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Hunter having been relieved, at his own request, Mitchel was sent as his successor, and arrived towards the end of September at Port Royal. Immediately on his arrival he entered with great zeal upon his duties. Although unable, from lack of reinforce ments, to attempt any movements of importance, Mitchel projected a number of minor expeditions, the details of which need not here be given. The climate soon began to tell upon the health of the troops. The sick list in several of the regiments was increasing to an alarming degree. As the month wore on, cases of the yellow fever occurred at Port Royal. Several of the officers fell victims to the disease, and Mitchel, sickening, was removed to Beaufort, where, as we have before noted, he died, on the 30th of October, a noble specimen of a brave and skilful officer, as well as a true patriot and Christian.

The principal proceedings of Congress, during its present session, have been detailed on previous pages (see p. 148). We may, however, here briefly notice its further action until the adjournment. On the 11th of July an act was passed authorizing an additional issue of $150,000,000 of notes not bear

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the only practicable method of meeting the public necessities. Gold, as a consequence, rose in value, and the price of gold regulated the price of commodi ties in general. The facilities, however, given to trade and credit, lightened, for a time, at least, the financial difficulties produced by the war.

To provide internal revenue, to support the government, and to pay interest on the public debt, a voluminous tax bill was passed and approved on the 1st of July.. It embraced a comprehensive system of excise duties, licenses, special tax on articles of luxury, as carriages, yachts, billiard tables, and plate; a widely extended system of stamp duties, legacy and inheritance duties, and an annual tax of three per cent. on all gains, profits or income, of every person residing within the United States, exceeding the sum of $600. Incomes exceeding $10,000, and those of citizens residing abroad, were taxed five per cent.

Besides the several acts heretofore noted, there were three bills which may be mentioned as important at this period of our national legislation. On the 20th of May, was passed "An act to secure Homesteads to actual settlers on the Public Domain." By this act any loyal person, a citizen of the United States, or one who has legally declared his intention to become such, or of the age of 21, was given the privilege of entering upon 160 acres of land, the full title to which would be secured by five years' residence and cultivation. This measure looked to a future increase of emigration, by which the wealth of the great West had been largely develop

JH. XVIII.]

IMPORTANT ACTS OF CONGRESS.

ed, and which at the time was proving monies, consecrations, or other
an important aid in maintaining the trivances."
the war.

A second important step taken by Congress was the passing, July 1st, "An act to aid in the construction of a Railroad and Telegraph Line from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, and to secure to the Government the use of the same for Postal, Military and other Purposes." For the details relat ing to this great undertaking, which is allowed until July, 1874, for its completion, we must refer the reader to the act itself.*

195

In order to put the navy on its proper footing, especially as regarded the rank of its officers, Congress, on the 16th of July, passed "An act to establish and equalize the Grade of Line Officers of the United States Navy." This law provides that the active list of the officers of the United States navy shall be divided into nine grades, taking rank according to the date of their commission in each grade, as follows:-1. Rear-Admirals. 2. Commodores. 3. Captains. 4. Commanders. 5. Lieutenant-Commanders. 6. Lieutanants. 7. Masters. 8. Ensigns. 9. Midshipmen. The act further provides that the relative rank between officers of the navy and the army shall be as follows, real rank only to be consider ed: rear-admirals to rank with majorgenerals; commodores with brigadiergenerals; captains with colonels; commanders with lieutenant-colonels; lieutenant-commanders with majors; lieutenants with captains; masters with first lieutenants; ensigns with second lieutenants. The number of rear-admi rals on the active list was limited to nine; of commodores to 16; of captains to 39; of commanders to 90; of lieutenant-commanders to 144.

The third of the measures alluded to above, was in relation to a state of things which had been existing for some time to the shame and disgrace of our country, and its civilization and religion. We mean the passing, July 1st, "An act to punish and prevent the Practice of Polygamy in the Territories of the United States, and other Places, and disapproving and annulling certain acts of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah." By this act the crime of bigamy, in a territory or other place within the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, was to be punished by a fine not exceeding $500, and by imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years. Certain specified ordinances and all other acts of The act to suppress insurrection, to the legislative assembly of the territory punish treason and rebellion, and to of Utah were disapproved and annulled, seize and confiscate the property of so far as they establish, protect or rebels, was passed on the last day of countenance "the practice of polygamy, the session.* This, with other action of evasively called spiritual marriage, Congress, showed that the people, however disguised by legal or ecclesiastical solemnities, sacraments, cere

* See the National Almanac, 'for 1863, pp. 255-257

*For the president's message in regard to this important act, see Appleton's "American Annual Cyclopædia for 1862," p, 374; and M'Pherson's "History of the Rebellion," p. 197.

through their representatives, were ed, and which, as we shall see, were in steadily advancing towards a practical due time disposed of. The second ses solution of certain difficult questions, sion of the Thirty-seventh Congress was which were earnestly and ably discuss- closed on the 17th of July, 1862.

CHAPTER XIX.

1862.

THE SEVEN DAYS' BATTLES: RETREAT FROM THE PENINSULA.

vance movement

McClellan's hopes and expectations - Obstacles in the way-Rebel activity under Lee-Stuart's cavalry raid - Boldly planned and executed Jackson's flank movement - McClellan daily expecting a battle — AdOak Grove- Critical state of affairs - Repulse of rebels at Mechanicsville - Alterna tives before McClellan - His choice, change of base, prudent, if not bold-Position of Porter and his men - Necessity of fighting the enemy Attacked by the rebel army in large force No reinforcements from south bank of the river- Porter nearly cut to pieces- Saved by opportune help and darkness - Rebel exultation-The Chickahominy crossed and bridges burned during the night-McClellan's skill in masking his plans-Crossing the White Oak Swamp by the different corps - Lee sets out in pursuit — Magruder repulsed at Savage Station — Jackson stopped by our batteries at White Oak Swamp Battle at Glenda.e or Turkey Bridge - Severe and bloody contest -Our troops withdrawn during the night -Lee determines on a general engagement - McClellan's position at Malvern Hill -The rebels completely defeated in this battle-Our troops reach Harrison's Bar on the James River - Heavy losses - McClellan's generalshipSouthern views and feelings - McClellan's Fourth of July words of promise and encouragement.

now such that I can ven

In a previous chapter (see p. 167), my troops is we have given an account of the battle ture much. I do not fear for odds of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks, which against me. The victory is complete, was fought on the 31st of May and 1st and all credit is due to the gallantry of June. It was marked by great loss of our officers and men." of life on both sides, but yielded little It soon became evident, however, if any advantage, either to the rebels that these eager aspirations of McClelor to our army advancing to lan were doomed to disappointment. 1862. the capture of Richmond. Mc- The roads and the ground generally Clellan seems to have meditated an im- were totally unfit for active movements; mediate movement upon the enemy. the water in the Chickahominy continu Writing to the secretary of war, the day ed so high that he could not transport after the battle, he said, "I only wait the whole of his army across the river; for the river to fall, to cross with the bridges had to be built; encampments rest of the force, and make a general and entrenchments had to be formed in attack. Should I find them holding firm the swampy woods; and above all, proin very strong position. I may wait bably, there was considerable uncerfor what troops I can bring up from tainty as to being able to maintain, in Fortress Monroe. But the morale of safety, the necessary connection with

CH. XIX.]

J. E. B. STUART'S CAVALRY RAID.

197

The expedition was undertaken by Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, with some 1,500 cavalry, selected especially for this service. Leaving Richmond on the 12th

turnpike, bivouacked for the 1862.

his basis of supplies at the White of the position of McClellan with reHouse. Added to this, the midsummer gard to his supplies. sun, with its intense heat, told severely upon the health of the troops, and inflamed the pestilential influences of crowded camps and noxious marshes into active and virulent diseases; and of June, Stuart took the Charlottesville during the long weeks of inactivity in what was called the siege of Richmond, night at Ashland, and at the not only thousands sickened of fever dawn of day cautiously approached and and died, but the very name of the penetrated the Union lines. Near Chickahominy, with its deadly swamps, Hanover Court House a small force of became, to the country at large, asso- our cavalry was met with, and speedily ciated with suffering in its most dread- put to flight; and the rebels, having ed forms. excited alarm and wonder by their ap The rebels, meanwhile, were streng-pearance, dashed forward and destroyed thening their forces in and about Rich- all that they could from Ashland to mond, under the command of General Tunstall's Station on the York River Robert E. Lee, who had succeeded Railroad. Stores of various kinds were Johnston, and whose name became some- seized and burned, and some prisoners what famous in the further efforts and and horses were secured. A train of struggles of the rebellion. They also cars coming up at the station was fired entertained hopes and expectations of into, but it made its escape with trifling speedily assuming the offensive, and loss. Having sent a detachment to decrushing McClellan and his entire stroy whatever could be found at the army. A bold and dashing expedi- landing on the Pamunkey, Stuart astion was set on foot, for the purpose of sembled his force at New Kent Court penetrating the Union lines and making House, and halted till midnight. Not a full and thorough reconnaissance of daring to venture a return by way of the position and strength of our army. Hanover Court House, Stuart took a It was successfully carried out, and road by which he was not likely to be among other things it helped to demon- pursued, and making his way across strate the danger, just now alluded to, the Chickahominy, near Forge Bridge, within five miles of our pickets, he suc ceeded, on the 15th of June, in reaching safely the rebel lines near White Oak Swamp. About 165 prisoners were taken, together with some 300 mules and horses, etc. Stuart had thus passed entirely round and in the rear of our army, having accomplished a cavalry raid which not only astonished

* In a dispatch from Secretary Stanton, June 11th, he used the following strong language, to encourage and cheer McClellan in the difficult position in which he was placed:-" Be assured, general, that there never

has been a moment when my desire has been other wise than to aid you with my whole heart, mind and

strength, since the hour we first met; and whatever others may say for their own purposes, you have never

had; and never can have, any one more truly your friend, or more anxious to support you, or more joyful

than I shall be at the success which I have no doubt will soon be achieved by your arms

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the army and people by its audacity, but also set the example for future exploits of a similar character.

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generally to be led into action. On the 18th of June, McClellan wrote to the president, "A general engagement may take place at any hour. We await only a favorable condition of the earth and sky, and the completion of some necessary preliminaries." A week later, he said, "the action will occur to-mor row, or within a short time," etc.

The condition of affairs was fast becoming such that it was felt on all hands that something must be done; Richmond must be captured, or if that were not possible, the Army of the Potomac must be extricated from its present dangerous embarrassment. The enemy were gaining in strength, and Lee determined to avail himself of the services of Jackson, who had obtained distinguished success in the Shenandoah Valley. He resolved to do this, too, so secretly and quietly that the first announcement of Jackson's withdrawal from the valley should be the blow struck upon the Army of the Potomac. Accordingly, on the 17th of June, his force being now about 25,000 men, Jackson began his march, and so skilfully was it managed that no one of our generals knew of his approach till he was within striking distance of the right wing of the army. Lee intended, by this movement, to open the way for crossing the Chickahominy to join Jack-entirely successful. son's column, and then to sweep down Apprehending the possible approach on the north side of the river, toward the York, and lay hold of McClellan's communications with the White House.

The commanding general, expecting again the co-operation of McDowell, was looking forward to a battle which might occur on any day. The bridges had now been built in sufficient numbers to connect readily the two wings of the army; our lines had been pushed forward, defensive works had been erected to secure safety in case of a repulse; and there was an earnest wish in the army

On the 25th of June, Heintzelman holding the advance before Fair Oaks, was ordered to push forward his pickets, and drive the enemy from the woods in his front, and in this way to relieve his men from an un- 1862. wholesome position in the swampy ground, and to bring them to an open, clear space beyond. The movement was preliminary to the general action which McClellan had now resolved upon. Hooker's division bore the brunt of this encounter, and found their advance was sharply contested in the woods. McClellan came upon the field, about noon, and personally directed this movement at Oak Grove, which in the course of the afternoon was

of Jackson with his force, and warned of danger by the successful raid of Stuart in his rear, McClellan had already been contemplating a change of base from his present position to the James River, and had, with a view of future events, ordered a number of transports with stores and supplies to the James River. Being assured of Jackson's arrival at or near Hanover Court House, and divining Lee's plan and purpose in concentrating on the north bank of the Chickahominy, he hastened at once to

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