Chapter XXVI: Campaign of 1863

The preliminary Proclamation of Emancipation, issued Sept. 22d, 1862, was not to take effect for 100 days, or until Jan. 1st, 1863. Meanwhile the final details of the great operations, undertaken on both sides during 1862, were wound up. The bold efforts of the South, in the East and West, to transfer the war into the North, and indemnify themselves for the strict blockade of the coast by drawing supplies from the enemy, had resulted in defeat and withdrawal; not unaccompanied with booty, especially in the west, where Bragg’s train of supplies was said to have been 40 miles long. The southern people had failed in the main point, yet they had gained much. Federal reverses in the east had stopped the victories in the west in mid career, both by withdrawing from those armies to the east, and adding to the Confederates from the same region. Grant and Sherman failed at Vicksburg, and Buell at Chattanooga.

Yet these reverses to the Union arms served to stimulate the north, and to demonstrate the energy, resources, and indomitable resolution of the National government, and to undeceive the South as to the real sentiments of the great body of the Democratic party from which they had hoped aid on an invasion in force. Several of the European Powers, who would have liked to support the South, seeing the formidable character of the General Government, drew back in fear. The South might have foreseen that her cause was really hopeless; but she was too American not to feel an unconquerable resolution to carry her point or perish. She strengthened her armies and prepared for another invasion.

The Federal armies were now (Jan. 1863,) about 800,000 strong; her navy consisted of near 450 vessels, a large number being iron-clads. The great events of the campaign were Lee’s invasion of Pennsylvania and his retreat after the battle of Gettysburg, and Grant’s success at Vicksburg and Chattanooga. The resolution of the South, enveloped in the embrace of so mighty an antagonist, was wonderful; the unfaltering spirit, and readiness of the northern people to furnish whatever was required for success was still more so. The whole South, at least every State, was the theater of many contests of more or less importance; but the main interest centered on the Mississippi river, at Chattanooga and its vicinity, and on Gen. Lee’s army in Virginia or Pennsylvania. It was a contest of giants; yet, struggle as she might, the South was doomed. At the end of this year she was still strong, her armies were veterans, her spirit unbroken. The Federal Government had gained much, but it was step by step, inch by inch; and, in some parts, as in Virginia, what had been gained many times over, in territory, had been as often lost. Her general gain over the Confederate States lay most largely in the fatal process of exhaustion to which the vast operations of the Federal government forced the South. Increase of numbers made the battles more bloody and wasteful of life. The three leading events in this campaign—the capture of Vicksburg, (the battle of Chickamauga was a Confederate victory, but balanced by that of Chattanooga,) the battle of Gettysburg, and the battle of Chattanooga—were all decisive against the Confederates, yet leaving her strength for a long and vigorous contest of more than a year and a half.

1863.

Jan. 1—The year opened with a Confederate success at
Galveston, Texas. An attack by sea and land resulted in the
capture of 300 troops, the destruction of one vessel with
its crew, and the capture of another, the Harriet Lane. Com.
Renshaw was blown up with his vessel.

Confederate defeat at Lexington, Tenn., after an obstinate
fight.

Proclamation of Emancipation issued by President Lincoln.

Long, but indecisive battle of Stone River. Federal killed
and wounded, 8,000.

” 3—Union army withdraws from before Vicksburg. Southern army
retreats at Murfreesborough, Tenn.

” 7—Springfield, Mo., successfully defended by Unionists.

” 9—20,000 prisoners exchanged.

” 11—A combined attack on Fts. Hindman and Arkansas Post by
gunboats and land forces, resulted in Union success—over
7,000 prisoners.

” 12—Three Federal transports and a gunboat captured on
Cumberland river.

” 13—The Southern steamer, Florida, escapes from Mobile.

” 17—$100,000,000 issued by the U. S. government in notes to
pay the army.

” 20—Blockading vessels captured by Confederates, at Sabine
City, Texas.

” 22—Attack on Vicksburg resumed. Gen. Porter dismissed from
U. S. army.

” 25—A regiment of colored soldiers organized at Port Royal,
S. C.

” 26—Gen. Hooker succeeds Gen. Burnside, in command of the
Union Army of the Potomac, and Gens. Sumner and Franklin are
relieved from duty.

The Confederate war steamer, Alabama, destroys one vessel and
captures another.

Feb. 1—A second unsuccessful gunboat attack on Ft. McAllister.

” 5—Destruction of transports on Red River, La. Ft. Donelson
repels Southern troops.

” 12—The Florida captures the Union merchant vessel, Jacob
Bell.

” 13—The iron-clad, Indianola, runs the blockade at
Vicksburg, and is captured.

” 18—Vicksburg bombarded by gunboats—ineffectually.

” 21—The Alabama, a Confederate cruiser, destroys two vessels
on the African coast.

” 25—The Bureau of Currency and National Banks established by
U. S. Congress.

” 26—The Cherokees return to the Union, and abolish slavery.

Twenty-eight cars, with stores, destroyed by Confederates, in
Kentucky.

” 28—Confederate iron-clad, Nashville, destroyed in Ogeechee
river, Geo.

Mar. 1—Third fruitless Union attack on Ft. McAllister, Geo.

” 2—U. S. Generals increased to 358.

” 3—Congress authorizes loan of $900,000,000. These are
called _ten-forty’s_.

The President authorized to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus.

U. S. Assistant Treasurer provided by act of Congress.

Territorial government organized in Idaho.

Two U. S. gunboats destroyed.

” 5—Van Dorn (Confederate) captures Springfield, Tenn., and
many prisoners.

” 6—Van Dorn captures a considerable Union force at Franklin,
Tenn.

” 7—Gen. Minty captures a Confederate cavalry force at
Unionville, Tenn.

” 10—Colored troops captured Jacksonville, Florida.

” 14—Port Hudson, Mississippi river, attacked by the Union
gunboat fleet under Com. Farragut. The flag ship disabled and
burnt.

” 17—Gallant and successful exploit of Union cavalry at
Kelly’s Ford, Va.

” 19—An English steamer with arms for the South destroyed off
Charleston.

” 20—Defeat of Morgan (Confederate) at Milton, Tenn.

” 25—Two Union vessels lost before Vicksburg.

” 28—Confederate steamer Iris captured near Charleston, S. C.

Apr. 1—Admiral Farragut passes the batteries of Grand Gulf.

Great scarcity of many things in the Confederacy from the
strictness of the blockade, and extreme depreciation of
Confederate money. No cotton could be sold.

” 7—An attack on Fort Sumter by nine Union iron clads. They
are worsted.

The Alabama Confederate cruiser captures the U. S. ship
Morning Star.

” 10—Two Union gunboats destroyed on Cumberland river.

Van Dorn repulsed by Union General Granger, at Franklin, Tenn.

” 16—Com. Porter runs the batteries at Vicksburg successfully.

” 17—Gen. Banks vanquished Southern troops at La Teche and
Grand Lake, La.

” 22—The Queen of the West captured on Grand Lake. Grigsby,
Confederate, surprised at McMinnville, Tenn. Banks occupied
Opelousas and Washington, Miss.

” 23—Gen. Hunter informs Confederate authorities that colored
soldiers must be treated as other prisoners of war, on pain
of retaliation.

” 24—Union defeat at Beverly, Va., and victories at Weber
Falls, Ark., and on Iron Mountain Railroad, Mo.

May 1—Gen. Grant defeated the Southern troops at Port Gibson.

Gen. Pegram, Confederate, defeated at Monticello, Ky.

A third defeat of Southern troops, at South Quay, Va.

Unionists defeated at La Grange, Ark. Battle of
Chancellorsville, Va., begins.

” 2—Col. Grierson, of U. S. army, finished a daring and
successful raid through the interior of Miss. Traveled 800
miles in 16 days. Battle of Chancellorsville continued. It
was a Federal repulse. Loss each side 15,000.

” 3—Capture of Grand Gulf, Miss., by Admiral Porter.

” 2—Vallandigham arrested in Ohio for treason. He was sent
South. 100 Secessionists of St. Louis sent South for treason.

” 10—Stonewall Jackson, an able and brilliant Southern
general, died of wounds received in battle.

” 11—Gen. Logan, Union, defeats Gen. Grigg at Farnden’s
Creek, Miss. Each had about 5,000 men.

” 12—Gen. McPherson captured Raymond, Miss., from
Confederates.

” 13—Yazoo City, and $2,000,000 property, captured by Union
gunboats. Gen. Grant defeats Confederate army and captures
Jackson, Miss.

” 16—Gen. Grant defeats Pemberton at Baker’s Creek, Miss.,
with heavy loss. Each had about 25,000 men. Pemberton lost
4,000 men and next day 2,000 more.

” 18—Grant commences siege of Vicksburg, Miss.

” 26—Gen. Breckenridge, Confederate, suffered defeat in
Tennessee.

” 29—An immense train arrives in Gen. Banks’ lines near Port
Hudson: 600 wagons, 3,000 horses and mules, 1,500 cattle,
6,000 negroes. Gen. Banks fails in several attacks on Port
Hudson.

June 3—A brilliant raid by a colored regiment in South
Carolina.

” 11—Forrest, of Confederate cavalry, defeated at Triune,
Tenn.

” 15—President Lincoln calls for 120,000 militia, to repel
Lee’s invasion of Penn.

” 18—About 100,000 Southern forces enter Penn., near
Chambersburg.

” 20—West Virginia admitted as a State into the Union.
Missouri Legislature abolishes slavery.

In this month the great events of the campaign, the taking
of Vicksburg and opening the Mississippi river, and the
failure of Gen. Lee’s invasion by his loss of the battle of
Gettysburg, are rapidly approaching the grand crisis.

July—The first days of this month formed the crisis of the
war.

” 3—Gen. Lee, with 100,000 men, was defeated by Gen. Meade at
Gettysburg, Pa., with about equal numbers. Lee retreated into
Virginia. The Union losses at Gettysburg were 23,000. Lee had
lost in his 17 days in the Free States 60,000 men altogether.

” 4—Vicksburg surrendered to Gen. Grant, after a siege of 41
days. In the battles immediately preceding, under Grant, and
in this siege and capitulation, the South lost near 50,000
men. Grant’s losses were about 9,000.

Gen. Prentice defeated a greatly superior force at Helena,
Ark.

” 8—Port Hudson surrenders to Gen. Banks, with 7,000 men.

Morgan, of Confederate cavalry, invades Indiana and Ohio with
5,000 men. He is captured before he can return.

” 13—Great riot in New York city.

” 17—Gen. Sherman defeats Johnson, and occupies Jackson, Miss.

” 20—Two successful Union cavalry expeditions, in N. C. and
Va.

” 23—Battle of Manassas Gap. Unionists defeat a superior
force.

A Confederate victory at Richmond, Ky.

” 31—Confederates beaten in Kentucky.

Aug. 1—Two cavalry battles in Va.

” 4—Disastrous loss of U. S. steamer Ruth, on the
Mississippi, by fire.

” 12—Gen. Gilmore bombarded Ft. Sumter and Charleston most of
the month.

” 17—Successful cavalry raid into Mississippi to destroy
stores.

” 20—Lawrence, Kansas, attacked and destroyed by guerillas.

A guerilla war was carried on very largely this month, both
east and west of the Mississippi.

Sept. 1—Knoxville, Tenn., captured by Gen. Burnside.

Gen. Blunt defeated the Confederates, and captured Ft. Smith,
Ark.

” 6—Fts. Wagner and Gregg captured by Gen. Gilmore,
Charleston, S. C.

” 8—Cumberland Gap taken by Gen. Burnside. 2,000 prisoners.

” 10—Little Rock occupied by Union forces.

” 19-20—A terrible battle is fought at Chickamauga (in Indian
the “River of Death,”) in which Gen. Rosecrans with some
50,000 to 60,000 troops is severely defeated by Bragg, with
about 45,000. Federal losses about 15,000. Yet Bragg did not
capture Chattanooga.

” 22—Severe battle at Madison Court House, Va. Union victory.

” 28—Gen. Burnside repulses Confederates at Knoxville, Tenn.

Oct. 3—Union troops throw Greek fire into Charleston, S. C.

” 5—Chattanooga bombarded by Bragg.

” 9—Defeat of Wheeler’s Confederate cavalry, in Tenn.

” 14—Battle at Bristoe Station, Va. Favorable to U. S. troops.

” 16—Gen. Grant takes command of the Western armies.

” 17—The President calls for 300,000 more troops.

” 21—A battle in Alabama, in Mississippi, and in Tennessee.

” 27—Battle of Brown’s Ferry, near Chattanooga. Confederates
beaten.

” 28—Gen. Hooker takes Lookout Mountain.

” 31—Gen. Hooker gains the battle of Shell Mound.

Nov.—The main interest of the month gathers about the great
and decisive battle of Chattanooga, between Gens. Grant
and Bragg. All the forces to be spared on either side were
concentrated here. Chattanooga has been called, “The back
door of the Confederacy.”

Nov. 5—Chattanooga bombarded by the Southern forces.

Gen. Avery gains a Union victory at Lewisburg, Va.

” 6—The North is thrilled with indignation at barbarities
ascertained to have been perpetrated in Southern prisons.

” 7—Gen. Meade drives Southern army across the Rappahannock.

” 11—The British government makes known an intended invasion
of the North from Canada, by Confederates.

” 15—Gen. Banks takes Corpus Christi, Texas.

” 17—Charleston continues to be shelled.

Gen. Longstreet detached from Confederate army at
Chattanooga, with 15,000 men, to attack Burnside.

” 19—National Cemetery consecrated, at Gettysburg.

” 23-26—Battles of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. Southern
forces about 60,000, Grant’s about 80,000. Confederate losses
10,000, Union, 5,616. It was a blow never recovered by the
Confederacy.

” 28—Gen. Longstreet attacks Knoxville and is repulsed with
loss.