Chapter XXV: The Second Phase of the War

The previous period, though abounding in battles, so-called, were really skirmishes of detached bodies without any well defined plan. It covered much of the surface of all the Border States, but especially Virginia and Missouri, and was a trial of bravery and strategy in which both parties learned how to fight, and of what metal their opponents were made.

The Second Period covered about eleven months—from the advance of the Federal armies on the South in West and East, in Feb., to the close of the year.

This period is defined in its commencement, by the surrounding of the southern territory on nearly all sides by the Union forces, both naval and military; and the inauguration of aggressive movements both by sea and land; and in its close by the failure of the two southern Generals, Bragg in the West, and Lee in the East, in the endeavor to break through this beleaguering line. It was an immense and desperate conflict.

In the West it began by the attack of Grant on Fts. Henry and Donelson, followed up by the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and various other operations in Tennessee and Mississippi; the advance of McClellan on Richmond, and his campaign in the Peninsula, his failure and return to Washington; the strengthening of the Southern Army, and the advance of Lee northward into Maryland and his defeat there. The disasters to the Union army in Virginia served to check the successes of the Western Army under Grant, Sherman, Buell, Rosecranz and others; the Confederate forces in the West were increased under Bragg, who checked the advance of U. S. troops eastward at Chattanooga, and he himself assumed the offensive, by invading Kentucky. He was compelled to retreat again to Chattanooga. Thus there was an alternation of great successes and great reverses on both sides.

The Union Army commenced with about 600,000 men, and the Southern with about 400,000. They both largely added to these during the campaign.

Meanwhile the navy was not idle. A foothold was gained in South Carolina, and in North Carolina, as well as at Norfolk, Virginia, the mouth of the Mississippi was opened by Admiral Farragut, and New Orleans captured. The compression of a vast naval and land force was applied in all directions, even west of the Mississippi. Missouri had been quieted by driving the organized forces into the border of Arkansas, and inflicting on them a heavy blow at Pea Ridge. This, however, was not followed up; the disasters to the Union cause in Virginia, and the rebound of the Confederates in East Tennessee, requiring concentration.

The South had shown the most determined bravery, and great steadiness in disaster; and activity, and ability in making the most of circumstances. The speed with which she collected other levies and armies and used them within the campaign greatly impressed the authorities and people of the Federal government. They were convinced that the blacks left at home to till the ground, or employed in the fortifications and other labor of the war, contributed much to the strength of the South; enabling them to concentrate all their resources on a given point with extreme rapidity, and to use all their best fighting material. After so vast an outlay, to see their immense armies defied and the Northern States threatened with invasion was discouraging. Hitherto slavery had not been interfered with much, in deference to the sentiment in the Border States, and the views of the democratic party. The Union administration determined to weaken the South by abstracting as much as possible of the slave element from it and to use it themselves. The issue of the Proclamation of Emancipation marks a Third Phase of the War.

1862.

Feb. 3—The Federal government decides to treat crews of
privateers taken in arms, not as pirates, but as prisoners of
war.

” 5—Jesse D. Bright, of Indiana, expelled from the U. S.
Senate.

” 6—Com. Foote, acting in concert with Gen. Grant, advances
up the Tennessee river in Ky., and captures Fort Henry.

” 8—Gen. Burnside and Com. Goldsborough capture forts, forces
and war material on Roanoke Island, in Albemarle Sound, N. C.

” 10—Gunboats of Confederate government taken or destroyed.

” 12—Gen. Grant invests Ft. Donelson, on Cumberland river, Ky.

” 13—Gen. Curtis advances to Springfield, Mo.

U. S. Congress determine to construct 20 iron clad gunboats.

” 15—Bowling Green, Ky., evacuated by Southern forces.

” 16—Gen. Grant captures Ft. Donelson, with 13,300 prisoners.

” 18—Gen. Curtis drives Confederates out of Missouri into
Arkansas.

Confederate Congress assemble at Richmond Va.

” 19—Jefferson Davis and A. H. Stevens elected permanent
President and Vice-President of Confederate States for six
years.

” 21—Defeat of Union forces at Clarksville, New Mexico.

” 23—Nashville, Tenn., occupied by Union forces.

” 27—Columbus, on the Mississippi, in Ky., evacuated by
Confederates.

Mar. 2—Severe encounter between Union gunboats and
Confederate battery at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. Union
success.

” 3—Gen. Beauregard assumes command of Southern army in
Mississippi.

” 6-8—Gen. Curtis defeats Gen. McCullough at Pea Ridge, Ark.
Curtis’ army 22,000, McCullough’s 35,000. McCullough killed.

” 9—First trial of Monitors. The formidable Merrimac, a
Confederate iron clad vessel, conquered by the Monitor.

” 11—Gen. McClellan’s command confined to the army of the
Potomac.

” 12—Com. Dupont takes possession of Jacksonville, Florida.

” 13—Confederates evacuate New Madrid, Mo., in haste, leaving
$1,000,000 of military stores.

” 14—Newburn, N. C., captured by Gen. Burnside. Immense
stores taken.

” 18—Confederate fortifications at Acquia Creek, Va.,
evacuated.

” 23—Battle of Winchester, Va. Southern forces defeated.

” 28—Fight at Union Ranch, New Mexico. Union troops 3,000,
Texans 1,100. Result undecided.

Apr. 6-7—Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh. First
day’s battle fought by Beauregard and Johnston, Confederate
Generals, with 40,000 available troops, by Gen. Grant with
33,000. He was supported by gunboats in the Tennessee river.
Attack and defense desperate, and the slaughter fearful. The
second day Beauregard had no more than 20,000 effective men.
Grant was reinforced by Buell, and his effective force was
45,000. It was great honor to Union troops not to recognize
defeat on the 6th, and highly creditable to Confederates
to make a desperate stand and inflict an immense loss on
Federals on the 7th. They were almost annihilated but
retreated without immediate pursuit.

” 8—Island No. 10, Mississippi river, captured.

” 11—Ft. Pulaski captured by Gen. Hunter, commands entrance
to Savannah, Geo. Gen. Mitchell occupies Huntsville, Ala.

” 12—Gen. Mitchell captures 2,000 prisoners at Chattanooga,
East Tennessee.

” 16—Slavery abolished in the District of Columbia, by U. S.
Congress.

” 18—Gen. McClellan’s advance attacked on the Peninsula, Va.

” 19—Successes of Union Gens. Burnside and Reno, in North
Carolina.

” 25—Com. Farragut, passing the forts, captures New Orleans.

” 28—Forts Jackson and St. Philip, at mouth of Mississippi
below New Orleans, surrender.

” 29—Gen. Mitchell defeats Confederates at Bridgport, Ala.

May 1—Union cavalry captured at Pulaski, Tenn.

” 3—Yorktown evacuated by Southern troops. Occupied by
McClellan.

” 5—Battle of Williamsburg, Va. Lasts all day. Unionists
successful.

” 7—Southern Gen. Lee attacks McClellan’s army but is
repulsed.

” 8—Union Gen. Milroy repulsed at McDowell’s, Va., after a
five hour’s fight.

” 9—Pensacola, Fla. evacuated by Southern forces.

” 10—Norfolk, Va., occupied by Union forces. The Merrimac,
Gosport Navy Yard, and vast quantities of stores destroyed by
retreating Confederates.

” 15—The Agricultural Department created by Congress.

” 12—Natchez, on the Mississippi river, surrendered to
Farragut.

” 17—Union forces drive Confederates over the Chickahominy,
Va.

” 24—Southern success at Front Royal, Va., over Col. Kenley.

” 25—Gen. Banks, defeated at Winchester, Va., retreats across
the Potomac.

” 27—Confederates defeated at Hanover, Va.

” 30—Union troops occupy Corinth, Mississippi.

” 31—Battle of Fair Oaks. Union troops repulsed.

June 1—Battle of Fair Oaks renewed. Southern forces repulsed
with heavy loss.

” 6—Gunboats capture Memphis, Tenn., and Confederate vessels.

” 8—Battle of Cross Keys, Va. Gen. Fremont defeats Stonewall
Jackson.

” 14—Union forces defeated on James Island, near Charleston,
S. C.

” 18—Union troops occupy Cumberland Gap, Tenn.

” 19—Congress prohibits slavery in the Territories.

” 26—Six days fight before Richmond commenced at
Mechanicsville. Union forces repulsed.

” 27—Bombardment of Vicksburg. Gen. Fremont relieved of
command. Battle before Richmond renewed.

” 28—Severe battles before Richmond; enemy repulsed at night.
Unionists fall back.

” 29—Battles of Peach Orchard and Savage’s Station, Va.
Federal repulse.

” 30—Battle of White Oak Swamp. McClellan continues to
retreat toward James river. Confederates repulsed with loss.

July 1—Battle of Malvern Hill. Southern forces repulsed. End
of 6 days fight.

President Lincoln calls for 600,000 volunteers.

Internal Revenue Bill passed Congress. Polygamy forbidden in
the United States.

Union Pacific Railroad chartered by Congress.

” 7—Fight at Bayou Cache, Ark. Gen. Curtis, Union, defeats
Gen. Pike, Southern.

” 9—Hamilton, N. C., captured by Federal troops.

” 11—Southern Gen. Morgan enters Glasgow, Ky. Gen. Halleck
appointed Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. armies.

” 13—Southern forces capture Murfreesborough, Tenn. Stores
and prisoners taken.

” 17—Cynthiana, Kentucky, captured.

” 18—Southern raid into Indiana. Gen. Twiggs died.

” 22—Siege of Vicksburg abandoned by U. S. forces.

This month is generally disastrous to eastern and western
Union armies. Confederate armies become strongly aggressive,
and advance north into Ky., and toward Maryland.

Aug. 3—Gen. Jeff. Thompson, Confederate, defeated near
Memphis, Tenn.

” 4—U. S. Sec. of War ordered a draft of 300,000 men to serve
for nine months.

” 5—Battle of Baton Rouge, La. Gen. Breckinridge defeated.

” 10—Battle of Cedar Mountain. Gen. Jackson fails to drive
Gen. Banks.

” 16—Gen. McClellan evacuates the Peninsula.

” 21—Gen. Sigel obtains an important and bloody advantage on
the Rappahannock.

” 26—Confederate Gen. Ewell drives Unionists from Manassas,
Va.

Union expedition up the Yazoo river, Mississippi, is
successful.

” 27—Gen. Pope defeats Gen. Ewell at Haymarket, Va.

” 28—Battle of Centreville. Gen. Jackson repulsed.

” 29—Battle of Groveton, near Bull Run, Va. Confederates
repulsed, but renewed the fight next day and Gen. Pope
withdrew.

” 30—Battle near Richmond, Ky. Union Gen. Nelson defeated
with heavy loss.

” 31—Battle of Weldon, Va., a Union victory. The general
operations of this month by the main armies east and west
largely in favor of the South, notwithstanding heavy losses
inflicted and successes gained in detached engagements by
the U. S. troops. The armies under Lee and Bragg pressed on
northward with incredible vigor. No repulses or defeats could
stop their headlong rush.

Sept. 1—The last of Gen. Pope’s battles in Va., near
Washington. Two of his generals were killed, Kearney and
Stevens. The enemy retired, leaving their dead and wounded.
In 6 days Pope had lost near 10,000 in killed and wounded.

Battle at Britton’s Lane, Tenn. Confederates fled.

Union Army evacuate Lexington, Ky. Fight at Jackson, Tenn.

” 2—McClellan put in command of army for the defense of
Washington.

” 5—Confederate army cross the Potomac to Frederick, Maryland.

Attack on Union troops at Washington, N. C. It is repulsed.

” 6—Col. Lowe recaptured Clarksville, Tenn.

” 8—Gen. Lee issues a proclamation to the Marylanders.

” 9—Col. Grierson overcomes Southern forces at Coldwater,
Miss.

Union forces repel the enemy at Williamsburgh, Va.

Fredericksburg, Va., evacuated by Southern forces.

” 10—Great fears of invasion in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Philadelphia and Cincinnati begin to prepare for an attack.

” 11—Ganby, Va., Maysville, Ky., and Bloomfield, Mo., taken
by Southern forces.

” 12—Charleston, S. C., bombarded and partially burnt. Fight
on Elk river, Va., and at Middletown, Maryland.

” 13—Harper’s Ferry, Va., besieged. It surrendered on the
15th with 11,500 men.

” 14—McClellan engages Lee’s army at South Mountain, Md. Lee
retired toward the Potomac. The invasion of the North was
stopped, for this time, in the East.

” 16—Munfordsville, Ky., captured by Confederates and 4,000
prisoners taken.

” 17—Lee unwilling to give up his plan of invasion, makes
another stand at Antietam creek, and a great battle was
fought. Near 100,000 men on each side. The result was
indecisive, the losses nearly equal, both in the neighborhood
of 13,000. Lee retreated across the Potomac in the night, and
Harper’s Ferry was evacuated.

” 20—Gen. Rosecrans defeats the Southerners with great loss
at Iuka, Miss.

” 22—President Lincoln issues an Emancipation Proclamation,
declaring all the slaves free, unless the Southern States
discontinued the war within 100 days.

” 27—U. S. garrison at Augusta, Ky., surrender after a very
gallant fight.

Oct. 3—Battle of Corinth, Miss. Confederates defeated with
great loss.

” 8-9—Battle of Perryville, Ky. Southern army having been
arrested in its advance and obliged to retreat before Gen.
Buell, turned on his advance and inflicted a severe blow, but
are forced to resume their retreat.

” 10—Confederate cavalry, under Stuart, make a raid on
Chambersburg, Penn. They capture 500 horses and many stores
and hastily return to Virginia.

” 14—One hundred thousand dollars sent to Sanitary Commission
from San Francisco.

” 15—Battle near Richmond, Ky.

” 19—Gen. Forrest defeated by Union forces, near Gallatin,
Texas.

” 22—Southern defeat at Maysville, Ark., by Gen. Blunt.

” 24—An English steamer bringing military stores to the
South, captured.

” 28—Confederates defeated by Gen. Herron, at Fayetteville,
Ark.

” 30—Gen. Rosecrans supersedes Buell in Kentucky. Gen.
Mitchell, the astronomer, died in S. C.

Nov. 5—Gen. McClellan relieved of command in Va. by Gen.
Burnside.

Attack on Nashville by Confederates. They are repulsed.

” 11—Southern defeat at Garrettsburg, Ky., by Gen. Ransom.

Exchange of prisoners effected.

” 16—President Lincoln enjoins on soldiers in camp and
garrison observance of the Sabbath.

” 17—Cavalry fight near Kingston, N. C. Southerners beaten.

” 22—All political State prisoners released by U. S.
government.

” 25—Newbern, N. C. attacked by Southern troops. They soon
retire.

” 28—Battle of Cane Hill, Ark. A Union victory.

Dec. 1—The Pittsburg Battery, captured on the Peninsula,
retaken by a Union force sent from Suffolk, Va.

” 5—Battle of Coffeeville, Miss. Southern loss was heavy.

” 6—Gen. Banks’ expedition for the South sailed for New
Orleans.

” 7—At Prairie Grove, Ark., Gens. Blunt and Herron defeated
Confederates.

Confederate Gen. Morgan captured several regiments of Western
troops.

” 8—Steamer Lake City destroyed by Southerners.

” 9—U. S. troops burn Concordia, on the Mississippi.

” 13—Battle of Fredericksburg. A severe repulse to the Union
army.

Gen. Foster makes a cavalry raid into the interior of N. C.,
a success.

Commodore Parker destroys Confederate salt works, five
schooners and two sloops.

” 17—Gen. Banks captures Baton Rouge, the capital of
Louisiana.

” 19—Confederates retake Holly Springs, Miss., and large
stores with 4,000 bales of cotton.

” 26—Indians, engaged in the Minnesota massacre, hung—38 in
number.

” 27—Vicksburg attacked by Gen. Sherman and gunboats,
unsuccessfully.

” 31—Battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone River, commenced with a
Federal repulse.

The Monitor that conquered the Merrimac, foundered at sea.

Act of Congress admitting West Virginia into the Union as a
sovereign State. This was to take effect 60 days after the
President’s proclamation making this announcement.