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by the most sincere patriotism, enlightened by a certain political sagacity, guided in his views and in his ambitions by an irreproachable honesty, sustained by the people, of whom he was less the directing chief than the faithful servant, he followed the straight path, regulating his steps by the march of events, without seeking to hasten or delay the demands of the hour. He thus had a career more useful than brilliant during his life, but immortalized in his last hour by the consecration of success and the sanctification of martyrdom.

CHAPTER VIII.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE CAMPAIGN.

Opening of the campaign of 1862- Disagreements at Washington Adoption of McClellan's plan - Military excursion in Virginia Organization of army corps - Embarking for Fortress Monroe -Fight of the Monitor and the Merrimac - Disembarking at Hampton -The surrounding country Newport News - March upon York

town - The beseeching Virginians.

THE campaign of 1862 was first opened in the West, in the month of February, by the capture of Fort Henry and of the fortified camp of Donelson. The former surrendered on the 6th, to Commodore Foote, after a few hours' bombardment; the latter, on the 15th, to General Grant, after three days of fighting. This double success gave the victors sixteen thousand prisoners, fifty pieces of artillery, and quantities of small arms, munitions of war, and provisions of all kinds. But its most important result was to break the line of defence of the enemy on the borders of Kentucky and Tennessee, and to cut his communications from the East to the West, in capturing from him the only railroad which he could use for that purpose. Thus he was obliged immediately to evacuate Nashville and Columbus.

At the same time, General Burnside, landing in North Carolina, at the head of a large expedition, established himself firmly on Roanoke Island, after capturing some strong fortifications, a large number of cannon, and more than three thousand prisoners.

The Army of the Potomac received all this good

news in its winter quarters, where the hesitations of the general-in-chief and the irresolution of the President, relative to the final adoption of a plan of campaign, continued to hold it. The great question was, to know if the enemy should be attacked from the front, as Mr Lincoln evidently thought, or if their position should be turned, by means of Chesapeake Bay, to throw upon their rear all the forces which were not absolutely necessary for the security of Washington, as was proposed by General McClellan. The difference of opinion was so great that the secret was soon known through the army. Thus it was known that the President had given an order for a general movement of the forces, both on land and sea, on the 22d of February, with the peremptory order, "that the chiefs of Departments, and especially the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, with all their subordinates, and the generalin-chief as well as all the other commanders and subordinates, in command of both land and naval forces, will be held, each in his own sphere, to a strict accountability for the prompt execution of this order."

The idea of such an order was not happy, and its execution subject to so many plausible objections that General McClellan had no trouble in getting it revoked. The 22d of February passed by without any other demonstration than the salvos of artillery in commemoration of the birthday of Washington. But, rightfully or wrongfully, the impression remained that the President had been compelled to exercise his authority, to force the general-in-chief from his inaction.

So, also, the creation of army corps was strongly recommended, as a necessary measure in the organization of an army of a hundred and fifty thousand men. General McClellan was opposed to it. Without denying its advantages in a military point of view, he

wanted, it was said, to take the time to choose the generals the most capable of taking command, according to their merits. But, as his choice had not been made at the time of commencing active operations, the President took the affair in his own hands, and, by an order dated March 8, divided the Army of the Potomac into four corps, and himself appointed the commanders. The same day, a council of war of twelve generals of division was called by the President to pronounce between the two plans of campaign under discussion. The commander-in-chief had also, on his own account, to explain his plans to his subordinates and submit them to their judgment. Nothing could have been better, if he had taken the initiative, for in such a case, in asking their advice, he would, nevertheless, have remained the judge in the last resort, and free, consequently, to act as he pleased. But here he was placed in the false position of pleading his cause before his inferiors. If they preferred other plans than his, it would have been necessary for him to resign his command, for it does not comport with the dignity of a general-in-chief to charge himself with the execution of a plan which he disapproves, when, above all, it has been dictated to him in that manner. I do not know if General McClellan looked upon it in this way; but, in any case, he was put to the trial. Eight generals were in favor of his plan of campaign, only four were in favor of a different

one.

At this time, a singular coincidence gave rise to many comments. The decision to open the campaign in the rear of the enemy's line was taken in secret council on the 8th of March-on the 9th, the Confederates had disappeared from Manassas.

Where had they gone to? They had fallen back upon a safer position, in rear of the line of the Rappa

hannock, thus baffling the strategic combination which General McClellan had announced the evening before. for the first time.

Whatever was the cause of that sudden retreat, its effect was to produce an immediate general movement in the Army of the Potomac. The following night, Keyes' division received the order to move out on the Leesburg road, and on the morning of the 10th we were en route by the way of Chain Bridge, at last bidding adieu to our winter quarters.

One would have said we were going to a fête. Officers and soldiers, equally tired of camp life, wished nothing better than to march upon the enemy, and when they debouched from the bridge, upon the sacred soil of Virginia, as the Virginians proudly designated their fields, it was in the midst of hurrahs for General Peck, who at this moment rejoined the head of the column. General Keyes had his share, when he overtook us at the first halting-place, galloping and saluting like the bronze caricature of Jackson on the public square. We stopped on the road, to let pass McCall's division, which had just left its camp. Nothing could be more dreary than these ruined huts, on a field dry and bare. If we were happy in leaving Tenallytown, how much more joyful must the regiments have been who had passed the winter in this desolate place.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, we reached a high hill, which, from the extensive view it commanded, was called Prospect Hill. The enemy had just evacuated the position where the division established its bivouac across the Leesburg road, the right resting on the Potomac, the artillery in the centre, and the left covered by a regiment of cavalry. The pickets being posted, and the fires lighted, every one supped gayly and slept soundly till morning.

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