After seceding, Virginia took immediate steps to organize her forces, and General Robert E. Lee was called to the command. When Virginia joined the Confederacy these troops were transferred to the Confederate Government. In response to Lincoln's call for troops, bodies of men began to assemble near Wheeling, W. Va., under GENERAL GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN; at Chambersburg, Pa., under GENERAL PATTERSON; and at Washington, under GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. A body of Massachusetts troops, on their way to Washington, passing through Baltimore against the remonstrances of its inhabitants, encounted some resistance in the streets, during the course of which a number of citizens and soldiers were killed (April 19, 1861). The Confederates hastened to establish a line of defense. Troops had been sent forward into Western Virginia to repel McClellan's advance; while forces were collected near Harper's Ferry, under The Question of Loyalty. When the passions and prejudices awakened by the war between the States were still fresh in the minds of the people much rancor and bitterness went on record in the writings of those who chronicled the events of our country's history. In review. ing these chronicles the student will find his powers of discrimination taxed to the utmost. As the years roll on, truths become more and more clear. The terms rebels and traitors, once applied to the men of the Southern armies, are now no longer current. These terms cause the question of loyalty to government to arise, and here again North and South were honestly divided in their opinions. The North had received a great tide of immigration from Europe since the Revolution. These people came to the "United States," and when they and their descendants became imbued with the spirit of American institutions, their patriotism and allegiance were yielded to the Government of the United States rather than to that of any particular State. The South had received few of these immigrants, and had preserved intact to a great extent the traditions and opinions of governmental allegiance current when the Union was first formed. Its spirit was decidedly that of LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT, manifesting itself in the opposition of the colonies to the rule of England, manifesting itself whenever the functions of the general government seemingly or actually overlapped those of a sovereign self-governing State. The State was the recipient of the loyalty and patriotism of the Southern people; the Union shared with it their affection. Duty, however, moved them when choice came to be made between the two. This duty was interpreted according to convictions. With those officers from the South who held positions in the regular army of the United States, before the secession of the Southern States, the choice was indeed sorrowfully and thoughtfully made. Some, like ROBERT E. LEE, of Virginia, an officer who stood the highest in military capacity of all in the United States' service, feeling that their hands could only be raised in defense of their States, resigned their commissions when their States seceded. Others, like GEORGE H. THOMAS, of Virginia,-"the general who never lost a battle"-found the ties attaching them to the government stronger than those binding them to their State. The Senators and Con[gressmen from the South severed their connections with the United States Government in sadnes. The farewell address of Jefferson Davis of Mississippi to his colleagues in the United States Senate will ever stand as the grandest expression of that earne. t conviction entertained in the South, that the step taken in seceding was legal, that this step was taken with reluctance and for no purpose but that of terminating the turmoil into which the country had, for a long time, been plunged. The spirit that animates traitors was not such as was displayed by Southern men upon many an historic battlefield. The impulses of a causeless rebellion could never have sustained them through the weary years of conflict and suffering, and when from physical exhaustion, they ceased to fight, the terms of peace were accepted in good faith, and nothing can rob them of the glories they achieved; and the consciousness that they did but show themselves Americans, contending for their interpretation of right, resisting what was to them oppression, remains to them. Should the restored Union ever be imperiled, or the American people be called upon to maintain before the world the dignity becoming to a mighty nation, the first to take up arms-be it to defend or to maintain-will be the sons and grandsons of those who submitted the courage of their convictions to the trying ordeals of the great sectional conflict. GENERAL JOSEPII E. JOHNSTON; at a place called Manassas Junction, near Washington, under General Beauregard; under GENERAL J. B. MAGRUDER at Yorktown; and under GENERAL BENJAMIN HUGER at Norfolk. The Union advance into Western Virginia was marked by successes over small bodies of troops at PHILIPPI (June 3, 1861), FALLING WATERS (July 2) and RICH MOUNTAIN (July 11); but it soon became evident that the first important battle was to be fought at some point between Washington and Richmond. The idea generally prevailed in the North that the capture of the Confederate capital would bring hostilities to a speedy termination; so the cry went up, "On to Richmond." General Scott, being GENERAL IRVIN MCDOWELL. too old to take the field, was succeeded by The army that advanced from Washington consisted of thirty-eight thousand men. So confident were GEN. IRVIN MO DOWELL. (FEDERAL), these forces of success that they had hardly given any attention to the serious business of war, but looked upon their march as something of a holiday excursion. At BULL RUN Creek, near Manassas Junction, they encountered the Confederates, July 21, 1861. Johnston had joined Beauregard with a part of his army, leaving the rest to follow. The battle that took place was gained by the Confederates, owing to two fortuitous circumstances. The first of these was the presence upon the field, in command of part of the forces, of GENERAL THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON, a skilled and experienced military commander. The second was the arrival of the remainder of Johnston's army, under GENERAL E. KIRBY SMITH, in time to turn the tide of victory against the Unionists. The defeat of the Union "Stonewall" Jackson. Attack after attack was sustained by Confederate forces under GENERALS EVANS and BEE in one part of the field, and at last they were compelled to fall back. But help had come; for, in the rear, drawn up in line, within supporting distance stood the "First Brigade," commanded by General Jackson. Bee had done all he could to rally his retreating men, and had counted the battle lost. Rushing up to Jackson, who stood coolly awaiting the oncoming and victorious forces of the North, he exclaimed in despair, "General, they are beating us back." "Sir," quietly responded Jackson, we will give them the bayonet." The effect of his words was electrical. Bee galloped back to his men shouting, "Look, there is Jackson, standing like a stone wall! Let us determine to die here and we will conquer!" Bee's men rallied and formed on the right of Jackson. Here they were joined by COLONEL WADE HAMPTON. The long glittering line of bayonets checked the wave of battle and turned it back, and when the arrival of reinforcements under Smith decided the day for the Confederates, victory had been snatched from defeat, and STONEWALL JACKSON's carcer, in all its invincibility, had begun. forces was followed by a panic, and, utterly demoralized, the army that had set out to capture Richmond, abandoned all munitions and accoutrements, and hastily retreated to Washing ton. QUESTIONS. What call was issued by Lincoln? Why? What Governors complied? What Governors did not? What was the direct cause of the Civil War? What bearing had the slavery and tariff agitations upon this cause? What States now joined the Confederacy? Why? What States were prevented from doing so? What became the Confederate capital? How were the Northern and Southern people divided in opinion as to what was right? What idea of governmental loyalty prevailed in the South? North? How did this difference come to exist? What address expressed the conviction of the South? What do you know of Robert E. Lee? George H. Thomas? Where did Federal troops assemble in What response to Lincoln's call? preparations were made by the Confederates? What three successes had Union troops in Western Virginia? What do you know of the battle of "Stonewall" Jackson? Bull Run? CHAPTER III. Early Battles in the West. The result of the battle of Bull Run filled the South with great exultation, and its people reposed for some time in fancied security, fully believing that Southern valor was invincible Upon the North the effect was altogether differ ent. GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE. (CONFEDERATE). GENERAL WADE HAMPTON. The people there were brought to a sudden realization that the conflict precipitated upon the country was to be one of great magnitude. All the resources of the Federal Government were now brought into activity. Thousands of men and millions of money were voted by Congress, and there was soon assembled, equipped and organized, at Washington, one of the largest armies of modern times. |