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Facts have already been stated, indicating the deep religious solemnity of feeling under which Mr. Lincoln issued this proclamation. Another circumstance may be stated, illustrating alike a religious feeling approaching superstition, as well as the characteristic playfulness of the President. A friend on one occasion, reminded him that he had given the pen with which the proclamation was signed, to Senator Sumner. "Yes," said the President, "I had promised Sumner the pen. On New Years' day, (the 1st of January, 1863,) the final proclamation was all ready to be signed and sent to the press, except that some blanks of portions of the State of Louisiana, which were to be excepted were to be filled up. I went down to the parlor and held a very crowded reception. During the time I was receiving calls, the information which would enable me to fill up these blanks was furnished me, and I left the drawing room and hastened up stairs to sign and send to the associated press, the proclamation. As I took up a pen to sign the paper, my hand and arm trembled and shook so violently, that I could not write. I could not for a moment, control my arm. I paused, and a superstitious feeling came over me which made me hesitate. (No wonder the hand of the President shook when about to seize and hurl this thunderbolt of war!) In a moment I remembered that I had been shaking hands for hours, with several hundred people, and hence a very simple explanation of the trembling and shaking of my arm. With a laugh at my own superstitious thought, I signed and sent off the paper. Sumner soon after calling for the pen, out of half a dozen on my table, I gave him the one I had most probably used.”*

In this connection, it may not be out of place to add, that it was during this year that Edward Bates, the Attorney General, gave an elaborate opinion, establishing the conclusion, that free colored persons born in the United States, were citizens. After a very learned examination, he came

*Mr. Carpenter, in his "Six Months at the White House," says, "Mr. Lincoln said to Mr. Seward, who was present, I have been shaking hands all day, and my right arm is nearly paralyzed. If my name ever gets into history, it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it. If my hand trembles, when I sign the proclamation, all who examine the document hereafter, will say, 'He hesitated.' He then turned to the table, took up the pen, and slowly and firmly wrote ABRAHAM LINCOLN. He looked up, smiled, and said, "That will do."

to the conclusion that "all free persons, without distinction of race or color, if native born, are citizens." This conclusion was a very great revolution from the dogmas of the Dred Scott opinions. He made the distinction between inherent civil rights of citizens, and political privileges of certain classes. All citizens, male or female, white or black, are entitled to equal protection by the law; but only those designated enjoy the political privilege of voting.

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CHAPTER XIV.

MILITARY OPERATIONS OF 1862.

INACTIVITY OF MCCLELLAN-PRESIDENT'S ORDER FOR A GENERAL ADVANCE-ACTIVE OPERATIONS IN THE WEST - BATTLE OF MIDDLE CREEK-MILL SPRING-CAPTURE OF FORTS HENRY AND DONELSON MITCHELL'S MARCH TO BOWLING GREEN-UNION TROOPS OCCUPY NASHVILLE-Capture OF ROANOKE ISLAND AND NEWBERN-PEA RIDGE-NEW MADRID-ISLAND NUMBER TEN -SHILOH-CORINTH-CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS.

IN order that a consecutive narration of the series of measures adopted by Congress and the Executive, upon the all-important question of slavery, might be given, down to the period of emancipation, military movements in their chronological order have been omitted. We now return to take up the history of these events, which, though more attractive perhaps to the general reader, are less important than a clear and accurate understanding of the progress of ideas and their embodiment in the forms of law.

It was not until late in 1861, that the country fully appreciated, or was at all prepared for the stupendous war impending.

The work of 1861 was that of preparation. By the 1st of December, the whole number of men mustered into the army had reached nearly or quite 640,000.* The leading features of the plan of the war seemed to be-First, To blockade the entire coast of the insurgent States. Second, The military occupation of the border slave States. Third, The recovery of the Mississippi River to the Gulf, by which the Confederacy would be divided, and the great outlet of the Northwest be secured. Fourth, The destruction of the rebel army in Virginia, and the conquest of Richmond, the rebel Capital. To accomplish these great purposes, and to

Report of the Secretary of War, December, 1861.

resist such accomplishment, the most stupendous military preparations were made on both sides. General McClellan had, in the Autumn of 1861, under his immediate command at Washington and vicinity, and on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and at Fortress Monroe, more than 200,000 well appointed, well armed and well disciplined men. This army was called the Army of the Potomac. General Buell had, in Kentucky, more than 100,000 men. The rebel force opposed to General McClellan, was estimated at 175,000 men, but it is now known to have been less, and occupied positions at Yorktown and Fredericksburg; the main body fortified at Centreville, the left wing extending to Leesburg, with detachments at Winchester and Martinsburg.

General McClellan had, as commander-in-chief, control over Halleck, commander of the Department of the West, Buell, commanding in Kentucky, Burnside, in North Carolina, and W. T. Sherman, in South Carolina.

The inactivity of General McClellan in the Autumn and Winter of 1861-2, was a source of dissatisfaction and complaint on the part of the people and Congress, and uneasiness on the part of the President. He had under his immediate command, the largest and best equipped and appointed army of the United States. The weather during all that Autumn and Winter, into February, was the finest possible; clear and dry, and the roads in good order, and yet with his vast army, he permitted the Potomac to be blockaded by shore. batteries at Acquia Creek and elsewhere; and the rebel flag to be raised and flaunted in his face and that of the Nation, from the hills which overlook Washington, and within sight of the dome of the Capitol. But even this did not provoke the extremely cautious, "Young Napoleon," as General McClellan was called, to make any vigorous efforts to dislodge the rebels and drive them away. This was the era of magnificent reviews, brilliant parades, showy uniforms and festive parties.

Impatient of the inactivity of the army under General McClellan, the President, after seeing the Summer and the Autumn pass slowly away, on the 27th of January, issued the following order:

"EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 27, 1862.

"PRESIDENT'S GENERAL WAR ORDER, No. 1.

"Ordered that the 22d day of February, 1862, be the day for a general movement of the land and naval forces of the United States against the insurgent forces. That especially—

"The Army at and about Fortress Monroe.

"The Army of the Potomac.

"The Army of Western Virginia.

"The Army near Mumfordsville, Kentucky.

"The Army and Flotilla at Cairo.

"And a Naval force in the Gulf of Mexico, be ready for a movement on that day.

"That all other forces, both land and naval, with their respective commanders, obey existing orders for the time, and be ready to obey additional orders, when duly given.

"That the Heads of Departments, and especially the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, with all their subordinates, and the General-inChief, with all other commanders and subordinates of land and naval forces, will severally be held to their strict and full responsibilities for the prompt execution of this order.

"ABRAHAM LINCOLN."

While the Army of the Potomac was chafing under its constrained idleness, the Western troops, far less perfectly armed and appointed, and which had been compelled to take the refuse arms from the East, were constantly marching and fighting. On the 6th of November, General Grant, moving from Cairo, attacked and took possession of Belmont, and destroyed the military stores, belonging to the enemy, at that place. This was the beginning of the brilliant military career of the Lieutenant General.

Colonel Garfield, of Ohio, on the 10th of January, defeated Humphrey Marshall at Middle Creek, near Paintsville, Kentucky.

On the 19th of January, General George H. Thomas, the loyal Virginia soldier, gained the brilliant victory over the rebel General Zollikoffer, at Mill Spring. Zollikoffer was killed in this battle, fighting with a valor worthy of a better cause. These inspiriting successes did not entirely dissipate the gloom which prevailed, growing out of the mysterious inaction of the Grand Army of the Potomac.

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