conference between Gen. Johnston and Secretary Randolph. — He proposes to make one military department of the whole Mississippi Valley. — Gen. Johnston's visit to Bragg's Army. — The defence of Vicksburg. — Antecedents of Gen. Pemberton. — Detailed account of the correspondence and relations between Gens. Johnston and Pemberton. — Gen. Johnston's orders twice disobeyed. — His last order, " Hold out," as involving the fate of the Confederacy. — Surrender of Vicksburg, and its train of consequences to the close of the war, 372

Chapter XXXIV

Important supplement to the story of Vicksburg. — President Davis' part in the disaster. — Radical difference of military views of the President and of Gen. Johnston. — The disaster of Missionary Ridge. — Gen. Johnston takes command of the Army of Tennessee. — His successful reorganization of it. — Comparison of forces with the enemy. — Gen. Johnston's reasons for withdrawing from Dalton. — Sherman's plan of campaign. — The retreat towards Atlanta and its incidents. — Gen. Johnston removed from command.—" All hell followed."— A sharp dispatch to Richmond. — Injustice of the government to Gen. Johnston, 390

Chapter XXXV

The fall of Atlanta and what it involved. — Gen. Johnston foretells Sherman's " march to the sea." — The Fee Victis. — Gen. Johnston restored to command. — The North Carolina campaign. — Sherman's stipulations for a surrender. — Interference from Washington. — Qualities of Gen. Johnston as a great commander.— His military peculiarities. — Compared to George Washington. — His patriotic and noble silence under censure. — His person and deportment. — Literary accomplishments. — His advice to the Southern people on their duties after the surrender, 402

Chapter XXXVI

LIEUT. -GEN. JAMES LONGSTREET.

His early military services. — Affair of Blackburn's Ford. — Battle of Williamsburg. — Gallantry at Games' Mills. — Incident of march to Second Manassas. — Separate command in South Virginia. — Desperate fighting at Gettysburg.— Sobriquet of " The Bull-dog." — Decisive part in the battle of Chickamauga. — Quarrel with Gen. Bragg. — Campaign in East Tennessee. — Its errours. — A sharp correspondence with the Federal General Foster. — Gen. Longstreet rebuked by President Davis. — He is wounded in the Wilderness.— Military character and aptitude of the man. — Fraternal relations with Gen. Lee. — His personal appearance, 411

Chapter XXXVII

LIEUT.-GEN. J. E. B. STUART.

Unique figure of Stuart in the war. — His first cavalry command in the valley of Virginia. — Adventure with Capt. Perkins. — Complimented by Gen. Johnston. — The action of Dranesville. — " The Ride around McClellan." — Adventure at Verdiersville. — Capture of Gen. Pope's coat and papers. — Ex-

Sdition into Pennsylvania. — At Fredericksburg. — At Chancellorsville. — is characteristic intercourse with Stonewall Jackson. — Splendid review at

Brandy Station. — The scene changed into bloodiest battle. — Gen. Stuart's serious omission in the Gettysburg campaign. — Adventure in the flanking movement in North Carolina. — Hair-breadth escapes of the commander. — He is shot down at Yellow Tavern. — His last moments. — Criticism of his military character, ......... 421

Chapter Xxxviii

LIEUT. -GEN. AMBROSE P. HILL.

His record in the United States A rmy. — His part in the battles around Richmond, 1862. — Conspicuous gallantry at Frazier's Farm. — He repulses six assaults in the second battle of Manassas. — Critical service at Sharpsburg. — Episode of Boteler's Ford. — Bristoe Station. — Failure of General Hill's health. — He resumes command in front of Petersburg. — Reams' Station. — Tragic death of the Commander. — His virtues and gallantry, . 440

Chapter XXXIX

LIEDT.-GEN. DANIEL H. HILL.

" Bethel " Hill a curiosity as well as celebrity of the war. — His Revolutionary ancestry. — rServices in Mexico. — His adventures as a Professor and literateur.— Curiosities of " Hill's Algebra."— The affair of Bethel and its exaggeration.— Gen. Hill's account of McClellan's retreat from Richmond. — His most memorable and heroic service at South Mountain Pass. — Gen. Hill's criticism of the battle of Sharpsburg. — Heroic record of a North Carolina regiment. — Gen. Hill at Chickamauga. — Removed from command. — His literary exploits and eccentricities, ...... 448