npon their return home after defeat, would more than counterbalance the efforts of those who might be again induced to take up arms. The stars and stripes were hoisted over the conquered stronghold, thus symbolizing the nation's majesty in the presence of her erring and rebellious children.

Only three days after the fall of Vicksburg, as the immediate result of the victory, Port Hudson surrendered to the besieging force under Banks. The campaigns for the opening of the Mississippi were now at an end. To Illinois far more than to any other State, the nation is indebted for this successful termination. Her representatives in the long list of bloody battles and brilliant victories were the Sth,11th, 13th, 14th, 17th,20th,23d, 25th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32d, 33d, 35th, 38th, 41st, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, 51st, 53d, 55th, 57th, 63d, 72d, 75th, 76th, 77th, 81st, 93d, 95th, 97th, 99th, 108th, 113th, 114th, 116th, 118th, 120th, 124th, 126th, 127th and 131st regiments of infantry, Willard's Peoria and the Chicago and Mercantile battery, the 6th, 7th and portions of the 23d, 15th and Thielman's cavalry.

Step by step they had hewed their way toward the gulf, stronghold after stronghold had fallen beneath their stalwart blows, and now the last fetter which treason had forged to bind the Father of Waters, was riven asunder. No victory of the war was so decisive in its results as the capture of Vicksburg. It has been truthfully said that the possession of the Mississippi valley is the possession of America. Had the Richmond government been able to maintain the power it set up in the lower part of the great valley, the upper portion would have gravitated into the confederacy as naturally as its waters fall into the gulf. Furthermore the river not only served as a means of defense but was the dividing line between two great sections of the revolted territory. That lying on the west, although less important than the Atlantic region, was nevertheless the vast storehouse whence supplies had been drawn for the support of the armies in Virginia and Tennessee. Now isolated Texas could no longer contribute her vast herds of cattle, Arkansas her serials and Louisiana her sugar. With a fleet of federal gunboats patrolling the river, concert in the military operations of the severed States was impossible, and in those of the west the war was virtually at an end.

To the material effects of the blow the moral must be added to fully appreciate the extent of the damage sustained by the confederacy. The surprise and consternation consequent upon the Mississippi disaster fell like a thunderbolt from a clear sky on the people of the south. The spirit of their high vaulting chivalry was broken, and gloomy doubts brooded in the minds of many as to the possibility of ever realizing the success of their cause. The confederate authorities were early convinced of the importance of the Mississippi. At the time Grant commenced his descent against Vicksburg, Jefferson Davis harangued the people of Jackson on the necessity of preserving the Mississippi, as the great artery of the country and the only means of securing the perpetuity of the new government. Pollard in referring to its loss, says: "It compelled as its necessary consequence, the surrender of other posts on the Mississippi and cut the confederacy in twain. Its defense had worked exposure and weakness in other quarters. It had about stripped Charleston of troops; it had taken many thousand

of men from Bragg's army, and it had made such requisition on his force for the newly organized lines in Mississippi that he was compelled or induced, wisely or unwisely, to fall back from Tallahassee, Tullahoma to give up the country on the Memphis and Charleston railroad and probably to abandon the defences of Middle Tennessee."

Brigadier-General John A. Logan, whose deeds and fame are so inseparable blended with the opening of the Mississippi, was born at Murfreesboro, Jackson county, February 9th, 1826. In common with others, at that early day in Illinois, his educational privileges were limited. Natural ability, however, triumphed over all obstacles, and he early become noted for the proficiency of his attainments. At the outbreak of the Mexican war he entered as a lieutenant in the 1st regiment of Illinois volunteers, and valiently fought with his comrades till they returned home. Resuming the duties of civil life, he commenced the study of law in the office of his uncle A. M. Jenkins, formerly lieuten ant-governor of the State. On the completion of his studies he rapidly rose in his profession and obtained a wide-spread popularity. In 1852 he was elected prosecuting attorney of the 3d judicial dis trict. In the fall of the same year he was chosen to represent the counties of Franklin and Jackson in the legislature, and was reelected in 1856. After the expiration of his last term in the legislature he was twice elected to congress, and while still a member in 1861, he returned home, and upon the organization of the 31st Illinois, was chosen its colonel. Of his subsequent operations in the war we have already spoken. From the iron fibre of his com position and his deeds of fiery valor, he has been styled the Murat of Illinois bravery

CHAPTER LXII.

1863-ILLINOIS IN THE CHATTANOOGA CAMPAIGN.

Battles of Chicamauga-Wauhachie-Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge-Relief of Knoxville.

After the battle of Murfreesboro several months were spent by Rosecrans in recruiting his army, procuring supplies and opening up lines of communication to again advance on Bragg. Rigid discipline was enjoined and no effort spared to create in the minds of his men a proper appreciation of the work before them.

a

While these preparations were going on a number of minor engagements occurred in Middle Tennessee, in which Illinois troops were prominent actors. On the 3d of February, 1863, Forrest made à determined attack to recapture Fort Donelson, garrisoned by the 83d Illinois, but was repulsed. March 20th the 8th, 80th and 123d Illinois and some other troops under Col. Hall had a severe encounter with Morgan's cavalry near Milton, and the latter were forced to retreat. Again on the 20th of April the 24th, S0th, 98th and 123d Illinois, assisted by a force of cavalry, overtook a body of rebels at Woodbury and drove them from the town.

At length, the Washington authorities, believing that Bragg's army had been weakened to strengthen that of Lee's, insisted on a forward movement. The rebel commander, after his defeat, retired to Tullahoma and Shelbyville, making Duck River his line of defense. His position in the towns was strongly fortified, while the occupation of the roads leading south, as well as the natural features of the country gave him additional security in case of an attack. Rosecrans determined to neutralize these advantages by a flank movement on the left and compel him either to retreat or fight outside of his fortifications. Accordingly on the 24th of June the Union army set out from Murfreesboro, Thomas' corps in the centre, McCook's on the right and Crittenden's on the left. By a feint on Shelbyville with a portion of his army, he deceived the enemy, causing him to uncover Liberty, Hoover's and other principal gaps in the Cumberland Mountains through which the main advance was to be made. After hard fighting these were possessed by the national troops, the enemy's position at Shelbyville flanked and Bragg compelled to evacuate his works and escape to Tullahoma. Dispositions were immediately made to get in his rear and destroy his communications at the latter place, but he immediately abandoned it and retired in the direction of Chattanooga, pressed as far as practicable by the Union troops. Thus in a campaign of nine days, during which the roads were rendered

nearly impassable by one of the most extraordinary rain storms ever known in the country, the enemy was driven from his entrenched position and Middle Tennessee relieved from rebel domination. Also in the various rencountres which occurred, there were captured 1,634 prisoners, six pieces of artillery and a large amount of stores.

The next step in following up the enemy was Chattanooga, the approaches to which were strong by nature and rendered more so by art. Rosecrans having put the railroad in operation to Stevenson for the transportation of supplies, commenced crossing the Cumberland Mountains, whose towering masses of rock lay between him and the stronghold he wished to subdue. Availing himself of the mountain passes previously captured, he reached the Tennessee and, descending it, prepared to cross in the vicinity of Chattanooga. The city being impregnable to a direct attack, Rosecrans decided to flank it on the west and south, and either force Bragg to evacuate it or suffer isolation from his base of sup plies. With the exception of Hazen's division the enemy crossed the river below the city and commenced moving into Lookout valley. This, with the parallel valleys of Chattanooga and Chicamauga, extends southward from the Tennessee, which, at this point, runs in a westerly direction. Creeks bearing the names and coursing through each valley fall into the river, the two most western below the city and the one farthest east above it. Separating the waters of the creeks are Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, the former abutting on the river opposite Chattanooga and the latter a short distance above.

Hazen was instructed to watch the fords and make Bragg be lieve that the main body of the national troops was still on the north bank of the river. His force, although numbering only 7,000 men, was accordingly so dispersed; the heads of columns and camp-fires could be seen simultaneously at the fords along the river a distance of 70 miles. So adroitly was the ruse managed that McCook's corps had advanced up the valley 45 miles, and Thomas' 13, while Crittenden was on the river only 8 miles from Chattanooga before it was discovered by Bragg. He was now in a quandary. He could easily maintain himself against any assault of his adversary within his fortifications, but how long could he defy starvation when the investing army had cut off his supplies. If he attempted to defend both Chattanooga and his communications his army would be divided and easily beaten in detail, and, if he abandoned the city, it would provoke a clamor, among the people of the South eagerly watching his movements. The last expedient was, however, chosen as the least of three evils, and abandoning the city and its well constructed fortifications, he moved his army up Chicamauga valley in the direction of Lafayette.

Crittenden having taken possession of the town without opposition, was ordered to leave a brigade as a garrison, and with the remainder of his corps pursue the retiring army up the valley. Rosecrans, believing that Bragg was in full retreat, and that his chief object should be to intercept him, McCook and Thomas were ordered through the passes of Lookout and Mission mountains to get in advance of him on the south. In making this disposition of his forces, like many other good generals before him, he was

deceived. Bragg was not retreating, but concentrating, in the vicinity of Lafayette, the most numerous army that had ever fought under rebel standards west of the Alleghanies. Buckner had been summoned from Knoxville, Johnson had been drawn upon for one of his strongest divisions, and Lee, satisfied that Richmond was not in danger, dispatched Longstreet's heavy corps of veterans from the Rapidan. Ere this was known Crittenden, deflecting easterly, had collided with a portion of his force in the vicinity of Ringgold. Thomas had developed it near Lafayette, and McCook had completely turned his position on the south.

In this detached condition of the Union corps a rare opportu nity was offered Bragg to crush them in detail. All it required was to fall on Thomas with such a force as to overwhelm him, then turn down Chicamauga valley, and throwing himself between the city and Crittenden crush him, and finally, turning up Lookout valley, intercept and capture McCook. Failing to immediately avail himself of his advantages our generals discovered their mistake and rapidly commenced concentrating to avoid its consequences. Thomas at once pushed down the valley to within supporting distance of Crittenden, while McCook, whose isolation was greater, marched back into Lookout Valley and descending it, recrossed the mountains at Stephen's Gap. By this zig-zag course he effected a junction with the other corps and eluded Bragg, who had posted a heavy force to intercept him in the direct route down the Chicamauga. In the meantime affairs on the Chicamauga had assumed an alarming aspect. Bragg had received reinforcements, and, endeavoring to get between his antago nists, and Chatanooga, a race commenced between their respective armies on opposite sides of the creek in the direction of the city. This movement evinced a determination on the part of Bragg to turn our left, and Thomas was ordered to that end of the line, leaving Crittenden's and McCook's on the right. Its 7 divisions, Wood's Van Cleves', Palmer's, Reynold's, Johnson's, Baird's and Brannan's, now concentrated, extended down the west bank of the Chicamauga in the order mentioned, some 12 miles southward of Chattanooga. Negley's, Davis' and Sheridan's were yet several miles south of the main force, and Granger's at Rossville, but after the commencement of the battle, they came up and participated, swelling the entire force to some 55,000.

Early on the morning of the 19th of September, 1863, clouds of dust were seen hanging over the road beyond the creek, caused by the heavy columns of the enemy moving in the direction of Chattanooga. At 10 o'clock the loud explosion of artillery on the extreme left signalled the commencement of battle, and Thomas, riding forward to ascertain the nature of the attack, found Brannan's division hard pressed. To his surprise, also, the enemy had crossed the creek, and all the advantages which it afforded as a means of defense was lost. The impetuosity of the assault came near sweeping his entire corps from the field before it could be rallied and reinforced. When at length this was effected, its sturdy regulars, stung by the disaster they had sustained, and catching the resolution of their commander, threw themselves with irresistable force against their assailants. Even Longstreet's veterans strove in vain to check the advance, and were swept back the distance of a mile, and all the lost ground recovered-the