History of the American Civil War

699 Pages·1870·43.597 MB·English

by  John William Draper

HISTORY
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR.
JOHN WILLIAM DRAPER, M.D., LL.D.,
PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK:
AUTHOR OF "A TREATISE ON HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY," "A HISTORY OF
THE INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPE," ETC., ETC.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
Vol. III.
CONTAINING THE EVENTS FROM THE PROCLAMATION OF THE EMAN-
CIPATION OF THE SLAVES TO THE END OF THE WAR.
NEW YORK:
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,
FRANKLIN SQUARE.
1870.
Entered,according to Act ofCongress,in the year one thousand eight hundred
and seventy,by
HAEPER & BROTHERS,
IntheClerk'sOfficeoftheDistrictCourtoftheSouthernDistrictofNewYork.
:
INTRODUCTION TO THE THIRD VOLUME.
1st the work now completedbythis volumeIhave endeavoredto
convertthe annalsofthe CivilWar into ahistory.
In the annals ofa nation,each occurrence,whether important or
unimportant,ispresentedas anisolatedfact,irrespective ofitsbear-
ing on the general course of affairs. Its philosophical connectiQn
with other occurrences is not necessarilytraced out.
The first duty of one who wouldwrite a history is to take such
annals ofthe events with which he has to deal, and to discover
amongthemwhatmaybetermedthemaster-facts. Inhis narrative
he mustbringthese into prominence,makingthem the conspicuous
centres around which the minor or subordinate facts are grouped.
Theimpressionwhichhewillfinallyleave onthe mind ofhisreader
depends upon the clearness ofhis narrative,andthis,in its turn,de-
pends uponthe completeness withwhichthe rulehereindicatedhas
been observed.
The events consideredin thisvolume occurredbetween the Proc-
lamation ofFreedomtotheSlavesandtheendofthewar. Chrono-
logicallytheyrangefromthe1stofJanuary,1863,tothecloseofthe
spring of1865.
Applyingtheforegoingruletothem,theymaybeclassifiedinthe
nine following sections,the enumeration being continued from the
thirteenth section ofVolumeII.
Section
XIV. TheConquest ofthe CentralRegion ofthe Confederacy.
XV. The Contest in theAtlantic region.
XVI. The Pressure on the Atlantic, Gulf, and Mississippi fronts
ofthe Confederacy.
XVII. Operations preliminary to, or in connection with the final
Campaigns.
vi INTKODUCTIOK
Section
XVIII. Piercing oftheCottonStatesbytheArmy oftheWest.
XIX. Forcing ofthe ConfederateArmy ofNorthernVirginia into
the fortifications ofRichmondby theArmy oftheEast.
' XX. Interior affairs oftheRepublic andthe Confederacy.
XXI. TheDownfall ofthe Confederacy.
XXII. Conclusion.
Adoptingthis as a convenientgrouping ofthe facts tobe consid-
ered,I have used the reports ofthe commanding generals on each
side as abasisforthe description ofcampaigns andbattles. These
Ihave comparedwith the reports ofthe subordinate officers, often
therebyobtainingaclearercomprehension ofthefacts. Frequently
Ihavecorroboratedtheresultbysubsequentconversations orcorre-
spondence with the authors themselves. In every case Ihave pre-
servedthe originallanguage as farasIconsistentlycould,intending
that my reader shouldfeelthathe is perusing an authentichistory,
inwhichtheideas,andeventhelanguageofthechiefactorsarepre-
served.
No graphic history ofthis war canbe composedwithout consult-
ing the publications ofthe newspaper army correspondents. They
—
not onlygiveglimpses ofscenery andpassing events durablepho-
—
tographs oftransitory things but,often with extraordinary pene-
tration,divine the reasons ofmilitary movements, andinterpret the
meaning ofpolitical acts.
Ihavebeen permittedtohave accessto sources ofinformation of
the most authoritative andprivate kind. Correspondence between
eminent persons intimately concerned in the conduct ofthe war,
and documents ofthe highest value, which probably may not be-
come public for many years, have been confidentially granted for
my guidance. In the course ofthe composition ofthese volumesI
have perused manythousands ofsuch manuscriptpages.
Ithasnotbeenmyintentiontolimitmyworktoamerenarration
offacts: Ihaveendeavoredtorisetoaperceptionoftheirinter-rela-
tion. In this consists the philosophy ofhistory. The success with
whichitis accomplishedisthetrue criterionofthemeritofanyhis-
toricalcomposition.
I will here repeat the remark made in the Introduction to the
second volume,that"in the composition ofthis work Ihave been
—
INTRODUCTION. v[[
greatlyindebtedto someofthe chiefactorsinthe eventsdescribed.
I can not sufficiently express the obligations I am under to them.
—
Theyhave notonlygiven me muchimportant oftenconfidential
information,but have added invaluable counsel as to the treatment
ofthewhole subject.
"I shall esteem it a favor ifany ofmy readers who may find on
these pages errors in the narrative offacts will communicate to me
such statements as they may consider nearer to the truth. Iwill
give to their suggestions my earnest attention. Contemporaryhis
torymustpass theordealofexamination ofmanythousandeye-wit-
nesses ofthe events withwhichitdeals,andthis,indeed,constitutes
itsbestrecommendationtofuturetimes." But,ifcontemporaryhis-
toryhastoconfrontsostrictatribunal,itisnotwithoutadvantages,
for by the evidence of eye-witnesses and actors alone can many
eventsbeunderstoodandexplained.
JohnWilliam Deapee.
University,
WashingtonSquare,
NewYork.
December,1869.

————
CONTENTS.
SECTION XIV.
THECONQUEST OFTHE CENTRALEEGION.
CHAPTER LXV.
PROSPECTIVE SURVEY OF MILITARY AFFAIRS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE
PROCLAMATION OF EMANCIPATION.
— —
OpeningoftheCampaign—of18G3,17. Organization—ofColoredTroops,18. Designa-
tionsoftheArmies,19. Armiesofthe"West,20. ActsoftheArmiesoftheWest,
21to24.
CHAPTER LXVI.
ADVANCE OFTHEARMYOF THETEN—NESSEE.—THE SECONDVICKSBURG CAMPAIGN.
SIEGE AND FALL OF VICKSBURG. THE OPENING OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AC-
COMPLISHED.
—
ImportanceofVicksburg—totheConfederacy,25. Operation—sagainstVicksburg,27.
Will—iams's Canal,28. T—heBayous andYazooPass,29. Yazoo—PassExpedition,
3H0a.rdSTtieemlees',s3B3a.y——ouP,as3s1.ageTohfethPelaBnatotefripeass,si3n1g.—th—eGrBiaetrtseorni'ess,Ex3p2e.ditTihoneaMnadrcShhert-o
man'sFeint,35. Engagement atGrandGulf,36. Landing atBruinsburg,37.
BattlesofPortGibso—nandRaymond,38.—Cap—tureofJacksonCity,39.—Batt—leof
ChampionHills,41. Battl—eofBigBlack,42. Investmentof—Vicksburg,43. As-
saultsonVicksb—urg,45,46. Pemberton'sdifficulties,47to49. —SurrenderofVicks-
burg,51to53. OperationsatMilliken'sBendandHelena,54. FallofPortHud-
son,55,56.
CHAPTER LXVII.
ADVANCE OF THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND.—THE CAMPAIGN OF CHICKAMAUGA.
— —
CAPTURE OF CHATTANOOGA,APOSTERN INTO THEATLANTICREGION. THEBAT-
TLE OF CHICKAMAUGA.
— —
TopographyofChattanooga—,57,58. Positions ofRosecrans andBr—agg,60. Bragg
comp—elledtoretreat,01. RosecransadvancestoChattanooga,62. Morgan'sRaid,
63. MilitaryMovementsaroundCh—attanooga,64.—CaptureofChattanooga—,65.
Rosecrans'sAdvanceischecked,66. TheBattleofChickamauga,68to73. Rose-
cransbesiegedinChattanooga,74.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
CONSOLIDATION OF THE N—ATIONAL POWER IN THE ALLEGHANIES.—BATTLE OF
CHATTANOOGA. RAISING OF THE SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE.
— —
RosCeocrmamnas'nsdCsoenndtittiooCnhainttCahnaototgaan,oo77g.a,—7H5a.zenG'rsaNnitgohrtd-epraesdsatgoeidtsowRenlitehfe,T7e6.nnesHsoeoek,e7r9V.
——
CONTENTS.
:
— — —
Chattanoogarelieved,8—0. Longstreet senttoKnoxville, 81.—Sherman'sMarch
toChattanooga,82—to85. TheBattle ofCh—attanooga,85to96. BurnsideinEast
T10e2n.ne—ssBerea,g9g7,re9m8o.vedSifergeomofCoKnmomxavinldl,e,10939.. Sherman'sMarchtoKnoxville,100to
SECTION XV.
THE CONTESTIN THEATLANTIC EEGION.
CHAPTER LXIX.
—
ADVANCE AND DEFEAT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. THE BATTLE OF
CHANCELLOKSVILLE.
—
Effects—oftheProclamationofIndep—endence,104. Condition ofthePot—omacArmy,
105. HookerinCommand,106—. HisPlan ofCampaign,107to109. Movement
from Chancellorsville,110,111. Jackson's Plan ofattacking Hooker,112,113.
RoutofHooker'sRightWing,1—14.—DeathofStonewallJackson,115.—TheBattle
ofChancellorsville, 115 to 118. Sedgwick's Operations at Fredericksburg,118to
122.—Hooker'sRetreat,123.—Stoneman'sExpedition,123,124.
CHAPTER LXX.
— —
THE CONFEDERATE SORTIE TO THE SUSQUEHANNA. THE ADVANCE. THE BATTLE
OF GETTYSBURG.
—
Confederate Inducements to—make aSortie,125. Lee'sSortietoGetty—sburg,126.
Hooker'sMoveme—nts,127. HookerresignshisCommand,129—to131. Meadesuc-
ceedshim,132. Lee'sAdvanceinPennsylvania,133to135. TopographyofGet-
tysburg, 136,137.—The Battle ofGettysburg,firstDay,138 to143; secondDay,
143to146; thirdDay,146to152.—Lincoln'sGettysburgAddress,152.
CHAPTER LXXL
—
THE CONFEDERATE SORTIE TO THE SUSQUEHANNA. THE RETREAT.
— — —
ThtereFaitseldintoofVGie—rtgtiynsibau,rg1,561.5—3.HeRerteraecahtesoftLheee,Ra1p5i4d.an,Me1a5d7e.'—sDPiusrssautiits,fac1t5i5o.n aLteLeeer'es-
Escape,158. SubsequentMilitaryMovementsatMineRun,etc.,159.
SECTION XVI.
THEPEESSUEEONTHEATLANTIC,THEGULP,ANDTHEMISSISSIPPIFEONTS
OPTHECONFEDEEACY.
CHAPTER LXXII.
—
NAVALAND MILITARYOPERATIONS IN THEVICINITY QFCHARLESTON. DESTRUCTION
OF FORT SUMTER. MIDNIGHTASSAULT ON ITS RUINS.
—
MilitaryValue ofTurretIron-clads,160. Dupont'sBattleinCharle—stonHarbor,161
to164.—Gillmore's Operations againstFortWagner, 165 to169. Destruction of
FortSumter,169,170.—TheGovernmentwillnotRisktheFleet,170to172.—The
CONTENTS. XI
Defenses ofCharleston, 173to178.——The SwampAngelBattery,178.—Siege and
EeductionofFortWagner,179,180. MidnightAssaultonFortSumter,181to18G.
CHAPTER LXXIII.
—
NAVAL PRESSURE ON THE WATER-FRONTS OF THE CONFEDERACY. NAVAL AFFAIRS
—
ON THE OPEN SEA. THE ANGLO-CONFEDERATE CRUISERS.
ConditionoftheNavyin1863-4,18—8.—ResultsoftheBlockade,180.—O—perationson
theCoastofNorthCarolina—,190. Destruction oftheAlbemarl—e,191. TheNash-
ville andtheAtl—anta,192. AffairofthePrincessRoyal,193. O—perations on the
Mississippi,194. FarragutrunsthePortHudsonBatteries,195. Porter'sOpera-
tions, 196.—Queen oftheWest, 197.—The Indianola, 198.—Anglo-Confederate
Cruisers,199.—The Alabama, 200.—The Battle with the Kearsarge, 201,202.—
OtherAnglo-ConfederateCruisers,203.
SECTION xvn.
OPERATIONSPRELIMINARYTO,ORIN CONNECTIONWITHTHEFINAL
CAMPAIGNS.
CHAPTER LXXIV.
— —
THE MERIDIAN EXPEDITION. SALLY OF THE CONFEDERATES. THE FORT PILLOW
MASSACRE.
— —
TheMeridianExpedition,204. ForcesintheExpedition,208. ObjectsoftheExpe-
dition, 209.—Its Conduct,210 to 212.—Flight ofSlaves, 213.—Forrest's Cavalry
Sally,214.—CaptureofFortPillow,215.—Massacre oftheGarrison,216to218.—
ResultsoftheMeridianCampaign,219.
CHAPTER LXXV.
—
CLOSURE OF THE REMAINING- GULF PORT. THE BATTLE OF MOBILE HARBOR.
DefensesoftheHarborofMobile,220,221.—Farragut'sPlanofOperations,222.—The
BattleofMobileHarbor,223to227.—SurrenderoftheForts,228.
CHAPTER LXXVI.
THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION.
—
Motsuibvjeesct,fo2r30t.he—RFeradnkRliivnercEoxmpmeednictieosn,th2e29C.ampOapiignni,on2s31.of—GCraapntturaendofSFhoerrtmDaneoRunsstyh,e
232.—Battle ofSabine CrossRoa—ds, 233.—Retreat to GrandEcore—,234.—Bailey
extricates the Fleet,235 to 237—. Evacuation ofAlexandria, 238. Discreditable
CharacteroftheCampaign,239. Steele'sExpedition,240,241.
CHAPTER LXXVII.
MINOR MILITARYAFFAIRS.
— —
TheMilitaryDepartments,—242. IncidentsinVirgin—iaandNorthCarolina,243. The
FloridaExpedition,244. BattleofOlustee,245. CaptureofGalvestonbyMagru-
der,246,247.—TheBayouTech—eExpedition,248.—CaptureofPortHuds—on,249.—
Sabine River Expedition, 250. Motive oftheTexanExpeditions,251. Incidents
————
x[[ CONTENTS.
—
intheDepa—rtmentoftheTennessee,252. —IncidentsintheDepartmentoftheMis-
souri,253. Expeditions inArkansas,254.- I—nvasion ofMissouribyTrice, 255.
IncidentsintheDepartmentoftheOhio,256. IncidentsintheDepartmentofthe
Cumberland,257.—Streight'sExpedition,258.
SECTION XVIII.
PIERCINGOFTHE COTTON STATES BYTHEARMYOFTHEWEST.
CHAPTER LXXVIII.
THE CONSULTATION.
—
Elevation ofGranttobeLieuten—antGeneral,259. Receives hisCom—mission,260.
FdiuftfuerreentPlDaepnarotfmtehnetsW,ar2,63.26—1.ChaAnrgreasnginemtehnetAsrmwiythCoSmhmearnmdasn,,226624.. Ordersforthe
CHAPTER LXXIX.
—
THE CAMPAIGN ACROSS THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS. CAPTURE OF ATLANTA.
ABANDONMENT OP GEORGIA BY THE CONPEDERATE ARMY.
— —
Tompaong'rsapAhrymyof,t2h6e7.Al—leSgthraennigetsh,2o6f5J.ohnIstmopno'rstaAnrcmeyo,f2A6t8l.a—ntaD,is2s6e6n.sionSstrbeentgwteheonfDSahveirs-
a—ndJohnston,269.—Turningof—Dalton,271to274.—TurningofResaca,—274,275.
Passage ofthe—Etowah,276. Turningof—AllatoonaPass,277to279. Turning
o—fKenesaw,281. AssaultonKenesa—w,284. JohnstonforcedfromKenesa—w,285.
PassageoftheChattahoochee,287. Rousseau'sCavalryExpedition,289. John-
—stonremovedfromCommand—,andHoodsucceeds,290.——Hood'sAttacks,291,292.
De—athofMcPherson,292. Garr—ard'sExpedition,294. Stoneman'sExpedition,
295. BattleofEzraChurch,295. DissensionsofHoodandJohnston,297,298.
CharacterofJohn—ston'sRetreat,299.—SiegeofAtlanta,300,303.—Capture—ofAt-
lanta,304to307. Abandonme—ntofGeorgiabytheConfederateArmy,307. Indis-
creetAddressesofDavis,308. AnotherConfederateSortieresolvedon,309.
CHAPTER LXXX.
THE MARCH OP THE ARMY OP THE WEST PROM THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS TO
THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
—
Positionofth—eArmiesaftertheFallofAtlanta,310.—CavalryattemptsinSherman's
Raenadr,Re3s1a1c.a,3C1o3.m—meSnhceermmeanntfoofllHoowos—dH'osoSdorttoieG,ay3l1e2s.villTeh,e31C4o.n—fedSehreartmeasnatprAol—ploasteosontao
marchthroughGeorgi—a,315to317. PreparationsfortheMarch,31—8to320. Burn-
ing ofAtlanta,320. Organization ofSherman'sArmy,321,322. Conductofthe
Marc—h,323to327.—TheRailroads—ofGeorgia,327.—ItineraryoftheM—arch,329to
332. InvestmentofSavannah,333.—AssaultonFortMcAllister,33—6. Shermanin
communicationwith—theFleet,337. OccupationofSavannah,338. Resultsofthe
Campaign,339,341. MinorcontemporaneousExpeditions,342.
CHAPTER LXXXI.
— —
CONFEDERATE SORTIE TO NASHVILLE. BATTLE OF NASHVILLE. DESTRUCTION OF
THE SALLYING CONFEDERATE ARMY.
Hood'sSortie,343,344.—Strength ofhisArmy,345.—ActionatSpringHill,347.—