CHAPTER XVI.

66

MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF THE FEDERAL FORCES OPERATING AGAINST RICHMOND.-M'CLELLAN'S OPINION OF HIS ARMY. ITS NUMERICAL STRENGTH.-OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF CONFEDERATE FORCES IN NORTH VIRGINIA.-LINCOLN'S ORDER OF THE 22D FEBRUARY.M'OLELLAN'S DISSENT.-WHEN JOHNSTON DETERMINED TO CHANGE HIS LINE ON THE POTOMAC.-HIS PREPARATIONS FOR RETREAT.-HOW IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.—M'CLELLAN'S ADVANCE.-DISCOVERY OF JOHNSTON'S EVACUATION OF MANASSAS AND CENTREVILLE.HE CROSSES THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND WAITS FOR THE ENEMY.—HE PENETRATES M'CLELLAN'S DESIGNS.-FEDERAL COUNCIL OF WAR AT FAIRFAX COURT-HOUSE.-SHIFTING OF THE SCENES OF WAR IN VIRGINIA.-THE BATTLE OF KERNSTOWN.-HOW STONEWALL JACKSON CAME TO FIGHT THIS BATTLE.-GREAT NUMERICAL SUPERIORITY OF THE ENEMY. -THE CONTEST AT THE STONE FENCE.-JACKSON FALLS BACK TO CEDAR CREEK.-MAGRUDER'S LINE ON THE PENINSULA.-A FEARFUL CRISIS.-M'CLELLAN HELD IN CHECK BY ELEVEN THOUSAND CONFEDERATES.-OUTWITTED AGAIN BY JOHNSTON.-RETREAT OF THE CONFEDERATES UP THE PENINSULA. STRATEGIC MERIT OF THE MOVEMENT.-BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG.-LONGSTREET'S DIVISION ENGAGED.-SUCCESS OF THE CONFEDERATES.—— M'CLELLAN'S WHOLE ARMY IN PERIL.HIS FLANK MOVEMENT ON JOHNSTON'S RETREAT.ENGAGEMENT AT BARHAMSVILLE.—THE LINE OF THE CHICKAHOMINY.-JOHNSTON'S BRILLIANT STRATEGY.—EVACUATION OF NORFOLK.-DESTRUCTION OF THE VIRGINIA.-HER LAST CHALLENGE TO THE ENEMY.-A GALLING SPECTACLE.-COMMODORE TATNALL ORDERS

HER DESTRUCTION.—A COURT OF INQUIRY.-NAVAL ENGAGEMENT AT PREWRY'S BLUFF.—

A FEEBLE BARRIER TO RICHMOND.-REPULSE OF THE FEDERAL FLEET.-WHAT IT PROVED. -M'CLELLAN'S INVESTMENT OF THE LINE OF THE CHICKAHOMINY.-DEFENCES OF RICHMOND. SCENES AROUND THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.-ALARM AND EXCITEMENT OF ITS PEOPLE. THE EXODUS FROM RICHMOND.-PUBLIC MEETING IN THE CITY HALL.NOBLE RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.-REANIMATION OF THE PEOPLE AND THE AUTHORITIES.—PRESIDENT DAVIS' EARLY OPINION OF THE EFFECT OF THE FALL OF RICHMOND.—APPEALS OF THE RICHMOND PRESS.-JACKSON'S CAMPAIGN IN THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA.—JACKSON DETERMINES ON THE AGGRESSIVE.--DISPOSITION OF THE FEDERAL FORCES WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE.-AFFAIR AT M'DOWELL.-JACKSON DECEIVES BANKS —SURPRISES HIS REAR-GUARD AT PORT ROYAL.-BANKS' RACE TO WINCHESTER.-SCENES OF RETREAT THROUGH WINCHESTER.—BANKS' QUICK TIME TO THE POTOMAC.—EXTENT OF JACKSON'S SUCCESS.—FRUITS OF TWO DAYS' OPERATIONS OF THE CONFEDERATES.-—JACKSON PASSES BETWEEN THE COLUMNS OF FREMONT AND SHIELDS.-DEATH OF TURNER ASHBY.—JACKSON'S TRIBUTE TO HIM.-BATTLES OF CROSS KEYS AND PORT REPUBLIC— EWELL DEFEATS FREMONT.-THE FIELD OF PORT REPUBLIC.-EWELL'S ARRIVAL SAVES THE DAY.-CRITICAL AND SPLENDID ACTION OF TWO VIRGINIA REGIMENTS.-CLOSE OF THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN.-JACKSON'S ALMOST MARVELLOUS SUCCESS.- -HIS HALT AT WEYER'S CAVE.

In the first part of the year 1862, the Federal Government, with plans fully matured, had under arms about six hundred thousand men; more than one-third of whom were operating in the direction of Richmond. What Gen. McClellan himself said of the vast and brilliant army with which he designed to capture the Confederate capital was not extravagant. It was, indeed, "magnificent in material, admirable in dscipline and instruction, excellently equipped and armed." On March 1, 1862, the number of Federal troops in and about Washington had increased to 193,142, fit for duty, with a grand aggregate of 221,987.

Such was the heavy and perilous force of the enemy that, in the spring of 1862, hung on the northern frontier of Virginia. Let us see what was in front of it on the Confederate line of defence. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had in the camps of Centreville and Manassas less than thirty thousand men. These figures are from an official source. "Stonewall" Jackson had been detached with eleven skeleton regiments to amuse the enemy in the Shenandoah Valley, passing rapidly between Banks and Shields, and giving them the idea that he meditated a formidable movement. Such was the force that in North Virginia stood in McClellan's path, and deterred him from a blow that at that time might have been fatal to the Southern Confederacy.

It had been the idea of the Washington authorities to despatch the Confederacy by a combined movement in the winter. The order of President Lincoln for a general movement of the land and naval forces against the Confederate positions on the 22d of February (Washington's birthday), directed that McClellan's army should advance for the immediate object of seizing and occupying a point upon the railroad southwest of Manassas Junction. But McClellan urged a different line of operations on the Lower Rappahannock, obtained delay, and did not advance.

In the mean time, Gen. Johnston had not been an idle spectator of the immense and overwhelming preparations of the enemy in his front. As a commander he was sagacious, quick to apprehend, and had that peculiar military reticence in connection with a sage manner and decisive action, that obtained the confidence of his men instead of exciting criticism, or alarming their suspicions. In the first winter months of 1862, he had determined to change his line on the Potomac. All idea of offensive operations on it had long ago been abandoned. It had become necessary in Gen. Johnston's opinion that the main body of the Confederate forces in Virginia should be in supporting distance of the Army of the Peninsula, so that, in the event of either being driven back, they might combine for final resistance before Richmond.

During winter, Johnston had been quietly transporting his immense stores towards the Rappahannock, removing every cannon that could be

spared, and filling the empty embrasures with hollow logs painted black, which even at a few yards' distance much resembled thirty-two and sixtyfour pounders. Never were preparations for a retreat so quietly and skilfully made. So perfectly were all things arranged that all stores, baggage, sick, material, and guns were removed far to the rear, before Johnston's own men realized the possibility of a retreat. It was only as the different brigades fell into line, and the main army defiled southward through Fauquier County that the men discovered the movement to be a general and not a partial one.

On the 8th of March, the Government at Washington issued a peremptory order to McClellan to move for the new base of operations he designed on the Chesapeake Bay, and to capture the Confederate batteries on the Potomac. The change in the situation which Johnston's skilful retreat had effected was not known in Washington. On the 9th of March McClellan's army was in motion. All Washington was in expectation; it was known that the second "On-to-Richmond" had commenced, and that the second grand army was about to pass its grand climacteric. At night Fairfax Court-House was reached, and the grand army encamped within a radius of two miles. At a late hour came the wonderful tidings that Manassas and Centreville had been evacuated! There was no enemy there. But there was a great conflagration in full flame, bridges and machine-shops just blown up, and other incendiary fires gleaming in the distance. Nothing was left in the famous Confederate position; it was desolate, though frowning in fortified grandeur. Thus had been accomplished in the face of the enemy the most successful and complete evacuation-the most secure and perfect retreat of which the history of the war furnishes an example. Johnston had safely escaped with his entire right and left wings; he had securely carried off every gun and all his provisions and munitions; and he had blown up or otherwise destroyed every bridge and culvert on turnpike and railroad along his route.*

When Johnston's army had crossed the Rappahannock, it was drawn up in line, and waited a week for the enemy; but McClellan refused the challenge, and moved down the stream near the sea-board. To contract

* In Gen. McClellan's official report of this period, he seeks to convey the impression to the reader that he was well aware of Johnston's evacuation, and only marched his troops to Manassas that they might gain "some experience on the march and bivouac preparatory to the campaign, and to get rid of the superfluous baggage and other impediments which accumulate round an army encamped for a long time in one locality." He continues: "A march to Manassas and back could produce no delay in embarking for the Lower Chesapeake, as the transports could not be ready for some time, and it afforded a good intermediate step between the quiet and comparative comfort of the camps round Washington and the rigours of active operations."

If Gen. McClellan had designed to have written something to be laughed at, he could not have better succeeded than in the sentences quoted above.

his left, Johnston fell back across the Rapidan, and increased the strength of the right against all flanking manoeuvres. Large fleets of transports were gathered at the mouth of the Rappahannock, but few knew their object or destination. Johnston however divined it. He promptly took the idea that the Federals, while making a show of force along the Lower Rappahannock, would not attack; their object being to transport their force with great celerity to the Peninsula, thinking to suprise Magruder at Yorktown, and seize Richmond before any troops could be marched to oppose them.

He was right. On March 13, a council of war was assembled at Fairfax Court-House, by McClellan. It agreed on the following resolution : "That the enemy, having retreated from Manassas to Gordonsville, behind the Rappahannock and the Rapidan, it is the opinion of Generals commanding army corps that the operations to be carried on will be best undertaken from Old Point Comfort between the York and James Rivers: provided, 1st, That the enemy's vessel Merrimac can be neutralized; 2d, That the means of transportation sufficient for an immediate transfer of the force to its new base can be ready at Washington and Alexandria to move down the Potomac; and, 3d, That a naval auxiliary force can be had to silence, or aid in silencing, the enemy's batteries on the York River; 4th, That the force to be left to cover Washington shall be such as to give an entire feeling of security for its safety from menace.'

وو

While the scene of the most important contest in Virginia was thus being shifted, and Gen. Banks was transferring a heavy force from the Shenandoah Valley to take position at Centreville, in pursuance of McClellan's plan for the protection of Washington, a battle unimportant but bloody took place near Winchester.

BATTLE OF KERNSTOWN.

Gen. Shields had been left at Winchester by Banks with a division and some cavalry, and commanded, as he states in his official report, seven thousand men of all arms. Ascertaining that "Stonewall" Jackson was at New Market, he made a feint, pretended to retreat on the 20th of March, and at night placed his force in a secluded position, two miles from Winchester on the Martinsburg road. This movement, and the masked posi tion of the enemy made an impression upon the inhabitants of Winchester that Shields' army had left, and that nothing remained but a few regiments to garrison the place. On the 22nd Ashby's cavalry drove in the enemy's pickets, and discovered only a brigade. The next day Jackson had moved his line near Kernstown, prepared to give battle and expect

BATTLE OF KERNSTOWN.

265

ing to find only a small force of the enemy at the point of attack. He had less than twenty-five hundred men. It will amuse the Southern reader to find it stated in Gen. Shields' official report that Jackson had in the engagement of Kernstown eleven thousand men, and was, therefore, in superiour force.

The engagement between these unequal forces commenced about four o'clock in the evening of the 23d of March, and terminated when night Jackson's left flank, commanded by closed upon the scene of conflict. Gen. Garnett, was finally turned, and forced back upon the centre, but only after a most desperate and bloody encounter. A long stone fence ran across an open field, which the enemy were endeavouring to reach. Federals and Confederates were both in motion for this natural breast-work, when the 24th Virginia, (Irish), ran rapidly forward, arrived at the fence first, and poured a volley into the enemy at ten paces distant. But the overwhelming numbers of the enemy soon swept over the fence, and drove the Confederate left into the woods, taking two guns and a number of prisoners.

وو.

During the night Gen. Jackson decided to fall back to Cedar Creek. The enemy pursued as far as Harrisonburg, but with little effect, as Ashby's famous cavalry, the terrour of the Federals, covered the retreat. In his official report Gen. Shields wrote that the retreat "became flight;" but in a private letter to a friend in Washington, he had previously written of the Confederates: "Such were their gallantry, and high state of discipline that at no time during the battle or pursuit did they give way to panic."

The Confederate loss in killed, wounded and prisoners is carefully estimated at 465. Gen. Shields stated his loss as 103 killed, and 441 wounded. It had been a fierce and frightful engagement; for Jackson had lost nearly twenty per cent. of his force in a very few hours of conflict. But the battle was without any general signification. It drew, however, upon Jackson a great deal of censure; "he was," says one of his officers, "cursed by every one;" and it must be confessed, in this instance at least, the great commander had been entrapped by the enemy.

But public attention in Richmond was speedily taken from an affair so small by daily announcements of fleets of transports arriving in Hampton Roads, and the vast extension of the long line of tents at Newport News. McClellan, having the advantage of water-carriage, had rapidly changed his line of operations, and was at the threshold of a new approach to Richmoud, while the great bulk of the Confederate force was still in motion in the neighbourhood of the Rappahannock and the Rapidan.

It was a fearful crisis. The fate of Richmond hung upon the line held across the Peninsula, from Yorktown on the York River to Mulberry Island on James River, by Gen. Magruder with little more than ten thousand

મ