SIEGE OF WASHINGTON, D. C. 

WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR LITTLE PEOPLE. 

BY F. COLBURN ADAMS, CAPT. , AUTHOR OF THE "STORY OF TROOPER, " AND OTHER BOOKS. 

NEW YORK:

1867

PREFACE. 

MY publisher gives it as his opinion that a great many persons willbe offended at what I have said in this work. He thinks, also, that"quite a number" of our great generals will be seriously disturbedin their dignity on seeing what liberties my artist has taken withthem. Such opinions as these are rather too common with publishersin this country, who generally take very narrow views as to whatpublic men think and do. This work was not written to offend, but toamuse and instruct little people. I have too much respect for ourgreat generals to believe that they will feel offended at what Ihave said of them. Some of our little generals may perhaps takeexception to the positions my artist has assigned them, and feeldisposed to make war on him. But there will be nothing new in this, inasmuch as any close observer of the war must have seen that theselittle generals were always more fierce in making war on writers andartists than courageous in facing the enemy. That the Siege ofWashington was the most remarkable military event history has anyaccount of, is very well understood among those who participated init. I must beg the reader, then, not to place false judgment on thepleasantry introduced here and there, since I have recorded, withgreat care and correctness, all the military movements, that tookplace during that memorable occasion. 

F. COLBURN ADAMS. 

WASHINGTON, D. C. , January 15, 1867. 

CONTENTS. 

I. -WASHINGTON A REMARKABLE CITYII. -GOING TO WAR TO SETTLE OUR DIFFICULTIESIII. -THE FORTS AROUND WASHINGTONIV. -COMING HOME AFTER THE BATTLE OF BULL RUNV. -BRAVE ARMY OF THE POTOMACVI. -NOBODY HOME AT YORKTOWNVII. -POPE DID ITVIII. -HOW GENERAL POPE CAME TO TOWNIX. -BRIGHT PROSPECTS AHEADX. -THE GENERAL THAT FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORVILLEXI. -HANGING IN THE BALANCEXII. -ALARMING SYMPTOMS OF THE ENEMY'S APPROACHXIII. -THE GREAT COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF TAKES THE FIELDXIV. -THE WAY GENERAL EARLY CAME TO TAKE THE CITYXV. -A REBEL GENERAL BROUGHT TO GRIEFXVI. -THE DISTINGUISHED STATESMAN WHO ENGAGED IN THE WORK OF REBELLION WITH GREEN SPECTACLES ON

SIEGE OF WASHINGTON. 

A TRUE AND AUTHENTIC STORY, WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR LITTLE PEOPLE. 

CHAPTER I. 

WASHINGTON AS A REMARKABLE CITY. 

YOU, my son, have heard, and perhaps read, how Rome was once savedby a goose. There were, as you know, my son, a great many geeseabroad during the siege of Washington; but it was not through anyact of theirs that the city was saved. As I love you dearly, my son, so is it my first desire to instruct you correctly on all subjectsin which the good of our great country is concerned. Beforeconcluding my history of this remarkable siege, I shall prove toyour satisfaction that Washington was saved, and the fate of thenation determined, by a barrel of whisky. 

Let me say to you, my son, that the siege of Washington, howevermuch people abroad may laugh at it, was one of the mostextraordinary events in the history of modern warfare. It took placein the year of our Lord, 1864; and there is no other event in thewar of the great rebellion to compare with it. You will, therefore, my son, understand why it is that the history of an event of so muchimportance should be written only by an impartial historian--one whohas courage enough to tell the truth, and no official friends toserve at the expense of honor. I must tell you, also, my son, thatthe great military problem of this siege has afforded a subject ofdeep study for our engineers, from General Delafield downward, whohave puzzled their wits over it without finding a solution. 

Should we be unfortunate enough to have another great war, and thenation again be compelled to give itself up to the profession ofarms, the conduct of this siege would afford us an excellentexample, as well as a profitable key to the art of war, asunderstood by our War Department in the said year of our Lord, 1864. This, then, is another reason why this great military event shouldbe faithfully rendered. I will also add, my son, that though I mayfail to instruct you after the manner and style of the most profoundhistorian of our day, I will at least make my account of this greatsiege so plain and simple that you will comprehend it in all itsmultiplicity of parts. 

But first let me tell you a few things about Washington, the capitalcity of this great nation. You, my son, may have seen one hundredother cities, and yet it will remind you of none of them. It is veryelongated, and spreads over a great deal of ground, apparently forpersonal inconvenience. Indeed, my son, it has the appearance ofhaving been dropped down late of a Saturday night by some eccentricgentleman who had a large quantity of architectural odds and ends onhand, and had no other use for them. It has been famous always forits acute angles and broad avenues. The former, I have heard morethan one person say, were skillfully arranged by a veryaccommodating French engineer, for the special benefit of personswho went home late of nights and were liable to get confused on theway. The population is rather a curious one, and may be classifiedas the distinct and indistinct, the settled and unsettled. Thecensus report, a remarkably unreliable account, has it that theynumber "some" sixty thousand. A large proportion of this settled andunsettled population is of such variety of color as to render italmost impossible to define the nice proportions of blood it is sostrongly mixed with. On this point, my son, you must not be tooparticular, but accept it as your father does, as a proof that theraces, whom we are told can never be got to live in harmonytogether, have, to say the least, gone very extensively into asystem which gives strength to the belief that it could be done. TheFrench call this the commingling system, and their philosophersargue from it, and with much force, that it is impossible toestablish the question as to what kind of blood the best society isbased upon. For myself, I feel that we can with safety accept theseFrench philosophers as good authority in such matters. You will alsofind among the population of Washington natives of nearly everycountry on the face of the globe. These speak no end of tongues, follow all manner of professions and occupations, and what is mostvaluable, preserve that delightful diversity for which what iscalled the "old society" has always been famous. Picturesque hillsencircle the city at a distance, and a beautiful river flows past onits way to the sea. The city has many fathers and few friends. Thesefathers, while in an ornamental mood, built a grand canal into thevery bowels of the city, after the manner of Venice, that commercemight be encouraged, and such persons as had a passion for moonlightand gondolas could gratify it. But the people were not given tosailing in gondolas, so this famous canal was diverted from theobject for which it was originally intended. It is now used as atomb where deceased animals of a domestic nature are carefullydeposited. The old inhabitants regard this tomb with a reverence Inever could understand clearly, even though I had sought for a causein their instinctive opposition to all and every manner of reform. Indeed, the fathers of the city regard this grand canal asperforming a very humane part, inasmuch as it supplies an excellentand very convenient burial-place for their domestic animals, andincreases the practice of a large number of doctors. The cityfathers, I am informed, find some consolation in the fact that othercanals have performed equally humane services. 

And it came to pass, my son, that there was a great war in all theland; and greater than was ever known before in any other land. ThusWashington became the centre of our anxieties and our thoughts. Thepeople of the North, and the people of the West, and the people ofthe South, who constituted the people of one great nation, had longheld different opinions as to the right of making merchandise ofmen, of women, and of little children. Yes, my son, it was at lastclaimed to be in accordance with Christianity to doom these peopleto a life at once hopeless and miserable. As you grow up, my son, and begin to think and act for yourself, you will think it verystrange that such a great national crime as this should have existedin a land so blessed with the fruits of a ripe civilization. And itwill be a cause of wonder to you that a society based upon such anabomination did not sooner break down under the burden of itswrongs. And yet you must always bear in mind, my son, that men donot view great crimes alike, and that even good and great men differas to what constitutes national rights and national wrongs. It issaid that great nations have gone to decline because their peoplebecame blind with pride, and refused to think right. A nation isalways safe while its people think right; but you must teach thechildren right before you can have the people think right. Educationand association had much to do in training the thoughts of men inthe South into wrong channels. Taking this view of the subject youmay find much to forgive in a political system that seems wrong inyour eyes and right in the eyes of its supporters. Indeed, my son, Iwould enjoin you to treat with a reasonable amount of deference thearguments advanced by those who differ with you on questions ofpublic policy, and also to remember that right and reason are yourstrongest weapons. Never get angry with your opponent, never uselanguage that will cause you a regret; and if you cannot convince bythe moral force of your argument, abandon the undertaking. Andwhatever else you do to advance your material prosperity, never letit be said of you that you advocated a great political wrong merelybecause it was popular and brought you the applause of theunthinking. You cannot do so with a clear conscience; and what islife without it?

I have, unwittingly, my son, wandered away from my subject. Thepeople of the South forgot all the great principles which governhumanity for humanity's good; they were betrayed into wrong doing byfalse friends, and made blind by their own prosperity. And they evenforgot that God was their truest and best guardian, and to Him theymust look for that care and protection which shall last forever. But, my son, I would enjoin you to bear these people no ill will, and remember how much better it is in the sight of God to deal withthe erring in the spirit of forgiveness. They were a brave and agallant people, who fought in the belief that they were right, andwith a heroism worthy of a good cause. It is only the meanest naturethat has no respect for the courage and gallantry of an enemy--thatcannot find in it something to admire. It was the selfishness, myson, which slavery begat in these people, that perverted theirnatures, and caused them to forget God. 

Yes, my son, it was the curse of slavery that corrupted the heartsand turned the heads of these people; that found them requesting therace they had made suffer so long in bondage, to be thankful thattheir sufferings were no worse. I never could, my son, see why anyhuman being, who had been made the victim of the greatest outrageagainst his rights, should be thankful. The Church might, and did, attempt to sanctify this greatest of crimes; but that did not changethe character of the cruelty and injustice. It will, no doubt, seemstrange to you that ministers of the Gospel should be found thedefenders of crime. And yet slavery found its ablest defenders inthe pulpit of the South. I am afraid it always will be so, for evennow we see ministers of the Gospel more ready to hang out falselights to lead their people into darkness, than to give them thattruth and instruction they so much need. But you must not let thethought of this lessen your respect for the Church. Examine withgreat care until you have found out in what true Christianityconsists; and when you have, practice accordingly to the extent ofyour ability. Never forget that it was the preaching of popularerrors that cost the nation so much blood and treasure, so muchsorrow and distress. That bishops should put aside their lawn, andgird on the sword--that they should lead men to war and death, instead of the baptismal, and all to perpetuate the sorrows of anoppressed race, is, my son, only another proof that error may gain avictory over truth in the hearts and feelings of the best of us. 

CHAPTER II. 

WE GO TO WAR TO SETTLE OUR DIFFERENCES. 

HERE let me present you, my son, with an exact portrait of thedistinguished general who is commonly accepted as striking the firstblow of this war. He was kindly educated at the expense of thenation, and was first among its enemies. For a time his fame ranhigh enough, and timid people were inclined to give him thecharacter of a monster. But it turned out in time that he was a verypeaceable gentleman, and not so much of a terrible warrior, afterall. 

But I want to tell you, my son, how it was that the people of thisgreat nation took to swords and cannon, to settle their differencesof opinion. 

The people of the great North, and the people of the great West, were educated to a very different way of thinking on the question ofslavery; and differed with the people of the South as to whatconstituted a national blessing. They were willing, for the sake ofpeace, to tolerate slavery, as a great evil it were dangerous toattempt to remove; but it was too much to ask them to accept it as agreat national blessing. These people were energetic, thrifty, lovers of right and justice, and had grown rich and powerful bytheir own industry. They could not see why the whole people of sogreat a nation as ours should be required to bow down and worshipwhat the rest of the civilized world had stigmatized as the greatestscourge of mankind. Seeing the power this great wrong was obtainingover the nation, as well as the danger it was causing us bycorrupting the minds of the people, they consulted together andelected a President after their own way of thinking. And this sooffended the people of the South, who were a brave people, and quickto anger, that they gathered together from all parts of theircountry, gave up their peaceful pursuits, and went to war for whatthey called their independence. But I always found, my son, thatindependence was an abused phrase, much on the tongues of thesepeople. Indeed their idea of independence extended only to givingone class the full and exclusive right to enslave the other. TheSouthern idea of independence was so shaped as to contain the veryworst features of a despotism. But you must look with forgiveness onthese people, my son, and seek to forget many of those acts ofvindictiveness which characterized them during the war. 

At the same time, my son, you must not lose sight of the lessonwhich the result of this war teaches. Let it be a guide to your ownactions that these people went to war to tear down what they couldnot build up, to destroy a Government the world had come to respectand admire, and under which they had found a safe refuge and atolerance for their institution of slavery. But the edifice theysought to build up crumbled to the ground, and they are now leftwithout even a safe refuge for their pride. Yes, my son, thesepeople scorned the example of the Christian world, went to war indefense of a great crime, and ceased only when they had destroyedthemselves. 

I have been thus serious while instructing you as to how the warbegan, because I am aware that a very large number of writers willtell you that it began in a very different manner. If the account Imay hereafter give of what took place at the siege may be lessserious, you must charge it to my love for the truth of history. Indeed much that occurred during that remarkable military event, wasnot of so serious a nature as is generally conceded by anintelligent public. Unless, then, it be written down as it occurred, we shall not convey a faithful picture of it to the public. 

Now that the war spirit was full to the brim, the people of theSouth gathered in great numbers on the plains of Manassas. They wereearnest, serious, and even savage in their intentions; and theybrought with them their powder and shot-guns, and a large quantityof whisky. They also brought with them a great number of negroes, who were to build the forts, and do all work it would not become agentleman to do. And while this work was progressing, the"gentlemen" soldiers of the South were to talk very loudly andcourageously, and invite all the Yankees round about to come out andget whipped. These people resolved themselves into a great andpowerful army, with Peter Beauregard, the French gentleman of whom Ihave before spoken, for its commander. This gentleman was somewhateccentric, and much given to saying things, the true meaning ofwhich he did not understand. A waggish friend of mine once told methat this Mr. Beauregard was educated for an apothecary at WestPoint, a place where young gentlemen are instructed in the variousways of getting a living honestly. Being very skillful in the use ofmortars, he was held by Mr. Davis as a most proper person to commanda southern army, inasmuch as he could give the Yankees all thephysic they wanted in the shortest time. And as it is alwaysexpected that a great general will say a great many things that areneither sensible nor wise, and which afford politicians an excellentopportunity of picking them to pieces, he is a wise general whoissues his orders and keeps his lips sealed on politics. I say this, my son, because it is popularly understood that a general who knowshis business bears the same relations to a politician that pepperdoes to the stomach. 

And it came to pass that the people of the North and the people ofthe West became seriously alarmed at the capers Mr. Beauregard andhis men were cutting at Manassas. Indeed, many false reports werecirculated concerning the great power of this Mr. Beauregard; andour people began to give way to their fears, and to declare that hemight enter the capital any dark night and capture or send theGovernment on a traveling expedition. The aged gentlemen at the headof our Government shook their heads discouragingly, and declaredthere was no safety in going to bed at night while Mr. Beauregardwas so near a neighbor. The honest farmers in the country roundabout were also very much alarmed at the unruly conduct of Mr. Beauregard's men, who carried off their pigs and chickens, and eatup all their vegetables. They also made a great noise, and plantedguns on all the adjacent hills, a proceeding the honest farmers didnot fully comprehend. Then these unruly men became very defiant, felt like fighting the world, and, in the honest belief that theycould do it, invited all the rest of the nation to come out and getwhipped. Yes, my son, and to show what confidence they had inthemselves, they said we might bring "five for one;" and for thatmatter, all Germany and all Ireland. It was considered wisdom withthem to say nothing about England and France. Those two peaceablyinclined nations might, at some future day, be disposed to step inand help them out--in a quiet way. It was not so much humanity as amatter of profitable trade with these two great nations, and ifthings should take a successful turn, they might see the confederacyin a strong light, and give it material as well as moral help, notwithstanding it had slavery for its foundation. In short, theseSouthern gentlemen acted on the wise axiom, that it will not do tomake enemies in a direction where you may need friends andassistance. 

Now, my son, the eccentric French gentleman, of whom I have spokenas capable of administering physic enough to settle the questionwith the Yankees, soon became an object of great admiration with hisnoisy people. And this so pleased him, that he came in time toadmire himself, and to firmly believe in his own mind that the worldhad no greater warrior. Self-confidence, my son, is one of the mostnecessary things in war. I have sometimes thought that this elementof an army's strength was not fully understood. It was at least notunderstood by us when the war began. If it had been, a much lessnumber of our people would have shared Mr. Beauregard's opinion ofhimself. As it was, our timid people so magnified his proportions asto see danger in his very shadow. But then, my son, we were veryinnocent of the practical part of war when the great rebellionbegan; and this innocence led us into the very grave error of givingour adversary more than his proper dimensions. It was this that ledthe Northern mind to over-measure Mr. Beauregard. 

I have always had a good deal of sympathy for Mr. Beauregard, andnever believed him anything but a pleasant, harmless gentleman, whogot into bad company by mere accident. Nor do I believe he ever hadany more serious design on the capital of the nation than to look atit longingly from a distance, and perhaps a desire now and then toenjoy the hospitality of some old friend. That he would have playedthe ruthless invader, if he had got into the city, no reflectingmind ever believed. But then there were people ready enough tobelieve anything in those days--even to believe that there was truthto be found in the stories told by Mr. Detective Baker. 

It was natural enough that Mr. Beauregard should amuse his soldiersby telling them romantic stories of the pleasant days he had spentin Washington, as well as the great value of what it contained. Itwas necessary also that he should ascertain how far the Governmentat Washington could be frightened, and what were the best means tothat end. You must know, my son, that a Frenchman regards it as oneof the first principles in war to find out how far you can frightenyour adversary before proceeding to fight him. This will account fora good deal that Mr. Beauregard said and did while at Manassas, andwhich, at the time, was somewhat unintelligible. 

As we were not sure, however, as to what the real intentions of Mr. Beauregard and his master were, it was concluded that we couldbetter preserve our respect for them, as well as the peace of mindof our own people, by applying the proper means to keep them at arespectful distance outside. Indeed the capital contained a greatmany things which would be extremely useful to an ambitiousgentleman resolved on setting up a government of his own, and withthe machinery all working according to his own way of thinking. Andas the honest intentions of these ambitious men (I refer to Mr. Beauregard and his master) were no more to be trusted than theirloyalty, we set our engineers to work building a cordon of forts, such as the world had never seen before, and supposed to be strongenough to keep all our enemies out. And these forts were mountedwith such reasoning powers as the largest cannon in the world werecapable of. 

Among the things in Washington so very desirable to a gentlemanabout to set up a government of his own was the White House. Mr. Davis had long regarded this pleasant looking old mansion as adesirable residence for a gentleman born to rule over a people. Oncecomfortably seated in this pleasant mansion, a wonderful changewould be worked in the political opinions of those whose minds werein doubt. Considered as master of the situation, his friends in theNorth would increase fourfold. And there was no knowing the turnrespect for him abroad might take. A gentleman quietly settled downin the White House, if only for four years, is sure to have a largeincrease in the number of his friends, all ready either to accepthis favors or sound his virtues. Even slavery, that had scourgedmankind for so many generations, would have found a great increaseof friends and admirers if Mr. Davis had made a home in the WhiteHouse; so prone is weak human nature to bow to power. Indeed, I amnot so sure that, with such a turn in our political affairs, thosepreachers who had been asserting the divine origin of slavery wouldnot then have proclaimed that God himself was its great protector--ablasphemy the Christian Church will some day be ashamed of. 

In addition to the White House being a desirable residence for Mr. Davis, there were those fine public buildings so much admired bystrangers. They were just what Mr. Davis and his friends wanted instarting a new government, and would come in very handy. WithWashington in his possession, and our worthy President and hisCabinet locked up in the arsenal, or sent on a traveling expeditioninto a colder climate for the benefit of their health, Mr. Davis'snew enterprise would become a fixture in the history of nations. Andthere was a time when Mr. Davis could, with the means in his power, have accomplished all these things. 

The arsenal, too, was full of gunpowder, of great guns, of valuablemilitary stores and equipments. And these were just such things as agentleman resolved to be a ruler and have a government according tohis own way of thinking would stand most in need of. In short, thepowder and big guns might be needed as a means of convincing thosewho differed with him that his opinions must be respected. This is aqueer world, my son, and man is the strangest and mostuncontrollable animal in it. Mr. Davis understood this as well asany gentleman within my knowledge. And if he had kept as keen an eyeon his finances as he had on his political fortune, it would havebeen much better for him. He knew that if he could show to the worldthat his new government was sound financially, and likely tocontinue so, his prospects would be bright indeed. And withWashington, and what Washington contained, in his possession, hecould set up his claim to the confidence of the financial world withmore than ordinary pretensions. 

It was indeed said (but I think in a strain of slander) that Mr. Beauregard looked with an air of great condescension on our nobleTreasury building, and promised his fighting followers a share ofits contents as soon as it came into his master's possession. Indeedit was said that Mr. Beauregard promised his men that when they gotWashington they should have luxuries for rations, and fight withtheir pockets filled with silver and gold. And with theirexpectations firmly fixed on a specie basis, who could doubt as towhat the result would be? This was the golden prize Mr. Davis hopedto win with Washington. And with it he saw, or rather thought hesaw, England extending to him the right hand of fellowship, and theEmperor of France making him one of his very best bows, and thankinghim for the liberty he had taken with the freedom of a people. 

These, then, my son, are some of the reasons why we concluded toclose the gates of Washington against Mr. Davis and his rebelliouspeople, and to keep them closed by raising a cordon of strong fortsaround the city. 

CHAPTER III. 

CONCERNING THE DISTINGUISHED OFFICER WHO BUILT THE FORTS. 

I HAVE thought it no more than right, my son, to present you with apleasant, but very exact picture of the distinguished officer ofengineers, to whose skill we are indebted for the forts that morethan once saved Washington. I do this out of respect to the truth ofhistory, and from an apprehension that there are others, perhaps, higher in rank, who may lay claim to the honor, at some future day. I have also presented you with a more extended and complete portraitof him in the frontispiece of this work. He appears here in hisusually calm, meditative mood, with his pipe and Professor Mahan'slast great work on fortifications. He is, I must tell you, my son, aman of large brain, and generous nature, fond of his joke, and veryfertile in the art of rearing earthworks. In figure he isFalstaffian, and when on his rounds among the fortifications wearsimmense canvas-legged boots, and a hat with a high crown andextremely broad brim. Indeed, his figure is what may be calledformidable, and there would be no mistaking him were you to meet himon the road. And, notwithstanding his peaceable disposition, and hisscrupulous regard for the rights of others, the farmers round aboutWashington regard him with fear and trembling. In short, my son, hisapproach near a farm house is sure to send all the childrenscampering with fear. And even the curs and other domestic animals, seem to have an instinctive knowledge that his visits portend nogood to their master's domicil. It is curious to see those domesticanimals how they bark and snap, and then shrink away at hisapproach, uttering signs of their dislike. In truth, my son, he hasa bad reputation among these worthy farmers, whose farms he quietlytakes possession of, and then indulges in his favorite amusement ofbuilding forts on them. In this way many an honest farmer hassuddenly found himself dispossessed of his property, and his meansof getting an honest living; thereby bringing great distress on hisfamily. To remonstrate would be useless. He must submit to the fateof war, and look to Heaven for redress. Now it is by no meanspleasant for a quietly-disposed farmer to have his home turnedsuddenly into a fortress, and his acres made a camping ground forsoldiers, who are not the most desirable guests, even under the bestof circumstances. But the farmer lays all his sorrows at the door ofour distinguished engineer, forgetting that he is only carrying outthe orders of his superiors. Thus it was that he got a badreputation, just as General Gilmore got a bad reputation with thepeople of Charleston, and South Carolina generally, for throwingshells into their city. 

While, then, our distinguished engineer progressed in his work ofbuilding forts, with a view to saving the city, the people of theNorth, and the people of the great West, seeing that war was upon usin all its stern reality, were much agitated as to what was best tobe done. They were a peaceable, prospering people, and much attachedto the Government that had conferred so many blessings on them. Butthe fire of their patriotism had already been kindled; and they wentwisely to work adding fuel to it. The trumpet of war had soundedover the land, their gallant militiamen came together, boldly andearnestly. And these they sent to Washington, by regiments, to quietthe fears of the people, and save the nation. 

Now these gallant militiamen were very full of courage, and theircourage increased as their numbers multiplied in the capital, andthey sent word to Mr. Beauregard and his men that they would be outthere soon and thrash him out of Manassas. Some of these gallant mencame for thirty days, others for ninety, our wise rulers beingsatisfied in their own mind that the latter number of days would bequite enough to finish up the small job of putting down therebellion. These militiamen wore gay and many-colored uniforms, andhad the fat of the land for rations. They were the nation's favoredguests, and every man was set down for a gentleman and a hero, whowould as soon shed his blood for his country as eat his breakfast. And these gallant militiamen were organized into a grand army, sofull of pomp and circumstance, that we were sure the enemy would runaway as soon as he saw it coming. But in order to make the thingsafe beyond peradventure, we gave the command of this grand army toGeneral McDowell, a man of solid parts, a gentleman, and asoldier. Our wise political rulers at that time held to the ideathat a gentleman who had seen service must be a great general. Henceit was that General McDowell, being a gentleman and a scholar, andready enough to square his political sentiments with the predominantideas, was accepted as just the soldier who would lead our gallantmilitiamen to victory, and never think of running from the enemy. Indeed, according to our military politicians, we were to get no endof glory through General McDowell's success. And Mr. Beauregard wasto be driven back to his master, bag and baggage. 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE BATTLE OF BULL-RUN, AND HOW IT ENDED. 

I CONSIDER it of the greatest importance, my son, to present youwith an exact portrait of the very distinguished general who led ourgallant militiamen to battle at Bull-Run, and followed them homewithout gaining a victory. Greater battles than this of Bull-Runhave been fought, as well in modern as in ancient times; but it ismy honest opinion that it has never had its equal in the smallnumber killed and wounded, as compared to the very large number thatgot frightened and ran away. But I shall speak of this moreparticularly hereafter. 

When the bold McDowell had got the courage of our gallant militiamenwell up, and was sure they would look the enemy right in the eye, and give him powder and shot to his heart's content, he led themforth with such pomp and pageantry as had never been seen before. Yes, my son, our gallant militiamen marched forth on the morning ofthe 21st of July, 1861, every man a hero, and every man intent onfighting the battle according to his own peculiar notions of how agreat and glorious victory ought to be gained. There was greatblowing of bugles, beating of drums, playing of bands, andfluttering of colors; all of which told Mr. Beauregard to put in hispowder, that we were coming, and in earnest. The nation went into avery fever of joy. Several of our grave Congressmen got up theircourage, put pistols in their pockets, and went forth with the armyto set our brave boys a noble example by their presence on thefield. Indeed, many otherwise reflecting persons looked forward tothis great clash of arms as a grand entertainment, which was to windup with a feast, to which the vanquished enemy was to be invited. And to that end they went amply provided with provisions and goodwines. In truth, my son, there was a strong rear guard, made up ofCongressmen, editors, and distinguished citizens, all going to seethe battle, in wagons well-filled with luxuries. This was a newfeature in the history of war, and quiet people along the roadwondered at the sight. 

The morning was hot and sultry, and the air was misty with dustclouds. Our brave boys, who were not up to long marches, had a hardtime of it. But they were full of patriotism, and bore up under itwith great fortitude. Meeting the enemy near Bull-Run, we gave himbattle. That is, we pitched into him and he pitched into us, thefight becoming general and extending over a great deal of ground. Then the fighting became so mixed up and confused that it wasdifficult to tell on which side victory was smiling. Indeed, neithergeneral could tell how things were going. For a long time botharmies kept at a respectful distance, under the evident apprehensionthat somebody would get injured. In short, there was a great deal ofgood ammunition wasted, and a great deal of wild and harmless firingdone. And just as we were about to proclaim a great victory over theenemy--for many far-sighted persons declared they could see Mr. Beauregard and his men with the toes of their boots turned towardsRichmond--a strange chapter of accidents occurred and changed thewhole scene. A number of our brave boys got killed, a greater numbergot hurt, and a still greater number got frightened and thought ithigh time to look to their own safety. A backward movement, notordered by our gallant general, began, and this soon resolved itselfinto a grand race for Washington, where, it was thought, shelter andsafety were to be found behind its forts. What caused this suddenbackward movement still remains an undecided question. It was firstnoticed among a regiment of brave Pennsylvanians, who had beenhomesick for several days, and wanting to go home, started for thatpurpose. The example of these gallant fellows was soon followed byour Congressmen, editors, and citizens generally, each leaving hisstock of luxuries, and, indeed, everything he had, as apeace-offering to the enemy, and resolved not to be outdone in therace, especially in a case where it was made so clear thatdiscretion was the better part of valor. Indeed, these distinguishednon-fighting gentlemen proved themselves remarkably fleet of foot, and not to be outdone in a race where personal safety was at stake. But the worst of it was that their example was at once imitated by aregiment of fierce Zouaves, from New York, who firmly believed, whenthey went out to meet the enemy, that they were more than a matchfor him. It is reported that these fierce Zouaves became very muchalarmed, and did some of the very best running of the day, under theapprehension that they were followed by not less than a troop ofsavage horsemen, better known as the black-horse cavalrymen, whosesabres they had no taste for. But I have always been of opinion, myson, that these fierce Zouaves were so intent on making the bestspeed they were capable of, that they never looked behind them tosee if these savage horsemen were men of buckram or real substances. I have also heard it intimated that the good speed made by thesered-legged heroes was owing to the fact that they had left theircourage at home, and were returning to get it. Another veryplausible theory I have heard advanced by an Englishman, who hadvery profound ideas as to how war should be carried on and battlesfought. He very gravely told me (adding that he had undoubtedauthority for his statement), that what set the gallant Zouaves toscampering was this: There were a large number among them who had aweakness for office-holding. Knowing this, a mischievous memberstarted the report that there was a vacancy in the New YorkCustom-house. The fellow could not have done a more rash act, for itsent them all scampering off the battle-field, each in the hope ofbeing first to gain the prize. Her Majesty's sagacious subjectcontended that this sufficiently accounted for the good speed madein retreat by that gallant regiment, and also for its leaving morefirearms than dead men on the field. 

Indeed, my son, each man ran for his life, the excitement increasingat every step, until the race became general; and in this way it waskept up until our grand army of gallant militiamen reached theforts, when they breathed freer and felt safe. This was a dark dayfor Washington and the nation, which became bowed down with sorrowand disappointment. The brave general followed his army intoWashington; and I have heard it intimated that he boasted of havingthe most fleet-footed divisions history had any account of. 

You will see, my son, that forts have a moral as well as a materialeffect. The enemy might, had he known our forlorn condition, havefollowed up his victory and marched into Washington with flyingcolors. He was probably restrained by his fears of what we mighthave in store for him when he reached the forts. As to theprovisions for the feast, we left them for the enemy to enjoy, whichhe did with many thanks to us for the bounty, his own fare beingvery scanty. And now, my son, I shall leave to my artist the task ofgiving you an exact picture of our army as it appeared on its way toWashington after the battle of Bull-Run. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE wise men of Washington agreed that McDowell was not the generalwe took him for, so we sent for George B. McClellan, who had beenwhipping the rebels up in Northern Virginia. We felt sure that hewas the man who would whip the rebels for us, and gain us victories;who would dispel the gloom hanging over the land, and bring usplenty of sunshine. Indeed, my son, the nation began to feel veryhappy in the possession of such a man; for, according to thenewspapers, he had displayed remarkable military traits when only aboy, such as great attention to the study of maps, and the making oflittle dirt piles. It was also added that while yet a youth he wasvery obedient to his father, and affectionately fond of his mother. And these excellent traits of character, in one so young, it washeld by our wise men, must, when improved and enlarged by manhood, make the man, who had given his mind to the study of arms a greatgeneral. So, my son, you see what an opportunity there is beforeyou. 

Well, George came to us flush from the field of his glories, and weproceeded at once to make him a hero before he had made us an army. The nation recovered from its disappointment, the sky brightened, the people began to send into the capital troops of a differentsort, and the general we had put our faith in went to work making anarmy--the grand old Army of the Potomac. Now, my son, it was no smalljob to make an army, and when you have made it to so improve itsdrill and discipline that it will stand firm and fight well. It isjust as necessary, my son, to harden the constitution of a new armyas it is to so sharpen its digestion that it will relish thecoarsest of fare. And you can do neither of these things in a day. You must also cultivate and improve the courage of a new army. Andthis can only be done by experience in the field. General Georgetaught his army to do all these things, and do them well. And thenation felt grateful to him for what he was doing, and sang songs inhis praise. And the army respected and loved General George. AndGeneral George loved and was proud of his army. The sky of our hopesbrightened then, and the nation rejoiced and felt strong again. Weall felt that when spring came Mr. Beauregard and his men would bedriven to the wall; that we should march on and take Richmond; andthat General George was just the man to do it all for us. 

Then an evil hour came. The nation got in an impatient mood. Andwhile General George was hardening the constitution of his army onthe banks of the Potomac, a great many restless, discontented, andevil-disposed persons sprang up, declared that he was no general atall, and that to command armies was the business of politicians, notsoldiers. During war every nation has its mischievous men, who, tocreate notoriety for themselves, make war in their own way on thegreat soldiers who are struggling to preserve its honor. These menwere our misfortune. They proceeded to make war on General George, to persecute him, and to destroy his usefulness with the army. Thesemen affected to know a great deal about war; but I noticed, my son, that they were very unwilling to shoulder a musket and face theenemy. They wanted General George to move on in the middle ofwinter, drive Mr. Beauregard out of Manassas, and take Richmond. Andall this while the mud was so deep that he could not drag his wagonsthrough it. George very sensibly refused to destroy his army in thisway. Indeed, he foresaw that to follow their advice would be tobring the nation to grief a second time. This increased thediscontent and opposition of his enemies, who regarded it a greatgrievance that a general would not follow their advice. 

But George was not to be driven into the mud by a set of meddlesomecivilians, who knew nothing about war. And to show them that he wasnot, he kept his army quiet, on the banks of the Potomac, allwinter. And in this position he contemplated Mr. Beauregard, and Mr. Beauregard contemplated him, separated by twenty miles of mud. Wehad not got our war eyes open then, my son. In truth, we had but avery imperfect idea of what an amount of resistance a resolute anddetermined foe, standing on the defensive, can offer. 

When it was spring, and the birds had come back to us, and theprospect looked bright and cheering, and the hopes of the nation ranhigh, George mounted his horse, and, picking up his army, moved outin the direction of Richmond, taking the overland route. He sentword to Mr Beauregard to wait until he came and he would thrash himout of Manassas. But Mr. Beauregard was not inclined to accommodateGeorge with a fight at that particular point, where his elbows wereso exposed, and stepped quietly out by the back door before Georgegot there. In short, all George saw of Mr. Beauregard and his menwas the tails of their coats and the heels of their boots, away inthe shadowy distance. People said Mr. Beauregard did not do theclean thing to slip away in such a manner. And there were those whoscolded General George for letting him get off in this shabby way;but how he was to prevent it I never could see. Mr. Beauregard waskind enough to leave us an army of log houses, and his smoulderingcamp fires, around which a number of sooty negroes were grouped, shivering and forlorn. And these were all we had to be thankful tohim for. 

A great storm arose while we were at Manassas. Snow, rain, and hailfell, the wind blew cold and piercing, and the face of the countrybecame melancholy. And the army became melancholy, and sick, for itwas stuck in the mud, and was suffering for something to eat, thoughso near Washington. And the poor animals got sick, and began dying, for there was nothing for them to eat. There was no following Mr. Beauregard to Richmond over such a muddy road, which looked verylong then, and very dangerous. George was put to his wits to knowwhat to do next. There was no persuading Mr. Beauregard to stop longenough to let us strike him square in the stomach, so George hitupon a great plan, whereby wonders were to be worked in the art ofstrategy. He conceived the grand idea of taking his army to sea, avoiding the mud, and after enjoying a pleasant voyage, finding ashorter and better road to Richmond. We all know at what adisadvantage you can take a man when you get in his rear. Georgefelt that if he could take advantage of this on an enlarged plan hecould have Mr. Beauregard just where he wanted him. That is, if hecould get in his rear before he got to Richmond, he would have himand his men hived, and could give them a good thrashing, and thenstep quietly in and take the city. But it is not so easy a matter toget in the rear of a gentleman who keeps his eyes open. Nor, my son, have I ever before heard that it was wise in a great general toperform a feat in grand circle sailing to gain an advantage over anadversary who occupied the same roads with him. But George made uphis mind that he knew better than all of us, so he took his army tosea, became a great navigator as well as a general, and sailed forthe Peninsula, where some good friend had told him there were finerweather and harder roads. 

The greatest of generals, my son, are liable to disappointment. Theymay drive the enemy, and win victories; but they cannot control theelements. That was what bothered George. It was all very pleasant togive his army an airing at sea, but when he was safely landed on thePeninsula, he found himself further from Richmond than when hestarted. Instead of mud he found dangerous quicksands, into whichhis army plunged and sank almost out of sight. And there was nobetter weather on the Peninsula than at Manassas. His cavalrymen, when they had got their sea-legs off, and mounted, cut a sorryfigure in the quicksand. And his artillery sunk above its boots. Indeed it was with the greatest difficulty his army could be kept onthe surface. There was no getting a firm understanding. 

When George had got his army "all ashore, " he set out on his grandjourney to Richmond. But when he had waded for twenty miles or sothrough quicksands, he halted before a little old town calledYorktown. Now the old women along the road told George that he hadbetter have nothing to do with Yorktown, that Yorktown was not muchaccount anyhow, and not worth spending much powder on. They told himalso that although Mr. Beauregard had not been seen, there was oneGeneral Johnson, who had just come to town with a large army; andhad made no end of sand heaps, and put mighty big guns on them. Thathe would not find it so easy to get into Yorktown while GeneralJohnson sat smoking his pipe behind them big sand heaps. And so itproved. 

CHAPTER VI. 

NOBODY HOME AT YORKTOWN. 

THIS, my son, is an exact portrait of the general who sat behind thegreat sand heaps at Yorktown, smoking his pipe, and gave our Georgeso much trouble. George and he had been old friends and playmates atschool, where they had played pitch and toss in a harmless way. Soit is natural to suppose they knew each other's game perfectly well. George took the hint given him by the old women along the road, andwhen he got to Yorktown he saw clear enough that his old friendJohnston was playing a game of brag with his big sand hills. And toshow Mr. Johnston that he was not to be outdone in that line of art, George, when he had settled his army down in the soft ground, wentto work satisfying the nation that he could build just as big sandheaps as any other general. In short, my son, George found himselfin a worse predicament than he was in at Manassas, for his friendJohnston had a large army, and stronger works than Mr. Beauregardleft behind him. So his army laid down its guns, and took up thespade, and went largely into the ditching and dyking business. Hemade sand heaps bigger than Mr. Johnston's, and stretched them allthe way across the Peninsula, so that there was no getting on eitherside of him. And when he had done this he mounted them with thebiggest cannon, which he intended to fire when he got them all up;so as to make a magnificent display of substantial fire-works, andin that way frighten Mr. Johnston out of town. So careful was Georgenot to do his old friend any bodily injury before he got all hisguns mounted, that he would only exchange compliments with him atmorning and evening, when few shells would be tossed backward andforward, just to preserve what was called the etiquette of war. Ihave sometimes thought these compliments were exchanged with thevery best of motives, intended only to change the monotony of camplife with a little excitement. 

When George and his army had toiled hard for nearly a month, hadthrown up a whole mountain of sand hills, and kept on crying formore soldiers, and had got almost all his guns mounted; and was justready to bring Yorktown down about Mr. Johnston's ears, with a granddisplay of substantial fireworks, that general made up his mind notto be served in that way. Nor would he accommodate George by waitingto see his grand display of fireworks. No, my son, he was not theman to be caught at a disadvantage, or waste powder unnecessarily. Some kind friend informed him of George's intentions, so he packedup his baggage one night, and moved himself off, leaving Yorktownand his sand hills as a legacy to George, who was very muchdisappointed at being treated so shabbily by his old friend andplaymate. 

People said General Johnston was a cunning fox, and not to be caughtin any trap our George could set. But George, like the Irishman, hada deal of pluck, and a big heart, and, above both, a great deal ofchivalry. Now he was anxious that his old friend should not go awayso shabbily, but come back, and either breakfast with him oraccommodate him with a fight. So he sent his rough-riders after him, and they proceeded at a rapid pace, and came up with him on theoutskirts of Williamsburg, where General Johnston prepared to fightrather than come to breakfast. There both armies came together, anda great battle was fought, which lasted two days. There wasdesperate fighting on both sides, and a great many were killed andwounded, and a great many more so badly frightened that they keptout of the fight, which they held to be a proof of their wisdom. 

We gained a great victory over the rebels at Williamsburg, and madethem feel so ashamed of themselves that they resumed their marchbackwards on the road to Richmond. And this battle and this victoryattached our good Union soldiers more closely to General George. Indeed, my son, they loved him, and looked up to him as a dutifulchild does to a kind father. They marched up the Peninsula singinghis praises. And now, my son, let me enjoin you that whenever youhear the names of Generals Hancock and Kearney mentioned, respectand revere them, for never was American valor more beautifullyillustrated than by those generals on the field at Williamsburg. 

Then General George sent the right wing of his grand army, underGeneral Franklin, by water, to West Point, where he fought a battlewith General Johnston's rear-guard, and gained another victory. Thenboth armies moved leisurely along, up the Peninsula, in a manner notto make the marching uncomfortable. It rained a great deal, and theroads were bad, and the enemy resolved not to be hurried. And ourGovernment, which was not so wise in war matters then as it got tobe in time, was not disposed to do anything that might changeGeneral Johnston's resolution. In fine, our Government seemed tohave quite as big a quarrel with General George as it had with therebels, and the politicians held it of more importance to destroyour own general than the rebel army. The Government was just as fairas fair could be in making promises to General George. But then theGovernment seemed to have a short memory, and forgot its promisesalmost as soon as it had made them. It promised to send GeneralMcDowell, who was not far away, to help George fight the rebels andtake Richmond. But the Government forgot to do so; and instead, keptthat gallant officer looking from the hills of Fredericksburg, tosee if the rebels were coming in that direction. To tell you thetruth, my son, our Government was so afraid that the rebels wouldturn short around and take Washington, and make prisoners of itscabinet officers, that it made "look-out generals" of so many braveofficers, who had troops under their command, that it had none tosend General George to assist in taking Richmond. It may however, bea consolation to us to know that this would not have been the firsttime, in the history of the world, that fear had cost a great nationits fortunes and its glories. 

General George marched leisurely along with his brave army until hecame within four miles of Richmond, where there was a great swampcalled the Chickahominy. The name of this swamp will be longremembered by our brave soldiers of the Army of the Potomac. Therain fell like a deluge, and flooded it; and it gave out deadlyfevers, which brought death and tribulation on our army. And in thisswamp our army fought the battle of Fair Oaks, and gained anothergrand victory over the enemy. But we had no means of following upthis victory, and so its effect was lost to us. Then our armysettled down into this deadly swamp, and wondered and waited fornearly a month, until our men got heart-sick and fever-stricken. Wewatched the enemy on the hills beyond; and the enemy watched us inthe swamp. And we waited until the enemy had brought all his forcesup into Richmond, and General Lee, his best general, had takencommand. Things began to look desperate with our George, and hebegan thinking how he should get safely out of the swamp and changehis base. How was he to fight Mr. Lee with all his strength, whenthe strength we ought to have sent him was kept at a safe distancelooking on? George saw that the glories of Williamsburg, of WestPoint, of Hanover Court House, and of Fair Oaks would have to bethrown away because the wisdom of the nation would not send us aid. 

This, my son, was the day of our tribulation. The people werestrong, and the army represented the people. I wish, my son, that Icould say also that the Government was strong. But the army, if itwas sick, had not lost its courage, nor its love for the general whocommanded it. 

General Lee then came out with his strong and powerful army andfought us at Gaines's Mill, where he beat us after a desperatebattle. We might as well confess that we were beaten, and badlybeaten, in that battle; and that we had to make the best we could ofour defeat, and get across the Chickahominy Swamp as quick as wecould, and turn our backs on it forever, for we had filled it withthe graves of our brave soldiers. George was sanguine, had greatconfidence in the endurance of his army, and looked forward to thefuture with faith and hope. He did not want to acknowledge that hewas beaten at Gaines's Mill; but the nation made up its mind that hewas. Indeed, the nation could not comprehend the principle ofgeneralship that claimed a victory, and at the same time made achange of base necessary in the face of an advancing enemy. ButGeorge got his army safe across the Chickahominy, though in someconfusion, and instead of driving the enemy to the wall, as he hadpromised us he would do, the enemy began driving him to the JamesRiver. 

Like the Irishman who had twice got his head broken, but wasunwilling to say he was beaten, George continued to show General Leethat our army was still full of pluck. 

So he turned round and thrashed the enemy right soundly at Savage'sStation, at White Oak Swamp, and at Malvern Hill--just to show thathe could do it. These are places, my son, you shall read of inhistory. And the glories of the battles fought at them shall becomebrighter and brighter as we contemplate them; and new lustre willshed on the names of the officers who fought them, and set suchnoble examples of courage to their men. It was George's misfortunethat he fought these battles and gained these victories while hisarmy was moving backward instead of forward--while seeking a place ofsafety instead of driving the enemy to seek one. This makes a greatdifference with the public, which does not generally study the rulesof strategy, and does not like to see an army fall back after it hasgained what its commander claims to be a great victory. 

CHAPTER VII. 

POPE DID IT. 

HERE, my son, you have an exact portrait of the great general whowas brought to Washington to command all our armies, and to keep usfrom making any more military mistakes. He is presented to you justas he sat in his easy chair, confounding the rules of war andbringing confusion on the army. This great general, though he hadnever fought a battle, except on paper, brought with him from theWest a new and much enlarged plan for taking Richmond. 

General George was on the banks of the James River, with his army, pointing with his sword toward Richmond, as the heart of therebellion, and offering to take it for us if we would only send himtwenty-five thousand fresh men, which very reasonable proposal wedeclined. Indeed the general we had placed in the easy chair atWashington, over George, declared it as his solemn conviction thatRichmond was not to be taken in any such way. That an army so nearRichmond could not take it with advantage. That objective pointsmust be reached over the right road, not the wrong one. That GeneralGeorge, having taken his army to Richmond over the wrong road, mustbring it back over the same wrong road, and then proceed on histravels over the right road. That Richmond, unless approached overthe right road could not be taken in the right way. That GeneralGeorge had deceived us, inasmuch as his plan had too much strategyin it, and not enough straight lines. That Richmond, to be taken inthe right way, must be taken by a new general, with a new army, andaccording to new ideas. That it was better to keep Washington frombeing taken than to take Richmond, though we had a large armyknocking at its gates. This was the military logic of our newCommander-in-Chief. And this was the great Commander-in-Chief whowas to conduct the war for us on enlarged principles and keep thenation safe against blunders. 

This great general, then, when he had got comfortably settled in hiseasy chair, must needs show the people what faith he had in his newplan. So he ordered little George to pack up his baggage, stopknocking at the enemy's back door, and bring his army back toWashington on transports. Of course the rebels were very thankful tohim for this act of kindness, as it evinced a disposition to conductthe war for their benefit. With General George and his army on theirway to Washington by ship, Richmond was no longer besieged. And thenthe rebel army was at liberty to go where it pleased. And it verysoon pleased General Lee to march it against Washington at a rapidpace, and over the shortest road. We had an army at sea, and anumber of others we did not know just exactly where. So thingsmilitary began to get so confused that the people did not understandthem. They were requested to be patient, however, and patient theyhad to be. 

Well, my son, we brought the scattered battalions we had on theirfront together at the forts, and soon formed a good fighting army. But where was the new general to lead it to victory for us? Thegovernment cast about it for a man, and at last fixed its eye onPope. He was the shining star among generals, the man to take thebuckrum out of the rebels for us. And it was said of this greatgeneral that he possessed uncommon virtues. His friends laidnumerous feats of valor at his door, and the whole history of warwas ransacked to find another such a hero. He had captured Islands, whipped rebel armies (I have forgotten how many), and baggedinvisible prisoners enough to satisfy a Napoleon. This greatgeneral, too, was remarkable for his modesty; and he was also a manof strict veracity. Yes, my son, considering the times, he was arare example of a man who never boasts of his achievements, norclaims a feather that belongs to another man's cap. Such were thevirtues of this great general. 

Well, my son, we sent for him to come to Washington and take care ofus, and he came. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

HOW THE NEW GENERAL CAME TO TOWN. 

MY artist has drawn you an exact picture of the manner in which thisgreat general entered the capital of the nation. The skiesbrightened, and the country felt safe again at the thought of havingsuch a hero. Children laughed and gamboled, and said the rebelswould get it now Pope had come to town. Dogs ran out, and barked, and snapped for joy. The crowd pressed forward to look at him, andpolicemen, for once, had enough to do. Fair women waivedhandkerchiefs and threw him kisses. And many were they who marvelledthat so great a soldier had remained so long undiscovered. You see, my son, we are a people much given to excitement, and when we get toheaping honors on a man we do it without mercy. Hence it pleased usmuch when we saw Pope come to town amidst the beating of drums andthe blowing of horns. That was the way he came. 

I have spoken of this great general's modesty, my son. It will alsobe necessary for me to inform you that he introduced a new idea inwar, one worthy of being added to the regulations, and that was thatevery general should be his own trumpeter, as well as keep a numberof trumpeters in his employ. 

Then Pope went out to see and have a talk with his army. He alsopublished a grand order to his soldiers, which will stand as a greatcuriosity in our war literature, as long as the history of therebellion, for its wisdom astonished the people. He told them thewar had been carried on after a strange fashion, which he intendedshould be changed. He enjoined them, in a word, neither to look tothe right nor the left, but to keep straight ahead, with their steelsharp and their powder dry. And when they got near enough to theenemy to see the color of his eye, then deliver their lead rightsquare into his stomach. That was the way war must be carried on. Our army must look only to the front, keep its eye open, and forgetthat there was such a thing as its rear. 

This was highly encouraging to those politicians who said our armymust get to Richmond over the shortest road. After what I have said, my son, you will not fail to see what a great general this Pope was. Great generals were not generally generous enough to intrust thecare of their rear to the enemy. But this was not all. Heestablished his headquarters in the saddle, and told his soldiersthey would always find him there. My opinion has always been, thoughI have never had much to do with war, that the general whoestablishes his headquarters in the saddle, was not always to befound when you wanted him. In short, the saddle is a very uncertainlocality, and very difficult to find when you have information toconvey, and orders to receive; both of which may be necessary duringa battle. I rode an hour once to find a general whose headquarterswere in the saddle, and did n't find him after all. 

When, then, this great general had shown us how the rebels were tobe whipped, he went out to take command of his army. And again therewas great blowing of horns and beating of drums. And when he had gothis headquarters firmly established in the saddle, he invited theenemy to come forward and get whipped. And the enemy came forward inall their strength, --fierce and earnest, and a great and bloodybattle was fought on the plains of Manassas. And when they hadfought for three days General Pope declared his new method ofcarrying on the war was a great success; that he had got the rebelsjust where he wanted them, and would have them all in his trap forus to-morrow. We all threw up our caps and felt so happy at thisgood news. But our hopes were dashed to the ground again, and itturned out that our Pope had made a slight mistake. It was therebels who had got him just where they wanted. The saddle was not agood place from which to see what the enemy were doing. And as Popehad given no heed to his rear, General Lee very wisely took theresponsibility of giving that important position his attention. 

When, then, to-morrow came, our general, who was to give the rebelssuch a whipping for us, found them in his rear, on his flank, everywhere but where he wanted them. The very natural result of thiswas that his army resolved itself into a state of confusion, and inthat manner came scampering back on Washington, leaving itscommander to take care of himself, which he did, though with theloss of his wardrobe. It has been hinted that he returned toWashington a much wiser general than when he left it. 

The nation was again brought to grief, and fear and disorder reignedin Washington. People were heard to say that Pope had made aprodigious failure, and was not the general we took him for, or henever would have let his army run away from him in this way. Othersdeclared he had opened the gates of the city to the enemy, andinvited him to walk in. And it was not with feelings ofencouragement that they saw gunboats move up and take position wherethey could check the enemy's approach. Never did general lose hislaurels so quickly. Indeed, my son, when he returned to Washington, with little else than his saddle, there was not a dog to bark him awelcome, nor a chambermaid to wave a napkin in his honor. 

Timid people fancied every hour of the day that they could see therebel army deploying over the hills of Arlington, and loud callswere made for a general who could save us. But we had somethingbetter than a mere general to save us. We had the grim and silentstrength of the forts. And these the enemy dare not approach. Theireffect on the enemy was manifest and he turned aside from them, andpassed up into Maryland, victorious and defiant. 

I ought to tell you, my son, that while Pope was illustrating thebeauties of his new plan at the front, and bringing confusion on ourarms, General George arrived with his good old army of the Potomac, which still loved him, still worshipped him as its hero. And justwhen he was most needed, to save Pope from his disaster, thegovernment relieved him of his command, as if to increase theconfusion already prevailing. The army felt this as a slight offeredto itself, and called loudly for the restoration of its favoritegeneral. And then the general, whose portrait I have placed at thehead of a previous chapter, and who sat in his easy chair inWashington, and brought our armies to grief, called loudly forGeneral George to come and help him out of his trouble. This, youwill see, my son, was first tying a man's hands, and then asking himto come and help whip a giant. 

Yes, my son, there was toil and trouble enough in Washington justthen; and the errors our wise men had committed were like witchesrising up and haunting them. It is said that the little bell-ringerof the State Department had his traps packed up, and ready to move;and that fear had made the burly man in the War Department civil. Newly recruited volunteers, well fed, well clothed, and freshlooking, were marching into the city with colors flying and drumsbeating. The militia, which had come to Washington to do ornamentalduty for thirty days, were marching home with colors flying anddrums beating. Neither of these could give us relief in our trouble. The nation had only the good old army of the Potomac to lean upon inthis its day of trouble. And how few of us, my son, think of thismatter properly, or are willing to give the brave men, who composedthat army, credit for what they had done. Like the English, we arean exacting people, and inclined to ask too much of those who fightour battles. Some of our public men were for forgetting what thosesun-scorched, ragged, and fever-stricken heroes had done for us onthe Peninsula, and even for wiping out their record of heroism. 

I confess it was to me a sad and touching sight to see thesesoldiers, who had served their country so well, who had suffered inswamps, and fought and defeated the enemy, treated with what seemedto me criminal indifference in the very capital they had returned tosave. They muttered their discontent at the loss of their favoritecommander, but were ready again to go forth, struggle with theenemy, and fight for the life of the nation. But not a voice wasraised by the government to thank them for what they had done, not acheer to welcome their return. You must know, my son, that thegovernment was dumb with fear. The ghost of its errors so haunted itthat its lips were sealed. The people looked on and saw it, in itsvery feebleness, asking for stronger hands to come and help it outof its trouble. 

There was, my son, but one army and one general that could save thenation then. General George was that man, and the army was the goodold Army of the Potomac. And the government, as if to confess itsfolly in the past, restored General George to his army. And therewas great rejoicing over the land when this good news went forth tothe people. And the army took more heart, and rejoiced also; andgreat was its rejoicing. The soldiers had confidence in him, andknew he could lead them to victory. Then he placed himself at theirhead and marched out in pursuit of the enemy, who was advancingtriumphantly into the North. And who among us can tell what changesthere would have been in our political and social condition had notthe advance of this bold and triumphant enemy been checked by somestrong hand? I have often thought, my son, that if the people of arepublic were as ready to credit great men with the good they reallydo, as they are to search their characters for faults, we shouldhave less pretenders and a better government. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

A BRIGHTER PROSPECT. 

YOU have here an exact picture of the brave Franklin, who commandedthe gallant old Sixth Corps, which deserves a bright place in thehistory of the Army of the Potomac. 

When Pope had finished his job for us, and shown us what a hero hewas, the government, in the exercise of its wisdom, sent him intothe far West to fight the Indians, where he could, with propriety, establish his headquarters in the saddle. 

Franklin, who had been relieved of his command, for no one exactlyknew what, was now restored to it, to the great joy of the old SixthCorps. Soldiers fight better under a general they know and haveconfidence in; and they are the best judges as to who is the mostcompetent to lead them. Franklin and his gallant corps fell in withthe enemy, posted in a strong position on the South Mountain, atCrampton's Gap, and after a fierce fight, drove him from it and overinto the valley, sometimes charging up the steeps with the bayonet. This was quite an important success, my son, since it checked theenemy's advance, and caused him to fall back on the plains ofAntietam, and form his army in line of battle. Indeed, he so farmistook this movement as to believe it an attempt to get in hisrear. 

This gleam of success, gained by Franklin, inspired the nation withnew hope. Yes, my son, and it cheered the hearts of our bravesoldiers, restored their strength, and gave them new confidence. Then General George formed his army in line on the plains ofAntietam, and a great and bloody battle was fought, and the rebelarmy beaten and put to flight. Pay no heed, my son, to what theprejudiced may say of this battle. It was one of the greatestbattles fought during the war. All honor to the brave soldiers whofought it. Our troops, too, were handled with great skill, and theworld never saw better generalship than our George displayed. Yes, my son, Antietam was our Waterloo, fought at a time when the nationneeded a victory most; and the general who fought it ought never tobe forgotten by his country. When, then, George had gained thisvictory for us, had beaten and driven the enemy from all hispositions, and caused the nation to rejoice, he halted to give hisbrave soldiers rest and repair damages. His losses were great, andhe had compassion on his soldiers, for many of them were withoutshoes and had little raiment. In truth, my son, these brave, abused, and war-worn soldiers had only the well-worn shoes and clothes theyhad made the campaign of the Peninsula in. 

George pleaded the necessity of his soldiers as a reason for hisdelay, and very justly. But this pleased neither the government northe politicians whose bitterest prejudices seemed to control it. These gentlemen urged that he follow the enemy at once and capturehim, a piece of strategy not so easily accomplished as many think. In short, we were in no position to follow the enemy until we gotshoes and raiment for our brave soldiers. Nor could we have addedmuch to our success by following General Lee and his men, who had anopen country before them, until we were well prepared to engage themin another battle. When, however, George got his army ready, hemoved directly on the enemy, and his soldiers were in the best ofspirits, for we had got General Lee and his men in a position wherehe would be compelled to fight another battle, with the advantagesin our favor. Now I don't say, my son, that George would have wonthis battle, but by fighting it he would have exposed the enemy'sreal weakness, and placed him in a very bad position. But thegovernment, as if more willing to promote the prejudices ofpoliticians than to preserve the honor of our arms, resolved not tolet George fight another battle. Yes, my son, it removed him fromhis command, and that, too, when he was close up with the enemy, andwas expecting every day to engage him in battle. I do not rememberthat history records another instance where the commander of anarmy, that had just gained a great victory, was so disgraced by hisown government. 

The enemy could not have inflicted a more severe blow on our bravearmy than was done by this act of our own government. A feeling ofdisappointment and sorrow ran through the ranks, and the brave menwho had fought under and loved their commander, wept at theinjustice that took him away from them. It will, in time, be madeclear, my son, that the government committed a great crime againstour army by this act. It cannot be wisdom to remove a commander, sopopular with his army as George B. McClellan was, especially whenthat army was on the eve of a battle. Such an act is sure to excitedissatisfaction, and dissatisfaction destroys discipline. Nor shouldsuch a commander be removed at so critical a time unless thegovernment were prepared to fill his place with one of equal, if notsuperior capacity. A general, to hope for success, must have theconfidence and respect of his troops. To remove one who has, andfill his place with one who has not, is a crime than which none canbe greater. It is a crime against the brave men whose lives are atthe risk of the capacity of their commander. Our governmentcommitted this crime when it gave the command of the army of thePotomac to General Burnside. That general was the best judge of whathe could do, and freely confessed his incapacity for so high acommand. But the government was not to be put off by this confessionof weakness on the part of a general, preferring to reward him forhis honesty, and make no account of his capacity. I accept this, myson, as the only reason why General Burnside was given so high acommand. As for his capacity as a general, he gave us a proof ofthat when he let the rebels fall back, and get well fortified atFredericksburg. To show, however, what a general could do byattempting impossibilities, he sent the brave army of the Potomac tobe slaughtered by an enemy covered with stone walls. I tell you, myson, it was a dark day for the nation when that was done. Itmultiplied our misfortunes, gave a deeper wound to our grief andsorrow, and brought disgrace on our arms. 

I will pass over these misfortunes as lightly, my son, as possible, hoping only that they will serve us as a warning in the future. Having buried Burnside deep under the misfortunes of his ownincapacity, the question again came up, where shall we find ageneral to do up these rebels for us, and gain us a little victory?The great Grant was doing wonders for us in the West. He was bold, earnest, and brave. And this was the secret of his success. But inthe East we were sorely troubled for some one who could dosomething. 

General Hooker was brave and bold. But, my son, he had such aweakness for blowing his own trumpet. Yes, he could blow it as loudand as long as any trumpeter you ever listened to--Pope excepted. Hehad declared of himself that he was just the man to lead our army tovictory, and give the enemy a sound thrashing. It was true, thisgeneral had been very insubordinate. He had said a number of things, neither wise nor polite, of his superiors. And he had set an exampleto his soldiers not inclined to improve their discipline. As, however, he had declared himself the man to lead our army tovictory, and the government wanted just such a man, it took thegeneral at his word, and gave him the command. 

There were some people, my son, unkind enough to say, and sayboldly, that the government did this strange act more to show itsappreciation of insubordination than out of respect to his capacityto discharge successfully the duties of his high position. When, however, the general had talked himself into the very best opinionof himself, he went to work nursing his grand army into good order. Yes, my son, the old army of the Potomac was a grand army, andGeneral Hooker declared it was the finest on the face of the globe. And he nursed it into good order on the left bank of theRappahannock, from December, 1862, to early April, 1863. The generalcould get up of a morning, and enjoy a look at his old friend Lee, quietly domiciled on the opposite bank. And General Lee could get upof a morning, and do the same. Both generals regarded this as a veryharmless and pleasant way of spending the winter, while carrying onthe war. They would, at times, it is true, exchange compliments of abelligerent nature. But this was only to give a lively turn to thestate of affairs around Fredericksburg. They were, I can assure you, my son, not intended to harm any one. 

CHAPTER IX. 

CHANCELLORVILLE, AND THE CURIOUS FIGHT WE HAD THERE. 

I AM sure my friends will all be anxious to see a portrait of thegreat general who fought the great battle of Chancellorville. And myartist has been particularly careful to present them with a goodone. 

Chancellorville was a strangely fought battle, my son; I havevarious good reasons for saying this, but, perhaps, it is best thatas little as possible be said concerning them. 

When spring came, and the roads were dry, and the robins had begunto sing in the trees, and the buds to put forth, General Hookerbegan to feel strong, and full of battle. He said to his officersthat they must get their courage up, and be ready for a big fight, every one in his own way. And to his men he said, that they musthave plenty of powder in their pouches, and not be afraid to use it. A general to be successful, my son, must have confidence in himself. General Hooker had confidence in himself, and felt that he couldwhip the rebels out of their boots any fine morning. Hence it was, that feeling in a fighting humor one morning in early April, hepicked up his army, and, crossing the stream, went in pursuit of theenemy. He found the enemy posted in the woods near Chancellorville, where he engaged him in a fierce and desperate battle. But thegeneral's plan, if he had any, soon got out of his head, and itbecame apparent that he was fighting the battle in so strange amanner that no one could understand it. In truth, the general setaside the established rules of war early in the battle, and wentback to first principles. These give every man the right to fight inhis own way, and is beautifully illustrated in an army fightingwithout orders. I am told, my son, on very good authority, thatthese "first principles, " as applied to fighting battles, never werebetter developed than at Chancellorville. I am afraid, my son, weshall never get a complete and accurate history of thatextraordinary battle, for the reason that no historian will be foundcapable of describing it. It is certain that the battle had notraged long when our army was in a state of uncertainty andconfusion. Sometimes the fight was between different brigades ordivisions of our own troops, who were as often brought face to face. The enemy liked this, for it helped him to fight the battle withoutreinforcements, and saved him a deal of trouble and loss. When wehad got a great many men killed in this way, and a great many moreseverely hurt, the great question arose as to who had won thebattle, and who got whipped. There can be little doubt as to theimpression made on General Lee's mind on this point. General Hookerwas sure he had gained a great victory, and yet he was not so sure. I say he was not so sure, since he found it necessary, beforesettling the question, to withdraw his army to his old quarters onthe other side of the river. It is clear that the general'sreflections would be less disturbed in his old quarters, and, with ariver separating him from the enemy, he could form a more correctjudgment as to whether he had beaten the enemy, or the enemy hadbeaten him. Feeling, however, that it would not do to let it get outthat the enemy had beaten him, he resolved that it must be true thathe had beaten the enemy. This was about the most accommodatingsettlement he could arrive at. But, accepting this in good faith, Inever could see the necessity for our haste to get back to our oldquarters on the hills, notwithstanding the general's friends said itlooked like rain, and he was anxious to get his army over before theshower came on. I have noticed, also, that the rebel army, whenbeaten, generally fell back in the direction of Richmond. In thisinstance, however, he held his positions, beat his drums, blew hishorns, fluttered his flags, and was altogether the most defiant ofvanquished enemies. I noticed, also, that this vanquished enemypacked his knapsacks, put his ammunition in order, and marched off, not backwards, in the direction of Richmond, but forward, in thedirection of the North. 

Yes, my son, the enemy marched defiantly into Pennsylvania, and sentthe peaceable Dutchmen in that remote part of the country into astate of great alarm. And this I accept as the best proof that therebels were not beaten at Chancellorville. I am sure, also, thatGeneral Hooker had sufficient reason to share this opinion with me. He always had the rebels just where he wanted them, and yet Iobserved that he failed to bring them to a stand before they got onthe free soil of Pennsylvania. Every honest Dutchman in the Statewas convinced in his own mind that General Hooker, if he had beenthe general he ought to be, should have driven the enemy into someremote corner of Virginia, and kept him there. 

The military atmosphere was still full of confusion and uncertainty. And things seemed getting worse every day. Strange as it may seem, the government continued making extensive efforts to further theobject of the rebel general. Fortunately for the nation, our wiserulers waked up one morning fully convinced that General Lee was inearnest, that he was already on the free soil of a northern State, with a favorable prospect for making a settlement there. Thegovernment also suddenly discovered that General Hooker, although abrave soldier and all that, was not the man to command a great army. So the government relieved him and sent him into elegant retirement, a custom very common at that time. 

Then the government appointed General Meade to the command of thegrand old army of the Potomac. Of this general little had beenknown. Still, the nation felt relieved at the change. Now, GeneralMeade was a polished gentleman, a brave and good soldier, who hadfought on the Peninsula under McClellan and commanded thePennsylvania Reserves. To place a new general in command of an armyat a time when that army is in face of the enemy and expects everyminute to engage him in battle, is one of the most dangerousexperiments a government can indulge in. It is also one wellcalculated to test to their utmost the qualities of the generalplaced so suddenly in command. 

It was the 1st of July, 1863, General Meade took command of the Armyof the Potomac, and posted it in order of battle on the hills andplains around Gettysburg. There the two armies stood, the Union andthe Rebel, than whom there was none braver, awaiting for the signalfor the clash of arms. Then a great battle began and lasted threedays. And there was desperate fighting and great valor displayed onboth sides, and the field was strewn with the dead and wounded. Andthe battle of Gettysburg was a great battle, and the Union army ofpatriots gained a great and glorious victory over the rebels. Yes, my son, and what was more, we celebrated it on the 4th of July. Andthe people of the North were glad of heart, and rejoicedexceedingly, and sang praises to General Meade, for he had foughtthe battle well and won his country's gratitude. 

Still, my son, we hesitated, and failed to take advantage of oursuccess. In truth, we let the rebel army re-cross the Potomac at itsleisure, although we might have given it serious trouble had wepressed it at once. Indeed, there were a great number of people whoexpected General Meade to either drive the rebel army into thePotomac or capture it. But military men know that capturing a largearmy, though it may have been beaten in battle, is not so easy amatter. And even a victorious army, after fighting so great abattle, needs rest and time to improve its shattered condition. 

CHAPTER X. 

HANGING IN THE BALANCE. 

HERE, my son, is an exact portrait of the general who fought thegreat battle of Gettysburg. When he had rested his army a sufficienttime he began moving in pursuit of the enemy. The rebel general fellback into old Virginia, taking his time as he went along, and beingin no temper to hasten his steps. In short, we followed him backtimidly to Orange Court House, where he made a settlement for thewinter. There was a good deal of small fighting done during theautumn and winter, but neither side seemed to gain any advantage. The fate of war hung in the balance. If we gained an advantage oneday, the enemy would do something to offset it on the next. Thisstate of things was a source of great grief to the nation. Thepeople wanted something more positive for the great amount of lifeand treasure they were wasting. They called for more earnestness andmore resolution on the part of our generals, and a better system ofcarrying on the war on the part of the authorities at Washington. So, my son, the people's impatience was at length heeded, and whenspring came (I mean the spring of 1864), and the people were wearyof the war, and demanded a change in the policy of conducting it, sothat an end be put to it as speedily as possible, the governmentbegan to wake up to its duty. We had fought battles for two yearsand hung the nation in mourning, and still Washington was as oftenin danger as Richmond. Indeed, the fortune of war seemed in favor ofRichmond. Then the government began to see that if we would gainvictories our armies must be commanded by soldiers, not politicians. 

Yes, my son, the people were excited to joy when the governmentchanged its military policy, and the great General Grant was broughtto Washington and placed in command of all our armies. The sun ofour hopes brightened then, for the people had confidence in thatgeneral. He had whipped the rebels so well for us in the West, andhe had gained for us so many glorious victories. 

And now, my son, we come to this remarkable siege of Washington. Isay remarkable, for it is destined to stand on the pages of militaryhistory without anything to compare with it. Not that it was asbloody, or that the city was as obstinately attacked and defended asheroically, as some other cities that have been besieged, in ancientas well as modern times. But you must know that sieges, likebattles, derive their great importance and all that makes themremembered hereafter, not so much from the amount of blood that hasbeen shed during them, not so much from the impetuosity of theattacks made or the heroic defences, as from the manner in whichthey affect the fate of nations. Some sieges are remarkable for onething, some another. The siege of Washington was more remarkable forthe manner in which the city was defended than the manner in whichit was attacked. No fields were fertilized with carnage, nor bannersbathed in blood. 

You, remember, my son, the tale of storied Troy, with all its "pompand circumstance of glorious war. " But, my son, it has never seemedto me more interesting than the passage of Thermopyl‘. Nor willAgamemnon live in history after Leonidas is forgotten. And yet theseevents in ancient war were small compared with the battles our Grantfought. His deeds will brighten as you read of them in history, andbecome greater than them all. 

And now, my son, let us hie to the siege of Washington. Washingtonwas besieged and Washington was saved; and the history of itssalvation must not perish. Rome, you know, was saved by the cacklingof a goose. And when I tell you that Washington, the capital city ofthis great nation was saved by the too free use of a barrel ofwhisky, you must not be surprised. When its great circle offortifications, now bristling with cannon, and filled with busysoldiers, shall become so many grassy mounds, their history muststill live to excite the patriotism of those who come after us. 

Remember, my son, that had Washington fallen the nation hadperished. To this remarkable siege, then, and its results, let allthe succeeding glories of this great Republic be attributed. 

As I have told you before, my son, after the first battle ofManassas, when our militia did such good running, there was nothingto prevent the rebels from entering and capturing it but the fewhastily constructed forts, or tˆtes de pont, on the Virginia side. Nor could these have offered any resistance worth naming. Ourdemoralized troops, however, never halted until they got safe insideof them. And but for these forts, weak as they were, the city wouldhave fallen. When General McClellan assumed command, he saw at oncethe necessity of properly fortifying the city. And the nation oughtnever to forget him for his decision. Experienced engineers, withlarge gangs of laborers, were set to work throwing up these hugemasses of earthwork. To this was added the labor of a large numberof the troops of the Army of the Potomac, during its organization inthe autumn and winter of 1861 and 1862. When, therefore, the armymoved for the Peninsula in the spring of 1862, the city was sostrongly fortified that it was considered safe by General McClellanand his corps commanders. That is, my son, if its forts wereproperly garrisoned, and there was a working force of forty thousandmen. But nothing was safe against the fears of a timidadministration. 

But forts, my son, however strong, are only inert masses. Theycannot fight themselves; and to give them strength and action theyrequire to be properly and fully garrisoned. And the troops in themrequire to be properly instructed in all their duties. Now, my son, it was a question with the government, which was very timid at thattime, whether General George had left, in and around Washington, aforce sufficient to make the city perfectly safe when he started onhis memorable campaign. It is the opinion of nearly all our bestmilitary men that he did. But the politicians got frightened, thegovernment got frightened, and the political generals gotfrightened. And all the frightened people got their heads together;and they made the President and Secretary of War believe just asthey believed--that Washington had been "unarmed, " and thatWashington was in danger. Yes, my son, our good-hearted President, who was no coward, was sorely troubled about the safety ofWashington. And his Secretary of War was also much troubled, as wascommon with him on the appearance of danger. And the "Chief ofStaff" was also in trouble, and went to issuing orders, of amemorable kind, few of which were understood, much less obeyed. Theresult of all this was that there was great conflict of action. Ihave no better name to call it by, my son. Hence it was, my son, that our good President halted McDowell, and McDowell's corps. Andboth looked on from a distance while General George was fightingdesperate battles with the enemy. This was the way the WarDepartment carried on the war at that time. Now, my son, it is mypurpose to so instruct you that you will know the whole truthconcerning the way the war was carried on. 

The detention of General McDowell and his corps, while itillustrated the great anxiety of the President and Secretary of Warfor the safety of Washington, caused the failure of the campaign onthe Peninsula. All the sophistry in the world, my son, cannot changethat decision. 

General George, with his army, was driven to the James River, and asthe enemy, then at Richmond, was between him and General Pope, andmight strike either at his pleasure, the government's fears aboutWashington so increased that General George was finally recalledfrom the James, to save the capital. The result was, as I have toldyou before, that General Pope was driven back with the wreck of hisarmy to the very gates of the capital, and General George arrivedbarely in time to save it. Yes, my son, General George, not only sosaved the capital, but extricated the government and the Chief ofStaff out of the difficulties they had brought on themselves. 

When, then, the victorious rebel army turned aside from thefortifications of Washington, and marched triumphantly intoMaryland, strong garrisons were left in the forts, and more troopswere poured into the city to insure its safety. It was, indeed, resolved by the government, which began now to profit by experience, and by the fact that the capital of the nation had twice been placedin extreme peril, that for the future, come what might, it should atleast be made secure. Experienced officers of rank were placed incommand of the defenses, north as well as south of the Potomac. Thetroops were drilled constantly, and soon became good artillerists. They were also instructed in and soon became efficient in the art ofdefending forts. They studied well, and became familiar with theground in their front; and, what was more than all, they knew theirguns, and how to fight them. I have been very particular concerningthese things, my son, because I desire to impress you with theirfuture importance. 

But alas for the instability of human resolutions! Washington was tobe exposed, after all. 

You will remember, my son, how everybody was seized with admirationat the ease with which the great General Grant picked up the Army ofthe Potomac, and moved off with it against the rebels. That was inthe month of May, 1864. It was then that the army moved againstRichmond for the last time: that is, not to return to us until ithad captured that rebel stronghold. 

Grant had not gone far when he met a more stubborn resistance thanhe had expected, fought a number of desperate and bloody battles, and lost a great many men. Fight and move forward, was his motto, sohe resolved not to turn his face towards Washington and his backtowards Richmond, as others had done before him. The terrible wasteof human life that followed his battles, found him in want ofrecruits. No reserves of any consequence had been organized, and thegovernment were sorely troubled to find men to fill the thinnedranks of our heroic army. Where were these men to be got from intime to be of service?

Think of it, my son, we had 25, 000 instructed artillerists in theforts around Washington. Here was a temptation hard to be resisted. These men could do good service in the field as infantry; and, in anevil hour, it was decided to send them to Grant's army for thatpurpose. 

Then the great question arose, how were their places to be supplied?How were the forts to be defended, in case of attack, without them?It would not do to strip the defenses of all troops, and leave theforts without garrisons. If we did, the enemy would surely find itout, for Washington was full of his spies, and we should come togrief. The President, the cabinet, and all the generals, hadresolved, from the first, that that this must never be done, underany contingency. 

But what, at the time, was considered a happy thought, seized on thegovernment. I have said a happy thought, my son, but it was a veryunwise one. Let the future historian record it, for it is recordedin the dispatches, as well as in the acts of the government. 

Yes, my son, it was resolved, first, that Richmond should fall in anhundred days, or at least during the summer; second, that to insurethe fall of Richmond within that time, the experienced troops, thenin the fortifications of Washington, should be sent to the Army ofthe Potomac; third, that to replace these and other garrisons, acall should be made on some of the States for 100, 000 militiamen, toserve for one hundred days. To the end of developing this grandidea, all the old artillery regiments were sent away to Grant. Andtheir places were filled by an equal number of "hundred days' men, "nice and fresh, fresh and green, mostly from the State of Ohio. 

I have no doubt, my son, that it will seem strange to you, as itwill to all intelligent readers hereafter, that raw troops shouldhave been called to defend the capital in the fourth year of a greatwar. But the War Department carried on the war according to thismethod then. The result is not just now very pleasant tocontemplate; but it was what ordinary foresight might havepredicted. Our error was the enemy's opportunity, and he quicklyproceeded to take advantage of it. Washington was in danger, andWashington might have been captured with but little trouble had theenemy sent the right man to command his troops. How near it camebeing lost, and how accidentally it was saved, I shall recordhereafter, for the benefit of the future historian. 

CHAPTER XI. 

ALARMING SYMPTOMS OF THE ENEMY'S APPROACH. 

I KNOW you will be anxious to see a portrait of the distinguishedgeneral who was first assigned to the defense of Washington duringthe siege. And here I have presented you with a very clever one. This general, McDowell McCook, chanced to be in the city, when thegovernment, becoming alarmed, placed him in command, and sent himout to defend the capital. This was unfortunate for the poorgentleman, and he at once became alarmed at finding himself in sucha position, and so near the War Department. The poor man knewnothing of the defenses, much less of the roads. And to make thematter worse he had no troops to command. What was a general to dounder such circumstances? Although this distinguished general hadseen some service, and served his country well in the West, he wasin no way qualified to fill the position now assigned him. And I aminclined to accept this as a reason why the government selected him. 

But before I proceed further, my son, I must instruct you as to whathappened in the Shenandoah Valley just about this time, and which, of right, should constitute a part of the siege of Washington. Thetroops in the valley had been commanded by no less than fourunfortunate generals. Patterson, Banks, Milroy, and Siegel, the lastfrom Germany. Of the many misfortunes of these generals, thehistorian who comes after me will give you a more enlarged accountthan I have time or space to do at present. Heaven knows, they weremanifold. 

When, then, Grant moved against the enemy with the Army of thePotomac, General Franz Siegel was put at the head of a column atWinchester, and marched up the valley with a great flourish oftrumpets. This German general was in high feather then, and declaredhe would drive the rebels before him, like so many chickens, andnever stop until he got them all cooped up in Richmond. But therebels were not inclined to submit to this cooping process. Indeed, they soon discovered that this General Franz Siegel was not so muchof a general after all, and that he had an eccentric way of movinghis troops. So when he had driven them, as he supposed, toNewmarket, they turned upon him in a very angry manner, gave himbattle, defeated him, and forced him back in disorder. This wasunfortunate for Siegel, and more unfortunate for his Germanadmirers, who declared him to be the greatest general of moderntimes. But he had fought this battle so badly that the governmentfor once made up its mind that it would be wisdom not to let him tryhis hand at another. 

Major-General David Hunter was fixed upon as the right man to reformSiegel's disordered army and correct his mistakes. Hunter hadpatriotism enough, and no man doubted his courage. He was earnest inthe defense of right, even zealous in the cause of his country, andquick in the punishment of traitors, with whom he was not in veryhigh favor. The general took command of this disordered army, and somanaged as to get a little discipline and some degree of order intoit. Now, it has always seemed to me, my son, that you could put ageneral to no more severe trial than to place him at the head of anarmy demoralized by the inefficiency of his predecessor and expecthim to fight battles and gain victories. And yet General Hunter didthis and to the satisfaction of the country. Had he been less activewith the torch, his reward in history would have been much higher. 

Well, my son, the general marched with his army, and reorganized itas he marched. And he met the enemy, and he fought him, and foughthim well, and whipped him well, and drove him back up the valley, tothe very gates of Lynchburg. But there, my son, he stopped. Hissupplies had given out, and the enemy had detached a large force, and sent it to reinforce the rebel army at Lynchburg. Our greatChief of Staff at Washington had promised that this should not bedone, without timely notice being sent to Hunter. But it was done, and done without any notice being sent by the Chief of Staff, whosespies were found wanting when most needed. General Sheridan, too, was detached from the Army of the Potomac with two brigades ofcavalry, and sent to form a junction with and succor Hunter. But theChief of Staff failed to send Hunter any information concerning thismovement, and hence Hunter was kept in ignorance of its design. Sheridan was driven back before superior numbers, and failed tocarry out the plan of his instructions. Had Hunter receivedinformation of this movement, he would not only have saved Sheridanfrom defeat, but, having formed a junction with him nearCharlottesville, could leave beaten the enemy and gone where hepleased. So much for what the Chief of Staff ought to have done butdid not do. 

Of course the gates of Lynchburg were swung wide open, and there wasnothing for the famous Early, who commanded the rebel hosts, to do, but to come out and brush Hunter away from before them. And he didthis, and more than this. He cut Hunter's communications, and senthim flying over a different road, to the Ohio River, in search ofsupplies. 

And it was now, my son, that the veritable Jubal, known to his oldclassmates at West Point as the late Mr. Early, saw the road open, and the great prize before him. Scorning, as it were, to pursueHunter, he marched directly for Washington by the most direct road. 

It was early in July, then, when General Early, at the head of hisrebel hosts, reached and crossed the Potomac. And this movement sentthe people of Washington into a state of great alarm. The southernsympathizers at the capital were in high feather at the prospect ofWashington being captured by their friends, the rebels. Magnificentstories were set afloat, the government got into a state of greatconfusion, and timid people went about shaking their heads, andwondering what the War Department was doing. Everybody wanted to dosomething, and yet nobody knew what to do. The Chief of Staff sat inhis easy chair, and issued orders by the dozen. The Secretary of Warran about excited, and issued orders that conflicted with everybodyelse's orders. The President, not to be behind either of them, issued orders that agreed with none of them. The great wonder is, that some one of these high officials, so much given to issuing warorders, did not issue a proclamation, warning Mr. Early that itwould not be comfortable for him to bring his rebels this way. 

I am not prepared to say what effect such a notice would have had onMr. Early, who turned his column in this direction, and, marchingwith great rapidity, was in a few days on the banks of the Monocacy. And, as if to increase our alarm, he sent that festive youngtrooper, Harry Gilmore, galloping down into Maryland, where his oldfriends received him with open arms, and entertained himsumptuously. Never was hero so entertained by his friends. And whenthis bold trooper had enjoyed the trip, and shared the hospitalityof his friends as much as pleased him, he went to work disturbingour military arrangements. Yes, my son, he captured one of ourrailroad trains on its way to New York, and all the passengers init. And, what was worse than all, there was one of our mostdistinguished major-generals in it, and he was made a prisoner ofwar by this bold trooper. Thus he cut our communication with theNorth. He did all this, and walked away leisurely and unmolested. Although his Maryland friends set him up for a great hero, Iconfess, as there was no one to oppose him, not to see in what hisheroism consisted. 

As you may naturally suppose, my son, these little affairs increasedour alarm greatly. Our authorities, generally, went into a state ofperspiration; and would have sent for General Grant and his army tocome back and protect us, but for the fear that that general wouldnot read the order correctly. In short, they had already becomeconvinced that Grant was not the man to turn back when there wasanything to be made by going ahead. Then our high officials calledon the North for help, but called in vain. The North was notinclined to share the fears of our high officials, and had been toooften sent for to come and take care of Washington. 

It was common with us, then, to keep a lot of third-rate troopsscattered around Baltimore; and over Maryland. These were hastilygot together, and placed under the command of that famous warriorLew Wallace. The administration was sure, now, that Mr. Early wouldget whipped, and that the capital would be saved. There were, however, a few unbelieving people who shook their heads, and wereheard to say that General Wallace was not the soldier to drive Mr. Early and his men into the Potomac. 

I must do the general the credit, however, to say, that he marchedout boldly enough, and engaged Early and his men in battle as soonas he met him. And although he had pluck enough, he was no match forthe rebel, who brushed him away before him, and sent his scatteredcolumns flying back into Baltimore, in great distress. Perhaps theonly sensible man surprised at this state of things was GeneralWallace himself. 

When those who come after us, my son, shall read of this, it willseem very strange that the fate of Washington, the capital of thisgreat and powerful nation, should have depended on a battle betweenGeneral Lew Wallace, and his undisciplined troops, on the one side, and Jubal Early and his stonewall troops on the other. And all thisin the fourth year of the war. 

Now this battle, if it can be dignified with the name, was fought onSaturday, the 9th of July. General Early took no further notice ofGeneral Wallace, but started at once for the defenses of Washington. And there was nothing to oppose him until he reached them; andnothing then but some cannon, and some men who did not know how tofire them. 

When it got rumored round that the late General Early was not onlyaiming to besiege Washington, but was not far away from thedefenses, there was considerable of a stir made in official circles. Timid people tried to keep their courage up in various ways. Heroes, who had never been out of Washington, now talked like very heroes;and it was intimated that the Treasury Guard would come out, andtake the field. Those who had no taste for fighting, and they weremany, found it very uncomfortable, because there was no way ofgetting out of the city. 

During the war, my son, I frequently noticed that when a battle wasgoing on at the front there was sure to be a large number of heroesin uniform doing promenade duty on the Avenue. Their number seemedto have increased prodigiously just at this time. It was noticedalso that they walked at a more rapid pace than usual, did anuncommon amount of eating and drinking, and had a large number offriends they were always ready to discuss the last battle with. Isuppose this was all for the purpose of showing the amount ofcourage they had. 

They were ready enough to go to the front to-day if somebody wouldonly show them the way. 

It was now the morning of the 10th of July; and a bright breezymorning it was. The symptoms of the siege now took a positive formand became really alarming. These symptoms were manifested in asingular manner at two prominent points of the defenses. Adilapidated and very much distressed mule, his ears erect and histail askance, galloped down the road into Tenallytown, making anoise so hideous that the quiet inhabitants ran out in a state ofgreat alarm. They then went to packing up their household goods, their tubs, tables, chairs, and crockery, and getting them ready forremoval to a place of safety. In addition to this, the unruly animalsent terror into the very hearts of a number of cavalrymen who wereout picketing the distant hills. These gallant troopers put spurs totheir horses and never stopped until they got safely intoGeorgetown, where they circulated numerous stories concerning Mr. Early and his men, who, they declared, had driven them in. 

The other remarkable manifestation took place at Brightwood, asleepy little town composed of four houses and a lamp-post, andsituated not far from the city, on the Fourteenth-street road. Adistressed cow came bellowing into this town just at daylight, withher head and tail erect, and driving the pickets before her. Theantics of this otherwise kindly animal caused a great scatteringamong the gallant defenders of Fort Stevens. Indeed, I have goodauthority for saying that they evacuated that stronghold moresuddenly than had ever been done before, scampering down theFourteenth-street road at a rapid pace. 

In short, my son, they mistook this wayward animal for Early'sadvance guard, and came to the very wise conclusion that a fort wasnot a pleasant place to stay in when an enemy outside was throwingshells into it. 

The good people of Brightwood betook themselves to packing up theirtraps, and pondering over the question as to whether they had beendisloyal enough during the war to claim Mr. Early as a friend whenhe arrived. It was a trying time with the good people of Brightwood. 

When, however, the gallant defenders of the defenses found that itwas only a cow that had so disturbed them, they went boldly back totheir guns, and were as full of courage as could be for the rest ofthe day. 

As the morning wore on, the evidences of trouble outside increased. Scattering contrabands, some with bundles on their backs, some withchairs, buckets and wash-tubs on their heads, others with the familytable on their heads. There was an interesting group of three--twomale and one female member of the African family. One of the formerhad brought his banjo, the other his fiddle. The female had a tubwell down on her head. These poor frightened people came trottinginto the city over the Tenallytown and Brightwood roads, seeking aplace of safety inside of the forts. 

Then the roads became blocked with all manner of rickety vehicles, many of them of the most primitive description, filled with thefamilies and furniture of peaceable farmers, who had left theirhomes in fear of the approaching rebels. A more grotesque picturethan was presented by this anxious train it is impossible toconceive. 

CHAPTER XII. 

THE GOVERNMENT GETS AGITATED, AND THE GREAT COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF TAKESTHE FIELD. 

THIS, my son, is a portrait of General Auger, a dashing, handsomeofficer, and a courteous gentleman. He commanded the department ofWashington during the memorable siege I am describing. 

As I have said before, my son, as soon as it was known that GeneralWallace had been driven back on Baltimore in search of rations, andGeneral Early was close upon Washington, the government waked up tothe fact that the capital was in danger, and began to take measuresfor its defense. Our good President, believing, in the honesty ofhis heart, that his presence at the front would do good, took thefield. And the Secretary of War and the Chief of Staff went toissuing orders that no one seemed to obey. Indeed, their orders onlyincreased the confusion that had already taken possession ofeverything military. The regular officers in command of the troopsin the fortifications, and who knew the location and details of theforts as well as the roads leading to them, were superseded bystrangers, ignorant of all these things, and even of what theircommands consisted. 

Why this was, my son, I cannot explain. Perhaps the Secretary of Warwill, when he gets his historian, at $2, 500 a year, to write anational history of the war. Some malicious people said theSecretary of War had two reasons for this: the first, to show hiscontempt for military science; the second, because he wanted to showwhat fools some of these strange generals were. I have also heard itintimated that the reason why some of these strange generals wereassigned to such important posts at such a moment of peril to thenation, was because they were of sufficient consequence to be madevictims. And as it was always necessary to have a victim to cover upand excuse the blundering of high officials, these men would come inhandy enough. But I never considered this a good excuse for thussuperseding the officers, the only officers who really knew how todefend the city. 

It was not surprising, however, that, with such an opportunity forgaining distinction as the defense of the capital of the nation, major and brigadier-generals should spring up as by magic. Theirnumber was truly marvelous. Nor was it strange that they should allwant to be heroes. It was a little queer, however, that they shouldall be in the city just at this time, and seemingly withoutemployment. Each, on application, was assigned to an importantcommand, though but few of them knew the road to the forts, andfewer still what they were going to command when they got there. 

The alarm and confusion continued to increase as General Early andhis rebel hosts approached. And now the great question arose as towho was to be regarded as responsible for the safety of the city?Was it the President, the Secretary of War, or the great Chief ofStaff? people inquired. No, it could be neither of these, for thePresident, though frequently seen at the front, seemed only apleasant observer, and gave no orders to the troops. The Secretaryof War and Chief of Staff were issuing orders, as I have beforedescribed, and assigning strange generals to commands. It could notbe General Auger, for the War Department seemed to have forgottenhim, and he remained quietly in command of the department. TheMilitary Governor was discharging the active duties of his office, and so it could not be him. Some persons said General Haskins wasthe man. He had been in charge of the defenses north of the Potomac, and knew them well. But it could not be him, for he had beensuperseded by General Hardin; and General McDowell McCook rankedboth of them; and, as I have before informed you, was placed incommand and sent out to see to General Early. 

This, my son, was very hard on General McCook, who found himself ina predicament he would willingly have escaped from. It is no morethan right, my son, that I should give you an account of how thisgeneral went to the field, and what he found when he got there. 

Provided with a pocket full of orders, the general mounted his horselate on Saturday afternoon and set out for the front, over theFourteenth-street road. The corpulent engineer I have described inthe early part of this history was assigned to General McCook forduty; and this officer, and two sorry-looking orderlies, were allthat bore him company. The corpulent engineer alone knew themilitary roads, and the location of the forts, which was veryfortunate. As they advanced over the road beyond Meridian Hill, theyovertook several straggling generals, each proceeding to the frontwith a pocket full of orders, and generally accompanied by a singleorderly. Two or three of these generals seemed quite at a loss as towhere they were going, or what they were to command. I have thusexplained this matter to you, my son, to show you what a nice wayour war authorities had of producing confusion. 

When the general and his staff, which I have described above, werewell nigh Brightwood, he halted to inquire, of the alarmed negroesand straggling citizens who were wending their way into the city, what news they had of the enemy outside. But no trustworthyinformation could he get from any of them. They all knew thatGeneral Early was coming; and that they had left just before he hadgot to where they lived. This sort of information was not exactlythe kind a general would consider it safe to base his plan ofoperations on. Nor was the general any more fortunate in gettinginformation concerning the enemy from a number of squads of cavalry, whose business it seemed to be to ride excitedly to the front andthen ride excitedly back again. Indeed, the whole business of thesedoughty troopers, it seemed to me, was to increase the alarm andconfusion. 

It was nearly sundown, the weather was hot and oppressive, and thegeneral was full of troubles. The worst of these was that he couldnot find the troops he was sent to command. Nor could he get anytidings concerning General Early and his rebels. Hence it was thathe concluded, and very naturally, that the enemy would not be withinsight of the defenses until morning, and that the city would atleast be safe until that time without any more of his generalship. 

He therefore went into camp for the night, pitching his headquartersin a clump of wood near Rock Creek, and not far from Crystal Spring. And here let me record that the general had not even a camp guard. To make the matter worse, there was no forage for the horses, andnothing for supper. Never was general so much to be pitied. The twoorderlies, however, were willing fellows, and soon had a firelighted. They then proceeded to a neighboring house, and gotrefreshments for the general, without which he must have gone hungryto bed. 

As the night advanced, the discomforts of the situation increased. In short, it may as well be confessed, the general's headquarterswere besieged long before midnight, and that sleep was a thing notto be enjoyed. You may have made up your mind that the besiegerswere an advance guard of the rebels; but they were not. They werenothing less than an army of fierce musquitoes, who made such apersistent attack on the general and his staff as to make hisposition almost untenable. In truth, they so harassed the corpulentengineer, in rear and flank, that he mounted his horse and returnedto the city, where he spent a comfortable night at Willard's Hotel, and went back in the morning refreshed. My authority for this is thedistinguished engineer himself. 

A little after midnight, the two orderlies became seriously alarmed(I ought to mention that one was recently from Cork, and the otherfrom Kerry), and reported to the general that a conversation wasbeing carried on in an unknown language by two persons in the woodsbeyond, and whom they verily believed to be spies of the enemy. Thegeneral was not a little perplexed at this intelligence, for thebetter informed orderly declared, that while one shouted in very badIrish, the other seemed to answer him in Dutch. The general listenedattentively for a minute or more, when the noise was again heard. Itturned out, however, that the intruders were only a pair of owls, who had perched in some trees near by, and were exchanging hootingsfor their own entertainment. 

CHAPTER XIII. 

THE KIND OF REINFORCEMENTS WE HAD TO DEFEND THE CITY. 

THIS is an exact portrait of General Jubal A. Early, who was sent tocapture Washington, but arrived a little too late. 

There was great excitement in the city during Sunday, the 10th ofJuly, and strange stories were set afloat concerning the arrival ofGeneral Early, and his rebel army. There was also great excitementin and around the forts north of the city. The hundred-day men didnot feel themselves safe in the forts, and those outside were makinga desperate effort to keep their courage up. 

We had heroes enough in the city, but the great question was, how wewere to get them organized, provisioned, armed, and sent to thefront in time to be of service. The District militia, which we haveall heard so much of and seen so little, was not enrolled, and, ofcourse, could not be made available. It was said there would be somedesperate fighting done if the Treasury Guard only got to the front. This valuable body of distinguished heroes was composed of niceyoung men, who wore fine linen and patent leather boots, and inappearance were unexceptionable. 

It was a trying time for the nation, my son, and the young men ofthis Treasury Guard felt that they had a duty to perform indefending the capital, and must perform it with courage. There wasone little drawback, however, to their conduct as soldiers; and thatwas, that each man wanted to go to the front encumbered with acarpet bag, filled with sandwiches and clean shirts. Aside fromthis, let me say, the guard was got in order for marching, and theirgallant commander, Colonel Floyd A. Willett, made a speech, in whichhe declared there was not a chicken-hearted man in his ranks. Andwhen it marched for the front, which it did with drums beating, itsgallant colonel at its head, and Corporal Spinner, of Company B, bringing up the rear, there was many a tear shed and handkerchiefwaved by the pretty female clerks of the Department. Many of thesedamsels had more than a friendly interest in these young heroes, whothey averred would never come back, but whiten the battle-field withtheir bones. 

As the War Department has not yet condescended to give us a reportin detail of the defense of Washington, I cannot inform you, my son, of the heroic part performed by this distinguished body of niceyoung men. There was a rumor that they returned to the city, afterthe siege, in a very hungry condition; but had been so saving oftheir powder and lead as not to waste a single round. 

Now, our quartermaster-general was not to be beaten by any of themwhen there was a chance for glory. Seeing the Treasury Guard marchoff with so much courage and determination, the general mounted hiswar horse, and assembled a whole brigade of his employees, asgallant fellows as ever took the field, notwithstanding little couldbe said of their discipline or soldierly appearance. This gallantbrigade was called the Bushwhackers, in contradistinction to theBeef-eaters of the War Department. There was no mistaking thisbrigade, for it was armed with muskets and bill-hooks. As it movedoff for the front, as it did with no very regular step, there was asight seldom seen. How else could it be, with our gallantquartermaster-general at its head, and General Rucker bringing upthe rear! After a rapid march of four miles, the brigade reached thefront; and as no enemy was in sight, and there was no use for theirpowder, the men went energetically to work, and did good service inclearing away the bushes in front of the forts, so that our gallantdefenders could have an unobstructed view of the rebels as soon asthey made their appearance. This was a very happy thought; one forwhich the quartermaster-general deserved the brevet he afterwardsgot. 

You will see by this, my son, that we were fast getting our gallantdefenders to the front. And now all that was needed to afford theman opportunity to show themselves heroes was General Early and hisarmy of rebels. 

I must also inform you that Provost-Marshal Todd, Captain and A. D. C. , had got a company of his men to the front, lying in ambush forthe rebels. 

There was still another, and equally important force to be added toour defenders. This was a brigade of what was called AncientMariners, got together by that solid old salt, Admiral Goldsborough. The admiral was brim-full of pluck, and his name had become famousfor not fighting the rebels afloat. Here was an opportunity to givethem a broadside or two ashore, and the admiral was not the man tolet it slip through his fingers. Indeed, he sounded his war trumpetas quick as any of them, and when he had piped his Ancient Marinersto arms, he told them that God and their country demanded them to dotheir duty. 

"Aye, aye!" responded the Ancient Mariners; "we will do it, wewill. "

When the gallant admiral had got his "Ancient Mariners" ready tomarch, armed with cutlass and various other well-known weapons, heplaced himself at their head and moved out to meet the enemy. Hismanner of doing this, however, was somewhat novel, and deserves tobe described here. You must know, my son, that the admiral was of avery rotund figure, and, although well enough at home on thequarter-deck, was not accustomed to the saddle. His weight was, indeed, such as to preclude the idea of his being a skilledhorseman. It was, therefore, necessary that he go to the field insome more comfortable as well as becoming manner. Thereupon acarriage and four was provided, and in this stately manner thegallant admiral proceeded to the front, at the head of his strangecommand. I may add also, my son, that the movement of this forceafforded no little amusement to the numerous urchins that followedit. On reaching the front, it took up a strong position, and madeready to give the enemy a broadside whenever he made his appearance. Some mischievous person reported that it was the intention of these"Ancient Mariners" to support the cavalry, in the event of its beingattacked. Having brought them to the front, however, we must leavethem there, the quartermaster with his spy-glass keeping a sharplook out for any stray craft that might appear in the offing. 

I have been thus minute in describing these forces, in order thatyou may form a just estimate of what General McDowell McCook had tocommand. 

Sunday passed away, and there was no appearance of General Early andhis army. Still the excitement in the city had not abated. Our goodPresident, I must tell you, was out along the lines nearly all day, with the apparent purpose of encouraging the feeble garrisons in theforts. 

Early on Monday morning (the 11th of July, 1864), the smoke and dustof the rebel column rose in the distance, and was clearly seen fromthe defenses. News of this soon spread about, and our cavalry gotmore and more excited, and went galloping out and then camegalloping in at an increased rate of speed. 

Then the enemy's long, thin line of skirmishers debouched into thefields, like specter figures in a panorama. Next his artillery wasseen moving to the right and left, and apparently taking uppositions on the distant hills. These were followed by his hungrytroopers, very dirty and forlorn, and looking like shadowy figuresjust issuing from a desert of dust. The movements of these rebels inthe distance gave new features to the face of the siege. GeneralMcDowell McCook was seen to ride rapidly over the field, followed byhis two orderlies. Generals Meigs and Rucker urged on theirBushwhackers, who went to work with renewed energy clearing up theforest. The "Ancient Mariners" whetted their cutlasses, andcontinued to exhaust their ordnance, a large stock of which they hadbrought to the field in the shape of tobacco. And the Treasury Guardstopped eating sandwiches and looked to their ammunition. In fine, our gallant defenders went to getting their courage up in variousways. Our good President (may his memory never die!) took up aposition near Fort Stevens, as if to encourage the hundred-day mento stand by their guns and keep their pluck warm. 

A little after noon there was a material change in the situation. The enemy's advance skirmishers made their appearance within rangeof Fort Stevens and began a miscellaneous firing. Then our owncannon opened, and their echoes over the hills first sounded thealarm and awakened the people of the city from their dream ofsecurity. There were as yet no really efficient troops to send todefend the point of attack. The people knew that between them andthe enemy there were strong and heavily armed forts; and in thesethey placed their trust. They did not, however, reflect that theseforts, without proper garrisons, were only so many inert masses, incapable of resisting for one hour the vigorous assault of anenemy. But it was very different with the military authorities. Asthe rattle of small arms and the booming of cannon increased duringMonday evening and night, they knew that the city was in peril, andtheir anxiety for its safety increased. They knew that the fortswere not properly garrisoned. They knew that communication with theNorth was cut off, that no reinforcements from that quarter could berelied on. Further, that although reinforcements from GeneralGrant's army had been ordered up from the James River, they had nothad time to arrive. 

Such was our situation on that memorable Monday night. Yes, my son, such was the feeble condition of the defenses when General Early andhis rebel army came in sight of the dome of the Capitol. We alllooked confidently for an attack in force on Tuesday morning. Had itbeen made by a column of ten thousand men, led by a bold anddetermined commander, capable of infusing his own impulse into theirmovements, they might, feebly garrisoned as the forts were at thatmoment (with no support between or behind them), have treated ourdefenses with contempt, and marched into the city. 

Yes, my son, they could have marched almost unmolested between anytwo of the forts, entered the city, seized the Arsenal, the Capitol, the Treasury, and other public buildings, and enjoyed a bounteousbreakfast at the expense of our citizens. And when they had donethis, they might have enforced a legitimate surrender of the city, together with the defenses on both sides of the river. 

But General Jubal A. Early was not the man for such an enterprise. Washington was at his mercy, but fortunately for us he did not knowit, and let the opportunity slip. Even had he known it, I am ofopinion that he lacked the nerve to grasp the advantages of theopportunity. On that Tuesday morning, Early was at Silver Springs, enjoying the luxuries of a spacious headquarters, and within sightof the grand old dome of the Capitol. What strange emotions thesight of this dome must have excited in his bosom, whatreminiscences of happier days passed under its shadow must haveseared his thoughts as they passed in review, he alone can describe. Perhaps it was the contemplation of those happier days that stayedhis hand and made him hesitate to grasp the prize at his feet. 

No, my son, Jubal A. Early was of too phlegmatic a temperament forsuch an undertaking. He was slow in every thing but name. And, as Ihave informed you before, so notoriously cautious and slow was he toact, even when a youth at West Point, that he gained the sobriquetof "The Late Early, " by which he is known at this day by hisintimate friends. 

How sad it is for us, to-day, to contemplate that the safety ofWashington, the capital of this great country, should have dependedon the temperament of a general. Let the future historian do thissubject justice and elaborate it as it deserves. And let himportray, if he can, the consequences of the rebel flag greeting therays of the rising sun on that morning victoriously from the dome ofthe Capitol. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

HOW THE REBEL GENERALS DEPORTED THEMSELVES. 

THIS history would not be complete, my son, without a portrait ofGeneral John C. Breckinridge. This general accompanied GeneralEarly, in command of a division, and was extremely useful as asubordinate, since he knew Washington and all its surroundings, andhad many friends in the city, whose respect and hospitality he hadenjoyed. What curious emotions must have excited his breast when hesaw the dome of that building where he had sat as a Senator, and byhis talents and deportment secured the respect and confidence of thenation, I will leave the reader to imagine. Who but himself candescribe his thoughts when he recurred to that scene in the SenateChamber, when he raised the voice of prophecy and foreshadowed thetraitor's reward? Was there a pang in the thought that he washimself reaping the bitterest fruit of that reward?

Never forget, my son, how terrible is the penalty that attaches totreason. But now I must ask you to reaccompany me to another part ofthe field, that we may see what is going on there. The attack madeon our defenses by the rebels was of the feeblest kind. Why thiswas, some of our officers could not understand. It was evidentlymade in doubt of the result, and indicated forcibly enough thatsomething was wrong at the rebel headquarters. We want now to seewhat that was. 

While the booming of cannon and the rattle of small arms was goingon in the vicinity of Fort Stevens, without any very serious damageto either side (for I may mention here that the rebels kept at arespectful distance from the forts), Generals Early, Ewell, andBreckinridge were enjoying themselves on the sumptuous fare found atSilver Springs and other neighboring plantations. In short, it isasserted that these generals had been short of rations for somedays, and were very hungry when they reached the outskirts ofWashington. It is also asserted that they took themselves tofeasting and making merry with their friends; so much so that theyhad all the cellars and larders of the houses round about examinedfor bounties to supply their table. And to such an extent was thisfeasting and merrymaking carried, that General Early quite forgotthat he was sent to capture Washington, and indeed set such a badexample to his subordinates as to destroy all discipline. 

There were two great events in this remarkable siege, my son, and Imust tell you what they were. If I do not, you will not get a clearidea of how the siege was carried on by the rebels. The generals(rebel) had not tasted fresh beef for several days, and had a sharpappetite which their commissaries were inclined to gratify. Now, there was on the plantation of Mr. George Riggs, near where thesegenerals had their headquarters, a celebrated Alderney bull, muchvalued by its owner. Here was a temptation not to be resisted bythese commissaries, who had the animal led to slaughter and servedup for their masters. Yes, my son, these generals and their staffsbanqueted on Mr. Riggs's bull, and were honest enough to confessthat they had rarely fared so sumptuously. This is one of the greatevents. Now to the other. A number of general officers (choicespirits), imitating the example set by their bold superiors, wentout on a forage of their own, and coming to the house of the Hon. Montgomery Blair, put it under a close examination, especially thecellar and larder, which was supposed to be well stored with thechoicest. They were disappointed, however, to find that the cellarcontained little wine, and were about setting the honorable ownerdown for a disciple of temperance, when they came upon a barrel ofrare old Bourbon whisky. 

This discovery caused great rejoicing, the news of it spread far andwide among the officers, and not an order was obeyed for the rest ofthe day. So you will see, my son, that while the superior generalsand their staffs were banqueting on Mr. Riggs's bull, the fieldofficers were besieging their brains with Mr. Blair's choice whisky. The city was perfectly safe while this state of revelry existed. AndI feel, my son, that you will agree with me that Mr. Blair deserveswell of his country for supplying his cellar with this remarkableweapon of defense. Let the future historian bear in mind that theWar Department can claim no credit for the safety of Washington. Thecredit of saving Washington belongs exclusively to Mr. Riggs's bulland Mr. Montgomery Blair's barrel of whisky. They furnished thefeast that stole away the brains of General Early's officers, andcaused the delay that saved the city. 

In fine, my son, I have good military authority for saying thatthese rebel officers, after their wisdom had been carried away bythe whisky, put on ladies' dresses and so conducted themselves thatGeneral Early, in order to get them out, and put a stop to theriotous proceedings, was compelled to apply the torch to the houseof Mr. Blair. Let this sad result be a warning to all generals, sentto either threaten or capture the capital of a nation. 

Have I not satisfied you, my son, that Mr. Davis sent the wrong manto take Washington? A more sanguine general, knowing that he hadbeen sent from Richmond to threaten and, if possible, captureWashington, and having come so far and routed all the troops sent tooppose him, and arrived within sight of the coveted prize, at a timewhen he must have known the weakness of the defenses, would haverisked an attack in force and would have succeeded. I say he wouldhave succeeded; for, by all the rules of war, the capital ought tohave fallen. Let it be remembered also, that during that memorableTuesday, when the rattle of small arms and the booming of cannonfrom Fort Stevens were calling patriotic citizens to the front to dotheir duty, the engineer-in-chief and other of the high officials ofthe War Department were busy packing up the records of theiroffices, preparatory to their removal to the gunboats. 

The attack, which had been so confidently expected on Tuesdaymorning, did not take place. General Early and his officers stillcontinued their riotous proceedings near Silver Springs, while hisadvance line kept our gallant defenders in a state of intenseexcitement and activity. As hour after hour wore away, however, theanxiety of our people increased, in fear of what might happen. 

Then late in the afternoon news came that the brave old SixthCorps--a terror to rebels everywhere--had arrived. This sent a thrillof joy into many a heart, and shout after shout went up along theline as its cross came in sight. Yes, the old Sixth Corps, withGeneral Wright, had come once more. It was a proud sight to seethese men deploy into line of battle, in front of Fort Stevens, their war-worn colors fluttering in the breeze, with that cross sowell known to the rebel hosts. 

The siege was raised. The rebels recognized that cross, and, knowingwhat it betokened, fell back rapidly before it, and prepared for ahasty retreat. Confidence was restored to the people. The Presidentthanked the troops and went home in the very best humor. TheSecretary of War and the Chief of Staff stopped issuing orders; andthe quartermaster's bushwhackers hung up their bill-hooks. The majorand brigadier-generals went to congratulating each other on the partthey had taken in the defense. At two o'clock on Wednesday morning, an advance was ordered with the two divisions of the Sixth Corps;but when the skirmish line took possession of Silver Springs, therewas not a rebel in arms to be seen. General Early had made goodspeed during the night, and was making the best of his way acrossthe Potomac, and home to his master. 

Thus ended the most remarkable siege history has any account of. 

And now, my son, I cannot close this history without a few words onthe character and conduct of Mr. Jefferson Davis, to whose ambitionthis siege of our capital was due. It has been said by several ofhis friends, who have access to the newspapers, that he went intothis war not only very reluctantly, but with green spectacles on. Willing as I am to deal generously with him, and to forgive him eachand every one of his sins, and to send him out into the world toseek atonement for them, I cannot share this opinion. And for thereason that I happened to know Mr. Davis in the summer of 1850, whenhe was the moving spirit of a convention of "Fire-Eaters, " thatassembled together at Nashville, Tenn. And I have a slightrecollection of a speech he made on that occasion, in whichseparation by arms was urged, and no love for the Union advanced. Iremember also that that speech was rewarded with hisses, notwithstanding the strong dis-union element of the convention. Hisdislike of the Union and plan for separating the nation, it is wellknown, had been the besetting sin of his brain for twenty years. How, then, he could have engaged in this gigantic rebellion withgreen spectacles on, I cannot just exactly see. It was the ignorant, unreasoning masses of the South who were led into the rebellion withgreen spectacles on, not men like Mr. Davis. But, my son, neverstrike a man when he is down; that is the work of cowards. Let usgive Mr. Davis credit for such virtues as he had, and for the mannerin which he exerted them in keeping life and strength in thegovernment he attempted to set up. In connection with the rebellion, we had to deal with Mr. Davis more in his character as a soldierthan a statesman. Mr. Davis was undoubtedly an able soldier. He wasthe head and front, the very life and soul of the men in the South. Born to those qualities of pride, self-esteem, and self-will, allof which produce confidence in the possessor, he grew up feelinghimself superior, as he was, to the ordinary men of his age. Heinherited at the same time great fixedness of purpose anddetermination; and so prominent were these traits of his character, that they impressed every one who came in contact with him. 

These, my son, were the attributes that gave wings to the man'sambition and found him aspiring to one of the high places in thetemple of fame. The nation gave him a thorough military education atWest Point, and he afterwards learned the practical duties of asoldier in the Black Hawk war. On the return of peace, he resignedand sought distinction in political life. He had succeeded inreaching the House of Representatives when the war with Mexico brokeout, and he resigned and again went to the field. And, notwithstanding what has been said to the contrary, he won greatdistinction in this war. Military men everywhere did him justice. The "Mississippi Rifles" will be remembered as long as the battle ofBuena Vista. 

At the close of the war he again relinquished the sword, and wassent to the United States Senate, where he was made chairman of theCommittee on Military Affairs. His highest ambition was to shine asa statesman. He afterwards served four years as Secretary of War, and then returned to the Senate, where the rebellion found himelevated to the chairmanship of the Committee of Military Affairs. His education, his services in the army, his position as Secretaryof War, and in the Senate, enabled him to become thoroughlyacquainted with our army, with its customs, its laws, its material, its wants, and, above all, the character of its officers. He was, perhaps, better acquainted with these things than any other man inthe United States. Nor was he deficient in knowledge of thecharacter of leading, public men at the North and West. What he hadnot studied well, however, was the character and the patriotism ofthe people of those sections of our country. 

It was the ripe fruit of this knowledge, then, that Mr. Davisapplied in each department of the rebel government; and it was thisthat made him of such incalculable value to the rebellion. We haveseen and even admired the power with which he wielded the scantyresources of the South. And we have seen the wisdom which hedisplayed from the very first in the section of his generals. Withrare exceptions, he put the right man in the right place. He knewthe importance of placing soldiers in command, when soldiers' dutywas to be performed. It would have been fortunate for us if we hadexercised similar wisdom. When the rebellion began, there was no manin the South to have taken the place of Mr. Davis. It is not toomuch to say that had he remained loyal to his country, and beenelevated to the command of our armies when the war began, he wouldhave quickly crushed out the rebellion. With his grasp of mind, andhis iron will, he would have so wielded the great resources of theNorth and West, that the rebellion would have been crushed in a yearfrom its birth. And this was the man our authorities at Washingtonsupposed would not, or could not, attack the capital after it hadbeen stripped of its proper garrison. Let the truth be told: Daviswas not the man to let such a blunder go unnoticed.