great campaign. This was nothing less than moving his army by water to Fortress Monroe, and thence toward Richmond by the peninsula which is formed by the James and the York rivers. The advantages of this plan were obvious. The troops and supplies could be transported by water to within one-half the distance from Richmond that Washington is. Moreover, if McClellan could succeed in opening the James River, then his water communication might carry him to some point in the immediate vicinity of the Confederate capital. It was necessary, however, that a part of his army, which he left under General McDowell, should remain in front of Washington, and another part, under General Banks, in the Shenandoah Valley, to prevent the Confederates from opening the way, by a sudden onset, to the national capital.

583. Yorktown. - By a rapid movement McClellan transferred his army to Fortress Monroe, and commenced his march up the peninsula. Meantime the Confederates had moved their force from Manassas Junction and fortified Yorktown (¶ 362). McClellan laid siege to the town. General Magruder, with less than fifteen thousand men, held the town, and maintained a bold line, thirteen miles in length on McClellan's front. McClellan ordered heavy siegeguns from Washington, and threw up the most elaborate earthworks by parallel approaches. Here his whole army was delayed an entire month, and the Confederates withdrew (May 4th), just as he was about to open fire upon the town.

584. Williamsburg. - General Magruder fell back ten miles westward to Williamsburg, where he had already built a strong fort called by his own name, and eight outlying redoubts. A severe battle took place here on the 5th of May, 1862. He was attacked by the division of General Hooker ("Fighting Joe," as he was called). Other troops soon arrived, and the contest was a severe one for nine hours. The Union loss was very large. Both sides claimed the victory. Magruder retreated during the night, and the pursuit was continued to a line seven miles from Richmond.

585. The Panic at Richmond. The Confederates evacuated Norfolk, and destroyed the iron-clad "Merrimac." The James River was now open, and the "Monitor," with other Union vessels, steamed up toward Richmond, and soon were but eight miles from the

capital. The Union army was also within seven miles of the city. Richmond was now seriously threatened. The Confederate Congress had already adjourned. A report gained ground that the city was to be abandoned. McClellan should have continued his advance, and attacked the Confederates at once; but he discovered that a Confederate force at Hanover Court House threatened his railroad communications with White House Landing, near the head of York River. General Fitz-John Porter, by a quick movement, captured Hanover Court House. McClellan expected that General McDowell, who was at Fredericksburg with thirty thousand men, would, as soon as possible, join

down the Shenandoah Valley and threaten Washington. relieved Richmond, which soon recovered from the panic.

This

586. The Panic at Washington. — Jackson, having been reinforced by Ewell's division, had under his command fifteen thousand men. With this force he chased Banks down the valley in June, but the Union troops succeeded in escaping across the Potomac. The Union. capital was now in a panic. Washington was threatened. It was not known how large a force Jackson had. The President at once ordered McDowell, at Fredericksburg, and Banks, at Harper's Ferry, to unite against this attacking force, and, at all hazards, capture Jackson and his army. The race began. The race began. It was now Jackson's turn to be alarmed, and to retreat with speed.

He burned

the bridges behind him, and at length made good his escape from the Shenandoah Valley; but he had accomplished the design which General Johnston intended. He had threatened Washington, held at bay three major-generals with a combined army of four times his

Joseph Eggleston Johnston, the second general of the Confederate army, was born in Virginia, in 1807. He was graduated from the West Point Academy in 1829, and served as lieutenant in the Seminole War. He won for himself great credit by his bravery, as lieutenant-colonel, in the Mexican War, in which he was twice severely wounded. He remained in the army until 1861, when his native State passed the Ordinance of Secession. He immediately entered the Confederate service as brigadier-general, and won the battle of Bull Run by means of his re-enforcements. In August, 1861, he was made general, and in 1863 he was assigned to the command of the Army of the Tennessee. He made vigorous efforts to save Vicksburg, but was unsuccessful. He was given command of the army opposite General Sherman in 1864, but was soon superseded by General Hood. Restored to command the next January, he was unable to check General Sherman, and surrendered his army to him, April 26th, 1865. After the war he held several offices in state and nation, and died in Washington in 1891.

own, prevented McDowell from joining McClellan, and by these sagacious and rapid movements had saved Richmond. 587. Battle of Fair Oaks and Seven Pines. McClellan's army was now divided by the Chickahominy. He had spread out his right flank with the hope of being joined by McDowell. Heavy rains ensued. The Chickahominy, which is a small stream running past the north side of Richmond and into the James River, rose rapidly and its bridges were carried away. The country on both sides of the river was in reality a great swamp, and the two parts of McClellan's army, being thus separated by the swollen river, could not help each other. Johnston at once, May 31st, attacked that part of the Union forces which was on the Richmond side of the river. The attack was impetuous, and made with tremendous force. Only McClellan's left wing could be utilized in repelling it. At first the Confederates appeared to be successful; but their advancing column was checked by General Sumner, and Johnston himself was severely wounded. Darkness coming on caused a cessation of the conflict. The next morning the Confederates renewed the assault; but the loss of their general seemed to dispirit the army, and they were repulsed with great loss. General Robert E. Lee now took command of the Confederates. Jackson hurried southward after his raid against Washington, and joined Lee. His infantry had marched more than four hundred miles, and had achieved astonishing results; from this time Jackson was considered one of the ablest Confederate generals, and his soldiers.

sometimes called "Jackson's foot cavalry," were the pride of the Confederate army of Virginia.

588. The Seven Days' Battle. Lee and Jackson now attacked McClellan's right wing, first at Mechanicsville, where they were repulsed, the next day at Gaines' Mills, where they succeeded in cutting off McClellan's supplies from the York River. McClellan now determined to swing his army over from the York to the James River. By this means he hoped to open up a new base of supplies on the James, and to unite the two wings of his army for a successful assault upon Richmond. Lee and Jackson followed, and for an entire week there was desperate fighting every day. The most important engagements were those of Savage's Station, Frazer's Farm, White Oak Swamp, and

Malvern Hill. At the

battle of Malvern Hill,

General Robert E. Lee.

July 1st, 1862, Lee was repulsed, and McClellan succeeded in reaching the James River in safety.

589. Failure of the Peninsular Campaign. The battle of Malvern Hill told so heavily upon Lee's forces that he was in no condition to renew the attack. The Union troops retired without opposition to Harrison's Landing, where they were protected by the gunboats on the James. The loss in these battles was very heavy on both sides, but the great advantage was with the Confederates. Richmond had been saved, and the Union army was hemmed in near the

James River under the protection of the gunboats. The North had certainly hoped that at this time Richmond would be captured.

Robert Edward Lee, General of the Confederate army, was born in Virginia, January 19th, 1807. He was a son of General Henry Lee, or "LightHorse Harry," and was also a relative of Richard Henry Lee, of the Continental Congress. Graduated from West Point in 1829, Captain Lee served in the Mexican War, was wounded at Chapultepec, and was made colonel for his bravery. He went with his State when it passed the Ordinance of Secession, and was at once appointed third in rank among the Confederate officers. General Lee was placed in command of the army of Northern Virginia in June, 1862, which position he held throughout the rest of the war.

General Lee was "one of the greatest of the modern commanders." He would have been a remarkable general under any conditions, but his pre-eminent rank was more marked, owing to the great obstacles which he had to overcome. He was hindered in all his movements by political and financial difficulties, but was able to hold his position, even against the boundless power of the Union, for nearly three years. General Lee is worthy of the great love which he has always received from the Southern people, and of the high esteem which has been accorded him by his enemies. His later life was spent as President of the Washington and Lee University, and his death occurred in the midst of his work, October 12th, 1870.

The disappointment was severe.

Presi

dent Lincoln immediately issued a call for three hundred thousand more troops. The two months which followed were sad days for the North. Recruiting was very slow. The people were disheartened. Their disappointment at McClellan's failure to capture the Confederate capital was akin to the public feeling after Bull Run ( 559). In September and October following, recruiting throughout the North was very brisk, and the number entering the service was largely increased by bounties which were now offered by the several States. Many regiments of troops were enlisted for a period of nine months' service, and others for three years or the war.

590. Pope's Campaign.— General Pope was in command of the defences of Washington, and at this time was staMcClellan tioned at the Rapidan. received orders from Washington to transfer his army from the James River to Acquia Creek, and place it under the command of General Pope. It was expected that Pope would begin a new advance upon Richmond. from the North. As fast as McClellan's forces were withdrawn from the vicinity of Richmond, Lee started his troops on a march northward again to menace Washington. Pope met the Confederates on the old field of Bull Run. The Union force was defeated, and the second time, in a panic, the army fell back in confusion upon Washington. Lee himself now moved northward with such celerity that McClellan had hardly reached Washington when Lee crossed the upper Potomac, apparently intending to push on and