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Alexander St. Stephens

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CH. XIL]

REBEL CONGRESS IN SESSION.

United States in certain cases to take possession of railroads and telegraph lines, was taken up and debated. It was strongly urged, on the one hand, as a military necessity, essential in the present juncture; on the other, it was resisted, as giving the president a despotic power dangerous to place in any man's hands, The bill, however, passed, January 31st, and became a law.

1862.

On the 17th of January, the bill for the issue of treasury notes came up in the House. This was, and was felt to be, a very important measure, and it was long and ardently discussed by some of the ablest members of the House. Many denied entirely the power of Congress to make paper money a legal tender, and much eloquent declamation was bestowed upon the unconstitutionality of giving the treasury notes this character and value. But the majority in the House thought otherwise, and they argued, just as strongly, that the measure was a wise, judicious and excellent one; and, more over, as the government could not be carried on without money, it was a necessity to give it the power sought for in this bill. The bill was accordingly passed by a vote of 93 to 59. In February, the Senate took up the bill. A motion was made to strike out the legal tender clause, but it did not prevail; and the bill finally passed, February 25th, by a vote of 30 to 7.

By this important financial measure, there was authorized the issue of $150,000,000, of United States notes of denominations not less than five dollars each, not bearing interest, and creating the same a legal tender in payment of

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all debts public and private, within the United States, except duties on imports, and payments by the government of in terest on bonds and notes, which was required to be paid in coin. This new "circulation" was to be received by the government in payment for any loans which might be negotiated by the secre tary of the treasury. To fund the debt thus created and enlarged, the issue of coupon or registered bonds, to the amount of $500,000,000, bearing six per cent. interest, and redeemable at the pleasure of the United States after five years, and payable twenty years from date, was authorized. All bonds, stocks, and other securities of the United States, held within the country, were, by the act, to be exempt from taxation by or under state authority.

In connection with the proceedings of the national legislature, we may briefly note here what the Confederate Congress, at Richmond, was doing at this time. The ten states actually in rebellion were represented; there were also persons professing to represent Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri. Vice-president Stephens presided in the Senate; Mr. Bocock, of Virginia, was elected speaker of the House. All the important measures in this and subsequent sessions of the Confederate Congress were discussed and determin ed on with closed doors, and no reports of speeches or votes were made public. Occasionally, however, an open session was held, and the views and opinions of some of the members became more or less known.

1862.

Some members of the rebel congress urged the "carrying the war into

and were very severe upon the policy of defence alone.* Others thought that the government knew best what to do, and were fully competent to manage matters, and, so they were in favor of

The rebel General Jackson advocated an invasion

Africa," as the only pathway to success, leaving the entire conduct of the war in the government's hands. Strong resolutions were passed to continue the contest without flinching; and the cot ton question, and how to deal with it, excited long and sharp debate. Gen. Huger and J. P. Benjamin were censured for the defeat at Roanoke. Appropriations were made for naval purposes; the conscription act was passed, April 16th, (see p. 117); England and other powers were spoken of with disgust, because of their not recognizing the "Confederacy," etc. On the 21st of April, the session closed, and the rebel congress adjourned to meet again in August.

of the North as the speediest and most effective way in which to gain southern independence. His plan was,

before the North had time to recover from the disaster

at Manassas, to march into Pennsylvania, winter at Harrisburg, and in the spring of 1862 advance directly

upon Philadelphia. He was very confident of success,

and proposed his plan to the Richmond authorities, who gave it very curt treatment. Mr. Cooke says that Jackson never approved the defensive policy, and that "invasion of the North was his possessing thought, and became the dream of his life."-See Cooke's "Life of

Jackson," pp. 86-88.

CHAPTER XIII.

1862.

NAVAL OPERATIONS: CAPTURE OF NEW ORLEANS.

Fort Pulaski - Preparations for bombarding it -- Gen. Gilmore's order Fire opened on the fort- Surrendered the next day - Rifled ordnance — Privateer Nashville slips out - Fort Macon- Assault determined onBatteries erected - Surrender demanded - Fire opened - Fort taken - Gen. Reno's advance upon Camden, or South Mills-Blockade of the Mississippi - Importance of opening the river and taking New Orleans -Ship Island occupied - Value of this spot - Gen. Phelps and his proclamation - Biloxi occupied — Other troops under Butler arrive, some 14,000 in all-Farragut in charge of naval part of the expedition — Size and extent of his force - Rebel preparations - Forts Jackson and St. Philip - Strength of the forts— The mortar flotilla under Porter - Bombardment begun - Chain across the river broken After six days steady firing, Farragut determines to run past the forts - Two divisions of six gunboats, one for each fort - Farragut's statements-Great panic in New Orleans Farragut sails up the river and anchors opposite the city-Excitement and behavior of the authorities and people - Mayor Monroe's letter - United States flag hoisted on the mint - Pulled down by a man named Mumford - The man afterwards hung-Further Both forts surrenderedoperations against the forts - Butler and his troops Infamous conduct of rebel naval officer - Immense importance of the capture of New Orleans - Value to the cause of the Union — Severity of the blow to the rebels.

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FORT PULASKI, of whose position we have spoken, on a previous page (see p. 125), is a very important fortification at the mouth of the Savannah River. It has five sides or faces, including the

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CH. XIII.]

CAPTURE OF FORT PULASKI.

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The next morning, April 10th, at sunrise, Hunter sent an officer, under flag of truce, to demand the surrender of Fort Pulaski, in order to save needless effusion of blood, etc. The rebel commander answered briefly but spiritedly; "in reply, I can only say, that I am here to defend the fort, not to surrender

At the time of the siege the fort con his general order, April 9th, with res tained forty-eight guns, of which pect to the bombardment. Carefully twenty bore upon the batteries on estimating the strength of his batteries, Tybee. and also the work they were to perform, Gen. Gilmore, who had superintend- his directions were minute in relation ed the engineering operations thus far, to the time of firing, the charge of was now ordered to Big Tybee Island, powder, and the like. to complete the investment by stopping the water communication from the south, and to commence operations for the bombardment of the fort. A battery on a bulk, in a creek forming the inner boundary of Tybee Island, served the purpose of cutting off rebel intercourse from below. On the 21st of February, ordnance and stores began it." At eight o'clock the first shot was to arrive in Tybee Roads; and from fired, and in the course of an hour that time until the 9th of April, all the all the batteries were in operation. troops on Tybee Island, consisting of Steadily through the day, and partially several regiments of infantry and ar- through the night, the bombardment tillery, were constantly engaged in proceeded, our men, though inexperilanding and transporting ordnance, enced in the use of artillery, doing exordnance stores, and battery materials, cellent service; the rebel firing was making fascines and roads, etc. With accurate and well sustained, without, immense labor, patiently gone through however, doing any injury to either our with by the men, eleven batteries, hav- men or the works. an armament of thirty-six large and very heavy pieces in all, were placed on the northern side of the island, at points from a mile to two and a half miles from the landing place; the batteries were also at distances from the fort varying from 3,400 yards to 1,650, the Parrott and James guns being at the shortest range.

Early on the 11th of April, the batteries were again in full operation, aided materially by a detachment of sailors from the Wabash, then in the harbor. The rifled guns were particularly effec tive, and penetrated deeply into the brick face of the wall. By noon, the fort was so severely injured, that Benham was preparing to take it by a storming party, when a little before two P.M., a white flag was raised and Gilmore received the fort, and allowed

Gen. Hunter, who, March 31st, succeeded Gen. T. W. Sherman in command of the department of the South, and the firing ceased. also Gen. Benham, commanding the surrender of the northern district, were present and honorable terms to the officers and men superintending operations. Gilmore, found therein. Forty-seven guns, large who was in immediate charge, issued quantities of stores, ammunition, etc.,

and 360 prisoners were taken; and only slip out, on the night of March 17th, one of our men was killed.*

The scientific skill displayed in preparing and carrying through this attack brought prominently into notice the value of the new rifled ordnance, in all cases of a similar kind. The opinion was freely expressed, by Hunter and others, that "no works of stone or brick can resist the impact of rifled artillery of heavy calibre."

Great apprehensions were felt in Savannah, that an immediate advance would be made upon the city; but owing to the inadequacy of force, the Union commander was unable to do more than hold what had been acquired. The blockade, however, was thenceforth effective, so far as Savannah was concerned.

About two weeks after the capture of Fort Pulaski, another marked success was attained. On a previous page (see p. 120), we have recorded General Burnside's operations on the coast of

North Carolina, and the taking 1862. of Newbern, in March, 1862. Beaufort, which was only forty miles distant by railroad, was next of importance to be secured. By the possession of Newbern, Beaufort was effectually cut off from communication by land with the interior, and it was even reported, soon after the taking of Newbern, that the rebels had burned the privateer Nashville, and blown up Fort Macon. The story was in advance of the facts. The Nashville managed to

* It was considered noteworthy, that the day on which Fort Pulaski was surrendered was the same on which, one year before, the rebels had opened fire upon Fort Sumter, and thus inaugurated the great rebellion.

and escaped to Georgetown, South Carolina, and Fort Macon was not given up without an attempt to hold it. This fortification was a regularly constructed work, hexagonal in form, mounting two tiers of guns-one in casemated bombproof, the other en barbette. It is situated on the eastern extremity of Bogue Island, in full command of the channel to Beaufort, distant a mile and three quarters across the bay in a north-easterly direction.

On the 19th of March, Gen. Parke, in compliance with orders to that effect, advanced with his brigade towards Beaufort. The railway had been almost destroyed by the rebels, so that the passage of the troops was partly by water and partly by marching overland. The rebels retired within the fort on the approach of Parke's brigade. Surrender was demanded, but refused; whereupon, siege material was brought from Newbern, and ferried across the shallow water to a point some four or five miles west of Fort Macon, on the island or spit of sand on which the fort was built. The marshy character of the ground to be passed over in order to reach the place where the batteries were to be erected, rendered the work toilsome as well as tedious; but it proceeded with as much rapidity as was practicable. Three batteries were completed, within 1,200 and 1,400 yards of the fort, and were furnished with heavy armament, especially three Par rott guns, rifled, which kind of ordnance, as we have already noted, proved effec tive in the very highest degree.

Burnside, on the 23d of April, arrived

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