BOMBARDMENT OF FORT PICKENS.

211

while to seize the pirate when she put to sea, was informed by the British government that she could not leave in pursuit till the rebel steamer had twenty-four hours start, thus securing the safety of the latter. This privilege was accorded to all belligerent vessels when forced by stress of weather or want of supplies into a neutral port, and it must be granted to the southern rover. This Shylock view of legal right, without any regard to moral obligation, exasperated the American people, and made many wish for peace at home that they might have a war with England, and teach her that the country would brook no such insults, though committed under technical forms.

With the foreign war cloud still resting on the horizon, the last month of autumn drew to a close. McClellan, fearing the effect of an idle camp life on his army, grew more strict respecting grog shops and intemperance, and issued an order requiring the observance of the Sabbath, and a regular attendance of the troops on the services of the chaplains.

South, no especial advantage had been gained. Men ceased to talk of an advance from Port Royal, inland, and the country seemed occupied with the question, what should be done with the vast crowd of slaves claiming our protection there. For a while they were employed in gathering the cotton; but some permanent system was needed, and yet no one seemed able to devise a satisfactory one. Meanwhile the little cotton that had been seized was forwarded to New York; but where one bale passed along the coast in transports, fifty lighted the midnight heavens with flames kindled by the owners to prevent them from falling into the hands of the hated "Yankees."

On the twenty-second of the month, the long-looked-for attack of fort Pickens on the rebel batteries opposite, took place. These extended from the navy yard to fort McRae, a distance of four miles, and were mounted with heavy ord

212

THE ROYAL YACHT.

nance. The steamers Niagara and Richmond took part in the engagement, and all day long till dark, thunder answered thunder, shaking the solid land with the terrific explosions. The next morning it was resumed, but the ships took very little part in the action, as a change of wind had made the water too shoal to allow them to approach within effective range. Fort McRae was silenced and the navy yard at Warrenton and other buildings set on fire, making a frightful conflagration.

The enemy's winter quarters were evidently badly broken up and his works deranged, but no serious loss was inflicted on him. On the other hand, the Richmond had received an ugly shot between wind and water, which killed one and wounded seven, and fort Pickens showed the marks of heavy pounding, but no breach was made in its walls. One killed and six wounded was the only loss sustained by the garrison from the enemy's fire.

For nine months both parties had been occupied in making their defenses so complete that but slight results could be expected, from a mutual cannonade, though it was of the most terrific kind.

Previous to this, on the seventh, a gallant exploit had been performed by Lieutenant Jouett of the frigate Santee, off Galveston harbor, in burning the rebel schooner Royal Yacht. Taking with him two launches, he set out just before midnight, and pulling for seven miles through an intricate channel and against a head sea, wind, and tide, boarded her and set her on fire. Two officers were killed and six men wounded in this daring expedition, the chief object of which was the destruction of the man-of-war steamer General Rusk, lying under the Pelican fort, if they could approach her without being discovered. Failing to do this, they were compelled to abandon the desperate undertaking, and content themselves with the destruction of the schooner.

CHAPTER XV.

DECEMBER, 1861.

OPENING OF CONGRESS-ASPECT OF AFFAIRS-PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE-THE QUESTION OF FINANCE-TAX BILL-ARMY AND NAVAL FORCE OF THE COUNTRY-DRAFTING IN THE SOUTH-THE IROQUOIS AND SUMTER-POPE AND HALLECK AT THE WEST-THE INDIANS TAKE PART IN THE REBELLION -A BATTLE BETWEEN THEM-AFFAIRS IN MISSOURI-BATTLE OF MILFORDGENERAL PRENTISS-FIGHT AT MOUNT ZION-FIght at rowletT'S STATION, KENTUCKY-WESTERN VIRGINIA-BATTLE OF CAMP ALLEGHANY,

N the beginning of December, public attention was di

in field to

opening of Congress. It met under peculiar circumstances; for the army it had in the summer authorized the President to raise, had effected comparatively nothing-the young commander of whom so much had been expected, still remained on the Potomac-the Capital was blockaded and beleaguered the vast sums it had voted for the war had proved to be but a drop in the bucket, and even much of that had been recklessly squandered-the President had assumed vast and unprecedented powers, and must either be sustained or condemned-our foreign relations were in a precarious state-the country dissatisfied and agitated, and the Cabinet itself believed to be discordant. To add to this gloomy state of affairs, there was not a leading mind in either branch of Congress to whom the country could look with confidence.

For the first time in the history of the Republic, the west was the controlling power, and would its action be prudent and conservative or rash and radical, was a question that each one felt to be of vital importance. The President's

message was calm and confident, but like all his other state. papers, not belligerent enough to suit the popular feeling.

Congress had appointed a committee at its previous ses sion to investigate the stupendous frauds that had crept into the contract system, of which Mr. Van Wyck was chairman; and startling developments were expected to be made in its report. A system of finance was to be adopted that would test the resources of the country to the utmost. Besides all this, a radical element was sure to be present in great force, demanding an immediate act of emancipation as the only way to terminate the rebellion, of which slavery was declared to be the root and cause. Fears were also entertained that Congress might propose to take the conduct of the war into its own hands, or at least force the President from the policy he had adopted. It, however, (much to the relief of the fearful,) showed no inclination to embarrass the administration. The subject of finance at once took the lead of all other questions. Congress had shown itself willing enough to vote any sums that might be wanted to crush the rebellion, but when it cast about for the ways and means by which to raise the money, it was staggered.

A high tariff would not furnish a moiety of the amount needed. A direct tax sufficiently heavy could not be levied, for the Constitution required that all direct taxation should be laid according to representation; and to levy a tax ac cording to population, and not according to property, would be very unequal between the eastern and western statesindeed, intolerably oppressive. The government could not borrow money in such vast amounts without a better security than the revenue of the customs or its simple note of hand. In this dilemma, Congress was forced at length to see that it must resort to internal taxation. It was very hard to confess that we must adopt a system that had beg gared the old world, but there was no help for it. It was

ESCAPE OF THE SUMTER.

215

therefore resolved to issue a hundred and fifty millions in treasury notes, and perfect a tax bill that should secure the interest on the amount. This was not only unpalatable, but novel legislation, and the committee appointed to bring in a tax bill achieved but poor success in perfecting it. But having resolved on the measure as a necessity, they went to work with such desperate energy and thoroughness that they soon presented a system of taxation that quite eclipsed the English mode, and made the assessors' duties partake very much of the nature of domiciliary visits. It was very evident that such a bill, before it could pass both houses of Congress, would receive very many modifications.

The reports of the Secretaries of War and the Navy showed that the government had in service for the suppres sion of the rebellion, six hundred and eighty-two thousand nine hundred and seventy-one soldiers, divided as follows: volunteer militia, six hundred and forty-two thousand six hundred and thirty-seven; regular army, twenty thousand three hundred and thirty-four; seamen and marines, twenty-two thousand. The rebels, alarmed at the immense force we were arraying against them, and finding that they could not raise one to match it by the volunteer system, resorted to drafting, which caused much dissatisfaction at

the south.

In the beginning of this month, news was received of the escape of the privateer Sumter from the port of Martinique, where she had been a long time blockaded by the Iroquois, captain Palmer commanding. The country had thought she was caught at last, and when it was told she had got safely to sea again, the deepest mortification was felt, and Palmer was bitterly denounced on every side. The government shared in the general indignation, and superseded him in the command of the vessel. On after investigation, however, it was ascertained that he was not to blame. The authorities