473. General McClellan.1- General Scott had become too feeble to march with the army, and at his own request was allowed to resign. General George B. McClellan's successes army. General Sterling Price commanded the forces from Missouri, and General McCullough those from Texas. These troops gained victories over the Union forces in that section, the most important being at Carthage (July 5), at Oakhill, or Wilsons Creek (August 10), and at Lexington (September 20), where General Price captured three thousand prisoners and took possession of the place. 475. The Blockade. A large number of steamships were built at the North and sent to the Southern coast to prevent other countries from sending supplies to the Confederacy. 1 General George B. McClellan spent the early part of his life in Philadelphia. He was born in that city in 1826. His education was finished at West Point Military Academy, where he graduated with honor. His first experience as a soldier was in the Mexican War under General Scott. At the beginning of the civil war, he was appointed major general of the Ohio troops by the governor of that state. The results of both of his campaigns in eastern Virginia were so unsatisfactory to his government, that he was relieved of his command, and he did no further service as a soldier during the war. He died at his home in Orange, New Jersey, October 29, 1885. Her only means of obtaining money, or medicines, or other necessities, was by selling her cotton, and her fleet steamers often escaped in the darkness with their cargoes. In like Missouri R. JEFFERSON CITYO Osage Carthage Springfield TAHLEQUAH Ridge R INDIA TEXAS Arkansas R. RK A N Washita Hot Spring Washington PILOT KNOB Batesville TONI Holly Spgs. Helena St. Charles BATTLEFIELDS IN MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS In a short time, twenty vessels were taken as prizes and brought to the southern ports.1 Nov. 8 477. The Trent Affair.- The Confederate government, hoping for aid from England and France, sent James M. Mason and John Slidell as commissioners to those countries. They succeeded in passing the blockading steamers and went to Havana, where they took passage on the Trent, a mail steamer belonging to Great Britain. The next day they were seized by Captain Wilkes, who commanded the San Jacinto of the United States navy, and were carried as 1 Two steamers, the Sumter and the Nashville, were sent out by the Confederate government, under the command of officers who had resigned from the United States navy. The Sumter succeeded in running the blockade at the mouth of the Mississippi. The Nashville reached the open sea at Charleston. Cargoes valued at millions of dollars were captured by these vessels, and the injury was seriously felt throughout the Northern States. prisoners to Fort Warren, near Boston. This seizure of passengers on board a British vessel might have brought on war with England, had not the authorities at Washington disapproved the act of Captain Wilkes and returned the commissioners. 478. Confederate Presidential Election. Before the close of the year, the people of the Confederate States, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution adopted, Nov. 6 elected a President and Vice President. Mr. Davis and Mr. Stephens were chosen to fill those offices for six beginning February 22, 1862. years, QUESTIONS FOR STUDY What were the What was the effect Why was General Beauregard ordered to bombard Fort Sumter? What effect did the fall of Sumter produce in the North? Federal plans for invading the Confederate States ? of the blockade ? For what was the South fighting? For what did the North go to war? What plan of the Federal generals was thwarted by the first battle of Manassas? What was the effect in the North? What in the South? If McDowell had been successful at Manassas, what might have been the result? Make a table of battles in accordance with the following form: 479. Plans for the New Year. - The United States authorities realized that a mighty task lay before them, and they determined to use their vast supply of men and means to accomplish it. The South, confident of success, was also preparing to continue the struggle. The Federals had decided to send a force on to Richmond, while others were to move from the Ohio and Mississippi toward the Gulf States. The Federals were doing all in their power to get possession of the lower Mississippi, to use it as a means of communication. This would cut the Confederacy in two, and so shut off from the eastern half the immense supplies of beef sent from Texas; hence the Confederates were making every effort to keep control of the river. GENERAL JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON placed General J. E. Johnston at the head of the army in Virginia, now called the Army of Northern Virginia. General Albert Sidney Johnston took command of the Southern forces in the West. He stationed his army in Kentucky along a line reaching from Columbus on the Mississippi to the Cumberland Mountains. With the exception of a small army maintained beyond the Mississippi, all that could be spared from defending the long stretch of seacoast were sent to these two generals. WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS - The first military movements were made 481. Mill Springs. in Kentucky. At Fishing Creek, or Mill Springs, the Con COMMODORE FOOTE the forts built to O S RI Cairo Birds Pt. New Madrid. ISLAND NO.10 Cumberlan Feb. 6 and 16 UCKY defend the passage of those streams. General Grant was ready with his forces on land and joined in the attack. Both forts were taken in February, 1862, although the Confederates defended them bravely. At Fort Donelson, they fought four days amidst the ice and snow. The capture of these forts was a heavy blow to the Southern cause. General A. S. Johnston was forced to retreat, and nearly the whole of Tennessee was lost, for the Union gunboats patrolled the rivers. The Federals moved farther south and took possession of Nashville, where a large amount of stores fell into their hands. This victory greatly encouraged the Federals, and made a hero of General Grant. ARK. MIS E Memphis |