The last year of the war

Preface

The author continues in this volume, and closes with it, his Popular Annals of the War. He is well aware that he has made but a rude compilation of events, in this hasty and unpretending work ; ■ but he hopes that in his four volumes of plain narrative, he has at least laid a foundation for an elaborate and well-digested History of the War, which he proposes to himself as the work of years, and entertains as the literary ambition of his life.

The writer may properly say here, with the completion of this volume of hasty narrative, tliat he designs now to betake himself to the composition of a fair and standard history of the War in America ; of which so far he has constructed scarcely more than the skeleton. Resolved as he is by just and patient labors to rescue the truth from the peculiarly industrious misrepresentation of the Yankee, and ambitions thus to do a most important service to his countrymen of the South, and duly vindicate their name to posterity, he shall, in his large and new design, trust much to their aid — especially that of their military leaders and public men — in giving him the benefit of intelligent advice, and in collecting the ill-preserved and disjected historical testimony of the struggle of the Confederates.

The announcement of this new work will be shortly made in a more proper form, and with a fuller detail of the author's purposes and requests.

PKEFACE.

But one word more is not inappropriate here. It is to remind the people of the South that the very fact that the war has gone against them makes it more important that its records should not fall entirely to the pens of their enemies. All persons in the Son'th who assist in gathering the true testimony of their unfortunate struggle, perform a last, but most important oflSce of faithful love, and do a noble work in rescuing the name of a lost cause from the slanders of t^^ose who, having been our accusers and executioners in this present time, would also be our judges at the Bar of History.

Chapter 1

Condition of the Confederacy in the early summer of 1864. — The expectations and hopes of the South. — Grant's " On to Richmond." — Ulysses S. Grant and his command. — His services and character. — The Bawles of the Wilderness. — A heroic stand. — Heth's and Wilco^x's divisions. — A critical conjuncture. — Grant's whole army on the threshold of ruin. — Grant's change of front and General Lee's new line. — The Northern newspapers go into ecstasies. — The Battles of Spottstl- VANiA Courthouse. — A crisis. — A thrilling scene. — " General Lee to the rear !" — Six days of battle. — Grant's obstinacy. — Sheridan's expedition. — A fight at Yellow Tavern. — Death of General " Jeb" Stuart. — Butler's movement up the James. — Beauregard drives him to Bermuda Hundred. — " The Buzzard and the Falcon." — The Enemy's Operations in Western Virginia. — The combination there. — Three movements.— Sigel's defeat at Newmarket. — McCausland checks Crook at Dublin Depot. — Morgan defeats Averill at Wytheville.— Grant moves down the Valley of tho Rappahannock.— Engagements near Hanover Junction. — Grant crosses the Famunkey. — He is within a few miles of Richmond. — The true theory of his movements, defeat, not victory. — His immense losses.— Lee's admirable movements and positive successes. — Nonsense of the newspapers Page 13

Chapter II

Grant essays the passage of the Chickahominy. — Battle of Cold Harbor. — A brilliant and extraordinary victory for the Confederates. — Grant's stock of expedients. — He decides to move to the south side of the James. — Operations in Western ViRQiNLA. — Shocking improvidence of the Richmond authorities. — Hunter captures Staunton. — Death of General Jones.— Grant's new combination.— Hunter's part.— Sheridan's part. — The Battles of Petersburg. — Butler attempts to steal a march upon "the Cockade City."— Engagements of the 16th, I7th, and 18th of June.— Port Walthal Junction.— Defeat of Sheridan at Trevillian Station.— Defeat of Hunter near Lynchburg.— Morgan draws Burbridge into Kentucky.— Two affairs on the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad.— The Great Mine Explosion.— A scene of infernal horror.— Yankee comments on Grant's failures.— Great depression in the North.— Mr. Chase's declarations.— General Lee's sense of success. —His singular behavior.— The Sinking of the Privateer Alabama.— A Yankee trick of concealed armor.— The privateer service of the Confederates.— Interesting statistics Pag-e 1:9

CONTENTS.

Chapter III

Sherman's campaign in Georgia. — How parallel with that in Virginia. — The tasks of Grant and Sherman compared. — Numerical inferiority of General Johnston's forces. — His proposition to the Eichmond authorities. — Pragmatism of President Davis and his secretary. — Engagement in Eesaca Valley. — General Johnston's designs. — Why he retreated. — His disappointment of a buttle at Cassville. — Engagement AT New Hope Church. — True theory of the retrograde movement of Johnston. —Battle of Kenesaw Mountain. — Sherman's confession. — Sherman master of the Chattahoochee. — Johnston falls back to Atlanta. — The ve.xed question of Johnston's retreat. — What it surrendered. — What it secured. — Its strategic advantages. — Tlie enemy's movements in Virginia and Georgia both in check. — Disappointment of the enemy. — Statistics of Yankee recruiting. — Another Confederate success. — Defeat of Sturgis. — " The Avengers of Fort Pillow."— Barbarities of the enemy's summer campaign. — Augmentation of Yankee ferocity. — Its effect on the Confederates. — Offensive operation of the Confederates.— Three projects of invasion. — Early's Invasion of Maryland, &c.— Sigel's retreat. — Battle OF Monocaoy Bridge. — Early loses the great opportunity of 1864. — Results of his expedition. — Engagement at Kernstown. — Morgan's Invasion of Kentucky. — His failure. — Price's Invasion of MissouRi.-^Pilot Knob. — General Ewing's retreat. — Price retires Page 46

CHAPTER lY.

Great revulsion in the public mind of the North in the summer of 1864. — A general outcry for peace. — Spirit of Yankee newspapers. — The Niagara Falls "Commission." — The Jacques-Gilmore Affair.— Sorry figure of the Confederacy in these negotiations. — The question of peace negotiations in the Confederacy. — True method of peace. — Manifesto of the Confederate Congress. — Position of President Davis — His letter to Governor Vance, of North Carolina. — The Chicago Convention, etc. — Speeches, etc. — The real programme of the Democratic party.— Why it broke down. — No virtue in public opinion in the North. — The true peace men of the North. — Their Convention at Cincinnati. — A reaffirmation of Jefi'ersonian Democracy. — A masterpiece of statesmanship. — The Presidential campaign of 18ti4. — The rival administrations at Richmond and Washington. — A comparative view of Northern despotism. — Tlie con.scription and impressment laws of the Confederacy. — The offerings of Southern patriotism. — The Yankee record in the matter of slavery. — " Military necessity."— The Yankee record in the matter of civil liberty. — An outrage upon history , Page 63

CHAPTER Y.

The business of blockade-running. — Its risks. — Interesting statistics. — Value of the port of Mobile. — Naval Fight and Capture of the Forts in Mobile Bay. — A frightful disparity of force. — Heroic fight of the ram Tennessee.— Absurd boasts of the Yankees. — Surrender of Fort Gaines. — Fall of Fort Morgan. — The Georgia Campaign. — Its importance. — Jolinston's situation at Atlanta. — His removal by President Davis. — A fatal error. — Lieutenant-Gencral Hood. — The Battles of Atlanta — The Fall of "the Gate City." — Reckless and desperate fighting —

CONTENTS. 7

Yankee raid on the Macon road. — Hood's " magnificent advance." — Bombardment of Atlanta. — Hood's fatal mistake. — Sherman's new movement. — He "cuts the Confederates in two." — The Yankees in Atlanta. — Sherman's cruelties. — His depopulation of Atlanta. — Enormity of the order. — Sherman as a pacificator. — Governor Brown's letter. — Position of Vice-President Stephens. — Effects of the fall of Atlanta. — President Davis' Macon speech. — Its swollen tone. — Capture of THE Confederate Privateer Florida. — Its cowardice and outrage. — Yankee idea of glory. — The Destruction of the Confederate Eam Albemarle. — Yankee estimation of the exploit. — The North Carolina Sounds. — The St. Albans Raid. — Stories of the savage vengeance of the Confederates. — How much truth there was in them 81

CHAPTER YI.

The Richmond lines. — The Fall of Fort Harrison, etc. — The attempt to retake it. — Why it failed. — Engagement on the Charles City Road. — Death of General Gregg. — Engagement on the Williamsburg and Boydton Roads. — Another Grand Attempt on Richmond. — A shameful failure. — The "electoral necessity" at Wasliington. — The Campaign in the Valley of Virginia. — Early's mission in the Valley. — How a part of the combination to protect Richmond. — Sheridan's command. — His strategy. — Battle near Winchester. — A critical moment. — The enemy's centre broken. — He recovers. — Misconduct of the Confederate cavalry. — Early retreats to Fisher's Hill. — The Battle of Fisher's Hill. — A most unexpected reverse to the Confederates. — Misgivings and alarm in Richmond.— The capture of Staunton. — Sheridan's devastations of the Valley. — " Barn-burning." — An affair of Rosser's cavalry. — " The! Savior of the Valley.'' — Battle of Cedar Creek. — Two-thirds of Sheridan's army completely routed. — Early's awkward pause.— Plunder of the Yankee camp. — The enemy regains the day. — Shameful rout of the Confederates. — The Valley campaign virtually ended. — Southwestern Virginia. — Breckinridge's campaign. — The Yankees capture the salt-works at Saltville. — Destruction of the works 98

CHAPTER YH.

Mr. Lincoln's extraordinary triumph.— Reassembling of the Richmond Congress.

President Davis' review of the situation. — A memorable boast. — New demands of the Confederate conscription.— Military resources of the North and South compared.— Plethoric wealth of the North.—" Twenty against one."— Two advantages the South had in the war.— Its conditions of success. — The value of endurance on the part of the South. — The Hood-Sherman Campaign. — Speeches at headquarters. —Hood commences his march.— Capture of Dalton.— Slierman follows as far as Gaylesville.— He turns back.— Georgia and South Carolina " at his mercy."— An extraordinary campaign.- Hood and Sherman marching away from each "other.— Hood crosses into Tennes.'fee.- The Yankee retreat to Franklin.— The Battle of Franklin.— Great loss in Confederate officers.— The enemy retreats to Nashville.— Battle OF Nashville.— The giving way of Bates' division.— A shameful stampede. —Hood's losses.— The whole scheme of Confederate defence west of the AUeghauies broken down.— The errors of Hood's campaign 116

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER Vm.

Sherman's march from the mouutains to the sea. — Yankee boasts, — Easy nature of Sherman's enterprise. — " Grand" mistake of the Confederates. — The burninf^ of Atlanta. — Five thousand liouses in ruins. — Sherman's route to Milledgeville. — Second stage of the march to Millen. — Last stage of the march. — Wheeler's cavalry. — The fall of Savannah. — Capture of Fort McAllister. — Probable surprise of Hardee. — The Confederates evacuate Savannah. — Sherman's Christmas-gift to Mr. Lincoln. — The true value of Sherman's exploit. — His own estimation of it. — Despondency in the South. — Depletion of the Confederate armies. — The exchange op PRISONERS, etc. — Bad faith of the Yankees. — Their misrepresentations. — The question of recaptured slaves. — A Yankee calculation. — The Washington Government responsible for the sufferings of Yankee prisoners. — How capital was made out of their sufferings. — A game with " sick" prisoners. — How " rebel barbarities" were manufactured. — Noble conduct of General Grant. — Its commentary on the Washington cabinet. — His " victory" over that body 130

CHAPTER IX.

The blockade at Wilmington. — How ineffective. — First expedition against Fort Fisher. — Butler's powder-ship. — The two days' bombardment. — Landing of Butler's troops. — Butler decides not to attack. — His sudden departure. — He is removed from command. — Second expedition against Fort Fisher. — Fall of Wilmington. — Landing of Terry's command. — Movements of General Jloke. — The assault on the fort. — A feu (Tenfer. — Desperate fighting. — The Confederates overpowered. — Surrender of Fort Fisher. — Evacuation of Fort Anderson. — Yankee occupation of Wilmington. — How a part of General Sherman's campaign in the Carolinas. — Sherman's sixty days in the Carolixas. — Direction of his march. — Crossing the Savannah River. — Mismanagement of tlie Confederate troops. — Sherman at Branchville. — The fall of Charleston. — Hardee joins Beauregard. — Conflagration in Charleston.— Explosion at the railroad depot. — A scan-ed city. — Charleston as seen through Yankee eyes. — Capture and burning of (/Olumbia. — Wild and savage scenes of pillage. — The city on fire. — Four thousand citizens homeless. — Sherman's march northward. — His organization of " bummers." — The column of smoke. — The Yankees at Winnsboro'. — More of the enemy's atrocities. — Sherman's feint upon Charlotte. — His occupation of Fayetteville. — Hampton attacks Kilpatrick. — Sherman's appointment of a rendezvous with Seliofield. ^Hardee's fight near Averysboro'. — What he did with half a corps of Confederates. — The Battle of Bentonville. — Success of the Confederates. — No decisive results. — Sherman's move towards Goldsboro'. — Schofield's movement. — Sherman's success. — His congratulatory order. — A military conference at City Point, Virginia 141

CHAPTER X.

The date of distrust in the Southern mind. — Oliservation of General Lee. — A peculiar moral condition of tlie Confederacy. — Want of confidence in President Davis' administration. — Impatience of the prolongation of the war. — Davis' unpopularity. — Weak attempts in Congress at a counter-revolution. — General Lee made conimander-in chief. — The title a nominal one. — The Virginia delegation and the President. — Mr. Seddou's resignation. — President Davis' defiance to Congress. — The

CONTKXTS. 9

Davie-Johnston imbroglio. — Senator Wigfall's speeches. — Johnston's restoration. — President Davis' opinion of homoeopathy.— Sullen and indifferent disposition of the Southern people. — How they might have accomplished their iiniependence. — Review of the military situation. — Analysis of the peace feeling in the North. — How it w:iB likely to be developed by a long war. — The Union not the enemy's sine qua non. — Two contingencies tliat limited the war. — Tlie wortldess title of Yankee invasion. — "Cob-web" occupation of the Confederacy. — Note: an address in- the Kichmond newspapers. — The two fatal facts in the condition of the Confedenicy. — The Fortress Monroe Commission. — How it was brought about. — The Yankee ultimatum. — Official narrative of the Confederate commissioners.— A new attempt to rally the spirit of the South. — The meeting at the African church in Richmond. — President Davis' boasts. — His noble allusion to liistory. — How the cause of the Confederacy was in danger. — Proposition to arm the slaves of the South. — Indicative of a desperate condition of the public mind. — General Lee's opinion. — The slaveholding interest. — Its selfishness and insolence. — A weak concli;sion of the matter. — "Catching at straws" in the Confederate Congress. — Cluiracter of this body 159

CHAPTER XL

The last address and appeal of the Confederate 'Congress. — The war in a geographical point of view. — The Confederate Congress and President Davis. — The e.xecu- TrvE dep.vrtments. — A sharp recrimination.— A committee of the Senate reply to President Davis. — Maladministration in the War Department. — Two-thirds of the Confederate Army absentees. — Lee loses nearly half his army by desertions. — The other half threatened with starvation. — Ample supply of food in the country. — The fault in the Commissary Department. — Commissary Northrop a " pepper-doctor" as the favorite of Davis. — Analysis of President Davis' character for firmness. — How Northrop starved Eichmond. — History of the Confederate Commissariat. — Secret testimony in Congress. — President Davis' refusal to trade cotton for meat. — Persistent delusion about "king cotton." — Venality of the enemy. — Davis takes no advantage of it.-.-Eecord of the rations in Lee's army. — Startling statistics. — Attempts to get meat from Europe. — General Lee's army without meat. — His telegram to President Davis. — The necessities of the Commissary Department summed up in secret session of Congress. — But little done to meet theni. — How the caiise of tlie Confederacy would have failed without a catastrophe of arms. — Tlie military narrative resumed.— Military events in Virgini.*. in the winter of 1864-5. — Sheridan's raid. — Thirteen counties traversed. — Amount of destruction accomplished by the enemy. — The Richmond lines. — Hatcher's Run. — E.xtensioii of Grant's line. — Battle of Hares Hill. — Gallantry of Gordon's command. — Vigor ind brilliancy of the fighting of che Confederates. — No decisive results 178

CHAPTER XIL

The Battles around Petersburg.- -The movement of Sheridan's cavalry. — The Five Forks. — General Lee's counter-movement. — Repulse of Sheridan. — Re-enforced by Grant. — The Confederates flanked at tlie Five Forks. — The situation in front of Petersburg. — Lee's lines broken in three places. — Capture of Fort Mahone by the enemy. — General Lee loses his entire line of defence, and the Southside Railroad. — The Evacuation of Richmond. — Great surprise in the Confederate capital.— The news in the churches. — Dr. Hoge's address. — Consternation and uproar in the

10 CONTENTS.

streets. — The city on fire. — A reckless military order. — Scenes of horror. — Mob*! r)f plunderers. — The scene at the commissary depot. — Weitzel's entry into Eichmond. — Suffering of tlie people. — Scene on Capitol Square. — Devastations of the fire. — The burnt district. — Weitzel's and Shepley's general orders. — Yankee rejoicings over the fall of Kichmond. — Bell-ringings, hymns, and dancing in the streets of New York. — A grand illumination in Washington. — Yankee mottoes. — A memorable speech 191

CHAPTER XIII.

What the Confederates anticipated on the fall of Richmond. — Two opinions. — Prophetic words of the Eichmond Examiner. — Disintegration of Lee's army. — The line of his retreat.— Grant's pursuit.— Sheridan captures prisoners, guns, and wagons. — Sheridan's dispatch. — Change in the movements of both armies. — The situation at Appomattox Court-house. — How Lee was surrounded. — Surrender of thb Army of Northern Virginia.— A frightful demoralization of the army. — More than two-thirds of the men deserted. — Pickett's division. — Eeasons to suppose that General Lee had predetermined a surrender on moving from Kichmond and Petersburg. — Straggling of his soldiers. — Official correspondence concerning the surrender. — Interview between General Lee and General Grant at McLean's house. — How General Lee looked. — Grant's generous conduct. — Scenes between the lines of the two armies.- -An informal conference of officers. — How the news of surrender was received in the Yankee army. — How received at Washington. — Secretary Stanton's dispatch. — President Lincoln's speech. — " Dixie" in Washington.— General Lee's farewell address to his army. — His return to Richmond.— Effect of Lee's surrender. — General Johnston's department. — Movements in the Southwest. — Fall of Mobile. — Wilson's cavalry expedition through Alabama and Georgia. — Surrender OF Johnston's army. — Sherman's " basis of negotiations" repudiated at Washington. — The policy of the Northern Government unmasked. — Sherman's reply. — Surrender of Taylor's army. — Surrender of Kirby's Smith's army. — "War meetings" in Texas. — W ant of public resolution.— The last act of the war. — A sudden peace, and what it implied 207

APPENDIX No. I.

I

Political Iconoclasm in America. — The two idols of "the Constitution" and "the Union." — Extravagant praises of the Constitutien. — Its true value. — It contained a noble principle and glaring defects.— Character of the founders of the Constitution.

Hamilton. — Franklin. — His cookery-book philosophy. — His absurdities in the

Convention. — The cull for the Convention that formed the Constitution. — Three parties in the Convention. — The idea of a " national" government. — Conflict between the small and large States.— The result of this, the distinguishing feature of the Constitution. — That feature an accident, and not an a ■priori discovery.— Enumeration of defects in the Constitution. — Tlie weakness and ignorance of its framers. Its one conspicuous virtue and original principle. — (}ombination of State-rights

CONTENTS.

■with a common anthority.— How involved in the construction of the Senate.— How made more precise in tiie Amendments.— Particulars in which the element of the States was recognized.— A new rule of construction applied to the American Union. —The necessity which originated it.— The Constitution of the United States not a

■ political revolution.— The creature of the States.— True interpretation of its moral grandeur.— The bond of the Union a voluntary one.- No mission apart from the States.— Why coercion of the States was not necessary.— How the Union stood for an American nationality.— Its power to reach individuals.— 'Y:\ie. Union, in practice, rather a rough companionship than a national identity.— Eight of seces- 8ion.— Not necessary to discuss it— The development of the Union a North and South, and not disintegrated States.— Profound invention of Calhoun of South Carolina.— How it was a Union measure, and not " Nullification." 23S

II

What the American colonies contended for.— Burke's idea.— The first American Congress.— Its demands.— How the question of independence was developed.— Virginia the first to move for indepeudence.— The Declaration of Independence.— The Articles of Confederation.— Diverse character and circumstances of the colonies.— The gentry of Virginia and the Carolinas.— Early type of the Frt^/^e^.— Difference of races.— Its value in historical inquiries.— Commercial spirit of New England in the revolution.— The nature and the value of " the Confederation."— John Adams' idea.—" Perpetual Union."— The Confederation a makeshift of tlie war.— " State-rights" in the treaty pf 1783.— How the revolution succeeded.— Its illustration of th^e value of endurance.— Liberty invariably the fruit of rebellion.— The two conditions of all history ^^^

III

The times of Thomas Jefferson.- Manners and appearance of the man.— His Democracy.— Its application to the relations of the States and Federal Government.— Origin of the Republican or Democratic party.— The idea of consolidation.— New York, and the New England States.— Early political preaching in New England.— The Alien and Sedition laws.— How tlie latter infringed the rights of the States.— The Kentucky Resolutions.— A fact not in the record.— Mr. Jefferson on " nuUifi: cation."— Why the Kentucky Resolutions ^Qr& modified.— The Virginia Resolutions. —The replies of the New England States, and of New York.— Jefferson's triumph. — A new era at Washington • • • • '^^'

IV

The slavery question.— A libel on political nomenclature.— A brief moral defence of negro servitude in the South.— The history of its establishment.— Accommodation of the slavery question iii the Constitution.— Political history of the question.— The Hartford Convention. .^Two blows aimed at the South.— Devel-

■ opuient of the slavery controversy.— Mr. JeflTerson's opinion as to slavery ia the territories.— The Missouri restriction.— The initial point of the war of «<fC(!io««.— Mr. Jefferson's alarm.— The trace of disunion.— Real causes of conflict between the North and the South.— The slavery question subordinate and yet conspicuous.— Why so ?— How it was bound up in the conflict between State-rights and consolidation.— Northern civilization.— An insolent democracy.— Yankee " gentlenaen."— Plainness of the South.— A noble type of civilization.— Effect of slavery on the political and social character of the South.— Yankee vulgarity.— Why the South was the nursery of American statesmen 266

12 ' CONTENTS.

Y.

Contrast between the North and South in material progress. — The times of Andrew Jackson. — The tariff controversy. — Calhoun and Webster as representative men. — The latter a sophomore in American politics. — Mr. Webster's private correspondence and poetry. — His superficial accomplishments. — " Nullification," another libel of political nomenclature. — A true explanation and analysis of Mr. Calhoun's scheme to save and perpetuate the Onion. — Jefferson Davis' defence of Calhoun. New England's regard for the Union. — The veneration of the Union peculiarly a Southern sentiment. — Mr. Calhoun's Fort Hill speech. — The ignorance or hypocrisy of Webster and his party. — How the South was driven to " disunion.". . . 274

YI.

A Fourth of July sentiment in 1851. — Slavery not the Cause of Disunion. — The War of 1861. — What it has decided. — The incense of weak minds to the Yankee. — Last sentiment of President Davis 284

APPENDIX No. II.

KECONSTEUCTION.

Pbovisional Governments. — The Mississippi question. — The Amnesty Peoola- MATioN. — The franchise in Virginia. — Parcled prisoners. — Trade. — The definition of " loyalty." — Message of Provision al-Goveenor Johnson of Georgia. — Message of Provisional-Governor Perry of South Carolina. — The last six days of the Confedebaoy 287

OFFICIAL EEPOETS.

Kepokts of Lieutenant-General Longstreet 325, S58

Eepokts or Likijtenant-General Jaokson S37

THE LAST TEAR OF THE WAR.

Chapter I. ■

Condition of the Confederacy in the early summer of 1864. — The expectations and hopes of the South. — Grant's " On to Richmond." — Ulysses S. Grant and his command. — His services and character. — The Battles of the Wilderness. — A heroio stand. — Heth's and Wilcox's divisions. — A critical conjuncture. — Grant's whole army on the threshold of ruin.— Grant's change of front and General Lee's new line. — The Northern newspapers go into ecstasies. — The Battles of Spottsyl- VANiA Courthouse. — A crisis. — A thrilling scene. — "General Lee to the rear!" — Six days of battle. — Grant's obstinacy. — Sheridan's expedition. — A fight at Yellow Tavern. — Death of General " Jeb" Stuart. — Butler's movement up the James. — Beauregard drives him to Bermuda Hundred. — " The Buzzard and the Falcon." — The Enemy's Operations in Western Virginia. — The combination there.— Three movements.— Sigel's defeat at Newmarket. — McCausland checks Crook at Dublin Depot. — Morgan defeats Averill at Wytheville.— Grant moves down the Valley of the Rappahannock.— Engagements near Hanover Junction. — Grant crosses the Pamunkey. — He is within a few miles of Richmond. — The true theory of his movements, defeat, not victory. — His immense losses. — Lee's admirable movements and positive successes. — Nonsense of the newspapers.

The spirit of tlie Southern Confederacy was scarcely ever more buoyant than in the month of May, 1864. The confidence of its people in the ultimate accomplishment of their independence was so firm and universal, that any other conclusion was but seldom referred to in general conversation or in the prevision of one's private affairs ; and in Richmond and elsewhere the hope was freely indulged that the campaign of 1864 was to be decisive of the war, and to crown the efforts of the South with peace and independence.

There had been abundant occasion for this revival of confidence in the public mind of the Confederacy. The winter just past had been one of a large aggregate of success to the Confederate arms. Several brilliant expeditions had been planned and accomplished by them ; while on the enemy's side all the work he had cut out for the winter had come to grief, and every one of his elaborate enterprises in that season had failed, with a concurrence of disaster most remarkable in the history of the war.

The invasion of Florida had been a shocking failure. Thomas had been repulsed in North Georgia, and was held completely in check there, Sherman's grand expedition in the Southwest and his famous experiment of " the strategic triangle" had come to the most absurd and disastrous conclusion — " Half of his army," said this chieftain, " went to Memphis and half went to h — 11." Banks's proposed conquest of the Trans- Mississippi had been to the Confederates the occasion of that celebrated Red River campaign, the most glorious in the pages of their history, in which they not only reclaimed the coast and frontier of the Trans-Mississippi, but left the Massachusetts hero scarcely more of Louisiana than was covered by his pickets. And there had been other positive successes on the Confederate side. Forrest, by long and rapid marches, had spread terror along the banks of the Mississippi, and cut a swath across the State of Kentucky ; and on the eastern frontier the expeditions of Pickett and of Hoke had been brilliant events for the Confederacy, leaving the enemy only two places, "Washington and Newborn', on the coast of North Carolina.

No wonder that the events of this winter were accepted by the Confederates as happy auguries for the ensuing campaign, and fresh occasions of hope and confidence. Their internal aifairs, too, had improved along with this current of military success. The army had been replenished by an enlarged conscription ; a happy revolution was already going on in the finances under the operation of the law which curtailed the currency thirty-three per cent.; supplies had been accumulated during the winter, and the storehouses of Richmond were filled to bursting with the subsistence that had been gathered, through the course of several months, for the great campaign in Yirginia.

Such were the extraordinary prospects with which the Confederacy entered upon the summer campaign of 1864. A general opinion had taken possession of the public mind that the North would make its grand effort in this year for the conquest of the South ; and that even negative results would be fatal to the enemy, as they would be insufficient to appease the growing popular impatience of the war in the North, or sustain any new demand of the government at "Washington for men and means.