with Governor Harris, we drove from place to place, and made brief addresses to the people. It was a brilliant scene, which will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it.

Returning to Montgomery, I called on the President and reported the result of my mission to Tennessee. He congratulated me, and said: "Mr. Hilliard, you have transcended my expectations."

CHAPTER XXVII.

State of the Country-Session of Congress at Montgomery, April 29, 1861President Davis' Message-Patriotic Ardor in Support of the Government-North Carolina-Arkansas-Robert E. Lee-Albert Sidney Johnston-Removal of the Seat of Government to Richmond-Visit to Richmond-Battle of Manassas-War-President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation-General Lee's Surrender-General GrantGeneral Joseph E. Johnston's Surrender-General Sherman-Fall of the Confederate Government-Principles Involved in the Struggle.

THE government of the United States and the government of the Confederate States confronted each other.

In response to the call of President Lincoln for troops, active military preparations were made for an invasion of the Southern States.

President Davis called a meeting of Congress at Montgomery on April 29, 1861. In his message he called attention to the proclamation of the President of the United States, saying:

"Apparently contradictory as are the terms of this singular document, one point is unmistakably evident. The President of the United States calls for an army of seventy-five thousand men, whose first service is to be the capture of our forts. It is a plain declaration of war which I am not at liberty to disregard because of my knowledge that under the Constitution of the United States the President is usurping a power granted exclusively to Congress."

After bringing to view the state of the country, he said in conclusion:

"We protest solemnly, in the face of mankind, that we desire peace at any sacrifice save that of honor. In independence we seek no conquest, no aggrandizement, no concession of any kind from the States from which we have lately been confederated."

He declared that the purpose of the Confederate government was to resist an attempt at its subjugation by arms:

"The moment that this pretension is abandoned the sword will drop from our grasp, and we shall be ready to enter into treaties of amity and commerce that cannot but be mutually beneficial. So long as this pretension is maintained, with a firm reliance on that Divine Power which covers with its protection the just cause, we must continue to struggle for our inherent right to freedom, independence, and self-government."

Congress passed acts authorizing the President to use the whole land and naval forces to meet the necessities of the war thus commenced; to issue to private armed vessels letters of marque, in addition to the volunteer force authorized to be raised; to accept services of volunteers to serve during the war; to receive into the service various companies of the different arms; to make a loan of fifty millions of dollars in bonds and notes; and to hold an election for officers of the permanent government under the new constitution. An act was passed to complete the internal organization of the government and to establish the administration of public affairs.

Patriotic ardor in support of the new government was everywhere exhibited; a greater number of troops than had been called for offered their services; and arms could not at that time be supplied to them; but the most active measures were adopted to obtain them.

PREPARATION AGAINST INVASION.

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The attempt to coerce the States into obedience to the federal government by an invading army resulted in bringing many of the friends of the Union to the support of the Confederate government. Virginia and Tennessee had already taken steps to withdraw from the Union. North Carolina and Arkansas declared their independence and joined the Confederate States. Men of the highest order throughout the country, distinguished for their loyalty and their patriotic services, came to the aid of the government which had just been organized in defence of their principles and the doctrines of the Declaration of Independence. Like Hampden, who loved the government and cherished its glorious history-the greatest and freest in the world—but who took up arms to defend the liberties of the people of England against the perversion of its powers by the reigning monarch, they came to the support of the Confederate government in its resistance to the threatened invasion. They felt as Lord Chatham did that to resist the usurpation of powers of the government was a duty, and to aid those who had ranged themselves for the defence of the liberties of the people was a patriotic act.

Robert E. Lee resigned his commission in the United States army and tendered his services to Virginia; he was made commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the commonwealth.

General Albert Sidney Johnston, whose services had won for him great distinction in the United States army, and whose qualities made him the peer of any military commander in the world, then in command of the Department of California, resigned his commission and travelled by land from San Francisco to Richmond to tender his services to the Confederate States.

The Confederate Congress in session at Montgomery, on the 21st of May, 1861, resolved "That this Congress will adjourn on Tuesday next to meet again on the 20th day of July at Richmond, Virginia."

About this time I was called to Richmond to visit my youngest son, Camillus B. Hilliard, who had a short time before returned from Europe, and had been appointed assistant surgeon in the Confederate army. He had attended three courses of lectures, and had received his degree at Philadelphia, but wishing to pursue his studies in Paris he had gone to that city in 1860, where he remained until the early part of 1861. Mrs. Hilliard accompanied me, and we found our son extremely ill; it was several weeks before he recovered. He entered again upon his duties, and soon advanced to the rank of surgeon, a post which he held until the end of the war.

In pursuance of its resolutions Congress assembled at Richmond on the day appointed, and President Davis delivered a message in which he stated that the aggressive movement of the enemy required prompt and energetic action.

I passed some months in Richmond, and was deeply interested in the important events which occurred at that time.

The first great battle between the army of the United States and that of the Confederate States occurred at Manassas, July 21, 1861. The United States forces were under the command of General McDowell, and those of the Confederate army under the command of General Joseph E. Johnston and General Beauregard. The battle began before daybreak on the morning of the 21st, and continued until the afternoon of that day; great gallantry being displayed by officers and men on both sides. A writer, whose account seems authentic, says:

"At four o'clock the advantage seemed clearly on the Union side; McDowell ordered an attack upon the centre, which he hoped would decide the day. But at the very moment his whole right came rushing down in confusion. The Confederates had struck a blow upon an unexpected quarter. Ever