of the 13th.-The Confederates at Warrenton.-Stuart and his cavalry pass the night in the midst of the Federal columns.-Their escape on the 14th.-March of the Federals.-Fight at Auburn.-The Confederates' march. The environs of Bristoe Station.-Hill and Warren's encounter at Bristoe Station.-Warren's positions.-Hill's vigorous attacks.-They are repulsed.-The Southerners' defeat.-Results of the fight.-On the 15th the Federals are beyond Bull Run.-Lee prepares to retreat.-Results obtained.-Meade allows himself to be deceived by Stuart.-His cavalry crosses Bull Run on the 18th.-The infantry marching on the 19th.- Fight at Buckland Mills.-Stuart draws Kilpatrick into a trap.-The Federals defeated.-Meade returns to Warrenton Junction.-Results of Lee's campaign.-Fights at Moorefield on the 6th and 12th of September. Meade's plan for an offensive campaign.-Lee's positions.-The Federals' Confederates endeavor to surround Averell.-He escapes them, vid Cov- ington, on the 19th.-Defeat of his rear-guard.—Sufferings of the Union- ists in the mountains.-Their return....................................................... ......... THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA. BOOK I. THE WAR ON THE RAPIDAN. CHAPTER I. DOWDALL'S TAVERN. HE year 1863 was destined to have a decisive influence over THE the results of the war, which had been prosecuted for nearly two years. This was the prevailing impression on both sides, and each party was preparing with equal determination for new sacrifices. Although the Federals had gained some territory from their adversaries during the year which had just closed, they had paid dearly for these acquisitions, and the latter months of that year had been marked by so many disastrous checks to them that the restoration of the Union by force of arms seemed to be farther off than ever. It was idle to rely upon the resources of the North, upon its stubbornness, or the strength which would accrue to it by the Emancipation Proclamation; there was good reason to doubt of its success when the results obtained came to be compared with the efforts they had cost. At the East the month of December alone had seen the Army of the Potomac exhaust its strength in vain against the redoubts of Fredericksburg, whilst Sherman, on the Mississippi, experienced a bloody check before Vicksburg; finally, at the centre, the last day of the year had been marked by the sad battle of Murfreesboro', so desperately fought and yet so undecided. The Confederacy, as we have shown at the close of the preceding volume, seemed to gather strength in the midst of these VOL. III.-1 1 attacks so frequently repulsed, and it was reasonable to believe that the North would be tired out before the South became exhausted. It will be seen how the perseverance of the free States and the courage of their soldiers succeeded at last in conquering adverse fortune in the course of that year. But, before narrating the decisive events of the month of July which marked the decline of the Confederate power, we shall yet have to record more than one check to the Federal arms. We will begin by following into new conflicts the two large armies which we have left fronting each other in Virginia, separated by the Rappahannock, and which are about to measure strength once more on the banks of that river before going to seek another battlefield in Pennsylvania. We shall then return to the operations of which the Mississippi was the theatre during the first six months of 1863. These operations, which were initiated by the Federals in the midst of extraordinary difficulties and terminated by the capitulation of Vicksburg, are so well linked together that we should be loath to interrupt their recital. This will occupy a part of this volume. It was on the 26th of January that General Hooker assumed command of the Army of the Potomac. The President of the republic had not entrusted him with this command without some anxiety. The manner in which he had criticised his superior officers caused Mr. Lincoln to fear that he might not be able to secure that passive obedience from his new subordinates which is so essential to success, and of which he had himself failed to set an example. General Halleck, whom he had never spared, was secretly hostile to him. But at that time he appeared to be the only man capable of shouldering Burnside's heavy legacy; and, after giving him some good advice,* the President left him all the freedom of action which he needed. After what we have already said, the reader may form an idea of the difficulties of the task imposed upon him. It is well known in what manner this army was discouraged and demoralized: out of eighty-two thousand soldiers and nearly three thousand officers who were, not present for duty, more than one half of them had obtained * See the Appendix to this volume, Note A. |