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the Union army, panic-stricken, fled toward Washington in wild disorder. The Southern army had suffered so severely in this short and sharp battle that their generals were unable to push their advantage by an attack upon the capital. The Union soldiers were quickly rallied, reorganized, and put to further drill in preparation for the events which must follow.

560. A New General. - General Winfield Scott had reached an extreme age, and it became necessary that a new commander should

General George B. McClellan.

(From a negative in the possession of the U. S.

Government.)

be selected. General George B. McClellan, who had won distinction by his movements in western Virginia, was selected as commander of the United States forces, which soon came to be known as the Army of the Potomac. General McClellan had been educated at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and came to the command with a great popularity surrounding his name. He at once set himself to the difficult task of organizing a great army.

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The battle of

561. Preparations. Bull Run opened the eyes of the people both north and south. It became apparent to all that a great war was inevitable. No "ninety days' campaign" would settle the contest. Each party immediately began preparations for the long and desperate struggle. The Union army rapidly increased until it numbered one hundred and fifty thousand men, and became the largest and finest army that had ever been raised in the United States. General McClellan, with energy and skill, undertook to drill and prepare it for active service. The Confederate armies in Virginia were also increased, and were set to work to fortify their capital, Richmond, against the advance of the Federal troops.

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562. The Battle of Ball's Bluff. On the 21st of October a force of about two thousand Union soldiers under General Stone was thrown across the Potomac at Ball's Bluff, not far from Leesburg. They

were quickly attacked by superior numbers of the Confederates under General Evans, and actually driven into the river. Many were drowned, more were shot, and scarcely any of their number reached the opposite bank. Colonel Baker, who was a United States senator from Oregon, was among the killed.

CHAPTER LXXII.

THE WAR IN THE WEST.

563. Missouri. During the first year of the war active operations in the West were chiefly confined to the State of Missouri. In the southern part of the State many citizens sided with the South; but in the whole State a large majority were upon the Union side. Governor Jackson had strong sympathies with the Confederates, and a convention was called to consider the question of secession. The Convention refused to pass the ordinance, and the governor then determined to maintain a position of armed neutrality for the State. This was prevented by Captain Lyon, who was in command of the Union forces at St. Louis. He seized the United States arsenal, and put to rout the State militia.

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564. Battles. Several engagements ensued with varying success. The Union force at Carthage was defeated in July by the Missouri troops under command of General Price and General McCulloch. In August the Southern army gained a victory at Wilson's Creek. In this battle General Lyon was killed. In September General Price captured Lexington, and took as prisoners a large number of Union soldiers. General Fremont (T 528), now in command, drove Price southward as far as Springfield. General Hunter succeeded Fremont, and the Union army fell back to St. Louis. Afterward General Halleck took command, and drove Price out of the State into Arkansas. In November General U. S. Grant (¶ 656), after several successful engagements, made an attack upon a Confederate force, which had crossed over from Kentucky under command of General Pillow. This battle occurred at Belmont, and resulted favorably to the Confederates.

565. Kentucky. In Kentucky an attempt was made to hold the State in a position of armed neutrality; but the effort failed, as it had in the case of Missouri. The large majority of the people in Kentucky were strongly Union in sentiment, and all efforts to ally this border State with the Southern cause failed. The Confederates now held a strong line of fortifications extending from the Cumberland Gap to the Mississippi River. They had fortified Cumberland Gap, Bowling Green, and Columbus, making a line through the entire length of the State of Kentucky. They had also fortified Fort Henry on the Tennessee River, Fort Donelson on the Cumberland, and Island No. 10 and Fort Pillow on the Mississippi, all in Tennessee.

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566. A. S. Johnston. The Confederate forces of the West were placed under the command of General Albert Sidney Johnston. His effort was to protect the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, which connected the country west of the Mississippi with the entire eastern section of the Confederacy, and which enabled the Southern army to supply themselves with beef from Texas. By his fortifications on the Mississippi he intended to keep that river closed, so that the Union army could not penetrate the heart of the Confederacy with their gunboats.

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General A. S. Johnston.

(From a photograph taken at the age of 57, .n the possession of his son, Col. Preston Johnston.)

567. Forts Henry and Donelson. Early in 1862 General Grant, with a strong land force, assisted by Commodore Foote, with a fleet of gunboats, captured Fort Henry after an hour's fighting. The garrison, however, made their escape, and retreated to Fort Donelson. Grant, having sent the gunboats up the Cumberland, marched his army across, and attacked this strong fortification. The battle lasted three days. Grant's attack was so vigorous that the garrison attempted to break through the lines and escape to Nashville. They were driven back within their intrenchments.

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568. Surrender of Donelson. Generals Floyd and Pillow, who were in command of the Confederate forces, consulting their own safety, made good their escape, leaving General Buckner in command. Early on the morning of February 16th, 1862, Buckner sent a flag of truce to Grant, asking what terms of capitulation he would accept. Without hesitation or a moment's delay, Grant replied laconically, "No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender. I propose to move immediately upon your works.” After this U. S. Grant was often interpreted "Unconditional Surrender Grant."

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Buckner surrendered with fifteen thousand men, and the Confederate line of defence was thus broken.

569. The Result.-Nashville was soon occupied by the Union forces. Columbus and Bowling Green were evacuated, and occupied by the Northern army. The Confederates now fell back to Corinth. This important place is just within the northern limits of Mississippi, and was an important railroad centre. Strong forces were soon collected at this place, under command of A. S. Johnston and Beauregard. The next move of the Union army was toward Corinth.

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570. The Battle of Shiloh. General Grant had been placed in command of a new military district called the Department of

Western Tennessee. He pushed his army up the Tennessee River, and posted it near Pittsburg Landing, at Shiloh. Here he awaited the arrival of General Buell with reinforcements. The Confederate army under A. S. Johnston and Beauregard numbered about forty thousand men. These generals determined to rout Grant's army before Buell could arrive. They attacked Grant early on Sunday morning, April 6th. The assault was sudden and unex

General Lew Wallace, who was at Crump's Landing with five thousand men, moved at the sound of firing toward his proper place A courier announced the peril of the main army, and ordered him to Pittsburg Landing, where he arrived at dusk, after a march of eighteen miles, through woods and swamp. At the time of Johnston's mortal wound and the temporary confusion before Bragg restored order, Wallace's fresh division seems to have had the destiny of the day, if not of the Confederate army, in its grasp.

pected, but the Union forces fought desperately. They were, however, compelled to fall back to the river, after a stubborn re

Admiral David G. Farragut. (From a negative in the possession of the U. S. Government.)

sistance during the entire day. General A. S. Johnston, who was one of the ablest generals in the Southern army, was killed in this engagement. His death was a severe loss to the Confederacy. Buell's army arrived the following night. Early Monday morning the Union general ordered an advance, and attacked the Confederates. Late in the day Beauregard withdrew his army to the intrenchments at Corinth.

571. The Results of the Battle. The first day's fight clearly gave the victory to the Confederates. They captured many prisoners and large The second day was favor

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stores.

able to the Union forces, and the Confederates, though resisting obstinately, were driven from the field. This was the most important battle which had yet been fought west of Virginia. General Halleck now took command of the Union army, and pushed forward steadily against the Confederates. Beauregard retreated from Corinth, and Halleck took possession of that place on the 30th of

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