XXII. THE MEXICAN WAR…

XXII. THE MEXICAN WAR

Texas was a nearly uninhabited part of Mexico, lying between Louisiana and the Rio Grande river. It was a fertile region, with a fine climate. The Spanish possessors of Mexico, in the bigoted and bitter spirit that was traditional with the Spaniards toward protestants, and deeply hostile in feeling from the rather high-handed and vigorous proceedings of Gen. Jackson before and after the cession of Florida, did not encourage the settlement of Texas; preferring to be separated by a wilderness from the United States. In 1821 the Mexicans finally threw off the Spanish yoke and established an independent government.

About this time the Americans, and especially those of the South, foreseeing the probable spread of the northern part of the Republic to the Pacific, began to look with covetous eyes on the fine Savannas of Texas, as an excellent field for land speculations, and also for extending the Southern area, so as to keep its balance in the number of slave States equal to the free States of the North, as they had been provided for by the Missouri Compromise. It was believed to be the plan of Mr. Calhoun, an able and far-seeing statesman, thoroughly in earnest in the maintenance of slavery, and the political equality of the slave with the free States. A settlement was made by people from the United States. In a few years they grew to be numerous, and came in conflict with the rigid Spanish Catholic laws, still maintained by the Mexicans. The United States government made advances toward purchasing Texas, but the Mexicans were resolute in their purpose to hold it, and bring its people under the dominion of strict Mexican law. The Americans resisted this with the settled determination of ultimate separation from Mexico, and probable annexation to the United States.

The Mexicans undertook to reduce them to submission. The Texans, supported by bold and fearless adventurers from the Southern States, resisted. The war commenced Oct. 2d, 1835, by a battle at Gonzalez, followed by various others. March 2d, 1836, the Texans formally declared Independence, which they maintained by force of arms. March 3d, 1837, the United States government recognized the Independence of Texas. England did the same in 1842. Propositions of annexation had been made to Presidents Jackson, Van Buren, and Tyler, successively, by the Texas government, but as often rejected by them as tending necessarily to a war with Mexico; that power having distinctly and repeatedly declared that she should regard such a step as a declaration of war.

The Democratic party regaining the ascendency in the election of 1844, made this annexation the issue of the presidential campaign. A majority of the people were in favor of it.

The Southern view, however, was not alone in its influence on this decision. Indignities and injuries had been inflicted by the Mexicans on American citizens in that country; its haughty, exclusive, and unfriendly spirit awakened strong indignation; and the Pacific coast of California, with the mining regions of the northern interior of Mexico, both nearly uninhabited, were objects of desire to the American people. Thus a wish to extend the bounds of the Republic, and to chastise an insolent neighbor, combined with the ardent wishes of the pro-slavery interest, to lead the nation to determine on a war, somewhat ungenerously, with a neighbor notoriously too weak and disorganized for effectual resistance to the whole strength of the United States. The whole plan, as afterward carried out, was arranged in the cabinet at Washington almost before hostilities had actually commenced.

1846.

Mar. 28—Gen. Taylor takes position with a small army at the mouth of the Rio Grande opposite Matamoras. This the Mexican government regard as a declaration of war, for which they had prepared and were waiting.

Apr. 24—Hostilities commence by an attack on Capt. Thornton. He loses 16 men out of 63, and surrenders.

May 8—The battle of Palo Alto. Gen. Taylor with 2,300 men defeats 6,000 Mexicans. Mexican loss 100 killed, 300 wounded; American 4 killed, 40 wounded.

” 9—The battle of Resaca de la Palma. The Mexicans are totally defeated with a loss of about 600; the Americans lose about 160. Gen. La Vega, (Mexican,) taken prisoner. The Mexicans fled in total rout across the Rio Grande. The object of the war, so far as Texas was concerned, was gained; but the Mexicans were still spirited, and California, Utah, and New Mexico were not gained. An invasion and march on the city of Mexico were the next steps.

” 12—Congress ordered the raising of 50,000 men, and voted $10,000,000 to carry on the war.

July 6—Monterey, on the California coast is taken by the American navy under Com. Sloat.

” 9—Congress re-cedes the Virginia portion of the District of Columbia to that State.

” 30—The tariff on imported goods is reduced.

Aug. 3—President Polk vetoes the River and Harbor Bill.

” 8—He vetoes the French Spoliation Bill.

” 18—Gen. Kearney takes possession of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and declared the U. S. authority established over the people.

” 22—California is at this time entirely in the possession of U. S. forces.

Sept. 5—Gen. Taylor, with 6,000 men, commences his march on Monterey.

” 21—Gen. Worth, with 650 men, fights the Mexicans near Monterey.

” 22—The “Bishops Palace,” strongly fortified, is stormed and taken.

The previous attacks were directed on the rear of Monterey. An advance is now made in front with success.

” 23—The defenses are assaulted in front and rear. The city surrenders. Gen. Ampudia, the Mexican commander, had about 10,000 men and very strong fortifications. A truce of some weeks was agreed upon. Gen. Santa Anna having recently come into power, it was thought peace would be made. This proved delusive.

Oct. 25—Tobasco bombarded by the U. S. fleet, and the Mexican vessels in the port taken or destroyed.

Nov. 14—Tampico surrenders to Com. Connor.

Dec. 25—Battle of Bracito. Col. Doniphan, with 500 men, defeats a Mexican force of 1,200. Mexican loss 200, American but 7 wounded, none killed.

1847.

Jan. 8—The Mexican Congress votes $15,000,000 to carry on the war, to be raised on the property of the church.

Feb. 23—The larger part of Gen. Taylor’s army was withdrawn from him to support Gen. Scott in his march from Vera Cruz on the city of Mexico. Gen. Taylor, with only 4,500 men, is attacked by Santa Anna with 20,000 men. Santa Anna is completely defeated with a loss in killed and wounded of 2,000. American loss 264 killed, 450 wounded, 26 missing.

Mar. 1—Gen. Kearney proclaims California annexed to the United States.

” 3—A bill admitting Wisconsin into the Union passed.

” 9—Gen. Scott landed 12,000 men at Vera Cruz.

” 18—The cannonade of Vera Cruz commences.

” 26—Vera Cruz capitulates to Gen. Scott.

Apr. 18—The battle of Cerro Gordo. Santa Anna is defeated. He had 12,000 men. Gen. Scott 8,500. The Mexicans lost 1,100 in killed and wounded, and 3,000 prisoners. Gen. Scott lost in killed and wounded, 430. The Mexicans were vigorously pursued April 19, and the city of Jalapa taken possession of.

” 22—Gen. Worth takes possession of the town and castle of Perote.

May 15—Puebla is entered. It is the second city in Mexico. Offers of peace were now made by the Americans but rejected by the Mexicans.

Aug. 11—The army advances to the neighborhood of the city of Mexico.

” 19—The battle of Contreras. Americans successful in cutting the enemy’s communications. The Americans march in the night to attack a fortified camp which is carried at sunrise. American force 4,500, Mexican 7,000. Mexican loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, about 4,000; American, 66.

” 20—Cherubusco, a fortified hill, stormed and taken by Gen. Worth with 9,000 men. An armistice is now agreed on, and peace offered, but the Mexicans still hold to their first terms, and refuse to give up territory.

Sept. 8—The Mexicans determine to yield only to absolute force, and the American army again advances. Battles of Molinos del Rey, and Casa Mata. The Mexicans are largely superior in numbers and fight with determined valor, but are overcome. American loss 800.

” 13—Battle of Chapultepec. This fortress was the last exterior defense to the City of Mexico. It was once the site of the “Palace of the Montezumas.” The Mexican force within and outside the fortress 20,000. The American force 7,180. Mexican loss in killed, wounded, prisoners and deserted, about 14,000; American, 900. A part of the army gained a foothold in the City of Mexico.

” 14—Gen. Scott enters Mexico in triumph.

Oct. 9—Battle of Huamantla. Santa Anna again defeated.

” 18—Again at Attixco, with heavy loss. Santa Anna is now deserted by his troops, and resigns his office.

Nov. 11—The Mexican Congress assembles, and appoints commissioners to treat for peace.

1848.

Feb. 2—A treaty of peace signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo (a town four miles from Mexico).

” 23—John Quincy Adams expires at Washington.

May 20—The treaty having been ratified by the President and Senate of the U. S., March 10, it was followed by that of the Mexican government on this day.

” 23—Peace was proclaimed in the American camp.

The war was now over. The Mexicans relinquished all claim to Texas, and ceded Upper California and New Mexico to the United States. In return the United States gave them $18,500,000 of which $3,500,000 was due by a former treaty to citizens of this country and paid them by our government.

It will not be easy for an American to wholly condemn an act that gave us California and the fertile valleys and vast mining territory of the Pacific slope as well as New Mexico, or the chastisement which the Mexicans had merited for their barbarity; though he may blame the eagerness for the acquisition of territory and the support of slavery that led us to invade another country and humble her pride. The ability of Americans as soldiers would appear by this war to be unrivalled, and, in that view arouses our pride. The moral sense of the world must ever be shocked by war, though there seem many cases in which it is far the least of two evils. Our government was fairly generous so far as it dared be in dealing with the vanquished, as soon as its demands for territory were satisfied. It is also evident that this territory will be better developed and governed than would have been the case under Mexican rule.

Aug. 14—Oregon receives a Territorial government.

Nov.—Gen. Taylor was elected President this month and Millard Fillmore Vice President.

1849.

Jan. 26—Postal treaty with England concluded.

Mar. 3—Minnesota receives a Territorial government.

” 4—Gen. Taylor inaugurated President.

May 7—Gen. Worth, a very gallant officer of the Mexican war, died.

Sept.—A State Constitution is formed by the people of California, which excludes slavery.

Dec. 31—The House of Representatives ballots 63 times for a speaker, and now elects Howell Cobb, of Geo.

Gold was discovered in California, in Feb. 1848, and through 1849 emigrants—gold seekers—were arriving there by tens of thousands. By the end of this year it was a populous region. The mass of American immigrants were from the northern States, and disapproved of slavery, while the special end of the Mexican war was to procure more territory for that institution. At this time a violent contest was waged in Congress over that admission. It was not ended until late in the following year.

1850.

Jan.—Gen. Twiggs obtains the consent of the Seminoles of Florida to emigrate to the Indian Territory.

Feb. 13—President Taylor sends the constitution of California to Congress. There were many threats of secession in case California was admitted free.

Mar. 7—Mr. Webster’s great speech for the Union.

May 8—The “Omnibus Bill” reported by Henry Clay.

” 18—A private expedition from the south under command of Lopez invades Cuba. They are driven off with a loss of 30 killed and executed as pirates, on the 19th. The remainder returned to Key West on the 22d of the same month.

July 9—Death of President Taylor. Fillmore becomes acting President.

Sept. 9-20—A committee of thirteen, of which Henry Clay was chairman, had been appointed Apr. 19th, and they had prepared four measures forming a compromise between the North and South as to slavery, which were debated and passed into laws, receiving the concurrence of the President: First, the South conceded to the North the admission of California as a free State, and the abolition of the slave trade in the District of Columbia; Second, the North conceded to the South a stringent Fugitive Slave Law, and the organization of Territorial Governments in New Mexico and Utah without mention of slavery, but in the understanding that they were finally to form slave States. The real gain was to the North, as anti-slavery was advanced two steps, while the Fugitive Law could not be generally enforced in the North from the invincible aversion of the people to it, and the Southern people were not sufficiently migratory in their habits to introduce slavery into distant regions not naturally adapted to that institution. Still the question was laid aside for the present.

Nov. 19—Richard M. Johnson, a former Vice-President of the U. S., died.

Dec. 16—A treaty of Amity and Commerce ratified with Switzerland.

1851.

Mar. 3—A cheap postage law passed by Congress.

John C. Calhoun, the most eminent of Southern Statesmen, died.

1852.

June 28—Henry Clay, orator and Statesman, died.

July 3—A branch mint established at San Francisco, Cal.

Oct. 24—Daniel Webster died. These three were the ablest and most esteemed statesmen of their day.

Nov.—The seventeenth presidential election occurred. Franklin Pierce was elected. He was the Democratic nominee. Gen. Scott, Whig, was defeated.

1853.

Mar. 4—Pierce inaugurated President.

Aug. 11—Proclamation of President Pierce against the invasion of Cuba by armed Americans.

1854.

Mar. 23—An important treaty of commerce negotiated with the empire of Japan by Com. Perry, which opened a new era in the progress of that country, and of United States commerce and influence in Asia.

May 30—The failure of the compromise measures of 1850 to realize the hopes of the South from the rapid development of anti-slavery views in the North caused the subject to be again agitated, and the Missouri Compromise, which stopped the formation of slave States north of its south boundary line, was repealed; the question of the admission of slavery into Kansas and Nebraska, both being north of that line, being referred by the famous “Kansas-Nebraska Bill” to the “squatters,” or first settlers. This was called “squatter sovereignty.” This measure gave satisfaction to the South, but was strongly reprobated by many of the Northern people. Both sides prepared to renew the contest there, and civil war raged in Kansas for near three years. Each side sought to secure its end which terminated in favor of the North. The South could not compete with it in numbers nor drive the extra numbers away. This was the last hope of the South for preserving equilibrium in the general government.

The Democratic party in the North, anxious to soothe and conciliate the South, and not holding so advanced opinions against slavery, was still strong enough to maintain itself in power in the administration; but the Republican party, formed about this time by the dissolution of the Whig party, constantly grew in numbers and influence, and, by the end of the next administration its numbers were so large and the ultimate result so certain that the South resolved on secession rather than give up their favorite institution.

1855.

Feb. 24—The Court of Claims, an important relief to Congress and to claimants against the government, was established in Washington, by Congress.

1856.

Mar. 4—A Free State Legislature assembles in Kansas. It adopted a constitution and prepared to apply for admission into the Union.

Nov.—The eighteenth presidential election took place. James Buchanan was elected against J. C. Fremont and Millard Fillmore. Buchanan was the Democratic candidate; Fremont, Republican, and Fillmore, American, or “know nothing” candidate.

1857.

Feb. 2—Nathaniel Banks of Mass., a Republican, is elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. It had required two months and 133 ballotings to settle this point; indicating the nearly equal balance of parties, and the final success of the Republican element in the popular branch of Congress.

Mar. 4—Buchanan inaugurated President.

The next three years (after the decision of the Kansas troubles) were marked by the unnatural quiet that forebodes the storm. Anti-slavery feeling was maturing in the North, and discontent and secession tendencies in the South.

1858.

May 11—Minnesota admitted into the Union as a State.

1859.

Feb. 14—Oregon admitted into the Union as a State. The admission of these two without any corresponding ones in the South indicated the strength of Northern sentiment, and that the South had given up the struggle in that way. John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry, in this year, as showing the tone of Northern feeling, still further estranged the South from the Union.

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XXIII. THE CIVIL WAR

Was the inevitable result of an antagonism of interests, sentiments, and social structure in the two great sections of the Union—the North and the South. The foundation of these tendencies was laid before the formation of the Union, in early colonial times. The conflict commenced as soon as a close union was attempted, and the Constitution was adopted only through the personal influence of Washington and other statesmen of that time, and from the general conviction that it was essential to the protection of the new nation from England and other European powers. Some provisions of the Constitution involved a compromise between the North and the South; and a constant series of compromises was required to be arranged from time to time, down to this period.

The institution of slavery it was believed by many of the revolutionary fathers, would expire of itself at no distant time; but the value of the cotton cultivated at the South, and the intimate relations that slavery bore to the social life, made it profitable and agreeable to that section, and they held to it with great tenacity. Meanwhile the compromises of the Constitution grew more and more disagreeable to the North. The requirement of that instrument—that persons held to service in the South, and becoming fugitives in the North, should be returned by them—was objected to on humane and religious grounds, and they found slavery an industrial embarrassment. The enterprise and vigor of the northern population gave their section a more rapid growth, and its political power became continually greater.

But three ways of peacefully avoiding the conflict were open: the North must fully carry out the spirit of concession that gave birth to the Union, the South must consent, sooner or later, to abolish its peculiar institutions, or they must agree to separate. Interest, habit, and the aristocratic pride of the South forbade the second; while, in the North, interest, religious sentiment, and the workingman’s pride as decidedly forbade the first. The natural relation of the two sections, especially by the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, so essential to the commercial interests of the Western States: the improbability of maintaining amicable intercourse, with slavery in the South, and fugitives from it to produce constant irritation; the apparent probability that, if the right of dissolution were conceded, the West, and the Pacific States would follow this example; and the conviction that the true interests of the whole country, internal and external, required an indissoluble Union, inspired the majority of the northern people to resist disunion at every cost. On the other hand, the South claimed the right to depart in peace. Thus, war was inevitable; nor can it be correctly affirmed that any party, or any generation, or either section of the Union, was properly responsible for so lamentable a result. Each section, generation, and party follows the line of its own interest, ideas, and habits. It is a law of humanity, and each sees therein its duty and pleasure. While interests do not clash very seriously, while ideas are not sharply and clearly defined, and while habits are yet unsettled, compromises may be readily effected. Humanity, taken together, in the most advanced society heretofore known to men, is not yet capable of views so high, liberal, and far-seeing as to free it from the possibility of such conflicts. It will, however, reach that height, in the course of time.

We could not reasonably have expected either the North or the South to have acted differently from what they did. While so gigantic a war was an immense evil; to allow the right of peaceable secession would have been ruin to the enterprise and thrift of the industrious laborer, and keen-eyed business man of the North. It would have been the greatest calamity of the age. War was less to be feared.

The Southerner, generous, warm blooded, accustomed to rule and make his own will the law of others in his home, courageous and fiery, could not give way. Besides secession would be less damaging to him. He would own the outlets to much of Northern commerce, he had a bond of union of the Southern States in the common institution of slavery, and a monopoly of the world’s cotton that must soon secure profitable alliances in Europe. Secession was commenced peaceably, and the Southern government fairly consolidated before the trumpet sounded to battle. The Democratic party, then in possession of the administration of the general government, had long been in close relations with the South. It was impossible for it to realize the momentous character of the crisis, or to help sympathizing more or less with the views and feelings of the South; it was near the close of its period of rule; and it left the active management of the herculean difficulties of the situation to the incoming administration of the Republican party. The whole country was quiet, failing, perhaps, as well as the Democrats, to realize the significance of the events taking place. It was a period of breathless waiting for what would come next. The signal was given by the South. Fort Sumpter in South Carolina, a national fort, was bombarded April 12th, 1861. It was an electric shock. The North answered the summons by a note of defiance, and mustered for war.

The South was better prepared, more alert, more accustomed to arms, and secured, at first, many advantages. She also had the advantage of being on the defensive when the contest became close. But, as the months ran into years, the courage and iron resolution of the North did not falter. She had the advantage of numbers, of the general government, of wealth, and of naval force. Step by step she conquered, holding all she gained, grew skillful and wise by defeat, and, April 8th, 1865, the main army of the Confederates surrendered, and the war was over; the gallant South succumbed to the plucky North. It was a predestined conclusion. The free States were necessarily the strongest, and their strength was supported and inspired by religious sentiment and enthusiasm. The Union, so important to the world and to civil liberty, was preserved, but at fearful cost.

Probably 500,000 lives were sacrificed altogether, on both sides; and eight or nine billions of dollars. The desolation of the South, which had been mainly the theater of these mighty conflicts; the extreme change in pecuniary circumstances and social life there; the affliction, to freemen, of the subjection, however mild and temperate, necessary under the circumstances to be imposed, for the time, by the federal government; the great loss of valuable life to both sides; the immense debt of the government, with the unavoidable demoralization of certain parts of society, everywhere, by the license of war, and many other evils form the dark side of the picture.

Yet, nothing could outweigh the value of the Union especially when freed from the discordant element that now disappeared. It must be long before all wounds can be healed. When that time shall come both North and South will be recompensed for all they have suffered.

1860.

Nov. 6—Four parties contested this election: the Republicans voted for Abraham Lincoln—the Democrats for Stephen A. Douglas and J. C. Breckenridge. The old Whigs or Peace party, ignoring the dangerous political strife, voted for John Bell. Lincoln was elected. A simple majority of electoral votes would have been 157. He received 180.

” 7—News of Lincoln’s election received in South Carolina with cheers for a Southern Confederacy.

” 9—An attempt made to seize the arms in Ft. Moultrie.

” 10—South Carolina Legislature propose to raise 10,000 men.

Election of convention to consider secession ordered.

Jas. Chester, U. S. Senator from South Carolina, resigned.

” 11—Senator Hammond, of South Carolina, resigned.

” 15—Governor Letcher, of Virginia, calls an extra session of the Legislature.

” 18—Georgia Legislature appropriate $1,000,000 to arm the State.

Major Anderson sent to Ft. Moultrie to relieve Col. Gardiner.

” 19—Gov. Moore calls an extra session of Louisiana Legislature.

Dec. 1—Florida Legislature order the election of a convention.

Great secession meeting in Memphis, Tennessee.

” 3—Congress assembles. President Buchanan denies the right of a State to secede, and asserts the propriety of coercion.

” 5—Election of secession delegates to South Carolina Convention.

” 10—Howell Cobb, U. S. Sec. of Treasury, resigned; P. F. Thomas, of Maryland, appointed in his place. Senator Clay, of Ala., resigned. Louisiana Legislature orders the election of a Convention, and appropriates $500,000 to arm the State.

” 13—Extra session of the Cabinet held to consider if Ft. Moultrie shall be reinforced. President opposed, and reinforcements not sent.

” 14—Gen. Lewis Cass, U. S. Sec. of State, resigns. J. S. Black, of Pa., appointed.

” 17—South Carolina Convention assembles.

” 18—Crittenden Compromise proposed in U. S. Senate.

” 19—Gov. Hicks, of Maryland, refuses to receive Mississippi Commissioners.

” 20—South Carolina Convention unanimously adopts a Secession Ordinance.

” 22—Crittenden Compromise rejected in Senate Committee.

” 24—People of Pittsburg, Pa., stop shipment of military stores, from the arsenal there, to Southern forts.

Gov. Moore calls extra session of Alabama Legislature. Election to Alabama Convention; secession majority over 50,000.

South Carolina Members of U. S. House of Representatives resign.

” 25—Maj. Anderson abandons Ft. Moultrie for Ft. Sumter, Charleston Harbor. He has only 111 men.

South Carolina Commissioners arrive in Washington. President Buchanan declines to receive them.

” 28—South Carolina authorities seize Castle Pinckney, Ft. Moultrie, U. S. Custom-House, and other government property; at Charleston.

” 29—John B. Floyd, U. S. Sec. of War, resigns. Joseph Holt, of Ky., appointed.

” 31—South Carolina sends Commissioners to Slave States to arrange the organization of a Southern Confederacy.

1861.

Jan. 2—Gov. Ellis, of North Carolina, takes possession of Ft. Macon.

Georgia troops seize Fts. Pulaski and Jackson, and U. S. Arsenal, at Savannah.

” 4—Gov. Moore, of Ala., seizes Ft. Morgan, and U. S. Arsenal at Mobile.

Fast Day by proclamation of President.

” 7—State Conventions of Alabama and Mississippi, and State Legislatures of Virginia and Tennessee assemble.

” 8—Jacob Thompson, U. S. Sec. of Interior, resigns. Fts. Johnson and Caswell, North Carolina, seized by State authorities.

” 9—U. S. steamer, Star of the West, fired on in Charleston Harbor and driven away.

Mississippi Convention adopt Secession Ordinance. Vote 84 to 15.

” 10—Florida Convention secedes by vote of 62 to 7. Florida authorities seize Ft. McRae.

” 11—Alabama secedes by vote in Convention of 61 to 39. P. F. Thomas, U. S. Sec. of Treasury, resigns. John A. Dix appointed. The Governor of Mississippi seizes Forts Philip and Jackson, on the Mississippi river; Forts Pike and Macomb, on Lake Pontchartrain; and U. S. Arsenal at Baton Rouge.

” 13—Florida takes possession of Pensacola Navy Yard and Ft. Barrancas. Lieut. Slemmer, in command of Ft. Pickens, ordered by Com. Armstrong to deliver the Fort to Florida, refuses, and preserves that important post to the government of the Union.

” 16—Legislature of Arkansas calls a Convention. Col. Hayne, of South Carolina, demands of the President the surrender of Ft. Sumter, and is refused. Missouri Legislature order a convention to consider secession.

” 18—The Legislature of Virginia appropriate $1,000,000 for the defense of the State.

” 19—Georgia adopts Secession Ordinance by vote of 208 to 89.

” 21—Members of Congress from Alabama resign.

” ”—Jefferson Davis resigns his seat in the U. S. Senate.

” 23—Georgia members of Congress resign.

” 24—U. S. Arsenal, Augusta, Geo., seized.

” 26—Louisiana Legislature passes Secession Ordinance. Vote 113 to 17.

” 29—Kansas, the thirty-fourth State, admitted into the Union.

” 30—North Carolina Legislature submits the question of calling a Convention to the people.

” ”—Revenue cutters Cass, at Mobile, and McClelland, at New Orleans, surrendered to Southern authorities.

Feb. 1—Texas Convention passes Secession Ordinance, to be submitted to the people. Vote, 166 to 7. Louisiana government seize the U. S. Mint and Custom House, at New Orleans.

” 4—Peace Convention of Delegates from eighteen States, assembles at Washington; ex-President Tyler presides.

” ”—Delegates from seceded States meet at Montgomery, Ala., to organize a Confederate Government.

” ”—John Slidell and Judah P. Benjamin, U. S. Senators from Louisiana, resign their seats.

” 9—Jefferson Davis and Alexander H. Stevens elected provisional President and Vice-President of Confederate States, for one year.

” 13—Electoral vote counted. Abraham Lincoln received 180 votes; S. A. Douglas, 12; J. C. Breckenridge, 72; John Bell, 39. Majority required to elect, 157.

” 18—Ft. Kearney, Kansas, seized by Southern forces.

” 23—Gen. Twiggs, U. S. commander in Texas, delivered his army prisoners of war, and U. S. property valued at $1,200,000 to Confederate authorities.

” 28—Territorial Government organized in Colorado.

Mar. 1—Gen. Twiggs expelled from the army. Peace Congress adjourned.

” 2—Territorial government organized in Dacotah and Nevada.

” ”—Revenue cutter Dodge surrendered to the South, at Galveston, Texas.

” 4—Abraham Lincoln inaugurated 14th regular President of the United States.

” ”—The people of Texas having voted for the Secession Ordinance by 40,000 majority, the Convention declared the State out of the Union.

” 5—Gen. Beauregard takes command of Southern forces, at Charleston.

” 6—Ft. Brown, on the Rio Grande, surrenders to Confederate troops. Federal troops evacuated the fort and sailed for Key West, Florida.

” ”—Confederate Senate confirm nominations of President Davis to his Cabinet, viz.: R. Toombs, of Geo., Sec. of State; C. S. Memminger, of South Carolina, Sec. of Treasury; L. P. Walker, of Ala., Sec. of War; S. R. Mallory, of Fla., Sec. of Navy; J. H. Reagan, of Texas, Postmaster Gen.; J. P. Benjamin, of La., Attorney General.

” 11—The Constitution of Confederate States adopted in convention at Montgomery, Ala.; afterwards ratified by the several States.

” 28—Vote of Louisiana on secession—20,448 for, 17,926 against—made public.

” 30—Mississippi Convention ratifies the Confederate Constitution, by 78 to 70.

Apr. 3—South Carolina Convention ratifies Confederate Constitution, by 114 to 6.

Apr. 4—Virginia Convention refuse to present a Secession Ordinance to the people, by a vote of 89 to 45.

” 7—Intercourse between Ft. Sumter and Charleston stopped by order of Gen. Beauregard.

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XXIV. FIRST PHASE OF THE WAR

Each side hesitated to strike the first blow; but the South, being best prepared, and to end a suspense that threatened to be hurtful to their cause, opened the conflict by the bombardment of Ft. Sumter. Each now hastened preparations with vigor. Yet so long had been the intimate, friendly relations, that neither could believe in a long, deadly struggle. More than three months passed, during which frequent skirmishes occurred; but the leaders avoided bringing on a general battle. The Southern forces advanced toward Washington, but stopped short of an attack, sending out small bodies to make trial efforts, and get possession of important points.

The battle of Bull Run was the first great, serious combat. The brilliant bravery of Southern troops would have been overcome but for an opportune reinforcement at the decisive moment. The leaders did not feel it safe to pursue the vanquished Federals to Washington. There was a large reserve force there. Thus, if they won a battle they lost the object sought—the capture of the national Capital—and the Union forces, though defeated, gained the most important point—the protection of Washington.

Both sides now recognized the magnitude of the undertaking; the indomitable resolution of their opponents; and the need of thoroughly disciplining their troops, of organizing all branches of the military and naval service, and gathering stores, and distributing forces in accordance with the plan proposed by each.

This period continued until Feb., 1862. The U. S. Navy was increased from 42 vessels at the beginning of the war to about 300 at the close of this preparatory period. These blockaded the South and served for transport and attack. Two series of operations were planned by the U. S. government for the land forces: one in the Mississippi Valley and one in Virginia. In the meantime the Confederate leaders saw that it was impossible to invade the North as they had proposed without long preparation and large armies. They organized with speed but were thrown on the defensive.

1861.

Apr. 7—Steamer Atlantic, with troops and supplies for Ft. Sumter, sailed from New York.

” 8—The Federal Government notified South Carolina that provisions would be sent to Maj. Anderson, by force, if necessary. U. S. State Department refused to recognize the Commissioners from the Confederate States.

” 11—Troops are gathered in Washington, and oath of allegiance administered. Confederate Commissioners leave Washington.

Gen. Beauregard demands the surrender of Ft. Sumter. Maj. Anderson refuses.

BOMBARDMENT OF FT. SUMTER.

” 12—This was the real commencement of the Civil War. Batteries were constructed on Morris and Sullivan islands, and Cumming’s Point. The Confederate forces employ Ft. Moultrie, and a floating battery, in addition, against Ft. Sumter.

The South Carolina Legislature appropriate $500,000 to arm the State.

Ft. Pickens is reinforced by the U. S. government.

” 14—Fort Sumter was reduced to a mass of ruins, its fire silenced, and Maj. Anderson capitulated with the honors of war, and evacuated the fort, sailing for New York.

Gov. Yates, of Illinois, called an extra session of Legislature to meet April 22.

” 15—The President issues a proclamation commanding all in arms against the government to disperse in 20 days; calling also for 75,000 volunteers to defend Washington; and the New York Legislature authorizes the raising of $3,000,000 for their equipment and support.

The President calls an extra session of Congress, for July 4.

” 16—The governors of Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri refuse to furnish troops, under the President’s proclamation.

The Confederate government calls for 32,000 men.

” 17—The Virginia Convention, in secret session, adopt a Secession Ordinance, to be submitted to the people in May. The vote was 60 to 53.

Virginia forces sent to seize U. S. Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, and Gosport Navy Yard, at Portsmouth.

All the military power of the State of Virginia placed under the control of President Davis.

Jefferson Davis issues a proclamation offering Letters of Marque and Reprisal to privateers against Federal commerce.

” 18—U. S. Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry destroyed by Federal troops, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy.

Col. Coke, with 400 of 25th Penn. regiment, arrives in Washington for its defense.

” 19—U. S. steamer Star of the West seized at Indianola, Texas.

Massachusetts troops on the way to Washington, attacked by a mob in Baltimore. Troops fired on the mob. Blood shed on both sides.

President issues a proclamation declaring the coast from North Carolina to Texas in a state of blockade.

Military department of Washington covering Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, put under command of Gen. Patterson.

City Council of Philadelphia appropriate $1,000,000 to equip volunteers, and support their families.

” 20—Governor of North Carolina seizes U. S. Branch Mint, at Charlotte.

Bridges and railroads in Maryland destroyed by Secessionists, to prevent passage of troops to Washington.

U. S. Navy Yard, at Gosport, and property worth $25,000,000, destroyed by the Federals in charge, to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. Eight vessels of war were destroyed, and one, the Cumberland, was towed out.

Massachusetts troops arrive at Fortress Monroe.

Gov. Curtin calls special meeting of Penn. Legislature, for April 30th.

” 21—Federal government takes possession of Philadelphia and Baltimore railroad.

Senator Andrew Johnson mobbed at Lynchburg, Va.

” 22—U. S. Arsenals in North Carolina and Arkansas seized.

” 24—Fort Smith Arkansas, seized. Cairo, Ill., occupied by Union troops.

Maj. Sibley surrenders 450 U. S. troops to Col. Van Dorn, in Texas.

” 26—Gov. Brown, of Geo., forbids payment of debts to Northern people.

” 27—A steamer at Cairo, loaded with military stores for the South, seized.

Blockade extended to ports of Virginia and North Carolina.

” 29—The Maryland House of Delegates votes against secession, 63 to 13.

Governors Harris of Tennessee and Moore of Louisiana seize government property.

May 1—The Legislature of N. C. and Tenn. prepare for formal secession.

” 3—President Lincoln calls for 82,714 additional troops.

Fourteen companies of Kentucky troops offer themselves to the government, though the Governor had refused a levy.

” 4—Gen. McClellan takes command of the department of the Ohio.

” 6—Virginia admitted into the Confederacy. Tennessee and Arkansas pass Ordinances of Secession.

” 10—A rebel force in St. Louis surrenders to Capt. Lyon.

Gen. R. E. Lee takes command of Southern troops in Virginia.

” 13—Convention called at Wheeling to organize a new State.

” 14—Vessels with stores and property for the South seized at Baltimore.

” 15—Massachusetts offers U.S. Government $7,000,000 to carry on the war.

” 16—Gen. Scott orders the fortification of Arlington Heights.

” 17—Confederates commence fortifying Harpers Ferry.

” 18—Gen. Butler takes command of Department of Virginia.

” 19—Sewalls Pt. attacked by U S. steamers. Two schooners, with Southern troops, captured.

” 20—North Carolina formally secedes. Kentucky proclaimed neutral.

” 21—Southerners blockade the Mississippi at Memphis.

” 24—Alexandria and Arlington Heights occupied by Union troops.

” 26—Western Virginia voted largely in favor of the Union.

” 27—One hundred slaves fled to Fortress Monroe. Gen. Butler declared them “contraband” of war.

” ”—Two steamers engage the rebel batteries at Acquia Creek.

June 1—Various skirmishes between parties of the hostile armies.

” 3—Senator S. A. Douglas, of Illinois, died.

Battle of Philippi, Va. Union Col. Kelly wounded but victorious. Gen. Beauregard assumed command of Confederate forces at Manassas Junction. Voluntary contributions of northern States in aid of the Government over $32,000,000.

BATTLE OF BIG BETHEL.

” 10—Three Federal regiments defeated. 16 killed, 41 wounded.

” 11—Skirmish at Romney. Wheeling Convention meets.

” 14—Harper’s Ferry evacuated and burnt by Southern forces.

” 15—Confederate privateer, Savannah, brought, a prize, to New York.

” 17—Wheeling Convention of Unionists determine to make West Virginia an independent State.

” 18—Battle of Booneville, Mo. Gen. Lyon defeats Confederate Gen. Price.

” 20—At Cole Camp, Mo., Union men defeated; at Liberty, Mo., Southerners overcome.

” 23—Forty-eight locomotives of Baltimore and Ohio R. R. destroyed by Southern forces; value, $400,000.

” 26—President Lincoln recognizes the Wheeling government as that of Virginia.

” 29—Southern privateer, Sumter, escapes through blockade at New Orleans.

July 2—Battle near Martinsburg, Va., Gen. Patterson, Union, and Gen. Jackson, Confederate.

” 3—Southern men captured at Neosho, Mo. Consisted of 94 men.

” 4—Southern forces seize Louisville and Nashville railroad.

” 5—Congress assemble at Washington. President calls for 400,000 volunteers, and $400,000,000 to put down the rebellion.

Battle of Carthage, between Sigel, Union, and Gen. Jackson, Southern. Gen. Sigel retreated.

” 11—Nine Southern Senators expelled from U. S. Congress.

” 12—Battle of Rich Mountain, Va. Col. Rosecrans, Union, defeated Col. Pegram, taking 800 prisoners and his camp stores.

” 13—Confederates under Gen. Garnett, defeated at Carrick’s Ford, by Gen. Morris. Gen. Garnett killed.

” 15—Col. Stuart, commanding Confederate cavalry, attacks Union forces at Bunker Hill, Va., and is defeated.

” 16—Skirmishes at Millville, Mo., and Barboursville, Va.

” 18—Outposts of the two armies fight at Blackburn’s Ford, on Bull Run, some 20 miles from Washington. Southern troops withdraw.

BATTLE OF BULL RUN.

” 21—This was the first great battle. The Confederate government aims at the capture of Washington. Their forces, under Gen. Beauregard, about 22,000, afterwards strengthened by 6,000, are attacked by Union army under Gen. McDowell, with 28,000 men. It turns in favor of McDowell until arrival of Confederate reinforcement of 6,000, when Union army was totally defeated, the fugitives flying in great disorder to the defenses of Washington. Yet Confederates lost more in wounded, and failed to take the National Capital, the preservation of which was the supreme point to the Union forces. The South gained the battle, and the Union gained the cause.

” 25—Gen. McClellan takes command of the Army of the Potomac.

Aug. 1—Confederate forces at Harpers Ferry retreat to Leesburg.

” 2—Congress authorized the raising of 500,000 men and $500,000,000 to suppress the insurrection, providing for the last by tax and tariff.

Gen. Lyon repulses the Confederates at Dug Spring, Mo.

” 5—Commodore Allen bombarded Galveston, Texas.

” 7—Hampton, Va., burned by Southern forces.

BATTLE OF WILSON’S CREEK, MO.

” 10—Gen. Lyon, (Union,) with about 5,000 men, attacked Gen. McCullough, (Confederate,) with over 10,000. Gen. Lyon killed. Federal losses in killed, wounded, and missing, 1,211; Southern losses over 1,600. Union forces retreated to Springfield. McCullough too much shattered to follow.

” 12—President Lincoln proclaimed Sept. 30, a Fast Day.

” 14—Gen. Fremont declared martial law in St. Louis.

” 15—President Davis ordered all northern men to leave the South in 40 days.

” 16—President Lincoln forbids commercial intercourse with the South.

” 23—Cherokee Indians take part with the South.

” 28—Capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark, N. C., by Gen. Butler and Com. Stringham.

” 31—Gen. Fremont proclaims freedom of slaves and confiscates property of disunionists in Missouri. President Lincoln countermands it.

Sept. 1—Southerners defeated at Boonville, Va., and town destroyed.

” 4—Confederate Gen. Polk occupies Columbus, Ky. Southern forces, attempting to cross Potomac at Great Falls, repulsed.

” 10—Gen. Banks attacks Confederate Gen. Floyd, in intrenched camp, at Carnifex Ferry. Gen. Floyd retreats in the night.

” 12—Battle of Cheat Mountain, a Union victory. Col. J. A. Washington killed.

” 18—Secession members of Maryland Legislature imprisoned.

” 19—Arrest of Gov. Morehead and others for treason, in Louisville, Ky.

” 20—Col. Morehead, Union, besieged, at Lexington, Mo., and compelled to surrender with over 2,000 men, after a fight of four days.

Oct. 2—Battle of Chapmanville, Va. Confederates defeated.

” 3—Battle of Greenbriar, Va. Federal success.

” 4—Confederate success at Chicamacomico, Va. Federals retreated.

” 5—Steamer Monticello drives Southern forces from Chicamacomico.

” 7—Confederate Iron Clad Merrimac appears at Fortress Monroe.

” 11—Confederate Commissioners Slidell and Mason escape from Charleston, S. C.

” 16—U. S. troops recapture Lexington, Mo. Battle of Pilot Knob, Mo. Unionists successful.

” 21—Battle of Balls Bluff. U. S. forces under Col. Baker, member of Congress, 1,900 strong, defeated with loss of 918 men. Col. Baker killed.

Gen. Zollicoffer defeated by U. S. troops at Camp Wild Cat, Ky.

” 25—Gen. Kelly gains a battle against Confederates at Romney, Va.

” 29—U. S. naval and military force of 27,000 men and 75 vessels leave Fortress Monroe for the South.

Nov. 1—Gen. Scott retires from command of the Union army. Gen. McClellan appointed Gen. in Chief. Gen. Floyd fails in his attack on Gen. Rosencranz, at Gauley, Va.

” 2—Gen. Fremont superseded by Gen. Hunter in Mo.

” 4—Houston, Mo., taken by Union troops.

” 7—Com. Dupont and Gen. Sherman capture Forts Walker and Beauregard, S. C., and occupy Beaufort and Hilton Island.

Gen. Grant captured Confederate camp at Belmont, Mo., opposite Columbus. Reinforcements arriving he retired.

” 8—Mason and Slidell, Confederate Commissioners to Europe, were taken from British steamer Trent, by U. S. ship San Jacinto. On subsequent demand of the English government they were given up.

” 10—Union soldiers having been killed by inhabitants of Guyandotte, Va., the town was burnt in retaliation.

” 15—The San Jacinto arrived at Fortress Monroe with Slidell and Mason.

” 28—Bombardment of Pensacola, Fla., by Ft. Pickens and U. S. war vessels.

” 27—Gen. McClellan orders observance of the Sabbath in the army.

” 29—Skirmish at Warsaw, Mo. Town partly destroyed.

” 30—Fight at Salem, Mo. Southern forces defeated.

Dec. 3—Congress met at Washington.

” 4—Two Congressmen and Senator Breckenridge of Ky., expelled for treason.

” 5—Naval engagement at Cape Hatteras.

Forces of U. S. army and navy reported very near 700,000 men.

” 9—Confederate Congress declares Kentucky a State in the Southern Confederacy.

” 13—Gen. Milroy defeats Confederate Col. Johnson, at Camp Alleghany.

” 16—Platte City, Mo., burnt by Southern forces.

” 17—More than 20 vessels, filled with stone, sunk at the entrance of Charleston and Savannah harbors.

” 18—Gen. Pope captured 1,300 Southerners and 1,000 stand of arms at Millford, Mo.

” 31—U. S. navy increased from 42 vessels at beginning of the war to 246, of all kinds, up to this date.

1862.

Jan. 1—Mason and Slidell leave Ft. Warren, Boston Harbor, for England.

” 2—Success of Unionists on Port Royal Island, near Charleston, S. C.

” 4—Gen. Milroy defeats Confederates at Huntersville, Va.

” 7—Confederate defeat at Romney. U. S. troops capture stores in Tucker Co., Va.

” 8—Union victory by Gen. Palmer at Silver Creek, Mo.

” 10—Humphrey Marshall defeated by Union troops in Kentucky.

Senators Johnson and Polk of Mo., expelled from the U. S. Senate.

” 11—Simon Cameron, U. S. Sec. of War, resigned; E. M. Stanton appointed.

Naval engagement on the Mississippi near the mouth of the Ohio; Union vessels superior.

” 12—125 vessels and 15,000 troops, under Gen. Burnside, sail for the South.

” 18—Ex-President Tyler dies.

” 19—Union victory at Mill Spring, Ky., by Gen. Shoepf over Gen. Zollicoffer and Gen. Crittenden. Much spoil taken; Gen. Zollicoffer killed.

” 27—Bishop Ames and Gov. Fish of New York appointed to visit prisons in the South, to look after the interests of Union prisoners. Confederate authorities refuse to receive them.

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XXV. THE SECOND PHASE OF THE WAR

The previous period, though abounding in battles, so-called, were really skirmishes of detached bodies without any well defined plan. It covered much of the surface of all the Border States, but especially Virginia and Missouri, and was a trial of bravery and strategy in which both parties learned how to fight, and of what metal their opponents were made.

The Second Period covered about eleven months—from the advance of the Federal armies on the South in West and East, in Feb., to the close of the year.

This period is defined in its commencement, by the surrounding of the southern territory on nearly all sides by the Union forces, both naval and military; and the inauguration of aggressive movements both by sea and land; and in its close by the failure of the two southern Generals, Bragg in the West, and Lee in the East, in the endeavor to break through this beleaguering line. It was an immense and desperate conflict.

In the West it began by the attack of Grant on Fts. Henry and Donelson, followed up by the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and various other operations in Tennessee and Mississippi; the advance of McClellan on Richmond, and his campaign in the Peninsula, his failure and return to Washington; the strengthening of the Southern Army, and the advance of Lee northward into Maryland and his defeat there. The disasters to the Union army in Virginia served to check the successes of the Western Army under Grant, Sherman, Buell, Rosecranz and others; the Confederate forces in the West were increased under Bragg, who checked the advance of U. S. troops eastward at Chattanooga, and he himself assumed the offensive, by invading Kentucky. He was compelled to retreat again to Chattanooga. Thus there was an alternation of great successes and great reverses on both sides.

The Union Army commenced with about 600,000 men, and the Southern with about 400,000. They both largely added to these during the campaign.

Meanwhile the navy was not idle. A foothold was gained in South Carolina, and in North Carolina, as well as at Norfolk, Virginia, the mouth of the Mississippi was opened by Admiral Farragut, and New Orleans captured. The compression of a vast naval and land force was applied in all directions, even west of the Mississippi. Missouri had been quieted by driving the organized forces into the border of Arkansas, and inflicting on them a heavy blow at Pea Ridge. This, however, was not followed up; the disasters to the Union cause in Virginia, and the rebound of the Confederates in East Tennessee, requiring concentration.

The South had shown the most determined bravery, and great steadiness in disaster; and activity, and ability in making the most of circumstances. The speed with which she collected other levies and armies and used them within the campaign greatly impressed the authorities and people of the Federal government. They were convinced that the blacks left at home to till the ground, or employed in the fortifications and other labor of the war, contributed much to the strength of the South; enabling them to concentrate all their resources on a given point with extreme rapidity, and to use all their best fighting material. After so vast an outlay, to see their immense armies defied and the Northern States threatened with invasion was discouraging. Hitherto slavery had not been interfered with much, in deference to the sentiment in the Border States, and the views of the democratic party. The Union administration determined to weaken the South by abstracting as much as possible of the slave element from it and to use it themselves. The issue of the Proclamation of Emancipation marks a Third Phase of the War.

1862.

Feb. 3—The Federal government decides to treat crews of privateers taken in arms, not as pirates, but as prisoners of war.

” 5—Jesse D. Bright, of Indiana, expelled from the U. S. Senate.

” 6—Com. Foote, acting in concert with Gen. Grant, advances up the Tennessee river in Ky., and captures Fort Henry.

” 8—Gen. Burnside and Com. Goldsborough capture forts, forces and war material on Roanoke Island, in Albemarle Sound, N. C.

” 10—Gunboats of Confederate government taken or destroyed.

” 12—Gen. Grant invests Ft. Donelson, on Cumberland river, Ky.

” 13—Gen. Curtis advances to Springfield, Mo.

U. S. Congress determine to construct 20 iron clad gunboats.

” 15—Bowling Green, Ky., evacuated by Southern forces.

” 16—Gen. Grant captures Ft. Donelson, with 13,300 prisoners.

” 18—Gen. Curtis drives Confederates out of Missouri into Arkansas.

Confederate Congress assemble at Richmond Va.

” 19—Jefferson Davis and A. H. Stevens elected permanent President and Vice-President of Confederate States for six years.

” 21—Defeat of Union forces at Clarksville, New Mexico.

” 23—Nashville, Tenn., occupied by Union forces.

” 27—Columbus, on the Mississippi, in Ky., evacuated by Confederates.

Mar. 2—Severe encounter between Union gunboats and Confederate battery at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. Union success.

” 3—Gen. Beauregard assumes command of Southern army in Mississippi.

” 6-8—Gen. Curtis defeats Gen. McCullough at Pea Ridge, Ark. Curtis’ army 22,000, McCullough’s 35,000. McCullough killed.

” 9—First trial of Monitors. The formidable Merrimac, a Confederate iron clad vessel, conquered by the Monitor.

” 11—Gen. McClellan’s command confined to the army of the Potomac.

” 12—Com. Dupont takes possession of Jacksonville, Florida.

” 13—Confederates evacuate New Madrid, Mo., in haste, leaving $1,000,000 of military stores.

” 14—Newburn, N. C., captured by Gen. Burnside. Immense stores taken.

” 18—Confederate fortifications at Acquia Creek, Va., evacuated.

” 23—Battle of Winchester, Va. Southern forces defeated.

” 28—Fight at Union Ranch, New Mexico. Union troops 3,000, Texans 1,100. Result undecided.

Apr. 6-7—Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh. First day’s battle fought by Beauregard and Johnston, Confederate Generals, with 40,000 available troops, by Gen. Grant with 33,000. He was supported by gunboats in the Tennessee river. Attack and defense desperate, and the slaughter fearful. The second day Beauregard had no more than 20,000 effective men. Grant was reinforced by Buell, and his effective force was 45,000. It was great honor to Union troops not to recognize defeat on the 6th, and highly creditable to Confederates to make a desperate stand and inflict an immense loss on Federals on the 7th. They were almost annihilated but retreated without immediate pursuit.

” 8—Island No. 10, Mississippi river, captured.

” 11—Ft. Pulaski captured by Gen. Hunter, commands entrance to Savannah, Geo. Gen. Mitchell occupies Huntsville, Ala.

” 12—Gen. Mitchell captures 2,000 prisoners at Chattanooga, East Tennessee.

” 16—Slavery abolished in the District of Columbia, by U. S. Congress.

” 18—Gen. McClellan’s advance attacked on the Peninsula, Va.

” 19—Successes of Union Gens. Burnside and Reno, in North Carolina.

” 25—Com. Farragut, passing the forts, captures New Orleans.

” 28—Forts Jackson and St. Philip, at mouth of Mississippi below New Orleans, surrender.

” 29—Gen. Mitchell defeats Confederates at Bridgport, Ala.

May 1—Union cavalry captured at Pulaski, Tenn.

” 3—Yorktown evacuated by Southern troops. Occupied by McClellan.

” 5—Battle of Williamsburg, Va. Lasts all day. Unionists successful.

” 7—Southern Gen. Lee attacks McClellan’s army but is repulsed.

” 8—Union Gen. Milroy repulsed at McDowell’s, Va., after a five hour’s fight.

” 9—Pensacola, Fla. evacuated by Southern forces.

” 10—Norfolk, Va., occupied by Union forces. The Merrimac, Gosport Navy Yard, and vast quantities of stores destroyed by retreating Confederates.

” 15—The Agricultural Department created by Congress.

” 12—Natchez, on the Mississippi river, surrendered to Farragut.

” 17—Union forces drive Confederates over the Chickahominy, Va.

” 24—Southern success at Front Royal, Va., over Col. Kenley.

” 25—Gen. Banks, defeated at Winchester, Va., retreats across the Potomac.

” 27—Confederates defeated at Hanover, Va.

” 30—Union troops occupy Corinth, Mississippi.

” 31—Battle of Fair Oaks. Union troops repulsed.

June 1—Battle of Fair Oaks renewed. Southern forces repulsed with heavy loss.

” 6—Gunboats capture Memphis, Tenn., and Confederate vessels.

” 8—Battle of Cross Keys, Va. Gen. Fremont defeats Stonewall Jackson.

” 14—Union forces defeated on James Island, near Charleston, S. C.

” 18—Union troops occupy Cumberland Gap, Tenn.

” 19—Congress prohibits slavery in the Territories.

” 26—Six days fight before Richmond commenced at Mechanicsville. Union forces repulsed.

” 27—Bombardment of Vicksburg. Gen. Fremont relieved of command. Battle before Richmond renewed.

” 28—Severe battles before Richmond; enemy repulsed at night. Unionists fall back.

” 29—Battles of Peach Orchard and Savage’s Station, Va. Federal repulse.

” 30—Battle of White Oak Swamp. McClellan continues to retreat toward James river. Confederates repulsed with loss.

July 1—Battle of Malvern Hill. Southern forces repulsed. End of 6 days fight.

President Lincoln calls for 600,000 volunteers.

Internal Revenue Bill passed Congress. Polygamy forbidden in the United States.

Union Pacific Railroad chartered by Congress.

” 7—Fight at Bayou Cache, Ark. Gen. Curtis, Union, defeats Gen. Pike, Southern.

” 9—Hamilton, N. C., captured by Federal troops.

” 11—Southern Gen. Morgan enters Glasgow, Ky. Gen. Halleck appointed Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. armies.

” 13—Southern forces capture Murfreesborough, Tenn. Stores and prisoners taken.

” 17—Cynthiana, Kentucky, captured.

” 18—Southern raid into Indiana. Gen. Twiggs died.

” 22—Siege of Vicksburg abandoned by U. S. forces.

This month is generally disastrous to eastern and western Union armies. Confederate armies become strongly aggressive, and advance north into Ky., and toward Maryland.

Aug. 3—Gen. Jeff. Thompson, Confederate, defeated near Memphis, Tenn.

” 4—U. S. Sec. of War ordered a draft of 300,000 men to serve for nine months.

” 5—Battle of Baton Rouge, La. Gen. Breckinridge defeated.

” 10—Battle of Cedar Mountain. Gen. Jackson fails to drive Gen. Banks.

” 16—Gen. McClellan evacuates the Peninsula.

” 21—Gen. Sigel obtains an important and bloody advantage on the Rappahannock.

” 26—Confederate Gen. Ewell drives Unionists from Manassas, Va.

Union expedition up the Yazoo river, Mississippi, is successful.

” 27—Gen. Pope defeats Gen. Ewell at Haymarket, Va.

” 28—Battle of Centreville. Gen. Jackson repulsed.

” 29—Battle of Groveton, near Bull Run, Va. Confederates repulsed, but renewed the fight next day and Gen. Pope withdrew.

” 30—Battle near Richmond, Ky. Union Gen. Nelson defeated with heavy loss.

” 31—Battle of Weldon, Va., a Union victory. The general operations of this month by the main armies east and west largely in favor of the South, notwithstanding heavy losses inflicted and successes gained in detached engagements by the U. S. troops. The armies under Lee and Bragg pressed on northward with incredible vigor. No repulses or defeats could stop their headlong rush.

Sept. 1—The last of Gen. Pope’s battles in Va., near Washington. Two of his generals were killed, Kearney and Stevens. The enemy retired, leaving their dead and wounded. In 6 days Pope had lost near 10,000 in killed and wounded.

Battle at Britton’s Lane, Tenn. Confederates fled.

Union Army evacuate Lexington, Ky. Fight at Jackson, Tenn.

” 2—McClellan put in command of army for the defense of Washington.

” 5—Confederate army cross the Potomac to Frederick, Maryland.

Attack on Union troops at Washington, N. C. It is repulsed.

” 6—Col. Lowe recaptured Clarksville, Tenn.

” 8—Gen. Lee issues a proclamation to the Marylanders.

” 9—Col. Grierson overcomes Southern forces at Coldwater, Miss.

Union forces repel the enemy at Williamsburgh, Va.

Fredericksburg, Va., evacuated by Southern forces.

” 10—Great fears of invasion in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Philadelphia and Cincinnati begin to prepare for an attack.

” 11—Ganby, Va., Maysville, Ky., and Bloomfield, Mo., taken by Southern forces.

” 12—Charleston, S. C., bombarded and partially burnt. Fight on Elk river, Va., and at Middletown, Maryland.

” 13—Harper’s Ferry, Va., besieged. It surrendered on the 15th with 11,500 men.

” 14—McClellan engages Lee’s army at South Mountain, Md. Lee retired toward the Potomac. The invasion of the North was stopped, for this time, in the East.

” 16—Munfordsville, Ky., captured by Confederates and 4,000 prisoners taken.

” 17—Lee unwilling to give up his plan of invasion, makes another stand at Antietam creek, and a great battle was fought. Near 100,000 men on each side. The result was indecisive, the losses nearly equal, both in the neighborhood of 13,000. Lee retreated across the Potomac in the night, and Harper’s Ferry was evacuated.

” 20—Gen. Rosecrans defeats the Southerners with great loss at Iuka, Miss.

” 22—President Lincoln issues an Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all the slaves free, unless the Southern States discontinued the war within 100 days.

” 27—U. S. garrison at Augusta, Ky., surrender after a very gallant fight.

Oct. 3—Battle of Corinth, Miss. Confederates defeated with great loss.

” 8-9—Battle of Perryville, Ky. Southern army having been arrested in its advance and obliged to retreat before Gen. Buell, turned on his advance and inflicted a severe blow, but are forced to resume their retreat.

” 10—Confederate cavalry, under Stuart, make a raid on Chambersburg, Penn. They capture 500 horses and many stores and hastily return to Virginia.

” 14—One hundred thousand dollars sent to Sanitary Commission from San Francisco.

” 15—Battle near Richmond, Ky.

” 19—Gen. Forrest defeated by Union forces, near Gallatin, Texas.

” 22—Southern defeat at Maysville, Ark., by Gen. Blunt.

” 24—An English steamer bringing military stores to the South, captured.

” 28—Confederates defeated by Gen. Herron, at Fayetteville, Ark.

” 30—Gen. Rosecrans supersedes Buell in Kentucky. Gen. Mitchell, the astronomer, died in S. C.

Nov. 5—Gen. McClellan relieved of command in Va. by Gen. Burnside.

Attack on Nashville by Confederates. They are repulsed.

” 11—Southern defeat at Garrettsburg, Ky., by Gen. Ransom.

Exchange of prisoners effected.

” 16—President Lincoln enjoins on soldiers in camp and garrison observance of the Sabbath.

” 17—Cavalry fight near Kingston, N. C. Southerners beaten.

” 22—All political State prisoners released by U. S. government.

” 25—Newbern, N. C. attacked by Southern troops. They soon retire.

” 28—Battle of Cane Hill, Ark. A Union victory.

Dec. 1—The Pittsburg Battery, captured on the Peninsula, retaken by a Union force sent from Suffolk, Va.

” 5—Battle of Coffeeville, Miss. Southern loss was heavy.

” 6—Gen. Banks’ expedition for the South sailed for New Orleans.

” 7—At Prairie Grove, Ark., Gens. Blunt and Herron defeated Confederates.

Confederate Gen. Morgan captured several regiments of Western troops.

” 8—Steamer Lake City destroyed by Southerners.

” 9—U. S. troops burn Concordia, on the Mississippi.

” 13—Battle of Fredericksburg. A severe repulse to the Union army.

Gen. Foster makes a cavalry raid into the interior of N. C., a success.

Commodore Parker destroys Confederate salt works, five schooners and two sloops.

” 17—Gen. Banks captures Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana.

” 19—Confederates retake Holly Springs, Miss., and large stores with 4,000 bales of cotton.

” 26—Indians, engaged in the Minnesota massacre, hung—38 in number.

” 27—Vicksburg attacked by Gen. Sherman and gunboats, unsuccessfully.

” 31—Battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone River, commenced with a Federal repulse.

The Monitor that conquered the Merrimac, foundered at sea.

Act of Congress admitting West Virginia into the Union as a sovereign State. This was to take effect 60 days after the President’s proclamation making this announcement.

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XXVI. CAMPAIGN OF 1863

The preliminary Proclamation of Emancipation, issued Sept. 22d, 1862, was not to take effect for 100 days, or until Jan. 1st, 1863. Meanwhile the final details of the great operations, undertaken on both sides during 1862, were wound up. The bold efforts of the South, in the East and West, to transfer the war into the North, and indemnify themselves for the strict blockade of the coast by drawing supplies from the enemy, had resulted in defeat and withdrawal; not unaccompanied with booty, especially in the west, where Bragg’s train of supplies was said to have been 40 miles long. The southern people had failed in the main point, yet they had gained much. Federal reverses in the east had stopped the victories in the west in mid career, both by withdrawing from those armies to the east, and adding to the Confederates from the same region. Grant and Sherman failed at Vicksburg, and Buell at Chattanooga.

Yet these reverses to the Union arms served to stimulate the north, and to demonstrate the energy, resources, and indomitable resolution of the National government, and to undeceive the South as to the real sentiments of the great body of the Democratic party from which they had hoped aid on an invasion in force. Several of the European Powers, who would have liked to support the South, seeing the formidable character of the General Government, drew back in fear. The South might have foreseen that her cause was really hopeless; but she was too American not to feel an unconquerable resolution to carry her point or perish. She strengthened her armies and prepared for another invasion.

The Federal armies were now (Jan. 1863,) about 800,000 strong; her navy consisted of near 450 vessels, a large number being iron-clads. The great events of the campaign were Lee’s invasion of Pennsylvania and his retreat after the battle of Gettysburg, and Grant’s success at Vicksburg and Chattanooga. The resolution of the South, enveloped in the embrace of so mighty an antagonist, was wonderful; the unfaltering spirit, and readiness of the northern people to furnish whatever was required for success was still more so. The whole South, at least every State, was the theater of many contests of more or less importance; but the main interest centered on the Mississippi river, at Chattanooga and its vicinity, and on Gen. Lee’s army in Virginia or Pennsylvania. It was a contest of giants; yet, struggle as she might, the South was doomed. At the end of this year she was still strong, her armies were veterans, her spirit unbroken. The Federal Government had gained much, but it was step by step, inch by inch; and, in some parts, as in Virginia, what had been gained many times over, in territory, had been as often lost. Her general gain over the Confederate States lay most largely in the fatal process of exhaustion to which the vast operations of the Federal government forced the South. Increase of numbers made the battles more bloody and wasteful of life. The three leading events in this campaign—the capture of Vicksburg, (the battle of Chickamauga was a Confederate victory, but balanced by that of Chattanooga,) the battle of Gettysburg, and the battle of Chattanooga—were all decisive against the Confederates, yet leaving her strength for a long and vigorous contest of more than a year and a half.

1863.

Jan. 1—The year opened with a Confederate success at Galveston, Texas. An attack by sea and land resulted in the capture of 300 troops, the destruction of one vessel with its crew, and the capture of another, the Harriet Lane. Com. Renshaw was blown up with his vessel.

Confederate defeat at Lexington, Tenn., after an obstinate fight.

Proclamation of Emancipation issued by President Lincoln.

Long, but indecisive battle of Stone River. Federal killed and wounded, 8,000.

” 3—Union army withdraws from before Vicksburg. Southern army retreats at Murfreesborough, Tenn.

” 7—Springfield, Mo., successfully defended by Unionists.

” 9—20,000 prisoners exchanged.

” 11—A combined attack on Fts. Hindman and Arkansas Post by gunboats and land forces, resulted in Union success—over 7,000 prisoners.

” 12—Three Federal transports and a gunboat captured on Cumberland river.

” 13—The Southern steamer, Florida, escapes from Mobile.

” 17—$100,000,000 issued by the U. S. government in notes to pay the army.

” 20—Blockading vessels captured by Confederates, at Sabine City, Texas.

” 22—Attack on Vicksburg resumed. Gen. Porter dismissed from U. S. army.

” 25—A regiment of colored soldiers organized at Port Royal, S. C.

” 26—Gen. Hooker succeeds Gen. Burnside, in command of the Union Army of the Potomac, and Gens. Sumner and Franklin are relieved from duty.

The Confederate war steamer, Alabama, destroys one vessel and captures another.

Feb. 1—A second unsuccessful gunboat attack on Ft. McAllister.

” 5—Destruction of transports on Red River, La. Ft. Donelson repels Southern troops.

” 12—The Florida captures the Union merchant vessel, Jacob Bell.

” 13—The iron-clad, Indianola, runs the blockade at Vicksburg, and is captured.

” 18—Vicksburg bombarded by gunboats—ineffectually.

” 21—The Alabama, a Confederate cruiser, destroys two vessels on the African coast.

” 25—The Bureau of Currency and National Banks established by U. S. Congress.

” 26—The Cherokees return to the Union, and abolish slavery.

Twenty-eight cars, with stores, destroyed by Confederates, in Kentucky.

” 28—Confederate iron-clad, Nashville, destroyed in Ogeechee river, Geo.

Mar. 1—Third fruitless Union attack on Ft. McAllister, Geo.

” 2—U. S. Generals increased to 358.

” 3—Congress authorizes loan of $900,000,000. These are called ten-forty’s.

The President authorized to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus.

U. S. Assistant Treasurer provided by act of Congress.

Territorial government organized in Idaho.

Two U. S. gunboats destroyed.

” 5—Van Dorn (Confederate) captures Springfield, Tenn., and many prisoners.

” 6—Van Dorn captures a considerable Union force at Franklin, Tenn.

” 7—Gen. Minty captures a Confederate cavalry force at Unionville, Tenn.

” 10—Colored troops captured Jacksonville, Florida.

” 14—Port Hudson, Mississippi river, attacked by the Union gunboat fleet under Com. Farragut. The flag ship disabled and burnt.

” 17—Gallant and successful exploit of Union cavalry at Kelly’s Ford, Va.

” 19—An English steamer with arms for the South destroyed off Charleston.

” 20—Defeat of Morgan (Confederate) at Milton, Tenn.

” 25—Two Union vessels lost before Vicksburg.

” 28—Confederate steamer Iris captured near Charleston, S. C.

Apr. 1—Admiral Farragut passes the batteries of Grand Gulf.

Great scarcity of many things in the Confederacy from the strictness of the blockade, and extreme depreciation of Confederate money. No cotton could be sold.

” 7—An attack on Fort Sumter by nine Union iron clads. They are worsted.

The Alabama Confederate cruiser captures the U. S. ship Morning Star.

” 10—Two Union gunboats destroyed on Cumberland river.

Van Dorn repulsed by Union General Granger, at Franklin, Tenn.

” 16—Com. Porter runs the batteries at Vicksburg successfully.

” 17—Gen. Banks vanquished Southern troops at La Teche and Grand Lake, La.

” 22—The Queen of the West captured on Grand Lake. Grigsby, Confederate, surprised at McMinnville, Tenn. Banks occupied Opelousas and Washington, Miss.

” 23—Gen. Hunter informs Confederate authorities that colored soldiers must be treated as other prisoners of war, on pain of retaliation.

” 24—Union defeat at Beverly, Va., and victories at Weber Falls, Ark., and on Iron Mountain Railroad, Mo.

May 1—Gen. Grant defeated the Southern troops at Port Gibson.

Gen. Pegram, Confederate, defeated at Monticello, Ky.

A third defeat of Southern troops, at South Quay, Va.

Unionists defeated at La Grange, Ark. Battle of Chancellorsville, Va., begins.

” 2—Col. Grierson, of U. S. army, finished a daring and successful raid through the interior of Miss. Traveled 800 miles in 16 days. Battle of Chancellorsville continued. It was a Federal repulse. Loss each side 15,000.

” 3—Capture of Grand Gulf, Miss., by Admiral Porter.

” 2—Vallandigham arrested in Ohio for treason. He was sent South. 100 Secessionists of St. Louis sent South for treason.

” 10—Stonewall Jackson, an able and brilliant Southern general, died of wounds received in battle.

” 11—Gen. Logan, Union, defeats Gen. Grigg at Farnden’s Creek, Miss. Each had about 5,000 men.

” 12—Gen. McPherson captured Raymond, Miss., from Confederates.

” 13—Yazoo City, and $2,000,000 property, captured by Union gunboats. Gen. Grant defeats Confederate army and captures Jackson, Miss.

” 16—Gen. Grant defeats Pemberton at Baker’s Creek, Miss., with heavy loss. Each had about 25,000 men. Pemberton lost 4,000 men and next day 2,000 more.

” 18—Grant commences siege of Vicksburg, Miss.

” 26—Gen. Breckenridge, Confederate, suffered defeat in Tennessee.

” 29—An immense train arrives in Gen. Banks’ lines near Port Hudson: 600 wagons, 3,000 horses and mules, 1,500 cattle, 6,000 negroes. Gen. Banks fails in several attacks on Port Hudson.

June 3—A brilliant raid by a colored regiment in South Carolina.

” 11—Forrest, of Confederate cavalry, defeated at Triune, Tenn.

” 15—President Lincoln calls for 120,000 militia, to repel Lee’s invasion of Penn.

” 18—About 100,000 Southern forces enter Penn., near Chambersburg.

” 20—West Virginia admitted as a State into the Union. Missouri Legislature abolishes slavery.

In this month the great events of the campaign, the taking of Vicksburg and opening the Mississippi river, and the failure of Gen. Lee’s invasion by his loss of the battle of Gettysburg, are rapidly approaching the grand crisis.

July—The first days of this month formed the crisis of the war.

” 3—Gen. Lee, with 100,000 men, was defeated by Gen. Meade at Gettysburg, Pa., with about equal numbers. Lee retreated into Virginia. The Union losses at Gettysburg were 23,000. Lee had lost in his 17 days in the Free States 60,000 men altogether.

” 4—Vicksburg surrendered to Gen. Grant, after a siege of 41 days. In the battles immediately preceding, under Grant, and in this siege and capitulation, the South lost near 50,000 men. Grant’s losses were about 9,000.

Gen. Prentice defeated a greatly superior force at Helena, Ark.

” 8—Port Hudson surrenders to Gen. Banks, with 7,000 men.

Morgan, of Confederate cavalry, invades Indiana and Ohio with 5,000 men. He is captured before he can return.

” 13—Great riot in New York city.

” 17—Gen. Sherman defeats Johnson, and occupies Jackson, Miss.

” 20—Two successful Union cavalry expeditions, in N. C. and Va.

” 23—Battle of Manassas Gap. Unionists defeat a superior force.

A Confederate victory at Richmond, Ky.

” 31—Confederates beaten in Kentucky.

Aug. 1—Two cavalry battles in Va.

” 4—Disastrous loss of U. S. steamer Ruth, on the Mississippi, by fire.

” 12—Gen. Gilmore bombarded Ft. Sumter and Charleston most of the month.

” 17—Successful cavalry raid into Mississippi to destroy stores.

” 20—Lawrence, Kansas, attacked and destroyed by guerillas.

A guerilla war was carried on very largely this month, both east and west of the Mississippi.

Sept. 1—Knoxville, Tenn., captured by Gen. Burnside.

Gen. Blunt defeated the Confederates, and captured Ft. Smith, Ark.

” 6—Fts. Wagner and Gregg captured by Gen. Gilmore, Charleston, S. C.

” 8—Cumberland Gap taken by Gen. Burnside. 2,000 prisoners.

” 10—Little Rock occupied by Union forces.

” 19-20—A terrible battle is fought at Chickamauga (in Indian the “River of Death,”) in which Gen. Rosecrans with some 50,000 to 60,000 troops is severely defeated by Bragg, with about 45,000. Federal losses about 15,000. Yet Bragg did not capture Chattanooga.

” 22—Severe battle at Madison Court House, Va. Union victory.

” 28—Gen. Burnside repulses Confederates at Knoxville, Tenn.

Oct. 3—Union troops throw Greek fire into Charleston, S. C.

” 5—Chattanooga bombarded by Bragg.

” 9—Defeat of Wheeler’s Confederate cavalry, in Tenn.

” 14—Battle at Bristoe Station, Va. Favorable to U. S. troops.

” 16—Gen. Grant takes command of the Western armies.

” 17—The President calls for 300,000 more troops.

” 21—A battle in Alabama, in Mississippi, and in Tennessee.

” 27—Battle of Brown’s Ferry, near Chattanooga. Confederates beaten.

” 28—Gen. Hooker takes Lookout Mountain.

” 31—Gen. Hooker gains the battle of Shell Mound.

Nov.—The main interest of the month gathers about the great and decisive battle of Chattanooga, between Gens. Grant and Bragg. All the forces to be spared on either side were concentrated here. Chattanooga has been called, “The back door of the Confederacy.”

Nov. 5—Chattanooga bombarded by the Southern forces.

Gen. Avery gains a Union victory at Lewisburg, Va.

” 6—The North is thrilled with indignation at barbarities ascertained to have been perpetrated in Southern prisons.

” 7—Gen. Meade drives Southern army across the Rappahannock.

” 11—The British government makes known an intended invasion of the North from Canada, by Confederates.

” 15—Gen. Banks takes Corpus Christi, Texas.

” 17—Charleston continues to be shelled.

Gen. Longstreet detached from Confederate army at Chattanooga, with 15,000 men, to attack Burnside.

” 19—National Cemetery consecrated, at Gettysburg.

” 23-26—Battles of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. Southern forces about 60,000, Grant’s about 80,000. Confederate losses 10,000, Union, 5,616. It was a blow never recovered by the Confederacy.

” 28—Gen. Longstreet attacks Knoxville and is repulsed with loss.

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XXVII. CAMPAIGN OF 1864

There was a lull, for a time, in the tempest of war. The Confederate forces had lost ground that they could hardly hope to regain. The Mississippi river and Eastern Tennessee, both of supreme importance to the Confederacy, were in possession of the Union armies, which grew ever stronger. They were now about 1,000,000 men, and the navy had increased to over 600 vessels. This force was soon put in vigorous hands, that gripped fast what they once held. The misfortune of many commanders and continual changes, from political rather than military considerations, began to be well understood. Grant had gained so uniformly when others had failed, he was recognized as so tenacious and unwearied, that he received and held the confidence of the people and the government. This was a point of great importance for shortening the war; for the Southern people were still resolute, had still a vast country, were on the defensive in a smaller region than before, and could resist more effectively with a smaller army. It still made a most gallant and determined resistance which the vast resources of the national government did not enable them to overcome for a year and a half. The country was still covered with detached bodies of troops. A desultory war was maintained where strong armies failed to hold the ground, or were concentrated at a few points. The great movements were in Virginia and Georgia. The secondary in Tennessee, in Mississippi, and Texas.

It took a year to break the will of the Southern people after they were really conquered. This period covers the year 1864; 1865 furnishes only the dying struggles of the Confederacy, already mortally wounded.

1864.

The bombardment of Charleston continued during the preceding month. Some cavalry movements were made, the President of the U. S. offered amnesty to all who would take an oath of allegiance, and Gen. Butler announced that the Confederate government refused to receive any more supplies for Union prisoners from the North.

Jan. 7—Three blockade runners captured.

” 11—Two more were destroyed, making 22 in a few months.

” 25—Mr. Vanderbilt, having presented a steamer worth $800,000 to the U. S. government, received the thanks of Congress.

Feb. 1—The President of the U. S. ordered a draft of 500,000 men.

” 5—Two English steamers, with supplies for the South, captured.

” 9—Cotton worth $700,000 burned at Wilmington, N. C.

” 20—Negro troops cover the retreat of a defeated white Union force at Olustee, Fla.

” 28—The large armies being broken up or concentrated, and the lines of communication very much interrupted, many Union cavalry raids, aiming to break the lines of communication by railroad completely, to lay waste the country, and to free the negroes, who were raising supplies for the Southern armies, in the far interior, were undertaken. That of Sherman to Meridian, in Miss., and of Grierson and Smith, and many smaller ones, were executed during this month. The damage to railroads and the supplies destroyed were incalculable. 18 blockade runners and other vessels bringing supplies to the South were destroyed during the month.

Mar. 2—Gen. Grant made Lt. General; the only one who had reached that dignity since Gen. Washington—Gen. Scott being Lt. Gen. only by brevet.

” 12—Gen. Grant made Commander-in-chief of the U. S. armies.

” 15—The President of the U. S. calls for 200,000 more men.

” 25—Confederate Gen. Forrest makes three assaults on Paducah, Ky., with loss of 1,500 men, in vain.

” 28—A severe defeat inflicted on Southern forces at Cane River, La.

Apr. 4—Gen. Marmaduke defeated by Gen. Steele, Unionist, at Little Missouri, Ark.

” 8—Gen. Banks suffers reverses on the Red River, and retreats with loss.

” 12—Gen. Forrest takes Ft. Pillow and massacres the garrison, many being negroes.

” 21—Salt works in North Carolina destroyed—value $100,000. As salt was indispensable to army operations, the utmost effort was made to ruin as many as possible.

” 23—Governors of Western States offer the U.S. government 85,000 men for 100 days. President accepts them.

May 2—400 Union prisoners are brought to Annapolis nearly starved.

” 4—Gen. Grant crosses the Rapidan in Va. and commences operations in the Wilderness. He, with 140,000 men, confronts Lee, who has 60,000.

” 5—Fighting in the Wilderness for two days without decided result. Costs Grant 30,000 (5,000 were prisoners) and Lee 10,000. Lee was intrenched and familiar with the ground, which was highly unfavorable to the Union army.

” 6—Gen. Sherman confronts Gen. Joe Johnson near Chattanooga. Sherman has near 100,000; Johnson 60,000.

” 7—Lee retreats toward Spottsylvania Court-House. Union army follows, fighting.

To this date 150,000 Southern soldiers had been made prisoners during the course of the war.

May 8—Battle of Spottsylvania; result indecisive.

” 10—Battle of Spottsylvania continued. Still indecisive. Losses to each side 10,000 men.

” 12—Lee and Grant fight again, without victory by either.

” 13—Sheridan destroyed Lee’s depot of supplies in his rear, at Beaver Dam.

” 15—Sherman drives Johnson from Resaca after two days’ fighting.

” 21—Lee is flanked at Spottsylvania, and retires to the North Anna.

” 23—Morgan (Confederate cavalry) enters Ky. with 4,000 men.

” 25—Sheridan rejoins Grant, after a brilliant series of daring deeds in the rear of Lee. Gen. Stuart, a very able Confederate cavalry leader, is killed in this raid.

” 27—Grant again flanked Lee, crossing the Pamunky to Hanovertown.

June 1—Battle of Cold Harbor, north of, and near, Richmond. It was fought with the utmost bravery and obstinacy, but gained no more decisive end than the destruction of men and material involved. This was very severe on Lee, from the smaller number he had to fall back on.

” 7—Abraham Lincoln renominated for the presidency of the U. S.

” 14—Gen. Polk (a Southern bishop) killed.

” 15—An unsuccessful assault for three days on Petersburg. Union losses 10,000 men.

” 18—To this time Grant had lost 64,000 men—Lee 38,000 during this campaign.

” 19—Steamer Kearsarge sinks the famous Alabama, on the coast of France.

” 20—Petersburg strongly reinforced by Lee.

” 27—Sherman, pushing Johnson at Keneshaw, meets a severe repulse. In one month he had driven Johnson 100 miles, fought six battles, and killed, wounded or taken prisoner 17,000 men. He followed Grant’s principle, and “flanked” him. A retreat was the result.

July 1—Public debt over $1,740,000,000.

” 9—Gen. Early, with 20,000 Confederate troops, passes into Grant’s rear, and makes a hasty march north into Maryland. This day he gained a victory over Gen. Wallace, but his losses were so great that he was hindered in his design of capturing Washington, though within six miles of it at one time. He retreats, but soon turns back.

” 18—President Lincoln calls for 500,000 more troops.

” 19—Gen. Averill (Union) gives Early a check, but finally falls back.

” 20-22—Severe battles in the neighborhood of Atlanta, Geo. Gen. Sherman victorious. Confederate losses in all over 15,000; Union about 5,500. Union Gen. McPherson killed.

” 22—A mine, made under the fortifications of Petersburg, completed. It was charged with 8,000 lbs. of powder.

” 28—Early sent a detachment into Penn., which burnt Chambersburg.

” 30—Gen. Stoneman defeated and taken prisoner at Macon, Geo., by Confederates.

The mine exploded at Petersburg, blowing up a fort and its garrison; but, from unskillful management, proved a Union disaster; 4,000 men were lost in killed, wounded and prisoners. A constant artillery attack was kept up on Petersburg through this month.

Aug. 2—Gen. Banks puts all the negroes in his region in the army (Grand Gulf, La.).

” 3—Constant fighting at Atlanta. Hood (Confederate) repulsed.

” 5—Admiral Farragut enters Mobile bay with 18 vessels, and captures or destroys the vessels and forts. It was the last seaport of the Confederacy.

” 7—Union Gen. Averill gains a complete victory at Moorfield, West Va.

” 9—Atlanta, Geo., bombarded by Sherman’s army.

” 11—The Confederate vessel Tallahassee burns 5 vessels, and 5 more in the course of Aug.

” 13—Mosby, Confederate, captures an immense supply train at Berryville, Va.

” 19—Success of Southern forces before Petersburg. Took 2,000 prisoners.

” 21—Lee fails to dislodge Warner, who is destroying the Weldon R. R. In three days Grant lost 4,500 men in this undertaking.

” 31—Gen. Howard, of Sherman’s army, gains a decided victory at Jonesborough, Geo.

Sept. 2—Gen. Hood evacuates Atlanta, Geo., a very important place, which Sherman at once occupies. Sherman had lost 30,000 men in this campaign, the Confederates 42,000.

” 5—Gen. Morgan, an active Southern cavalry officer, is killed at Granville, Tenn.

” 12—Sherman sends away all the families and burns a good part of Atlanta, preparatory to great and brilliant operations.

” 13—General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, Va.

” 16—A strong force of Confederate cavalry drive off 2,500 beeves belonging to the Union army on James river.

” 19—Sheridan defeats Early, (at Oquequan, Shenandoah valley,) inflicting a loss of 8,000 men.

” 22—Sheridan again inflicts a loss of near 4,000 on Early, at Fisher’s Hill, Va.

” 29—Gen. Grant advances to within ten miles of Richmond, on the north.

Gen. Price again invades Missouri.

” 30—The blockading force captured and destroyed 50 vessels this month.

Oct. 5—A repulse of the Southern forces at Allatoona, Geo.

” 7—The Confederate steamer Florida captured by the Wachusett, on the coast of Brazil.

Sheridan, having laid waste the Shenandoah valley, returns South.

” 8—Sheridan defeats the Confederates again in the Shenandoah valley.

” 11—Maryland votes for a constitution abolishing slavery.

” 19—Sheridan annihilated Early, at Cedar Creek, by his famous “ride from Winchester,” and rallying his men, after they had been defeated.

Confederate refugees from Canada rob a bank in St. Albans, Vt.

” 23—Gen. Price defeated at Blue river, Missouri.

” 27—Gen. Grant closes the active campaign by an extensive reconnaissance.

” 28—Gen. Blunt defeats Price and drives him out of Missouri. He returns no more.

Nov.—Gen. Hood, in command of the forces in Georgia, withdrew from the neighborhood of Atlanta, for the purpose of destroying Sherman’s base of supplies, and invading Tennessee and Kentucky. He had now about 40,000 men. Gen. Thomas was sent into Tennessee, by Sherman, with a strong force, to contend with him; and Sherman, breaking away from his northern connections, commences his celebrated “march to the sea,” in which he is lost to his friends for 40 days, but reaches Savannah in safety.

” 4—Johnsonville, Tenn., bombarded. 3 gunboats and 8 transports, with $1,500,000 of stores destroyed.

” 8—President Lincoln re-elected. Gen. McClellan resigns his commission.

” 11—A gunboat, the Tulip, blows up on Potomac river. Her boiler burst.

” 13—Gen. Breckenridge attacks Gillem, near Morristown, Tenn., capturing his artillery, and several hundred prisoners.

” 14—Atlanta completely destroyed by Sherman, before his march South.

” 16—Gen. Stoneman attacks Breckenridge, at Marion, Tenn., and captures his artillery and 200 prisoners.

Gen. Sherman starts for Savannah through the heart of the Confederacy, with over 65,000 troops. He destroys railroads and lays the country waste wherever he is treated in a hostile manner.

” 22—Sherman’s army reach Milledgeville, the capital of Georgia. The Gov. and Legislature hastily retire. The soldiers amuse themselves by holding a mock legislature, passing loyal resolutions, &c.

” 24—The Union army in Va., receive nearly 100,000 pounds of turkeys, sent from the North to supply them a Christmas dinner.

” 25—An attempt to fire New York city miscarries.

” 30—Gen. Hood, Confederate, with 40,000 men, attacks Schofield, 18 miles from Nashville. Gen. Schofield had only 17,000 men. Hood made four attacks, and was each time repulsed. He lost 6,000 men. At midnight Schofield retreated to Nashville, and joined Thomas, followed by Hood’s army.

Dec. 1—The U. S. navy has 671 vessels, carrying over 4,000 guns, and 51,000 men. It has captured 324 vessels during the year—during the war, 1,379—267 being steamers.

” 5—65 blockade runners, ships and cargoes worth $12,000,000, have been captured or destroyed by the U. S. navy, at Wilmington, N. C.

” 6—Mr. Chase, ex-Sec. of the U. S. Treasury, appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

” 12—Gen. Sherman’s army reaches the rear of Savannah, Geo., which is occupied by the Confederate Gen. Hardee, with 15,000 men.

” 13—Gen. Hazen, of Sherman’s command, captures Ft. McAllister, near Savannah. It had been frequently attacked by gunboats, in vain.

” 15—Gen. Rousseau defeats the Southern forces under Forrest at Murfreesborough, Tenn., with great loss.

” 15-16—Battle of Nashville, Tenn., in which Gen. Hood is completely defeated by Gen. Thomas, Federal commander. Hood’s flying troops pursued 200 miles. It was one of the most fatal blows of the war for the South.

” 19—President Lincoln calls for 300,000 volunteers to finish the war.

” 20—Gen. Stoneman, Unionist, captures forts and destroys salt works, lead mines, and railway bridges at Saltville, East Tennessee.

Gen. Sherman summons Savannah to surrender. Gen. Hardee retreated in the night. Gen. Sherman takes possession next day.

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XXVIII. CONCLUDING CAMPAIGN

The year 1864 closed in general disaster to the Confederacy. Sherman had broken the Confederate power in Georgia, destroyed its communications with the Mississippi States, and taken Savannah. Gen. Thomas had broken up Hood’s army, in Tennessee, and Grant had closely beleagured the Southern army in Virginia within Richmond and its defenses; while Sheridan had dealt blow after blow on Early, in the Shenandoah Valley, and quite ruined his army.

The future operations required the subjugation of the interiors of North and South Carolina, the taking of a few forts on the coast, and the capture of Lee’s army in Richmond. The only other army of strength, the remnant of Hood’s forces, was in the Southern interior. The Federal government was stronger than ever, both by sea and land. The Southern people were much discouraged; their finances ruined; their fighting men mostly disabled, scattered, forced into submission, or, hopeless of ultimate success, had voluntarily withdrawn from the contest in so large numbers that the Confederate forces were everywhere inferior, and only upheld by the indomitable pride and bravery inherent in the Anglo-American. They would submit only when necessity absolutely compelled them; and thus saved their honor, in their own eyes. They had made a fatal mistake, and they reaped the full harvest of ruin. Yet, their prolonged resistance served to utterly annihilate slavery; raised the negroes to the honorable position of Defenders of the Union; and, the last of Jan., 1865, an amendment to the U. S. Constitution was prepared forever abolishing slavery in the country. In the end the blacks became citizens. We have now but a short record to complete our View of the Civil War. The South had still over 100,000 men in arms, but they were surrounded, cut off from supplies, outnumbered, and pressed with relentless vigor. This was Grant’s policy.

1865.

Jan. 14—Vessels are sent from Boston and New York with large supplies from the charitable, for Southern sufferers in Savannah, Geo.

” 15—Ft. Fisher, on the coast of N. C., captured by Gen. Terry, in conjunction with the U. S. fleet. It is the last stronghold of the South on the sea.

Edward Everett died, at Boston, Mass.

” 16—The magazine at Ft. Fisher exploded, killing and wounding 300 Union men.

” 17—A Federal monitor blown up by torpedoes, in Charleston Harbor, S. C.

” 20—Corinth, Miss., evacuated by Southern troops.

” 23—Gen. Hood surrenders his command in the Southern army to Gen. Taylor.

” 28—Gen. Breckenridge becomes Confederate Sec. of War.

” 29—Southern Commissioners seek an interview with President Lincoln at Fortress Monroe, in the interest of Peace. They failed to make any satisfactory terms.

” 31—Joint resolution of Congress to amend the U. S. Constitution abolishing slavery (14th Amendment).

Feb.—Nine States ratify the Constitutional Amendment in this month.

” 5—Grant suffers a repulse at Hatcher’s Run. Loss 2,000 men.

” 17—Columbia, S. C., accidentally burned on its evacuation by Southern troops. A Confederate dollar (paper) worth but two cents in Richmond, Va.

” 18—Union troops take possession of Charleston, S. C., as a result of Sherman’s march from Savannah north-eastward toward Richmond. Many buildings in Charleston burned in the destruction of Confederate stores by the retiring army.

Gen. Lee in favor of arming the negroes for the defense of the South. It is declined by the Confederate government, until too late.

” 25—800 Southern soldiers desert, and come into Union lines.

Mar. 2—Sheridan completely routs Gen. Early again, taking 1,700 troops prisoners.

” 4—President Lincoln inaugurated for his second term.

” 10—Gen. Bragg defeated, at Kingston, N. C.

” 15—Gen. Hardee (Confederate) defeated by Sherman’s army.

” 18—The Confederate Congress adjourned. It never met again.

Battle of part of Sherman’s army with Johnston, Confederate, 24,000 strong. Southern forces made six assaults which were withstood. After fighting and manouvering 3 days, Johnston retreated having lost 3,000 men. Sherman lost 1,646.

” 25—Ft. Steadman, near Petersburg, Va., captured by Confederates, but was immediately retaken, with 2,000 prisoners. This attack was made by Lee, preparatory to evacuating Richmond. Grant had about 120,000 troops, Lee 70,000.

” 29—Sheridan commences an expedition to the rear of Richmond to cut off Lee’s retreat South.

” 31—Sheridan attacked and hard pushed by Lee’s forces, but at night they fall back.

Apr. 1—Sheridan, in turn, follows the Confederates, and drives them toward Richmond. He takes more than 5,000 prisoners. This was the battle of Five Forks. It was fatal to Lee’s retreat.

” 2—Grant’s forces make a grand assault. It is successful, and Lee prepares to evacuate Richmond. President Davis leaves his capital in haste, for Danville, N. C. Gen. Lee commences his retreat in the night.

” 3—Richmond occupied by colored Federal troops. They find the city in flames.

” 4—President Davis endeavors to make a stand against disaster. He issues a proclamation from Danville.

” 9—Terms of surrender arranged by Gens. Grant and Lee.

” 10—Gen. Lee issues his farewell address to his army.

” 12—Confederate army yielded prisoners of war at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. 27,805 Confederate soldiers paroled.

Gen. Stoneman defeats a Confederate force, at Salisbury, N. C.

Gen. Canby, Union, occupies Mobile, Ala.

” 14—President Lincoln assassinated in Washington, by J. Wilkes Booth.

Mr. Seward stabbed in bed, but not killed.

” 15—Abraham Lincoln died at 7 A. M. The whole country is in mourning.

Andrew Johnson assumes the office of President of the U. S.

” 18—Paine, or Powell, who endeavored to assassinate Sec. Seward, arrested at Mrs. Surratt’s house in Washington. Mrs. Surratt arrested.

Gen. Sherman arranges preliminaries for the surrender of all the remaining Confederate forces, with Gen. Johnston, commanding Southern army in N. C., with consent of Confederate Sec. of War and Jeff. Davis. It includes the basis of a general peace, and a policy of reconstruction. It is sent to the Federal government for their approval or rejection.

” 19—Funeral ceremonies of President Lincoln, at Washington. Funeral services are held all over the North. The body is carried in state to Springfield, Ill., stopping at prominent places on the route; and visited by great numbers of the people. 700,000 were said to have been in the procession at New York.

” 21—Gen. Sherman’s arrangement with Johnston disapproved by the government, and he is ordered to resume hostilities. Steamboat Sultana blows up on the Mississippi, and about 1,300 U. S. soldiers returning home were killed.

” 24—Gen. Grant visits Sherman.

” 25—J. W. Booth, the assassin of the President, taken prisoner near Port Royal, Va. Refusing to surrender, a soldier shot him, contrary to orders. He died in 4 hours. No assassin ever met with more universal execration than Booth. Its necessary effect was to render the Reconstruction policy much more stern and painful to the South.

” 26—Johnston surrenders to Gen. Sherman all the Confederate troops in his command, on the terms granted Gen. Lee.

” 29—Arms and stores of Gen. Johnston’s army delivered to U. S. authorities, at Greensboro, N. C.

May 2—Reward offered for capture of Jeff. Davis, of $100,000. He was, at first, believed accessory to the murder of President Lincoln.

” 3—President Lincoln’s remains arrive at Springfield, Ill.

” 4-9—All the Confederate forces disbanded, or surrendered to U. S. officers, east and west of Mississippi river.

” 10—Jeff. Davis captured in Geo., in woman’s clothes.

GENERAL DATA.

The number of volunteer troops to be mustered out of the Union army, May 1st, 1865, was 1,034,064. They were mostly discharged and paid in the next three months. The entire enlistments in the Federal army, during the whole war, were 2,688,523. Many were re-enlistments. It is believed that the whole number of individuals forming the armies was only 1,500,000. 75 per cent. were native Americans, 9 per cent. Germans, and 7 per cent. Irish. Various nationalities made up the remaining 9 per cent.

Of this million and a half 56,000 were killed in battle, 35,000 died in hospitals of their wounds received in battle, and 184,000 died in hospitals of disease. Many afterwards died, and others were ruined in health for life.

It has been stated by the Adjutant General of the Confederate army, since the close of the war, that the available Confederate force during the entire war was 600,000, and that they never had more than 200,000 in the field at any one time. This would seem likely to be an underestimate, but is the nearest to official data that we have. He states the entire force opposing the 1,000,000 men in the closing campaign to have been 100,000. There is reason to believe that the Confederates killed, and the wounded and sick who died in hospital, was about 300,000.

The entire amount expended by the National government, by States, counties and towns, and contributed in other ways to the comfort or sustenance of the army, is computed at $4,000,000,000. The support of the Southern army cannot be ascertained, but it is thought that those expenses and the destruction of property inflicted about an equal loss on them.

These losses in life and property are fearful; but they are the price of Freedom and of Nationality. The general prosperity of the country has made it richer than before, while natural increase and immigration have filled the places vacant by death.

The South was hopeless and exhausted at the close of the war. It had been feared that a guerrilla war, the most desolating and bloody of all wars, would follow the defeat of the great armies. It could result only in destruction of what remained to the Southern people, and they submitted quietly to their fate. Various excesses and deeds of blood were indeed committed, but they were not sympathized with by the mass of the people. It was only the desperate and lawless class that came to the surface naturally in war.

Many of the influential Southern leaders counseled submission to inevitable necessity, and themselves set the example. The policy of reconstruction adopted by the National government, excluded, at first, all who had taken a part in the rebellion from political influence. The loyal element, small as it was, was alone to restore the Southern States to their place in the Union. It was, however, proposed to admit others, both individuals and classes, to participation in political action as they proved themselves trustworthy and loyal to the new order of things. After some years, and when it was felt to be quite safe, these disabilities were nearly all removed.

The most distasteful act of the General Government, to the people of the South, was clothing the blacks with the rights of citizens. They received the elective franchise, and assisted to rule over their former masters. It was considered necessary, since they had now no masters to be interested in them, to give them the power to protect themselves, and to elevate them to something of influence and respectability by force of the ballot. That advantage given them, they must take their chances with others, and win their own way. They had been loyal to the Union, which strongly recommended this policy to the government. The Northern people who now settled in the South and the blacks mainly reorganized the State governments. This was the chief punishment inflicted on the Southern people in retaliation for the war they had waged with such fearful energy. It was a clemency quite unexampled in history. No blood was shed after they laid down their arms. The assassination of the beloved President Lincoln made the North thoroughly angry, but no vengeance was taken except on those believed to be immediately connected with the atrocious deed. The most lively indignation had long been felt at the dreadful treatment experienced by prisoners of war in some of the prisons of the South; but the government and the people contented themselves with the punishment of the governor of Andersonville prison, on due civil trial and conviction.

On the whole, the conduct of the Northern people was extremely magnanimous. The dissolution of the Union would have been an irreparable loss to them; they resolved not to suffer it; and, with extraordinary energy, they put in the field more than a million and a half of men, and near 700 vessels, to subdue it, and suffered no reverses to discourage them until this was done. When resistance ceased and the Union was secure, they exacted only the pledges necessary to keep it safe. Appreciating the unfortunate condition to which nearly all the before prosperous classes of the South were reduced, they aided them in their distress, ceased at once all hostile action, and left them to recover from their disasters under as favorable circumstances as their own conduct warranted. The South naturally felt an affection for her Lost Cause, proportionate to the sacrifices she had made and the suffering she had endured for it. Time, and busy care to develop the vast resources that slavery had, in great part, neglected, would gradually restore them to right feeling, and the state of mind fitting them for citizenship. This, in part, has already taken place, and, by and by, the Bonds of the Whole Union will be more firmly cemented than ever before. May it be soon.

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XXIX. HISTORY OF THE U. S. FROM 1865 TO 1874

May 13—During the week ending with this day there was subscribed to the U. S. seven-thirty loan $98,000,000. It was an expression of the enthusiastic confidence of the people in the government and its resources.

” 22-23—Grand review of Gen. Sherman’s army at Washington. There were 200,000 men.

” 26—Kirby Smith, the last leader of a Southern military organization, surrendered his command.

” 30—The great Sanitary Fair opened at Chicago.

” 31—Gen. Hood and his staff surrendered prisoners of war.

June 1—A day of fasting and national humiliation for the death of President Lincoln.

” 4—Toombs, of Georgia, prominent in the early days of secession, shot himself to avoid arrest. Yet no one was capitally punished for treason.

” 5—The four confederates of Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln, were found guilty. They were hanged on the 6th and 7th. These were Harold, Atzerott, Powell and Mrs. Surratt.

” 11—Gen. R. E. Lee appointed president of the Washington College, Va. It was done by Southern people as a mark of respect, and to furnish him a support; he having lost his property in the war.

Sept. 20—The marking of the graves of 12,000 of the unfortunate Andersonville prisoners completed.

” 29—Cession of 1,000,000 acres of land to the government by the Osage Indians, for $300,000.

Oct. 20—Champ Ferguson, noted for his crimes in guerilla warfare, hung at Nashville, Tenn.

Nov. 10—Henry Wirz, the inhuman keeper of Andersonville prison, hung, after trial and condemnation.

Dec. 18—Secretary Seward officially announces that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery in the United States, has been adopted by three-fourths of the States, and it is now the law of the land.

1866.

Jan. 1—Third anniversary of Emancipation celebrated by the colored people.

” 2—Funeral of Hon. Henry Winter Davis, U. S. Senator, at Baltimore.

” 12—The Kentucky University purchases the homestead of Henry Clay.

” 23—The 13th Constitutional Amendment reconsidered by the Legislature of New Jersey and passed. It had been rejected in the previous year.

” 25—Kentucky refused to pass the 13th Amendment.

” 31—Commissary and quartermaster warehouses burned, at Ft. Riley, Kansas. $1,000,000 lost.

Feb. 2—The Civil Rights bill passed the Senate.

” 11—The U. S. Sanitary Commission closed with an anniversary meeting at Washington.

” 12—Memorial services in honor of President Lincoln held in the capitol, at Washington; address delivered by the Hon. Geo. Bancroft, statesman and historian.

” 19—President Johnson vetoed the Freedmen’s Bureau bill.

” 22—The 134th anniversary of Washington’s birthday celebrated.

” 26—Meeting held at Richmond to ratify President Johnson’s policy.

Mar. 10—North Carolina passes a Negro Rights bill.

” 12—North Carolina passes a Negro Testimony bill.

Texas Convention declares their Secession ordinance null and void.

” 13—The Civil Rights bill passed the House of Representatives.

” 19—The Reciprocity Treaty with Canada expires.

” 27—The Civil Rights bill vetoed by President Johnson.

April 2—Gen. Hawley elected republican governor of Connecticut.

” 4—Gen. Burnside elected governor of Rhode Island.

” 6-7—Civil Rights bill passed Congress over the veto.

” 30—Two churches of colored people burned by incendiaries in Richmond, Va.

May 15—The President vetoes the bill admitting Colorado as a State.

” 29—Gen. Scott died at West Point, N. Y.

June 3—Gen. Meade goes to Buffalo to prevent the Fenians (Irish Patriots) from invading Canada.

” 6—President Johnson issues a proclamation forbidding belligerent operations against Canada from the United States.

” 8-13—The 14th Constitutional Amendment passed by Congress.

July 4—Great fire at Portland, Me. Loss, $15,000,000. The U. S. government a heavy loser by this fire.

” 23—Tennessee readmitted as a State in the Union, by joint resolution of Congress. This was the first State readmitted after the war.

” 25—Lieut. Gen. Grant nominated General—the highest grade known in our military organization—never before occupied. Vice Admiral Farragut nominated Admiral.

” 27—Hon. J. H. Harlan, Sec. of the Interior, resigns. O. H. Browning appointed.

” 28—The Great Eastern reaches Hearts Content, Newfoundland, with the Atlantic Telegraphic Cable, which proved successful. It had failed in the previous year. Great rejoicings. It was one of the most important events of this century.

” 30—Great riot at New Orleans, in which many were killed. It was thought the result of President Johnson’s policy of reconstruction, which was not in harmony with the system adopted by Congress.

Aug. 1—Gen. Sherman commissioned as Lieut. General.

” 8—Queen Emma, wife of the late King of the Sandwich Islands, arrives at New York, and is received as a National Guest.

” 12—Telegraphic communication between New York and Europe complete, by the Atlantic Cable.

” 31—American and English naval forces unite to break up piracy by Chinese junks in the East Indies.

Sept. 6—The monument to S. A. Douglas, at Chicago, inaugurated. President Johnson made many speeches on his journey to attend this celebration, which were indiscreet, and disrespectful to Congress. It was called his “Swinging around the Circle,” in derision; a figure employed in one of his speeches.

Oct. 9—Gen. Geary elected governor of Pennsylvania.

” 23—Dedication of The Stonewall Jackson Cemetery, at Winchester, Va.

Nov. 6—State elections in 12 States are held to-day.

” 20—The Grand Army of the Republic, formed of the present and previous officers of the U. S. Army serving in the late war, hold a convention at Indianapolis, Ind.

” 22—Raphael Semmes, former Commander of the Confederate war steamer Alabama, appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy in the Louisiana State Seminary.

Dec. 7—The Louisiana Legislature rejects the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.

” 13—Territorial Legislature of Colorado organized.

” 16—The U. S. frigate New Ironsides burned at League Island.

” 22—Massacre of nearly a hundred soldiers near Ft. Kearney.

” 24—U. S. Minister John A. Dix enters on his duties in France.

1867.

Jan. 7—A suffrage bill for the Dist. of Columbia vetoed by President Johnson, but passed over the veto by Congress. Congress was laboring to harmonize the laws of the country with the changes produced by the war. President Johnson did his utmost to prevent the success of this policy. Congress, however, succeeded in carrying its point. This is an important and interesting history, since it shows how the Representatives of the People may check and neutralize the power of a President when his designs conflict with the interests of the country and the purposes of the people.

” 8-10—14th Amendment ratified by two States (Missouri and New York) and rejected by another (Virginia).

” 28—Nebraska bill vetoed, but passed over the veto.

Most of the Northern States ratified the 14th Amendment in this month.

Feb. 20—Military government bill passed Congress.

Mar. 1—Nebraska proclaimed a State by the President.

” 2—The President vetoes the Military Government and Civil Tenure of Office Bills. They are passed over his veto.

” 4—The 39th Congress ends, and the 40th is organized.

” 11—Military governors assigned to various districts in the South.

” 30—The President announces the ratification of the treaty with Russia, by which the United States bought all her North American Possessions for $7,200,000.

Apr. 3—Gen. Burnside re-elected governor of Rhode Island.

May 13—Jeff. Davis admitted to bail in $100,000; Horace Greeley and others furnish the bonds.

June 19—The Arch Duke Maximilian, Titular Emperor of Mexico, shot by order of the Mexican Republican government. The remonstrances of the U. S. government obliged the French to withdraw their support from Maximilian.

July 13—The steamer Dunderberg, bought by France, sailed for Cherbourg.

Aug. 1—Gov. Brownlow re-elected governor of Tennessee.

” 5—The President requires Mr. Stanton, Sec. of War, to resign. He refuses, when the President suspends him and appoints Gen. Grant.

” 23—Grand ovation to Admiral Farragut, by Russian officers at Cronstadt.

Sept. 17—The National Cemetery at Antietam dedicated.

Dec. 4—The Patrons of Husbandry, or Farmers’ Grange, organized, in Washington.

” 7—A resolution in the House of Representatives to impeach President Johnson fails by three votes.

1868.

Jan. 1—Fifth Emancipation Anniversary celebrated by the colored people in various places.

” 6—Censure of the President by Congress for removing Gen. Sheridan from command of the 5th Military District.

Feb. 7—The resignation of U. S. Minister to England, Hon. C. F. Adams, announced.

” 19—Senate refuse his seat to P. F. Thomas, of Maryland, on account of disloyalty.

” 20—The Legislature of New Jersey withdraws its ratification of the 14th Amendment. Ohio and Oregon did the same. This action, considered as absurd as Secession, was not recognized.

” 21—President Johnson expels Mr. Stanton, Sec. of War, and appoints Gen. Thomas. This is done in defiance of the Senate, by whose “advice and consent” the Constitution requires it to be supported.

” 24—The House of Representatives adopt articles of impeachment of the President presented by Thaddeus Stephens, of Pa., by a vote of 126 to 57. This was 12 more than the requisite two-thirds.

Mar. 5—The Senate is organized as a Court of Impeachment, Chief Justice Chase presiding.

May 16—The impeachment trial terminated by a vote in the Senate of 35 for, to 19 against. As a two-thirds vote was necessary the impeachment failed by three votes. A few Republican Senators incurred great odium by voting for the President’s acquittal.

” 20—Gen. Grant nominated for President by the Republican Convention at Chicago.

” 22—A Chinese embassy, headed by Hon. Anson Burlingame, who had been U. S. Minister to China and acquired the confidence of the government of China to such an extent as to be chosen by them as the leader of their embassy to this country and the governments of Europe, arrived at New York.

” 29—Gen. Schofield appointed Sec. of War.

June 5—Mr. Burlingame and the Chinese embassy presented to the President.

” 6—A Bill for the re-admission of Arkansas passes Congress.

” 9—Bills for the re-admission of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida are passed.

” 12—Hon. Reverdy Johnson appointed Minister to England.

” 20—Bill for re-admission of Ark. vetoed by the President, but passed over his veto by a two-thirds vote.

” 24—The Bill for the admission of the other States being vetoed by the President was likewise passed over his veto.

July 4—Horatio Seymour of N. Y. and F. P. Blair of Mo. nominated for President and Vice-President by the Democrats.

A political amnesty proclamation issued by the President.

” 16—Admiral Farragut received with distinguished honor by the Queen of England.

” 20—A Bill to exclude the electoral votes of the Southern States not re-admitted vetoed by the President and passed by Congress over the veto.

” 21—The 14th Amendment declared ratified, and a part of the Constitution.

” 28—Military government ceases in Arkansas, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

Aug. 6—Jefferson Davis lands in Liverpool, England.

” 13—U. S. steamers Wateree and Fredonia destroyed during an earthquake at Lima, Peru; 40,000 lives were lost in this dreadful catastrophe.

Sept. 7—Negro members of the Georgia Legislature expelled on account of race, contrary to the 14th Amendment.

” 18—Battle with the Indians on Republican River. Lt. Beecher and others killed.

” 19—Riot at Camilla, Geo., caused by hostility of Southern people to the political privileges of the blacks. Many negroes killed.

” 29—Gen. Reynolds, military governor of Texas, forbids the election in that State for President, Texas not having been re-admitted. This was in accordance with the law of Congress passed the 20th of July.

Oct. 17—The Legislature of Oregon withdraws its assent once given to the 14th Amendment.

Nov. 3—U. S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax elected President and Vice-President. Popular majority 309,722. Electoral votes for Grant and Colfax, 214; for Seymour and Blair, 80. Virginia, Mississippi and Texas did not vote, and Nevada was not counted in. The whole popular vote was 5,722,984. In Florida the electors were chosen by the Legislature.

” 27—The Indians defeated by Gen. Custer, on the Washita river. Black Kettle, the chief, and more than a hundred warriors killed.

Dec. 1—Ft. Lafayette, N. Y., destroyed by fire.

” 3—Political troubles in Arkansas, in which many murders are committed.

” 7—Third session of the 40th Congress begins.

” 15—A social gathering of the Union soldiers at Chicago.

1869.

Jan. 7—John Minor Botts, a statesman of Va., imprisoned by the Confederate government during the war for his Union sentiments, died.

Feb. 27—A joint resolution of Congress recommends to the States the adoption of the 15th Amendment to the Constitution.

Mar. 4—Gen. Grant inaugurated eighteenth President.

” ”—First session of the 41st Congress commenced.

” 13—James Guthrie, a statesman of Ky., died.

” 25—Hon. E. Bates, of Mo., Att’y Gen’l under Lincoln, died.

May 15—The Union Pacific Railroad was completed by joining the two ends at Ogden, Utah. Distance from Omaha to San Francisco 1904 miles. This completed the line of railroad joining the Atlantic and Pacific. The greatest triumph of engineering yet known was accomplished in the Nevada Mts., by carrying the road to a height of over 7000 feet in 105 miles.

July 30—Hon. I. Toucey, of Conn., who had filled many offices in the State and United States government, died.

Sept. 8—William B. Fessenden, of Me., a statesman of reputation, died.

” 10—John Bell, of Ky., candidate for the Presidency in 1860, died.

” 6—Gen. J. A. Rawlins, Sec. of War, died. He had been Gen. Grant’s Chief of Staff during the war.

Oct. 8—Franklin Pierce, of N. H., ex-President, died.

Nov. 7—Rear Admiral Stewart, of U. S. Navy, died.

Dec. 24—Edwin M. Stanton, of Pa., Sec. of War during most of the civil war, died.

This year closes a most important era in the history of the United States, and of the world. The account with the civil war was definitely closed, and the final seal set on the policy of reconstruction by the inauguration of Gen. Grant, and the continuance of the Republican party in power by the people, together with the readmission of most of the Southern States and the possibility of the reversal of the decision in regard to slavery done away by the adoption of the fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution, giving the elective franchise to the colored population. Much emphasis was given to all these things by the prosperity of the country, and the rapid reduction of the debt, by the generally wise conduct of the Southern people, and the slowly increasing prosperity of that section. These results reacted in other countries to strengthen the tendency to freer and more popular governments, and seem, in some respects to have introduced the Era of Republicanism. However slow may be the changes in this direction, they are sure to be made.

1870.

Jan. 1—Ten years ago the cloud of civil war settled densely over the country, and threatened its destruction. To-day that tornado has been passed by nearly six years, and its ruins are almost buried under the new and more thrifty growth of all interests and industries even in the South.

” 20—H. R. Revels, of Miss., is chosen the first colored Senator who ever represented a State in Congress.

” 23—The U. S. steamer Oneida sunk by collision with another vessel on the coast of Japan. 176 lives lost.

Feb. 22—Hon. Anson Burlingame, head of the Chinese embassy to the powers of Christendom, died at St. Petersburg, Russia.

Mar. 28—Gen. G. H. Thomas dies in San Francisco, Cal.

” 30—The Sec. of State proclaims the ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution by three-fourths of the States.

June 15—Death of Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, at Baltimore, Md.

July 12—Death of Admiral Dahlgren, at Washington, D. C.

” 20—Death of M. Prevost Paradol, French Minister at Washington.

Aug. 14—Death of Admiral Farragut, at Portsmouth, N. H.

Sept. 7—Recognition of the French Republic by the U. S. government.

Oct. 12—Death of Gen. R. E. Lee, formerly of the Confederate army.

1871.

Great changes have been taking place in Europe. The Emperor, Napoleon III. taken prisoner by the Germans, his government was set aside by the people of France who founded a Republic.

Jan. 1—At this time the German army, under the lead of the King of Prussia (about this time made Emperor of Germany), is besieging Paris, the capital of France.

” 17—The San Domingo Commission sail from New York.

” 28—Paris capitulates to the Germans, which ends the Franco-Prussian war, terms of peace being soon arranged.

Feb. 12—Alice Carey, the authoress, died at New York.

” 16—An important Japanese mission to the U. S. and other governments arrives at San Francisco.

Mar. 1—The Germans make a triumphal entry into Paris.

” 20—British House of Commons votes $265,000 for the relief of Paris.

Apr. 20—A Bill against the Kuklux, a secret organization of Southern conspirators and murderers, passed in Congress.

May 1—The Legal Tender Act declared Constitutional by the U. S. Supreme Court.

” 31—The French government does not imitate our clemency to prisoners taken in rebellion. The soldiers of the Commune are slaughtered by thousands, by order of the Court Martial of the government army.

June 18—An earthquake on Long and Staten Islands, N. Y.

” 20—The first Atlantic Cable of 1865, which soon broke and became useless, is recovered and worked.

July 5—Earthquake at Visalia, Cal.

” 12—Irish Catholic riot in New York; 51 killed, 30 wounded.

” 30—Steamer Westfield explodes, killing near 100 people.

Sept. 17—The Mont Cenis Tunnel, opening a passage for a railroad 7⅗ths miles long through the Alps from France to Italy, inaugurated. It had been many years building.

Oct. 2—Brigham Young, the head of the Mormons in Utah, arrested for bigamy.

” 8—A fire nearly consumes Chicago, destroying-property worth $200,000,000 and many lives. Fires rage in the forests of Wisconsin and Michigan. Much property, some towns, and many persons are burned.

” 17—South Carolina placed under martial law.

$2,050,000 received in aid of the people of Chicago.

Nov. 15—Cholera appears on vessels at New York.

” 18—The Grand Duke Alexis, of Russia, arrives at New York. He travels through the country for some months.

Dec. 9—Commissioners of the English and U. S. governments meet in Washington to settle the difficulties between the two governments arising from the spoliations of the Alabama.

” 16—Catacazy, the Russian Minister, called home at the request of our government.

” 29—Investigation of abuses in the New York city government commences. W. M. Tweed surrenders to the sheriff.

1872.

Jan. 2—Brigham Young arrested on a charge of murder.

Mar. 7—Trial and conviction of Kuklux prisoners in Ala.; 3 sentenced to imprisonment for 20 years.

Apr. 1—The colored people celebrate the adoption of 15th Amendment.

May 3—Horace Greeley nominated for President by a convention at Cincinnati, O.

” 22—The General Amnesty Bill signed by the President.

” 30—Graves of the Union soldiers decorated throughout the country.

June 6—Grant and Wilson nominated for President and Vice-President.

” 26—Trial of Stokes for the murder of Fisk begun. After several trials he was condemned to imprisonment for murder.

July 24—Spotted-Tail and other western Indians visit Washington.

Aug. 16—Yellow Fever appears at New York.

Sept. 2—Father Hyacinthe, a liberal French Catholic priest, marries an American lady.

” 14—The arbitrators of the Alabama Claims, to whom the case had been submitted, and who had been two months sitting at Geneva, Switzerland, announced their award. The United States was to receive $15,500,000 in gold.

Oct. 14—Wm. H. Seward, one of our most distinguished statesmen, is this day buried at Auburn, N. Y.

” 25—About this time the Horse disease commences, and spreads rapidly over the whole country.

Nov. 5—In the presidential election on this day President Grant is re-elected.

” 9—A great fire in Boston, Mass. Loss $75,000,000 in buildings and merchandise. Insurance $50,000,000.

In this month and December following storms of extreme severity caused great loss of life and property. An overflow of the river Po, in Italy, rendered 40,000 persons homeless. In the Baltic Sea 80 vessels were wrecked, some islands were inundated, and all their inhabitants drowned. It was not less severe on the coasts of England and Ireland.

” 29—Horace Greeley, recent candidate for President of the U. S., died, aged 62 years.

Dec. 11—The King of the Sandwich Islands, Kamehameha V., died, leaving no heir.

” 12—The actor, Edwin Forrest, dies, at Philadelphia.

” 17—Edward A. Pollard, editor and author, died.

Important investigations of abuses in New York city and in the conduct of the Pacific Railway are made this winter, and many healthy reforms inaugurated. The order of Patrons of Husbandry becomes popular among agriculturists, and spreads rapidly, through the coming year.

1873.

Jan. 7, 8, 9—A dreadful snow storm occurs in Minnesota, by which 70 lives are lost.

” 9—The ex-Emperor Napoleon III. dies at Chiselhurst, in England, aged 64 years.

” 31—At Chicago, Ill., Joel A. Matteson, ex-governor of Illinois, died.

Feb. 1—M. F. Maury, formerly distinguished in the U. S. Naval service, dies at Lexington, Va.

” 9—J. W. Geary, ex-Governor of Penn., died at Harrisburg.

” 15—Steamer Henry A. Jones burned in Galveston Bay, Texas. 21 lives lost.

Mar. 3—Congress enacted a law increasing their pay, that of the President, and various officers of the government. It extended over the whole previous term of the 42d Congress, commencing March 4th, 1871. This law was very offensive to the mass of the people.

” 4—The wreck of the Alaska mail steamer, Geo. S. Wright, is reported at Portland, Oregon. All on board, 23 persons, perished.

” 16—The Boston steamer, Grace Irving, foundered. 8 lives lost.

” 17—Great fire at Lawrenceburg, Ky.

” 19—San Salvador, Central America, destroyed by an earthquake. Property destroyed estimated at from $12,000,000 to $20,000,000; and 500 lives lost.

Apr. 1—Steamer Atlantic wrecked near Halifax, N. S. 535 lives lost.

May 5—James Orr, American Minister to Russia, died, at St. Petersburg, aged 51.

” 4—An iron bridge at Dixon, Ill., crowded with people witnessing a baptism, fell, killing and drowning 100 persons.

” 7—Salmon P. Chase, Chief Justice of the U. S., died in New York, aged 65.

” 8—Hon. Oakes Ames, M. C., died at North Easton, Mass., aged 69.

John Stuart Mill, a celebrated English philosopher and author, died at Avignon, France.

” 30—A second great fire in Boston, Mass.

June 28—Hon. Horace F. Clark, prominent in railway enterprises, died in New York.

” 27—Hiram Powers, the distinguished American sculptor, died in Florence, Italy.

” 29—Jesse R. Grant, father of the President, died.

July 4—Severe storm, very destructive to crops in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri. 20 persons drowned in Green Lake, Wisconsin.

Aug. 2—Great fire at Portland, Oregon. Loss $1,500,000.

” 24—A storm of unprecedented severity raged on the coast of British America, and, at the same time, on the coast of Mexico. More than 100 vessels were destroyed in and near the gulf of St. Lawrence. Some populous islands were quite laid waste. 176 sailing vessels and 12 steamers were lost in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sept. 15—The propeller Ironsides foundered in Lake Michigan. 31 lives lost.

The Patrons of Husbandry organize about this time at the rate of near 1,000 granges a month.

In this month commenced a most serious financial panic at New York, that spread over the whole country.

Oct. 26—J. C. Heenan, the prize fighter, died on the Union Pacific R. R.

Nov. 6—Gen. Sickles, U. S. Minister to Spain, telegraphs to Washington the capture of the Virginius by the Cubans.

” 8—Stephen R. Mallory, former Sec. of the Confederate Navy, died, aged 63.

” 19—John P. Hale, of N. H., a statesman of some celebrity, died.

” 22—The steamship Ville du Havre run into and sunk by the Loch Earn in mid ocean. 226 lives lost.

” 27—Richard Yates, ex-U. S. Senator and ex-Governor of Illinois, died at St. Louis, aged 55.

Dec. 1—The 43rd Congress assembles for its first session.

” 14—Louis Agassiz, a distinguished naturalist and man of science, died at Cambridge, Mass.

1874.

Jan.—The U. S. government narrowly escaped a war with Spain on account of the taking of the Virginius by Cuban authorities. That vessel was sailing under the American flag which was violated by its capture. 54 men were shot as pirates, some of them American citizens. The Spanish government disavowed the act, and gave up the vessel, Dec. 16th, 1873. It was so much damaged as to sink while on the way to the United States.

” 2—A Revolution in Spain overthrows the government of Señor Castelar.

” 5—The President sends a message to Congress concerning the Spanish difficulty, now substantially settled.

” 8—U. S. Senate repeals the bill of March 3rd, 1873, increasing the pay of members of Congress.

” 9—Hon. Caleb Cushing nominated Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court.

” 14—Nomination of Caleb Cushing recalled.

” 17—Death of the Siamese twins.

” 19—Morrison R. Waite, of Ohio, was nominated by the President as Chief Justice and confirmed afterward by the Senate.

” 27—Reliable intelligence of the death of David Livingstone, the African explorer, reaches England.

Feb. 4—The seventh annual meeting of the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry occurs in St. Louis, Mo. 8,000 subordinate granges have been added during the year. The Executive Committee state that farmers had saved $8,000,000 during the year by their co-operative system.

Mar. 8—Ex-President Fillmore died, in Buffalo, N. Y.

” 11—Death of Hon. Charles Sumner, a distinguished statesman and Senator from Mass., in Washington. He was born in Boston, Mass., Jan. 6th, 1811, and was 63 years old. He was of a patriotic race which originated in the county of Kent, England. His grandfather was a Major distinguished for valor in the Revolutionary army. Charles Sumner graduated from Harvard College in 1830, was admitted to the bar in 1834, and became highly distinguished as a lawyer. He succeeded Daniel Webster in the U. S. Senate in 1851, in which he remained till his death, being always conspicuous as one of the foremost leaders in public affairs.

” 24—A bill increasing the currency to $400,000,000 passed in the U. S. House of Representatives by 168 to 77.

Apr. 1—The U. S. debt officially stated to be $2,152,690,728.62. Decrease of debt during March, 1874, $2,189,338.46.

” 14—The Senate bill increasing the currency passes the House of Representatives. Many protests from different parts of the country are presented against it as injurious to the credit and interests of the country. The discussion of this measure has occupied much of the time of Congress for some months.

” 18—The funeral of Livingstone, the lamented African explorer, takes place in London, England, where his remains had arrived. He was interred in Westminster Abbey, as a mark of distinguished honor.

” 17—Gov. Wm. B. Washburn is elected by the Mass. Legislature to represent the State in the U. S. Senate, made vacant by the death of Charles Sumner.

” 22—President Grant vetoes the Currency Bill increasing the issues of paper money, which defeats the measure, its friends in Congress not being numerous enough to pass it over the veto.

” 24—The Congressional committee on Transportation, after long and careful investigation, advised government oversight of Railroads, but against government ownership.

” 28—Congress voted $90,000 in aid of sufferers by the inundation of the lower Mississippi.

May 7—$100,000 were added to the above sum for the same purpose.

” 19—The system of payments to informers in customs revenue cases, repealed. That system appeared to have been very grossly abused.

” ”—The conflict in Arkansas ended in the retreat of Brooks and the reinstatement of Gov. Baxter.

” ”—The New York Legislature passed a Compulsory Education Bill, which became a law in that state.

June 1—Mr. Richardson, Secretary of the Treasury, resigned. Gen. Benj. H. Bristow of Ky., was appointed to succeed him.

” ”—The number of subordinate Granges of the Patrons of Husbandry is 19,492. The number of Patrons who are voters is estimated at 1,000,000.

” 23—Congress adjourned. The sums appropriated at this session for carrying on the government amounted to $189,784,346.25. The largest item was for the Post Office Department—over $41,000,000.

” 24—Postmaster-General, John A. J. Creswell resigned, and Hon. Marshall Jewell was appointed in his place.

” 25—Telegraphic communication between the United States and Brazil introduced by congratulatory messages between the Emperor of Brazil and the President of the U. S.

July 8—Message of Gov. Davis of Minnesota to the Sec. of War, announcing the entire destruction of crops in many counties of that state by grasshoppers.

” 14—Another great fire in Chicago. Loss over $4,000,000.

Gen Custer, commanding an exploring expedition in the Black Hills of Dacotah, reported discoveries of rich gold mines there.

” 27—An International Congress for mitigating the sufferings of war by means of an International Code of Laws, convened at Brussels, in Belgium.

Aug. 19—A riot between whites and blacks in Kentucky, resulted in several murders of blacks. The Gov. called out the militia to restore order.

Sept. 2—400 Mormons sail from England for this country en route to Utah.

” 5—Gen. Sherman orders Military head quarters of the U. S. Army removed from Washington to St. Louis, Mo.

” 5—The one hundredth anniversary of the first meeting of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, celebrated.

” 7—Great fire at Meiningen, Germany. Loss in buildings alone, $3,000,000.

” 13—Guizot, a celebrated French author and statesman, died, aged 87.

” 14—The white League, a secret organization opposed to the enfranchisement of the colored people, produced a conflict in New Orleans. 17 were killed and 32 wounded in a street fight, and the State government completely overthrown.

” 16—President Grant interfered by proclamation and the government

” 18—was surrendered to the regular authorities, under protest.

Oct. 13—Elections held in 6 states returned 12 democratic Congressmen more than the previous number.

Nov. 3—Elections in 23 states give a strong democratic gain, indicating a reaction against the government. A sense of the necessity of reform in various ways, and of greater purity and integrity of administration was wide spread. It had caused, in part, the rapid growth of the Patrons of Husbandry, and was again expressed by political reaction. It was a significant rebuke to those in power. A typhoon, or hurricane at Hong Kong, China, Sept. 22-23, destroyed 30,000 lives and $50,000,000 of property.

Europe is making great political improvements. In France, during the last three years, out of 184 elections to fill vacancies in the National Assembly, 152 have been republican—only 32 monarchists, and in Russia the government has decided to enforce compulsory education.

Dec. 1—The number of Granges in the United States is 21,472.

” 7—The last session of the forty-third Congress commenced. The President’s Message strongly recommends early resumption of specie payments.

” 12—Kalakaua, King of the Sandwich Islands, reached Washington on a visit. He was received by the President on the 15th and by Congress on the 18th.

” 21—Disturbances at Vicksburg, Miss., called out a proclamation from the President.

” 28—Gerrit Smith, a distinguished abolitionist and philanthropist, died in New York, aged 78.

1875.

Jan. 1—Monarchy was restored in Spain. Alphonso XII, son of the ex-queen Isabella, was proclaimed King, and received the support of the army and navy. It was only a few months before that most of the European governments recognized the Spanish Republic.

” 4—Gen. Sheridan took command of the Department of the Gulf, at New Orleans. On that day the Legislature of Louisiana was organized, and United States troops, acting under the orders of the speaker and of Gov. Kellogg, ejected several members who, it was alleged, were not entitled to seats. It produced much excitement throughout the country, the opposition denouncing it as an unexampled interference of the Federal Executive with State government. Congress sustained the action of the President, but exerted its influence to quiet the excitement in Louisiana, and a compromise was effected under which it gradually ebbed away.

” 12—Toung-tchi, Emperor of China, died, aged 19 years.

The emigrants arriving at the port of New York during the year 1874, numbered 149,762; a decided falling off, the arrivals having for some years, amounted to 250,000. The governments of Germany are endeavoring to remove the causes of emigration which threatens to affect their resources seriously.

Feb. 3—A proposed reciprocity treaty with Canada, was rejected by the Senate.

” 5—The civil rights Bill, adopted by the Senate during the last session, was amended by an omission relating to schools and adopted by the House. It was accepted by the Senate Feb. 27th, and signed by the President, March 1st.

” 25—A Republic was definitely recognized in France.

Mar. 2—A Bill increasing the Tariff was passed by the Senate.

Gen. Lorenzo Thomas of the U. S. army died, aged 71.

” 3—A law admitting Colorado as a state was passed.

” 4—A law, passed in haste in the last hours of the session, restored the Franking Privilege to members of Congress until Dec. 1, and increased the postage on newspapers and packages for the people. The forty-third Congress came to a close.

” 5—The Senate convened in extra session in accordance with a call previously made by the President. G. S. Orth was confirmed U. S. Minister to Austria, and Horace Maynard U. S. Minister to Turkey.

” 10—A new treaty with Belgium was ratified.

” 18—The Senate ratified the treaty with Hawaii, which renders the interests of the Sandwich Islands substantially identical with those of the United States.

” 20—A destructive tornado in Georgia caused great loss of life and property.

” 24—The Senate, after officially approving the action of the President in Louisiana, closed its special session.

F. E. Spinner, United States Treasurer, resigned, and John C. New, of Ind. was appointed his successor.

Apr. 19—The centennial anniversary of the battle of Lexington was celebrated with great interest. This battle was the first decisive step in the War of Independence. Its scenes and their consequences were dwelt on by some of the most distinguished literary Americans, and honored by the presence of the President of the United States and many of its most eminent authorities.

” 23—Three Steamers burned at New Orleans, in which fifty lives were lost.

” 28—A fire at Oshkosh, Wis., destroyed a square mile of the city. Loss in property over $2,000,000.

May 7—A Bill for suppressing religious orders introduced into the German Parliament. It subsequently became a law.

The Steamship Schiller was wrecked on the coast of Great Britain. Three hundred and eleven lives were lost.

” 10—Centennial anniversary of the capture of Fort Ticonderoga by Ethan Allen.

” 15—Attorney General Williams resigned and Judge Edwards Pierrepont was appointed his successor.

” 17—John C. Breckenridge, formerly Vice President of the United States, and a general in the Confederate army during the Civil War, died, aged 54.

” 18—A fearful earthquake in New Granada, South America. The city of Cucuta was completely destroyed; between two and three thousand lives were lost and more than $8,000,000 of property destroyed.

” 20—Celebration of the Mecklenburg, N. C., Declaration of Independence, with great enthusiasm.

” 30—The Steamer Vicksburg, on a voyage from Canada to England, was wrecked in a field of ice. 80 lives were lost.

June 17—Centennial anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill was celebrated with great eclat. Its most interesting feature was the fraternal spirit manifested by the North and South toward each other. Several Southern States were represented by bodies of soldiers.

” 30—Business failures since Jan. 1, of this year reported at 3,377, with liabilities amounting in all to $74,940,869.

July 8—Gen. Frank P. Blair, Jun., died in St. Louis, aged 54.

” 18—Lady Franklin, widow of Sir John Franklin, the unfortunate Arctic Explorer, died in England, aged 70.

Great loss of life and property has been caused in France by floods. In two cities alone the damage is estimated at $20,000,000, and in the south of France at $75,000,000. Other parts of Europe have suffered heavily from the same cause.

” 23—Isaac Merrit Singer, inventor of the Sewing Machine of that name, died in London, England, aged 64.

The most prominent political issue of the time is hard money and currency. A Democratic convention in Md., and a Republican convention in Minn., each, yesterday and to-day, adopted a hard money platform. Ohio and Pa. democratic conventions afterwards declared for paper money.

” 31—Ex-President Andrew Johnson died in Tenn., aged 67. He was recently elected U. S. Senator from Tennessee.

Aug.—The Gov. of Tenn. appointed Hon. D. M. Key, to fill the vacancy in the Senate caused by Andrew Johnson’s death.

” 4—Republican government in France was strengthened by the passage of a Bill constituting a Senate.

The census of population in Louisiana, gives 850,390, an increase of over 15 per cent. since 1870. The excess of increase of colored over white population has been 45,668.

The census in Wisconsin gives a population of 1,236,090, being an increase of 17⅓ per cent. since 1870.

” 26—The Bank of California suspended payment. It has long been the leading bank in the Pacific States.

” 27—W. C. Ralston, president of the Bank of California, was drowned while bathing.

Sept. 1—Violent disturbances in Mississippi between whites and blacks result in many deaths.

” 7—The Governor of Miss. called on the President for federal aid to protect citizens and restore order.

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