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nation, it is the Army of the Tennessee or less moment, followed this of Sherand its gallant leaders."

We may mention, in the present connection, that, just before the capture of Vicksburg, Grant had made all his arrangements to dispatch Sherman in pursuit of the rebel Gen. J. E. Johnston, who was making threatening demonstrations in the rear. Johnston, however, thought it best to retreat without venturing a battle, and Sherman, with a strong force, promptly set out in pursuit. Despite the fatigue the troops had undergone before Vicksburg, they pursued the enemy for fifty miles and left him in full retreat, destroying at the same time the great arteries of travel in the state, and exhausting the country. Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, was evacuated on the night of the 16th of July. Our army entered it again, and the city, beautifully situate on the Pearl River, and noted for evidences of taste and wealth, was doomed to entire destruction. The railroads in every direction for twenty-five and fifty miles were torn up, the bridges were effectually destroyed, and the ruin was complete. Sherman's loss was less than 1,000; that of the rebels was much greater, Sherman having taken over 1,000 prisoners during this brief campaign.*

man's; one, under Gen. Ransom, was sent to Natchez, about 100 miles below Vicksburg, on the river, and was particularly successful in securing 5,000 head of Texas cattle, and a large amount of ammunition, which had been crossed for the benefit of the rebels under Kirby Smith. The army was allowed some needed rest, and proper supplies were furnished; after which Grant sent troops, under Steele, to co-operate with Schofield against Little Rock, Arkansas, and also a force under Ord and Herron to New Orleans, to reinforce Gen. Banks.

Thus the labor and toil of our army and navy were at last crowned with success. Port Hudson, as we have narrated in the preceding chapter, followed the fate of Vicksburg, and the Great River of the West thenceforth flowed in its entire course without let or hindrance from rebel obstructions or disloyal interference. There was now good ground to hope and expect that, ere long, rebellion and its terrible evils would be stricken out of existence.*

* Secession writers can hardly find words to express "the surprise and consternation," and "the news falling like a thunder-clap from clear skies," consequent

upon the fall of Vicksburg. "It compelled," says Pollard, "as its necessary consequence, the surrender of other posts on the Mississippi, and cut the Confederacy in twain. Its defence had involved exposure and

Various other expeditions, of more weakness in other quarters. It had about stripped

Charleston of troops; it had taken many thousand men from Bragg's army; and it had made such requi sitions on his force for the newly organized lines in Mississippi, that that general was compelled or induced, wisely or unwisely, to fall back from Tullahoma, to give up the country on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and practically to abandon the defence of Middle Tennessee."-" Third Year of the War,”

* A naval and military expedition, under Lieut. Walker and Gen. Herron, was sent, on the 13th of July, to Yazoo City. It was entirely successful. Four rebel steamers were burned, 300 prisoners taken, and 800 horses and mules captured. The gun boat De Kalb was destroyed by the explosion of a torpedo in the river. P. 70.

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CH. XXIX.]

DEFENSIVE POLICY OF THE REBELS.

319

CHAPTER XXIX.

1863.

CAMPAIGN ON THE POTOMAC: LEE'S INVASION: BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

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Army of the Potomac inactive.- Rebel defensive policy - Change — Resolve to invade the North - Lee's army moves-Hooker's course - Cavalry engagement - Hooker follows Lee-Enemy in Shenandoah Valley Winchester and Martinsburg - Our losses Government preparations — Call for 100,000 militia - Gov. Curtin's efforts - Pleasanton's encounter with Stuart - Rebel cavalry in Pennsylvania - Lee's order as to supplies, etc. - Ewell's corps crosses the Potomac — Rebel army's arrangements - Early levies on Gettysburg and York Early's self-laudation — Army of the Potomac advances to Frederick, Maryland Hooker relieved of command - Gen. Meade appointed - His address to the army. Lee's course Marches toward Gettysburg A battle near at hand - Meade moves in direction of Gettysburg - Buford's cavalry encounter Hill's troops near the town — Reynold's comes to his support Battle of July 1st- Rebel success Meade's army comes up Arrangements for the battle-Thursday, July 2d - Bat tle fought in the afternoon - Fierce assault on our left — Little Round Top secured - Ewell on our right Partial success Ewell driven back next morning - Battle of July 3d - Heavy loss during the day Terrible cannonade-Pickett's charge unsuccessful-Rebels defeated-Pursuit of Lee-Severe losses Meade's address to the army - President Lincoln appoints a day of thanksgiving- Prof. Jacobs's remarks.

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We left the Army of the Potomac, after the ill success at Chancellorsville, returned to its former quarters on the Rappahannock. This was early in May, 1863. (See p. 288.) We resume the narrative at this point, and shall 1863. prosecute it with the more plea

sure because, after the mortifying issues of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, under Burnside and Hooker, this brave army was enabled to crown its career of gallantry and endurance, under Meade, with the most important vic. tory of the war. The government authorities at Washington, as we have seen, (p. 288), promised that the army should speedily resume offensive operations in Virginia; but as it turned out, delays interposed, and nothing was attempted for several weeks. The rebel general took the initiative, and prepared to strike a blow which, if it

should be successful, would give the "Confederacy" a position and consequence which it had never at any time been able to attain, and would require additional efforts and sacrifices in order to crush the wicked plans and purposes of traitors to their native land.

The policy of defence, as the only really safe one, had been uniformly acted upon by the heads of the rebellion, except in the one instance of Lee's invasion of Maryland, in September, 1862. It was a policy exceedingly distasteful to large numbers in the army and elsewhere; Jackson had always longed to invade the North (p. 150); and there were frequent murmurings and complainings that victories, such as those at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, brought none of the fruits of victory. They only left matters as they were; whereas, it was urged, the conquerors

ought to receive the just rewards of their brave deeds, and despoil the enemy whom they had beaten on the field. "Carry the war into Africa" was the cry; "carry fire and sword into the northern states; let the people there have a taste of what war is, in the destruction of their cities, and towns, and homes, and fertile fields; it must be done; and one great success would soon drive them to give up the contest and yield to our demands." Thus the discontented and hot-headed "chivalry" fretted and fumed; and they succeeded finally in having their own way in this matter. Invasion was approved at Richmond; invasion was resolved upon; and Gen. Lee had, or thought he had, good practical reasons for making the attempt, just at this time. First, there were not only heavy losses in battle, and more or less of demoralization in the Army of the Potomac, but the various regiments whose term of service now expired insisted on returning home, which very largely depleted Hooker's force, to the extent altogether of some 30,000 men. Next, there were in the loyal states many expressions, in certain quarters, of sympathy with secession, and venomous denunciation of the government at Washington, and it was confidently thought that Lee and his men would be welcomed by numbers, as fighting in a just cause. Again, Lee was very greatly in need, especially of horses and mules, and supplies of all kinds, which, it would seem, he had only to advance into Pennsylvania and Maryland in order to obtain to any amount. Added to all this, the rebel army was in the

highest spirits, considering itself equal to any undertaking, and as it had been reinforced and thoroughly reorganised, it was in a better condition than at any previous time in its history for a bold, forward movement; it looked with a sort of contemptuous feeling upon the army which had failed at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville; it was full of enthusiasm in view of the rich rewards consequent upon a successful invasion of the hated North.*

On the 3d of June, Lee began certain movements with reference to carrying out his main design. His army having been organized into three corps, under Longstreet, Ewell, and Hill, Longstreet's corps left Fredericksburg for Culpepper Court House on that day; it was followed by Ewell's corps the day after; while Hill, with his corps, occupied the lines at Fredericksburg. By the 8th of June, Longstreet and Ewell were at Culpepper, where they found Stuart with his cavalry, which had been concentrated there some time before the main movement had been undertaken. Hooker was not inattentive to what was going on. On the 6th of June, he sent Sedgwick's corps across the Rappahannock on a reconnaissance, the result of which was, that the enemy were still at Fredericksburg in force Lee's plan was not yet discerned by Hooker. As, however, the rebel press

"Gen. Lee resolved to manoeuvre Hooker out of

Virginia, to clear the Shenandoah Valley of the troops of the enemy, and to renew the experiment of the transto the summer campaign of the enemy, calculated to disarrange it and relieve other parts of the Confede racy, but above all, aimed at the prize of a great vic tory on northern soil, long the aspiration of the south

fer of hostilities north of the Potomac. It was a blow

ern public."-Pollard's "Third Year of the War,” p. 16.

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