three thousand cavalry, and from sixty to eighty pieces of artillery. Almost simultaneously Grierson or Smith began the march through North Mississippi with about ten thousand cavalry and mounted infantry. Mobile, at the same time, was threatened by water with the enemy's fleet of gunboats, and by land from Pensacola and Pas cagoula. As Sherman advanced upon Meridian, the railroad-centre of the Southwestern department, Gen. Polk evacuated the place and retired to Demopolis in Alabama, leaving the enemy in a country of pine barrens, where subsistence was scant and his communications were in constant danger of being cut. At this conjuncture of affairs, the co-operating column of the enemy was defeated by Forrest, and the disastrous retreat of Grierson and Smith upon Memphis was decisive of the campaign. Their retreat naturally interrupted Sherman's communications all along the line of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and deprived his army of an important source of supply, without which he was incapable of maintaining his ground. Worse still, the falling back of these two officers took away from him the cavalry force upon which he relied to prosecute his operations. He was left to retrace his steps in disappointment and disgrace, and retire to Vicksburg.

In a congratulatory order to his army, Gen. Polk said: "The concentration of our cavalry on the enemy's column of cavalry from West Tennessee formed the turning point of the campaign. That concentration broke down his only means of subsisting his infantry. His column was defeated and routed, and his whole force compelled to make a hasty retreat. Never did a grand campaign, inaugurated with such pretension, terminate more ingloriously. With a force three times that which was opposed to its advance, they have been defeated and forced to leave the field with a loss of men, small-arms and artillery."

When Sherman carried his operations into North Georgia, and Gen. Johnston required all the force that could be brought to him, Lieut. Gen. Polk was sent, with his troops, to form the left wing of the army. At Dalton, and again at Resaca, Polk placed his troops with great skill, and in the retreat did effective service. It was in this memorable retreat towards Atlanta, that he lost his life.

He was killed at Marietta, June 14th, 1864, while making a telescopic observation of the Federal position. A projectile struck

his left arm, passing through his body, killing him instantly. The body was terribly mangled; the right arm was carried off; and the enemy afterwards curiously noticed on the spot, where the ill-fated commander had fallen, a large spatter of blood. The ghastly remains were taken to Atlanta, where funeral services were performed.

While it can scarcely be claimed that the military reputation of Leonidas Polk takes rank with the first of the war, he yet proved an able and brave commander, and his memory will be cherished on many accounts. His men were devotedly attached to him, not only for his humane and generous character, but they were filled with admiration of his noble courage and personal daring. No commander ever risked his person more in battle, or appealed more strongly to the sympathies of his soldiers.

In conversation he was always genial and agreeable. As a friend and companion he had not his equal. His manner had an indescribable charm, while at the same time it was commanding.

As an instance of his readiness in conversation and pleasant retort, the following is related: While stationed at Columbus, Kentucky, he met the Federal Gen. Buford under flag of truce, the rendezvous taking place on board a steamer in the river. Gen. Buford said that he had a toast to propose which all could drink, and then gave "the memory of George Washington." Gen. Polk drank it, adding "the first Rebel."

As an illustration of the piety and earnestness of his character, as well as the charm of his manner, it is related that after having in the course of his travels stayed at the house of a gentleman, previously unknown to him, as the Bishop drove from the gate his host remarked, "I now realize what the apostle meant when he said 'some have entertained angels unawares.'"

Only the Sunday previous to his death, stopping at a poor cabin, he sat drying himself by the fire. Children all loved him instinctively; a little girl of two years, far from clean, approached him; he took her on his knee and began singing to her some nursery song-she smiled up in his face and he said to one of his aides: "I wonder if the mother would be offended if I washed this child's face-I do so love to kiss the innocents."

His patriotism was beautiful and affecting. Col. Freemantle, an English traveller, who visited his camp in 1863, writes: “Gen.

Polk told me an affecting story of a poor widow, in humble cir cumstances, whose three sons had fallen in battle, one after the other, until she had only one left, a boy of sixteen. So distressing was her case that the General went himself to comfort her. She looked steadily at him, and replied to his condolences by saying, 'As soon as I can get a few things together, General, you shall have Harry too.' The tears came into General Polk's eyes as he related this incident, which he concluded by saying, 'How can you subdue such a nation as this?""

Perhaps we may thank God that he did not live to realize the answer to this question.

MAJ.-GEN. JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE.

CHAPTER LV.

His life anteriour to the War.-His career in Congress.-Elected Vice-President of the United States.-Democratic candidate for the Presidency, 1860.-The electoral and popular vote of that canvass.-Address to the people of Kentucky.-Last service in the United States Senate.-Bold speech there against the Administration. Remarks upon Andrew Johnson's resolution.-Excited debate with Senator Baker.-Flight of Mr. Breckinridge from Kentucky.-His farewell counsels to her people.-Appointed Brigadier-General.-Gallantry at Shiloh.-His expedition against Baton Rouge.-Causes of its failure.-At Murfreesboro.-"The Bloody Crossing of Stono River."-At Chickamauga.-Memorial of the Western commanders to the Richmond Congress.-Gen. Breckinridge's command in Southwestern Virginia. He is made Secretary of War.-Accompanies President Davis in his flight from Richmond.-Last Council of the Confederate leaders.-Gen. Breckinridge escapes from the country.-Reflections upon his services and character.

BEFORE the war of the Confederates the name of John C. Breckinridge was not only one of historical distinction, but he had been immediately conspicuous as Democratic candidate for the Presidency in the great political contest that preceded the appeal to arms. His life was already full of public honours. At the age of thirty-five he had served his country abroad; had been a legislator in his State and in the national legislature; had been tendered the representation of the Republic in Europe; had been elevated to the second office in the gift of the people, and now stood as candidate for the supreme honours of the Presidential Chair.

He was born near Lexington, Kentucky, January 16, 1821. He received his education at Centre College, enjoyed the benefits of some months at Princeton, and after going through the requisite law studies at Transylvania Institute, was admitted to the bar at

Lexington. Hoping to find a fruitful field in which to sow his knowledge, he emigrated to the Northwest; but after something less than two years spent in Burlington, Iowa, he returned to his native State, and took up his abode at Lexington. He entered immediately on the practice of his profession, and met with a well-merited success.

The trump of war, however, excited his military ardour, and the result was creditable service as a major of infantry during the Mexican war. He also distinguished himself as the counsel for Maj.-Gen. Pillow, in the celebrated court-martial of that officer.

On the return of Major Breckinridge from Mexico, he was elected to the Kentucky Legislature, and created so favorable an impression as a legislator that he was elected to Congress from the Ashland District, and being re-elected, held his seat from 1851 to 1855.

Devoted attention to his legislative duties marked his career in Congress, and his manly eloquence impressed all political parties and compelled their admiration. He introduced (on the 30th June, 1852) the resolutions of respect to the memory of Henry Clay, who had died the day previous, and pronounced an eloquent and feeling eulogy, laying the fulness of his young heart on the grave of the great Kentuckian. It was fitting occasion, in view of Clay's great and pure life, to speak of "the mere legerdemain of politics." "If I were to write his epitaph," said Breckinridge, "I would inscribe, as the highest eulogy, on the stone which shall mark his resting-place, 'Here lies a man who was in the public service for fifty years and never attempted to deceive his countrymen.""

In debate, Mr. Breckinridge was sharp and effective. With reference to the Compromise Measures of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Law, Mr. Giddings, of Ohio, denied that the Federal Government had power to pass laws by which "to compel our officers and people to seize and carry back fugitive slaves." Mr. Breckinridge briefly pushed him into an enunciation of his most extreme doctrine and then said, "Against the impotent ravings of this baffled fanaticism I place the plain words of the Constitution. To his coarse and offensive language I have no reply."

With the debate on the Nebraska bill, in 1854, Thirty-third Congress, Mr. Breckinridge's name is intimately woven. It was