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general immediately recognized her as an excellent Union lady of Fredericksburg, who was escaping with her children and little effects from the town. Have you anything else down at the bridge, madam?" asked the general. "Only a bed and a few small articles, sir," she timidly answered. "Send down an ambulance, wagon-master, and have them brought up and carried to the depot," was the general's order, and it was obeyed. In a few minutes the poor widow had the pleasure of seeing all her remaining goods safely deposited on the cars for Acquia Creek.

The night-march from the Rappahannock River to Acquia Creek was very difficult, the roads having been so cut up by incessant travel that they were almost impassable in some places. General Burnside kept up with the train, and seemed always in the place where there was the most difficulty. Several times the column came to a halt, by reason of the blocking of the narrow road with stalled wagons, and there it might have remained until broad daylight, for all that the soldiers seemed disposed to do towards righting matters. Lazy troopers sat dozing on their horses, while the march of the whole army was hindered for want of their help, and if Burnside himself had not several times dismounted, waded knee-deep into the mud-holes, and put his own shoulder to the wheels, thus shaming his men into doing something, the rebels might have captured the whole force.

By daylight the whole of the train was safely through the hills and encamped in sight of Acquia Creek Landing, under the protecting fire of four gun-boats anchored in the Potomac. Without waiting for sleep, an hour of which he had scarcely experienced for forty-eight hours, General Burnside rode up to the hill-sides overlooking the place, and selected positions where batteries were

planted to enfilade the approach to the landing. He at once commenced embarking his troops, and when they had left, he destroyed the government buildings at Acquia Creek, and started for Washington.

Meanwhile General McClellan, with a strong force, remained inactive at Alexandria, although he had been ordered by General Halleck to place himself within easy supporting distance of General Pope; and a copy of this order was sent to Pope at the same time by Halleck, in order that he might know what were his

reliances. Pope, on the strength of this order, requested Franklin and Suinner to come up, and he asked from McClellan rations, and forage for his horses. They had been nearly two days without food, and the road to McClellan was all the way within our lines. The answer of the general who received this appeal, and knew its vital character, was, that if General Pope would send a cavalry escort (the distance being nearly thirty miles) he should have the desired supplies. When I received this

answer," says Pope, in his report, "I gave up all hope, for I could not withdraw any portion of my force from the front, and if I should gain any advantage of the enemy, I had no means, without cavalry, of following it up."

The reinforcements under Sumner and Franklin were likewise withheld till Saturday, and on the final day of strife, Fitz John Porter with his division, and Griffin, with his troops, stood still in presence of the enemy. Even the very soldiers, who had been taught to despise Pope for that opening proclamation which reflected upon the strategy of McClellan, acted badly, fought moodily, and almost threw down their arms.

The administration began to be alarmed, and to fear for the safety of Washington. General McClellan, while refusing to go to the rescue of Pope, telegraphed the President as follows:

"I am clear that one of two courses should be adopted: 1st. To concentrate all our available forces to open communication with Pope. 2d. To leave Pope to get out of his scrape, and at once use all our means to make the capital perfectly safe.

"No middle ground will now answer. Tell me what you wish me to do, and I will do all in my power to accomplish it. I wish to know what my orders and authority are. I ask for nothing, but will obey whatever orders you give. I only ask a prompt decision, that I may at once give the necessary orders. It will not do to delay longer."

To which the President, at 4.10 P. M., responded as follows:

"Yours of to-day just received. I think your first alternative - to wit: 'To concentrate all our available forces to open communication with Pope' is the right one. But I wish not to control. That I now leave to General Halleck, aided by your counsels.

"A. LINCOLN."

General Pope was defeated and driven back on Centreville, and the Army of Virginia" was wrecked [beyond repair; while the terrified officials at Washington besought General McClellan to resume the command of which he had been deprived. The general came to Washington,

master of the situation, and walking into the headquarters of General Halleck, said, with an air of injured innocence: "I understand, General Halleck, you have censured me."

"I have not censured you," was General Halleck's reply. "Then, sir," said McClellan, in his usual deliberate style of speech, "I have been greatly misinformed."

"I did not censure you, General McClellan," continued the commander-in-chief, "because I did not know what your condition was, or what excuses you might have to offer. I did state, however, most emphatically, both to the President and the Secretary of War, that I had expected you to be within supporting distance of General Pope on Thursday; but I did not censure you, because I was not then in possession of evidence which I soon expect to obtain."

RESTORATION OF GENERAL MCCLELLAN - ADVANCE OF THE CONFEDERATES INTO MARYLAND PROMPT MOVEMENT BY BURNSIDE BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN DESPERATE FIGHTING - TRIUMPHANT VICTORY DEATH OF GENERAL RENO - PREPARATIONS FOR A DECISIVE BATTLE.

P

RESIDENT LINCOLN and his advisers were

sorely troubled. The Army of the Potomac had returned from the peninsula demoralized and insubordinate, and the army of Virginia had been defeated and driven back upon Washington, which was threatened by the victorious enemy. General Burnside was for the second time invited to take command, and he not only refused, but urged the President to restore General McClellan. This was undoubtedly the wish of a large majority of the surviving officers and soldiers, and of many leading members of Congress and journalists. General McClellan was accordingly placed in command of "all the troops for the defense of the capital," but he soon found that General