628. The End. Other smaller Confederate forces soon after surrendered, and the war was at an end. The entire number of Confederate soldiers paroled in their several armies was one hundred and seventy-four thousand two hundred and twenty-three. Some regiments were reduced to such an extent that they could muster but from eleven to sixty-five men. Ten regiments consolidated numbered but two hundred and thirty-eight men. Eight regiments of Texans, originally ten thousand strong, numbered four hundred and fifty-six in all. The Union muster-rolls on the first of March aggregated nearly a million men all told, while the entire number of men mustered into the national service during the war was two million six hundred and eighty-eight thousand five hundred and twenty-three. This included all sorts of enlistments in periods of from three months to four years (¶638). The "Alabama 99 was the most famous of the English-built privateers employed by the Confederates. It captured scores of American merchantmen, and made long and prosperous cruises in various parts of the world. The "Alabama" sailed into the French harbor of Cherbourg, and soon the Federal gunboat, "Kearsarge," appeared outside the harbor. The commander of the "Alabama" challenged the "Kearsarge" to fight, which offer was immediately accepted. The two vessels were fairly matched, and the battle began a little before noon, June 19th, 1864. The French thronged the neighboring shores, and saw the "Kearsarge" sink the "Alabama" within two hours after the first gun was fired. This destruction of the terrible privateer caused great rejoicing throughout the Union, which was increased by the capture of the "Georgia," in August, and of the 66 Florida " in October of the same year. 629. Assassination of President Lincoln. As soon as Richmond was evacuated, President Lincoln, who had gone to the front to confer with Grant concerning his final movement against Lee, made a hasty visit to Richmond, took a drive through the principal streets, and returned to Washington on the day of Lee's surrender. On the evening of April 14th, the President, while seated in a box overlooking the stage at Ford's Theatre, was shot by an assassin who leaped over the railing upon the stage, shouted, "Sic semper tyrannis," and escaped from the building. The President lingered a few hours, and at his death the wail of the people north, south, east, and west was universal and their grief beyond expression. The joy of the nation at the prospect of peace was suddenly turned into the deepest mourning. The assassin, John Wilkes Booth, an actor, was pursued for several days and finally overtaken and shot. 630. Capture of Jefferson Davis. - President Davis and his family, his cabinet and military guard, hastily left Richmond by rail, and CITY escaped to Danville. Here he heard of Lee's surrender and immediately retreated to Greensboro', North Carolina. There leaving the railroad, he pushed forward to Washington, Georgia. Meanwhile, his guard, which had consisted of two thousand cavalry soldiers, gradually dwindled away, and his cabinet officers one by one deserted him. Journeying now by wagon and on horseback, he encamped for the night at Irwinsville, Georgia, and on the morning of the 10th of May he was captured. He was imprisoned in Fortress Monroe, but was finally set at liberty without a trial, largely at the solicitation of Horace Greeley of New York. The United States executed no one for treason, at the close of the war. Salmon P. Chase. (From a negative in the possession of the U. S. Government.) 631. Civil Affairs. The preceding pages have carried the history of the Civil War to its end. In order to obtain a consecutive account of the military affairs, many of the civil matters have been omitted, and will be discussed at this point. The Department of the Treasury was one of the most important during these four years. It belonged to Secretary Chase to devise means for obtaining the vast revenue which was needed to carry on the war (T 599). One of the last acts of the Congress which ended March 3, 1861, was to pass the so-called "Morrill Tariff Act." Since 1846 the system of a tariff for revenue had been used by the government, but the tariff of 1861 was a distinctly protective measure. After the war began, the duties on imports were frequently increased until they became nearly three times as large as in 1861. 632. Internal Revenue. The other source of income which has been commonly employed by the nation is that of the Internal Revenue. The most common form is the excise tax, levied on goods made and sold within the country. Besides the excise, taxes were levied on incomes, legal documents, and in other ways, all of which were classed as internal revenue. These taxes were greatly increased during President Lincoln's administration, so that about three hundred million dollars were raised in this manner in one year. 633. Bonds. These two sources of revenue proved to be far from sufficient. It soon became necessary to borrow money for the Salmon Portland Chase, a native of New Hampshire, was born January 13th, 1808. After being admitted to the bar, he removed to Ohio. In 1849 he was elected to the United States Senate, and in 1855 was chosen governor of Ohio. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1859. In 1861 he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury, and in 1864, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He died May 7th, 1873. Secretary Chase was, throughout his life, an earnest opponent of slavery. He was originally a Democrat, but he joined the Liberty party at its organization. Later he belonged to the Free-Soil party, and finally became a Republican. His position during the Civil War, at the head of the Treasury Department, was a very difficult one, and he fulfilled the duties with the greatest energy. The National Bank System, which has been tried for thirty years, was adopted in accordance with his advice. in the public treasury, could issue bank-notes. A tax was also placed on the issue of such notes by any bank that did not hold a United States charter, and thus such issues have since that date. been limited to the National Banks. The immediate cause for estab Nevada was settled as late as 1849. From its great silver mines it is called the "Silver State." Mining is almost the only industry of the State, although in certain sections there is a little agriculture. The population is about forty-five thousand. lishing this system was the need of a more efficient method of borrowing money. The system has been continued, and, with slight modifications, ist still in use. The notes are perfectly safe, as the bonds in the Treasury more than cover their value, and they are very convenient, as they are of equal value throughout the country. 635. New States. Soon after the beginning of the war, the western part of Virginia separated from the seceding State, and West Virginia was admitted to the Union, June 19th, 1863. The next year, October 31st, 1864, the thirty-sixth State, Nevada, was admitted. 636. Presidential Election. but two parties in the field. The West Virginia. — The western and the eastern sections of the State of Virginia were separated from each other by the Alleghany Mountains. different climate, soil, and occupations tended to alienate one portion from the other. When Virginia decided to join the Confederacy, the western section remained loyal to the Union. An organization was formed, a constitution was adopted, and the State of West Virginia was admitted to the Union. With a population of three quarters of a million, the "Little Mountain State" is devoting its attention primarily to mining and manufac tures. In the campaign of 1864, there were The Republican National Convention renominated President Lincoln, chose Andrew Johnson of Tennessee as the candidate for Vice-President, and declared for a continued prosecution of the war, and the abolition of slavery. The Democratic National Convention pronounced the war a failure, insisted that hostilities should cease, and chose as its candidates General George B. McClellan of New Jersey, and George H. Pendleton of Ohio. Twenty-five States cast their votes for presidential electors in November. Two hundred and twelve electors representing twenty-two States voted for Lincoln and Johnson, and twenty-one electors from three States for McClellan and Pendleton. 1861. CHRONOLOGY. President Lincoln jinaugurated, March 4. Fort Sumter surrendered, April 14. Call for troops, April 15. Mob at Baltimore, April 19. Second Secession, April, May, and June. Meeting of Congress, July 4. Battle of Bull Run, July 21. Battle of Wilson's Creek, August 10. 1862. Capture of Fort Henry, February 6. 1862. Capture of Fort Pulaski, April 11. Capture of Corinth, May 30. Battle of Fair Oaks and Seven Pines, May 31, June 1. Seven Days' battle, June 25 to July 1. Pope's campaign, August. Second battle of Bull Run, August 29, 30. First Emancipation Proclamation, September 22. Battle of Fredericksburg, December 13. Battle of Stone River, December 31 to January 2, 1863. 1863. Second Emancipation Proclamation, January 1. Siege of Suffolk, April 10 to May 3. Battle of Chancellorsville, May 2, 3. Capture of Port Hudson, July 9. Battle of Chickamauga, September 19, 20. Siege of Knoxville, November and December. Battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, November 24, 25. 1864. Grant made lieutenant-general, March 3. Battles of the Wilderness, May 5 to 7. Siege of Petersburg, June 16 to April 2, 1865. Battle of Kearsarge and Alabama, June 19. Battle of Mobile Bay, August 5 to 23. Capture of Atlanta, September 2. Battle of Winchester, September 19. Sherman's march to the sea begins, November 12. Battle of Franklin, November 30. Battle of Nashville, December 15, 16. Capture of Savannah, December 21. 1865. Capture of Columbia, February 17. Surrender at Appomattox, April 9. |