diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:17:52 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:17:52 -0700 |
| commit | 4f69a84f017d6899f4fbc9180d0c5fec7f7e13fa (patch) | |
| tree | 1034fe5c145d91610806419e7c9d08f59dbb4e7b | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 1864-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 127387 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 1864-h/1864-h.htm | 5955 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 1864.txt | 5540 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 1864.zip | bin | 0 -> 123701 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/htfah10.txt | 5910 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/htfah10.zip | bin | 0 -> 122259 bytes |
9 files changed, 17421 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/1864-h.zip b/1864-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8b8be6c --- /dev/null +++ b/1864-h.zip diff --git a/1864-h/1864-h.htm b/1864-h/1864-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8f0faa --- /dev/null +++ b/1864-h/1864-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5955 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Hero Tales from American History, by Henry Cabot Lodge and Theodore + Roosevelt + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hero Tales From American History, by +Henry Cabot Lodge, and Theodore Roosevelt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hero Tales From American History + +Author: Henry Cabot Lodge, and Theodore Roosevelt +Last Updated: December 17, 2012 + +Release Date: October 10, 2008 [EBook #1864] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERO TALES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + HERO TALES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Henry Cabot Lodge, and Theodore Roosevelt + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Hence it is that the fathers of these men and ours also, and + they themselves likewise, being nurtured in all freedom and + well born, have shown before all men many and glorious deeds + in public and private, deeming it their duty to fight for + the cause of liberty and the Greeks, even against Greeks, + and against Barbarians for all the Greeks."—PLATO: + "Menexenus." +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> TO E. Y. R. + </p> + <p> + To you we owe the suggestion of writing this book. Its purpose, as you + know better than any one else, is to tell in simple fashion the story of + some Americans who showed that they knew how to live and how to die; who + proved their truth by their endeavor; and who joined to the stern and + manly qualities which are essential to the well-being of a masterful race + the virtues of gentleness, of patriotism, and of lofty adherence to an + ideal. + </p> + <p> + It is a good thing for all Americans, and it is an especially good thing + for young Americans, to remember the men who have given their lives in war + and peace to the service of their fellow-countrymen, and to keep in mind + the feats of daring and personal prowess done in time past by some of the + many champions of the nation in the various crises of her history. Thrift, + industry, obedience to law, and intellectual cultivation are essential + qualities in the makeup of any successful people; but no people can be + really great unless they possess also the heroic virtues which are as + needful in time of peace as in time of war, and as important in civil as + in military life. As a civilized people we desire peace, but the only + peace worth having is obtained by instant readiness to fight when wronged—not + by unwillingness or inability to fight at all. Intelligent foresight in + preparation and known capacity to stand well in battle are the surest + safeguards against war. America will cease to be a great nation whenever + her young men cease to possess energy, daring, and endurance, as well as + the wish and the power to fight the nation's foes. No citizen of a free + state should wrong any man; but it is not enough merely to refrain from + infringing on the rights of others; he must also be able and willing to + stand up for his own rights and those of his country against all comers, + and he must be ready at any time to do his full share in resisting either + malice domestic or foreign levy. + </p> + <p> + HENRY CABOT LODGE. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. + </p> + <p> + WASHINGTON, April 19, 1895. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <b>HERO TALES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY</b> + </a><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> WASHINGTON </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> DANIEL BOONE AND THE FOUNDING OF KENTUCKY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> GEORGE ROGERS CLARK AND THE CONQUEST OF THE + NORTHWEST </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> THE BATTLE OF TRENTON </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> BENNINGTON </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> KING'S MOUNTAIN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> THE STORMING OF STONY POINT </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> GOUVERNEUR MORRIS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> THE BURNING OF THE "PHILADELPHIA" </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> THE CRUISE OF THE "WASP" </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> THE "GENERAL ARMSTRONG" PRIVATEER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> JOHN QUINCY ADAMS AND THE RIGHT OF PETITION + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> FRANCIS PARKMAN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> "REMEMBER THE ALAMO" </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> HAMPTON ROADS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> THE FLAG-BEARER </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> GENERAL GRANT AND THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> ROBERT GOULD SHAW </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> CHARLES RUSSELL LOWELL </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0025"> LIEUTENANT CUSHING AND THE RAM "ALBEMARLE" + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> FARRAGUT AT MOBILE BAY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0027"> LINCOLN </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly king. + Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all + I shall not look upon his like again."—Hamlet + </pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h1> + HERO TALES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + WASHINGTON + </h2> + <p> + The brilliant historian of the English people [*] has written of + Washington, that "no nobler figure ever stood in the fore-front of a + nation's life." In any book which undertakes to tell, no matter how + slightly, the story of some of the heroic deeds of American history, that + noble figure must always stand in the fore-front. But to sketch the life + of Washington even in the barest outline is to write the history of the + events which made the United States independent and gave birth to the + American nation. Even to give alist of what he did, to name his battles + and recount his acts as president, would be beyond the limit and the scope + of this book. Yet it is always possible to recall the man and to consider + what he was and what he meant for us and for mankind He is worthy the + study and the remembrance of all men, and to Americans he is at once a + great glory of their past and an inspiration and an assurance of their + future. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * John Richard Green. +</pre> + <p> + To understand Washington at all we must first strip off all the myths + which have gathered about him. We must cast aside into the dust-heaps all + the wretched inventions of the cherry-tree variety, which were fastened + upon him nearly seventy years after his birth. We must look at him as he + looked at life and the facts about him, without any illusion or deception, + and no man in history can better stand such a scrutiny. + </p> + <p> + Born of a distinguished family in the days when the American colonies were + still ruled by an aristocracy, Washington started with all that good birth + and tradition could give. Beyond this, however, he had little. His family + was poor, his mother was left early a widow, and he was forced after a + very limited education to go out into the world to fight for himself He + had strong within him the adventurous spirit of his race. He became a + surveyor, and in the pursuit of this profession plunged into the + wilderness, where he soon grew to be an expert hunter and backwoodsman. + Even as a boy the gravity of his character and his mental and physical + vigor commended him to those about him, and responsibility and military + command were put in his hands at an age when most young men are just + leaving college. As the times grew threatening on the frontier, he was + sent on a perilous mission to the Indians, in which, after passing through + many hardships and dangers, he achieved success. When the troubles came + with France it was by the soldiers under his command that the first shots + were fired in the war which was to determine whether the North American + continent should be French or English. In his earliest expedition he was + defeated by the enemy. Later he was with Braddock, and it was he who + tried, to rally the broken English army on the stricken field near Fort + Duquesne. On that day of surprise and slaughter he displayed not only cool + courage but the reckless daring which was one of his chief + characteristics. He so exposed himself that bullets passed through his + coat and hat, and the Indians and the French who tried to bring him down + thought he bore a charmed life. He afterwards served with distinction all + through the French war, and when peace came he went back to the estate + which he had inherited from his brother, the most admired man in Virginia. + </p> + <p> + At that time he married, and during the ensuing years he lived the life of + a Virginia planter, successful in his private affairs and serving the + public effectively but quietly as a member of the House of Burgesses. When + the troubles with the mother country began to thicken he was slow to take + extreme ground, but he never wavered in his belief that all attempts to + oppress the colonies should be resisted, and when he once took up his + position there was no shadow of turning. He was one of Virginia's + delegates to the first Continental Congress, and, although he said but + little, he was regarded by all the representatives from the other colonies + as the strongest man among them. There was something about him even then + which commanded the respect and the confidence of every one who came in + contact with him. + </p> + <p> + It was from New England, far removed from his own State, that the demand + came for his appointment as commander-in-chief of the American army. + Silently he accepted the duty, and, leaving Philadelphia, took command of + the army at Cambridge. There is no need to trace him through the events + that followed. From the time when he drew his sword under the famous elm + tree, he was the embodiment of the American Revolution, and without him + that revolution would have failed almost at the start. How he carried it + to victory through defeat and trial and every possible obstacle is known + to all men. + </p> + <p> + When it was all over he found himself facing a new situation. He was the + idol of the country and of his soldiers. The army was unpaid, and the + veteran troops, with arms in their hands, were eager to have him take + control of the disordered country as Cromwell had done in England a little + more than a century before. With the army at his back, and supported by + the great forces which, in every community, desire order before everything + else, and are ready to assent to any arrangement which will bring peace + and quiet, nothing would have been easier than for Washington to have made + himself the ruler of the new nation. But that was not his conception of + duty, and he not only refused to have anything to do with such a movement + himself, but he repressed, by his dominant personal influence, all such + intentions on the part of the army. On the 23d of December, 1783, he met + the Congress at Annapolis, and there resigned his commission. What he then + said is one of the two most memorable speeches ever made in the United + States, and is also memorable for its meaning and spirit among all + speeches ever made by men. He spoke as follows: + </p> + <p> + "Mr. President:—The great events on which my resignation depended + having at length taken place, I have now the honor of offering my sincere + congratulations to Congress, and of presenting myself before them, to + surrender into their hands the trust committed to me and to claim the + indulgence of retiring from the service of my country. + </p> + <p> + Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignity and pleased + with the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming a respectable + nation, I resign with satisfaction the appointment I accepted with + diffidence; a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task, + which, however, was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our + cause, the support of the supreme power of the Union, and the patronage of + Heaven. + </p> + <p> + The successful termination of the war has verified the most sanguine + expectations, and my gratitude for the interposition of Providence and the + assistance I have received from my countrymen increases with every review + of the momentous contest. + </p> + <p> + While I repeat my obligations to the Army in general, I should do + injustice to my own feelings not to acknowledge, in this place, the + peculiar services and distinguished merits of the Gentlemen who have been + attached to my person during the war. It was impossible that the choice of + confidential officers to compose my family should have been more + fortunate. Permit me, sir, to recommend in particular those who have + continued in service to the present moment as worthy of the favorable + notice and patronage of Congress. + </p> + <p> + I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my + official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the + protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them + to His holy keeping. + </p> + <p> + Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theatre + of action, and, bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body, + under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission and + take my leave of all the employments of public life." + </p> + <p> + The great master of English fiction, writing of this scene at Annapolis, + says: "Which was the most splendid spectacle ever witnessed—the + opening feast of Prince George in London, or the resignation of + Washington? Which is the noble character for after ages to admire—yon + fribble dancing in lace and spangles, or yonder hero who sheathes his + sword after a life of spotless honor, a purity unreproached, a courage + indomitable and a consummate victory?" + </p> + <p> + Washington did not refuse the dictatorship, or, rather, the opportunity to + take control of the country, because he feared heavy responsibility, but + solely because, as a high-minded and patriotic man, he did not believe in + meeting the situation in that way. He was, moreover, entirely devoid of + personal ambition, and had no vulgar longing for personal power. After + resigning his commission he returned quietly to Mount Vernon, but he did + not hold himself aloof from public affairs. On the contrary, he watched + their course with the utmost anxiety. He saw the feeble Confederation + breaking to pieces, and he soon realized that that form of government was + an utter failure. In a time when no American statesman except Hamilton had + yet freed himself from the local feelings of the colonial days, Washington + was thoroughly national in all his views. Out of the thirteen jarring + colonies he meant that a nation should come, and he saw—what no one + else saw—the destiny of the country to the westward. He wished a + nation founded which should cross the Alleghanies, and, holding the mouths + of the Mississippi, take possession of all that vast and then unknown + region. For these reasons he stood at the head of the national movement, + and to him all men turned who desired a better union and sought to bring + order out of chaos. With him Hamilton and Madison consulted in the + preliminary stages which were to lead to the formation of a new system. It + was his vast personal influence which made that movement a success, and + when the convention to form a constitution met at Philadelphia, he + presided over its deliberations, and it was his commanding will which, + more than anything else, brought a constitution through difficulties and + conflicting interests which more than once made any result seem well-nigh + hopeless. When the Constitution formed at Philadelphia had been ratified + by the States, all men turned to Washington to stand at the head of the + new government. As he had borne the burden of the Revolution, so he now + took up the task of bringing the government of the Constitution into + existence. For eight years he served as president. He came into office + with a paper constitution, the heir of a bankrupt, broken-down + confederation. He left the United States, when he went out of office, an + effective and vigorous government. When he was inaugurated, we had nothing + but the clauses of the Constitution as agreed to by the Convention. When + he laid down the presidency, we had an organized government, an + established revenue, a funded debt, a high credit, an efficient system of + banking, a strong judiciary, and an army. We had a vigorous and + well-defined foreign policy; we had recovered the western posts, which, in + the hands of the British, had fettered our march to the west; and we had + proved our power to maintain order at home, to repress insurrection, to + collect the national taxes, and to enforce the laws made by Congress. Thus + Washington had shown that rare combination of the leader who could first + destroy by revolution, and who, having led his country through a great + civil war, was then able to build up a new and lasting fabric upon the + ruins of a system which had been overthrown. At the close of his official + service he returned again to Mount Vernon, and, after a few years of quiet + retirement, died just as the century in which he had played so great a + part was closing. + </p> + <p> + Washington stands among the greatest men of human history, and those in + the same rank with him are very few. Whether measured by what he did, or + what he was, or by the effect of his work upon the history of mankind, in + every aspect he is entitled to the place he holds among the greatest of + his race. Few men in all time have such a record of achievement. Still + fewer can show at the end of a career so crowded with high deeds and + memorable victories a life so free from spot, a character so unselfish and + so pure, a fame so void of doubtful points demanding either defense or + explanation. Eulogy of such a life is needless, but it is always important + to recall and to freshly remember just what manner of man he was. In the + first place he was physically a striking figure. He was very tall, + powerfully made, with a strong, handsome face. He was remarkably muscular + and powerful. As a boy he was a leader in all outdoor sports. No one could + fling the bar further than he, and no one could ride more difficult + horses. As a young man he became a woodsman and hunter. Day after day he + could tramp through the wilderness with his gun and his surveyor's chain, + and then sleep at night beneath the stars. He feared no exposure or + fatigue, and outdid the hardiest backwoodsman in following a winter trail + and swimming icy streams. This habit of vigorous bodily exercise he + carried through life. Whenever he was at Mount Vernon he gave a large part + of his time to fox-hunting, riding after his hounds through the most + difficult country. His physical power and endurance counted for much in + his success when he commanded his army, and when the heavy anxieties of + general and president weighed upon his mind and heart. + </p> + <p> + He was an educated, but not a learned man. He read well and remembered + what he read, but his life was, from the beginning, a life of action, and + the world of men was his school. He was not a military genius like + Hannibal, or Caesar, or Napoleon, of which the world has had only three or + four examples. But he was a great soldier of the type which the English + race has produced, like Marlborough and Cromwell, Wellington, Grant, and + Lee. He was patient under defeat, capable of large combinations, a + stubborn and often reckless fighter, a winner of battles, but much more, a + conclusive winner in a long war of varying fortunes. He was, in addition, + what very few great soldiers or commanders have ever been, a great + constitutional statesman, able to lead a people along the paths of free + government without undertaking himself to play the part of the strong man, + the usurper, or the savior of society. + </p> + <p> + He was a very silent man. Of no man of equal importance in the world's + history have we so few sayings of a personal kind. He was ready enough to + talk or to write about the public duties which he had in hand, but he + hardly ever talked of himself. Yet there can be no greater error than to + suppose Washington cold and unfeeling, because of his silence and reserve. + He was by nature a man of strong desires and stormy passions. Now and + again he would break out, even as late as the presidency, into a gust of + anger that would sweep everything before it. He was always reckless of + personal danger, and had a fierce fighting spirit which nothing could + check when it was once unchained. + </p> + <p> + But as a rule these fiery impulses and strong passions were under the + absolute control of an iron will, and they never clouded his judgment or + warped his keen sense of justice. + </p> + <p> + But if he was not of a cold nature, still less was he hard or unfeeling. + His pity always went out to the poor, the oppressed, or the unhappy, and + he was all that was kind and gentle to those immediately about him. + </p> + <p> + We have to look carefully into his life to learn all these things, for the + world saw only a silent, reserved man, of courteous and serious manner, + who seemed to stand alone and apart, and who impressed every one who came + near him with a sense of awe and reverence. + </p> + <p> + One quality he had which was, perhaps, more characteristic of the man and + his greatness than any other. This was his perfect veracity of mind. He + was, of course, the soul of truth and honor, but he was even more than + that. He never deceived himself He always looked facts squarely in the + face and dealt with them as such, dreaming no dreams, cherishing no + delusions, asking no impossibilities,—just to others as to himself, + and thus winning alike in war and in peace. + </p> + <p> + He gave dignity as well as victory to his country and his cause. He was, + in truth, a "character for after ages to admire." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + DANIEL BOONE AND THE FOUNDING OF KENTUCKY + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ... Boone lived hunting up to ninety; + And, what's still stranger, left behind a name + For which men vainly decimate the throng, + Not only famous, but of that GOOD fame, + Without which glory's but a tavern song,— + Simple, serene, the antipodes of shame, + Which hate nor envy e'er could tinge with wrong; + + 'T is true he shrank from men, even of his nation; + When they built up unto his darling trees, + He moved some hundred miles off, for a station + Where there were fewer houses and more ease; + + * * * + + But where he met the individual man, + He showed himself as kind as mortal can. + + * * * + + The freeborn forest found and kept them free, + And fresh as is a torrent or a tree. + + And tall, and strong, and swift of foot were they, + Beyond the dwarfing city's pale abortions, + Because their thoughts had never been the prey + Of care or gain; the green woods were their portions + + * * * + + Simple they were, not savage; and their rifles, + Though very true, were yet not used for trifles. + + * * * + + Serene, not sullen, were the solitudes + Of this unsighing people of the woods. + —Byron. +</pre> + <p> + Daniel Boone will always occupy a unique place in our history as the + archetype of the hunter and wilderness wanderer. He was a true pioneer, + and stood at the head of that class of Indian-fighters, game-hunters, + forest-fellers, and backwoods farmers who, generation after generation, + pushed westward the border of civilization from the Alleghanies to the + Pacific. As he himself said, he was "an instrument ordained of God to + settle the wilderness." Born in Pennsylvania, he drifted south into + western North Carolina, and settled on what was then the extreme frontier. + There he married, built a log cabin, and hunted, chopped trees, and tilled + the ground like any other frontiersman. The Alleghany Mountains still + marked a boundary beyond which the settlers dared not go; for west of them + lay immense reaches of frowning forest, uninhabited save by bands of + warlike Indians. Occasionally some venturesome hunter or trapper + penetrated this immense wilderness, and returned with strange stories of + what he had seen and done. + </p> + <p> + In 1769 Boone, excited by these vague and wondrous tales, determined + himself to cross the mountains and find out what manner of land it was + that lay beyond. With a few chosen companions he set out, making his own + trail through the gloomy forest. After weeks of wandering, he at last + emerged into the beautiful and fertile country of Kentucky, for which, in + after years, the red men and the white strove with such obstinate fury + that it grew to be called "the dark and bloody ground." But when Boone + first saw it, it was a fair and smiling land of groves and glades and + running waters, where the open forest grew tall and beautiful, and where + innumerable herds of game grazed, roaming ceaselessly to and fro along the + trails they had trodden during countless generations. Kentucky was not + owned by any Indian tribe, and was visited only by wandering war-parties + and hunting-parties who came from among the savage nations living north of + the Ohio or south of the Tennessee. + </p> + <p> + A roving war-party stumbled upon one of Boone's companions and killed him, + and the others then left Boone and journeyed home; but his brother came + out to join him, and the two spent the winter together. Self-reliant, + fearless, and the frowning defiles of Cumberland Gap, they were attacked + by Indians, and driven back—two of Boone's own sons being slain. In + 1775, however, he made another attempt; and this attempt was successful. + The Indians attacked the newcomers; but by this time the parties of + would-be settlers were sufficiently numerous to hold their own. They beat + back the Indians, and built rough little hamlets, surrounded by log + stockades, at Boonesborough and Harrodsburg; and the permanent settlement + of Kentucky had begun. + </p> + <p> + The next few years were passed by Boone amid unending Indian conflicts. He + was a leader among the settlers, both in peace and in war. At one time he + represented them in the House of Burgesses of Virginia; at another time he + was a member of the first little Kentucky parliament itself; and he became + a colonel of the frontier militia. He tilled the land, and he chopped the + trees himself; he helped to build the cabins and stockades with his own + hands, wielding the longhandled, light-headed frontier ax as skilfully as + other frontiersmen. His main business was that of surveyor, for his + knowledge of the country, and his ability to travel through it, in spite + of the danger from Indians, created much demand for his services among + people who wished to lay off tracts of wild land for their own future use. + But whatever he did, and wherever he went, he had to be sleeplessly on the + lookout for his Indian foes. When he and his fellows tilled the + stump-dotted fields of corn, one or more of the party were always on + guard, with weapon at the ready, for fear of lurking savages. When he went + to the House of Burgesses he carried his long rifle, and traversed roads + not a mile of which was free from the danger of Indian attack. The + settlements in the early years depended exclusively upon game for their + meat, and Boone was the mightiest of all the hunters, so that upon him + devolved the task of keeping his people supplied. He killed many + buffaloes, and pickled the buffalo beef for use in winter. He killed great + numbers of black bear, and made bacon of them, precisely as if they had + been hogs. The common game were deer and elk. At that time none of the + hunters of Kentucky would waste a shot on anything so small as a + prairie-chicken or wild duck; but they sometimes killed geese and swans + when they came south in winter and lit on the rivers. + </p> + <p> + But whenever Boone went into the woods after game, he had perpetually to + keep watch lest he himself might be hunted in turn. He never lay in wait + at a game-lick, save with ears strained to hear the approach of some + crawling red foe. He never crept up to a turkey he heard calling, without + exercising the utmost care to see that it was not an Indian; for one of + the favorite devices of the Indians was to imitate the turkey call, and + thus allure within range some inexperienced hunter. + </p> + <p> + Besides this warfare, which went on in the midst of his usual vocations, + Boone frequently took the field on set expeditions against the savages. + Once when he and a party of other men were making salt at a lick, they + were surprised and carried off by the Indians. The old hunter was a + prisoner with them for some months, but finally made his escape and came + home through the trackless woods as straight as the wild pigeon flies. He + was ever on the watch to ward off the Indian inroads, and to follow the + warparties, and try to rescue the prisoners. Once his own daughter, and + two other girls who were with her, were carried off by a band of Indians. + Boone raised some friends and followed the trail steadily for two days and + a night; then they came to where the Indians had killed a buffalo calf and + were camped around it. Firing from a little distance, the whites shot two + of the Indians, and, rushing in, rescued the girls. On another occasion, + when Boone had gone to visit a salt-lick with his brother, the Indians + ambushed them and shot the latter. Boone himself escaped, but the Indians + followed him for three miles by the aid of a tracking dog, until Boone + turned, shot the dog, and then eluded his pursuers. In company with Simon + Kenton and many other noted hunters and wilderness warriors, he once and + again took part in expeditions into the Indian country, where they killed + the braves and drove off the horses. Twice bands of Indians, accompanied + by French, Tory, and British partizans from Detroit, bearing the flag of + Great Britain, attacked Boonesboroug. In each case Boone and his + fellow-settlers beat them off with loss. At the fatal battle of the Blue + Licks, in which two hundred of the best riflemen of Kentucky were beaten + with terrible slaughter by a great force of Indians from the lakes, Boone + commanded the left wing. Leading his men, rifle in hand, he pushed back + and overthrew the force against him; but meanwhile the Indians destroyed + the right wing and center, and got round in his rear, so that there was + nothing left for Boone's men except to flee with all possible speed. + </p> + <p> + As Kentucky became settled, Boone grew restless and ill at ease. He loved + the wilderness; he loved the great forests and the great prairie-like + glades, and the life in the little lonely cabin, where from the door he + could see the deer come out into the clearing at nightfall. The + neighborhood of his own kind made him feel cramped and ill at ease. So he + moved ever westward with the frontier; and as Kentucky filled up he + crossed the Mississippi and settled on the borders of the prairie country + of Missouri, where the Spaniards, who ruled the territory, made him an + alcalde, or judge. He lived to a great age, and died out on the border, a + backwoods hunter to the last. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GEORGE ROGERS CLARK AND THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTHWEST + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Have the elder races halted? + Do they droop and end their lesson, wearied over there beyond the + seas? + We take up the task eternal, and the burden and the lesson, + Pioneers! O Pioneers! + All the past we leave behind, + We debouch upon a newer, mightier world, varied world; + + Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the + march, + Pioneers! O Pioneers! + We detachments steady throwing, + Down the edges, through the passes, up the mountains steep, + Conquering, holding, daring, venturing, as we go the unknown + ways, + Pioneers! O Pioneers! + + * * * * * * * + + The sachem blowing the smoke first towards the sun and then + towards the earth, + The drama of the scalp dance enacted with painted faces and + guttural exclamations, + The setting out of the war-party, the long and stealthy march, + The single file, the swinging hatchets, the surprise and + slaughter of enemies. + —Whitman. +</pre> + <p> + In 1776, when independence was declared, the United States included only + the thirteen original States on the seaboard. With the exception of a few + hunters there were no white men west of the Alleghany Mountains, and there + was not even an American hunter in the great country out of which we have + since made the States of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. + All this region north of the Ohio River then formed apart of the Province + of Quebec. It was a wilderness of forests and prairies, teeming with game, + and inhabited by many warlike tribes of Indians. + </p> + <p> + Here and there through it were dotted quaint little towns of French + Creoles, the most important being Detroit, Vincennes on the Wabash, and + Kaskaskia and Kahokia on the Illinois. These French villages were ruled by + British officers commanding small bodies of regular soldiers or Tory + rangers and Creole partizans. The towns were completely in the power of + the British government; none of the American States had actual possession + of a foot of property in the Northwestern Territory. + </p> + <p> + The Northwest was acquired in the midst of the Revolution only by armed + conquest, and if it had not been so acquired, it would have remained a + part of the British Dominion of Canada. + </p> + <p> + The man to whom this conquest was clue was a famous backwoods leader, a + mighty hunter, a noted Indian-fighter, George Rogers Clark. He was a very + strong man, with light hair and blue eyes. He was of good Virginian + family. Early in his youth, he embarked on the adventurous career of a + backwoods surveyor, exactly as Washington and so many other young + Virginians of spirit did at that period. He traveled out to Kentucky soon + after it was founded by Boone, and lived there for a year, either at the + stations or camping by him self in the woods, surveying, hunting, and + making war against the Indians like any other settler; but all the time + his mind was bent on vaster schemes than were dreamed of by the men around + him. He had his spies out in the Northwestern Territory, and became + convinced that with a small force of resolute backwoodsmen he could + conquer it for the United States. When he went back to Virginia, Governor + Patrick Henry entered heartily into Clark's schemes and gave him authority + to fit out a force for his purpose. + </p> + <p> + In 1778, after encountering endless difficulties and delays, he finally + raised a hundred and fifty backwoods riflemen. In May they started down + the Ohio in flatboats to undertake the allotted task. They drifted and + rowed downstream to the Falls of the Ohio, where Clark founded a log + hamlet, which has since become the great city of Louisville. + </p> + <p> + Here he halted for some days and was joined by fifty or sixty volunteers; + but a number of the men deserted, and when, after an eclipse of the sun, + Clark again pushed off to go down with the current, his force was but + about one hundred and sixty riflemen. All, however, were men on whom he + could depend—men well used to frontier warfare. They were tall, + stalwart backwoodsmen, clad in the hunting-shirt and leggings that formed + the national dress of their kind, and armed with the distinctive weapon of + the backwoods, the long-barreled, small-bore rifle. + </p> + <p> + Before reaching the Mississippi the little flotilla landed, and Clark led + his men northward against the Illinois towns. In one of them, Kaskaskia, + dwelt the British commander of the entire district up to Detroit. The + small garrison and the Creole militia taken together outnumbered Clark's + force, and they were in close alliance with the Indians roundabout. Clark + was anxious to take the town by surprise and avoid bloodshed, as he + believed he could win over the Creoles to the American side. Marching + cautiously by night and generally hiding by day, he came to the outskirts + of the little village on the evening of July 4, and lay in the woods near + by until after nightfall. + </p> + <p> + Fortune favored him. That evening the officers of the garrison had given a + great ball to the mirth-loving Creoles, and almost the entire population + of the village had gathered in the fort, where the dance was held. While + the revelry was at its height, Clark and his tall backwoodsmen, treading + silently through the darkness, came into the town, surprised the sentries, + and surrounded the fort without causing any alarm. + </p> + <p> + All the British and French capable of bearing arms were gathered in the + fort to take part in or look on at the merrymaking. When his men were + posted Clark walked boldly forward through the open door, and, leaning + against the wall, looked at the dancers as they whirled around in the + light of the flaring torches. For some moments no one noticed him. Then an + Indian who had been lying with his chin on his hand, looking carefully + over the gaunt figure of the stranger, sprang to his feet, and uttered the + wild war-whoop. Immediately the dancing ceased and the men ran to and fro + in confusion; but Clark, stepping forward, bade them be at their ease, but + to remember that henceforth they danced under the flag of the United + States, and not under that of Great Britain. + </p> + <p> + The surprise was complete, and no resistance was attempted. For + twenty-four hours the Creoles were in abject terror. Then Clark summoned + their chief men together and explained that he came as their ally, and not + as their foe, and that if they would join with him they should be citizens + of the American republic, and treated in all respects on an equality with + their comrades. The Creoles, caring little for the British, and rather + fickle of nature, accepted the proposition with joy, and with the most + enthusiastic loyalty toward Clark. Not only that, but sending messengers + to their kinsmen on the Wabash, they persuaded the people of Vincennes + likewise to cast off their allegiance to the British king, and to hoist + the American flag. + </p> + <p> + So far, Clark had conquered with greater ease than he had dared to hope. + But when the news reached the British governor, Hamilton, at Detroit, he + at once prepared to reconquer the land. He had much greater forces at his + command than Clark had; and in the fall of that year he came down to + Vincennes by stream and portage, in a great fleet of canoes bearing five + hundred fighting men-British regulars, French partizans, and Indians. The + Vincennes Creoles refused to fight against the British, and the American + officer who had been sent thither by Clark had no alternative but to + surrender. + </p> + <p> + If Hamilton had then pushed on and struck Clark in Illinois, having more + than treble Clark's force, he could hardly have failed to win the victory; + but the season was late and the journey so difficult that he did not + believe it could be taken. Accordingly he disbanded the Indians and sent + some of his troops back to Detroit, announcing that when spring came he + would march against Clark in Illinois. + </p> + <p> + If Clark in turn had awaited the blow he would have surely met defeat; but + he was a greater man than his antagonist, and he did what the other deemed + impossible. + </p> + <p> + Finding that Hamilton had sent home some of his troops and dispersed all + his Indians, Clark realized that his chance was to strike before + Hamilton's soldiers assembled again in the spring. Accordingly he gathered + together the pick of his men, together with a few Creoles, one hundred and + seventy all told, and set out for Vincennes. At first the journey was easy + enough, for they passed across the snowy Illinois prairies, broken by + great reaches of lofty woods. They killed elk, buffalo, and deer for food, + there being no difficulty in getting all they wanted to eat; and at night + they built huge fires by which to sleep, and feasted "like Indian + war-dancers," as Clark said in his report. + </p> + <p> + But when, in the middle of February, they reached the drowned lands of the + Wabash, where the ice had just broken up and everything was flooded, the + difficulties seemed almost insuperable, and the march became painful and + laborious to a degree. All day long the troops waded in the icy water, and + at night they could with difficulty find some little hillock on which to + sleep. Only Clark's indomitable courage and cheerfulness kept the party in + heart and enabled them to persevere. However, persevere they did, and at + last, on February 23, they came in sight of the town of Vincennes. They + captured a Creole who was out shooting ducks, and from him learned that + their approach was utterly unsuspected, and that there were many Indians + in town. + </p> + <p> + Clark was now in some doubt as to how to make his fight. The British + regulars dwelt in a small fort at one end of the town, where they had two + light guns; but Clark feared lest, if he made a sudden night attack, the + townspeople and Indians would from sheer fright turn against him. He + accordingly arranged, just before he himself marched in, to send in the + captured duck-hunter, conveying a warning to the Indians and the Creoles + that he was about to attack the town, but that his only quarrel was with + the British, and that if the other inhabitants would stay in their own + homes they would not be molested. Sending the duck-hunter ahead, Clark + took up his march and entered the town just after nightfall. The news + conveyed by the released hunter astounded the townspeople, and they talked + it over eagerly, and were in doubt what to do. The Indians, not knowing + how great might be the force that would assail the town, at once took + refuge in the neighboring woods, while the Creoles retired to their own + houses. The British knew nothing of what had happened until the Americans + had actually entered the streets of the little village. Rushing forward, + Clark's men soon penned the regulars within their fort, where they kept + them surrounded all night. The next day a party of Indian warriors, who in + the British interest had been ravaging the settlements of Kentucky, + arrived and entered the town, ignorant that the Americans had captured it. + Marching boldly forward to the fort, they suddenly found it beleaguered, + and before they could flee they were seized by the backwoodsmen. In their + belts they carried the scalps of the slain settlers. The savages were + taken redhanded, and the American frontiersmen were in no mood to show + mercy. All the Indians were tomahawked in sight of the fort. + </p> + <p> + For some time the British defended themselves well; but at length their + guns were disabled, all of the gunners being picked off by the backwoods + marksmen, and finally the garrison dared not so much as appear at a + port-hole, so deadly was the fire from the long rifles. Under such + circumstances Hamilton was forced to surrender. + </p> + <p> + No attempt was afterward made to molest the Americans in the land they had + won, and upon the conclusion of peace the Northwest, which had been + conquered by Clark, became part of the United States. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BATTLE OF TRENTON + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + And such they are—and such they will be found: + Not so Leonidas and Washington, + Their every battle-field is holy ground + Which breathes of nations saved, not worlds undone. + How sweetly on the ear such echoes sound! + While the mere victor's may appal or stun + The servile and the vain, such names will be + A watchword till the future shall be free. + —Byron. +</pre> + <p> + In December, 1776, the American Revolution was at its lowest ebb. The + first burst of enthusiasm, which drove the British back from Concord and + met them hand to hand at Bunker Hill, which forced them to abandon Boston + and repulsed their attack at Charleston, had spent its force. The + undisciplined American forces called suddenly from the workshop and the + farm had given way, under the strain of a prolonged contest, and had been + greatly scattered, many of the soldiers returning to their homes. The + power of England, on the other hand, with her disciplined army and + abundant resources, had begun to tell. Washington, fighting stubbornly, + had been driven during the summer and autumn from Long Island up the + Hudson, and New York had passed into the hands of the British. Then Forts + Lee and Washington had been lost, and finally the Continental army had + retreated to New Jersey. On the second of December Washington was at + Princeton with some three thousand ragged soldiers, and had escaped + destruction only by the rapidity of his movements. By the middle of the + month General Howe felt that the American army, unable as he believed + either to fight or to withstand the winter, must soon dissolve, and, + posting strong detachments at various points, he took up his winter + quarters in New York. The British general had under his command in his + various divisions twenty-five thousand well-disciplined soldiers, and the + conclusion he had reached was not an unreasonable one; everything, in + fact, seemed to confirm his opinion. Thousands of the colonists were + coming in and accepting his amnesty. The American militia had left the + field, and no more would turn out, despite Washington's earnest appeals. + All that remained of the American Revolution was the little Continental + army and the man who led it. + </p> + <p> + Yet even in this dark hour Washington did not despair. He sent in every + direction for troops. Nothing was forgotten. Nothing that he could do was + left undone. Unceasingly he urged action upon Congress, and at the same + time with indomitable fighting spirit he planned to attack the British. It + was a desperate undertaking in the face of such heavy odds, for in all his + divisions he had only some six thousand men, and even these were + scattered. The single hope was that by his own skill and courage he could + snatch victory from a situation where victory seemed impossible. With the + instinct of a great commander he saw that his only chance was to fight the + British detachments suddenly, unexpectedly, and separately, and to do this + not only required secrecy and perfect judgment, but also the cool, + unwavering courage of which, under such circumstances, very few men have + proved themselves capable. As Christmas approached his plans were ready. + He determined to fall upon the British detachment of Hessians, under + Colonel Rahl, at Trenton, and there strike his first blow. To each + division of his little army a part in the attack was assigned with careful + forethought. Nothing was overlooked and nothing omitted, and then, for + some reason good or bad, every one of the division commanders failed to do + his part. As the general plan was arranged, Gates was to march from + Bristol with two thousand men; Ewing was to cross at Trenton; Putnam was + to come up from Philadelphia; and Griffin was to make a diversion against + Donop. When the moment came, Gates, who disapproved the plan, was on his + way to Congress; Griffin abandoned New Jersey and fled before Donop; + Putnam did not attempt to leave Philadelphia; and Ewing made no effort to + cross at Trenton. Cadwalader came down from Bristol, looked at the river + and the floating ice, and then gave it up as desperate. Nothing remained + except Washington himself with the main army, but he neither gave up, nor + hesitated, nor stopped on account of the ice, or the river, or the perils + which lay beyond. On Christmas Eve, when all the Christian world was + feasting and rejoicing, and while the British were enjoying themselves in + their comfortable quarters, Washington set out. With twenty-four hundred + men he crossed the Delaware through the floating ice, his boats managed + and rowed by the sturdy fishermen of Marblehead from Glover's regiment. + The crossing was successful, and he landed about nine miles from Trenton. + It was bitter cold, and the sleet and snow drove sharply in the faces of + the troops. Sullivan, marching by the river, sent word that the arms of + his soldiers were wet. "Tell your general," was Washington's reply to the + message, "to use the bayonet, for the town must be taken." When they + reached Trenton it was broad daylight. Washington, at the front and on the + right of the line, swept down the Pennington road, and, as he drove back + the Hessian pickets, he heard the shout of Sullivan's men as, with Stark + leading the van, they charged in from the river. A company of jaegers and + of light dragoons slipped away. There was some fighting in the streets, + but the attack was so strong and well calculated that resistance was + useless. Colonel Rahl, the British commander, aroused from his revels, was + killed as he rushed out to rally his men, and in a few moments all was + over. A thousand prisoners fell into Washington's hands, and this + important detachment of the enemy was cut off and destroyed. + </p> + <p> + The news of Trenton alarmed the British, and Lord Cornwallis with seven + thousand of the best troops started at once from New York in hot pursuit + of the American army. Washington, who had now rallied some five thousand + men, fell back, skirmishing heavily, behind the Assunpink, and when + Cornwallis reached the river he found the American army awaiting him on + the other side of the stream. Night was falling, and Cornwallis, feeling + sure of his prey, decided that he would not risk an assault until the next + morning. Many lessons had not yet taught him that it was a fatal business + to give even twelve hours to the great soldier opposed to him. During the + night Washington, leaving his fires burning and taking a roundabout road + which he had already reconnoitered, marched to Princeton. There he struck + another British detachment. A sharp fight ensued, the British division was + broken and defeated, losing some five hundred men, and Washington withdrew + after this second victory to the highlands of New Jersey to rest and + recruit. + </p> + <p> + Frederick the Great is reported to have said that this was the most + brilliant campaign of the century. With a force very much smaller than + that of the enemy, Washington had succeeded in striking the British at two + places with superior forces at each point of contact. At Trenton he had + the benefit of a surprise, but the second time he was between two hostile + armies. He was ready to fight Cornwallis when the latter reached the + Assunpink, trusting to the strength of his position to make up for his + inferiority of numbers. But when Cornwallis gave him the delay of a night, + Washington, seeing the advantage offered by his enemy's mistake, at once + changed his whole plan, and, turning in his tracks, fell upon the smaller + of the two forces opposed to him, wrecking and defeating it before the + outgeneraled Cornwallis could get up with the main army. Washington had + thus shown the highest form of military skill, for there is nothing that + requires so much judgment and knowledge, so much certainty of movement and + quick decision, as to meet a superior enemy at different points, force the + fighting, and at each point to outnumber and overwhelm him. + </p> + <p> + But the military part of this great campaign was not all. Many great + soldiers have not been statesmen, and have failed to realize the political + necessities of the situation. Washington presented the rare combination of + a great soldier and a great statesman as well. He aimed not only to win + battles, but by his operations in the field to influence the political + situation and affect public opinion. The American Revolution was going to + pieces. Unless some decisive victory could be won immediately, it would + have come to an end in the winter of 1776-77. This Washington knew, and it + was this which nerved his arm. The results justified his forethought. The + victories of Trenton and Princeton restored the failing spirits of the + people, and, what was hardly less important, produced a deep impression in + Europe in favor of the colonies. The country, which had lost heart, and + become supine and almost hostile, revived. The militia again took the + field. Outlying parties of the British were attacked and cut off, and + recruits once more began to come in to the Continental army. The + Revolution was saved. That the English colonies in North America would + have broken away from the mother country sooner or later cannot be + doubted, but that particular Revolution Of 1776 would have failed within a + year, had it not been for Washington. It is not, however, merely the fact + that he was a great soldier and statesman which we should remember. The + most memorable thing to us, and to all men, is the heroic spirit of the + man, which rose in those dreary December days to its greatest height, + under conditions so adverse that they had crushed the hope of every one + else. Let it be remembered, also, that it was not a spirit of desperation + or of ignorance, a reckless daring which did not count the cost. No one + knew better than Washington—no one, indeed, so well—the exact + state of affairs; for he, conspicuously among great men, always looked + facts fearlessly in the face, and never deceived himself. He was under no + illusions, and it was this high quality of mind as much as any other which + enabled him to win victories. + </p> + <p> + How he really felt we know from what he wrote to Congress on December 20, + when he said: "It may be thought that I am going a good deal out of the + line of my duty to adopt these measures or to advise thus freely. A + character to lose, an estate to forfeit, the inestimable blessing of + liberty at stake, and a life devoted, must be my excuse." These were the + thoughts in his mind when he was planning this masterly campaign. These + same thoughts, we may readily believe, were with him when his boat was + making its way through the ice of the Delaware on Christmas Eve. It was a + very solemn moment, and he was the only man in the darkness of that night + who fully understood what was at stake; but then, as always, he was calm + and serious, with a high courage which nothing could depress. + </p> + <p> + The familiar picture of a later day depicts Washington crossing the + Delaware at the head of his soldiers. He is standing up in the boat, + looking forward in the teeth of the storm. It matters little whether the + work of the painter is in exact accordance with the real scene or not. The + daring courage, the high resolve, the stern look forward and onward, which + the artist strove to show in the great leader, are all vitally true. For + we may be sure that the man who led that well-planned but desperate + assault, surrounded by darker conditions than the storms of nature which + gathered about his boat, and carrying with him the fortunes of his + country, was at that moment one of the most heroic figures in history. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BENNINGTON + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + We are but warriors for the working-day; + Our gayness and our guilt are all besmirch'd + With rainy marching in the painful field; + There's not a piece of feather in our host + (Good argument, I hope, we shall not fly), + And time hath worn us into slovenry. + But, by the mass, our hearts are in the trim, + And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night + They'll be in fresher robes. + —Henry V. +</pre> + <p> + The battle of Saratoga is included by Sir Edward Creasy among his fifteen + decisive battles which have, by their result, affected the history of the + world. It is true that the American Revolution was saved by Washington in + the remarkable Princeton and Trenton campaign, but it is equally true that + the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, in the following autumn, turned the + scale decisively in favor of the colonists by the impression which it made + in Europe. It was the destruction of Burgoyne's army which determined + France to aid the Americans against England. Hence came the French + alliance, the French troops, and, what was of far more importance, a + French fleet by which Washington was finally able to get control of the + sea, and in this way cut off Cornwallis at Yorktown and bring the + Revolution to a successful close. That which led, however, more directly + than anything else to the final surrender at Saratoga was the fight at + Bennington, by which Burgoyne's army was severely crippled and weakened, + and by which also, the hardy militia of the North eastern States were led + to turn out in large numbers and join the army of Gates. + </p> + <p> + The English ministry had built great hopes upon Burgoyne's expedition, and + neither expense nor effort had been spared to make it successful. He was + amply furnished with money and supplies as well as with English and German + troops, the latter of whom were bought from their wretched little princes + by the payment of generous subsidies. With an admirably equipped army of + over seven thousand men, and accompanied by a large force of Indian + allies, Burgoyne had started in May, 1777, from Canada. His plan was to + make his way by the lakes to the head waters of the Hudson, and thence + southward along the river to New York, where he was to unite with Sir + William Howe and the main army; in this way cutting the colonies in two, + and separating New England from the rest of the country. + </p> + <p> + At first all went well. The Americans were pushed back from their posts on + the lakes, and by the end of July Burgoyne was at the head waters of the + Hudson. He had already sent out a force, under St. Leger, to take + possession of the valley of the Mohawk—an expedition which finally + resulted in the defeat of the British by Herkimer, and the capture of Fort + Stanwix. To aid St. Leger by a diversion, and also to capture certain + magazines which were reported to be at Bennington, Burgoyne sent another + expedition to the eastward. This force consisted of about five hundred and + fifty white troops, chiefly Hessians, and one hundred and fifty Indians, + all under the command of Colonel Baum. They were within four miles of + Bennington on August 13, 1777, and encamped on a hill just within the + boundaries of the State of New York. The news of the advance of Burgoyne + had already roused the people of New York and New Hampshire, and the + legislature of the latter State had ordered General Stark with a brigade + of militia to stop the progress of the enemy on the western frontier. + Stark raised his standard at Charlestown on the Connecticut River, and the + militia poured into his camp. Disregarding Schuyler's orders to join the + main American army, which was falling back before Burgoyne, Stark, as soon + as he heard of the expedition against Bennington, marched at once to meet + Baum. He was within a mile of the British camp on August 14, and vainly + endeavored to draw Baum into action. On the 15th it rained heavily, and + the British forces occupied the time in intrenching themselves strongly + upon the hill which they held. Baum meantime had already sent to Burgoyne + for reinforcements, and Burgoyne had detached Colonel Breymann with over + six hundred regular troops to go to Baum's assistance. On the 16th the + weather cleared, and Stark, who had been reinforced by militia from + western Massachusetts, determined to attack. + </p> + <p> + Early in the day he sent men, under Nichols and Herrick, to get into the + rear of Baum's position. The German officer, ignorant of the country and + of the nature of the warfare in which he was engaged, noticed small bodies + of men in their shirtsleeves, and carrying guns without bayonets, making + their way to the rear of his intrenchments. With singular stupidity he + concluded that they were Tory inhabitants of the country who were coming + to his assistance, and made no attempt to stop them. In this way Stark was + enabled to mass about five hundred men in the rear of the enemy's + position. Distracting the attention of the British by a feint, Stark also + moved about two hundred men to the right, and having thus brought his + forces into position he ordered a general assault, and the Americans + proceeded to storm the British intrenchments on every side. The fight was + a very hot one, and lasted some two hours. The Indians, at the beginning + of the action, slipped away between the American detachments, but the + British and German regulars stubbornly stood their ground. It is difficult + to get at the exact numbers of the American troops, but Stark seems to + have had between fifteen hundred and two thousand militia. He thus + outnumbered his enemy nearly three to one, but his men were merely country + militia, farmers of the New England States, very imperfectly disciplined, + and armed only with muskets and fowling-pieces, without bayonets or + side-arms. On the other side Baum had the most highly disciplined troops + of England and Germany under his command, well armed and equipped, and he + was moreover strongly intrenched with artillery well placed behind the + breastworks. The advantage in the fight should have been clearly with Baum + and his regulars, who merely had to hold an intrenched hill. + </p> + <p> + It was not a battle in which either military strategy or a scientific + management of troops was displayed. All that Stark did was to place his + men so that they could attack the enemy's position on every side, and then + the Americans went at it, firing as they pressed on. The British and + Germans stood their ground stubbornly, while the New England farmers + rushed up to within eight yards of the cannon, and picked off the men who + manned the guns. Stark himself was in the midst of the fray, fighting with + his soldiers, and came out of the conflict so blackened with powder and + smoke that he could hardly be recognized. One desperate assault succeeded + another, while the firing on both sides was so incessant as to make, in + Stark's own words, a "continuous roar." At the end of two hours the + Americans finally swarmed over the intrenchments, beating down the + soldiers with their clubbed muskets. Baum ordered his infantry with the + bayonet and the dragoons with their sabers to force their way through, but + the Americans repulsed this final charge, and Baum himself fell mortally + wounded. All was then over, and the British forces surrendered. + </p> + <p> + It was only just in time, for Breymann, who had taken thirty hours to + march some twenty-four miles, came up just after Baum's men had laid down + their arms. It seemed for a moment as if all that had been gained might be + lost. The Americans, attacked by this fresh foe, wavered; but Stark + rallied his line, and putting in Warner, with one hundred and fifty + Vermont men who had just come on the field, stopped Breymann's advance, + and finally forced him to retreat with a loss of nearly one half his men. + The Americans lost in killed and wounded some seventy men, and the Germans + and British about twice as many, but the Americans took about seven + hundred prisoners, and completely wrecked the forces of Baum and Breymann. + </p> + <p> + The blow was a severe one, and Burgoyne's army never recovered from it. + Not only had he lost nearly a thousand of his best troops, besides cannon, + arms, and munitions of war, but the defeat affected the spirits of his + army and destroyed his hold over his Indian allies, who began to desert in + large numbers. Bennington, in fact, was one of the most important fights + of the Revolution, contributing as it did so largely to the final + surrender of Burgoyne's whole army at Saratoga, and the utter ruin of the + British invasion from the North. It is also interesting as an extremely + gallant bit of fighting. As has been said, there was no strategy + displayed, and there were no military operations of the higher kind. There + stood the enemy strongly intrenched on a hill, and Stark, calling his + undisciplined levies about him, went at them. He himself was a man of the + highest courage and a reckless fighter. It was Stark who held the + railfence at Bunker Hill, and who led the van when Sullivan's division + poured into Trenton from the river road. He was admirably adapted for the + precise work which was necessary at Bennington, and he and his men fought + well their hand-to-hand fight on that hot August day, and carried the + intrenchments filled with regular troops and defended by artillery. It was + a daring feat of arms, as well as a battle which had an important effect + upon the course of history and upon the fate of the British empire in + America. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + KING'S MOUNTAIN + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Our fortress is the good greenwood, + Our tent the cypress tree; + We know the forest round us + As seamen know the sea. + We know its walls of thorny vines, + Its glades of reedy grass, + Its safe and silent islands + Within the dark morass. + —Bryant. +</pre> + <p> + The close of the year 1780 was, in the Southern States, the darkest time + of the Revolutionary struggle. Cornwallis had just destroyed the army of + Gates at Camden, and his two formidable lieutenants, Tarlton the light + horseman, and Ferguson the skilled rifleman, had destroyed or scattered + all the smaller bands that had been fighting for the patriot cause. The + red dragoons rode hither and thither, and all through Georgia and South + Carolina none dared lift their heads to oppose them, while North Carolina + lay at the feet of Cornwallis, as he started through it with his army to + march into Virginia. There was no organized force against him, and the + cause of the patriots seemed hopeless. It was at this hour that the wild + backwoodsmen of the western border gathered to strike a blow for liberty. + </p> + <p> + When Cornwallis invaded North Carolina he sent Ferguson into the western + part of the State to crush out any of the patriot forces that might still + be lingering among the foot-hills. Ferguson was a very gallant and able + officer, and a man of much influence with the people wherever he went, so + that he was peculiarly fitted for this scrambling border warfare. He had + under him a battalion of regular troops and several other battalions of + Tory militia, in all eleven or twelve hundred men. He shattered and drove + the small bands of Whigs that were yet in arms, and finally pushed to the + foot of the mountain wall, till he could see in his front the high ranges + of the Great Smokies. Here he learned for the first time that beyond the + mountains there lay a few hamlets of frontiersmen, whose homes were on + what were then called the Western Waters, that is, the waters which flowed + into the Mississippi. To these he sent word that if they did not prove + loyal to the king, he would cross their mountains, hang their leaders, and + burn their villages. + </p> + <p> + Beyond the, mountains, in the valleys of the Holston and Watauga, dwelt + men who were stout of heart and mighty in battle, and when they heard the + threats of Ferguson they burned with a sullen flame of anger. Hitherto the + foes against whom they had warred had been not the British, but the Indian + allies of the British, Creek, and Cherokee, and Shawnee. Now that the army + of the king had come to their thresholds, they turned to meet it as + fiercely as they had met his Indian allies. Among the backwoodsmen of this + region there were at that time three men of special note: Sevier, who + afterward became governor of Tennessee; Shelby, who afterward became + governor of Kentucky; and Campbell, the Virginian, who died in the + Revolutionary War. Sevier had given a great barbecue, where oxen and deer + were roasted whole, while horseraces were run, and the backwoodsmen tried + their skill as marksmen and wrestlers. In the midst of the feasting Shelby + appeared, hot with hard riding, to tell of the approach of Ferguson and + the British. Immediately the feasting was stopped, and the feasters made + ready for war. Sevier and Shelby sent word to Campbell to rouse the men of + his own district and come without delay, and they sent messengers to and + fro in their own neighborhood to summon the settlers from their log huts + on the stump-dotted clearings and the hunters from their smoky cabins in + the deep woods. + </p> + <p> + The meeting-place was at the Sycamore Shoals. On the appointed day the + backwoodsmen gathered sixteen hundred strong, each man carrying a long + rifle, and mounted on a tough, shaggy horse. They were a wild and fierce + people, accustomed to the chase and to warfare with the Indians. Their + hunting-shirts of buckskin or homespun were girded in by bead-worked + belts, and the trappings of their horses were stained red and yellow. At + the gathering there was a black-frocked Presbyterian preacher, and before + they started he addressed the tall riflemen in words of burning zeal, + urging them to stand stoutly in the battle, and to smite with the sword of + the Lord and of Gideon. Then the army started, the backwoods colonels + riding in front. Two or three days later, word was brought to Ferguson + that the Back-water men had come over the mountains; that the + Indian-fighters of the frontier, leaving unguarded their homes on the + Western Waters, had crossed by wooded and precipitous defiles to the help + of the beaten men of the plains. Ferguson at once fell back, sending out + messengers for help. When he came to King's Mountain, a wooded, hog-back + hill on the border line between North and South Carolina, he camped on its + top, deeming that there he was safe, for he supposed that before the + backwoodsmen could come near enough to attack him help would reach him. + But the backwoods leaders felt as keenly as he the need of haste, and + choosing out nine hundred picked men, the best warriors of their force, + and the best mounted and armed, they made a long forced march to assail + Ferguson before help could come to him. All night long they rode the dim + forest trails and splashed across the fords of the rushing rivers. All the + next day, October 16, they rode, until in mid-afternoon, just as a heavy + shower cleared away, they came in sight of King's Mountain. The little + armies were about equal in numbers. Ferguson's regulars were armed with + the bayonet, and so were some of his Tory militia, whereas the Americans + had not a bayonet among them; but they were picked men, confident in their + skill as riflemen, and they were so sure of victory that their aim was not + only to defeat the British but to capture their whole force. The backwoods + colonels, counseling together as they rode at the head of the column, + decided to surround the mountain and assail it on all sides. Accordingly + the bands of frontiersmen split one from the other, and soon circled the + craggy hill where Ferguson's forces were encamped. They left their horses + in the rear and immediately began the battle, swarming forward on foot, + their commanders leading the attack. + </p> + <p> + The march had been so quick and the attack so sudden that Ferguson had + barely time to marshal his men before the assault was made. Most of his + militia he scattered around the top of the hill to fire down at the + Americans as they came up, while with his regulars and with a few picked + militia he charged with the bayonet in person, first down one side of the + mountain and then down the other. Sevier, Shelby, Campbell, and the other + colonels of the frontiersmen, led each his force of riflemen straight + toward the summit. Each body in turn when charged by the regulars was + forced to give way, for there were no bayonets wherewith to meet the foe; + but the backwoodsmen retreated only so long as the charge lasted, and the + minute that it stopped they stopped too, and came back ever closer to the + ridge and ever with a deadlier fire. Ferguson, blowing a silver whistle as + a signal to his men, led these charges, sword in hand, on horseback. At + last, just as he was once again rallying his men, the riflemen of Sevier + and Shelby crowned the top of the ridge. The gallant British commander + became a fair target for the backwoodsmen, and as for the last time he led + his men against them, seven bullets entered his body and he fell dead. + With his fall resistance ceased. The regulars and Tories huddled together + in a confused mass, while the exultant Americans rushed forward. A flag of + truce was hoisted, and all the British who were not dead surrendered. + </p> + <p> + The victory was complete, and the backwoodsmen at once started to return + to their log hamlets and rough, lonely farms. They could not stay, for + they dared not leave their homes at the mercy of the Indians. They had + rendered a great service; for Cornwallis, when he heard of the disaster to + his trusted lieutenant, abandoned his march northward, and retired to + South Carolina. When he again resumed the offensive, he found his path + barred by stubborn General Greene and his troops of the Continental line. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORMING OF STONY POINT + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + In their ragged regimentals + Stood the old Continentals, + Yielding not, + When the grenadiers were lunging, + And like hail fell the plunging + Cannon-shot; + When the files + Of the isles + From the smoky night encampment bore the banner of the rampant + Unicorn, + And grummer, grummer, grummer, rolled the roll of the drummer, + Through the morn! + + Then with eyes to the front all, + And with guns horizontal, + Stood our sires; + And the balls whistled deadly, + And in streams flashing redly + Blazed the fires; + As the roar + On the shore + Swept the strong battle-breakers o'er the green-sodded acres + Of the plain; + And louder, louder, louder cracked the black gunpowder, + Cracked amain! + —Guy Humphrey McMaster. +</pre> + <p> + One of the heroic figures of the Revolution was Anthony Wayne, + Major-General of the Continental line. With the exception of Washington, + and perhaps Greene, he was the best general the Americans developed in the + contest; and without exception he showed himself to be the hardest fighter + produced on either side. He belongs, as regards this latter + characteristic, with the men like Winfield Scott, Phil Kearney, Hancock, + and Forrest, who reveled in the danger and the actual shock of arms. + Indeed, his eager love of battle, and splendid disregard of peril, have + made many writers forget his really great qualities as a general. Soldiers + are always prompt to recognize the prime virtue of physical courage, and + Wayne's followers christened their daring commander "Mad Anthony," in + loving allusion to his reckless bravery. It is perfectly true that Wayne + had this courage, and that he was a born fighter; otherwise, he never + would have been a great commander. A man who lacks the fondness for + fighting, the eager desire to punish his adversary, and the willingness to + suffer punishment in return, may be a great organizer, like McClellan, but + can never become a great general or win great victories. There are, + however, plenty of men who, though they possess these fine manly traits, + yet lack the head to command an army; but Wayne had not only the heart and + the hand but the head likewise. No man could dare as greatly as he did + without incurring the risk of an occasional check; but he was an able and + bold tactician, a vigilant and cautious leader, well fitted to bear the + terrible burden of responsibility which rests upon a commander-in-chief. + </p> + <p> + Of course, at times he had some rather severe lessons. Quite early in his + career, just after the battle of the Brandywine, when he was set to watch + the enemy, he was surprised at night by the British general Grey, a + redoubtable fighter, who attacked him with the bayonet, killed a number of + his men, and forced him to fall back some distance from the field of + action. This mortifying experience had no effect whatever on Wayne's + courage or self-reliance, but it did give him a valuable lesson in + caution. He showed what he had learned by the skill with which, many years + later, he conducted the famous campaign in which he overthrew the + Northwestern Indians at the Fight of the Fallen Timbers. + </p> + <p> + Wayne's favorite weapon was the bayonet, and, like Scott he taught his + troops, until they were able in the shock of hand-to-hand conflict to + overthrow the renowned British infantry, who have always justly prided + themselves on their prowess with cold steel. At the battle of Germantown + it was Wayne's troops who, falling on with the bayonet, drove the Hessians + and the British light infantry, and only retreated under orders when the + attack had failed elsewhere. At Monmouth it was Wayne and his Continentals + who first checked the British advance by repulsing the bayonet charge of + the guards and grenadiers. + </p> + <p> + Washington, a true leader of men, was prompt to recognize in Wayne a + soldier to whom could be intrusted any especially difficult enterprise + which called for the exercise alike of intelligence and of cool daring. In + the summer of 1780 he was very anxious to capture the British fort at + Stony Point, which commanded the Hudson. It was impracticable to attack it + by regular siege while the British frigates lay in the river, and the + defenses ere so strong that open assault by daylight was equally out of + the question. Accordingly Washington suggested to Wayne that he try a + night attack. Wayne eagerly caught at the idea. It was exactly the kind of + enterprise in which he delighted. The fort was on a rocky promontory, + surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by a neck of land, + which was for the most part mere morass. It was across this neck of land + that any attacking column had to move. The garrison was six hundred + strong. To deliver the assault Wayne took nine hundred men. The American + army was camped about fourteen miles from Stony Point. One July afternoon + Wayne started, and led his troops in single file along the narrow rocky + roads, reaching the hills on the mainland near the fort after nightfall. + He divided his force into two columns, to advance one along each side of + the neck, detaching two companies of North Carolina troops to move in + between the two columns and make a false attack. The rest of the force + consisted of New Englanders, Pennsylvanians, and Virginians. Each + attacking column was divided into three parts, a forlorn hope of twenty + men leading, which was followed by an advance guard of one hundred and + twenty, and then by the main body. At the time commanding officers still + carried spontoons, and other old-time weapons, and Wayne, who himself led + the right column, directed its movements spear in hand. It was nearly + midnight when the Americans began to press along the causeways toward the + fort. Before they were near the walls they were discovered, and the + British opened a heavy fire of great guns and musketry, to which the + Carolinians, who were advancing between the two columns, responded in + their turn, according to orders; but the men in the columns were forbidden + to fire. Wayne had warned them that their work must be done with the + bayonet, and their muskets were not even loaded. Moreover, so strict was + the discipline that no one was allowed to leave the ranks, and when one of + the men did so an officer promptly ran him through the body. + </p> + <p> + No sooner had the British opened fire than the charging columns broke into + a run, and in a moment the forlorn hopes plunged into the abattis of + fallen timber which the British had constructed just without the walls. On + the left, the forlorn hope was very roughly handled, no less than + seventeen of the twenty men being either killed or wounded, but as the + columns came up both burst through the down timber and swarmed up the + long, sloping embankments of the fort. The British fought well, cheering + loudly as their volley's rang, but the Americans would not be denied, and + pushed silently on to end the contest with the bayonet. A bullet struck + Wayne in the head. He fell, but struggled to his feet and forward, two of + his officers supporting him. A rumor went among the men that he was dead, + but it only impelled them to charge home, more fiercely than ever. + </p> + <p> + With a rush the troops swept to the top of the wall. A fierce but short + fight followed in the intense darkness, which was lit only by the flashes + from the British muskets. The Americans did not fire, trusting solely to + the bayonet. The two columns had kept almost equal pace, and they swept + into the fort from opposite sides at the same moment. The three men who + first got over the walls were all wounded, but one of them hauled down the + British flag. The Americans had the advantage which always comes from + delivering an attack that is thrust home. Their muskets were unloaded and + they could not hesitate; so, running boldly into close quarters, they + fought hand to hand with their foes and speedily overthrew them. For a + moment the bayonets flashed and played; then the British lines broke as + their assailants thronged against them, and the struggle was over. The + Americans had lost a hundred in killed and wounded. Of the British + sixty-three had been slain and very many wounded, every one of the dead or + disabled having suffered from the bayonet. A curious coincidence was that + the number of the dead happened to be exactly equal to the number of + Wayne's men who had been killed in the night attack by the English + general, Grey. + </p> + <p> + There was great rejoicing among the Americans over the successful issue of + the attack. Wayne speedily recovered from his wound, and in the joy of his + victory it weighed but slightly. He had performed a most notable feat. No + night attack of the kind was ever delivered with greater boldness, skill, + and success. When the Revolutionary War broke out the American armies were + composed merely of armed yeomen, stalwart men, of good courage, and fairly + proficient in the use of their weapons, but entirely without the training + which alone could enable them to withstand the attack of the British + regulars in the open, or to deliver an attack themselves. Washington's + victory at Trenton was the first encounter which showed that the Americans + were to be feared when they took the offensive. With the exception of the + battle of Trenton, and perhaps of Greene's fight at Eutaw Springs, Wayne's + feat was the most successful illustration of daring and victorious attack + by an American army that occurred during the war; and, unlike Greene, who + was only able to fight a drawn battle, Wayne's triumph was complete. At + Monmouth he had shown, as he afterward showed against Cornwallis, that his + troops could meet the renowned British regulars on even terms in the open. + At Stony Point he showed that he could lead them to a triumphant assault + with the bayonet against regulars who held a fortified place of strength. + No American commander has ever displayed greater energy and daring, a more + resolute courage, or readier resource, than the chief of the hard-fighting + Revolutionary generals, Mad Anthony Wayne. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GOUVERNEUR MORRIS + </h2> + <h3> + GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. PARIS. AUGUST 10, 1792. + </h3> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Justum et tenacem propositi virum + Non civium ardor prava jubentium, + Non vultus instantis tyranni + Mente quatit solida, neque Auster + Dux inquieti turbidus Hadriae, + Nec fulminantis magna manus Jovis: + Si fractus illabatur orbis, + Impavidum ferient ruinae. + —Hor., Lib. III. Carm. III. +</pre> + <p> + The 10th of August, 1792, was one of the most memorable days of the French + Revolution. It was the day on which the French monarchy received its + death-blow, and was accompanied by fighting and bloodshed which filled + Paris with terror. In the morning before daybreak the tocsin had sounded, + and not long after the mob of Paris, headed by the Marseillais, "Six + hundred men not afraid to die," who had been summoned there by Barbaroux, + were marching upon the Tuileries. The king, or rather the queen, had at + last determined to make a stand and to defend the throne. The Swiss Guards + were there at the palace, well posted to protect the inner court; and + there, too, were the National Guards, who were expected to uphold the + government and guard the king. The tide of people poured on through the + streets, gathering strength as they went the Marseillais, the armed bands, + the Sections, and a vast floating mob. The crowd drew nearer and nearer, + but the squadrons of the National Guards, who were to check the advance, + did not stir. It is not apparent, indeed, that they made any resistance, + and the king and his family at eight o'clock lost heart and deserted the + Tuileries, to take refuge with the National Convention. The multitude then + passed into the court of the Carrousel, unchecked by the National Guards, + and were face to face with the Swiss. Deserted by their king, the Swiss + knew not how to act, but still stood their ground. There was some + parleying, and at last the Marseillais fired a cannon. Then the Swiss + fired. They were disciplined troops, and their fire was effective. There + was a heavy slaughter and the mob recoiled, leaving their cannon, which + the Swiss seized. The Revolutionists, however, returned to the charge, and + the fight raged on both sides, the Swiss holding their ground firmly. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly, from the legislative hall, came an order from the king to the + Swiss to cease firing. It was their death warrant. Paralyzed by the order, + they knew not what to do. The mob poured in, and most of the gallant Swiss + were slaughtered where they stood. Others escaped from the Tuileries only + to meet their death in the street. The palace was sacked and the raging + mob was in possession of the city. No man's life was safe, least of all + those who were known to be friends of the king, who were nobles, or who + had any connection with the court. Some of these people whose lives were + thus in peril at the hands of the bloodstained and furious mob had been + the allies of the United States, and had fought under Washington in the + war for American independence. In their anguish and distress their + thoughts recurred to the country which they had served in its hour of + trial, three thousand miles away. They sought the legation of the United + States and turned to the American minister for protection. + </p> + <p> + Such an exercise of humanity at that moment was not a duty that any man + craved. In those terrible days in Paris, the representatives of foreign + governments were hardly safer than any one else. Many of the ambassadors + and ministers had already left the country, and others were even then + abandoning their posts, which it seemed impossible to hold at such a time. + But the American minister stood his ground. Gouverneur Morris was not a + man to shrink from what he knew to be his duty. He had been a leading + patriot in our revolution; he had served in the Continental Congress, and + with Robert Morris in the difficult work of the Treasury, when all our + resources seemed to be at their lowest ebb. In 1788 he had gone abroad on + private business, and had been much in Paris, where he had witnessed the + beginning of the French Revolution and had been consulted by men on both + sides. In 1790, by Washington's direction, he had gone to London and had + consulted the ministry there as to whether they would receive an American + minister. Thence he had returned to Paris, and at the beginning Of 1792 + Washington appointed him minister of the United States to France. + </p> + <p> + As an American, Morris's sympathies had run strongly in favor of the + movement to relieve France from the despotism under which she was sinking, + and to give her a better and more liberal government. But, as the + Revolution progressed, he became outraged and disgusted by the methods + employed. He felt a profound contempt for both sides. The inability of + those who were conducting the Revolution to carry out intelligent plans or + maintain order, and the feebleness of the king and his advisers, were + alike odious to the man with American conceptions of ordered liberty. He + was especially revolted by the bloodshed and cruelty, constantly gathering + in strength, which were displayed by the revolutionists, and he had gone + to the very verge of diplomatic propriety in advising the ministers of the + king in regard to the policies to be pursued, and, as he foresaw what was + coming, in urging the king himself to leave France. All his efforts and + all his advice, like those of other intelligent men who kept their heads + during the whirl of the Revolution, were alike vain. + </p> + <p> + On August 10 the gathering storm broke with full force, and the populace + rose in arms to sweep away the tottering throne. Then it was that these + people, fleeing for their lives, came to the representative of the country + for which many of them had fought, and on both public and private grounds + besought the protection of the American minister. Let me tell what + happened in the words of an eye-witness, an American gentleman who was in + Paris at that time, and who published the following account of his + experiences: + </p> + <p> + On the ever memorable 10th of August, after viewing the destruction of the + Royal Swiss Guards and the dispersion of the Paris militia by a band of + foreign and native incendiaries, the writer thought it his duty to visit + the Minister, who had not been out of his hotel since the insurrection + began, and, as was to be expected, would be anxious to learn what was + passing without doors. He was surrounded by the old Count d'Estaing, and + about a dozen other persons of distinction, of different sexes, who had, + from their connection with the United States, been his most intimate + acquaintances at Paris, and who had taken refuge with him for protection + from the bloodhounds which, in the forms of men and women, were prowling + in the streets at the time. All was silence here, except that silence was + occasionally interrupted by the crying of the women and children. As I + retired, the Minister took me aside, and observed: "I have no doubt, sir, + but there are persons on the watch who would find fault with my conduct as + Minister in receiving and protecting these people, but I call on you to + witness the declaration which I now make, and that is that they were not + invited to my house, but came of their own accord. Whether my house will + be a protection to them or to me, God only knows, but I will not turn them + out of it, let what will happen to me," to which he added, "you see, sir, + they are all persons to whom our country is more or less indebted, and it + would be inhuman to force them into the hands of the assassins, had they + no such claim upon me." + </p> + <p> + Nothing can be added to this simple account, and no American can read it + or repeat the words of Mr. Morris without feeling even now, a hundred + years after the event, a glow of pride that such words were uttered at + such a time by the man who represented the United States. + </p> + <p> + After August 10, when matters in Paris became still worse, Mr. Morris + still stayed at his post. Let me give, in his own words, what he did and + his reasons for it: + </p> + <p> + The different ambassadors and ministers are all taking their flight, and + if I stay I shall be alone. I mean, however, to stay, unless circumstances + should command me away, because, in the admitted case that my letters of + credence are to the monarchy, and not to the Republic of France, it + becomes a matter of indifference whether I remain in this country or go to + England during the time which may be needful to obtain your orders, or to + produce a settlement of affairs here. Going hence, however, would look + like taking part against the late Revolution, and I am not only + unauthorized in this respect, but I am bound to suppose that if the great + majority of the nation adhere to the new form, the United States will + approve thereof; because, in the first place, we have no right to + prescribe to this country the government they shall adopt, and next, + because the basis of our own Constitution is the indefeasible right of the + people to establish it. + </p> + <p> + Among those who are leaving Paris is the Venetian ambassador. He was + furnished with passports from the Office of Foreign Affairs, but he was, + nevertheless, stopped at the barrier, was conducted to the Hotel de Ville, + was there questioned for hours, and his carriages examined and searched. + This violation of the rights of ambassadors could not fail, as you may + suppose, to make an impression. It has been broadly hinted to me that the + honor of my country and my own require that I should go away. But I am of + a different opinion, and rather think that those who give such hints are + somewhat influenced by fear. It is true that the position is not without + danger, but I presume that when the President did me the honor of naming + me to this embassy, it was not for my personal pleasure or safety, but to + promote the interests of my country. These, therefore, I shall continue to + pursue to the best of my judgment, and as to consequences, they are in the + hand of God. + </p> + <p> + He remained there until his successor arrived. When all others fled, he + was faithful, and such conduct should never be forgotten. Mr. Morris not + only risked his life, but he took a heavy responsibility, and laid himself + open to severe attack for having protected defenseless people against the + assaults of the mob. But his courageous humanity is something which should + ever be remembered, and ought always to be characteristic of the men who + represent the United States in foreign countries. When we recall the + French Revolution, it is cheering to think of that fearless figure of the + American minister, standing firm and calm in the midst of those awful + scenes, with sacked palaces, slaughtered soldiers, and a bloodstained mob + about him, regardless of danger to himself, determined to do his duty to + his country, and to those to whom his country was indebted. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BURNING OF THE "PHILADELPHIA" + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + And say besides, that in Aleppo once, + Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk + Beat a Venetian and traduced the state, + I took by the throat the circumcised dog + And smote him, thus. + —Othello. +</pre> + <p> + It is difficult to conceive that there ever was a time when the United + States paid a money tribute to anybody. It is even more difficult to + imagine the United States paying blackmail to a set of small piratical + tribes on the coast of Africa. Yet this is precisely what we once did with + the Barbary powers, as they were called the States of Morocco, Tunis, + Tripoli, and Algiers, lying along the northern coast of Africa. The only + excuse to be made for such action was that we merely followed the example + of Christendom. The civilized people of the world were then in the habit + of paying sums of money to these miserable pirates, in order to secure + immunity for their merchant vessels in the Mediterranean. For this purpose + Congress appropriated money, and treaties were made by the President and + ratified by the Senate. On one occasion, at least, Congress actually + revoked the authorization of some new ships for the navy, and appropriated + more money than was required to build the men-of-war in order to buy off + the Barbary powers. The fund for this disgraceful purpose was known as the + "Mediterranean fund," and was intrusted to the Secretary of State to be + disbursed by him in his discretion. After we had our brush with France, + however, in 1798, and after Truxtun's brilliant victory over the French + frigate L'Insurgente in the following year, it occurred to our government + that perhaps there was a more direct as well as a more manly way of + dealing with the Barbary pirates than by feebly paying them tribute, and + in 1801 a small squadron, under Commodore Dale, proceeded to the + Mediterranean. + </p> + <p> + At the same time events occurred which showed strikingly the absurdity as + well as the weakness of this policy of paying blackmail to pirates. The + Bashaw of Tripoli, complaining that we had given more money to some of the + Algerian ministers than we had to him, and also that we had presented + Algiers with a frigate, declared war upon us, and cut down the flag-staff + in front of the residence of the American consul. At the same time, and + for the same reason, Morocco and Tunis began to grumble at the treatment + which they had received. The fact was that, with nations as with + individuals, when the payment of blackmail is once begun there is no end + to it. The appearance, however, of our little squadron in the + Mediterranean showed at once the superiority of a policy of force over one + of cowardly submission. Morocco and Tunis immediately stopped their + grumbling and came to terms with the United States, and this left us free + to deal with Tripoli. + </p> + <p> + Commodore Dale had sailed before the declaration of war by Tripoli was + known, and he was therefore hampered by his orders, which permitted him + only to protect our commerce, and which forbade actual hostilities. + Nevertheless, even under these limited orders, the Enterprise, of twelve + guns, commanded by Lieutenant Sterrett, fought an action with the + Tripolitan ship Tripoli, of fourteen guns. The engagement lasted three + hours, when the Tripoli struck, having lost her mizzenmast, and with + twenty of her crew killed and thirty wounded. Sterrett, having no orders + to make captures, threw all the guns and ammunition of the Tripoli + overboard, cut away her remaining masts, and left her with only one spar + and a single sail to drift back to Tripoli, as a hint to the Bashaw of the + new American policy. + </p> + <p> + In 1803 the command of our fleet in the Mediterranean was taken by + Commodore Preble, who had just succeeded in forcing satisfaction from + Morocco for an attack made upon our merchantmen by a vessel from Tangier. + He also proclaimed a blockade of Tripoli and was preparing to enforce it + when the news reached him that the frigate Philadelphia, forty-four guns, + commanded by Captain Bainbridge, and one of the best ships in our navy, + had gone upon a reef in the harbor of Tripoli, while pursuing a vessel + there, and had been surrounded and captured, with all her crew, by the + Tripolitan gunboats, when she was entirely helpless either to fight or + sail. This was a very serious blow to our navy and to our operations + against Tripoli. It not only weakened our forces, but it was also a great + help to the enemy. The Tripolitans got the Philadelphia off the rocks, + towed her into the harbor, and anchored her close under the guns of their + forts. They also replaced her batteries, and prepared to make her ready + for sea, where she would have been a most formidable danger to our + shipping. + </p> + <p> + Under these circumstances Stephen Decatur, a young lieutenant in command + of the Enterprise, offered to Commodore Preble to go into the harbor and + destroy the Philadelphia. Some delay ensued, as our squadron was driven by + severe gales from the Tripolitan coast; but at last, in January, 1804, + Preble gave orders to Decatur to undertake the work for which he had + volunteered. A small vessel known as a ketch had been recently captured + from the Tripolitans by Decatur, and this prize was now named the + Intrepid, and assigned to him for the work he had in hand. He took seventy + men from his own ship, the Enterprise, and put them on the Intrepid, and + then, accompanied by Lieutenant Stewart in the Siren, who was to support + him, he set sail for Tripoli. He and his crew were very much cramped as + well as badly fed on the little vessel which had been given to them, but + they succeeded, nevertheless, in reaching Tripoli in safety, accompanied + by the Siren. + </p> + <p> + For nearly a week they were unable to approach the harbor, owing to severe + gales which threatened the loss of their vessel; but on February 16 the + weather moderated and Decatur determined to go in. It is well to recall, + briefly, the extreme peril of the attack which he was about to make. The + Philadelphia, with forty guns mounted, double-shotted, and ready for + firing, and manned by a full complement of men, was moored within half a + gunshot of the Bashaw's castle, the mole and crown batteries, and within + range of ten other batteries, mounting, altogether, one hundred and + fifteen guns. Some Tripolitan cruisers, two galleys, and nineteen gunboats + also lay between the Philadelphia and the shore. Into the midst of this + powerful armament Decatur had to go with his little vessel of sixty tons, + carrying four small guns and having a crew of seventy-five men. + </p> + <p> + The Americans, however, were entirely undismayed by the odds against them, + and at seven o'clock Decatur went into the harbor between the reef and + shoal which formed its mouth. He steered on steadily toward the + Philadelphia, the breeze getting constantly lighter, and by half-past nine + was within two hundred yards of the frigate. As they approached Decatur + stood at the helm with the pilot, only two or three men showing on deck + and the rest of the crew lying hidden under the bulwarks. In this way he + drifted to within nearly twenty yards of the Philadelphia. The suspicions + of the Tripolitans, however, were not aroused, and when they hailed the + Intrepid, the pilot answered that they had lost their anchors in a gale, + and asked that they might run a warp to the frigate and ride by her. While + the talk went on the Intrepid's boat shoved off with the rope, and pulling + to the fore-chains of the Philadelphia, made the line fast. A few of the + crew then began to haul on the lines, and thus the Intrepid was drawn + gradually toward the frigate. + </p> + <p> + The suspicions of the Tripolitans were now at last awakened. They raised + the cry of "Americanos!" and ordered off the Intrepid, but it was too + late. As the vessels came in contact, Decatur sprang up the main chains of + the Philadelphia, calling out the order to board. He was rapidly followed + by his officers and men, and as they swarmed over the rails and came upon + the deck, the Tripolitan crew gathered, panic-stricken, in a confused mass + on the forecastle. Decatur waited a moment until his men were behind him, + and then, placing himself at their head, drew his sword and rushed upon + the Tripolitans. There was a very short struggle, and the Tripolitans, + crowded together, terrified and surprised, were cut down or driven + overboard. In five minutes the ship was cleared of the enemy. + </p> + <p> + Decatur would have liked to have taken the Philadelphia out of the harbor, + but that was impossible. He therefore gave orders to burn the ship, and + his men, who had been thoroughly instructed in what they were to do, + dispersed into all parts of the frigate with the combustibles which had + been prepared, and in a few minutes, so well and quickly was the work + done, the flames broke out in all parts of the Philadelphia. As soon as + this was effected the order was given to return to the Intrepid. Without + confusion the men obeyed. It was a moment of great danger, for fire was + breaking out on all sides, and the Intrepid herself, filled as she was + with powder and combustibles, was in great peril of sudden destruction. + The rapidity of Decatur's movements, however, saved everything. The cables + were cut, the sweeps got out, and the Intrepid drew rapidly away from the + burning frigate. It was a magnificent sight as the flames burst out over + the Philadephia and ran rapidly and fiercely up the masts and rigging. As + her guns became heated they were discharged, one battery pouring its shots + into the town. Finally the cables parted, and then the Philadelphia, a + mass of flames, drifted across the harbor, and blew up. Meantime the + batteries of the shipping and the castle had been turned upon the + Intrepid, but although the shot struck all around her, she escaped + successfully with only one shot through her mainsail, and, joining the + Siren, bore away. + </p> + <p> + This successful attack was carried through by the cool courage of Decatur + and the admirable discipline of his men. The hazard was very great, the + odds were very heavy, and everything depended on the nerve with which the + attack was made and the completeness of the surprise. Nothing miscarried, + and no success could have been more complete. Nelson, at that time in the + Mediterranean, and the best judge of a naval exploit as well as the + greatest naval commander who has ever lived, pronounced it "the most bold + and daring act of the age." We meet no single feat exactly like it in our + own naval history, brilliant as that has been, until we come to Cushing's + destruction of the Albemarle in the war of the rebellion. In the years + that have elapsed, and among the great events that have occurred since + that time, Decatur's burning of the Philadephia has been well-nigh + forgotten; but it is one of those feats of arms which illustrate the high + courage of American seamen, and which ought always to be remembered. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE CRUISE OF THE "WASP" + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + A crash as when some swollen cloud + Cracks o'er the tangled trees! + With side to side, and spar to spar, + Whose smoking decks are these? + I know St. George's blood-red cross, + Thou mistress of the seas, + But what is she whose streaming bars + Roll out before the breeze? + + Ah, well her iron ribs are knit, + Whose thunders strive to quell + The bellowing throats, the blazing lips, + That pealed the Armada's knell! + The mist was cleared,—a wreath of stars + Rose o'er the crimsoned swell, + And, wavering from its haughty peak, + The cross of England fell! + —Holmes. +</pre> + <p> + In the war of 1812 the little American navy, including only a dozen + frigates and sloops of war, won a series of victories against the English, + the hitherto undoubted masters of the sea, that attracted an attention + altogether out of proportion to the force of the combatants or the actual + damage done. For one hundred and fifty years the English ships of war had + failed to find fit rivals in those of any other European power, although + they had been matched against each in turn; and when the unknown navy of + the new nation growing up across the Atlantic did what no European navy + had ever been able to do, not only the English and Americans, but the + people of Continental Europe as well, regarded the feat as important out + of all proportion to the material aspects of the case. The Americans first + proved that the English could be beaten at their own game on the sea. They + did what the huge fleets of France, Spain, and Holland had failed to do, + and the great modern writers on naval warfare in Continental Europe—men + like Jurien de la Graviere—have paid the same attention to these + contests of frigates and sloops that they give to whole fleet actions of + other wars. + </p> + <p> + Among the famous ships of the Americans in this war were two named the + Wasp. The first was an eighteen-gun ship-sloop, which at the very outset + of the war captured a British brig-sloop of twenty guns, after an + engagement in which the British fought with great gallantry, but were + knocked to Pieces, while the Americans escaped comparatively unscathed. + Immediately afterward a British seventy-four captured the victor. In + memory of her the Americans gave the same name to one of the new sloops + they were building. These sloops were stoutly made, speedy vessels which + in strength and swiftness compared favorably with any ships of their class + in any other navy of the day, for the American shipwrights were already as + famous as the American gunners and seamen. The new Wasp, like her sister + ships, carried twenty-two guns and a crew of one hundred and seventy men, + and was ship-rigged. Twenty of her guns were 32-pound carronades, while + for bow-chasers she had two "long Toms." It was in the year 1814 that the + Wasp sailed from the United States to prey on the navy and commerce of + Great Britain. Her commander was a gallant South Carolinian named Captain + Johnson Blakeley. Her crew were nearly all native Americans, and were an + exceptionally fine set of men. Instead of staying near the American coasts + or of sailing the high seas, the Wasp at once headed boldly for the + English Channel, to carry the war to the very doors of the enemy. + </p> + <p> + At that time the English fleets had destroyed the navies of every other + power of Europe, and had obtained such complete supremacy over the French + that the French fleets were kept in port. Off these ports lay the great + squadrons of the English ships of the line, never, in gale or in calm, + relaxing their watch upon the rival war-ships of the French emperor. So + close was the blockade of the French ports, and so hopeless were the + French of making headway in battle with their antagonists, that not only + the great French three-deckers and two-deckers, but their frigates and + sloops as well, lay harmless in their harbors, and the English ships + patroled the seas unchecked in every direction. A few French privateers + still slipped out now and then, and the far bolder and more formidable + American privateersmen drove hither and thither across the ocean in their + swift schooners and brigantines, and harried the English commerce without + mercy. + </p> + <p> + The Wasp proceeded at once to cruise in the English Channel and off the + coasts of England, France, and Spain. Here the water was traversed + continually by English fleets and squadrons and single ships of war, which + were sometimes covoying detachments of troops for Wellington's Peninsular + army, sometimes guarding fleets of merchant vessels bound homeward, and + sometimes merely cruising for foes. It was this spot, right in the teeth + of the British naval power, that the Wasp chose for her cruising ground. + Hither and thither she sailed through the narrow seas, capturing and + destroying the merchantmen, and by the seamanship of her crew and the + skill and vigilance of her commander, escaping the pursuit of frigate and + ship of the line. Before she had been long on the ground, one June + morning, while in chase of a couple of merchant ships, she spied a sloop + of war, the British brig Reindeer, of eighteen guns and a hundred and + twenty men. The Reindeer was a weaker ship than the Wasp, her guns were + lighter, and her men fewer; but her commander, Captain Manners, was one of + the most gallant men in the splendid British navy, and he promptly took up + the gage of battle which the Wasp threw down. + </p> + <p> + The day was calm and nearly still; only a light wind stirred across the + sea. At one o'clock the Wasp's drum beat to quarters, and the sailors and + marines gathered at their appointed posts. The drum of the Reindeer + responded to the challenge, and with her sails reduced to fighting trim, + her guns run out, and every man ready, she came down upon the Yankee ship. + On her forecastle she had rigged a light carronade, and coming up from + behind, she five times discharged this pointblank into the American sloop; + then in the light air the latter luffed round, firing her guns as they + bore, and the two ships engaged yard-arm to yard-arm. The guns leaped and + thundered as the grimy gunners hurled them out to fire and back again to + load, working like demons. For a few minutes the cannonade was tremendous, + and the men in the tops could hardly see the decks for the wreck of flying + splinters. Then the vessels ground together, and through the open ports + the rival gunners hewed, hacked, and thrust at one another, while the + black smoke curled up from between the hulls. The English were suffering + terribly. Captain Manners himself was wounded, and realizing that he was + doomed to defeat unless by some desperate effort he could avert it, he + gave the signal to board. At the call the boarders gathered, naked to the + waist, black with powder and spattered with blood, cutlas and pistol in + hand. But the Americans were ready. Their marines were drawn up on deck, + the pikemen stood behind the bulwarks, and the officers watched, cool and + alert, every movement of the foe. Then the British sea-dogs tumbled + aboard, only to perish by shot or steel. The combatants slashed and + stabbed with savage fury, and the assailants were driven back. Manners + sprang to their head to lead them again himself, when a ball fired by one + of the sailors in the American tops crashed through his skull, and he + fell, sword in hand, with his face to the foe, dying as honorable a death + as ever a brave man died in fighting against odds for the flag of his + country. As he fell the American officers passed the word to board. With + wild cheers the fighting sailormen sprang forward, sweeping the wreck of + the British force before them, and in a minute the Reindeer was in their + possession. All of her officers, and nearly two thirds of the crew, were + killed or wounded; but they had proved themselves as skilful as they were + brave, and twenty-six of the Americans had been killed or wounded. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +The Wasp set fire to her prize, and after retiring to a French port to +refit, came out again to cruise. For some time she met no antagonist +of her own size with which to wage war, and she had to exercise the +sharpest vigilance to escape capture. Late one September afternoon, when +she could see ships of war all around her, she selected one which was +isolated from the others, and decided to run alongside her and try to +sink her after nightfall. Accordingly she set her sails in pursuit, and +drew steadily toward her antagonist, a big eighteen-gun brig, the Avon, +a ship more powerful than the Reindeer. The Avon kept signaling to two +other British war vessels which were in sight—one an eighteen-gun brig +and the other a twenty-gun ship; they were so close that the Wasp +was afraid they would interfere before the combat could be ended. +Nevertheless, Blakeley persevered, and made his attack with equal skill +and daring. It was after dark when he ran alongside his opponent, +and they began forthwith to exchange furious broadsides. As the ships +plunged and wallowed in the seas, the Americans could see the clusters +of topmen in the rigging of their opponent, but they knew nothing of +the vessel's name or of her force, save only so far as they felt it. The +firing was fast and furious, but the British shot with bad aim, while +the skilled American gunners hulled their opponent at almost every +discharge. In a very few minutes the Avon was in a sinking condition, +and she struck her flag and cried for quarter, having lost forty or +fifty men, while but three of the Americans had fallen. Before the Wasp +could take possession of her opponent, however, the two war vessels +to which the Avon had been signaling came up. One of them fired at the +Wasp, and as the latter could not fight two new foes, she ran off easily +before the wind. Neither of her new antagonists followed her, devoting +themselves to picking up the crew of the sinking Avon. + + It would be hard to find a braver feat more skilfully performed +than this; for Captain Blakeley, with hostile foes all round him, had +closed with and sunk one antagonist not greatly his inferior in force, +suffering hardly any loss himself, while two of her friends were coming +to her help. +</pre> + <p> + Both before and after this the Wasp cruised hither and thither making + prizes. Once she came across a convoy of ships bearing arms and munitions + to Wellington's army, under the care of a great two-decker. Hovering + about, the swift sloop evaded the two-decker's movements, and actually cut + out and captured one of the transports she was guarding, making her escape + unharmed. Then she sailed for the high seas. She made several other + prizes, and on October 9 spoke a Swedish brig. + </p> + <p> + This was the last that was ever heard of the gallant Wasp. She never again + appeared, and no trace of any of those aboard her was ever found. Whether + she was wrecked on some desert coast, whether she foundered in some + furious gale, or what befell her none ever knew. All that is certain is + that she perished, and that all on board her met death in some one of the + myriad forms in which it must always be faced by those who go down to the + sea in ships; and when she sank there sank one of the most gallant ships + of the American navy, with as brave a captain and crew as ever sailed from + any port of the New World. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE "GENERAL ARMSTRONG" PRIVATEER + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + We have fought such a fight for a day and a night + As may never be fought again! + We have won great glory, my men! + And a day less or more + At sea or ashore, + We die—does it matter when? + —Tennyson. +</pre> + <p> + In the revolution, and again in the war of 1812, the seas were covered by + swift-sailing American privateers, which preyed on the British trade. The + hardy seamen of the New England coast, and of New York, Philadelphia, and + Baltimore, turned readily from their adventurous careers in the whalers + that followed the giants of the ocean in every sea and every clime, and + from trading voyages to the uttermost parts of the earth, to go into the + business of privateering, which was more remunerative, and not so very + much more dangerous, than their ordinary pursuits. By the end of the war + of 1812, in particular, the American privateers had won for themselves a + formidable position on the ocean. The schooners, brigs, and brigantines in + which the privateersmen sailed were beautifully modeled, and were among + the fastest craft afloat. They were usually armed with one heavy gun, the + "long Tom," as it was called, arranged on a pivot forward or amidships, + and with a few lighter pieces of cannon. They carried strong crews of + well-armed men, and their commanders were veteran seamen, used to brave + every danger from the elements or from man. So boldly did they prey on the + British commerce, that they infested even the Irish Sea and the British + Channel, and increased many times the rate of insurance on vessels passing + across those waters. They also often did battle with the regular + men-of-war of the British, being favorite objects for attack by + cutting-out parties from the British frigates and ships of the line, and + also frequently encountering in fight the smaller sloops-of-war. Usually, + in these contests, the privateersmen were worsted, for they had not the + training which is obtained only in a regular service, and they were in no + way to be compared to the little fleet of regular vessels which in this + same war so gloriously upheld the honor of the American flag. + Nevertheless, here and there a privateer commanded by an exceptionally + brave and able captain, and manned by an unusually well-trained crew, + performed some feat of arms which deserves to rank with anything ever + performed by the regular navy. Such a feat was the defense of the brig + General Armstrong, in the Portuguese port of Fayal, of the Azores, against + an overwhelming British force. + </p> + <p> + The General Armstrong hailed from New York, and her captain was named + Reid. She had a crew of ninety men, and was armed with one heavy 32 + pounder and six lighter guns. In December, 1814, she was lying in Fayal, a + neutral port, when four British war-vessels, a ship of the line, a frigate + and two brigs, hove into sight, and anchored off the mouth of the harbor. + The port was neutral, but Portugal was friendly to England, and Reid knew + well that the British would pay no respect to the neutrality laws if they + thought that at the cost of their violation they could destroy the + privateer. He immediately made every preparation to resist an attack, The + privateer was anchored close to the shore. The boarding-nettings were got + ready, and were stretched to booms thrust outward from the brig's side, so + as to check the boarders as they tried to climb over the bulwarks. The + guns were loaded and cast loose, and the men went to quarters armed with + muskets, boarding-pikes, and cutlases. + </p> + <p> + On their side the British made ready to carry the privateer by boarding. + The shoals rendered it impossible for the heavy ships to approach, and the + lack of wind and the baffling currents also interfered for the moment with + the movements of the sloops-of-war. Accordingly recourse was had to a + cutting-out party, always a favorite device with the British seamen of + that age, who were accustomed to carry French frigates by boarding, and to + capture in their boats the heavy privateers and armed merchantmen, as well + as the lighter war-vessels of France and Spain. + </p> + <p> + The British first attempted to get possession of the brig by surprise, + sending out but four boats. These worked down near to the brig, under + pretense of sounding, trying to get close enough to make a rush and board + her. The privateersmen were on their guard, and warned the boats off, and + after the warning had been repeated once or twice unheeded, they fired + into them, killing and wounding several men. Upon this the boats promptly + returned to the ships. + </p> + <p> + This first check greatly irritated the British captains, and they decided + to repeat the experiment that night with a force which would render + resistance vain. Accordingly, after it became dark, a dozen boats were + sent from the liner and the frigate, manned by four hundred stalwart + British seamen, and commanded by the captain of one of the brigs of war. + Through the night they rowed straight toward the little privateer lying + dark and motionless in the gloom. As before, the privateersmen were ready + for their foe, and when they came within range opened fire upon them, + first with the long gun and then with the lighter cannon; but the British + rowed on with steady strokes, for they were seamen accustomed to victory + over every European foe, and danger had no terrors for them. With fierce + hurrahs they dashed through the shot-riven smoke and grappled the brig; + and the boarders rose, cutlas in hand, ready to spring over the bulwarks. + A terrible struggle followed. The British hacked at the boarding-nets and + strove to force their way through to the decks of the privateer, while the + Americans stabbed the assailants with their long pikes and slashed at them + with their cutlases. The darkness was lit by the flashes of flame from the + muskets and the cannon, and the air was rent by the oaths and shouts of + the combatants, the heavy trampling on the decks, the groans of the + wounded, the din of weapon meeting weapon, and all the savage tumult of a + hand-to-hand fight. At the bow the British burst through the + boarding-netting, and forced their way to the deck, killing or wounding + all three of the lieutenants of the privateer; but when this had happened + the boats had elsewhere been beaten back, and Reid, rallying his grim + sea-dogs, led them forward with a rush, and the boarding party were all + killed or tumbled into the sea. This put an end to the fight. In some of + the boats none but killed and wounded men were left. The others drew + slowly off, like crippled wild-fowl, and disappeared in the darkness + toward the British squadron. Half of the attacking force had been killed + or wounded, while of the Americans but nine had fallen. + </p> + <p> + The British commodore and all his officers were maddened with anger and + shame over the repulse, and were bent upon destroying the privateer at all + costs. Next day, after much exertion, one of the war-brigs was warped into + position to attack the American, but she first took her station at long + range, so that her carronades were not as effective as the pivot gun of + the privateer; and so well was the latter handled, that the British brig + was repeatedly hulled, and finally was actually driven off. A second + attempt was made, however, and this time the sloop-of-war got so close + that she could use her heavy carronades, which put the privateer + completely at her mercy. Then Captain Reid abandoned his brig and sank + her, first carrying ashore the guns, and marched inland with his men. They + were not further molested; and, if they had lost their brig, they had at + least made their foes pay dear for her destruction, for the British had + lost twice as many men as there were in the whole hard-fighting crew of + the American privateer. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The heavy fog of morning + Still hid the plain from sight, + When came a thread of scarlet + Marked faintly in the white. + We fired a single cannon, + And as its thunders rolled, + The mist before us lifted + In many a heavy fold. + The mist before us lifted, + And in their bravery fine + Came rushing to their ruin + The fearless British line. + —Thomas Dunn English. +</pre> + <p> + When, in 1814, Napoleon was overthrown and forced to retire to Elba, the + British troops that had followed Wellington into southern France were left + free for use against the Americans. A great expedition was organized to + attack and capture New Orleans, and at its head was placed General + Pakenham, the brilliant commander of the column that delivered the fatal + blow at Salamanca. In December a fleet of British war-ships and + transports, carrying thousands of victorious veterans from the Peninsula, + and manned by sailors who had grown old in a quarter of a century's + triumphant ocean warfare, anchored off the broad lagoons of the + Mississippi delta. The few American gunboats were carried after a + desperate hand-to-hand struggle, the troops were landed, and on December + 23 the advance-guard of two thousand men reached the banks of the + Mississippi, but ten miles below New Orleans, and there camped for the + night. It seemed as if nothing could save the Creole City from foes who + had shown, in the storming of many a Spanish walled town, that they were + as ruthless in victory as they were terrible in battle. There were no + forts to protect the place, and the militia were ill armed and ill + trained. But the hour found the man. On the afternoon of the very day when + the British reached the banks of the river the vanguard of Andrew + Jackson's Tennesseeans marched into New Orleans. Clad in hunting-shirts of + buckskin or homespun, wearing wolfskin and coonskin caps, and carrying + their long rifles on their shoulders, the wild soldiery of the backwoods + tramped into the little French town. They were tall men, with sinewy + frames and piercing eyes. Under "Old Hickory's" lead they had won the + bloody battle of the Horseshoe Bend against the Creeks; they had driven + the Spaniards from Pensacola; and now they were eager to pit themselves + against the most renowned troops of all Europe. + </p> + <p> + Jackson acted with his usual fiery, hasty decision. It was absolutely + necessary to get time in which to throw up some kind of breastworks or + defenses for the city, and he at once resolved on a night attack against + the British. As for the British, they had no thought of being molested. + They did not dream of an assault from inferior numbers of undisciplined + and ill-armed militia, who did not possess so much as bayonets to their + guns. They kindled fires along the levees, ate their supper, and then, as + the evening fell, noticed a big schooner drop down the river in ghostly + silence and bring up opposite to them. The soldiers flocked to the shore, + challenging the stranger, and finally fired one or two shots at her. Then + suddenly a rough voice was heard, "Now give it to them, for the honor of + America!" and a shower of shell and grape fell on the British, driving + them off the levee. The stranger was an American man-of-war schooner. The + British brought up artillery to drive her off, but before they succeeded + Jackson's land troops burst upon them, and a fierce, indecisive struggle + followed. In the night all order was speedily lost, and the two sides + fought singly or in groups in the utmost confusion. Finally a fog came up + and the combatants separated. Jackson drew off four or five miles and + camped. + </p> + <p> + The British had been so roughly handled that they were unable to advance + for three or four days, until the entire army came up. When they did + advance, it was only to find that Jackson had made good use of the time he + had gained by his daring assault. He had thrown up breastworks of mud and + logs from the swamp to the river. At first the British tried to batter + down these breastworks with their cannon, for they had many more guns than + the Americans. A terrible artillery duel followed. For an hour or two the + result seemed in doubt; but the American gunners showed themselves to be + far more skilful than their antagonists, and gradually getting the upper + hand, they finally silenced every piece of British artillery. The + Americans had used cotton bales in the embrasures, and the British + hogsheads of sugar; but neither worked well, for the cotton caught fire + and the sugar hogsheads were ripped and splintered by the roundshot, so + that both were abandoned. By the use of red-hot shot the British succeeded + in setting on fire the American schooner which had caused them such + annoyance on the evening of the night attack; but she had served her + purpose, and her destruction caused little anxiety to Jackson. + </p> + <p> + Having failed in his effort to batter down the American breastworks, and + the British artillery having been fairly worsted by the American, Pakenham + decided to try open assault. He had ten thousand regular troops, while + Jackson had under him but little over five thousand men, who were trained + only as he had himself trained them in his Indian campaigns. Not a fourth + of them carried bayonets. Both Pakenham and the troops under him were + fresh from victories won over the most renowned marshals of Napoleon, + andover soldiers that had proved themselves on a hundred stricken fields + the masters of all others in Continental Europe. At Toulouse they had + driven Marshal Soult from a position infinitely stronger than that held by + Jackson, and yet Soult had under him a veteran army. At Badajoz, Ciudad + Rodrigo, and San Sebastian they had carried by open assault fortified + towns whose strength made the intrenchments of the Americans seem like the + mud walls built by children, though these towns were held by the best + soldiers of France. With such troops to follow him, and with such + victories behind him in the past, it did not seem possible to Pakenham + that the assault of the terrible British infantry could be successfully + met by rough backwoods riflemen fighting under a general as wild and + untrained as themselves. + </p> + <p> + He decreed that the assault should take place on the morning of the + eighth. Throughout the previous night the American officers were on the + alert, for they could hear the rumbling of artillery in the British camp, + the muffled tread of the battalions as they were marched to their points + in the line, and all the smothered din of the preparation for assault. + Long before dawn the riflemen were awake and drawn up behind the mud + walls, where they lolled at ease, or, leaning on their long rifles, peered + out through the fog toward the camp of their foes. At last the sun rose + and the fog lifted, showing the scarlet array of the splendid British + infantry. As soon as the air was clear Pakenham gave the word, and the + heavy columns of redcoated grenadiers and kilted Highlanders moved + steadily forward. From the American breastworks the great guns opened, but + not a rifle cracked. Three fourths of the distance were covered, and the + eager soldiers broke into a run; then sheets of flame burst from the + breastworks in their front as the wild riflemen of the backwoods rose and + fired, line upon line. Under the sweeping hail the head of the British + advance was shattered, and the whole column stopped. Then it surged + forward again, almost to the foot of the breastworks; but not a man lived + to reach them, and in a moment more the troops broke and ran back. Mad + with shame and rage, Pakenham rode among them to rally and lead them + forward, and the officers sprang around him, smiting the fugitives with + their swords and cheering on the men who stood. For a moment the troops + halted, and again came forward to the charge; but again they were met by a + hail of bullets from the backwoods rifles. One shot struck Pakenham + himself. He reeled and fell from the saddle, and was carried off the + field. The second and third in command fell also, and then all attempts at + further advance were abandoned, and the British troops ran back to their + lines. Another assault had meanwhile been made by a column close to the + river, the charging soldiers rushing to the top of the breastworks; but + they were all killed or driven back. A body of troops had also been sent + across the river, where they routed a small detachment of Kentucky + militia; but they were, of course, recalled when the main assault failed. + </p> + <p> + At last the men who had conquered the conquerors of Europe had themselves + met defeat. Andrew Jackson and his rough riflemen had worsted, in fair + fight, a far larger force of the best of Wellington's veterans, and had + accomplished what no French marshal and no French troops had been able to + accomplish throughout the long war in the Spanish peninsula. For a week + the sullen British lay in their lines; then, abandoning their heavy + artillery, they marched back to the ships and sailed for Europe. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + JOHN QUINCY ADAMS AND THE RIGHT OF PETITION + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + He rests with the immortals; his journey has been long: + For him no wail of sorrow, but a paean full and strong! + So well and bravely has he done the work be found to do, + To justice, freedom, duty, God, and man forever true. + —Whittier. +</pre> + <p> + The lot of ex-Presidents of the United States, as a rule, has been a life + of extreme retirement, but to this rule there is one marked exception. + When John Quincy Adams left the White House in March, 1829, it must have + seemed as if public life could hold nothing more for him. He had had + everything apparently that an American statesman could hope for. He had + been Minister to Holland and Prussia, to Russia and England. He had been a + Senator of the United States, Secretary of State for eight years, and + finally President. Yet, notwithstanding all this, the greatest part of his + career, and his noblest service to his country, were still before him when + he gave up the Presidency. + </p> + <p> + In the following year (1830) he was told that he might be elected to the + House of Representatives, and the gentleman who made the proposition + ventured to say that he thought an ex-President, by taking such a + position, "instead of degrading the individual would elevate the + representative character." Mr. Adams replied that he had "in that respect + no scruples whatever. No person can be degraded by serving the people as + Representative in Congress, nor, in my opinion, would an ex-President of + the United States be degraded by serving as a selectman of his town if + elected thereto by the people." A few weeks later he was chosen to the + House, and the district continued to send him every two years from that + time until his death. He did much excellent work in the House, and was + conspicuous in more than one memorable scene; but here it is possible to + touch on only a single point, where he came forward as the champion of a + great principle, and fought a battle for the right which will always be + remembered among the great deeds of American public men. + </p> + <p> + Soon after Mr. Adams took his seat in Congress, the movement for the + abolition of slavery was begun by a few obscure agitators. It did not at + first attract much attention, but as it went on it gradually exasperated + the overbearing temper of the Southern slaveholders. One fruit of this + agitation was the appearance of petitions for the abolition of slavery in + the House of Representatives. A few were presented by Mr. Adams without + attracting much notice; but as the petitions multiplied, the Southern + representatives became aroused. They assailed Mr. Adams for presenting + them, and finally passed what was known as the gag rule, which prevented + the reception of these petitions by the House. Against this rule Mr. Adams + protested, in the midst of the loud shouts of the Southerners, as a + violation of his constitutional rights. But the tyranny of slavery at that + time was so complete that the rule was adopted and enforced, and the + slaveholders, undertook in this way to suppress free speech in the House, + just as they also undertook to prevent the transmission through the mails + of any writings adverse to slavery. With the wisdom of a statesman and a + man of affairs, Mr. Adams addressed himself to the one practical point of + the contest. He did not enter upon a discussion of slavery or of its + abolition, but turned his whole force toward the vindication of the right + of petition. On every petition day he would offer, in constantly + increasing numbers, petitions which came to him from all parts of the + country for the abolition of slavery, in this way driving the Southern + representatives almost to madness, despite their rule which prevented the + reception of such documents when offered. Their hatred of Mr. Adams is + something difficult to conceive, and they were burning to break him down, + and, if possible, drive him from the House. On February 6, 1837, after + presenting the usual petitions, Mr. Adams offered one upon which he said + he should like the judgment of the Speaker as to its propriety, inasmuch + as it was a petition from slaves. In a moment the House was in a tumult, + and loud cries of "Expel him!" "Expel him!" rose in all directions. One + resolution after another was offered looking toward his expulsion or + censure, and it was not until February 9, three days later, that he was + able to take the floor in his own defense. His speech was a masterpiece of + argument, invective, and sarcasm. He showed, among other things, that he + had not offered the petition, but had only asked the opinion of the + Speaker upon it, and that the petition itself prayed that slavery should + not be abolished. When he closed his speech, which was quite as savage as + any made against him, and infinitely abler, no one desired to reply, and + the idea of censuring him was dropped. + </p> + <p> + The greatest struggle, however, came five years later, when, on January + 21, 1842, Mr. Adams presented the petition of certain citizens of + Haverhill, Massachusetts, praying for the dissolution of the Union on + account of slavery. His enemies felt that now, at last, he had delivered + himself into their hands. Again arose the cry for his expulsion, and again + vituperation was poured out upon him, and resolutions to expel him freely + introduced. When he got the floor to speak in his own defense, he faced an + excited House, almost unanimously hostile to him, and possessing, as he + well knew, both the will and the power to drive him from its walls. But + there was no wavering in Mr. Adams. "If they say they will try me," he + said, "they must try me. If they say they will punish me, they must punish + me. But if they say that in peace and mercy they will spare me expulsion, + I disdain and cast away their mercy, and I ask if they will come to such a + trial and expel me. I defy them. I have constituents to go to, and they + will have something to say if this House expels me, nor will it be long + before the gentlemen will see me here again." The fight went on for nearly + a fortnight, and on February 7 the whole subject was finally laid on the + table. The sturdy, dogged fighter, single-handed and alone, had beaten all + the forces of the South and of slavery. No more memorable fight has ever + been made by one man in a parliamentary body, and after this decisive + struggle the tide began to turn. Every year Mr. Adams renewed his motion + to strike out the gag rule, and forced it to a vote. Gradually the + majority against it dwindled, until at last, on December 3, 1844, his + motion prevailed. Freedom of speech had been vindicated in the American + House of Representatives, the right of petition had been won, and the + first great blow against the slave power had been struck. + </p> + <p> + Four years later Mr. Adams fell, stricken with paralysis, at his place in + the House, and a few hours afterward, with the words, "This is the last of + earth; I am content," upon his lips, he sank into unconsciousness and + died. It was a fit end to a great public career. His fight for the right + of petition is one to be studied and remembered, and Mr. Adams made it + practically alone. The slaveholders of the South and the representatives + of the North were alike against him. Against him, too, as his biographer, + Mr. Morse, says, was the class in Boston to which he naturally belonged by + birth and education. He had to encounter the bitter resistance in his own + set of the "conscienceless respectability of wealth," but the great body + of the New England people were with him, as were the voters of his own + district. He was an old man, with the physical infirmities of age. His + eyes were weak and streaming; his hands were trembling; his voice cracked + in moments of excitement; yet in that age of oratory, in the days of + Webster and Clay, he was known as the "old man eloquent." It was what he + said, more than the way he said it, which told. His vigorous mind never + worked more surely and clearly than when he stood alone in the midst of an + angry House, the target of their hatred and abuse. His arguments were + strong, and his large knowledge and wide experience supplied him with + every weapon for defense and attack. Beneath the lash of his invective and + his sarcasm the hottest of the slaveholders cowered away. He set his back + against a great principle. He never retreated an inch, he never yielded, + he never conciliated, he was always an assailant, and no man and no body + of men had the power to turn him. He had his dark hours, he felt bitterly + the isolation of his position, but he never swerved. He had good right to + set down in his diary, when the gag rule was repealed, "Blessed, forever + blessed, be the name of God." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRANCIS PARKMAN + </h2> + <h3> + (1822-1893) + </h3> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + He told the red man's story; far and wide + He searched the unwritten annals of his race; + He sat a listener at the Sachem's side, + He tracked the hunter through his wild-wood chase. + + High o'er his head the soaring eagle screamed; + The wolfs long howl rang nightly; through the vale + Tramped the lone bear; the panther's eyeballs gleamed; + The bison's gallop thundered on the gale. + + Soon o'er the horizon rose the cloud of strife, + Two proud, strong nations battling for the prize: + Which swarming host should mould a nation's life; + Which royal banner flout the western skies. + + Long raged the conflict; on the crimson sod + Native and alien joined their hosts in vain; + The lilies withered where the lion trod, + Till Peace lay panting on the ravaged plain. + + A nobler task was theirs who strove to win + The blood-stained heathen to the Christian fold; + To free from Satan's clutch the slaves of sin; + These labors, too, with loving grace he told. + + Halting with feeble step, or bending o'er + The sweet-breathed roses which he loved so well, + While through long years his burdening cross he bore, + From those firm lips no coward accents fell. + + A brave bright memory! His the stainless shield + No shame defaces and no envy mars! + When our far future's record is unsealed, + His name will shine among its morning stars. + —Holmes. +</pre> + <p> + The stories in this volume deal, for the most part, with single actions, + generally with deeds of war and feats of arms. In this one I desire to + give if possible the impression, for it can be no more than an impression, + of a life which in its conflicts and its victories manifested throughout + heroic qualities. Such qualities can be shown in many ways, and the field + of battle is only one of the fields of human endeavor where heroism can be + displayed. + </p> + <p> + Francis Parkman was born in Boston on September 16, 1822. He came of a + well-known family, and was of a good Puritan stock. He was rather a + delicate boy, with an extremely active mind and of a highly sensitive, + nervous organization. Into everything that attracted him he threw himself + with feverish energy. His first passion, when he was only about twelve + years old, was for chemistry, and his eager boyish experiments in this + direction were undoubtedly injurious to his health. The interest in + chemistry was succeeded by a passion for the woods and the wilderness, and + out of this came the longing to write the history of the men of the + wilderness, and of the great struggle between France and England for the + control of the North American continent. All through his college career + this desire was with him, and while in secret he was reading widely to + prepare himself for his task, he also spent a great deal of time in the + forests and on the mountains. To quote his own words, he was "fond of + hardships, and he was vain of enduring them, cherishing a sovereign scorn + for every physical weakness or defect; but deceived, moreover, by the + rapid development of frame and sinew, which flattered him into the belief + that discipline sufficiently unsparing would harden him into an athlete, + he slighted the precautions of a more reasonable woodcraft, tired old + foresters with long marches, stopped neither for heat nor for rain, and + slept on the earth without blankets." The result was that his intense + energy carried him beyond his strength, and while his muscles strengthened + and hardened, his sensitive nervous organization began to give way. It was + not merely because he led an active outdoor life. He himself protests + against any such conclusion, and says that "if any pale student glued to + his desk here seek an apology for a way of life whose natural fruit is + that pallid and emasculate scholarship, of which New England has had too + many examples, it will be far better that this sketch had not been + written. For the student there is, in its season, no better place than the + saddle, and no better companion than the rifle or the oar." + </p> + <p> + The evil that was done was due to Parkman's highly irritable organism, + which spurred him to excess in everything he undertook. The first special + sign of the mischief he was doing to himself and his health appeared in a + weakness of sight. It was essential to his plan of historical work to + study not only books and records but Indian life from the inside. + Therefore, having graduated from college and the law-school, he felt that + the time had come for this investigation, which would enable him to gather + material for his history and at the same time to rest his eyes. He went to + the Rocky Mountains, and after great hardships, living in the saddle, as + he said, with weakness and pain, he joined a band of Ogallalla Indians. + With them he remained despite his physical suffering, and from them he + learned, as he could not have learned in any other way, what Indian life + really was. + </p> + <p> + The immediate result of the journey was his first book, instinct with the + freshness and wildness of the mountains and the prairies, and called by + him "The Oregon Trail." Unfortunately, the book was not the only outcome. + The illness incurred during his journey from fatigue and exposure was + followed by other disorders. The light of the sun became insupportable, + and his nervous system was entirely deranged. His sight was now so + impaired that he was almost blind, and could neither read nor write. It + was a terrible prospect for a brilliant and ambitious man, but Parkman + faced it unflinchingly. He devised a frame by which he could write with + closed eyes, and books and manuscripts were read to him. In this way he + began the history of "The Conspiracy of Pontiac," and for the first + half-year the rate of composition covered about six lines a day. His + courage was rewarded by an improvement in his health, and a little more + quiet in nerves and brain. In two and a half years he managed to complete + the book. He then entered upon his great subject of "France in the New + World." The material was mostly in manuscript, and had to be examined, + gathered, and selected in Europe and in Canada. He could not read, he + could write only a very little and that with difficulty, and yet he + pressed on. He slowly collected his material and digested and arranged it, + using the eyes of others to do that which he could not do himself, and + always on the verge of a complete breakdown of mind and body. In 1851 he + had an effusion of water on the left knee, which stopped his outdoor + exercise, on which he had always largely depended. All the irritability of + the system then centered in the head, resulting in intense pain and in a + restless and devouring activity of thought. He himself says: "The whirl, + the confusion, and strange, undefined tortures attending this condition + are only to be conceived by one who has felt them." The resources of + surgery and medicine were exhausted in vain. The trouble in the head and + eyes constantly recurred. In 1858 there came a period when for four years + he was incapable of the slightest mental application, and the attacks + varied in duration from four hours to as many months. When the pressure + was lightened a little he went back to his work. When work was impossible, + he turned to horticulture, grew roses, and wrote a book about the + cultivation of those flowers which is a standard authority. + </p> + <p> + As he grew older the attacks moderated, although they never departed. + Sleeplessness pursued him always, the slightest excitement would deprive + him of the power of exertion, his sight was always sensitive, and at times + he was bordering on blindness. In this hard-pressed way he fought the + battle of life. He says himself that his books took four times as long to + prepare and write as if he had been strong and able to use his faculties. + That this should have been the case is little wonder, for those books came + into being with failing sight and shattered nerves, with sleeplessness and + pain, and the menace of insanity ever hanging over the brave man who, + nevertheless, carried them through to an end. + </p> + <p> + Yet the result of those fifty years, even in amount, is a noble one, and + would have been great achievement for a man who had never known a sick + day. In quality, and subject, and method of narration, they leave little + to be desired. There, in Parkman's volumes, is told vividly, strongly, and + truthfully, the history of the great struggle between France and England + for the mastery of the North American continent, one of the most important + events of modern times. This is not the place to give any critical + estimate of Mr. Parkman's work. It is enough to say that it stands in the + front rank. It is a great contribution to history, and a still greater + gift to the literature of this country. All Americans certainly should + read the volumes in which Parkman has told that wonderful story of + hardship and adventure, of fighting and of statesmanship, which gave this + great continent to the English race and the English speech. But better + than the literature or the history is the heroic spirit of the man, which + triumphed over pain and all other physical obstacles, and brought a work + of such value to his country and his time into existence. There is a great + lesson as well as a lofty example in such a career, and in the service + which such a man rendered by his life and work to literature and to his + country. On the tomb of the conqueror of Quebec it is written: "Here lies + Wolfe victorious." The same epitaph might with entire justice be carved + above the grave of Wolfe's historian. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + "REMEMBER THE ALAMO" + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The muffled drum's sad roll has beat + The soldier's last tattoo; + No more on life's parade shall meet + That brave and fallen few. + On fame's eternal camping-ground + Their silent tents are spread, + And glory guards with solemn round + The bivouac of the dead. + + * * * + + The neighing troop, the flashing blade, + The bugle's stirring blast, + The charge, the dreadful cannonade, + The din and shout are past; + Nor war's wild note, nor glory's peal + Shall thrill with fierce delight + Those breasts that never more may feel + The rapture of the fight. + —Theodore O'Hara. +</pre> + <p> + "Thermopylae had its messengers of death, but the Alamo had none." These + were the words with which a United States senator referred to one of the + most resolute and effective fights ever waged by brave men against + overwhelming odds in the face of certain death. + </p> + <p> + Soon after the close of the second war with Great Britain, parties of + American settlers began to press forward into the rich, sparsely settled + territory of Texas, then a portion of Mexico. At first these immigrants + were well received, but the Mexicans speedily grew jealous of them, and + oppressed them in various ways. In consequence, when the settlers felt + themselves strong enough, they revolted against Mexican rule, and declared + Texas to be an independent republic. Immediately Santa Anna, the Dictator + of Mexico, gathered a large army, and invaded Texas. The slender forces of + the settlers were unable to meet his hosts. They were pressed back by the + Mexicans, and dreadful atrocities were committed by Santa Anna and his + lieutenants. In the United States there was great enthusiasm for the + struggling Texans, and many bold backwoodsmen and Indian-fighters swarmed + to their help. Among them the two most famous were Sam Houston and David + Crockett. Houston was the younger man, and had already led an + extraordinary and varied career. When a mere lad he had run away from home + and joined the Cherokees, living among them for some years; then he + returned home. He had fought under Andrew Jackson in his campaigns against + the Creeks, and had been severely wounded at the battle of the Horse-shoe + Bend. He had risen to the highest political honors in his State, becoming + governor of Tennessee; and then suddenly, in a fit of moody longing for + the life of the wilderness, he gave up his governorship, left the State, + and crossed the Mississippi, going to join his old comrades, the + Cherokees, in their new home along the waters of the Arkansas. Here he + dressed, lived, fought, hunted, and drank precisely like any Indian, + becoming one of the chiefs. + </p> + <p> + David Crockett was born soon after the Revolutionary War. He, too, had + taken part under Jackson in the campaigns against the Creeks, and had + afterward become a man of mark in Tennessee, and gone to Congress as a + Whig; but he had quarreled with Jackson, and been beaten for Congress, and + in his disgust he left the State and decided to join the Texans. He was + the most famous rifle-shot in all the United States, and the most + successful hunter, so that his skill was a proverb all along the border. + </p> + <p> + David Crockett journeyed south, by boat and horse, making his way steadily + toward the distant plains where the Texans were waging their + life-and-death fight. Texas was a wild place in those days, and the old + hunter had more than one hairbreadth escape from Indians, desperadoes, and + savage beasts, ere he got to the neighborhood of San Antonio, and joined + another adventurer, a bee-hunter, bent on the same errand as himself. The + two had been in ignorance of exactly what the situation in Texas was; but + they soon found that the Mexican army was marching toward San Antonio, + whither they were going. Near the town was an old Spanish fort, the Alamo, + in which the hundred and fifty American defenders of the place had + gathered. Santa Anna had four thousand troops with him. The Alamo was a + mere shell, utterly unable to withstand either a bombardment or a regular + assault. It was evident, therefore, that those within it would be in the + utmost jeopardy if the place were seriously assaulted, but old Crockett + and his companion never wavered. They were fearless and resolute, and + masters of woodcraft, and they managed to slip through the Mexican lines + and join the defenders within the walls. The bravest, the hardiest, the + most reckless men of the border were there; among them were Colonel + Travis, the commander of the fort, and Bowie, the inventor of the famous + bowie-knife. They were a wild and ill-disciplined band, little used to + restraint or control, but they were men of iron courage and great bodily + powers, skilled in the use of their weapons, and ready to meet with stern + and uncomplaining indifference whatever doom fate might have in store for + them. + </p> + <p> + Soon Santa Anna approached with his army, took possession of the town, and + besieged the fort. The defenders knew there was scarcely a chance of + rescue, and that it was hopeless to expect that one hundred and fifty men, + behind defenses so weak, could beat off four thousand trained soldiers, + well armed and provided with heavy artillery; but they had no idea of + flinching, and made a desperate defense. The days went by, and no help + came, while Santa Anna got ready his lines, and began a furious cannonade. + His gunners were unskilled, however, and he had to serve the guns from a + distance; for when they were pushed nearer, the American riflemen crept + forward under cover, and picked off the artillerymen. Old Crockett thus + killed five men at one gun. But, by degrees, the bombardment told. The + walls of the Alamo were battered and riddled; and when they had been + breached so as to afford no obstacle to the rush of his soldiers, Santa + Anna commanded that they be stormed. + </p> + <p> + The storm took place on March 6, 1836. The Mexican troops came on well and + steadily, breaking through the outer defenses at every point, for the + lines were too long to be manned by the few Americans. The frontiersmen + then retreated to the inner building, and a desperate hand-to-hand + conflict followed, the Mexicans thronging in, shooting the Americans with + their muskets, and thrusting at them with lance and bayonet, while the + Americans, after firing their long rifles, clubbed them, and fought + desperately, one against many; and they also used their bowie-knives and + revolvers with deadly effect. The fight reeled to and fro between the + shattered walls, each American the center of a group of foes; but, for all + their strength and their wild fighting courage, the defenders were too + few, and the struggle could have but one end. One by one the tall riflemen + succumbed, after repeated thrusts with bayonet and lance, until but three + or four were left. Colonel Travis, the commander, was among them; and so + was Bowie, who was sick and weak from a wasting disease, but who rallied + all his strength to die fighting, and who, in the final struggle, slew + several Mexicans with his revolver, and with his big knife of the kind to + which he had given his name. Then these fell too, and the last man stood + at bay. It was old Davy Crockett. Wounded in a dozen places, he faced his + foes with his back to the wall, ringed around by the bodies of the men he + had slain. So desperate was the fight he waged, that the Mexicans who + thronged round about him were beaten back for the moment, and no one dared + to run in upon him. Accordingly, while the lancers held him where he was, + for, weakened by wounds and loss of blood, he could not break through + them, the musketeers loaded their carbines and shot him down. Santa Anna + declined to give him mercy. Some say that when Crockett fell from his + wounds, he was taken alive, and was then shot by Santa Anna's order; but + his fate cannot be told with certainty, for not a single American was left + alive. At any rate, after Crockett fell the fight was over. Every one of + the hardy men who had held the Alamo lay still in death. Yet they died + well avenged, for four times their number fell at their hands in the + battle. + </p> + <p> + Santa Anna had but a short while in which to exult over his bloody and + hard-won victory. Already a rider from the rolling Texas plains, going + north through the Indian Territory, had told Houston that the Texans were + up and were striving for their liberty. At once in Houston's mind there + kindled a longing to return to the men of his race at the time of their + need. Mounting his horse, he rode south by night and day, and was hailed + by the Texans as a heaven-sent leader. He took command of their forces, + eleven hundred stark riflemen, and at the battle of San Jacinto, he and + his men charged the Mexican hosts with the cry of "Remember the Alamo." + Almost immediately, the Mexicans were overthrown with terrible slaughter; + Santa Anna himself was captured, and the freedom of Texas was won at a + blow. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HAMPTON ROADS + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Then far away to the south uprose + A little feather of snow-white smoke, + And we knew that the iron ship of our foes + Was steadily steering its course + To try the force + Of our ribs of oak. + + Down upon us heavily runs, + Silent and sullen, the floating fort; + Then comes a puff of smoke from her guns, + And leaps the terrible death, With fiery breath, + From her open port. + + * * * + + Ho! brave hearts, that went down in the seas! + Ye are at peace in the troubled stream; + Ho! brave land! with hearts like these, + Thy flag, that is rent in twain, + Shall be one again, + And without a seam! + —Longfellow +</pre> + <p> + The naval battles of the Civil War possess an immense importance, because + they mark the line of cleavage between naval warfare under the old, and + naval warfare under the new, conditions. The ships with which Hull and + Decatur and McDonough won glory in the war of 1812 were essentially like + those with which Drake and Hawkins and Frobisher had harried the Spanish + armadas two centuries and a half earlier. They were wooden + sailing-vessels, carrying many guns mounted in broadside, like those of De + Ruyter and Tromp, of Blake and Nelson. Throughout this period all the + great admirals, all the famous single-ship fighters,—whose skill + reached its highest expression in our own navy during the war of 1812,—commanded + craft built and armed in a substantially similar manner, and fought with + the same weapons and under much the same conditions. But in the Civil War + weapons and methods were introduced which caused a revolution greater even + than that which divided the sailing-ship from the galley. The use of + steam, the casing of ships in iron armor, and the employment of the + torpedo, the ram, and the gun of high power, produced such radically new + types that the old ships of the line became at one stroke as antiquated as + the galleys of Hamilcar or Alcibiades. Some of these new engines of + destruction were invented, and all were for the first time tried in actual + combat, during our own Civil War. The first occasion on which any of the + new methods were thoroughly tested was attended by incidents which made it + one of the most striking of naval battles. + </p> + <p> + In Chesapeake Bay, near Hampton Roads, the United States had collected a + fleet of wooden ships; some of them old-style sailing-vessels, others + steamers. The Confederates were known to be building a great iron-clad + ram, and the wooden vessels were eagerly watching for her appearance when + she should come out of Gosport Harbor. Her powers and capacity were + utterly unknown. She was made out of the former United States + steam-frigate Merrimac, cut down so as to make her fore and aft decks + nearly flat, and not much above the water, while the guns were mounted in + a covered central battery, with sloping flanks. Her sides, deck, and + battery were coated with iron, and she was armed with formidable + rifle-guns, and, most important of all, with a steel ram thrust out under + water forward from her bow. She was commanded by a gallant and efficient + officer, Captain Buchanan. + </p> + <p> + It was March 8, 1862, when the ram at last made her appearance within + sight of the Union fleet. The day was calm and very clear, so that the + throngs of spectators on shore could see every feature of the battle. With + the great ram came three light gunboats, all of which took part in the + action, harassing the vessels which she assailed; but they were not + factors of importance in the fight. On the Union side the vessels nearest + were the sailing-ships Cumberland and Congress, and the steam-frigate + Minnesota. The Congress and Cumberland were anchored not far from each + other; the Minnesota got aground, and was some distance off. Owing to the + currents and shoals and the lack of wind, no other vessel was able to get + up in time to take a part in the fight. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the ram appeared, out of the harbor, she turned and steamed + toward the Congress and the Cumberland, the black smoke rising from her + funnels, and the great ripples running from each side of her iron prow as + she drove steadily through the still waters. On board of the Congress and + Cumberland there was eager anticipation, but not a particle of fear. The + officers in command, Captain Smith and Lieutenant Morris, were two of the + most gallant men in a service where gallantry has always been too common + to need special comment. The crews were composed of veterans, well + trained, self-confident, and proud beyond measure of the flag whose honor + they upheld. The guns were run out, and the men stood at quarters, while + the officers eagerly conned the approaching ironclad. The Congress was the + first to open fire; and, as her volleys flew, the men on the Cumberland + were astounded to see the cannon-shot bound off the sloping sides of the + ram as hailstones bound from a windowpane. The ram answered, and her + rifle-shells tore the sides of the Congress; but for her first victim she + aimed at the Cumberland, and, firing her bow guns, came straight as an + arrow at the little sloop-of-war, which lay broadside to her. + </p> + <p> + It was an absolutely hopeless struggle. The Cumberland was a sailing-ship, + at anchor, with wooden sides, and a battery of light guns. Against the + formidable steam ironclad, with her heavy rifles and steel ram, she was as + powerless as if she had been a rowboat; and from the moment the men saw + the cannon-shot bound from the ram's sides they knew they were doomed. But + none of them flinched. Once and again they fired their guns full against + the approaching ram, and in response received a few shells from the great + bow-rifles of the latter. Then, forging ahead, the Merrimac struck her + antagonist with her steel prow, and the sloop-of-war reeled and shuddered, + and through the great rent in her side the black water rushed. She + foundered in a few minutes; but her crew fought her to the last, cheering + as they ran out the guns, and sending shot after shot against the ram as + the latter backed off after delivering her blow. The rush of the water + soon swamped the lower decks, but the men above continued to serve their + guns until the upper deck also was awash, and the vessel had not ten + seconds of life left. Then, with her flags flying, her men cheering, and + her guns firing, the Cumberland sank. It was shallow where she settled + down, so that her masts remained above the water. The glorious flag for + which the brave men aboard her had died flew proudly in the wind all that + day, while the fight went on, and throughout the night; and next morning + it was still streaming over the beautiful bay, to mark the resting-place + of as gallant a vessel as ever sailed or fought on the high seas. + </p> + <p> + After the Cumberland sank, the ram turned her attention to the Congress. + Finding it difficult to get to her in the shoal water, she began to knock + her to pieces with her great rifle-guns. The unequal fight between the + ironclad and the wooden ship lasted for perhaps half an hour. By that time + the commander of the Congress had been killed, and her decks looked like a + slaughterhouse. She was utterly unable to make any impression on her foe, + and finally she took fire and blew up. The Minnesota was the third victim + marked for destruction, and the Merrimac began the attack upon her at + once; but it was getting very late, and as the water was shoal and she + could not get close, the rain finally drew back to her anchorage, to wait + until next day before renewing and completing her work of destruction. + </p> + <p> + All that night there was the wildest exultation among the Confederates, + while the gloom and panic of the Union men cannot be described. It was + evident that the United States ships-of-war were as helpless as + cockle-shells against their iron-clad foe, and there was no question but + that she could destroy the whole fleet with ease and with absolute + impunity. This meant not only the breaking of the blockade; but the + sweeping away at one blow of the North's naval supremacy, which was + indispensable to the success of the war for the Union. It is small wonder + that during that night the wisest and bravest should have almost + despaired. + </p> + <p> + But in the hour of the nation's greatest need a champion suddenly + appeared, in time to play the last scene in this great drama of sea + warfare. The North, too, had been trying its hand at building ironclads. + The most successful of them was the little Monitor, a flat-decked, low, + turreted, ironclad, armed with a couple of heavy guns. She was the first + experiment of her kind, and her absolutely flat surface, nearly level with + the water, her revolving turret, and her utter unlikeness to any + pre-existing naval type, had made her an object of mirth among most + practical seamen; but her inventor, Ericsson, was not disheartened in the + least by the jeers. Under the command of a gallant naval officer, Captain + Worden, she was sent South from New York, and though she almost foundered + in a gale she managed to weather it, and reached the scene of the battle + at Hampton Roads at the moment when her presence was all-important. + </p> + <p> + Early the following morning the Merrimac, now under Captain Jones (for + Buchanan had been wounded), again steamed forth to take up the work she + had so well begun and to destroy the Union fleet. She steered straight for + the Minnesota; but when she was almost there, to her astonishment a + strange-looking little craft advanced from the side of the big wooden + frigate and boldly barred the Merrimac's path. For a moment the + Confederates could hardly believe their eyes. The Monitor was tiny, + compared to their ship, for she was not one fifth the size, and her queer + appearance made them look at their new foe with contempt; but the first + shock of battle did away with this feeling. The Merrimac turned on her foe + her rifleguns, intending to blow her out of the water, but the shot + glanced from the thick iron turret of the Monitor. Then the Monitors guns + opened fire, and as the great balls struck the sides of the ram her plates + started and her timbers gave. Had the Monitor been such a vessel as those + of her type produced later in the war, the ram would have been sunk then + and there; but as it was her shot were not quite heavy enough to pierce + the iron walls. Around and around the two strange combatants hovered, + their guns bellowing without cessation, while the men on the frigates and + on shore watched the result with breathless interest. Neither the Merrimac + nor the Monitor could dispose of its antagonist. The ram's guns could not + damage the turret, and the Monitor was able dexterously to avoid the + stroke of the formidable prow. On the other hand, the shot of the Monitor + could not penetrate the Merrimac's tough sides. Accordingly, fierce though + the struggle was, and much though there was that hinged on it, it was not + bloody in character. The Merrimac could neither destroy nor evade the + Monitor. She could not sink her when she tried to, and when she abandoned + her and turned to attack one of the other wooden vessels, the little + turreted ship was thrown across her path, so that the fight had to be + renewed. Both sides grew thoroughly exhausted, and finally the battle + ceased by mutual consent. + </p> + <p> + Nothing more could be done. The ram was badly damaged, and there was no + help for her save to put back to the port whence she had come. Twice + afterward she came out, but neither time did she come near enough to the + Monitor to attack her, and the latter could not move off where she would + cease to protect the wooden vessels. The ram was ultimately blown up by + the Confederates on the advance of the Union army. + </p> + <p> + Tactically, the fight was a drawn battle—neither ship being able to + damage the other, and both ships, being fought to a standstill; but the + moral and material effects were wholly in favor of the Monitor. Her + victory was hailed with exultant joy throughout the whole Union, and + exercised a correspondingly depressing effect in the Confederacy; while + every naval man throughout the world, who possessed eyes to see, saw that + the fight in Hampton Roads had inaugurated a new era in ocean warfare, and + that the Monitor and Merrimac, which had waged so gallant and so terrible + a battle, were the first ships of the new era, and that as such their + names would be forever famous. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FLAG-BEARER + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; + He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are + stored; + He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; + His truth is marching on. + + I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; + They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; + I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; + His day is marching on. + + He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never beat retreat; + He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat; + Oh! be swift, my soul, to answer him! be jubilant, my feet! + Our God is marching on. + —Julia Ward Howe. +</pre> + <p> + In no war since the close of the great Napoleonic struggles has the + fighting been so obstinate and bloody as in the Civil War. Much has been + said in song and story of the resolute courage of the Guards at Inkerman, + of the charge of the Light Brigade, and of the terrible fighting and loss + of the German armies at Mars La Tour and Gravelotte. The praise bestowed, + upon the British and Germans for their valor, and for the loss that proved + their valor, was well deserved; but there were over one hundred and twenty + regiments, Union and Confederate, each of which, in some one battle of the + Civil War, suffered a greater loss than any English regiment at Inkerman + or at any other battle in the Crimea, a greater loss than was suffered by + any German regiment at Gravelotte or at any other battle of the + Franco-Prussian war. No European regiment in any recent struggle has + suffered such losses as at Gettysburg befell the 1st Minnesota, when 82 + per cent. of the officers and men were killed and wounded; or the 141st + Pennsylvania, which lost 76 per cent.; or the 26th North Carolina, which + lost 72 per cent.; such as at the second battle of Manassas befell the + 101st New York, which lost 74 per cent., and the 21st Georgia, which lost + 76 per cent. At Cold Harbor the 25th Massachusetts lost 70 per cent., and + the 10th Tennessee at Chickamauga 68 per cent.; while at Shiloh the 9th + Illinois lost 63 per cent., and the 6th Mississippi 70 per cent.; and at + Antietam the 1st Texas lost 82 percent. The loss of the Light Brigade in + killed and wounded in its famous charge at Balaklava was but 37 per cent. + </p> + <p> + These figures show the terrible punishment endured by these regiments, + chosen at random from the head of the list which shows the slaughter-roll + of the Civil War. Yet the shattered remnants of each regiment preserved + their organization, and many of the severest losses were incurred in the + hour of triumph, and not of disaster. Thus, the 1st Minnesota, at + Gettysburg, suffered its appalling loss while charging a greatly superior + force, which it drove before it; and the little huddle of wounded and + unwounded men who survived their victorious charge actually kept both the + flag they had captured and the ground from which they had driven their + foes. + </p> + <p> + A number of the Continental regiments under Washington, Greene, and Wayne + did valiant fighting and endured heavy punishment. Several of the + regiments raised on the northern frontier in 1814 showed, under Brown and + Scott, that they were able to meet the best troops of Britain on equal + terms in the open, and even to overmatch them in fair fight with the + bayonet. The regiments which, in the Mexican war, under the lead of + Taylor, captured Monterey, and beat back Santa Anna at Buena Vista, or + which, with Scott as commander, stormed Molino Del Rey and Chapultepec, + proved their ability to bear terrible loss, to wrest victory from + overwhelming numbers, and to carry by open assault positions of formidable + strength held by a veteran army. But in none of these three wars was the + fighting so resolute and bloody as in the Civil War. + </p> + <p> + Countless deeds of heroism were performed by Northerner and by Southerner, + by officer and by private, in every year of the great struggle. The + immense majority of these deeds went unrecorded, and were known to few + beyond the immediate participants. Of those that were noticed it would be + impossible even to make a dry catalogue in ten such volumes as this. All + that can be done is to choose out two or three acts of heroism, not as + exceptions, but as examples of hundreds of others. The times of war are + iron times, and bring out all that is best as well as all that is basest + in the human heart. In a full recital of the civil war, as of every other + great conflict, there would stand out in naked relief feats of wonderful + daring and self-devotion, and, mixed among them, deeds of cowardice, of + treachery, of barbarous brutality. Sadder still, such a recital would show + strange contrasts in the careers of individual men, men who at one time + acted well and nobly, and at another time ill and basely. The ugly truths + must not be blinked, and the lessons they teach should be set forth by + every historian, and learned by every statesman and soldier; but, for our + good fortune, the lessons best worth learning in the nation's past are + lessons of heroism. + </p> + <p> + From immemorial time the armies of every warlike people have set the + highest value upon the standards they bore to battle. To guard one's own + flag against capture is the pride, to capture the flag of one's enemy the + ambition, of every valiant soldier. In consequence, in every war between + peoples of good military record, feats of daring performed by + color-bearers are honorably common. The Civil War was full of such + incidents. Out of very many two or three may be mentioned as noteworthy. + </p> + <p> + One occurred at Fredericksburg on the day when half the brigades of + Meagher and Caldwell lay on the bloody slope leading up to the Confederate + entrenchments. Among the assaulting regiments was the 5th New Hampshire, + and it lost one hundred and eighty-six out of three hundred men who made + the charge. The survivors fell sullenly back behind a fence, within easy + range of the Confederate rifle-pits. Just before reaching it the last of + the color guard was shot, and the flag fell in the open. A Captain Perry + instantly ran out to rescue it, and as he reached it was shot through the + heart; another, Captain Murray, made the same attempt and was also killed; + and so was a third, Moore. Several private soldiers met a like fate. They + were all killed close to the flag, and their dead bodies fell across one + another. Taking advantage of this breastwork, Lieutenant Nettleton crawled + from behind the fence to the colors, seized them, and bore back the + blood-won trophy. + </p> + <p> + Another took place at Gaines' Mill, where Gregg's 1st South Carolina + formed part of the attacking force. The resistance was desperate, and the + fury of the assault unsurpassed. At one point it fell to the lot of this + regiment to bear the brunt of carrying a certain strong position. Moving + forward at a run, the South Carolinians were swept by a fierce and + searching fire. Young James Taylor, a lad of sixteen, was carrying the + flag, and was killed after being shot down three times, twice rising and + struggling onward with the colors. The third time he fell the flag was + seized by George Cotchet, and when he, in turn, fell, by Shubrick Hayne. + Hayne was also struck down almost immediately, and the fourth lad, for + none of them were over twenty years old, grasped the colors, and fell + mortally wounded across the body of his friend. The fifth, Gadsden Holmes, + was pierced with no less than seven balls. The sixth man, Dominick + Spellman, more fortunate, but not less brave, bore the flag throughout the + rest of the battle. + </p> + <p> + Yet another occurred at Antietam. The 7th Maine, then under the command of + Major T. W. Hyde, was one of the hundreds of regiments that on many + hard-fought fields established a reputation for dash and unyielding + endurance. Toward the early part of the day at Antietam it merely took its + share in the charging and long-range firing, together with the New York + and Vermont regiments which were its immediate neighbors in the line. The + fighting was very heavy. In one of the charges, the Maine men passed over + what had been a Confederate regiment. The gray-clad soldiers were lying, + both ranks, privates and officers, as they fell, for so many had been + killed or disabled that it seemed as if the whole regiment was prone in + death. + </p> + <p> + Much of the time the Maine men lay on the battle-field, hugging the + ground, under a heavy artillery fire, but beyond the reach of ordinary + musketry. One of the privates, named Knox, was a wonderful shot, and had + received permission to use his own special rifle, a weapon accurately + sighted for very long range. While the regiment thus lay under the storm + of shot and shell, he asked leave to go to the front; and for an hour + afterward his companions heard his rifle crack every few minutes. Major + Hyde finally, from curiosity, crept forward to see what he was doing, and + found that he had driven every man away from one section of a Confederate + battery, tumbling over gunner after gunner as they came forward to fire. + One of his victims was a general officer, whose horse he killed. At the + end of an hour or so, a piece of shell took off the breech of his pet + rifle, and he returned disconsolate; but after a few minutes he gathered + three rifles that were left by wounded men, and went back again to his + work. + </p> + <p> + At five o'clock in the afternoon the regiment was suddenly called upon to + undertake a hopeless charge, owing to the blunder of the brigade + commander, who was a gallant veteran of the Mexican war, but who was also + given to drink. Opposite the Union lines at this point were some + haystacks, near a group of farm buildings. They were right in the center + of the Confederate position, and sharpshooters stationed among them were + picking off the Union gunners. The brigadier, thinking that they were held + by but a few skirmishers, rode to where the 7th Maine was lying on the + ground, and said: "Major Hyde, take your regiment and drive the enemy from + those trees and buildings." Hyde saluted, and said that he had seen a + large force of rebels go in among the buildings, probably two brigades in + all. The brigadier answered, "Are you afraid to go, sir?" and repeated the + order emphatically. "Give the order, so the regiment can hear it, and we + are ready, sir," said Hyde. This was done, and "Attention" brought every + man to his feet. With the regiment were two young boys who carried the + marking guidons, and Hyde ordered these to the rear. They pretended to go, + but as soon as the regiment charged came along with it. One of them lost + his arm, and the other was killed on the field. The colors were carried by + the color corporal, Harry Campbell. + </p> + <p> + Hyde gave the orders to left face and forward and the Maine men marched + out in front of a Vermont regiment which lay beside them; then, facing to + the front, they crossed a sunken road, which was so filled with dead and + wounded Confederates that Hyde's horse had to step on them to get over. + </p> + <p> + Once across, they stopped for a moment in the trampled corn to straighten + the line, and then charged toward the right of the barns. On they went at + the double-quick, fifteen skirmishers ahead under Lieutenant Butler, Major + Hyde on the right on his Virginia thoroughbred, and Adjutant Haskell to + the left on a big white horse. The latter was shot down at once, as was + his horse, and Hyde rode round in front of the regiment just in time to + see a long line of men in gray rise from behind the stone wall of the + Hagerstown pike, which was to their right, and pour in a volley; but it + mostly went too high. He then ordered his men to left oblique. + </p> + <p> + Just as they were abreast a hill to the right of the barns, Hyde, being + some twenty feet ahead, looked over its top and saw several regiments of + Confederates, jammed close together and waiting at the ready; so he gave + the order left flank, and, still at the double quick, took his column past + the barns and buildings toward an orchard on the hither side, hoping that + he could get them back before they were cut off, for they were faced by + ten times their number. By going through the orchard he expected to be + able to take advantage of a hollow, and partially escape the destructive + flank fire on his return. + </p> + <p> + To hope to keep the barns from which they had driven the sharpshooters was + vain, for the single Maine regiment found itself opposed to portions of no + less than four Confederate brigades, at least a dozen regiments all told. + When the men got to the orchard fence, Sergeant Benson wrenched apart the + tall pickets to let through Hyde's horse. While he was doing this, a shot + struck his haversack, and the men all laughed at the sight of the flying + hardtack. + </p> + <p> + Going into the orchard there was a rise of ground, and the Confederates + fired several volleys at the Maine men, and then charged them. Hyde's + horse was twice wounded, but was still able to go on. + </p> + <p> + No sooner were the men in blue beyond the fence than they got into line + and met the Confederates, as they came crowding behind, with a + slaughtering fire, and then charged, driving them back. The color corporal + was still carrying the colors, though one of his arms had been broken; but + when half way through the orchard, Hyde heard him call out as he fell, and + turned back to save the colors, if possible. + </p> + <p> + The apple-trees were short and thick, and he could not see much, and the + Confederates speedily got between him and his men. Immediately, with the + cry of "Rally, boys, to save the Major," back surged the regiment, and a + volley at arm's length again destroyed all the foremost of their pursuers; + so they rescued both their commander and the flag, which was carried off + by Corporal Ring. + </p> + <p> + Hyde then formed the regiment on the colors, sixty-eight men all told, out + of two hundred and forty who had begun the charge, and they slowly marched + back toward their place in the Union line, while the New Yorkers and + Vermonters rose from the ground cheering and waving their hats. Next day, + when the Confederates had retired a little from the field, the color + corporal, Campbell, was found in the orchard, dead, propped up against a + tree, with his half-smoked pipe beside him. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Like a servant of the Lord, with his bible and his sword, + Our general rode along us, to form us for the fight. + —Macaulay. +</pre> + <p> + The Civil War has left, as all wars of brother against brother must leave, + terrible and heartrending memories; but there remains as an offset the + glory which has accrued to the nation by the countless deeds of heroism + performed by both sides in the struggle. The captains and the armies that, + after long years of dreary campaigning and bloody, stubborn fighting, + brought the war to a close, have left us more than a reunited realm. North + and South, all Americans, now have a common fund of glorious memories. We + are the richer for each grim campaign, for each hard-fought battle. We are + the richer for valor displayed alike by those who fought so valiantly for + the right, and by those who, no less valiantly, fought for what they + deemed the right. We have in us nobler capacities for what is great and + good because of the infinite woe and suffering, and because of the + splendid ultimate triumph. We hold that it was vital to the welfare, not + only of our people on this continent, but of the whole human race, that + the Union should be preserved and slavery abolished; that one flag should + fly from the Great Lakes to the Rio Grande; that we should all be free in + fact as well as in name, and that the United States should stand as one + nation—the greatest nation on the earth. But we recognize gladly + that, South as well as North, when the fight was once on, the leaders of + the armies, and the soldiers whom they led, displayed the same qualities + of daring and steadfast courage, of disinterested loyalty and enthusiasm, + and of high devotion to an ideal. + </p> + <p> + The greatest general of the South was Lee, and his greatest lieutenant was + Jackson. Both were Virginians, and both were strongly opposed to disunion. + Lee went so far as to deny the right of secession, while Jackson insisted + that the South ought to try to get its rights inside the Union, and not + outside. But when Virginia joined the Southern Confederacy, and the war + had actually begun, both men cast their lot with the South. + </p> + <p> + It is often said that the Civil War was in one sense a repetition of the + old struggle between the Puritan and the Cavalier; but Puritan and + Cavalier types were common to the two armies. In dash and light-hearted + daring, Custer and Kearney stood as conspicuous as Stuart and Morgan; and, + on the other hand, no Northern general approached the Roundhead type—the + type of the stern, religious warriors who fought under Cromwell—so + closely as Stonewall Jackson. He was a man of intense religious + conviction, who carried into every thought and deed of his daily life the + precepts of the faith he cherished. He was a tender and loving husband and + father, kindhearted and gentle to all with whom he was brought in contact; + yet in the times that tried men's souls, he proved not only a commander of + genius, but a fighter of iron will and temper, who joyed in the battle, + and always showed at his best when the danger was greatest. The vein of + fanaticism that ran through his character helped to render him a terrible + opponent. He knew no such word as falter, and when he had once put his + hand to a piece of work, he did it thoroughly and with all his heart. It + was quite in keeping with his character that this gentle, high-minded, and + religious man should, early in the contest, have proposed to hoist the + black flag, neither take nor give quarter, and make the war one of + extermination. No such policy was practical in the nineteenth century and + in the American Republic; but it would have seemed quite natural and + proper to Jackson's ancestors, the grim Scotch-Irish, who defended + Londonderry against the forces of the Stuart king, or to their + forefathers, the Covenanters of Scotland, and the Puritans who in England + rejoiced at the beheading of King Charles I. + </p> + <p> + In the first battle in which Jackson took part, the confused struggle at + Bull Run, he gained his name of Stonewall from the firmness with which he + kept his men to their work and repulsed the attack of the Union troops. + From that time until his death, less than two years afterward, his career + was one of brilliant and almost uninterrupted success; whether serving + with an independent command in the Valley, or acting under Lee as his + right arm in the pitched battles with McClellan, Pope, and Burnside. Few + generals as great as Lee have ever had as great a lieutenant as Jackson. + He was a master of strategy and tactics, fearless of responsibility, able + to instil into his men his own intense ardor in battle, and so quick in + his movements, so ready to march as well as fight, that his troops were + known to the rest of the army as the "foot cavalry." + </p> + <p> + In the spring of 1863 Hooker had command of the Army of the Potomac. Like + McClellan, he was able to perfect the discipline of his forces and to + organize them, and as a division commander he was better than McClellan, + but he failed even more signally when given a great independent command. + He had under him 120,000 men when, toward the end of April, he prepared to + attack Lee's army, which was but half as strong. + </p> + <p> + The Union army lay opposite Fredericksburg, looking at the fortified + heights where they had received so bloody a repulse at the beginning of + the winter. Hooker decided to distract the attention of the Confederates + by letting a small portion of his force, under General Sedgwick, attack + Fredericksburg, while he himself took the bulk of the army across the + river to the right hand so as to crush Lee by an assault on his flank. All + went well at the beginning, and on the first of May Hooker found himself + at Chancellorsville, face-to-face with the bulk of Lee's forces; and + Sedgwick, crossing the river and charging with the utmost determination, + had driven out of Fredericksburg the Confederate division of Early; but + when Hooker found himself in front of Lee he hesitated, faltered instead + of pushing on, and allowed the consummate general to whom he was opposed + to take the initiative. + </p> + <p> + Lee fully realized his danger, and saw that his only chance was, first to + beat back Hooker, and then to turn and overwhelm Sedgwick, who was in his + rear. He consulted with Jackson, and Jackson begged to be allowed to make + one of his favorite flank attacks upon the Union army; attacks which could + have been successfully delivered only by a skilled and resolute general, + and by troops equally able to march and to fight. Lee consented, and + Jackson at once made off. The country was thickly covered with a forest of + rather small growth, for it was a wild region, in which there was still + plenty of game. Shielded by the forest, Jackson marched his gray columns + rapidly to the left along the narrow country roads until he was square on + the flank of the Union right wing, which was held by the Eleventh Corps, + under Howard. The Union scouts got track of the movement and reported it + at headquarters, but the Union generals thought the Confederates were + retreating; and when finally the scouts brought word to Howard that he was + menaced by a flank attack he paid no heed to the information, and actually + let his whole corps be surprised in broad daylight. Yet all the while the + battle was going on elsewhere, and Berdan's sharpshooters had surrounded + and captured a Georgia regiment, from which information was received + showing definitely that Jackson was not retreating, and must be preparing + to strike a heavy blow. + </p> + <p> + The Eleventh Corps had not the slightest idea that it was about to be + assailed. The men were not even in line. Many of them had stacked their + muskets and were lounging about, some playing cards, others cooking + supper, intermingled with the pack-mules and beef cattle. While they were + thus utterly unprepared Jackson's gray-clad veterans pushed straight + through the forest and rushed fiercely to the attack. The first notice the + troops of the Eleventh Corps received did not come from the pickets, but + from the deer, rabbits and foxes which, fleeing from their coverts at the + approach of the Confederates, suddenly came running over and into the + Union lines. In another minute the frightened pickets came tumbling back, + and right behind them came the long files of charging, yelling + Confederates; With one fierce rush Jackson's men swept over the Union + lines, and at a blow the Eleventh Corps became a horde of panicstruck + fugitives. Some of the regiments resisted for a few moments, and then they + too were carried away in the flight. + </p> + <p> + For a while it seemed as if the whole army would be swept off; but Hooker + and his subordinates exerted every effort to restore order. It was + imperative to gain time so that the untouched portions of the army could + form across the line of the Confederate advance. + </p> + <p> + Keenan's regiment of Pennsylvania cavalry, but four hundred sabers strong, + was accordingly sent full against the front of the ten thousand victorious + Confederates. + </p> + <p> + Keenan himself fell, pierced by bayonets, and the charge was repulsed at + once; but a few priceless moments had been saved, and Pleasanton had been + given time to post twenty-two guns, loaded with double canister, where + they would bear upon the enemy. + </p> + <p> + The Confederates advanced in a dense mass, yelling and cheering, and the + discharge of the guns fairly blew them back across the work's they had + just taken. Again they charged, and again were driven back; and when the + battle once more began the Union reinforcements had arrived. + </p> + <p> + It was about this time that Jackson himself was mortally wounded. He had + been leading and urging on the advance of his men, cheering them with + voice and gesture, his pale face flushed with joy and excitement, while + from time to time as he sat on his horse he took off his hat and, looking + upward, thanked heaven for the victory it had vouchsafed him. As darkness + drew near he was in the front, where friend and foe were mingled in almost + inextricable confusion. He and his staff were fired at, at close range, by + the Union troops, and, as they turned, were fired at again, through a + mistake, by the Confederates behind them. Jackson fell, struck in several + places. He was put in a litter and carried back; but he never lost + consciousness, and when one of his generals complained of the terrible + effect of the Union cannonade he answered: + </p> + <p> + "You must hold your ground." + </p> + <p> + For several days he lingered, hearing how Lee beat Hooker, in detail, and + forced him back across the river. Then the old Puritan died. At the end + his mind wandered, and he thought he was again commanding in battle, and + his last words were. + </p> + <p> + "Let us cross over the river and rest in the shade." + </p> + <p> + Thus perished Stonewall Jackson, one of the ablest of soldiers and one of + the most upright of men, in the last of his many triumphs. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + For the Lord + On the whirlwind is abroad; + In the earthquake he has spoken; + He has smitten with his thunder + The iron walls asunder, + And the gates of brass are broken! + —Whittier + + With bray of the trumpet, + And roll of the drum, + And keen ring of bugle + The cavalry come: + Sharp clank the steel scabbards, + The bridle-chains ring, + And foam from red nostrils + The wild chargers fling! + + Tramp, tramp o'er the greensward + That quivers below, + Scarce held by the curb bit + The fierce horses go! + And the grim-visaged colonel, + With ear-rending shout, + Peals forth to the squadrons + The order, "Trot Out"! + —Francis A. Durivage. +</pre> + <p> + The battle of Chancellorsville marked the zenith of Confederate good + fortune. Immediately afterward, in June, 1863, Lee led the victorious army + of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania. The South was now the invader, not + the invaded, and its heart beat proudly with hopes of success; but these + hopes went down in bloody wreck on July 4, when word was sent to the world + that the high valor of Virginia had failed at last on the field of + Gettysburg, and that in the far West Vicksburg had been taken by the army + of the "silent soldier." + </p> + <p> + At Gettysburg Lee had under him some seventy thousand men, and his + opponent, Meade, about ninety thousand. Both armies were composed mainly + of seasoned veterans, trained to the highest point by campaign after + campaign and battle after battle; and there was nothing to choose between + them as to the fighting power of the rank and file. The Union army was the + larger, yet most of the time it stood on the defensive; for the difference + between the generals, Lee and Meade, was greater than could be bridged by + twenty thousand men. For three days the battle raged. No other battle of + recent time has been so obstinate and so bloody. The victorious Union army + lost a greater percentage in killed and wounded than the allied armies of + England, Germany, and the Netherlands lost at Waterloo. Four of its seven + corps suffered each a greater relative loss than befell the world-renowned + British infantry on the day that saw the doom of the French emperor. The + defeated Confederates at Gettysburg lost, relatively, as many men as the + defeated French at Waterloo; but whereas the French army became a mere + rabble, Lee withdrew his formidable soldiery with their courage unbroken, + and their fighting power only diminished by their actual losses in the + field. + </p> + <p> + The decisive moment of the battle, and perhaps of the whole war, was in + the afternoon of the third day, when Lee sent forward his choicest troops + in a last effort to break the middle of the Union line. The center of the + attacking force was Pickett's division, the flower of the Virginia + infantry; but many other brigades took part in the assault, and the + column, all told, numbered over fifteen thousand men. At the same time, + the Confederates attacked the Union left to create a diversion. The attack + was preceded by a terrific cannonade, Lee gathering one hundred and + fifteen guns, and opening a fire on the center of the Union line. In + response, Hunt, the Union chief of artillery, and Tyler, of the artillery + reserves, gathered eighty guns on the crest of the gently sloping hill, + where attack was threatened. For two hours, from one till three, the + cannonade lasted, and the batteries on both sides suffered severely. In + both the Union and Confederate lines caissons were blown up by the fire, + riderless horses dashed hither and thither, the dead lay in heaps, and + throngs of wounded streamed to the rear. Every man lay down and sought + what cover he could. It was evident that the Confederate cannonade was but + a prelude to a great infantry attack, and at three o'clock Hunt ordered + the fire to stop, that the guns might cool, to be ready for the coming + assault. The Confederates thought that they had silenced the hostile + artillery, and for a few minutes their firing continued; then, suddenly, + it ceased, and there was a lull. + </p> + <p> + The men on the Union side who were not at the point directly menaced + peered anxiously across the space between the lines to watch the next + move, while the men in the divisions which it was certain were about to be + assaulted, lay hugging the ground and gripping their muskets, excited, but + confident and resolute. They saw the smoke clouds rise slowly from the + opposite crest, where the Confederate army lay, and the sunlight glinted + again on the long line of brass and iron guns which had been hidden from + view during the cannonade. In another moment, out of the lifting smoke + there appeared, beautiful and terrible, the picked thousands of the + Southern army coming on to the assault. They advanced in three lines, each + over a mile long, and in perfect order. Pickett's Virginians held the + center, with on their left the North Carolinians of Pender and Pettigrew, + and on their right the Alabama regiments of Wilcox; and there were also + Georgian and Tennessee regiments in the attacking force. Pickett's + division, however, was the only one able to press its charge home. After + leaving the woods where they started, the Confederates had nearly a mile + and a half to go in their charge. As the Virginians moved, they bent + slightly to the left, so as to leave a gap between them and the Alabamians + on the right. + </p> + <p> + The Confederate lines came on magnificently. As they crossed the + Emmetsburg Pike the eighty guns on the Union crest, now cool and in good + shape, opened upon them, first with shot and then with shell. Great gaps + were made every second in the ranks, but the gray-clad soldiers closed up + to the center, and the color-bearers leaped to the front, shaking and + waving the flags. The Union infantry reserved their fire until the + Confederates were within easy range, when the musketry crashed out with a + roar, and the big guns began to fire grape and canister. On came the + Confederates, the men falling by hundreds, the colors fluttering in front + like a little forest; for as fast as a color-bearer was shot some one else + seized the flag from his hand before it fell. The North Carolinians were + more exposed to the fire than any other portion of the attacking force, + and they were broken before they reached the line. There was a gap between + the Virginians and the Alabama troops, and this was taken advantage of by + Stannard's Vermont brigade and a demi-brigade under Gates, of the 20th New + York, who were thrust forward into it. Stannard changed front with his + regiments and fell on Pickett's forces in flank, and Gates continued the + attack. When thus struck in the flank, the Virginians could not defend + themselves, and they crowded off toward the center to avoid the pressure. + Many of them were killed or captured; many were driven back; but two of + the brigades, headed by General Armistead, forced their way forward to the + stone wall on the crest, where the Pennsylvania regiments were posted + under Gibbon and Webb. + </p> + <p> + The Union guns fired to the last moment, until of the two batteries + immediately in front of the charging Virginians every officer but one had + been struck. One of the mortally wounded officers was young Cushing, a + brother of the hero of the Albemarle fight. He was almost cut in two, but + holding his body together with one hand, with the other he fired his last + gun, and fell dead, just as Armistead, pressing forward at the head of his + men, leaped the wall, waving his hat on his sword. Immediately afterward + the battle-flags of the foremost Confederate regiments crowned the crest; + but their strength was spent. The Union troops moved forward with the + bayonet, and the remnant of Pickett's division, attacked on all sides, + either surrendered or retreated down the hill again. Armistead fell, + dying, by the body of the dead Cushing. Both Gibbon and Webb were wounded. + Of Pickett's command two thirds were killed, wounded or captured, and + every brigade commander and every field officer, save one, fell. The + Virginians tried to rally, but were broken and driven again by Gates, + while Stannard repeated, at the expense of the Alabamians, the movement he + had made against the Virginians, and, reversing his front, attacked them + in flank. Their lines were torn by the batteries in front, and they fell + back before the Vermonter's attack, and Stannard reaped a rich harvest of + prisoners and of battle-flags. + </p> + <p> + The charge was over. It was the greatest charge in any battle of modern + times, and it had failed. It would be impossible to surpass the gallantry + of those that made it, or the gallantry of those that withstood it. Had + there been in command of the Union army a general like Grant, it would + have been followed by a counter-charge, and in all probability the war + would have been shortened by nearly two years; but no countercharge was + made. + </p> + <p> + As the afternoon waned, a fierce cavalry fight took place on the Union + right. Stuart, the famous Confederate cavalry commander, had moved forward + to turn the Union right, but he was met by Gregg's cavalry, and there + followed a contest, at close quarters, with "the white arm." It closed + with a desperate melee, in which the Confederates, charged under Generals + Wade Hampton and Fitz Lee, were met in mid career by the Union generals + Custer and McIntosh. All four fought, saber in hand, at the head of their + troopers, and every man on each side was put into the struggle. Custer, + his yellow hair flowing, his face aflame with the eager joy of battle, was + in the thick of the fight, rising in his stirrups as he called to his + famous Michigan swordsmen: "Come on, you Wolverines, come on!" All that + the Union infantry, watching eagerly from their lines, could see, was a + vast dust-cloud where flakes of light shimmered as the sun shone upon the + swinging sabers. At last the Confederate horsemen were beaten back, and + they did not come forward again or seek to renew the combat; for Pickett's + charge had failed, and there was no longer hope of Confederate victory. + </p> + <p> + When night fell, the Union flags waved in triumph on the field of + Gettysburg; but over thirty thousand men lay dead or wounded, strewn + through wood and meadow, on field and hill, where the three days' fight + had surged. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GENERAL GRANT AND THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + What flag is this you carry + Along the sea and shore? + The same our grandsires lifted up— + The same our fathers bore. + In many a battle's tempest + It shed the crimson rain— + What God has woven in his loom + Let no man rend in twain. + To Canaan, to Canaan, + The Lord has led us forth, + To plant upon the rebel towers + The banners of the North. + —Holmes. +</pre> + <p> + On January 29, 1863, General Grant took command of the army intended to + operate against Vicksburg, the last place held by the rebels on the + Mississippi, and the only point at which they could cross the river and + keep up communication with their armies and territory in the southwest. It + was the first high ground below Memphis, was very strongly fortified, and + was held by a large army under General Pemberton. The complete possession + of the Mississippi was absolutely essential to the National Government, + because the control of that great river would cut the Confederacy in two, + and do more, probably, than anything else, to make the overthrow of the + Rebellion both speedy and certain. + </p> + <p> + The natural way to invest and capture so strong a place, defended and + fortified as Vicksburg was, would have been, if the axioms of the art of + war had been adhered to, by a system of gradual approaches. A strong base + should have been established at Memphis, and then the army and the fleet + moved gradually forward, building storehouses and taking strong positions + as they went. To do this, however, it first would have been necessary to + withdraw the army from the positions it then held not far above Vicksburg, + on the western bank of the river. But such a movement, at that time, would + not have been understood by the country, and would have had a discouraging + effect on the public mind, which it was most essential to avoid. The + elections of 1862 had gone against the government, and there was great + discouragement throughout the North. Voluntary enlistments had fallen off, + a draft had been ordered, and the peace party was apparently gaining + rapidly in strength. General Grant, looking at this grave political + situation with the eye of a statesman, decided, as a soldier, that under + no circumstances would he withdraw the army, but that, whatever happened, + he would "press forward to a decisive victory." In this determination he + never faltered, but drove straight at his object until, five months later, + the great Mississippi stronghold fell before him. + </p> + <p> + Efforts were made through the winter to reach Vicksburg from the north by + cutting canals, and by attempts to get in through the bayous and tributary + streams of the great river. All these expedients failed, however, one + after another, as Grant, from the beginning, had feared that they would. + He, therefore, took another and widely different line, and determined to + cross the river from the western to the eastern bank below Vicksburg, to + the south. With the aid of the fleet, which ran the batteries + successfully, he moved his army down the west bank until he reached a + point beyond the possibility of attack, while a diversion by Sherman at + Haines' Bluff, above Vicksburg, kept Pemberton in his fortifications. On + April 26, Grant began to move his men over the river and landed them at + Bruinsburg. "When this was effected," he writes, "I felt a degree of + relief scarcely ever equaled since. Vicksburg was not yet taken, it is + true, nor were its defenders demoralized by any of our previous movements. + I was now in the enemy's country, with a vast river and the stronghold of + Vicksburg between me and my base of supplies, but I was on dry ground, on + the same side of the river with the enemy." + </p> + <p> + The situation was this: The enemy had about sixty thousand men at + Vicksburg, Haines' Bluff, and at Jackson, Mississippi, about fifty miles + east of Vicksburg. Grant, when he started, had about thirty-three thousand + men. It was absolutely necessary for success that Grant, with inferior + numbers, should succeed in destroying the smaller forces to the eastward, + and thus prevent their union with Pemberton and the main army at + Vicksburg. His plan, in brief; was to fight and defeat a superior enemy + separately and in detail. He lost no time in putting his plan into action, + and pressing forward quickly, met a detachment of the enemy at Port Gibson + and defeated them. Thence he marched to Grand Gulf, on the Mississippi, + which he took, and which he had planned to make a base of supply. When he + reached Grand Gulf, however, he found that he would be obliged to wait a + month, in order to obtain the reinforcements which he expected from + General Banks at Port Hudson. He, therefore, gave up the idea of making + Grand Gulf a base, and Sherman having now joined him with his corps, Grant + struck at once into the interior. He took nothing with him except + ammunition, and his army was in the lightest marching order. This enabled + him to move with great rapidity, but deprived him of his wagon trains, and + of all munitions of war except cartridges. Everything, however, in this + campaign, depended on quickness, and Grant's decision, as well as all his + movements, marked the genius of the great soldier, which consists very + largely in knowing just when to abandon the accepted military axioms. + </p> + <p> + Pressing forward, Grant met the enemy, numbering between seven and eight + thousand, at Raymond, and readily defeated them. He then marched on toward + Jackson, fighting another action at Clinton, and at Jackson he struck + General Joseph Johnston, who had arrived at that point to take command of + all the rebel forces. Johnston had with him, at the moment, about eleven + thousand men, and stood his ground. There was a sharp fight, but Grant + easily defeated the enemy, and took possession of the town. This was an + important point, for Jackson was the capital of the State of Mississippi, + and was a base of military supplies. Grant destroyed the factories and the + munitions of war which were gathered there, and also came into possession + of the line of railroad which ran from Jackson to Vicksburg. While he was + thus engaged, an intercepted message revealed to him the fact that + Pemberton, in accordance with Johnston's orders, had come out of Vicksburg + with twenty-five thousand men, and was moving eastward against him. + Pemberton, however, instead of holding a straight line against Grant, + turned at first to the south, with the view of breaking the latter's line + of communication. This was not a success, for, as Grant says, with grim + humor, "I had no line of communication to break"; and, moreover, it + delayed Pemberton when delay was of value to Grant in finishing Johnston. + After this useless turn to the southward Pemberton resumed his march to + the east, as he should have done in the beginning, in accordance with + Johnston's orders; but Grant was now more than ready. He did not wait the + coming of Pemberton. Leaving Jackson as soon as he heard of the enemy's + advance from Vicksburg, he marched rapidly westward and struck Pemberton + at Champion Hills. The forces were at this time very nearly matched, and + the severest battle of the campaign ensued, lasting four hours. Grant, + however, defeated Pemberton completely, and came very near capturing his + entire force. With a broken army, Pemberton fell back on Vicksburg. Grant + pursued without a moment's delay, and came up with the rear guard at Big + Black River. A sharp engagement followed, and the Confederates were again + defeated. Grant then crossed the Big Black and the next day was before + Vicksburg, with his enemy inside the works. + </p> + <p> + When Grant crossed the Mississippi at Bruinsburg and struck into the + interior, he, of course, passed out of communication with Washington, and + he did not hear from there again until May 11, when, just as his troops + were engaging in the battle of Black River Bridge, an officer appeared + from Port Hudson with an order from General Halleck to return to Grand + Gulf and thence cooperate with Banks against Port Hudson. Grant replied + that the order came too late. "The bearer of the despatch insisted that I + ought to obey the order, and was giving arguments to support the position, + when I heard a great cheering to the right of our line, and looking in + that direction, saw Lawler, in his shirt-sleeves, leading a charge on the + enemy. I immediately mounted my horse and rode in the direction of the + charge, and saw no more of the officer who had delivered the message; I + think not even to this day." When Grant reached Vicksburg, there was no + further talk of recalling him to Grand Gulf or Port Hudson. The + authorities at Washington then saw plainly enough what had been done in + the interior of Mississippi, far from the reach of telegraphs or mail. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the National troops reached Vicksburg an assault was attempted, + but the place was too strong, and the attack was repulsed, with heavy + loss. Grant then settled down to a siege, and Lincoln and Halleck now sent + him ample reinforcements. He no longer needed to ask for them. His + campaign had explained itself, and in a short time he had seventy thousand + men under his command. His lines were soon made so strong that it was + impossible for the defenders of Vicksburg to break through them, and + although Johnston had gathered troops again to the eastward, an assault + from that quarter on the National army, now so largely reinforced, was + practically out of the question. Tighter and tighter Grant drew his lines + about the city, where, every day, the suffering became more intense. It is + not necessary to give the details of the siege. On July 4, 1863, Vicksburg + surrendered, the Mississippi was in control of the National forces from + its source to its mouth, and the Confederacy was rent in twain. On the + same day Lee was beaten at Gettysburg, and these two great victories + really crushed the Rebellion, although much hard fighting remained to be + done before the end was reached. + </p> + <p> + Grant's campaign against Vicksburg deserves to be compared with that of + Napoleon which resulted in the fall of Ulm. It was the most brilliant + single campaign of the war. With an inferior force, and abandoning his + lines of communication, moving with a marvelous rapidity through a + difficult country, Grant struck the superior forces of the enemy on the + line from Jackson to Vicksburg. He crushed Johnston before Pemberton could + get to him, and he flung Pemberton back into Vicksburg before Johnston + could rally from the defeat which had been inflicted. With an inferior + force, Grant was superior at every point of contest, and he won every + fight. Measured by the skill displayed and the result achieved, there is + no campaign in our history which better deserves study and admiration. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + ROBERT GOULD SHAW + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Brave, good, and true, + I see him stand before me now, + And read again on that young brow, + Where every hope was new, + HOW SWEET WERE LIFE! Yet, by the mouth firm-set, + And look made up for Duty's utmost debt, + I could divine he knew + That death within the sulphurous hostile lines, + In the mere wreck of nobly-pitched designs, + Plucks hearts-ease, and not rue. + + Right in the van, + On the red ramparts slippery swell, + With heart that beat a charge, he fell, + Foeward, as fits a man; + But the high soul burns on to light men's feet + Where death for noble ends makes dying sweet; + His life her crescent's span + Orbs full with share in their undarkening days + Who ever climbed the battailous steeps of praise + Since valor's praise began. + + We bide our chance, + Unhappy, and make terms with Fate + A little more to let us wait; + He leads for aye the advance, + Hope's forlorn-hopes that plant the desperate good + For nobler Earths and days of manlier mood; + Our wall of circumstance + Cleared at a bound, he flashes o'er the fight, + A saintly shape of fame, to cheer the right + And steel each wavering glance. + + I write of one, + While with dim eyes I think of three; + Who weeps not others fair and brave as he? + Ah, when the fight is won, + Dear Land, whom triflers now make bold to scorn + (Thee from whose forehead Earth awaits her morn), + How nobler shall the sun + Flame in thy sky, how braver breathe thy air, + That thou bred'st children who for thee could dare + And die as thine have done. + —Lowell. +</pre> + <p> + Robert Gould Shaw was born in Boston on October 10, 1837, the son of + Francis and Sarah Sturgis Shaw. When he was about nine years old, his + parents moved to Staten Island, and he was educated there, and at school + in the neighborhood of New York, until he went to Europe in 1853, where he + remained traveling and studying for the next three years. He entered + Harvard College in 1856, and left at the end of his third year, in order + to accept an advantageous business offer in New York. + </p> + <p> + Even as a boy he took much interest in politics, and especially in the + question of slavery. He voted for Lincoln in 1860, and at that time + enlisted as a private in the New York 7th Regiment, feeling that there was + likelihood of trouble, and that there would be a demand for soldiers to + defend the country. His foresight was justified only too soon, and on + April 19, 1861, he marched with his regiment to Washington. The call for + the 7th Regiment was only for thirty days, and at the expiration of that + service he applied for and obtained a commission as second lieutenant in + the 2d Massachusetts, and left with that regiment for Virginia in July, + 1861. He threw himself eagerly into his new duties, and soon gained a good + position in the regiment. At Cedar Mountain he was an aid on General + Gordon's staff, and was greatly exposed in the performance of his duties + during the action. He was also with his regiment at Antietam, and was in + the midst of the heavy fighting of that great battle. + </p> + <p> + Early in 1863, the Government determined to form negro regiments, and + Governor Andrew offered Shaw, who had now risen to the rank of captain, + the colonelcy of one to be raised in Massachusetts, the first black + regiment recruited under State authority. It was a great compliment to + receive this offer, but Shaw hesitated as to his capacity for such a + responsible post. He first wrote a letter declining, on the ground that he + did not feel that he had ability enough for the undertaking, and then + changed his mind, and telegraphed Governor Andrew that he would accept. It + is not easy to realize it now, but his action then in accepting this + command required high moral courage, of a kind quite different from that + which he had displayed already on the field of battle. The prejudice + against the blacks was still strong even in the North. There was a great + deal of feeling among certain classes against enlisting black regiments at + all, and the officers who undertook to recruit and lead negroes were. + exposed to much attack and criticism. Shaw felt, however, that this very + opposition made it all the more incumbent on him to undertake the duty. He + wrote on February 8: + </p> + <p> + After I have undertaken this work, I shall feel that what I have to do is + to prove that the negro can be made a good soldier... . I am inclined to + think that the undertaking will not meet with so much opposition as was at + first supposed. All sensible men in the army, of all parties, after a + little thought, say that it is the best thing that can be done, and surely + those at home who are not brave or patriotic enough to enlist should not + ridicule or throw obstacles in the way of men who are going to fight for + them. There is a great prejudice against it, but now that it has become a + government matter, that will probably wear away. At any rate I sha'n't be + frightened out of it by its unpopularity. I feel convinced I shall never + regret having taken this step, as far as I myself am concerned; for while + I was undecided, I felt ashamed of myself as if I were cowardly. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Shaw went at once to Boston, after accepting his new duty, and + began the work of raising and drilling the 54th Regiment. He met with + great success, for he and his officers labored heart and soul, and the + regiment repaid their efforts. On March 30, he wrote: "The mustering + officer who was here to-day is a Virginian, and has always thought it was + a great joke to try to make soldiers of 'niggers,' but he tells me now + that he has never mustered in so fine a set of men, though about twenty + thousand had passed through his hands since September." On May 28, Colonel + Shaw left Boston, and his march through the city was a triumph. The + appearance of his regiment made a profound impression, and was one of the + events of the war which those who saw it never forgot. + </p> + <p> + The regiment was ordered to South Carolina, and when they were off Cape + Hatteras, Colonel Shaw wrote: + </p> + <p> + The more I think of the passage of the 54th through Boston, the more + wonderful it seems to me just remember our own doubts and fears, and other + people's sneering and pitying remarks when we began last winter, and then + look at the perfect triumph of last Thursday. We have gone quietly along, + forming the first regiment, and at last left Boston amidst greater + enthusiasm than has been seen since the first three months' troops left + for the war. Truly, I ought to be thankful for all my happiness and my + success in life so far; and if the raising of colored troops prove such a + benefit to the country and to the blacks as many people think it will, I + shall thank God a thousand times that I was led to take my share in it. + </p> + <p> + He had, indeed, taken his share in striking one of the most fatal blows to + the barbarism of slavery which had yet been struck. The formation of the + black regiments did more for the emancipation of the negro and the + recognition of his rights, than almost anything else. It was impossible, + after that, to say that men who fought and gave their lives for the Union + and for their own freedom were not entitled to be free. The acceptance of + the command of a black regiment by such men as Shaw and his + fellow-officers was the great act which made all this possible. + </p> + <p> + After reaching South Carolina, Colonel Shaw was with his regiment at Port + Royal and on the islands of that coast for rather more than a month, and + on July 18 he was offered the post of honor in an assault upon Fort + Wagner, which was ordered for that night. He had proved that the negroes + could be made into a good regiment, and now the second great opportunity + had come, to prove their fighting quality. He wanted to demonstrate that + his men could fight side by side with white soldiers, and show to somebody + beside their officers what stuff they were made of. He, therefore, + accepted the dangerous duty with gladness. Late in the day the troops were + marched across Folly and Morris islands and formed in line of battle + within six hundred yards of Fort Wagner. At half-past seven the order for + the charge was given, and the regiment advanced. When they were within a + hundred yards of the fort, the rebel fire opened with such effect that the + first battalion hesitated and wavered. Colonel Shaw sprang to the front, + and waving his sword, shouted: "Forward, 54th!" With another cheer, the + men rushed through the ditch, and gained a parapet on the right. Colonel + Shaw was one of the first to scale the walls. As he stood erect, a noble + figure, ordering his men forward and shouting to them to press on, he was + shot dead and fell into the fort. After his fall, the assault was + repulsed. + </p> + <p> + General Haywood, commanding the rebel forces, said to a Union prisoner: "I + knew Colonel Shaw before the war, and then esteemed him. Had he been in + command of white troops, I should have given him an honorable burial. As + it is, I shall bury him in the common trench, with the negroes that fell + with him." He little knew that he was giving the dead soldier the most + honorable burial that man could have devised, for the savage words told + unmistakably that Robert Shaw's work had not been in vain. The order to + bury him with his "niggers," which ran through the North and remained + fixed in our history, showed, in a flash of light, the hideous barbarism + of a system which made such things and such feelings possible. It also + showed that slavery was wounded to the death, and that the brutal phrase + was the angry snarl of a dying tiger. Such words rank with the action of + Charles Stuart, when he had the bones of Oliver Cromwell and Robert Blake + torn from their graves and flung on dunghills or fixed on Temple Bar. + </p> + <p> + Robert Shaw fell in battle at the head of his men, giving his life to his + country, as did many another gallant man during those four years of + conflict. But he did something more than this. He faced prejudice and + hostility in the North, and confronted the blind and savage rage of the + South, in order to demonstrate to the world that the human beings who were + held in bondage could vindicate their right to freedom by fighting and + dying for it. He helped mightily in the great task of destroying human + slavery, and in uplifting an oppressed and down-trodden race. He brought + to this work the qualities which were particularly essential for his + success. He had all that birth and wealth, breeding, education, and + tradition could give. He offered up, in full measure, all those things + which make life most worth living. He was handsome and beloved. He had a + serene and beautiful nature, and was at once brave and simple. Above all + things, he was fitted for the task which he performed and for the + sacrifice which he made. The call of the country and of the time came to + him, and he was ready. He has been singled out for remembrance from among + many others of equal sacrifice, and a monument is rising to his memory in + Boston, because it was his peculiar fortune to live and die for a great + principle of humanity, and to stand forth as an ideal and beautiful figure + in a struggle where the onward march of civilization was at stake. He + lived in those few and crowded years a heroic life, and he met a heroic + death. When he fell, sword in hand, on the parapet of Wagner, leading his + black troops in a desperate assault, we can only say of him as Bunyan said + of "Valiant for Truth": "And then he passed over, and all the trumpets + sounded for him on the other side." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHARLES RUSSELL LOWELL + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Wut's wurds to them whose faith an' truth + On war's red techstone rang true metal, + Who ventered life an' love an, youth + For the gret prize o' death in battle? + + To him who, deadly hurt, agen + Flashed on afore the charge's thunder, + Tippin' with fire the bolt of men + Thet rived the rebel line asunder? + —Lowell. +</pre> + <p> + Charles Russell Lowell was born in Boston, January 2, 1835. He was the + eldest son of Charles Russell and Anna Cabot (Jackson) Lowell, and the + nephew of James Russell Lowell. He bore the name, distinguished in many + branches, of a family which was of the best New England stock. Educated in + the Boston public schools, he entered Harvard College in 1850. Although + one of the youngest members of his class, he went rapidly to the front, + and graduated not only the first scholar of his year, but the foremost man + of his class. He was, however, much more than a fine scholar, for even + then he showed unusual intellectual qualities. He read widely and loved + letters. He was a student of philosophy and religion, a thinker, and, best + of all, a man of ideals—"the glory of youth," as he called them in + his valedictory oration. But he was something still better and finer than + a mere idealist; he was a man of action, eager to put his ideals into + practice and bring them to the test of daily life. With his mind full of + plans for raising the condition of workingmen while he made his own + career, he entered the iron mills of the Ames Company, at Chicopee. Here + he remained as a workingman for six months, and then received an important + post in the Trenton Iron Works of New Jersey. There his health broke down. + Consumption threatened him, and all his bright hopes and ambitions were + overcast and checked. He was obliged to leave his business and go to + Europe, where he traveled for two years, fighting the dread disease that + was upon him. In 1858 he returned, and took a position on a Western + railroad. Although the work was new to him, he manifested the same + capacity that he had always shown, and more especially his power over + other men and his ability in organization. In two years his health was + reestablished, and in 1860 he took charge of the Mount Savage Iron Works, + at Cumberland, Maryland. He was there when news came of the attack made by + the mob upon the 6th Massachusetts Regiment, in Baltimore. Two days later + he had made his way to Washington, one of the first comers from the North, + and at once applied for a commission in the regular army. While he was + waiting, he employed himself in looking after the Massachusetts troops, + and also, it is understood, as a scout for the Government, dangerous work + which suited his bold and adventurous nature. + </p> + <p> + In May he received his commission as captain in the United States cavalry. + Employed at first in recruiting and then in drill, he gave himself up to + the study of tactics and the science of war. The career above all others + to which he was suited had come to him. The field, at last, lay open + before him, where all his great qualities of mind and heart, his high + courage, his power of leadership and of organization, and his intellectual + powers could find full play. He moved rapidly forward, just as he had + already done in college and in business. His regiment, in 1862, was under + Stoneman in the Peninsula, and was engaged in many actions, where Lowell's + cool bravery made him constantly conspicuous. At the close of the campaign + he was brevetted major, for distinguished services at Williamsburg and + Slatersville. + </p> + <p> + In July, Lowell was detailed for duty as an aid to General McClellan. At + Malvern Hill and South Mountain his gallantry and efficiency were strongly + shown, but it was at Antietam that he distinguished himself most. Sent + with orders to General Sedgwick's division, he found it retreating in + confusion, under a hot fire. He did not stop to think of orders, but rode + rapidly from point to point of the line, rallying company after company by + the mere force and power of his word and look, checking the rout, while + the storm of bullets swept all round him. His horse was shot under him, a + ball passed through his coat, another broke his sword-hilt, but he came + off unscathed, and his service was recognized by his being sent to + Washington with the captured flags of the enemy. + </p> + <p> + The following winter he was ordered to Boston, to recruit a regiment of + cavalry, of which he was appointed colonel. While the recruiting was going + on, a serious mutiny broke out, but the man who, like Cromwell's soldiers, + "rejoiced greatly" in the day of battle was entirely capable of meeting + this different trial. He shot the ringleader dead, and by the force of his + own strong will quelled the outbreak completely and at once. + </p> + <p> + In May, he went to Virginia with his regiment, where he was engaged in + resisting and following Mosby, and the following summer he was opposed to + General Early in the neighborhood of Washington. On July 14, when on a + reconnoissance his advance guard was surprised, and he met them retreating + in wild confusion, with the enemy at their heels. Riding into the midst of + the fugitives, Lowell shouted, "Dismount!" The sharp word of command, the + presence of the man himself, and the magic of discipline prevailed. The + men sprang down, drew up in line, received the enemy, with a heavy fire, + and as the assailants wavered, Lowell advanced at once, and saved the day. + </p> + <p> + In July, he was put in command of the "Provisional Brigade," and joined + the army of the Shenandoah, of which in August General Sheridan took + command. He was so struck with Lowell's work during the next month that in + September he put him in command of the "Reserved Brigade," a very fine + body of cavalry and artillery. In the fierce and continuous fighting that + ensued Lowell was everywhere conspicuous, and in thirteen weeks he had as + many horses shot under him. But he now had scope to show more than the + dashing gallantry which distinguished him always and everywhere. His + genuine military ability, which surely would have led him to the front + rank of soldiers had his life been spared, his knowledge, vigilance, and + nerve all now became apparent. One brilliant action succeeded another, but + the end was drawing near. It came at last on the famous day of Cedar + Creek, when Sheridan rode down from Winchester and saved the battle. + Lowell had advanced early in the morning on the right, and his attack + prevented the disaster on that wing which fell upon the surprised army. He + then moved to cover the retreat, and around to the extreme left, where he + held his position near Middletown against repeated assaults. Early in the + day his last horse was shot under him, and a little later, in a charge at + one o'clock, he was struck in the right breast by a spent ball, which + embedded itself in the muscles of the chest. Voice and strength left him. + "It is only my poor lung," he announced, as they urged him to go to the + rear; "you would not have me leave the field without having shed blood." + As a matter of fact, the "poor" lung had collapsed, and there was an + internal hemorrhage. He lay thus, under a rude shelter, for an hour and a + half, and then came the order to advance along the whole line, the + victorious advance of Sheridan and the rallied army. Lowell was helped to + his saddle. "I feel well now," he whispered, and, giving his orders + through one of his staff, had his brigade ready first. Leading the great + charge, he dashed forward, and, just when the fight was hottest, a sudden + cry went up: "The colonel is hit!" He fell from the saddle, struck in the + neck by a ball which severed the spine, and was borne by his officers to a + house in the village, where, clear in mind and calm in spirit, he died a + few hours afterward. + </p> + <p> + "I do not think there was a quality," said General Sheridan, "which I + could have added to Lowell. He was the perfection of a man and a soldier." + On October 19, the very day on which he fell, his commission was signed to + be a brigadier-general. + </p> + <p> + This was a noble life and a noble death, worthy of much thought and + admiration from all men. Yet this is not all. It is well for us to see how + such a man looked upon what he was doing, and what it meant to him. Lowell + was one of the silent heroes so much commended by Carlyle. He never wrote + of himself or his own exploits. As some one well said, he had "the + impersonality of genius." But in a few remarkable passages in his private + letters, we can see how the meaning of life and of that great time + unrolled itself before his inner eyes. In June, 1861, he wrote: + </p> + <p> + I cannot say I take any great pleasure in the contemplation of the future. + I fancy you feel much as I do about the profitableness of a soldier's + life, and would not think of trying it, were it not for a muddled and + twisted idea that somehow or other this fight was going to be one in which + decent men ought to engage for the sake of humanity,—I use the word + in its ordinary sense. It seems to me that within a year the slavery + question will again take a prominent place, and that many cases will arise + in which we may get fearfully in the wrong if we put our cause wholly in + the hands of fighting men and foreign legions. + </p> + <p> + In June, 1863, he wrote: + </p> + <p> + I wonder whether my theories about self-culture, etc., would ever have + been modified so much, whether I should ever have seen what a necessary + failure they lead to, had it not been for this war. Now I feel every day, + more and more, that a man has no right to himself at all; that, indeed, he + can do nothing useful unless he recognizes this clearly. Here again, on + July 3, is a sentence which it is well to take to heart, and for all men + to remember when their ears are deafened with the cry that war, no matter + what the cause, is the worst thing possible, because it interferes with + comfort, trade, and money-making: "Wars are bad," Lowell writes, "but + there are many things far worse. Anything immediately comfortable in our + affairs I don't see; but comfortable times are not the ones t hat make a + nation great." On July 24, he says: + </p> + <p> + Many nations fail, that one may become great; ours will fail, unless we + gird up our loins and do humble and honest days' work, without trying to + do the thing by the job, or to get a great nation made by a patent + process. It is not safe to say that we shall not have victories till we + are ready for them. We shall have victories, and whether or no we are + ready for them depends upon ourselves; if we are not ready, we shall fail,—voila + tout. If you ask, what if we do fail? I have nothing to say; I shouldn't + cry over a nation or two, more or less, gone under. + </p> + <p> + Finally, on September 10, a little more than a month before his death, he + wrote to a disabled officer: + </p> + <p> + I hope that you are going to live like a plain republican, mindful of the + beauty and of the duty of simplicity. Nothing fancy now, sir, if you + please; it's disreputable to spend money when the government is so hard + up, and when there are so many poor officers. I hope that you have + outgrown all foolish ambitions, and are now content to become a "useful + citizen." Don't grow rich; if you once begin, you will find it much more + difficult to be a useful citizen. Don't seek office, but don't + "disremember" that the "useful citizen" always holds his time, his + trouble, his money, and his life ready at the hint of his country. The + useful citizen is a mighty, unpretending hero; but we are not going to + have any country very long, unless such heroism is developed. There, what + a stale sermon I'm preaching. But, being a soldier, it does seem to me + that I should like nothing so well as being a useful citizen. Well, trying + to be one, I mean. I shall stay in the service, of course, till the war is + over, or till I'm disabled; but then I look forward to a pleasanter + career. + </p> + <p> + I believe I have lost all my ambitions. I don't think I would turn my hand + to be a distinguished chemist or a famous mathematician. All I now care + about is to be a useful citizen, with money enough to buy bread and + firewood, and to teach my children to ride on horseback, and look + strangers in the face, especially Southern strangers. + </p> + <p> + There are profound and lofty lessons of patriotism and conduct in these + passages, and a very noble philosophy of life and duty both as a man and + as a citizen of a great republic. They throw a flood of light on the great + underlying forces which enabled the American people to save themselves in + that time of storm and stress. They are the utterances of a very young + man, not thirty years old when he died in battle, but much beyond thirty + in head and heart, tried and taught as he had been in a great war. What + precisely such young men thought they were fighting for is put strikingly + by Lowell's younger brother James, who was killed at Glendale, July 4, + 1862. In 1861, James Lowell wrote to his classmates, who had given him a + sword: + </p> + <p> + Those who died for the cause, not of the Constitution and the laws,—a + superficial cause, the rebels have now the same,—but of civilization + and law, and the self-restrained freedom which is their result. As the + Greeks at Marathon and Salamis, Charles Martel and the Franks at Tours, + and the Germans at the Danube, saved Europe from Asiatic barbarism, so we, + at places to be famous in future times, shall have saved America from a + similar tide of barbarism; and we may hope to be purified and strengthened + ourselves by the struggle. + </p> + <p> + This is a remarkable passage and a deep thought. Coming from a young + fellow of twenty-four, it is amazing. But the fiery trial of the times + taught fiercely and fast, and James Lowell, just out of college, could see + in the red light around him that not merely the freedom of a race and the + saving of a nation were at stake, but that behind all this was the forward + movement of civilization, brought once again to the arbitrament of the + sword. Slavery was barbarous and barbarizing. It had dragged down the + civilization of the South to a level from which it would take generations + to rise up again. Was this barbarous force now to prevail in the United + States in the nineteenth century? Was it to destroy a great nation, and + fetter human progress in the New World? That was the great question back + of, beyond and above all. Should this force of barbarism sweep conquering + over the land, wrecking an empire in its onward march, or should it be + flung back as Miltiades flung back Asia at Marathon, and Charles Martel + stayed the coming of Islam at Tours? The brilliant career, the shining + courage, best seen always where the dead were lying thickest, the heroic + death of Charles Lowell, are good for us all to know and to remember. Yet + this imperfect story of his life has not been placed here for these things + alone. Many thousand others, officers and soldiers alike, in the great + Civil War gave their lives as freely as he, and brought to the service of + their country the best that was in them. He was a fine example of many + who, like him, offered up all they had for their country. But Lowell was + also something more than this. He was a high type of a class, and a proof + of certain very important things, and this is a point worthy of much + consideration. + </p> + <p> + The name of John Hampden stands out in the history of the English-speaking + people, admired and unquestioned. He was neither a great statesman, nor a + great soldier; he was not a brilliant orator, nor a famous writer. He fell + bravely in an unimportant skirmish at Chalgrove Field, fighting for + freedom and what he believed to be right. Yet he fills a great place in + the past, both for what he did and what he was, and the reason for this is + of high importance. John Hampden was a gentleman, with all the advantages + that the accidents of birth could give. He was rich, educated, well born, + of high traditions. English civilization of that day could produce nothing + better. The memorable fact is that, when the time came for the test, he + did not fail. He was a type of what was best among the English people, and + when the call sounded, he was ready. He was brave, honest, high-minded, + and he gave all, even his life, to his country. In the hour of need, the + representative of what was best and most fortunate in England was put to + the touch, and proved to be current gold. All men knew what that meant, + and Hampden's memory is one of the glories of the English-speaking people. + </p> + <p> + Charles Lowell has the same meaning for us when rightly understood. He had + all that birth, breeding, education, and tradition could give. The + resources of our American life and civilization could produce nothing + better. How would he and such men as he stand the great ordeal when it + came? If wealth, education, and breeding were to result in a class who + could only carp and criticize, accumulate money, give way to + self-indulgence, and cherish low foreign ideals, then would it have + appeared that there was a radical unsoundness in our society, refinement + would have been proved to be weakness, and the highest education would + have been shown to be a curse, rather than a blessing. But Charles Lowell, + and hundreds of others like him, in greater or less degree, all over the + land, met the great test and emerged triumphant. The Harvard men may be + taken as fairly representing the colleges and universities of America. + Harvard had, in 1860, 4157 living graduates, and 823 students, presumably + over eighteen years old. Probably 3000 of her students and graduates were + of military age, and not physically disqualified for military service. Of + this number, 1230 entered the Union army or navy. One hundred and + fifty-six died in service, and 67 were killed in action. Many did not go + who might have gone, unquestionably, but the record is a noble one. Nearly + one man of every two Harvard men came forward to serve his country when + war was at our gates, and this proportion holds true, no doubt, of the + other universities of the North. It is well for the country, well for + learning, well for our civilization, that such a record was made at such a + time. Charles Lowell, and those like him, showed, once for all, that the + men to whom fortune had been kindest were capable of the noblest + patriotism, and shrank from no sacrifices. They taught the lesson which + can never be heard too often—that the man to whom the accidents of + birth and fortune have given most is the man who owes most to his country. + If patriotism should exist anywhere, it should be strongest with such men + as these, and their service should be ever ready. How nobly Charles Lowell + in this spirit answered the great question, his life and death, alike + victorious, show to all men. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Inspired repulsed battalions to engage, + And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. + —Addison. +</pre> + <p> + General Sheridan took command of the Army of the Shenandoah in August, + 1864. His coming was the signal for aggressive fighting, and for a series + of brilliant victories over the rebel army. He defeated Early at + Winchester and again at Fisher's Hill, while General Torbert whipped + Rosser in a subsequent action, where the rout of the rebels was so + complete that the fight was known as the "Woodstock races." Sheridan's + plan after this was to terminate his campaign north of Staunton, and, + returning thence, to desolate the Valley, so as to make it untenable for + the Confederates, as well as useless as a granary or storehouse, and then + move the bulk of his army through Washington, and unite them with General + Grant in front of Petersburg. Grant, however, and the authorities at + Washington, were in favor of Sheridan's driving Early into Eastern + Virginia, and following up that line, which Sheri dan himself believed to + be a false move. This important matter was in debate until October 16, + when Sheridan, having left the main body of his army at Cedar Creek under + General Wright, determined to go to Washington, and discuss the question + personally with General Halleck and the Secretary of War. He reached + Washington on the morning of the 17th about eight o'clock, left there at + twelve; and got back to Martinsburg the same night about dark. At + Martinsburg he spent the night, and the next day, with his escort, rode to + Winchester, reaching that point between three and four o'clock in the + afternoon of the 18th. He there heard that all was quiet at Cedar Creek + and along the front, and went to bed, expecting to reach his headquarters + and join the army the next day. + </p> + <p> + About six o'clock, on the morning of the 19th, it was reported to him that + artillery firing could be heard in the direction of Cedar Creek, but as + the sound was stated to be irregular and fitful, he thought it only a + skirmish. He, nevertheless, arose at once, and had just finished dressing + when another officer came in, and reported that the firing was still going + on in the same direction, but that it did not sound like a general battle. + Still Sheridan was uneasy, and, after breakfasting, mounted his horse + between eight and nine o'clock, and rode slowly through Winchester. When + he reached the edge of the town he halted a moment, and then heard the + firing of artillery in an unceasing roar. He now felt confident that a + general battle was in progress, and, as he rode forward, he was convinced, + from the rapid increase of the sound, that his army was failing back. + After he had crossed Mill Creek, just outside Winchester, and made the + crest of the rise beyond the stream, there burst upon his view the + spectacle of a panic-stricken army. Hundreds of slightly wounded men, with + hundreds more unhurt, but demoralized, together with baggage wagons and + trains, were all pressing to the rear, in hopeless confusion. + </p> + <p> + There was no doubt now that a disaster had occurred at the front. A + fugitive told Sheridan that the army was broken and in full retreat, and + that all was lost. Sheridan at once sent word to Colonel Edwards, + commanding a brigade at Winchester, to stretch his troops across the + valley, and stop all fugitives. His first idea was to make a stand there, + but, as he rode along, a different plan flashed into his mind. He believed + that his troops had great confidence in him, and he determined to try to + restore their broken ranks, and, instead of merely holding the ground at + Winchester, to rally his army, and lead them forward again to Cedar Creek. + He had hardly made up his mind to this course, when news was brought to + him that his headquarters at Cedar Creek were captured, and the troops + dispersed. He started at once, with about twenty men as an escort, and + rode rapidly to the front. As he passed along, the unhurt men, who thickly + lined the road, recognized him, and, as they did so, threw up their hats, + shouldered their muskets, and followed him as fast as they could on foot. + His officers rode out on either side to tell the stragglers that the + general had returned, and, as the news spread the retreating men in every + direction rallied, and turned their faces toward the battle-field they had + left. + </p> + <p> + In his memoirs, Sheridan says, in speaking of his ride through the + retreating troops: "I said nothing, except to remark, as I rode among them + 'If I had been with you this morning, this disaster would not have + happened. We must face the other way. We will go back and recover our + camp.'" Thus he galloped on over the twenty miles, with the men rallying + behind him, and following him in ever increasing numbers. As he went by, + the panic of retreat was replaced by the ardor of battle. Sheridan had not + overestimate the power of enthusiasm or his own ability to rouse it to + fighting pitch. He pressed steadily on to the front, until at last he came + up to Getty's division of the 6th Corps, which, with the cavalry, were the + only troops who held their line and were resisting the enemy. Getty's + division was about a mile north of Middletown on some slightly rising + ground, and were skirmishing with the enemy's pickets. Jumping a rail + fence, Sheridan rode to the crest of the hill, and, as he took off his + hat, the men rose up from behind the barricades with cheers of + recognition. + </p> + <p> + It is impossible to follow in detail Sheridan's actions from that moment, + but he first brought up the 19th Corps and the two divisions of Wright to + the front. He then communicated with Colonel Lowell, who was fighting near + Middletown with his men dismounted, and asked him if he could hold on + where he was, to which Lowell replied in the affirmative. All this and + many similar quickly-given orders consumed a great deal of time, but still + the men were getting into line, and at last, seeing that the enemy were + about to renew the attack, Sheridan rode along the line so that the men + could all see him. He was received with the wildest enthusiasm as he rode + by, and the spirit of the army was restored. The rebel attack was made + shortly after noon, and was repulsed by General Emory. + </p> + <p> + This done, Sheridan again set to work to getting his line completely + restored, while General Merritt charged and drove off an exposed battery + of the Confederates. By halfpast three Sheridan was ready to attack. The + fugitives of the morning, whom he had rallied as he rode from Winchester, + were again in their places, and the different divisions were all disposed + in their proper positions. With the order to advance, the whole line + pressed forward. The Confederates at first resisted stubbornly, and then + began to retreat. On they went past Cedar Creek, and there, where the pike + made a sharp turn to the west toward Fisher's Hill, Merritt and Custer + fell on the flank of the retreating columns, and the rebel army fell back, + routed and broken, up the Valley. The day had begun in route and defeat; + it ended in a great victory for the Union army. + </p> + <p> + How near we had been to a terrible disaster can be realized by recalling + what had happened before the general galloped down from Winchester. + </p> + <p> + In Sheridan's absence, Early, soon after dawn, had made an unexpected + attack on our army at Cedar Creek. Surprised by the assault, the national + troops had given way in all directions, and a panic had set in. Getty's + division with Lowell's cavalry held on at Middletown, but, with this + exception, the rout was complete. When Sheridan rode out of Winchester, he + met an already beaten army. His first thought was the natural one to make + a stand at Winchester and rally his troops about him there. His second + thought was the inspiration of the great commander. He believed his men + would rally as soon as they saw him. He believed that enthusiasm was one + of the great weapons of war, and that this was the moment of all others + when it might be used with decisive advantage. With this thought in his + mind he abandoned the idea of forming his men at Winchester, and rode + bareheaded through the fugitives, swinging his hat, straight for the + front, and calling on his men as he passed to follow him. As the soldiers + saw him, they turned and rushed after him. He had not calculated in vain + upon the power of personal enthusiasm, but, at the same time, he did not + rely upon any wild rush to save the day. The moment he reached the field + of battle, he set to work with the coolness of a great soldier to make all + the dispositions, first, to repel the enemy, and then to deliver an attack + which could not be resisted. One division after another was rapidly + brought into line and placed in position, the thin ranks filling fast with + the soldiers who had recovered from their panic, and followed Sheridan and + the black horse all the way down from Winchester. He had been already two + hours on the field when, at noon, he rode along the line, again formed for + battle. Most of the officers and men then thought he had just come, while + in reality it was his own rapid work which had put them in the line along + which he was riding. + </p> + <p> + Once on the field of battle, the rush and hurry of the desperate ride from + Winchester came to an end. First the line was reformed, then the enemy's + assault was repulsed, and it was made impossible for them to again take + the offensive. But Sheridan, undazzled by his brilliant success up to this + point, did not mar his work by overhaste. Two hours more passed before he + was ready, and then, when all was prepared, with his ranks established and + his army ranged in position, he moved his whole line forward, and won one + of the most brilliant battles of the war, having, by his personal power + over his troops, and his genius in action, snatched a victory from a day + which began in surprise, disaster, and defeat. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + LIEUTENANT CUSHING AND THE RAM "ALBEMARLE" + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + God give us peace! Not such as lulls to sleep, + But sword on thigh, and brow with purpose knit! + And let our Ship of State to harbor sweep, + Her ports all up, her battle-lanterns lit, + And her leashed thunders gathering for their leap! + —Lowell. +</pre> + <p> + The great Civil War was remarkable in many ways, but in no way more + remarkable than for the extraordinary mixture of inventive mechanical + genius and of resolute daring shown by the combatants. After the first + year, when the contestants had settled down to real fighting, and the + preliminary mob work was over, the battles were marked by their + extraordinary obstinacy and heavy loss. In no European conflict since the + close of the Napoleonic wars has the fighting been anything like as + obstinate and as bloody as was the fighting in our own Civil War. In + addition to this fierce and dogged courage, this splendid fighting + capacity, the contest also brought out the skilled inventive power of + engineer and mechanician in a way that few other contests have ever done. + </p> + <p> + This was especially true of the navy. The fighting under and against + Farragut and his fellow-admirals revolutionized naval warfare. The Civil + War marks the break between the old style and the new. Terrible encounters + took place when the terrible new engines of war were brought into action + for the first time; and one of these encounters has given an example + which, for heroic daring combined with cool intelligence, is unsurpassed + in all time. + </p> + <p> + The Confederates showed the same skill and energy in building their great + ironclad rams as the men of the Union did in building the monitors which + were so often pitted against them. Both sides, but especially the + Confederates, also used stationary torpedoes, and, on a number of + occasions, torpedo-boats likewise. These torpedo-boats were sometimes + built to go under the water. One such, after repeated failures, was + employed by the Confederates, with equal gallantry and success, in sinking + a Union sloop of war off Charleston harbor, the torpedo-boat itself going + down to the bottom with its victim, all on board being drowned. The other + type of torpedo-boat was simply a swift, ordinary steam-launch, operated + above water. + </p> + <p> + It was this last type of boat which Lieutenant W. B. Cushing brought down + to Albemarle Sound to use against the great Confederate ram Albemarle. The + ram had been built for the purpose of destroying the Union blockading + forces. Steaming down river, she had twice attacked the Federal gunboats, + and in each case had sunk or disabled one or more of them, with little + injury to herself. She had retired up the river again to lie at her wharf + and refit. The gunboats had suffered so severely as to make it a certainty + that when she came out again, thoroughly fitted to renew the attack, the + wooden vessels would be destroyed; and while she was in existence, the + Union vessels could not reduce the forts and coast towns. Just at this + time Cushing came down from the North with his swift little torpedo-boat, + an open launch, with a spar-rigged out in front, the torpedo being placed + at the end. The crew of the launch consisted of fifteen men, Cushing being + in command. He not only guided his craft, but himself handled the torpedo + by means of two small ropes, one of which put it in place, while the other + exploded it. The action of the torpedo was complicated, and it could not + have been operated in a time of tremendous excitement save by a man of the + utmost nerve and self-command; but Cushing had both. He possessed + precisely that combination of reckless courage, presence of mind, and high + mental capacity necessary to the man who leads a forlorn hope under + peculiarly difficult circumstances. + </p> + <p> + On the night of October 27, 1864, Cushing slipped away from the blockading + fleet, and steamed up river toward the wharf, a dozen miles distant, where + the great ram lay. The Confederates were watchful to guard against + surprise, for they feared lest their foes should try to destroy the ram + before she got a chance to come down and attack them again in the Sound. + She lay under the guns of a fort, with a regiment of troops ready at a + moment's notice to turn out and defend her. Her own guns were kept always + clear for action, and she was protected by a great boom of logs thrown out + roundabout; of which last defense the Northerners knew nothing. + </p> + <p> + Cushing went up-stream with the utmost caution, and by good luck passed, + unnoticed, a Confederate lookout below the ram. + </p> + <p> + About midnight he made his assault. Steaming quietly on through the black + water, and feeling his way cautiously toward where he knew the town to be, + he finally made out the loom of the Albemarle through the night, and at + once drove at her. He was almost upon her before he was discovered; then + the crew and the soldiers on the wharf opened fire, and, at the same + moment, he was brought-to by the boom, the existence of which he had not + known. The rifle balls were singing round him as he stood erect, guiding + his launch, and he heard the bustle of the men aboard the ram, and the + noise of the great guns as they were got ready. Backing off, he again went + all steam ahead, and actually surged over the slippery logs of the boom. + Meanwhile, on the Albemarle the sailors were running to quarters, and the + soldiers were swarming down to aid in her defense; and the droning bullets + came always thicker through the dark night. Cushing still stood upright in + his little craft, guiding and controlling her by voice and signal, while + in his hands he kept the ropes which led to the torpedo. As the boat slid + forward over the boom, he brought the torpedo full against the somber side + of the huge ram, and instantly exploded it, almost at the same time that + the pivot-gun of the ram, loaded with grape, was fired point-blank at him + not ten yards off. + </p> + <p> + At once the ram settled, the launch sinking at the same moment, while + Cushing and his men swam for their lives. Most of them sank or were + captured, but Cushing reached mid-stream. Hearing something splashing in + the darkness, he swam toward it, and found that it was one of his crew. He + went to his rescue, and they kept together for some time, but the sailor's + strength gave out, and he finally sank. In the pitch darkness Cushing + could form no idea where he was; and when, chilled through, and too + exhausted to rise to his feet, he finally reached shore, shortly before + dawn, he found that he had swum back and landed but a few hundred feet + below the sunken ram. All that day he remained within easy musket-shot of + where his foes were swarming about the fort and the great drowned + ironclad. He hardly dared move, and until the afternoon he lay without + food, and without protection from the heat or venomous insects. Then he + managed to slip unobserved into the dense swamp, and began to make his way + to the fleet. Toward evening he came out on a small stream, near a camp of + Confederate soldiers. They had moored to the bank a skiff, and, with equal + stealth and daring, he managed to steal this and to paddle down-stream. + Hour after hour he paddled on through the fading light, and then through + the darkness. At last, utterly worn out, he found the squadron, and was + picked up. At once the ships weighed; and they speedily captured every + coast town and fort, for their dreaded enemy was no longer in the way. The + fame of Cushing's deed went all over the North, and his name will stand + forever among the brightest on the honor-roll of the American navy. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FARRAGUT AT MOBILE BAY + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Ha, old ship, do they thrill, + The brave two hundred scars + You got in the river wars? + That were leeched with clamorous skill + (Surgery savage and hard), + At the Brooklyn Navy Yard. + + * * * * + + How the guns, as with cheer and shout, + Our tackle-men hurled them out, + Brought up in the waterways... + As we fired, at the flash + 'T was lightning and black eclipse + With a bellowing sound and crash. + + * * * * + + The Dahlgrens are dumb, + Dumb are the mortars; + Never more shall the drum + Beat to colors and quarters— + The great guns are silent. + —Henry Howard Brownell +</pre> + <p> + During the Civil War our navy produced, as it has always produced in every + war, scores of capable officers, of brilliant single-ship commanders, of + men whose daring courage made them fit leaders in any hazardous + enterprise. In this respect the Union seamen in the Civil War merely lived + up to the traditions of their service. In a service with such glorious + memories it was a difficult thing to establish a new record in feats of + personal courage or warlike address. Biddle, in the Revolutionary War, + fighting his little frigate against a ship of the line until she blew up + with all on board, after inflicting severe loss on her huge adversary; + Decatur, heading the rush of the boarders in the night attack when they + swept the wild Moorish pirates from the decks of their anchored prize; + Lawrence, dying with the words on his lips, "Don't give up the ship"; and + Perry, triumphantly steering his bloody sloop-of-war to victory with the + same words blazoned on his banner—men like these, and like their + fellows, who won glory in desperate conflicts with the regular warships + and heavy privateers of England and France, or with the corsairs of the + Barbary States, left behind a reputation which was hardly to be dimmed, + though it might be emulated, by later feats of mere daring. + </p> + <p> + But vital though daring is, indispensable though desperate personal + prowess and readiness to take chances are to the make-up of a fighting + navy, other qualities are needed in addition to fit a man for a place + among the great sea-captains of all time. It was the good fortune of the + navy in the Civil War to produce one admiral of renown, one peer of all + the mighty men who have ever waged war on the ocean. Farragut was not only + the greatest admiral since Nelson, but, with the sole exception of Nelson, + he was as great an admiral as ever sailed the broad or the narrow seas. + </p> + <p> + David Glasgow Farragut was born in Tennessee. He was appointed to the navy + while living in Louisiana, but when the war came he remained loyal to the + Union flag. This puts him in the category of those men who deserved best + of their country in the Civil War; the men who were Southern by birth, but + who stood loyally by the Union; the men like General Thomas of Virginia, + and like Farragut's own flag-captain at the battle of Mobile Bay, Drayton + of South Carolina. It was an easy thing in the North to support the Union, + and it was a double disgrace to be, like Vallandigham and the Copperheads, + against it; and in the South there were a great multitude of men, as + honorable as they were brave, who, from the best of motives, went with + their States when they seceded, or even advocated secession. But the + highest and loftiest patriots, those who deserved best of the whole + country, we re the men from the South who possessed such heroic courage, + and such lofty fealty to the high ideal of the Union, that they stood by + the flag when their fellows deserted it, and unswervingly followed a + career devoted to the cause of the whole nation and of the whole people. + Among all those who fought in this, the greatest struggle for + righteousness which the present century has seen, these men stand + preeminent; and among them Farragut stands first. It was his good fortune + that by his life he offered an example, not only of patriotism, but of + supreme skill and daring in his profession. He belongs to that class of + commanders who possess in the highest degree the qualities of courage and + daring, of readiness to assume responsibility, and of willingness to run + great risks; the qualities without which no commander, however cautious + and able, can ever become really great. He possessed also the unwearied + capacity for taking thought in advance, which enabled him to prepare for + victory before the day of battle came; and he added to this an + inexhaustible fertility of resource and presence of mind under no matter + what strain. + </p> + <p> + His whole career should be taught every American schoolboy, for when that + schoolboy becomes a voter he should have learned the lesson that the + United States, while it ought not to become an overgrown military power, + should always have a first-class navy, formidable from the number of its + ships, and formidable still more from the excellence of the individual + ships and the high character of the officers and men. Farragut saw the war + of 1812, in which, though our few frigates and sloops fought some glorious + actions, our coasts were blockaded and insulted, and the Capitol at + Washington burned, because our statesmen and our people had been too + short-sighted to build a big fighting navy; and Farragut was able to + perform his great feats on the Gulf coast because, when the Civil War + broke out, we had a navy which, though too small in point of numbers, was + composed of ships as good as any afloat. + </p> + <p> + Another lesson to be learned by a study of his career is that no man in a + profession so highly technical as that of the navy can win a great success + unless he has been brought up in and specially trained for that + profession, and has devoted his life to the work. This fact was made + plainly evident in the desperate hurly-burly of the night battle with the + Confederate flotilla below New Orleans—the incidents of this + hurly-burly being, perhaps, best described by the officer who, in his + report of his own share in it, remarked that "all sorts of things + happened." Of the Confederate rams there were two, commanded by trained + officers formerly in the United States navy, Lieutenants Kennon and + Warley. Both of these men handled their little vessels with remarkable + courage, skill, and success, fighting them to the last, and inflicting + serious and heavy damage upon the Union fleet. The other vessels of the + flotilla were commanded by men who had not been in the regular navy, who + were merely Mississippi River captains, and the like. These men were, + doubtless, naturally as brave as any of the regular officers; but, with + one or two exceptions, they failed ignobly in the time of trial, and + showed a fairly startling contrast with the regular naval officers beside + or against whom they fought. This is a fact which may well be pondered by + the ignorant or unpatriotic people who believe that the United States does + not need a navy, or that it can improvise one, and improvise officers to + handle it, whenever the moment of need arises. + </p> + <p> + When a boy, Farragut had sailed as a midshipman on the Essex in her famous + cruise to the South Pacific, and lived through the murderous fight in + which, after losing three fifths of her crew, she was captured by two + British vessels. Step by step he rose in his profession, but never had an + opportunity of distinguishing himself until, when he was sixty years old, + the Civil War broke out. He was then made flag officer of the Gulf + squadron; and the first success which the Union forces met with in the + southwest was scored by him, when one night he burst the iron chains which + the Confederates had stretched across the Mississippi, and, stemming the + swollen flood with his splendidly-handled steam-frigates, swept past the + forts, sank the rams and gunboats that sought to bar his path, and + captured the city of New Orleans. After further exciting service on the + Mississippi, service in which he turned a new chapter in the history of + naval warfare by showing the possibilities of heavy seagoing vessels when + used on great rivers, he again went back to the Gulf, and, in the last + year of the war, was allotted the task of attempting the capture of + Mobile, the only important port still left open to the Confederates. + </p> + <p> + In August, 1864, Farragut was lying with his fleet off Mobile Bay. For + months he had been eating out his heart while undergoing the wearing + strain of the blockade; sympathizing, too, with every detail of the + doubtful struggle on land. "I get right sick, every now and then, at the + bad news," he once wrote home; and then again, "The victory of the + Kearsarge over the Alabama raised me up; I would sooner have fought that + fight than any ever fought on the ocean." As for himself, all he wished + was a chance to fight, for he had the fighting temperament, and he knew + that, in the long run, an enemy can only be beaten by being out-fought, as + well as out-manoeuvered. He possessed a splendid self-confidence, and + scornfully threw aside any idea that he would be defeated, while he + utterly refused to be daunted by the rumors of the formidable nature of + the defenses against which he was to act. "I mean to be whipped or to whip + my enemy, and not to be scared to death," he remarked in speaking of these + rumors. + </p> + <p> + The Confederates who held Mobile used all their skill in preparing for + defense, and all their courage in making that defense good. The mouth of + the bay was protected by two fine forts, heavily armed, Morgan and Gaines. + The winding channels were filled with torpedoes, and, in addition, there + was a flotilla consisting of three gunboats, and, above all, a big + ironclad ram, the Tennessee, one of the most formidable vessels then + afloat. She was not fast, but she carried six high-power rifled guns, and + her armor was very powerful, while, being of light draft, she could take a + position where Farragut's deep-sea ships could not get at her. Farragut + made his attack with four monitors,—two of them, the Tecumseh and + Manhattan, of large size, carrying 15-inch guns, and the other two, the + Winnebago and Chickasaw, smaller and lighter, with 11-inch guns,—and + the wooden vessels, fourteen in number. Seven of these were big + sloops-of-war, of the general type of Farragut's own flagship, the + Hartford. She was a screw steamer, but was a full-rigged ship likewise, + with twenty-two 9-inch shell guns, arranged in broadside, and carrying a + crew of three hundred men. The other seven were light gunboats. When + Farragut prepared for the assault, he arranged to make the attack with his + wooden ships in double column. The seven most powerful were formed on the + right, in line ahead, to engage Fort Morgan, the heaviest of the two + forts, which had to be passed close inshore to the right. The light + vessels were lashed each to the left of one of the heavier ones. By this + arrangement each pair of ships was given a double chance to escape, if + rendered helpless by a shot in the boiler or other vital part of the + machinery. The heaviest ships led in the fighting column, the first place + being taken by the Brooklyn and her gunboat consort, while the second + position was held by Farragut himself in the Hartford, with the little + Metacomet lashed alongside. He waited to deliver the attack until the tide + and the wind should be favorable, and made all his preparations with the + utmost care and thoughtfulness. Preeminently a man who could inspire + affection in others, both the officers and men of the fleet regarded him + with fervent loyalty and absolute trust. + </p> + <p> + The attack was made early on the morning of August 5. Soon after midnight + the weather became hot and calm, and at three the Admiral learned that a + light breeze had sprung up from the quarter he wished, and he at once + announced, "Then we will go in this morning." At daybreak he was at + breakfast when the word was brought that the ships were all lashed in + couples. Turning quietly to his captain, he said, "Well, Drayton, we might + as well get under way;" and at half-past six the monitors stood down to + their stations, while the column of wooden ships was formed, all with the + United States flag hoisted, not only at the peak, but also at every + masthead. The four monitors, trusting in their iron sides, steamed in + between the wooden ships and the fort. Every man in every craft was + thrilling with the fierce excitement of battle; but in the minds of most + there lurked a vague feeling of unrest over one danger. For their foes who + fought in sight, for the forts, the gunboats, and, the great ironclad ram, + they cared nothing; but all, save the very boldest, were at times awed, + and rendered uneasy by the fear of the hidden and the unknown. Danger + which is great and real, but which is shrouded in mystery, is always very + awful; and the ocean veterans dreaded the torpedoes—the mines of + death—which lay, they knew not where, thickly scattered through the + channels along which they were to thread their way. + </p> + <p> + The tall ships were in fighting trim, with spars housed, and canvas + furled. The decks were strewn with sawdust; every man was in his place; + the guns were ready, and except for the song of the sounding-lead there + was silence in the ships as they moved forward through the glorious + morning. It was seven o'clock when the battle began, as the Tecumseh, the + leading monitor, fired two shots at the fort. In a few minutes Fort Morgan + was ablaze with the flash of her guns, and the leading wooden vessels were + sending back broadside after broadside. Farragut stood in the port + main-rigging, and as the smoke increased he gradually climbed higher, + until he was close by the maintop, where the pilot was stationed for the + sake of clearer vision. The captain, fearing lest by one of the accidents + of battle the great admiral should lose his footing, sent aloft a man with + a lasher, and had a turn or two taken around his body in the shrouds, so + that he might not fall if wounded; for the shots were flying thick. + </p> + <p> + At first the ships used only their bow guns, and the Confederate ram, with + her great steel rifles, and her three consorts, taking station where they + could rake the advancing fleet, caused much loss. In twenty minutes after + the opening of the fight the ships of the van were fairly abreast of the + fort, their guns leaping and thundering; and under the weight of their + terrific fire that of the fort visibly slackened. All was now uproar and + slaughter, the smoke drifting off in clouds. The decks were reddened and + ghastly with blood, and the wreck of flying splinters drove across them at + each discharge. The monitor Tecumseh alone was silent. After firing the + first two shots, her commander, Captain Craven, had loaded his two big + guns with steel shot, and, thus prepared, reserved himself for the + Confederate ironclad, which he had set his heart upon taking or destroying + single-handed. The two columns of monitors and the wooden ships lashed in + pairs were now approaching the narrowest part of the channel, where the + torpedoes lay thickest; and the guns of the vessels fairly overbore and + quelled the fire from the fort. All was well, provided only the two + columns could push straight on without hesitation; but just at this moment + a terrible calamity befell the leader of the monitors. The Tecumseh, + standing straight for the Tennessee, was within two hundred yards of her + foe, when a torpedo suddenly exploded beneath her. The monitor was about + five hundred yards from the Hartford, and from the maintop Farragut, + looking at her, saw her reel violently from side to side, lurch heavily + over, and go down headforemost, her screw revolving wildly in the air as + she disappeared. Captain Craven, one of the gentlest and bravest of men, + was in the pilot-house with the pilot at the time. As she sank, both + rushed to the narrow door, but there was time for only one to get out. + Craven was ahead, but drew to one side, saying, "After you, pilot." As the + pilot leaped through, the water rushed in, and Craven and all his crew, + save two men, settled to the bottom in their iron coffin. + </p> + <p> + None of the monitors were awed or daunted by the fate of their consort, + but drew steadily onward. In the bigger monitors the captains, like the + crews, had remained within the iron walls; but on the two light crafts the + commanders had found themselves so harassed by their cramped quarters, + that they both stayed outside on the deck. As these two steamed steadily + ahead, the men on the flagship saw Captain Stevens, of the Winnebago, + pacing calmly, from turret to turret, on his unwieldy iron craft, under + the full fire of the fort. The captain of the Chickasaw, Perkins, was the + youngest commander in the fleet, and as he passed the Hartford, he stood + on top of the turret, waving his hat and dancing about in wildest + excitement and delight. + </p> + <p> + But, for a moment, the nerve of the commander of the Brooklyn failed him. + The awful fate of the Tecumseh and the sight of a number of objects in the + channel ahead, which seemed to be torpedoes, caused him to hesitate. He + stopped his ship, and then backed water, making sternway to the Hartford, + so as to stop her also. It was the crisis of the fight and the crisis of + Farragut's career. The column was halted in a narrow channel, right under + the fire of the forts. A few moments' delay and confusion, and the golden + chance would have been past, and the only question remaining would have + been as to the magnitude of the disaster. Ahead lay terrible danger, but + ahead lay also triumph. It might be that the first ship to go through + would be sacrificed to the torpedoes; it might be that others would be + sacrificed; but go through the fleet must. Farragut signaled to the + Brooklyn to go ahead, but she still hesitated. Immediately, the admiral + himself resolved to take the lead. Backing hard he got clear of the + Brooklyn, twisted his ship's prow short round, and then, going ahead fast, + he dashed close under the Brooklyn's stern, straight at the line of buoys + in the channel. As he thus went by the Brooklyn, a warning cry came from + her that there were torpedoes ahead. "Damn the torpedoes!" shouted the + admiral; "go ahead, full speed;" and the Hartford and her consort steamed + forward. As they passed between the buoys, the cases of the torpedoes were + heard knocking against the bottom of the ship; but for some reason they + failed to explode, and the Hartford went safely through the gates of + Mobile Bay, passing the forts. Farragut's last and hardest battle was + virtually won. After a delay which allowed the flagship to lead nearly a + mile, the Brooklyn got her head round, and came in, closely followed by + all the other ships. The Tennessee strove to interfere with the wooden + craft as they went in, but they passed, exchanging shots, and one of them + striving to ram her, but inflicting only a glancing blow. The ship on the + fighting side of the rear couple had been completely disabled by a shot + through her boiler. + </p> + <p> + As Farragut got into the bay he gave orders to slip the gunboats, which + were lashed to each of the Union ships of war, against the Confederate + gunboats, one of which he had already disabled by his fire, so that she + was run ashore and burnt. Jouett, the captain of the Metacomet, had been + eagerly waiting this order, and had his men already standing at the + hawsers, hatchet in hand. When the signal for the gunboats to chase was + hoisted, the order to Jouett was given by word of mouth, and as his hearty + "Aye, aye, sir," came in answer, the hatchets fell, the hawsers parted, + and the Metacomet leaped forward in pursuit. A thick rainsquall came up, + and rendered it impossible for the rear gunboats to know whither the + Confederate flotilla had fled. When it cleared away, the watchers on the + fleet saw that one of the two which were uninjured had slipped off to Fort + Morgan, while the other, the Selma, was under the guns of the Metacomet, + and was promptly carried by the latter. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the ships anchored in the bay, about four miles from Fort + Morgan, and the crews were piped to breakfast; but almost as soon as it + was begun, the lookouts reported that the great Confederate ironclad was + steaming down, to do battle, single-handed, with the Union fleet. She was + commanded by Buchanan, a very gallant and able officer, who had been on + the Merrimac, and who trusted implicitly in his invulnerable sides, his + heavy rifle guns, and his formidable iron beak. As the ram came on, with + splendid courage, the ships got under way, while Farragut sent word to the + monitors to attack the Tennessee at once. The fleet surgeon, Palmer, + delivered these orders. In his diary he writes: + </p> + <p> + "I came to the Chickasaw; happy as my friend Perkins habitually is, I + thought he would turn a somerset with joy, when I told him, 'The admiral + wants you to go at once and fight the Tennessee.'" + </p> + <p> + At the same time, the admiral directed the wooden vessels to charge the + ram, bow on, at full speed, as well as to attack her with their guns. The + monitors were very slow, and the wooden vessels began the attack. The + first to reach the hostile ironclad was the Monongahela, which struck her + square amidships; and five minutes later the Lackawanna, going at full + speed, delivered another heavy blow. Both the Union vessels fired such + guns as would bear as they swung round, but the shots glanced harmlessly + from the armor, and the blows of the ship produced no serious injury to + the ram, although their own stems were crushed in several feet above and + below the water line. The Hartford then struck the Tennessee, which met + her bows on. The two antagonists scraped by, their port sides touching. As + they rasped past, the Hartford's guns were discharged against the ram, + their muzzles only half a dozen feet distant from her iron-clad sides; but + the shot made no impression. While the three ships were circling to repeat + the charge, the Lackawanna ran square into the flagship, cutting the + vessel down to within two feet of the water. For a moment the ship's + company thought the vessel sinking, and almost as one man they cried: + "Save the admiral! get the admiral on board the Lackawanna." But Farragut, + leaping actively into the chains, saw that the ship was in no present + danger, and ordered her again to be headed for the Tennessee. Meanwhile, + the monitors had come up, and the battle raged between them and the great + ram, Like the rest of the Union fleet, they carried smooth-bores, and + their shot could not break through her iron plates; but by sustained and + continuous hammering, her frame could be jarred and her timbers displaced. + Two of the monitors had been more or less disabled already, but the third, + the Chickasaw, was in fine trim, and Perkins got her into position under + the stern of the Tennessee, just after the latter was struck by the + Hartford; and there he stuck to the end, never over fifty yards distant, + and keeping up a steady rapping of 11-inch shot upon the iron walls, which + they could not penetrate, but which they racked and shattered. The + Chickasaw fired fifty-two times at her antagonist, shooting away the + exposed rudder-chains and the smokestack, while the commander of the ram, + Buchanan, was wounded by an iron splinter which broke his leg. Under the + hammering, the Tennessee became helpless. She could not be steered, and + was unable to bring a gun to bear, while many of the shutters of the ports + were jammed. For twenty minutes she had not fired a shot. The wooden + vessels were again bearing down to ram her; and she hoisted the white + flag. + </p> + <p> + Thus ended the battle of Mobile Bay, Farragut's crowning victory. Less + than three hours elapsed from the time that Fort Morgan fired its first + gun to the moment when the Tennessee hauled down her flag. Three hundred + and thirty-five men had been killed or wounded in the fleet, and one + vessel, the Tecumseh, had gone down; but the Confederate flotilla was + destroyed, the bay had been entered, and the forts around it were helpless + to do anything further. One by one they surrendered, and the port of + Mobile was thus sealed against blockade runners, so that the last source + of communication between the Confederacy and the outside world was + destroyed. Farragut had added to the annals of the Union the page which + tells of the greatest sea-fight in our history. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + LINCOLN + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + O captain. My captain. Our fearful trip is done; + The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won; + The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, + While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: + But O heart! Heart! Heart! + Leave you not the little spot, + Where on the deck my captain lies, + Fallen cold and dead. + + O captain. My captain. Rise up and hear the bells; + Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills; + For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores + a-crowding; + For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; + O captain. Dear father. + This arm I push beneath you; + It is some dream that on the deck, + You've fallen cold and dead. + + My captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; + My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor win: + But the ship, the ship is anchor'd safe, its voyage closed and + done; + From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won: + Exult O shores, and ring, O bells. + But I with silent tread, + Walk the spot the captain lies, + Fallen cold and dead. + —Walt Whitman. +</pre> + <p> + As Washington stands to the Revolution and the establishment of the + government, so Lincoln stands as the hero of the mightier struggle by + which our Union was saved. He was born in 1809, ten years after + Washington, his work done had been laid to rest at Mount Vernon. No great + man ever came from beginnings which seemed to promise so little. Lincoln's + family, for more than one generation, had been sinking, instead of rising, + in the social scale. His father was one of those men who were found on the + frontier in the early days of the western movement, always changing from + one place to another, and dropping a little lower at each remove. Abraham + Lincoln was born into a family who were not only poor, but shiftless, and + his early days were days of ignorance, and poverty, and hard work. Out of + such inauspicious surroundings, he slowly and painfully lifted himself. He + gave himself an education, he took part in an Indian war, he worked in the + fields, he kept a country store, he read and studied, and, at last, he + became a lawyer. Then he entered into the rough politics of the + newly-settled State. He grew to be a leader in his county, and went to the + legislature. The road was very rough, the struggle was very hard and very + bitter, but the movement was always upward. + </p> + <p> + At last he was elected to Congress, and served one term in Washington as a + Whig with credit, but without distinction. Then he went back to his law + and his politics in Illinois. He had, at last, made his position. All that + was now needed was an opportunity, and that came to him in the great + anti-slavery struggle. + </p> + <p> + Lincoln was not an early Abolitionist. His training had been that of a + regular party man, and as a member of a great political organization, but + he was a lover of freedom and justice. Slavery, in its essence, was + hateful to him, and when the conflict between slavery and freedom was + fairly joined, his path was clear before him. He took up the antislavery + cause in his own State and made himself its champion against Douglas, the + great leader of the Northern Democrats. He stumped Illinois in opposition + to Douglas, as a candidate for the Senate, debating the question which + divided the country in every part of the State. He was beaten at the + election, but, by the power and brilliancy of his speeches, his own + reputation was made. Fighting the anti-slavery battle within + constitutional lines, concentrating his whole force against the single + point of the extension of slavery to the Territories, he had made it clear + that a new leader had arisen in the cause of freedom. From Illinois his + reputation spread to the East, and soon after his great debate he + delivered a speech in New York which attracted wide attention. At the + Republican convention of 1856, his name was one of those proposed for + vice-president. + </p> + <p> + When 1860 came, he was a candidate for the first place on the national + ticket. The leading candidate was William H. Seward, of New York, the most + conspicuous man of the country on the Republican side, but the convention, + after a sharp struggle, selected Lincoln, and then the great political + battle came at the polls. The Republicans were victorious, and, as soon as + the result of the voting was known, the South set to work to dissolve the + Union. In February Lincoln made his way to Washington, at the end coming + secretly from Harrisburg to escape a threatened attempt at assassination, + and on March 4, 1861 assumed the presidency. + </p> + <p> + No public man, no great popular leader, ever faced a more terrible + situation. The Union was breaking, the Southern States were seceding, + treason was rampant in Washington, and the Government was bankrupt. The + country knew that Lincoln was a man of great capacity in debate, devoted + to the cause of antislavery and to the maintenance of the Union. But what + his ability was to deal with the awful conditions by which he was + surrounded, no one knew. To follow him through the four years of civil war + which ensued is, of course, impossible here. Suffice it to say that no + greater, no more difficult, task has ever been faced by any man in modern + times, and no one ever met a fierce trial and conflict more successfully. + </p> + <p> + Lincoln put to the front the question of the Union, and let the question + of slavery drop, at first, into the background. He used every exertion to + hold the border States by moderate measures, and, in this way, prevented + the spread of the rebellion. For this moderation, the antislavery + extremists in the North assailed him, but nothing shows more his + far-sighted wisdom and strength of purpose than his action at this time. + By his policy at the beginning of his administration, he held the border + States, and united the people of the North in defense of the Union. + </p> + <p> + As the war went on, he went on, too. He had never faltered in his feelings + about slavery. He knew, better than any one, that the successful + dissolution of the Union by the slave power meant, not only the + destruction of an empire, but the victory of the forces of barbarism. But + he also saw, what very few others at the moment could see, that, if he was + to win, he must carry his people with him, step by step. So when he had + rallied them to the defense of the Union, and checked the spread of + secession in the border States, in the autumn of 1862 he announced that he + would issue a proclamation freeing the slaves. The extremists had doubted + him in the beginning, the conservative and the timid doubted him now, but + when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, on January 1, 1863, it was + found that the people were with him in that, as they had been with him + when he staked everything upon the maintenance of the Union. The war went + on to victory, and in 1864 the people showed at the polls that they were + with the President, and reelected him by overwhelming majorities. + Victories in the field went hand in hand with success at the ballot-box, + and, in the spring of 1865, all was over. On April 9, 1865, Lee + surrendered at Appomattox, and five days later, on April 14, a miserable + assassin crept into the box at the theater where the President was + listening to a play, and shot him. The blow to the country was terrible + beyond words, for then men saw, in one bright flash, how great a man had + fallen. + </p> + <p> + Lincoln died a martyr to the cause to which he had given his life, and + both life and death were heroic. The qualities which enabled him to do his + great work are very clear now to all men. His courage and his wisdom, his + keen perception and his almost prophetic foresight, enabled him to deal + with all the problems of that distracted time as they arose around him. + But he had some qualities, apart from those of the intellect, which were + of equal importance to his people and to the work he had to do. His + character, at once strong and gentle, gave confidence to every one, and + dignity to his cause. He had an infinite patience, and a humor that + enabled him to turn aside many difficulties which could have been met in + no other way. But most important of all was the fact that he personified a + great sentiment, which ennobled and uplifted his people, and made them + capable of the patriotism which fought the war and saved the Union. He + carried his people with him, because he knew instinctively, how they felt + and what they wanted. He embodied, in his own person, all their highest + ideals, and he never erred in his judgment. + </p> + <p> + He is not only a great and commanding figure among the great statesmen and + leaders of history, but he personifies, also, all the sadness and the + pathos of the war, as well as its triumphs and its glories. No words that + any one can use about Lincoln can, however, do him such justice as his + own, and I will close this volume with two of Lincoln's speeches, which + show what the war and all the great deeds of that time meant to him, and + through which shines, the great soul of the man himself. On November 19, + 1863, he spoke as follows at the dedication of the National cemetery on + the battle-field of Gettysburg: + </p> + <p> + Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent + a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that + all men are created equal. + </p> + <p> + Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or + any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a + great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that + field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that + that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should + do this. + </p> + <p> + But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we + cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who + struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or + detract. The world will little note or long remember what we say here, but + it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, + to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who have fought + here, have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here + dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from the + honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave + the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these + dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have + a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, + for the people, shall not perish from the earth. + </p> + <p> + On March 4, 1865, when he was inaugurated the second time, he made the + following address: + </p> + <p> + Fellow-Countrymen: At this second appearing to take the oath of + presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended address than + there was at the first. Then a statement, somewhat in detail, of a course + to be pursued, seemed proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during + which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point + and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and + engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be + presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, + is as well known to the public as to myself; and it is, I trust, + reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the + future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured. + </p> + <p> + On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were + anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it—all + sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from + this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent + agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to + dissolve the Union, and divide effects, by negotiation. Both parties + deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let it perish. + And the war came. + </p> + <p> + One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed + generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These + slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this + interest was, somehow, the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, + and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would + rend the Union, even by war; while the government claimed no right to do + more than to restrict the Territorial enlargement of it. Neither party + expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already + attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease + with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an + easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read + the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes his aid against + the other. It may seem strange that any man should dare to ask a just + God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's + faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both + could not be answered that of neither has been answered fully. + </p> + <p> + The Almighty has his own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of + offenses, for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by + whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one + of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but + which, having continued through his appointed time, he now wills to + remove, and that he gives to both North and South this terrible war, as + the woe due to those by whom the offenses come, shall we discern therein + any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living + God always ascribe to him? Fondly do we hope-fervently do we pray—that + this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that + it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondman's two hundred and + fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of + blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, + as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said, "The + judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." + </p> + <p> + With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, + as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we + are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have + borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan-to do all which may + achieve and cherish a just, a lasting, peace among ourselves and with all + nations. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hero Tales From American History, by +Henry Cabot Lodge, and Theodore Roosevelt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERO TALES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY *** + +***** This file should be named 1864-h.htm or 1864-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/6/1864/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + </body> +</html> diff --git a/1864.txt b/1864.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2f4acc7 --- /dev/null +++ b/1864.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5540 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hero Tales From American History, by +Henry Cabot Lodge, and Theodore Roosevelt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hero Tales From American History + +Author: Henry Cabot Lodge, and Theodore Roosevelt + +Posting Date: October 10, 2008 [EBook #1864] +Release Date: August, 1999 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERO TALES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY *** + + + + +Produced by Dianne Bean + + + + + +HERO TALES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY + +By Henry Cabot Lodge And Theodore Roosevelt + + + Hence it is that the fathers of these men and ours also, and + they themselves likewise, being nurtured in all freedom and + well born, have shown before all men many and glorious deeds + in public and private, deeming it their duty to fight for + the cause of liberty and the Greeks, even against Greeks, + and against Barbarians for all the Greeks."--PLATO: + "Menexenus." + + +TO E. Y. R. + +To you we owe the suggestion of writing this book. Its purpose, as you +know better than any one else, is to tell in simple fashion the story of +some Americans who showed that they knew how to live and how to die; who +proved their truth by their endeavor; and who joined to the stern and +manly qualities which are essential to the well-being of a masterful +race the virtues of gentleness, of patriotism, and of lofty adherence to +an ideal. + +It is a good thing for all Americans, and it is an especially good thing +for young Americans, to remember the men who have given their lives in +war and peace to the service of their fellow-countrymen, and to keep in +mind the feats of daring and personal prowess done in time past by +some of the many champions of the nation in the various crises of her +history. Thrift, industry, obedience to law, and intellectual cultivation +are essential qualities in the makeup of any successful people; but no +people can be really great unless they possess also the heroic virtues +which are as needful in time of peace as in time of war, and as +important in civil as in military life. As a civilized people we desire +peace, but the only peace worth having is obtained by instant readiness +to fight when wronged--not by unwillingness or inability to fight at +all. Intelligent foresight in preparation and known capacity to stand +well in battle are the surest safeguards against war. America will cease +to be a great nation whenever her young men cease to possess energy, +daring, and endurance, as well as the wish and the power to fight the +nation's foes. No citizen of a free state should wrong any man; but it +is not enough merely to refrain from infringing on the rights of others; +he must also be able and willing to stand up for his own rights and +those of his country against all comers, and he must be ready at any +time to do his full share in resisting either malice domestic or foreign +levy. + +HENRY CABOT LODGE. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. + +WASHINGTON, April 19, 1895. + + + +CONTENTS + + GEORGE WASHINGTON--H. C. Lodge. + + DANIEL BOONE AND THE FOUNDING OF KENTUCKY--Theodore Roosevelt. + + GEORGE ROGERS CLARK AND THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTHWEST--Theodore + Roosevelt. + + THE BATTLE OF TRENTON--H. C. Lodge. + + BENNINGTON--H. C. Lodge. + + KING'S MOUNTAIN--Theodore Roosevelt. + + THE STORMING OF STONY POINT--Theodore Roosevelt. + + GOUVERNEUR MORRIS--H. C. Lodge. + + THE BURNING OF THE "PHILADELPHIA"--H. C. Lodge. + + THE CRUISE OF THE "WASP"--Theodore Roosevelt. + + THE "GENERAL ARMSTRONG" PRIVATEER--Theodore Roosevelt. + + THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS--Theodore Roosevelt. + + JOHN QUINCY ADAMS AND THE RIGHT OF PETITION--H. C. Lodge. + + FRANCIS PARKMAN--H. C. Lodge. + + "REMEMBER THE ALAMO"--Theodore Roosevelt. + + HAMPTON ROADS--Theodore Roosevelt. + + THE FLAG-BEARER--Theodore Roosevelt. + + THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACK--Theodore Roosevelt. + + THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG--Theodore Roosevelt. + + GENERAL GRANT AND THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN--H. C. Lodge. + + ROBERT GOULD SHAW--H. C. Lodge. + + CHARLES RUSSELL LOWELL--H. C. Lodge. + + SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK--H. C. Lodge. + + LIEUTENANT CUSHING AND THE RAM "ALBEMARLE"--Theodore Roosevelt. + + FARRAGUT AT MOBILE BAY--Theodore Roosevelt. + + ABRAHAM LINCOLN--H. C. Lodge. + + + + "Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly king. + Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all + I shall not look upon his like again."--Hamlet + + + + +HERO TALES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY + + + + +WASHINGTON + +The brilliant historian of the English people [*] has written of +Washington, that "no nobler figure ever stood in the fore-front of a +nation's life." In any book which undertakes to tell, no matter how +slightly, the story of some of the heroic deeds of American history, +that noble figure must always stand in the fore-front. But to sketch the +life of Washington even in the barest outline is to write the history +of the events which made the United States independent and gave birth +to the American nation. Even to give alist of what he did, to name his +battles and recount his acts as president, would be beyond the limit and +the scope of this book. Yet it is always possible to recall the man and +to consider what he was and what he meant for us and for mankind He is +worthy the study and the remembrance of all men, and to Americans he is +at once a great glory of their past and an inspiration and an assurance +of their future. + + * John Richard Green. + + +To understand Washington at all we must first strip off all the myths +which have gathered about him. We must cast aside into the dust-heaps +all the wretched inventions of the cherry-tree variety, which were +fastened upon him nearly seventy years after his birth. We must look at +him as he looked at life and the facts about him, without any illusion +or deception, and no man in history can better stand such a scrutiny. + +Born of a distinguished family in the days when the American colonies +were still ruled by an aristocracy, Washington started with all that +good birth and tradition could give. Beyond this, however, he had +little. His family was poor, his mother was left early a widow, and he +was forced after a very limited education to go out into the world to +fight for himself He had strong within him the adventurous spirit of +his race. He became a surveyor, and in the pursuit of this profession +plunged into the wilderness, where he soon grew to be an expert hunter +and backwoodsman. Even as a boy the gravity of his character and +his mental and physical vigor commended him to those about him, and +responsibility and military command were put in his hands at an age when +most young men are just leaving college. As the times grew threatening +on the frontier, he was sent on a perilous mission to the Indians, in +which, after passing through many hardships and dangers, he achieved +success. When the troubles came with France it was by the soldiers under +his command that the first shots were fired in the war which was to +determine whether the North American continent should be French or +English. In his earliest expedition he was defeated by the enemy. Later +he was with Braddock, and it was he who tried, to rally the broken +English army on the stricken field near Fort Duquesne. On that day +of surprise and slaughter he displayed not only cool courage but the +reckless daring which was one of his chief characteristics. He so +exposed himself that bullets passed through his coat and hat, and the +Indians and the French who tried to bring him down thought he bore a +charmed life. He afterwards served with distinction all through the +French war, and when peace came he went back to the estate which he had +inherited from his brother, the most admired man in Virginia. + +At that time he married, and during the ensuing years he lived the life +of a Virginia planter, successful in his private affairs and serving the +public effectively but quietly as a member of the House of Burgesses. +When the troubles with the mother country began to thicken he was slow +to take extreme ground, but he never wavered in his belief that all +attempts to oppress the colonies should be resisted, and when he once +took up his position there was no shadow of turning. He was one of +Virginia's delegates to the first Continental Congress, and, although +he said but little, he was regarded by all the representatives from +the other colonies as the strongest man among them. There was something +about him even then which commanded the respect and the confidence of +every one who came in contact with him. + +It was from New England, far removed from his own State, that the demand +came for his appointment as commander-in-chief of the American army. +Silently he accepted the duty, and, leaving Philadelphia, took command +of the army at Cambridge. There is no need to trace him through the +events that followed. From the time when he drew his sword under the +famous elm tree, he was the embodiment of the American Revolution, and +without him that revolution would have failed almost at the start. How +he carried it to victory through defeat and trial and every possible +obstacle is known to all men. + +When it was all over he found himself facing a new situation. He was the +idol of the country and of his soldiers. The army was unpaid, and the +veteran troops, with arms in their hands, were eager to have him take +control of the disordered country as Cromwell had done in England +a little more than a century before. With the army at his back, and +supported by the great forces which, in every community, desire order +before everything else, and are ready to assent to any arrangement which +will bring peace and quiet, nothing would have been easier than for +Washington to have made himself the ruler of the new nation. But that +was not his conception of duty, and he not only refused to have anything +to do with such a movement himself, but he repressed, by his dominant +personal influence, all such intentions on the part of the army. On +the 23d of December, 1783, he met the Congress at Annapolis, and there +resigned his commission. What he then said is one of the two most +memorable speeches ever made in the United States, and is also memorable +for its meaning and spirit among all speeches ever made by men. He spoke +as follows: + +"Mr. President:--The great events on which my resignation depended having +at length taken place, I have now the honor of offering my sincere +congratulations to Congress, and of presenting myself before them, to +surrender into their hands the trust committed to me and to claim the +indulgence of retiring from the service of my country. + +Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignity and +pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming +a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction the appointment I +accepted with diffidence; a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so +arduous a task, which, however, was superseded by a confidence in the +rectitude of our cause, the support of the supreme power of the Union, +and the patronage of Heaven. + +The successful termination of the war has verified the most sanguine +expectations, and my gratitude for the interposition of Providence and +the assistance I have received from my countrymen increases with every +review of the momentous contest. + +While I repeat my obligations to the Army in general, I should do +injustice to my own feelings not to acknowledge, in this place, the +peculiar services and distinguished merits of the Gentlemen who have +been attached to my person during the war. It was impossible that the +choice of confidential officers to compose my family should have been +more fortunate. Permit me, sir, to recommend in particular those +who have continued in service to the present moment as worthy of the +favorable notice and patronage of Congress. + +I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my +official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the +protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of +them to His holy keeping. + +Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great +theatre of action, and, bidding an affectionate farewell to this +august body, under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my +commission and take my leave of all the employments of public life." + +The great master of English fiction, writing of this scene at Annapolis, +says: "Which was the most splendid spectacle ever witnessed--the opening +feast of Prince George in London, or the resignation of Washington? +Which is the noble character for after ages to admire--yon fribble +dancing in lace and spangles, or yonder hero who sheathes his sword +after a life of spotless honor, a purity unreproached, a courage +indomitable and a consummate victory?" + +Washington did not refuse the dictatorship, or, rather, the opportunity +to take control of the country, because he feared heavy responsibility, +but solely because, as a high-minded and patriotic man, he did not +believe in meeting the situation in that way. He was, moreover, entirely +devoid of personal ambition, and had no vulgar longing for personal +power. After resigning his commission he returned quietly to Mount +Vernon, but he did not hold himself aloof from public affairs. On the +contrary, he watched their course with the utmost anxiety. He saw the +feeble Confederation breaking to pieces, and he soon realized that that +form of government was an utter failure. In a time when no American +statesman except Hamilton had yet freed himself from the local feelings +of the colonial days, Washington was thoroughly national in all his +views. Out of the thirteen jarring colonies he meant that a nation +should come, and he saw--what no one else saw--the destiny of the +country to the westward. He wished a nation founded which should cross +the Alleghanies, and, holding the mouths of the Mississippi, take +possession of all that vast and then unknown region. For these reasons +he stood at the head of the national movement, and to him all men turned +who desired a better union and sought to bring order out of chaos. With +him Hamilton and Madison consulted in the preliminary stages which +were to lead to the formation of a new system. It was his vast personal +influence which made that movement a success, and when the convention +to form a constitution met at Philadelphia, he presided over its +deliberations, and it was his commanding will which, more than anything +else, brought a constitution through difficulties and conflicting +interests which more than once made any result seem well-nigh hopeless. +When the Constitution formed at Philadelphia had been ratified by the +States, all men turned to Washington to stand at the head of the new +government. As he had borne the burden of the Revolution, so he now +took up the task of bringing the government of the Constitution into +existence. For eight years he served as president. He came into +office with a paper constitution, the heir of a bankrupt, broken-down +confederation. He left the United States, when he went out of office, +an effective and vigorous government. When he was inaugurated, we +had nothing but the clauses of the Constitution as agreed to by the +Convention. When he laid down the presidency, we had an organized +government, an established revenue, a funded debt, a high credit, an +efficient system of banking, a strong judiciary, and an army. We had a +vigorous and well-defined foreign policy; we had recovered the western +posts, which, in the hands of the British, had fettered our march to the +west; and we had proved our power to maintain order at home, to repress +insurrection, to collect the national taxes, and to enforce the laws +made by Congress. Thus Washington had shown that rare combination of the +leader who could first destroy by revolution, and who, having led his +country through a great civil war, was then able to build up a new and +lasting fabric upon the ruins of a system which had been overthrown. +At the close of his official service he returned again to Mount Vernon, +and, after a few years of quiet retirement, died just as the century in +which he had played so great a part was closing. + +Washington stands among the greatest men of human history, and those in +the same rank with him are very few. Whether measured by what he did, or +what he was, or by the effect of his work upon the history of mankind, +in every aspect he is entitled to the place he holds among the greatest +of his race. Few men in all time have such a record of achievement. +Still fewer can show at the end of a career so crowded with high +deeds and memorable victories a life so free from spot, a character +so unselfish and so pure, a fame so void of doubtful points demanding +either defense or explanation. Eulogy of such a life is needless, but it +is always important to recall and to freshly remember just what manner +of man he was. In the first place he was physically a striking figure. +He was very tall, powerfully made, with a strong, handsome face. He +was remarkably muscular and powerful. As a boy he was a leader in all +outdoor sports. No one could fling the bar further than he, and no one +could ride more difficult horses. As a young man he became a woodsman +and hunter. Day after day he could tramp through the wilderness with his +gun and his surveyor's chain, and then sleep at night beneath the stars. +He feared no exposure or fatigue, and outdid the hardiest backwoodsman +in following a winter trail and swimming icy streams. This habit of +vigorous bodily exercise he carried through life. Whenever he was at +Mount Vernon he gave a large part of his time to fox-hunting, riding +after his hounds through the most difficult country. His physical power +and endurance counted for much in his success when he commanded his +army, and when the heavy anxieties of general and president weighed upon +his mind and heart. + +He was an educated, but not a learned man. He read well and remembered +what he read, but his life was, from the beginning, a life of action, +and the world of men was his school. He was not a military genius like +Hannibal, or Caesar, or Napoleon, of which the world has had only three +or four examples. But he was a great soldier of the type which the +English race has produced, like Marlborough and Cromwell, Wellington, +Grant, and Lee. He was patient under defeat, capable of large +combinations, a stubborn and often reckless fighter, a winner of +battles, but much more, a conclusive winner in a long war of varying +fortunes. He was, in addition, what very few great soldiers or +commanders have ever been, a great constitutional statesman, able to +lead a people along the paths of free government without undertaking +himself to play the part of the strong man, the usurper, or the savior +of society. + +He was a very silent man. Of no man of equal importance in the world's +history have we so few sayings of a personal kind. He was ready enough +to talk or to write about the public duties which he had in hand, but he +hardly ever talked of himself. Yet there can be no greater error than +to suppose Washington cold and unfeeling, because of his silence and +reserve. He was by nature a man of strong desires and stormy passions. +Now and again he would break out, even as late as the presidency, into +a gust of anger that would sweep everything before it. He was always +reckless of personal danger, and had a fierce fighting spirit which +nothing could check when it was once unchained. + +But as a rule these fiery impulses and strong passions were under the +absolute control of an iron will, and they never clouded his judgment or +warped his keen sense of justice. + +But if he was not of a cold nature, still less was he hard or unfeeling. +His pity always went out to the poor, the oppressed, or the unhappy, and +he was all that was kind and gentle to those immediately about him. + +We have to look carefully into his life to learn all these things, for +the world saw only a silent, reserved man, of courteous and serious +manner, who seemed to stand alone and apart, and who impressed every one +who came near him with a sense of awe and reverence. + +One quality he had which was, perhaps, more characteristic of the man +and his greatness than any other. This was his perfect veracity of mind. +He was, of course, the soul of truth and honor, but he was even more +than that. He never deceived himself He always looked facts squarely in +the face and dealt with them as such, dreaming no dreams, cherishing no +delusions, asking no impossibilities,--just to others as to himself, and +thus winning alike in war and in peace. + +He gave dignity as well as victory to his country and his cause. He was, +in truth, a "character for after ages to admire." + + + + +DANIEL BOONE AND THE FOUNDING OF KENTUCKY + + ... Boone lived hunting up to ninety; + And, what's still stranger, left behind a name + For which men vainly decimate the throng, + Not only famous, but of that GOOD fame, + Without which glory's but a tavern song,-- + Simple, serene, the antipodes of shame, + Which hate nor envy e'er could tinge with wrong; + + 'T is true he shrank from men, even of his nation; + When they built up unto his darling trees, + He moved some hundred miles off, for a station + Where there were fewer houses and more ease; + + * * * + + But where he met the individual man, + He showed himself as kind as mortal can. + + * * * + + The freeborn forest found and kept them free, + And fresh as is a torrent or a tree. + + And tall, and strong, and swift of foot were they, + Beyond the dwarfing city's pale abortions, + Because their thoughts had never been the prey + Of care or gain; the green woods were their portions + + * * * + + Simple they were, not savage; and their rifles, + Though very true, were yet not used for trifles. + + * * * + + Serene, not sullen, were the solitudes + Of this unsighing people of the woods. + --Byron. + + +Daniel Boone will always occupy a unique place in our history as the +archetype of the hunter and wilderness wanderer. He was a true pioneer, +and stood at the head of that class of Indian-fighters, game-hunters, +forest-fellers, and backwoods farmers who, generation after generation, +pushed westward the border of civilization from the Alleghanies to the +Pacific. As he himself said, he was "an instrument ordained of God to +settle the wilderness." Born in Pennsylvania, he drifted south into +western North Carolina, and settled on what was then the extreme +frontier. There he married, built a log cabin, and hunted, chopped +trees, and tilled the ground like any other frontiersman. The Alleghany +Mountains still marked a boundary beyond which the settlers dared not +go; for west of them lay immense reaches of frowning forest, uninhabited +save by bands of warlike Indians. Occasionally some venturesome hunter +or trapper penetrated this immense wilderness, and returned with strange +stories of what he had seen and done. + +In 1769 Boone, excited by these vague and wondrous tales, determined +himself to cross the mountains and find out what manner of land it was +that lay beyond. With a few chosen companions he set out, making his own +trail through the gloomy forest. After weeks of wandering, he at last +emerged into the beautiful and fertile country of Kentucky, for which, +in after years, the red men and the white strove with such obstinate +fury that it grew to be called "the dark and bloody ground." But when +Boone first saw it, it was a fair and smiling land of groves and glades +and running waters, where the open forest grew tall and beautiful, and +where innumerable herds of game grazed, roaming ceaselessly to and fro +along the trails they had trodden during countless generations. Kentucky +was not owned by any Indian tribe, and was visited only by wandering +war-parties and hunting-parties who came from among the savage nations +living north of the Ohio or south of the Tennessee. + +A roving war-party stumbled upon one of Boone's companions and killed +him, and the others then left Boone and journeyed home; but his +brother came out to join him, and the two spent the winter together. +Self-reliant, fearless, and the frowning defiles of Cumberland Gap, they +were attacked by Indians, and driven back--two of Boone's own sons being +slain. In 1775, however, he made another attempt; and this attempt was +successful. The Indians attacked the newcomers; but by this time the +parties of would-be settlers were sufficiently numerous to hold their +own. They beat back the Indians, and built rough little hamlets, +surrounded by log stockades, at Boonesborough and Harrodsburg; and the +permanent settlement of Kentucky had begun. + +The next few years were passed by Boone amid unending Indian conflicts. +He was a leader among the settlers, both in peace and in war. At one +time he represented them in the House of Burgesses of Virginia; at +another time he was a member of the first little Kentucky parliament +itself; and he became a colonel of the frontier militia. He tilled the +land, and he chopped the trees himself; he helped to build the cabins +and stockades with his own hands, wielding the longhandled, light-headed +frontier ax as skilfully as other frontiersmen. His main business was +that of surveyor, for his knowledge of the country, and his ability to +travel through it, in spite of the danger from Indians, created much +demand for his services among people who wished to lay off tracts of +wild land for their own future use. But whatever he did, and wherever he +went, he had to be sleeplessly on the lookout for his Indian foes. When +he and his fellows tilled the stump-dotted fields of corn, one or more +of the party were always on guard, with weapon at the ready, for fear of +lurking savages. When he went to the House of Burgesses he carried his +long rifle, and traversed roads not a mile of which was free from the +danger of Indian attack. The settlements in the early years depended +exclusively upon game for their meat, and Boone was the mightiest of all +the hunters, so that upon him devolved the task of keeping his people +supplied. He killed many buffaloes, and pickled the buffalo beef for +use in winter. He killed great numbers of black bear, and made bacon of +them, precisely as if they had been hogs. The common game were deer and +elk. At that time none of the hunters of Kentucky would waste a shot on +anything so small as a prairie-chicken or wild duck; but they sometimes +killed geese and swans when they came south in winter and lit on the +rivers. + +But whenever Boone went into the woods after game, he had perpetually to +keep watch lest he himself might be hunted in turn. He never lay in wait +at a game-lick, save with ears strained to hear the approach of some +crawling red foe. He never crept up to a turkey he heard calling, +without exercising the utmost care to see that it was not an Indian; +for one of the favorite devices of the Indians was to imitate the turkey +call, and thus allure within range some inexperienced hunter. + +Besides this warfare, which went on in the midst of his usual vocations, +Boone frequently took the field on set expeditions against the savages. +Once when he and a party of other men were making salt at a lick, they +were surprised and carried off by the Indians. The old hunter was a +prisoner with them for some months, but finally made his escape and came +home through the trackless woods as straight as the wild pigeon flies. +He was ever on the watch to ward off the Indian inroads, and to follow +the warparties, and try to rescue the prisoners. Once his own daughter, +and two other girls who were with her, were carried off by a band of +Indians. Boone raised some friends and followed the trail steadily for +two days and a night; then they came to where the Indians had killed a +buffalo calf and were camped around it. Firing from a little distance, +the whites shot two of the Indians, and, rushing in, rescued the girls. +On another occasion, when Boone had gone to visit a salt-lick with his +brother, the Indians ambushed them and shot the latter. Boone himself +escaped, but the Indians followed him for three miles by the aid of +a tracking dog, until Boone turned, shot the dog, and then eluded his +pursuers. In company with Simon Kenton and many other noted hunters and +wilderness warriors, he once and again took part in expeditions into the +Indian country, where they killed the braves and drove off the horses. +Twice bands of Indians, accompanied by French, Tory, and British +partizans from Detroit, bearing the flag of Great Britain, attacked +Boonesboroug. In each case Boone and his fellow-settlers beat them off +with loss. At the fatal battle of the Blue Licks, in which two hundred +of the best riflemen of Kentucky were beaten with terrible slaughter by +a great force of Indians from the lakes, Boone commanded the left wing. +Leading his men, rifle in hand, he pushed back and overthrew the force +against him; but meanwhile the Indians destroyed the right wing and +center, and got round in his rear, so that there was nothing left for +Boone's men except to flee with all possible speed. + +As Kentucky became settled, Boone grew restless and ill at ease. +He loved the wilderness; he loved the great forests and the great +prairie-like glades, and the life in the little lonely cabin, where from +the door he could see the deer come out into the clearing at nightfall. +The neighborhood of his own kind made him feel cramped and ill at ease. +So he moved ever westward with the frontier; and as Kentucky filled up +he crossed the Mississippi and settled on the borders of the prairie +country of Missouri, where the Spaniards, who ruled the territory, made +him an alcalde, or judge. He lived to a great age, and died out on the +border, a backwoods hunter to the last. + + + + +GEORGE ROGERS CLARK AND THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTHWEST + + Have the elder races halted? + Do they droop and end their lesson, wearied over there beyond the + seas? + We take up the task eternal, and the burden and the lesson, + Pioneers! O Pioneers! + All the past we leave behind, + We debouch upon a newer, mightier world, varied world; + + Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the + march, + Pioneers! O Pioneers! + We detachments steady throwing, + Down the edges, through the passes, up the mountains steep, + Conquering, holding, daring, venturing, as we go the unknown + ways, + Pioneers! O Pioneers! + + * * * * * * * + + The sachem blowing the smoke first towards the sun and then + towards the earth, + The drama of the scalp dance enacted with painted faces and + guttural exclamations, + The setting out of the war-party, the long and stealthy march, + The single file, the swinging hatchets, the surprise and + slaughter of enemies. + --Whitman. + + +In 1776, when independence was declared, the United States included only +the thirteen original States on the seaboard. With the exception of a +few hunters there were no white men west of the Alleghany Mountains, and +there was not even an American hunter in the great country out of which +we have since made the States of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and +Wisconsin. All this region north of the Ohio River then formed apart +of the Province of Quebec. It was a wilderness of forests and prairies, +teeming with game, and inhabited by many warlike tribes of Indians. + +Here and there through it were dotted quaint little towns of French +Creoles, the most important being Detroit, Vincennes on the Wabash, and +Kaskaskia and Kahokia on the Illinois. These French villages were ruled +by British officers commanding small bodies of regular soldiers or Tory +rangers and Creole partizans. The towns were completely in the power +of the British government; none of the American States had actual +possession of a foot of property in the Northwestern Territory. + +The Northwest was acquired in the midst of the Revolution only by armed +conquest, and if it had not been so acquired, it would have remained a +part of the British Dominion of Canada. + +The man to whom this conquest was clue was a famous backwoods leader, +a mighty hunter, a noted Indian-fighter, George Rogers Clark. He was a +very strong man, with light hair and blue eyes. He was of good Virginian +family. Early in his youth, he embarked on the adventurous career of +a backwoods surveyor, exactly as Washington and so many other young +Virginians of spirit did at that period. He traveled out to Kentucky +soon after it was founded by Boone, and lived there for a year, either +at the stations or camping by him self in the woods, surveying, hunting, +and making war against the Indians like any other settler; but all the +time his mind was bent on vaster schemes than were dreamed of by the +men around him. He had his spies out in the Northwestern Territory, and +became convinced that with a small force of resolute backwoodsmen he +could conquer it for the United States. When he went back to Virginia, +Governor Patrick Henry entered heartily into Clark's schemes and gave +him authority to fit out a force for his purpose. + +In 1778, after encountering endless difficulties and delays, he finally +raised a hundred and fifty backwoods riflemen. In May they started down +the Ohio in flatboats to undertake the allotted task. They drifted and +rowed downstream to the Falls of the Ohio, where Clark founded a log +hamlet, which has since become the great city of Louisville. + +Here he halted for some days and was joined by fifty or sixty +volunteers; but a number of the men deserted, and when, after an eclipse +of the sun, Clark again pushed off to go down with the current, his +force was but about one hundred and sixty riflemen. All, however, were +men on whom he could depend--men well used to frontier warfare. They +were tall, stalwart backwoodsmen, clad in the hunting-shirt and leggings +that formed the national dress of their kind, and armed with the +distinctive weapon of the backwoods, the long-barreled, small-bore +rifle. + +Before reaching the Mississippi the little flotilla landed, and Clark +led his men northward against the Illinois towns. In one of them, +Kaskaskia, dwelt the British commander of the entire district up to +Detroit. The small garrison and the Creole militia taken together +outnumbered Clark's force, and they were in close alliance with the +Indians roundabout. Clark was anxious to take the town by surprise and +avoid bloodshed, as he believed he could win over the Creoles to the +American side. Marching cautiously by night and generally hiding by day, +he came to the outskirts of the little village on the evening of July 4, +and lay in the woods near by until after nightfall. + +Fortune favored him. That evening the officers of the garrison had +given a great ball to the mirth-loving Creoles, and almost the entire +population of the village had gathered in the fort, where the dance +was held. While the revelry was at its height, Clark and his tall +backwoodsmen, treading silently through the darkness, came into the +town, surprised the sentries, and surrounded the fort without causing +any alarm. + +All the British and French capable of bearing arms were gathered in the +fort to take part in or look on at the merrymaking. When his men were +posted Clark walked boldly forward through the open door, and, leaning +against the wall, looked at the dancers as they whirled around in the +light of the flaring torches. For some moments no one noticed him. +Then an Indian who had been lying with his chin on his hand, looking +carefully over the gaunt figure of the stranger, sprang to his feet, and +uttered the wild war-whoop. Immediately the dancing ceased and the men +ran to and fro in confusion; but Clark, stepping forward, bade them be +at their ease, but to remember that henceforth they danced under the +flag of the United States, and not under that of Great Britain. + +The surprise was complete, and no resistance was attempted. For +twenty-four hours the Creoles were in abject terror. Then Clark summoned +their chief men together and explained that he came as their ally, and +not as their foe, and that if they would join with him they should be +citizens of the American republic, and treated in all respects on +an equality with their comrades. The Creoles, caring little for the +British, and rather fickle of nature, accepted the proposition with joy, +and with the most enthusiastic loyalty toward Clark. Not only that, but +sending messengers to their kinsmen on the Wabash, they persuaded the +people of Vincennes likewise to cast off their allegiance to the British +king, and to hoist the American flag. + +So far, Clark had conquered with greater ease than he had dared to hope. +But when the news reached the British governor, Hamilton, at Detroit, +he at once prepared to reconquer the land. He had much greater forces at +his command than Clark had; and in the fall of that year he came down to +Vincennes by stream and portage, in a great fleet of canoes bearing five +hundred fighting men-British regulars, French partizans, and Indians. +The Vincennes Creoles refused to fight against the British, and the +American officer who had been sent thither by Clark had no alternative +but to surrender. + +If Hamilton had then pushed on and struck Clark in Illinois, having +more than treble Clark's force, he could hardly have failed to win the +victory; but the season was late and the journey so difficult that he +did not believe it could be taken. Accordingly he disbanded the Indians +and sent some of his troops back to Detroit, announcing that when spring +came he would march against Clark in Illinois. + +If Clark in turn had awaited the blow he would have surely met defeat; +but he was a greater man than his antagonist, and he did what the other +deemed impossible. + +Finding that Hamilton had sent home some of his troops and dispersed +all his Indians, Clark realized that his chance was to strike before +Hamilton's soldiers assembled again in the spring. Accordingly he +gathered together the pick of his men, together with a few Creoles, one +hundred and seventy all told, and set out for Vincennes. At first the +journey was easy enough, for they passed across the snowy Illinois +prairies, broken by great reaches of lofty woods. They killed elk, +buffalo, and deer for food, there being no difficulty in getting all +they wanted to eat; and at night they built huge fires by which to +sleep, and feasted "like Indian war-dancers," as Clark said in his +report. + +But when, in the middle of February, they reached the drowned lands of +the Wabash, where the ice had just broken up and everything was flooded, +the difficulties seemed almost insuperable, and the march became painful +and laborious to a degree. All day long the troops waded in the icy +water, and at night they could with difficulty find some little hillock +on which to sleep. Only Clark's indomitable courage and cheerfulness +kept the party in heart and enabled them to persevere. However, +persevere they did, and at last, on February 23, they came in sight +of the town of Vincennes. They captured a Creole who was out shooting +ducks, and from him learned that their approach was utterly unsuspected, +and that there were many Indians in town. + +Clark was now in some doubt as to how to make his fight. The British +regulars dwelt in a small fort at one end of the town, where they had +two light guns; but Clark feared lest, if he made a sudden night attack, +the townspeople and Indians would from sheer fright turn against him. He +accordingly arranged, just before he himself marched in, to send in the +captured duck-hunter, conveying a warning to the Indians and the Creoles +that he was about to attack the town, but that his only quarrel was with +the British, and that if the other inhabitants would stay in their own +homes they would not be molested. Sending the duck-hunter ahead, Clark +took up his march and entered the town just after nightfall. The news +conveyed by the released hunter astounded the townspeople, and they +talked it over eagerly, and were in doubt what to do. The Indians, not +knowing how great might be the force that would assail the town, at once +took refuge in the neighboring woods, while the Creoles retired to their +own houses. The British knew nothing of what had happened until the +Americans had actually entered the streets of the little village. +Rushing forward, Clark's men soon penned the regulars within their +fort, where they kept them surrounded all night. The next day a party +of Indian warriors, who in the British interest had been ravaging the +settlements of Kentucky, arrived and entered the town, ignorant that +the Americans had captured it. Marching boldly forward to the fort, +they suddenly found it beleaguered, and before they could flee they were +seized by the backwoodsmen. In their belts they carried the scalps of +the slain settlers. The savages were taken redhanded, and the American +frontiersmen were in no mood to show mercy. All the Indians were +tomahawked in sight of the fort. + +For some time the British defended themselves well; but at length their +guns were disabled, all of the gunners being picked off by the backwoods +marksmen, and finally the garrison dared not so much as appear at a +port-hole, so deadly was the fire from the long rifles. Under such +circumstances Hamilton was forced to surrender. + +No attempt was afterward made to molest the Americans in the land they +had won, and upon the conclusion of peace the Northwest, which had been +conquered by Clark, became part of the United States. + + + + +THE BATTLE OF TRENTON + + And such they are--and such they will be found: + Not so Leonidas and Washington, + Their every battle-field is holy ground + Which breathes of nations saved, not worlds undone. + How sweetly on the ear such echoes sound! + While the mere victor's may appal or stun + The servile and the vain, such names will be + A watchword till the future shall be free. + --Byron. + + +In December, 1776, the American Revolution was at its lowest ebb. The +first burst of enthusiasm, which drove the British back from Concord +and met them hand to hand at Bunker Hill, which forced them to abandon +Boston and repulsed their attack at Charleston, had spent its force. The +undisciplined American forces called suddenly from the workshop and the +farm had given way, under the strain of a prolonged contest, and had +been greatly scattered, many of the soldiers returning to their homes. +The power of England, on the other hand, with her disciplined army and +abundant resources, had begun to tell. Washington, fighting stubbornly, +had been driven during the summer and autumn from Long Island up the +Hudson, and New York had passed into the hands of the British. Then +Forts Lee and Washington had been lost, and finally the Continental army +had retreated to New Jersey. On the second of December Washington was +at Princeton with some three thousand ragged soldiers, and had escaped +destruction only by the rapidity of his movements. By the middle of the +month General Howe felt that the American army, unable as he believed +either to fight or to withstand the winter, must soon dissolve, and, +posting strong detachments at various points, he took up his winter +quarters in New York. The British general had under his command in his +various divisions twenty-five thousand well-disciplined soldiers, and +the conclusion he had reached was not an unreasonable one; everything, +in fact, seemed to confirm his opinion. Thousands of the colonists were +coming in and accepting his amnesty. The American militia had left the +field, and no more would turn out, despite Washington's earnest appeals. +All that remained of the American Revolution was the little Continental +army and the man who led it. + +Yet even in this dark hour Washington did not despair. He sent in every +direction for troops. Nothing was forgotten. Nothing that he could do +was left undone. Unceasingly he urged action upon Congress, and at the +same time with indomitable fighting spirit he planned to attack the +British. It was a desperate undertaking in the face of such heavy odds, +for in all his divisions he had only some six thousand men, and even +these were scattered. The single hope was that by his own skill and +courage he could snatch victory from a situation where victory seemed +impossible. With the instinct of a great commander he saw that his only +chance was to fight the British detachments suddenly, unexpectedly, +and separately, and to do this not only required secrecy and perfect +judgment, but also the cool, unwavering courage of which, under such +circumstances, very few men have proved themselves capable. As Christmas +approached his plans were ready. He determined to fall upon the British +detachment of Hessians, under Colonel Rahl, at Trenton, and there strike +his first blow. To each division of his little army a part in the +attack was assigned with careful forethought. Nothing was overlooked and +nothing omitted, and then, for some reason good or bad, every one of +the division commanders failed to do his part. As the general plan was +arranged, Gates was to march from Bristol with two thousand men; Ewing +was to cross at Trenton; Putnam was to come up from Philadelphia; and +Griffin was to make a diversion against Donop. When the moment came, +Gates, who disapproved the plan, was on his way to Congress; Griffin +abandoned New Jersey and fled before Donop; Putnam did not attempt +to leave Philadelphia; and Ewing made no effort to cross at Trenton. +Cadwalader came down from Bristol, looked at the river and the +floating ice, and then gave it up as desperate. Nothing remained except +Washington himself with the main army, but he neither gave up, nor +hesitated, nor stopped on account of the ice, or the river, or the +perils which lay beyond. On Christmas Eve, when all the Christian +world was feasting and rejoicing, and while the British were enjoying +themselves in their comfortable quarters, Washington set out. With +twenty-four hundred men he crossed the Delaware through the floating ice, +his boats managed and rowed by the sturdy fishermen of Marblehead from +Glover's regiment. The crossing was successful, and he landed about nine +miles from Trenton. It was bitter cold, and the sleet and snow drove +sharply in the faces of the troops. Sullivan, marching by the river, +sent word that the arms of his soldiers were wet. "Tell your general," +was Washington's reply to the message, "to use the bayonet, for the +town must be taken." When they reached Trenton it was broad daylight. +Washington, at the front and on the right of the line, swept down the +Pennington road, and, as he drove back the Hessian pickets, he heard the +shout of Sullivan's men as, with Stark leading the van, they charged in +from the river. A company of jaegers and of light dragoons slipped away. +There was some fighting in the streets, but the attack was so strong and +well calculated that resistance was useless. Colonel Rahl, the British +commander, aroused from his revels, was killed as he rushed out to rally +his men, and in a few moments all was over. A thousand prisoners fell +into Washington's hands, and this important detachment of the enemy was +cut off and destroyed. + +The news of Trenton alarmed the British, and Lord Cornwallis with seven +thousand of the best troops started at once from New York in hot pursuit +of the American army. Washington, who had now rallied some five thousand +men, fell back, skirmishing heavily, behind the Assunpink, and when +Cornwallis reached the river he found the American army awaiting him on +the other side of the stream. Night was falling, and Cornwallis, feeling +sure of his prey, decided that he would not risk an assault until the +next morning. Many lessons had not yet taught him that it was a fatal +business to give even twelve hours to the great soldier opposed to him. +During the night Washington, leaving his fires burning and taking +a roundabout road which he had already reconnoitered, marched to +Princeton. There he struck another British detachment. A sharp fight +ensued, the British division was broken and defeated, losing some five +hundred men, and Washington withdrew after this second victory to the +highlands of New Jersey to rest and recruit. + +Frederick the Great is reported to have said that this was the most +brilliant campaign of the century. With a force very much smaller than +that of the enemy, Washington had succeeded in striking the British at +two places with superior forces at each point of contact. At Trenton he +had the benefit of a surprise, but the second time he was between two +hostile armies. He was ready to fight Cornwallis when the latter reached +the Assunpink, trusting to the strength of his position to make up for +his inferiority of numbers. But when Cornwallis gave him the delay of a +night, Washington, seeing the advantage offered by his enemy's mistake, +at once changed his whole plan, and, turning in his tracks, fell upon +the smaller of the two forces opposed to him, wrecking and defeating +it before the outgeneraled Cornwallis could get up with the main army. +Washington had thus shown the highest form of military skill, for +there is nothing that requires so much judgment and knowledge, so much +certainty of movement and quick decision, as to meet a superior enemy at +different points, force the fighting, and at each point to outnumber and +overwhelm him. + +But the military part of this great campaign was not all. Many great +soldiers have not been statesmen, and have failed to realize the +political necessities of the situation. Washington presented the rare +combination of a great soldier and a great statesman as well. He aimed +not only to win battles, but by his operations in the field to influence +the political situation and affect public opinion. The American +Revolution was going to pieces. Unless some decisive victory could be +won immediately, it would have come to an end in the winter of 1776-77. +This Washington knew, and it was this which nerved his arm. The results +justified his forethought. The victories of Trenton and Princeton +restored the failing spirits of the people, and, what was hardly +less important, produced a deep impression in Europe in favor of the +colonies. The country, which had lost heart, and become supine and +almost hostile, revived. The militia again took the field. Outlying +parties of the British were attacked and cut off, and recruits once more +began to come in to the Continental army. The Revolution was saved. That +the English colonies in North America would have broken away from the +mother country sooner or later cannot be doubted, but that particular +Revolution Of 1776 would have failed within a year, had it not been +for Washington. It is not, however, merely the fact that he was a great +soldier and statesman which we should remember. The most memorable thing +to us, and to all men, is the heroic spirit of the man, which rose in +those dreary December days to its greatest height, under conditions +so adverse that they had crushed the hope of every one else. Let it +be remembered, also, that it was not a spirit of desperation or of +ignorance, a reckless daring which did not count the cost. No one knew +better than Washington--no one, indeed, so well--the exact state of +affairs; for he, conspicuously among great men, always looked facts +fearlessly in the face, and never deceived himself. He was under no +illusions, and it was this high quality of mind as much as any other +which enabled him to win victories. + +How he really felt we know from what he wrote to Congress on December +20, when he said: "It may be thought that I am going a good deal out of +the line of my duty to adopt these measures or to advise thus freely. +A character to lose, an estate to forfeit, the inestimable blessing of +liberty at stake, and a life devoted, must be my excuse." These were the +thoughts in his mind when he was planning this masterly campaign. These +same thoughts, we may readily believe, were with him when his boat was +making its way through the ice of the Delaware on Christmas Eve. It was +a very solemn moment, and he was the only man in the darkness of that +night who fully understood what was at stake; but then, as always, he +was calm and serious, with a high courage which nothing could depress. + +The familiar picture of a later day depicts Washington crossing the +Delaware at the head of his soldiers. He is standing up in the boat, +looking forward in the teeth of the storm. It matters little whether the +work of the painter is in exact accordance with the real scene or not. +The daring courage, the high resolve, the stern look forward and onward, +which the artist strove to show in the great leader, are all vitally +true. For we may be sure that the man who led that well-planned but +desperate assault, surrounded by darker conditions than the storms of +nature which gathered about his boat, and carrying with him the fortunes +of his country, was at that moment one of the most heroic figures in +history. + + + + +BENNINGTON + + We are but warriors for the working-day; + Our gayness and our guilt are all besmirch'd + With rainy marching in the painful field; + There's not a piece of feather in our host + (Good argument, I hope, we shall not fly), + And time hath worn us into slovenry. + But, by the mass, our hearts are in the trim, + And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night + They'll be in fresher robes. + --Henry V. + + +The battle of Saratoga is included by Sir Edward Creasy among his +fifteen decisive battles which have, by their result, affected the +history of the world. It is true that the American Revolution was saved +by Washington in the remarkable Princeton and Trenton campaign, but +it is equally true that the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, in the +following autumn, turned the scale decisively in favor of the colonists +by the impression which it made in Europe. It was the destruction of +Burgoyne's army which determined France to aid the Americans against +England. Hence came the French alliance, the French troops, and, what +was of far more importance, a French fleet by which Washington was +finally able to get control of the sea, and in this way cut off +Cornwallis at Yorktown and bring the Revolution to a successful close. +That which led, however, more directly than anything else to the final +surrender at Saratoga was the fight at Bennington, by which Burgoyne's +army was severely crippled and weakened, and by which also, the hardy +militia of the North eastern States were led to turn out in large +numbers and join the army of Gates. + +The English ministry had built great hopes upon Burgoyne's expedition, +and neither expense nor effort had been spared to make it successful. He +was amply furnished with money and supplies as well as with English and +German troops, the latter of whom were bought from their wretched little +princes by the payment of generous subsidies. With an admirably equipped +army of over seven thousand men, and accompanied by a large force of +Indian allies, Burgoyne had started in May, 1777, from Canada. His plan +was to make his way by the lakes to the head waters of the Hudson, and +thence southward along the river to New York, where he was to unite with +Sir William Howe and the main army; in this way cutting the colonies in +two, and separating New England from the rest of the country. + +At first all went well. The Americans were pushed back from their posts +on the lakes, and by the end of July Burgoyne was at the head waters of +the Hudson. He had already sent out a force, under St. Leger, to take +possession of the valley of the Mohawk--an expedition which finally +resulted in the defeat of the British by Herkimer, and the capture +of Fort Stanwix. To aid St. Leger by a diversion, and also to capture +certain magazines which were reported to be at Bennington, Burgoyne sent +another expedition to the eastward. This force consisted of about five +hundred and fifty white troops, chiefly Hessians, and one hundred and +fifty Indians, all under the command of Colonel Baum. They were within +four miles of Bennington on August 13, 1777, and encamped on a hill just +within the boundaries of the State of New York. The news of the advance +of Burgoyne had already roused the people of New York and New Hampshire, +and the legislature of the latter State had ordered General Stark with +a brigade of militia to stop the progress of the enemy on the western +frontier. Stark raised his standard at Charlestown on the Connecticut +River, and the militia poured into his camp. Disregarding Schuyler's +orders to join the main American army, which was falling back before +Burgoyne, Stark, as soon as he heard of the expedition against +Bennington, marched at once to meet Baum. He was within a mile of the +British camp on August 14, and vainly endeavored to draw Baum into +action. On the 15th it rained heavily, and the British forces occupied +the time in intrenching themselves strongly upon the hill which they +held. Baum meantime had already sent to Burgoyne for reinforcements, +and Burgoyne had detached Colonel Breymann with over six hundred regular +troops to go to Baum's assistance. On the 16th the weather cleared, and +Stark, who had been reinforced by militia from western Massachusetts, +determined to attack. + +Early in the day he sent men, under Nichols and Herrick, to get into the +rear of Baum's position. The German officer, ignorant of the country +and of the nature of the warfare in which he was engaged, noticed small +bodies of men in their shirtsleeves, and carrying guns without bayonets, +making their way to the rear of his intrenchments. With singular +stupidity he concluded that they were Tory inhabitants of the country +who were coming to his assistance, and made no attempt to stop them. In +this way Stark was enabled to mass about five hundred men in the rear +of the enemy's position. Distracting the attention of the British by a +feint, Stark also moved about two hundred men to the right, and having +thus brought his forces into position he ordered a general assault, +and the Americans proceeded to storm the British intrenchments on every +side. The fight was a very hot one, and lasted some two hours. The +Indians, at the beginning of the action, slipped away between the +American detachments, but the British and German regulars stubbornly +stood their ground. It is difficult to get at the exact numbers of the +American troops, but Stark seems to have had between fifteen hundred and +two thousand militia. He thus outnumbered his enemy nearly three to +one, but his men were merely country militia, farmers of the New England +States, very imperfectly disciplined, and armed only with muskets and +fowling-pieces, without bayonets or side-arms. On the other side Baum +had the most highly disciplined troops of England and Germany under +his command, well armed and equipped, and he was moreover strongly +intrenched with artillery well placed behind the breastworks. The +advantage in the fight should have been clearly with Baum and his +regulars, who merely had to hold an intrenched hill. + +It was not a battle in which either military strategy or a scientific +management of troops was displayed. All that Stark did was to place his +men so that they could attack the enemy's position on every side, and +then the Americans went at it, firing as they pressed on. The British +and Germans stood their ground stubbornly, while the New England farmers +rushed up to within eight yards of the cannon, and picked off the +men who manned the guns. Stark himself was in the midst of the fray, +fighting with his soldiers, and came out of the conflict so blackened +with powder and smoke that he could hardly be recognized. One desperate +assault succeeded another, while the firing on both sides was so +incessant as to make, in Stark's own words, a "continuous roar." At the +end of two hours the Americans finally swarmed over the intrenchments, +beating down the soldiers with their clubbed muskets. Baum ordered his +infantry with the bayonet and the dragoons with their sabers to force +their way through, but the Americans repulsed this final charge, and +Baum himself fell mortally wounded. All was then over, and the British +forces surrendered. + +It was only just in time, for Breymann, who had taken thirty hours to +march some twenty-four miles, came up just after Baum's men had laid +down their arms. It seemed for a moment as if all that had been gained +might be lost. The Americans, attacked by this fresh foe, wavered; but +Stark rallied his line, and putting in Warner, with one hundred and +fifty Vermont men who had just come on the field, stopped Breymann's +advance, and finally forced him to retreat with a loss of nearly one +half his men. The Americans lost in killed and wounded some seventy men, +and the Germans and British about twice as many, but the Americans took +about seven hundred prisoners, and completely wrecked the forces of Baum +and Breymann. + +The blow was a severe one, and Burgoyne's army never recovered from +it. Not only had he lost nearly a thousand of his best troops, besides +cannon, arms, and munitions of war, but the defeat affected the spirits +of his army and destroyed his hold over his Indian allies, who began +to desert in large numbers. Bennington, in fact, was one of the most +important fights of the Revolution, contributing as it did so largely to +the final surrender of Burgoyne's whole army at Saratoga, and the utter +ruin of the British invasion from the North. It is also interesting as +an extremely gallant bit of fighting. As has been said, there was no +strategy displayed, and there were no military operations of the higher +kind. There stood the enemy strongly intrenched on a hill, and Stark, +calling his undisciplined levies about him, went at them. He himself was +a man of the highest courage and a reckless fighter. It was Stark who +held the railfence at Bunker Hill, and who led the van when Sullivan's +division poured into Trenton from the river road. He was admirably +adapted for the precise work which was necessary at Bennington, and he +and his men fought well their hand-to-hand fight on that hot August day, +and carried the intrenchments filled with regular troops and defended by +artillery. It was a daring feat of arms, as well as a battle which had +an important effect upon the course of history and upon the fate of the +British empire in America. + + + + +KING'S MOUNTAIN + + Our fortress is the good greenwood, + Our tent the cypress tree; + We know the forest round us + As seamen know the sea. + We know its walls of thorny vines, + Its glades of reedy grass, + Its safe and silent islands + Within the dark morass. + --Bryant. + + +The close of the year 1780 was, in the Southern States, the darkest time +of the Revolutionary struggle. Cornwallis had just destroyed the army of +Gates at Camden, and his two formidable lieutenants, Tarlton the light +horseman, and Ferguson the skilled rifleman, had destroyed or scattered +all the smaller bands that had been fighting for the patriot cause. The +red dragoons rode hither and thither, and all through Georgia and +South Carolina none dared lift their heads to oppose them, while North +Carolina lay at the feet of Cornwallis, as he started through it with +his army to march into Virginia. There was no organized force against +him, and the cause of the patriots seemed hopeless. It was at this hour +that the wild backwoodsmen of the western border gathered to strike a +blow for liberty. + +When Cornwallis invaded North Carolina he sent Ferguson into the western +part of the State to crush out any of the patriot forces that might +still be lingering among the foot-hills. Ferguson was a very gallant and +able officer, and a man of much influence with the people wherever +he went, so that he was peculiarly fitted for this scrambling border +warfare. He had under him a battalion of regular troops and several +other battalions of Tory militia, in all eleven or twelve hundred men. +He shattered and drove the small bands of Whigs that were yet in arms, +and finally pushed to the foot of the mountain wall, till he could see +in his front the high ranges of the Great Smokies. Here he learned for +the first time that beyond the mountains there lay a few hamlets of +frontiersmen, whose homes were on what were then called the Western +Waters, that is, the waters which flowed into the Mississippi. To these +he sent word that if they did not prove loyal to the king, he would +cross their mountains, hang their leaders, and burn their villages. + +Beyond the, mountains, in the valleys of the Holston and Watauga, dwelt +men who were stout of heart and mighty in battle, and when they heard +the threats of Ferguson they burned with a sullen flame of anger. +Hitherto the foes against whom they had warred had been not the British, +but the Indian allies of the British, Creek, and Cherokee, and Shawnee. +Now that the army of the king had come to their thresholds, they turned +to meet it as fiercely as they had met his Indian allies. Among the +backwoodsmen of this region there were at that time three men of special +note: Sevier, who afterward became governor of Tennessee; Shelby, who +afterward became governor of Kentucky; and Campbell, the Virginian, who +died in the Revolutionary War. Sevier had given a great barbecue, where +oxen and deer were roasted whole, while horseraces were run, and the +backwoodsmen tried their skill as marksmen and wrestlers. In the midst +of the feasting Shelby appeared, hot with hard riding, to tell of the +approach of Ferguson and the British. Immediately the feasting was +stopped, and the feasters made ready for war. Sevier and Shelby sent +word to Campbell to rouse the men of his own district and come without +delay, and they sent messengers to and fro in their own neighborhood to +summon the settlers from their log huts on the stump-dotted clearings +and the hunters from their smoky cabins in the deep woods. + +The meeting-place was at the Sycamore Shoals. On the appointed day the +backwoodsmen gathered sixteen hundred strong, each man carrying a long +rifle, and mounted on a tough, shaggy horse. They were a wild and fierce +people, accustomed to the chase and to warfare with the Indians. Their +hunting-shirts of buckskin or homespun were girded in by bead-worked +belts, and the trappings of their horses were stained red and yellow. +At the gathering there was a black-frocked Presbyterian preacher, and +before they started he addressed the tall riflemen in words of burning +zeal, urging them to stand stoutly in the battle, and to smite with the +sword of the Lord and of Gideon. Then the army started, the backwoods +colonels riding in front. Two or three days later, word was brought to +Ferguson that the Back-water men had come over the mountains; that the +Indian-fighters of the frontier, leaving unguarded their homes on the +Western Waters, had crossed by wooded and precipitous defiles to the +help of the beaten men of the plains. Ferguson at once fell back, +sending out messengers for help. When he came to King's Mountain, +a wooded, hog-back hill on the border line between North and South +Carolina, he camped on its top, deeming that there he was safe, for he +supposed that before the backwoodsmen could come near enough to attack +him help would reach him. But the backwoods leaders felt as keenly as +he the need of haste, and choosing out nine hundred picked men, the best +warriors of their force, and the best mounted and armed, they made a +long forced march to assail Ferguson before help could come to him. All +night long they rode the dim forest trails and splashed across the fords +of the rushing rivers. All the next day, October 16, they rode, until in +mid-afternoon, just as a heavy shower cleared away, they came in sight +of King's Mountain. The little armies were about equal in numbers. +Ferguson's regulars were armed with the bayonet, and so were some of his +Tory militia, whereas the Americans had not a bayonet among them; but +they were picked men, confident in their skill as riflemen, and they +were so sure of victory that their aim was not only to defeat the +British but to capture their whole force. The backwoods colonels, +counseling together as they rode at the head of the column, decided to +surround the mountain and assail it on all sides. Accordingly the bands +of frontiersmen split one from the other, and soon circled the craggy +hill where Ferguson's forces were encamped. They left their horses in +the rear and immediately began the battle, swarming forward on foot, +their commanders leading the attack. + +The march had been so quick and the attack so sudden that Ferguson had +barely time to marshal his men before the assault was made. Most of +his militia he scattered around the top of the hill to fire down at the +Americans as they came up, while with his regulars and with a few picked +militia he charged with the bayonet in person, first down one side of +the mountain and then down the other. Sevier, Shelby, Campbell, and +the other colonels of the frontiersmen, led each his force of riflemen +straight toward the summit. Each body in turn when charged by the +regulars was forced to give way, for there were no bayonets wherewith to +meet the foe; but the backwoodsmen retreated only so long as the charge +lasted, and the minute that it stopped they stopped too, and came +back ever closer to the ridge and ever with a deadlier fire. Ferguson, +blowing a silver whistle as a signal to his men, led these charges, +sword in hand, on horseback. At last, just as he was once again rallying +his men, the riflemen of Sevier and Shelby crowned the top of the ridge. +The gallant British commander became a fair target for the backwoodsmen, +and as for the last time he led his men against them, seven bullets +entered his body and he fell dead. With his fall resistance ceased. +The regulars and Tories huddled together in a confused mass, while the +exultant Americans rushed forward. A flag of truce was hoisted, and all +the British who were not dead surrendered. + +The victory was complete, and the backwoodsmen at once started to return +to their log hamlets and rough, lonely farms. They could not stay, for +they dared not leave their homes at the mercy of the Indians. They had +rendered a great service; for Cornwallis, when he heard of the disaster +to his trusted lieutenant, abandoned his march northward, and retired to +South Carolina. When he again resumed the offensive, he found his path +barred by stubborn General Greene and his troops of the Continental +line. + + + + +THE STORMING OF STONY POINT + + In their ragged regimentals + Stood the old Continentals, + Yielding not, + When the grenadiers were lunging, + And like hail fell the plunging + Cannon-shot; + When the files + Of the isles + From the smoky night encampment bore the banner of the rampant + Unicorn, + And grummer, grummer, grummer, rolled the roll of the drummer, + Through the morn! + + Then with eyes to the front all, + And with guns horizontal, + Stood our sires; + And the balls whistled deadly, + And in streams flashing redly + Blazed the fires; + As the roar + On the shore + Swept the strong battle-breakers o'er the green-sodded acres + Of the plain; + And louder, louder, louder cracked the black gunpowder, + Cracked amain! + --Guy Humphrey McMaster. + + +One of the heroic figures of the Revolution was Anthony Wayne, +Major-General of the Continental line. With the exception of Washington, +and perhaps Greene, he was the best general the Americans developed in +the contest; and without exception he showed himself to be the hardest +fighter produced on either side. He belongs, as regards this latter +characteristic, with the men like Winfield Scott, Phil Kearney, Hancock, +and Forrest, who reveled in the danger and the actual shock of arms. +Indeed, his eager love of battle, and splendid disregard of peril, +have made many writers forget his really great qualities as a general. +Soldiers are always prompt to recognize the prime virtue of physical +courage, and Wayne's followers christened their daring commander "Mad +Anthony," in loving allusion to his reckless bravery. It is perfectly +true that Wayne had this courage, and that he was a born fighter; +otherwise, he never would have been a great commander. A man who lacks +the fondness for fighting, the eager desire to punish his adversary, +and the willingness to suffer punishment in return, may be a great +organizer, like McClellan, but can never become a great general or win +great victories. There are, however, plenty of men who, though they +possess these fine manly traits, yet lack the head to command an army; +but Wayne had not only the heart and the hand but the head likewise. +No man could dare as greatly as he did without incurring the risk of an +occasional check; but he was an able and bold tactician, a vigilant +and cautious leader, well fitted to bear the terrible burden of +responsibility which rests upon a commander-in-chief. + +Of course, at times he had some rather severe lessons. Quite early in +his career, just after the battle of the Brandywine, when he was set to +watch the enemy, he was surprised at night by the British general Grey, +a redoubtable fighter, who attacked him with the bayonet, killed a +number of his men, and forced him to fall back some distance from the +field of action. This mortifying experience had no effect whatever on +Wayne's courage or self-reliance, but it did give him a valuable lesson +in caution. He showed what he had learned by the skill with which, many +years later, he conducted the famous campaign in which he overthrew the +Northwestern Indians at the Fight of the Fallen Timbers. + +Wayne's favorite weapon was the bayonet, and, like Scott he taught his +troops, until they were able in the shock of hand-to-hand conflict to +overthrow the renowned British infantry, who have always justly prided +themselves on their prowess with cold steel. At the battle of Germantown +it was Wayne's troops who, falling on with the bayonet, drove the +Hessians and the British light infantry, and only retreated under orders +when the attack had failed elsewhere. At Monmouth it was Wayne and his +Continentals who first checked the British advance by repulsing the +bayonet charge of the guards and grenadiers. + +Washington, a true leader of men, was prompt to recognize in Wayne a +soldier to whom could be intrusted any especially difficult enterprise +which called for the exercise alike of intelligence and of cool daring. +In the summer of 1780 he was very anxious to capture the British fort at +Stony Point, which commanded the Hudson. It was impracticable to attack +it by regular siege while the British frigates lay in the river, and the +defenses ere so strong that open assault by daylight was equally out of +the question. Accordingly Washington suggested to Wayne that he try a +night attack. Wayne eagerly caught at the idea. It was exactly the kind +of enterprise in which he delighted. The fort was on a rocky promontory, +surrounded on three sides by water, and on the fourth by a neck of land, +which was for the most part mere morass. It was across this neck of +land that any attacking column had to move. The garrison was six hundred +strong. To deliver the assault Wayne took nine hundred men. The +American army was camped about fourteen miles from Stony Point. One July +afternoon Wayne started, and led his troops in single file along the +narrow rocky roads, reaching the hills on the mainland near the fort +after nightfall. He divided his force into two columns, to advance one +along each side of the neck, detaching two companies of North Carolina +troops to move in between the two columns and make a false attack. +The rest of the force consisted of New Englanders, Pennsylvanians, +and Virginians. Each attacking column was divided into three parts, a +forlorn hope of twenty men leading, which was followed by an advance +guard of one hundred and twenty, and then by the main body. At the time +commanding officers still carried spontoons, and other old-time weapons, +and Wayne, who himself led the right column, directed its movements +spear in hand. It was nearly midnight when the Americans began to press +along the causeways toward the fort. Before they were near the walls +they were discovered, and the British opened a heavy fire of great guns +and musketry, to which the Carolinians, who were advancing between the +two columns, responded in their turn, according to orders; but the men +in the columns were forbidden to fire. Wayne had warned them that their +work must be done with the bayonet, and their muskets were not even +loaded. Moreover, so strict was the discipline that no one was allowed +to leave the ranks, and when one of the men did so an officer promptly +ran him through the body. + +No sooner had the British opened fire than the charging columns broke +into a run, and in a moment the forlorn hopes plunged into the abattis +of fallen timber which the British had constructed just without the +walls. On the left, the forlorn hope was very roughly handled, no less +than seventeen of the twenty men being either killed or wounded, but as +the columns came up both burst through the down timber and swarmed up +the long, sloping embankments of the fort. The British fought well, +cheering loudly as their volley's rang, but the Americans would not be +denied, and pushed silently on to end the contest with the bayonet. A +bullet struck Wayne in the head. He fell, but struggled to his feet and +forward, two of his officers supporting him. A rumor went among the +men that he was dead, but it only impelled them to charge home, more +fiercely than ever. + +With a rush the troops swept to the top of the wall. A fierce but +short fight followed in the intense darkness, which was lit only by the +flashes from the British muskets. The Americans did not fire, trusting +solely to the bayonet. The two columns had kept almost equal pace, and +they swept into the fort from opposite sides at the same moment. The +three men who first got over the walls were all wounded, but one of +them hauled down the British flag. The Americans had the advantage +which always comes from delivering an attack that is thrust home. Their +muskets were unloaded and they could not hesitate; so, running boldly +into close quarters, they fought hand to hand with their foes and +speedily overthrew them. For a moment the bayonets flashed and played; +then the British lines broke as their assailants thronged against them, +and the struggle was over. The Americans had lost a hundred in killed +and wounded. Of the British sixty-three had been slain and very many +wounded, every one of the dead or disabled having suffered from the +bayonet. A curious coincidence was that the number of the dead happened +to be exactly equal to the number of Wayne's men who had been killed in +the night attack by the English general, Grey. + +There was great rejoicing among the Americans over the successful issue +of the attack. Wayne speedily recovered from his wound, and in the joy +of his victory it weighed but slightly. He had performed a most notable +feat. No night attack of the kind was ever delivered with greater +boldness, skill, and success. When the Revolutionary War broke out the +American armies were composed merely of armed yeomen, stalwart men, +of good courage, and fairly proficient in the use of their weapons, but +entirely without the training which alone could enable them to withstand +the attack of the British regulars in the open, or to deliver an attack +themselves. Washington's victory at Trenton was the first encounter +which showed that the Americans were to be feared when they took the +offensive. With the exception of the battle of Trenton, and perhaps of +Greene's fight at Eutaw Springs, Wayne's feat was the most successful +illustration of daring and victorious attack by an American army that +occurred during the war; and, unlike Greene, who was only able to fight +a drawn battle, Wayne's triumph was complete. At Monmouth he had shown, +as he afterward showed against Cornwallis, that his troops could meet +the renowned British regulars on even terms in the open. At Stony Point +he showed that he could lead them to a triumphant assault with the +bayonet against regulars who held a fortified place of strength. No +American commander has ever displayed greater energy and daring, a +more resolute courage, or readier resource, than the chief of the +hard-fighting Revolutionary generals, Mad Anthony Wayne. + + + + +GOUVERNEUR MORRIS + +GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. PARIS. AUGUST 10, 1792. + + Justum et tenacem propositi virum + Non civium ardor prava jubentium, + Non vultus instantis tyranni + Mente quatit solida, neque Auster + Dux inquieti turbidus Hadriae, + Nec fulminantis magna manus Jovis: + Si fractus illabatur orbis, + Impavidum ferient ruinae. + --Hor., Lib. III. Carm. III. + + +The 10th of August, 1792, was one of the most memorable days of the +French Revolution. It was the day on which the French monarchy received +its death-blow, and was accompanied by fighting and bloodshed which +filled Paris with terror. In the morning before daybreak the tocsin had +sounded, and not long after the mob of Paris, headed by the Marseillais, +"Six hundred men not afraid to die," who had been summoned there by +Barbaroux, were marching upon the Tuileries. The king, or rather the +queen, had at last determined to make a stand and to defend the throne. +The Swiss Guards were there at the palace, well posted to protect the +inner court; and there, too, were the National Guards, who were expected +to uphold the government and guard the king. The tide of people poured +on through the streets, gathering strength as they went the Marseillais, +the armed bands, the Sections, and a vast floating mob. The crowd drew +nearer and nearer, but the squadrons of the National Guards, who were to +check the advance, did not stir. It is not apparent, indeed, that they +made any resistance, and the king and his family at eight o'clock lost +heart and deserted the Tuileries, to take refuge with the National +Convention. The multitude then passed into the court of the Carrousel, +unchecked by the National Guards, and were face to face with the Swiss. +Deserted by their king, the Swiss knew not how to act, but still stood +their ground. There was some parleying, and at last the Marseillais +fired a cannon. Then the Swiss fired. They were disciplined troops, +and their fire was effective. There was a heavy slaughter and the +mob recoiled, leaving their cannon, which the Swiss seized. The +Revolutionists, however, returned to the charge, and the fight raged on +both sides, the Swiss holding their ground firmly. + +Suddenly, from the legislative hall, came an order from the king to +the Swiss to cease firing. It was their death warrant. Paralyzed by +the order, they knew not what to do. The mob poured in, and most of the +gallant Swiss were slaughtered where they stood. Others escaped from the +Tuileries only to meet their death in the street. The palace was sacked +and the raging mob was in possession of the city. No man's life was +safe, least of all those who were known to be friends of the king, who +were nobles, or who had any connection with the court. Some of these +people whose lives were thus in peril at the hands of the bloodstained +and furious mob had been the allies of the United States, and had fought +under Washington in the war for American independence. In their anguish +and distress their thoughts recurred to the country which they had +served in its hour of trial, three thousand miles away. They sought the +legation of the United States and turned to the American minister for +protection. + +Such an exercise of humanity at that moment was not a duty that any man +craved. In those terrible days in Paris, the representatives of foreign +governments were hardly safer than any one else. Many of the ambassadors +and ministers had already left the country, and others were even then +abandoning their posts, which it seemed impossible to hold at such a +time. But the American minister stood his ground. Gouverneur Morris +was not a man to shrink from what he knew to be his duty. He had been +a leading patriot in our revolution; he had served in the Continental +Congress, and with Robert Morris in the difficult work of the Treasury, +when all our resources seemed to be at their lowest ebb. In 1788 he had +gone abroad on private business, and had been much in Paris, where +he had witnessed the beginning of the French Revolution and had been +consulted by men on both sides. In 1790, by Washington's direction, he +had gone to London and had consulted the ministry there as to whether +they would receive an American minister. Thence he had returned to +Paris, and at the beginning Of 1792 Washington appointed him minister of +the United States to France. + +As an American, Morris's sympathies had run strongly in favor of the +movement to relieve France from the despotism under which she was +sinking, and to give her a better and more liberal government. But, +as the Revolution progressed, he became outraged and disgusted by +the methods employed. He felt a profound contempt for both sides. The +inability of those who were conducting the Revolution to carry out +intelligent plans or maintain order, and the feebleness of the king and +his advisers, were alike odious to the man with American conceptions +of ordered liberty. He was especially revolted by the bloodshed and +cruelty, constantly gathering in strength, which were displayed by +the revolutionists, and he had gone to the very verge of diplomatic +propriety in advising the ministers of the king in regard to the +policies to be pursued, and, as he foresaw what was coming, in urging +the king himself to leave France. All his efforts and all his advice, +like those of other intelligent men who kept their heads during the +whirl of the Revolution, were alike vain. + +On August 10 the gathering storm broke with full force, and the populace +rose in arms to sweep away the tottering throne. Then it was that these +people, fleeing for their lives, came to the representative of the +country for which many of them had fought, and on both public and +private grounds besought the protection of the American minister. Let me +tell what happened in the words of an eye-witness, an American gentleman +who was in Paris at that time, and who published the following account +of his experiences: + +On the ever memorable 10th of August, after viewing the destruction of +the Royal Swiss Guards and the dispersion of the Paris militia by a band +of foreign and native incendiaries, the writer thought it his duty +to visit the Minister, who had not been out of his hotel since the +insurrection began, and, as was to be expected, would be anxious to +learn what was passing without doors. He was surrounded by the old Count +d'Estaing, and about a dozen other persons of distinction, of different +sexes, who had, from their connection with the United States, been his +most intimate acquaintances at Paris, and who had taken refuge with +him for protection from the bloodhounds which, in the forms of men and +women, were prowling in the streets at the time. All was silence here, +except that silence was occasionally interrupted by the crying of +the women and children. As I retired, the Minister took me aside, and +observed: "I have no doubt, sir, but there are persons on the watch who +would find fault with my conduct as Minister in receiving and protecting +these people, but I call on you to witness the declaration which I now +make, and that is that they were not invited to my house, but came of +their own accord. Whether my house will be a protection to them or to +me, God only knows, but I will not turn them out of it, let what will +happen to me," to which he added, "you see, sir, they are all persons to +whom our country is more or less indebted, and it would be inhuman to +force them into the hands of the assassins, had they no such claim +upon me." + +Nothing can be added to this simple account, and no American can read +it or repeat the words of Mr. Morris without feeling even now, a hundred +years after the event, a glow of pride that such words were uttered at +such a time by the man who represented the United States. + +After August 10, when matters in Paris became still worse, Mr. Morris +still stayed at his post. Let me give, in his own words, what he did and +his reasons for it: + +The different ambassadors and ministers are all taking their flight, +and if I stay I shall be alone. I mean, however, to stay, unless +circumstances should command me away, because, in the admitted case that +my letters of credence are to the monarchy, and not to the Republic of +France, it becomes a matter of indifference whether I remain in this +country or go to England during the time which may be needful to obtain +your orders, or to produce a settlement of affairs here. Going hence, +however, would look like taking part against the late Revolution, and I +am not only unauthorized in this respect, but I am bound to suppose that +if the great majority of the nation adhere to the new form, the United +States will approve thereof; because, in the first place, we have no +right to prescribe to this country the government they shall adopt, +and next, because the basis of our own Constitution is the indefeasible +right of the people to establish it. + +Among those who are leaving Paris is the Venetian ambassador. He was +furnished with passports from the Office of Foreign Affairs, but he +was, nevertheless, stopped at the barrier, was conducted to the Hotel +de Ville, was there questioned for hours, and his carriages examined and +searched. This violation of the rights of ambassadors could not fail, as +you may suppose, to make an impression. It has been broadly hinted to me +that the honor of my country and my own require that I should go away. +But I am of a different opinion, and rather think that those who give +such hints are somewhat influenced by fear. It is true that the position +is not without danger, but I presume that when the President did me the +honor of naming me to this embassy, it was not for my personal pleasure +or safety, but to promote the interests of my country. These, therefore, +I shall continue to pursue to the best of my judgment, and as to +consequences, they are in the hand of God. + +He remained there until his successor arrived. When all others fled, he +was faithful, and such conduct should never be forgotten. Mr. Morris +not only risked his life, but he took a heavy responsibility, and laid +himself open to severe attack for having protected defenseless people +against the assaults of the mob. But his courageous humanity is +something which should ever be remembered, and ought always to be +characteristic of the men who represent the United States in foreign +countries. When we recall the French Revolution, it is cheering to think +of that fearless figure of the American minister, standing firm and calm +in the midst of those awful scenes, with sacked palaces, slaughtered +soldiers, and a bloodstained mob about him, regardless of danger to +himself, determined to do his duty to his country, and to those to whom +his country was indebted. + + + + +THE BURNING OF THE "PHILADELPHIA" + + And say besides, that in Aleppo once, + Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk + Beat a Venetian and traduced the state, + I took by the throat the circumcised dog + And smote him, thus. + --Othello. + + +It is difficult to conceive that there ever was a time when the United +States paid a money tribute to anybody. It is even more difficult to +imagine the United States paying blackmail to a set of small piratical +tribes on the coast of Africa. Yet this is precisely what we once did +with the Barbary powers, as they were called the States of Morocco, +Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers, lying along the northern coast of Africa. +The only excuse to be made for such action was that we merely followed +the example of Christendom. The civilized people of the world were then +in the habit of paying sums of money to these miserable pirates, +in order to secure immunity for their merchant vessels in the +Mediterranean. For this purpose Congress appropriated money, and +treaties were made by the President and ratified by the Senate. On one +occasion, at least, Congress actually revoked the authorization of some +new ships for the navy, and appropriated more money than was required +to build the men-of-war in order to buy off the Barbary powers. The fund +for this disgraceful purpose was known as the "Mediterranean fund," and +was intrusted to the Secretary of State to be disbursed by him in his +discretion. After we had our brush with France, however, in 1798, and +after Truxtun's brilliant victory over the French frigate L'Insurgente +in the following year, it occurred to our government that perhaps +there was a more direct as well as a more manly way of dealing with the +Barbary pirates than by feebly paying them tribute, and in 1801 a small +squadron, under Commodore Dale, proceeded to the Mediterranean. + +At the same time events occurred which showed strikingly the absurdity +as well as the weakness of this policy of paying blackmail to pirates. +The Bashaw of Tripoli, complaining that we had given more money to +some of the Algerian ministers than we had to him, and also that we had +presented Algiers with a frigate, declared war upon us, and cut down the +flag-staff in front of the residence of the American consul. At the same +time, and for the same reason, Morocco and Tunis began to grumble at the +treatment which they had received. The fact was that, with nations as +with individuals, when the payment of blackmail is once begun there is +no end to it. The appearance, however, of our little squadron in the +Mediterranean showed at once the superiority of a policy of force over +one of cowardly submission. Morocco and Tunis immediately stopped their +grumbling and came to terms with the United States, and this left us +free to deal with Tripoli. + +Commodore Dale had sailed before the declaration of war by Tripoli was +known, and he was therefore hampered by his orders, which permitted +him only to protect our commerce, and which forbade actual hostilities. +Nevertheless, even under these limited orders, the Enterprise, of +twelve guns, commanded by Lieutenant Sterrett, fought an action with the +Tripolitan ship Tripoli, of fourteen guns. The engagement lasted three +hours, when the Tripoli struck, having lost her mizzenmast, and with +twenty of her crew killed and thirty wounded. Sterrett, having no orders +to make captures, threw all the guns and ammunition of the Tripoli +overboard, cut away her remaining masts, and left her with only one spar +and a single sail to drift back to Tripoli, as a hint to the Bashaw of +the new American policy. + +In 1803 the command of our fleet in the Mediterranean was taken by +Commodore Preble, who had just succeeded in forcing satisfaction +from Morocco for an attack made upon our merchantmen by a vessel from +Tangier. He also proclaimed a blockade of Tripoli and was preparing +to enforce it when the news reached him that the frigate Philadelphia, +forty-four guns, commanded by Captain Bainbridge, and one of the best +ships in our navy, had gone upon a reef in the harbor of Tripoli, while +pursuing a vessel there, and had been surrounded and captured, with all +her crew, by the Tripolitan gunboats, when she was entirely helpless +either to fight or sail. This was a very serious blow to our navy and to +our operations against Tripoli. It not only weakened our forces, but it +was also a great help to the enemy. The Tripolitans got the Philadelphia +off the rocks, towed her into the harbor, and anchored her close under +the guns of their forts. They also replaced her batteries, and prepared +to make her ready for sea, where she would have been a most formidable +danger to our shipping. + +Under these circumstances Stephen Decatur, a young lieutenant in command +of the Enterprise, offered to Commodore Preble to go into the harbor and +destroy the Philadelphia. Some delay ensued, as our squadron was driven +by severe gales from the Tripolitan coast; but at last, in January, +1804, Preble gave orders to Decatur to undertake the work for which +he had volunteered. A small vessel known as a ketch had been recently +captured from the Tripolitans by Decatur, and this prize was now named +the Intrepid, and assigned to him for the work he had in hand. He took +seventy men from his own ship, the Enterprise, and put them on the +Intrepid, and then, accompanied by Lieutenant Stewart in the Siren, who +was to support him, he set sail for Tripoli. He and his crew were very +much cramped as well as badly fed on the little vessel which had been +given to them, but they succeeded, nevertheless, in reaching Tripoli in +safety, accompanied by the Siren. + +For nearly a week they were unable to approach the harbor, owing to +severe gales which threatened the loss of their vessel; but on February +16 the weather moderated and Decatur determined to go in. It is well to +recall, briefly, the extreme peril of the attack which he was about to +make. The Philadelphia, with forty guns mounted, double-shotted, and +ready for firing, and manned by a full complement of men, was moored +within half a gunshot of the Bashaw's castle, the mole and crown +batteries, and within range of ten other batteries, mounting, +altogether, one hundred and fifteen guns. Some Tripolitan cruisers, two +galleys, and nineteen gunboats also lay between the Philadelphia and the +shore. Into the midst of this powerful armament Decatur had to go with +his little vessel of sixty tons, carrying four small guns and having a +crew of seventy-five men. + +The Americans, however, were entirely undismayed by the odds against +them, and at seven o'clock Decatur went into the harbor between the +reef and shoal which formed its mouth. He steered on steadily toward the +Philadelphia, the breeze getting constantly lighter, and by half-past +nine was within two hundred yards of the frigate. As they approached +Decatur stood at the helm with the pilot, only two or three men showing +on deck and the rest of the crew lying hidden under the bulwarks. In +this way he drifted to within nearly twenty yards of the Philadelphia. +The suspicions of the Tripolitans, however, were not aroused, and when +they hailed the Intrepid, the pilot answered that they had lost their +anchors in a gale, and asked that they might run a warp to the frigate +and ride by her. While the talk went on the Intrepid's boat shoved off +with the rope, and pulling to the fore-chains of the Philadelphia, made +the line fast. A few of the crew then began to haul on the lines, and +thus the Intrepid was drawn gradually toward the frigate. + +The suspicions of the Tripolitans were now at last awakened. They raised +the cry of "Americanos!" and ordered off the Intrepid, but it was too +late. As the vessels came in contact, Decatur sprang up the main chains +of the Philadelphia, calling out the order to board. He was rapidly +followed by his officers and men, and as they swarmed over the rails and +came upon the deck, the Tripolitan crew gathered, panic-stricken, in a +confused mass on the forecastle. Decatur waited a moment until his men +were behind him, and then, placing himself at their head, drew his sword +and rushed upon the Tripolitans. There was a very short struggle, and +the Tripolitans, crowded together, terrified and surprised, were cut +down or driven overboard. In five minutes the ship was cleared of the +enemy. + +Decatur would have liked to have taken the Philadelphia out of the +harbor, but that was impossible. He therefore gave orders to burn the +ship, and his men, who had been thoroughly instructed in what they were +to do, dispersed into all parts of the frigate with the combustibles +which had been prepared, and in a few minutes, so well and quickly was +the work done, the flames broke out in all parts of the Philadelphia. As +soon as this was effected the order was given to return to the Intrepid. +Without confusion the men obeyed. It was a moment of great danger, for +fire was breaking out on all sides, and the Intrepid herself, filled +as she was with powder and combustibles, was in great peril of sudden +destruction. The rapidity of Decatur's movements, however, saved +everything. The cables were cut, the sweeps got out, and the Intrepid +drew rapidly away from the burning frigate. It was a magnificent +sight as the flames burst out over the Philadephia and ran rapidly and +fiercely up the masts and rigging. As her guns became heated they were +discharged, one battery pouring its shots into the town. Finally the +cables parted, and then the Philadelphia, a mass of flames, drifted +across the harbor, and blew up. Meantime the batteries of the shipping +and the castle had been turned upon the Intrepid, but although the +shot struck all around her, she escaped successfully with only one shot +through her mainsail, and, joining the Siren, bore away. + +This successful attack was carried through by the cool courage of +Decatur and the admirable discipline of his men. The hazard was very +great, the odds were very heavy, and everything depended on the nerve +with which the attack was made and the completeness of the surprise. +Nothing miscarried, and no success could have been more complete. +Nelson, at that time in the Mediterranean, and the best judge of a naval +exploit as well as the greatest naval commander who has ever lived, +pronounced it "the most bold and daring act of the age." We meet no +single feat exactly like it in our own naval history, brilliant as that +has been, until we come to Cushing's destruction of the Albemarle in +the war of the rebellion. In the years that have elapsed, and among the +great events that have occurred since that time, Decatur's burning of +the Philadephia has been well-nigh forgotten; but it is one of those +feats of arms which illustrate the high courage of American seamen, and +which ought always to be remembered. + + + + +THE CRUISE OF THE "WASP" + + A crash as when some swollen cloud + Cracks o'er the tangled trees! + With side to side, and spar to spar, + Whose smoking decks are these? + I know St. George's blood-red cross, + Thou mistress of the seas, + But what is she whose streaming bars + Roll out before the breeze? + + Ah, well her iron ribs are knit, + Whose thunders strive to quell + The bellowing throats, the blazing lips, + That pealed the Armada's knell! + The mist was cleared,--a wreath of stars + Rose o'er the crimsoned swell, + And, wavering from its haughty peak, + The cross of England fell! + --Holmes. + + +In the war of 1812 the little American navy, including only a dozen +frigates and sloops of war, won a series of victories against the +English, the hitherto undoubted masters of the sea, that attracted an +attention altogether out of proportion to the force of the combatants +or the actual damage done. For one hundred and fifty years the English +ships of war had failed to find fit rivals in those of any other +European power, although they had been matched against each in turn; and +when the unknown navy of the new nation growing up across the Atlantic +did what no European navy had ever been able to do, not only the English +and Americans, but the people of Continental Europe as well, regarded +the feat as important out of all proportion to the material aspects of +the case. The Americans first proved that the English could be beaten +at their own game on the sea. They did what the huge fleets of France, +Spain, and Holland had failed to do, and the great modern writers +on naval warfare in Continental Europe--men like Jurien de la +Graviere--have paid the same attention to these contests of frigates and +sloops that they give to whole fleet actions of other wars. + +Among the famous ships of the Americans in this war were two named the +Wasp. The first was an eighteen-gun ship-sloop, which at the very +outset of the war captured a British brig-sloop of twenty guns, after +an engagement in which the British fought with great gallantry, but were +knocked to Pieces, while the Americans escaped comparatively unscathed. +Immediately afterward a British seventy-four captured the victor. In +memory of her the Americans gave the same name to one of the new sloops +they were building. These sloops were stoutly made, speedy vessels which +in strength and swiftness compared favorably with any ships of their +class in any other navy of the day, for the American shipwrights were +already as famous as the American gunners and seamen. The new Wasp, like +her sister ships, carried twenty-two guns and a crew of one hundred +and seventy men, and was ship-rigged. Twenty of her guns were 32-pound +carronades, while for bow-chasers she had two "long Toms." It was in +the year 1814 that the Wasp sailed from the United States to prey on the +navy and commerce of Great Britain. Her commander was a gallant South +Carolinian named Captain Johnson Blakeley. Her crew were nearly all +native Americans, and were an exceptionally fine set of men. Instead of +staying near the American coasts or of sailing the high seas, the Wasp +at once headed boldly for the English Channel, to carry the war to the +very doors of the enemy. + +At that time the English fleets had destroyed the navies of every other +power of Europe, and had obtained such complete supremacy over the +French that the French fleets were kept in port. Off these ports lay the +great squadrons of the English ships of the line, never, in gale or +in calm, relaxing their watch upon the rival war-ships of the French +emperor. So close was the blockade of the French ports, and so hopeless +were the French of making headway in battle with their antagonists, +that not only the great French three-deckers and two-deckers, but their +frigates and sloops as well, lay harmless in their harbors, and the +English ships patroled the seas unchecked in every direction. A few +French privateers still slipped out now and then, and the far bolder and +more formidable American privateersmen drove hither and thither across +the ocean in their swift schooners and brigantines, and harried the +English commerce without mercy. + +The Wasp proceeded at once to cruise in the English Channel and off +the coasts of England, France, and Spain. Here the water was traversed +continually by English fleets and squadrons and single ships of war, +which were sometimes covoying detachments of troops for Wellington's +Peninsular army, sometimes guarding fleets of merchant vessels bound +homeward, and sometimes merely cruising for foes. It was this spot, +right in the teeth of the British naval power, that the Wasp chose for +her cruising ground. Hither and thither she sailed through the narrow +seas, capturing and destroying the merchantmen, and by the seamanship +of her crew and the skill and vigilance of her commander, escaping the +pursuit of frigate and ship of the line. Before she had been long on the +ground, one June morning, while in chase of a couple of merchant ships, +she spied a sloop of war, the British brig Reindeer, of eighteen guns +and a hundred and twenty men. The Reindeer was a weaker ship than the +Wasp, her guns were lighter, and her men fewer; but her commander, +Captain Manners, was one of the most gallant men in the splendid British +navy, and he promptly took up the gage of battle which the Wasp threw +down. + +The day was calm and nearly still; only a light wind stirred across the +sea. At one o'clock the Wasp's drum beat to quarters, and the sailors +and marines gathered at their appointed posts. The drum of the Reindeer +responded to the challenge, and with her sails reduced to fighting trim, +her guns run out, and every man ready, she came down upon the Yankee +ship. On her forecastle she had rigged a light carronade, and coming up +from behind, she five times discharged this pointblank into the American +sloop; then in the light air the latter luffed round, firing her guns +as they bore, and the two ships engaged yard-arm to yard-arm. The guns +leaped and thundered as the grimy gunners hurled them out to fire and +back again to load, working like demons. For a few minutes the cannonade +was tremendous, and the men in the tops could hardly see the decks for +the wreck of flying splinters. Then the vessels ground together, and +through the open ports the rival gunners hewed, hacked, and thrust at +one another, while the black smoke curled up from between the hulls. The +English were suffering terribly. Captain Manners himself was wounded, +and realizing that he was doomed to defeat unless by some desperate +effort he could avert it, he gave the signal to board. At the call the +boarders gathered, naked to the waist, black with powder and spattered +with blood, cutlas and pistol in hand. But the Americans were ready. +Their marines were drawn up on deck, the pikemen stood behind the +bulwarks, and the officers watched, cool and alert, every movement of +the foe. Then the British sea-dogs tumbled aboard, only to perish by +shot or steel. The combatants slashed and stabbed with savage fury, and +the assailants were driven back. Manners sprang to their head to lead +them again himself, when a ball fired by one of the sailors in the +American tops crashed through his skull, and he fell, sword in hand, +with his face to the foe, dying as honorable a death as ever a brave man +died in fighting against odds for the flag of his country. As he fell +the American officers passed the word to board. With wild cheers the +fighting sailormen sprang forward, sweeping the wreck of the British +force before them, and in a minute the Reindeer was in their possession. +All of her officers, and nearly two thirds of the crew, were killed or +wounded; but they had proved themselves as skilful as they were brave, +and twenty-six of the Americans had been killed or wounded. + +The Wasp set fire to her prize, and after retiring to a French port to +refit, came out again to cruise. For some time she met no antagonist +of her own size with which to wage war, and she had to exercise the +sharpest vigilance to escape capture. Late one September afternoon, when +she could see ships of war all around her, she selected one which was +isolated from the others, and decided to run alongside her and try to +sink her after nightfall. Accordingly she set her sails in pursuit, and +drew steadily toward her antagonist, a big eighteen-gun brig, the Avon, +a ship more powerful than the Reindeer. The Avon kept signaling to two +other British war vessels which were in sight--one an eighteen-gun brig +and the other a twenty-gun ship; they were so close that the Wasp +was afraid they would interfere before the combat could be ended. +Nevertheless, Blakeley persevered, and made his attack with equal skill +and daring. It was after dark when he ran alongside his opponent, +and they began forthwith to exchange furious broadsides. As the ships +plunged and wallowed in the seas, the Americans could see the clusters +of topmen in the rigging of their opponent, but they knew nothing of +the vessel's name or of her force, save only so far as they felt it. The +firing was fast and furious, but the British shot with bad aim, while +the skilled American gunners hulled their opponent at almost every +discharge. In a very few minutes the Avon was in a sinking condition, +and she struck her flag and cried for quarter, having lost forty or +fifty men, while but three of the Americans had fallen. Before the Wasp +could take possession of her opponent, however, the two war vessels +to which the Avon had been signaling came up. One of them fired at the +Wasp, and as the latter could not fight two new foes, she ran off easily +before the wind. Neither of her new antagonists followed her, devoting +themselves to picking up the crew of the sinking Avon. + + It would be hard to find a braver feat more skilfully performed +than this; for Captain Blakeley, with hostile foes all round him, had +closed with and sunk one antagonist not greatly his inferior in force, +suffering hardly any loss himself, while two of her friends were coming +to her help. + +Both before and after this the Wasp cruised hither and thither making +prizes. Once she came across a convoy of ships bearing arms and +munitions to Wellington's army, under the care of a great two-decker. +Hovering about, the swift sloop evaded the two-decker's movements, and +actually cut out and captured one of the transports she was guarding, +making her escape unharmed. Then she sailed for the high seas. She made +several other prizes, and on October 9 spoke a Swedish brig. + +This was the last that was ever heard of the gallant Wasp. She never +again appeared, and no trace of any of those aboard her was ever found. +Whether she was wrecked on some desert coast, whether she foundered +in some furious gale, or what befell her none ever knew. All that is +certain is that she perished, and that all on board her met death in +some one of the myriad forms in which it must always be faced by those +who go down to the sea in ships; and when she sank there sank one of the +most gallant ships of the American navy, with as brave a captain and +crew as ever sailed from any port of the New World. + + + + +THE "GENERAL ARMSTRONG" PRIVATEER + + We have fought such a fight for a day and a night + As may never be fought again! + We have won great glory, my men! + And a day less or more + At sea or ashore, + We die--does it matter when? + --Tennyson. + + +In the revolution, and again in the war of 1812, the seas were covered +by swift-sailing American privateers, which preyed on the British +trade. The hardy seamen of the New England coast, and of New York, +Philadelphia, and Baltimore, turned readily from their adventurous +careers in the whalers that followed the giants of the ocean in every +sea and every clime, and from trading voyages to the uttermost parts +of the earth, to go into the business of privateering, which was more +remunerative, and not so very much more dangerous, than their ordinary +pursuits. By the end of the war of 1812, in particular, the American +privateers had won for themselves a formidable position on the ocean. +The schooners, brigs, and brigantines in which the privateersmen sailed +were beautifully modeled, and were among the fastest craft afloat. They +were usually armed with one heavy gun, the "long Tom," as it was called, +arranged on a pivot forward or amidships, and with a few lighter pieces +of cannon. They carried strong crews of well-armed men, and their +commanders were veteran seamen, used to brave every danger from the +elements or from man. So boldly did they prey on the British commerce, +that they infested even the Irish Sea and the British Channel, and +increased many times the rate of insurance on vessels passing across +those waters. They also often did battle with the regular men-of-war of +the British, being favorite objects for attack by cutting-out parties +from the British frigates and ships of the line, and also frequently +encountering in fight the smaller sloops-of-war. Usually, in these +contests, the privateersmen were worsted, for they had not the training +which is obtained only in a regular service, and they were in no way to +be compared to the little fleet of regular vessels which in this same +war so gloriously upheld the honor of the American flag. Nevertheless, +here and there a privateer commanded by an exceptionally brave and able +captain, and manned by an unusually well-trained crew, performed some +feat of arms which deserves to rank with anything ever performed by the +regular navy. Such a feat was the defense of the brig General Armstrong, +in the Portuguese port of Fayal, of the Azores, against an overwhelming +British force. + +The General Armstrong hailed from New York, and her captain was named +Reid. She had a crew of ninety men, and was armed with one heavy 32 +pounder and six lighter guns. In December, 1814, she was lying in Fayal, +a neutral port, when four British war-vessels, a ship of the line, a +frigate and two brigs, hove into sight, and anchored off the mouth of +the harbor. The port was neutral, but Portugal was friendly to England, +and Reid knew well that the British would pay no respect to the +neutrality laws if they thought that at the cost of their violation they +could destroy the privateer. He immediately made every preparation to +resist an attack, The privateer was anchored close to the shore. The +boarding-nettings were got ready, and were stretched to booms thrust +outward from the brig's side, so as to check the boarders as they tried +to climb over the bulwarks. The guns were loaded and cast loose, and the +men went to quarters armed with muskets, boarding-pikes, and cutlases. + +On their side the British made ready to carry the privateer by boarding. +The shoals rendered it impossible for the heavy ships to approach, +and the lack of wind and the baffling currents also interfered for the +moment with the movements of the sloops-of-war. Accordingly recourse was +had to a cutting-out party, always a favorite device with the British +seamen of that age, who were accustomed to carry French frigates by +boarding, and to capture in their boats the heavy privateers and armed +merchantmen, as well as the lighter war-vessels of France and Spain. + +The British first attempted to get possession of the brig by surprise, +sending out but four boats. These worked down near to the brig, under +pretense of sounding, trying to get close enough to make a rush and +board her. The privateersmen were on their guard, and warned the boats +off, and after the warning had been repeated once or twice unheeded, +they fired into them, killing and wounding several men. Upon this the +boats promptly returned to the ships. + +This first check greatly irritated the British captains, and they +decided to repeat the experiment that night with a force which would +render resistance vain. Accordingly, after it became dark, a dozen +boats were sent from the liner and the frigate, manned by four hundred +stalwart British seamen, and commanded by the captain of one of the +brigs of war. Through the night they rowed straight toward the little +privateer lying dark and motionless in the gloom. As before, the +privateersmen were ready for their foe, and when they came within range +opened fire upon them, first with the long gun and then with the lighter +cannon; but the British rowed on with steady strokes, for they were +seamen accustomed to victory over every European foe, and danger had no +terrors for them. With fierce hurrahs they dashed through the shot-riven +smoke and grappled the brig; and the boarders rose, cutlas in hand, +ready to spring over the bulwarks. A terrible struggle followed. The +British hacked at the boarding-nets and strove to force their way +through to the decks of the privateer, while the Americans stabbed +the assailants with their long pikes and slashed at them with their +cutlases. The darkness was lit by the flashes of flame from the muskets +and the cannon, and the air was rent by the oaths and shouts of the +combatants, the heavy trampling on the decks, the groans of the wounded, +the din of weapon meeting weapon, and all the savage tumult of +a hand-to-hand fight. At the bow the British burst through the +boarding-netting, and forced their way to the deck, killing or wounding +all three of the lieutenants of the privateer; but when this had +happened the boats had elsewhere been beaten back, and Reid, rallying +his grim sea-dogs, led them forward with a rush, and the boarding party +were all killed or tumbled into the sea. This put an end to the fight. +In some of the boats none but killed and wounded men were left. The +others drew slowly off, like crippled wild-fowl, and disappeared in the +darkness toward the British squadron. Half of the attacking force had +been killed or wounded, while of the Americans but nine had fallen. + +The British commodore and all his officers were maddened with anger and +shame over the repulse, and were bent upon destroying the privateer +at all costs. Next day, after much exertion, one of the war-brigs was +warped into position to attack the American, but she first took her +station at long range, so that her carronades were not as effective as +the pivot gun of the privateer; and so well was the latter handled, that +the British brig was repeatedly hulled, and finally was actually driven +off. A second attempt was made, however, and this time the sloop-of-war +got so close that she could use her heavy carronades, which put the +privateer completely at her mercy. Then Captain Reid abandoned his brig +and sank her, first carrying ashore the guns, and marched inland with +his men. They were not further molested; and, if they had lost their +brig, they had at least made their foes pay dear for her destruction, +for the British had lost twice as many men as there were in the whole +hard-fighting crew of the American privateer. + + + + +THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS + + The heavy fog of morning + Still hid the plain from sight, + When came a thread of scarlet + Marked faintly in the white. + We fired a single cannon, + And as its thunders rolled, + The mist before us lifted + In many a heavy fold. + The mist before us lifted, + And in their bravery fine + Came rushing to their ruin + The fearless British line. + --Thomas Dunn English. + + +When, in 1814, Napoleon was overthrown and forced to retire to Elba, the +British troops that had followed Wellington into southern France +were left free for use against the Americans. A great expedition was +organized to attack and capture New Orleans, and at its head was placed +General Pakenham, the brilliant commander of the column that delivered +the fatal blow at Salamanca. In December a fleet of British war-ships +and transports, carrying thousands of victorious veterans from the +Peninsula, and manned by sailors who had grown old in a quarter of a +century's triumphant ocean warfare, anchored off the broad lagoons of +the Mississippi delta. The few American gunboats were carried after a +desperate hand-to-hand struggle, the troops were landed, and on December +23 the advance-guard of two thousand men reached the banks of the +Mississippi, but ten miles below New Orleans, and there camped for the +night. It seemed as if nothing could save the Creole City from foes who +had shown, in the storming of many a Spanish walled town, that they were +as ruthless in victory as they were terrible in battle. There were +no forts to protect the place, and the militia were ill armed and ill +trained. But the hour found the man. On the afternoon of the very day +when the British reached the banks of the river the vanguard of Andrew +Jackson's Tennesseeans marched into New Orleans. Clad in hunting-shirts +of buckskin or homespun, wearing wolfskin and coonskin caps, and +carrying their long rifles on their shoulders, the wild soldiery of the +backwoods tramped into the little French town. They were tall men, with +sinewy frames and piercing eyes. Under "Old Hickory's" lead they had +won the bloody battle of the Horseshoe Bend against the Creeks; they +had driven the Spaniards from Pensacola; and now they were eager to pit +themselves against the most renowned troops of all Europe. + +Jackson acted with his usual fiery, hasty decision. It was absolutely +necessary to get time in which to throw up some kind of breastworks or +defenses for the city, and he at once resolved on a night attack against +the British. As for the British, they had no thought of being molested. +They did not dream of an assault from inferior numbers of undisciplined +and ill-armed militia, who did not possess so much as bayonets to their +guns. They kindled fires along the levees, ate their supper, and then, +as the evening fell, noticed a big schooner drop down the river in +ghostly silence and bring up opposite to them. The soldiers flocked to +the shore, challenging the stranger, and finally fired one or two shots +at her. Then suddenly a rough voice was heard, "Now give it to them, +for the honor of America!" and a shower of shell and grape fell on +the British, driving them off the levee. The stranger was an American +man-of-war schooner. The British brought up artillery to drive her off, +but before they succeeded Jackson's land troops burst upon them, and +a fierce, indecisive struggle followed. In the night all order was +speedily lost, and the two sides fought singly or in groups in the +utmost confusion. Finally a fog came up and the combatants separated. +Jackson drew off four or five miles and camped. + +The British had been so roughly handled that they were unable to advance +for three or four days, until the entire army came up. When they did +advance, it was only to find that Jackson had made good use of the time +he had gained by his daring assault. He had thrown up breastworks of +mud and logs from the swamp to the river. At first the British tried to +batter down these breastworks with their cannon, for they had many more +guns than the Americans. A terrible artillery duel followed. For an +hour or two the result seemed in doubt; but the American gunners showed +themselves to be far more skilful than their antagonists, and gradually +getting the upper hand, they finally silenced every piece of British +artillery. The Americans had used cotton bales in the embrasures, and +the British hogsheads of sugar; but neither worked well, for the cotton +caught fire and the sugar hogsheads were ripped and splintered by the +roundshot, so that both were abandoned. By the use of red-hot shot the +British succeeded in setting on fire the American schooner which had +caused them such annoyance on the evening of the night attack; but she +had served her purpose, and her destruction caused little anxiety to +Jackson. + +Having failed in his effort to batter down the American breastworks, +and the British artillery having been fairly worsted by the American, +Pakenham decided to try open assault. He had ten thousand regular +troops, while Jackson had under him but little over five thousand men, +who were trained only as he had himself trained them in his Indian +campaigns. Not a fourth of them carried bayonets. Both Pakenham and the +troops under him were fresh from victories won over the most renowned +marshals of Napoleon, andover soldiers that had proved themselves on a +hundred stricken fields the masters of all others in Continental Europe. +At Toulouse they had driven Marshal Soult from a position infinitely +stronger than that held by Jackson, and yet Soult had under him a +veteran army. At Badajoz, Ciudad Rodrigo, and San Sebastian they +had carried by open assault fortified towns whose strength made +the intrenchments of the Americans seem like the mud walls built by +children, though these towns were held by the best soldiers of France. +With such troops to follow him, and with such victories behind him in +the past, it did not seem possible to Pakenham that the assault of the +terrible British infantry could be successfully met by rough backwoods +riflemen fighting under a general as wild and untrained as themselves. + +He decreed that the assault should take place on the morning of the +eighth. Throughout the previous night the American officers were on +the alert, for they could hear the rumbling of artillery in the British +camp, the muffled tread of the battalions as they were marched to their +points in the line, and all the smothered din of the preparation for +assault. Long before dawn the riflemen were awake and drawn up behind +the mud walls, where they lolled at ease, or, leaning on their long +rifles, peered out through the fog toward the camp of their foes. At +last the sun rose and the fog lifted, showing the scarlet array of the +splendid British infantry. As soon as the air was clear Pakenham gave +the word, and the heavy columns of redcoated grenadiers and kilted +Highlanders moved steadily forward. From the American breastworks +the great guns opened, but not a rifle cracked. Three fourths of the +distance were covered, and the eager soldiers broke into a run; then +sheets of flame burst from the breastworks in their front as the wild +riflemen of the backwoods rose and fired, line upon line. Under the +sweeping hail the head of the British advance was shattered, and the +whole column stopped. Then it surged forward again, almost to the foot +of the breastworks; but not a man lived to reach them, and in a moment +more the troops broke and ran back. Mad with shame and rage, Pakenham +rode among them to rally and lead them forward, and the officers sprang +around him, smiting the fugitives with their swords and cheering on the +men who stood. For a moment the troops halted, and again came forward +to the charge; but again they were met by a hail of bullets from the +backwoods rifles. One shot struck Pakenham himself. He reeled and fell +from the saddle, and was carried off the field. The second and third +in command fell also, and then all attempts at further advance were +abandoned, and the British troops ran back to their lines. Another +assault had meanwhile been made by a column close to the river, the +charging soldiers rushing to the top of the breastworks; but they were +all killed or driven back. A body of troops had also been sent across +the river, where they routed a small detachment of Kentucky militia; but +they were, of course, recalled when the main assault failed. + +At last the men who had conquered the conquerors of Europe had +themselves met defeat. Andrew Jackson and his rough riflemen had +worsted, in fair fight, a far larger force of the best of Wellington's +veterans, and had accomplished what no French marshal and no French +troops had been able to accomplish throughout the long war in the +Spanish peninsula. For a week the sullen British lay in their lines; +then, abandoning their heavy artillery, they marched back to the ships +and sailed for Europe. + + + + +JOHN QUINCY ADAMS AND THE RIGHT OF PETITION + + He rests with the immortals; his journey has been long: + For him no wail of sorrow, but a paean full and strong! + So well and bravely has he done the work be found to do, + To justice, freedom, duty, God, and man forever true. + --Whittier. + + +The lot of ex-Presidents of the United States, as a rule, has been +a life of extreme retirement, but to this rule there is one marked +exception. When John Quincy Adams left the White House in March, 1829, +it must have seemed as if public life could hold nothing more for him. +He had had everything apparently that an American statesman could hope +for. He had been Minister to Holland and Prussia, to Russia and England. +He had been a Senator of the United States, Secretary of State for +eight years, and finally President. Yet, notwithstanding all this, the +greatest part of his career, and his noblest service to his country, +were still before him when he gave up the Presidency. + +In the following year (1830) he was told that he might be elected to +the House of Representatives, and the gentleman who made the proposition +ventured to say that he thought an ex-President, by taking such a +position, "instead of degrading the individual would elevate the +representative character." Mr. Adams replied that he had "in that +respect no scruples whatever. No person can be degraded by serving +the people as Representative in Congress, nor, in my opinion, would an +ex-President of the United States be degraded by serving as a selectman +of his town if elected thereto by the people." A few weeks later he was +chosen to the House, and the district continued to send him every two +years from that time until his death. He did much excellent work in the +House, and was conspicuous in more than one memorable scene; but here +it is possible to touch on only a single point, where he came forward +as the champion of a great principle, and fought a battle for the right +which will always be remembered among the great deeds of American public +men. + +Soon after Mr. Adams took his seat in Congress, the movement for the +abolition of slavery was begun by a few obscure agitators. It did not at +first attract much attention, but as it went on it gradually exasperated +the overbearing temper of the Southern slaveholders. One fruit of this +agitation was the appearance of petitions for the abolition of slavery +in the House of Representatives. A few were presented by Mr. Adams +without attracting much notice; but as the petitions multiplied, the +Southern representatives became aroused. They assailed Mr. Adams for +presenting them, and finally passed what was known as the gag rule, +which prevented the reception of these petitions by the House. Against +this rule Mr. Adams protested, in the midst of the loud shouts of +the Southerners, as a violation of his constitutional rights. But +the tyranny of slavery at that time was so complete that the rule was +adopted and enforced, and the slaveholders, undertook in this way +to suppress free speech in the House, just as they also undertook to +prevent the transmission through the mails of any writings adverse to +slavery. With the wisdom of a statesman and a man of affairs, Mr. Adams +addressed himself to the one practical point of the contest. He did not +enter upon a discussion of slavery or of its abolition, but turned his +whole force toward the vindication of the right of petition. On every +petition day he would offer, in constantly increasing numbers, petitions +which came to him from all parts of the country for the abolition of +slavery, in this way driving the Southern representatives almost to +madness, despite their rule which prevented the reception of such +documents when offered. Their hatred of Mr. Adams is something difficult +to conceive, and they were burning to break him down, and, if possible, +drive him from the House. On February 6, 1837, after presenting the +usual petitions, Mr. Adams offered one upon which he said he should like +the judgment of the Speaker as to its propriety, inasmuch as it was a +petition from slaves. In a moment the House was in a tumult, and +loud cries of "Expel him!" "Expel him!" rose in all directions. One +resolution after another was offered looking toward his expulsion or +censure, and it was not until February 9, three days later, that he was +able to take the floor in his own defense. His speech was a masterpiece +of argument, invective, and sarcasm. He showed, among other things, that +he had not offered the petition, but had only asked the opinion of the +Speaker upon it, and that the petition itself prayed that slavery should +not be abolished. When he closed his speech, which was quite as savage +as any made against him, and infinitely abler, no one desired to reply, +and the idea of censuring him was dropped. + +The greatest struggle, however, came five years later, when, on January +21, 1842, Mr. Adams presented the petition of certain citizens of +Haverhill, Massachusetts, praying for the dissolution of the Union +on account of slavery. His enemies felt that now, at last, he had +delivered himself into their hands. Again arose the cry for his +expulsion, and again vituperation was poured out upon him, and +resolutions to expel him freely introduced. When he got the floor to +speak in his own defense, he faced an excited House, almost unanimously +hostile to him, and possessing, as he well knew, both the will and the +power to drive him from its walls. But there was no wavering in Mr. +Adams. "If they say they will try me," he said, "they must try me. If +they say they will punish me, they must punish me. But if they say that +in peace and mercy they will spare me expulsion, I disdain and cast away +their mercy, and I ask if they will come to such a trial and expel me. I +defy them. I have constituents to go to, and they will have something +to say if this House expels me, nor will it be long before the gentlemen +will see me here again." The fight went on for nearly a fortnight, +and on February 7 the whole subject was finally laid on the table. The +sturdy, dogged fighter, single-handed and alone, had beaten all the +forces of the South and of slavery. No more memorable fight has ever +been made by one man in a parliamentary body, and after this decisive +struggle the tide began to turn. Every year Mr. Adams renewed his motion +to strike out the gag rule, and forced it to a vote. Gradually the +majority against it dwindled, until at last, on December 3, 1844, his +motion prevailed. Freedom of speech had been vindicated in the American +House of Representatives, the right of petition had been won, and the +first great blow against the slave power had been struck. + +Four years later Mr. Adams fell, stricken with paralysis, at his place +in the House, and a few hours afterward, with the words, "This is +the last of earth; I am content," upon his lips, he sank into +unconsciousness and died. It was a fit end to a great public career. His +fight for the right of petition is one to be studied and remembered, and +Mr. Adams made it practically alone. The slaveholders of the South and +the representatives of the North were alike against him. Against him, +too, as his biographer, Mr. Morse, says, was the class in Boston to +which he naturally belonged by birth and education. He had to +encounter the bitter resistance in his own set of the "conscienceless +respectability of wealth," but the great body of the New England people +were with him, as were the voters of his own district. He was an old +man, with the physical infirmities of age. His eyes were weak and +streaming; his hands were trembling; his voice cracked in moments of +excitement; yet in that age of oratory, in the days of Webster and Clay, +he was known as the "old man eloquent." It was what he said, more than +the way he said it, which told. His vigorous mind never worked more +surely and clearly than when he stood alone in the midst of an angry +House, the target of their hatred and abuse. His arguments were strong, +and his large knowledge and wide experience supplied him with every +weapon for defense and attack. Beneath the lash of his invective and his +sarcasm the hottest of the slaveholders cowered away. He set his back +against a great principle. He never retreated an inch, he never yielded, +he never conciliated, he was always an assailant, and no man and no +body of men had the power to turn him. He had his dark hours, he felt +bitterly the isolation of his position, but he never swerved. He had +good right to set down in his diary, when the gag rule was repealed, +"Blessed, forever blessed, be the name of God." + + + + +FRANCIS PARKMAN + +(1822-1893) + + He told the red man's story; far and wide + He searched the unwritten annals of his race; + He sat a listener at the Sachem's side, + He tracked the hunter through his wild-wood chase. + + High o'er his head the soaring eagle screamed; + The wolfs long howl rang nightly; through the vale + Tramped the lone bear; the panther's eyeballs gleamed; + The bison's gallop thundered on the gale. + + Soon o'er the horizon rose the cloud of strife, + Two proud, strong nations battling for the prize: + Which swarming host should mould a nation's life; + Which royal banner flout the western skies. + + Long raged the conflict; on the crimson sod + Native and alien joined their hosts in vain; + The lilies withered where the lion trod, + Till Peace lay panting on the ravaged plain. + + A nobler task was theirs who strove to win + The blood-stained heathen to the Christian fold; + To free from Satan's clutch the slaves of sin; + These labors, too, with loving grace he told. + + Halting with feeble step, or bending o'er + The sweet-breathed roses which he loved so well, + While through long years his burdening cross he bore, + From those firm lips no coward accents fell. + + A brave bright memory! His the stainless shield + No shame defaces and no envy mars! + When our far future's record is unsealed, + His name will shine among its morning stars. + --Holmes. + + +The stories in this volume deal, for the most part, with single actions, +generally with deeds of war and feats of arms. In this one I desire +to give if possible the impression, for it can be no more than +an impression, of a life which in its conflicts and its victories +manifested throughout heroic qualities. Such qualities can be shown in +many ways, and the field of battle is only one of the fields of human +endeavor where heroism can be displayed. + +Francis Parkman was born in Boston on September 16, 1822. He came of +a well-known family, and was of a good Puritan stock. He was rather a +delicate boy, with an extremely active mind and of a highly sensitive, +nervous organization. Into everything that attracted him he threw +himself with feverish energy. His first passion, when he was only about +twelve years old, was for chemistry, and his eager boyish experiments in +this direction were undoubtedly injurious to his health. The interest in +chemistry was succeeded by a passion for the woods and the wilderness, +and out of this came the longing to write the history of the men of the +wilderness, and of the great struggle between France and England for the +control of the North American continent. All through his college career +this desire was with him, and while in secret he was reading widely to +prepare himself for his task, he also spent a great deal of time in the +forests and on the mountains. To quote his own words, he was "fond of +hardships, and he was vain of enduring them, cherishing a sovereign +scorn for every physical weakness or defect; but deceived, moreover, by +the rapid development of frame and sinew, which flattered him into the +belief that discipline sufficiently unsparing would harden him into an +athlete, he slighted the precautions of a more reasonable woodcraft, +tired old foresters with long marches, stopped neither for heat nor for +rain, and slept on the earth without blankets." The result was that his +intense energy carried him beyond his strength, and while his muscles +strengthened and hardened, his sensitive nervous organization began to +give way. It was not merely because he led an active outdoor life. He +himself protests against any such conclusion, and says that "if any pale +student glued to his desk here seek an apology for a way of life whose +natural fruit is that pallid and emasculate scholarship, of which New +England has had too many examples, it will be far better that this +sketch had not been written. For the student there is, in its season, no +better place than the saddle, and no better companion than the rifle or +the oar." + +The evil that was done was due to Parkman's highly irritable organism, +which spurred him to excess in everything he undertook. The first +special sign of the mischief he was doing to himself and his health +appeared in a weakness of sight. It was essential to his plan of +historical work to study not only books and records but Indian life from +the inside. Therefore, having graduated from college and the law-school, +he felt that the time had come for this investigation, which would +enable him to gather material for his history and at the same time +to rest his eyes. He went to the Rocky Mountains, and after great +hardships, living in the saddle, as he said, with weakness and pain, he +joined a band of Ogallalla Indians. With them he remained despite his +physical suffering, and from them he learned, as he could not have +learned in any other way, what Indian life really was. + +The immediate result of the journey was his first book, instinct with +the freshness and wildness of the mountains and the prairies, and called +by him "The Oregon Trail." Unfortunately, the book was not the only +outcome. The illness incurred during his journey from fatigue and +exposure was followed by other disorders. The light of the sun became +insupportable, and his nervous system was entirely deranged. His +sight was now so impaired that he was almost blind, and could neither +read nor write. It was a terrible prospect for a brilliant and ambitious +man, but Parkman faced it unflinchingly. He devised a frame by which +he could write with closed eyes, and books and manuscripts were read to +him. In this way he began the history of "The Conspiracy of Pontiac," +and for the first half-year the rate of composition covered about six +lines a day. His courage was rewarded by an improvement in his health, +and a little more quiet in nerves and brain. In two and a half years he +managed to complete the book. He then entered upon his great subject of +"France in the New World." The material was mostly in manuscript, and +had to be examined, gathered, and selected in Europe and in Canada. +He could not read, he could write only a very little and that with +difficulty, and yet he pressed on. He slowly collected his material and +digested and arranged it, using the eyes of others to do that which he +could not do himself, and always on the verge of a complete breakdown +of mind and body. In 1851 he had an effusion of water on the left knee, +which stopped his outdoor exercise, on which he had always largely +depended. All the irritability of the system then centered in the head, +resulting in intense pain and in a restless and devouring activity +of thought. He himself says: "The whirl, the confusion, and strange, +undefined tortures attending this condition are only to be conceived +by one who has felt them." The resources of surgery and medicine were +exhausted in vain. The trouble in the head and eyes constantly recurred. +In 1858 there came a period when for four years he was incapable of the +slightest mental application, and the attacks varied in duration from +four hours to as many months. When the pressure was lightened a little +he went back to his work. When work was impossible, he turned to +horticulture, grew roses, and wrote a book about the cultivation of +those flowers which is a standard authority. + +As he grew older the attacks moderated, although they never departed. +Sleeplessness pursued him always, the slightest excitement would deprive +him of the power of exertion, his sight was always sensitive, and at +times he was bordering on blindness. In this hard-pressed way he fought +the battle of life. He says himself that his books took four times as +long to prepare and write as if he had been strong and able to use his +faculties. That this should have been the case is little wonder, for +those books came into being with failing sight and shattered nerves, +with sleeplessness and pain, and the menace of insanity ever hanging +over the brave man who, nevertheless, carried them through to an end. + +Yet the result of those fifty years, even in amount, is a noble one, and +would have been great achievement for a man who had never known a sick +day. In quality, and subject, and method of narration, they leave little +to be desired. There, in Parkman's volumes, is told vividly, strongly, +and truthfully, the history of the great struggle between France and +England for the mastery of the North American continent, one of the +most important events of modern times. This is not the place to give +any critical estimate of Mr. Parkman's work. It is enough to say that it +stands in the front rank. It is a great contribution to history, and +a still greater gift to the literature of this country. All Americans +certainly should read the volumes in which Parkman has told that +wonderful story of hardship and adventure, of fighting and of +statesmanship, which gave this great continent to the English race and +the English speech. But better than the literature or the history is +the heroic spirit of the man, which triumphed over pain and all other +physical obstacles, and brought a work of such value to his country +and his time into existence. There is a great lesson as well as a lofty +example in such a career, and in the service which such a man rendered +by his life and work to literature and to his country. On the tomb of +the conqueror of Quebec it is written: "Here lies Wolfe victorious." +The same epitaph might with entire justice be carved above the grave of +Wolfe's historian. + + + + +"REMEMBER THE ALAMO" + + The muffled drum's sad roll has beat + The soldier's last tattoo; + No more on life's parade shall meet + That brave and fallen few. + On fame's eternal camping-ground + Their silent tents are spread, + And glory guards with solemn round + The bivouac of the dead. + + * * * + + The neighing troop, the flashing blade, + The bugle's stirring blast, + The charge, the dreadful cannonade, + The din and shout are past; + Nor war's wild note, nor glory's peal + Shall thrill with fierce delight + Those breasts that never more may feel + The rapture of the fight. + --Theodore O'Hara. + + +"Thermopylae had its messengers of death, but the Alamo had none." These +were the words with which a United States senator referred to one of +the most resolute and effective fights ever waged by brave men against +overwhelming odds in the face of certain death. + +Soon after the close of the second war with Great Britain, parties of +American settlers began to press forward into the rich, sparsely settled +territory of Texas, then a portion of Mexico. At first these immigrants +were well received, but the Mexicans speedily grew jealous of them, and +oppressed them in various ways. In consequence, when the settlers +felt themselves strong enough, they revolted against Mexican rule, and +declared Texas to be an independent republic. Immediately Santa Anna, +the Dictator of Mexico, gathered a large army, and invaded Texas. The +slender forces of the settlers were unable to meet his hosts. They were +pressed back by the Mexicans, and dreadful atrocities were committed +by Santa Anna and his lieutenants. In the United States there was great +enthusiasm for the struggling Texans, and many bold backwoodsmen and +Indian-fighters swarmed to their help. Among them the two most famous +were Sam Houston and David Crockett. Houston was the younger man, and +had already led an extraordinary and varied career. When a mere lad he +had run away from home and joined the Cherokees, living among them for +some years; then he returned home. He had fought under Andrew Jackson in +his campaigns against the Creeks, and had been severely wounded at the +battle of the Horse-shoe Bend. He had risen to the highest political +honors in his State, becoming governor of Tennessee; and then suddenly, +in a fit of moody longing for the life of the wilderness, he gave up his +governorship, left the State, and crossed the Mississippi, going to join +his old comrades, the Cherokees, in their new home along the waters +of the Arkansas. Here he dressed, lived, fought, hunted, and drank +precisely like any Indian, becoming one of the chiefs. + +David Crockett was born soon after the Revolutionary War. He, too, had +taken part under Jackson in the campaigns against the Creeks, and had +afterward become a man of mark in Tennessee, and gone to Congress as a +Whig; but he had quarreled with Jackson, and been beaten for Congress, +and in his disgust he left the State and decided to join the Texans. He +was the most famous rifle-shot in all the United States, and the most +successful hunter, so that his skill was a proverb all along the border. + +David Crockett journeyed south, by boat and horse, making his way +steadily toward the distant plains where the Texans were waging their +life-and-death fight. Texas was a wild place in those days, and the old +hunter had more than one hairbreadth escape from Indians, desperadoes, +and savage beasts, ere he got to the neighborhood of San Antonio, and +joined another adventurer, a bee-hunter, bent on the same errand as +himself. The two had been in ignorance of exactly what the situation in +Texas was; but they soon found that the Mexican army was marching toward +San Antonio, whither they were going. Near the town was an old Spanish +fort, the Alamo, in which the hundred and fifty American defenders of +the place had gathered. Santa Anna had four thousand troops with +him. The Alamo was a mere shell, utterly unable to withstand either a +bombardment or a regular assault. It was evident, therefore, that those +within it would be in the utmost jeopardy if the place were seriously +assaulted, but old Crockett and his companion never wavered. They were +fearless and resolute, and masters of woodcraft, and they managed to +slip through the Mexican lines and join the defenders within the walls. +The bravest, the hardiest, the most reckless men of the border were +there; among them were Colonel Travis, the commander of the fort, and +Bowie, the inventor of the famous bowie-knife. They were a wild and +ill-disciplined band, little used to restraint or control, but they were +men of iron courage and great bodily powers, skilled in the use of their +weapons, and ready to meet with stern and uncomplaining indifference +whatever doom fate might have in store for them. + +Soon Santa Anna approached with his army, took possession of the town, +and besieged the fort. The defenders knew there was scarcely a chance +of rescue, and that it was hopeless to expect that one hundred and +fifty men, behind defenses so weak, could beat off four thousand trained +soldiers, well armed and provided with heavy artillery; but they had no +idea of flinching, and made a desperate defense. The days went by, and +no help came, while Santa Anna got ready his lines, and began a furious +cannonade. His gunners were unskilled, however, and he had to serve the +guns from a distance; for when they were pushed nearer, the American +riflemen crept forward under cover, and picked off the artillerymen. +Old Crockett thus killed five men at one gun. But, by degrees, the +bombardment told. The walls of the Alamo were battered and riddled; and +when they had been breached so as to afford no obstacle to the rush of +his soldiers, Santa Anna commanded that they be stormed. + +The storm took place on March 6, 1836. The Mexican troops came on well +and steadily, breaking through the outer defenses at every point, +for the lines were too long to be manned by the few Americans. The +frontiersmen then retreated to the inner building, and a desperate +hand-to-hand conflict followed, the Mexicans thronging in, shooting +the Americans with their muskets, and thrusting at them with lance and +bayonet, while the Americans, after firing their long rifles, clubbed +them, and fought desperately, one against many; and they also used their +bowie-knives and revolvers with deadly effect. The fight reeled to and +fro between the shattered walls, each American the center of a group of +foes; but, for all their strength and their wild fighting courage, the +defenders were too few, and the struggle could have but one end. One by +one the tall riflemen succumbed, after repeated thrusts with bayonet and +lance, until but three or four were left. Colonel Travis, the commander, +was among them; and so was Bowie, who was sick and weak from a wasting +disease, but who rallied all his strength to die fighting, and who, in +the final struggle, slew several Mexicans with his revolver, and with +his big knife of the kind to which he had given his name. Then these +fell too, and the last man stood at bay. It was old Davy Crockett. +Wounded in a dozen places, he faced his foes with his back to the wall, +ringed around by the bodies of the men he had slain. So desperate was +the fight he waged, that the Mexicans who thronged round about him +were beaten back for the moment, and no one dared to run in upon him. +Accordingly, while the lancers held him where he was, for, weakened +by wounds and loss of blood, he could not break through them, the +musketeers loaded their carbines and shot him down. Santa Anna declined +to give him mercy. Some say that when Crockett fell from his wounds, he +was taken alive, and was then shot by Santa Anna's order; but his fate +cannot be told with certainty, for not a single American was left alive. +At any rate, after Crockett fell the fight was over. Every one of the +hardy men who had held the Alamo lay still in death. Yet they died well +avenged, for four times their number fell at their hands in the battle. + +Santa Anna had but a short while in which to exult over his bloody and +hard-won victory. Already a rider from the rolling Texas plains, going +north through the Indian Territory, had told Houston that the Texans +were up and were striving for their liberty. At once in Houston's mind +there kindled a longing to return to the men of his race at the time of +their need. Mounting his horse, he rode south by night and day, and was +hailed by the Texans as a heaven-sent leader. He took command of their +forces, eleven hundred stark riflemen, and at the battle of San Jacinto, +he and his men charged the Mexican hosts with the cry of "Remember the +Alamo." Almost immediately, the Mexicans were overthrown with terrible +slaughter; Santa Anna himself was captured, and the freedom of Texas was +won at a blow. + + + + +HAMPTON ROADS + + Then far away to the south uprose + A little feather of snow-white smoke, + And we knew that the iron ship of our foes + Was steadily steering its course + To try the force + Of our ribs of oak. + + Down upon us heavily runs, + Silent and sullen, the floating fort; + Then comes a puff of smoke from her guns, + And leaps the terrible death, With fiery breath, + From her open port. + + * * * + + Ho! brave hearts, that went down in the seas! + Ye are at peace in the troubled stream; + Ho! brave land! with hearts like these, + Thy flag, that is rent in twain, + Shall be one again, + And without a seam! + --Longfellow + + +The naval battles of the Civil War possess an immense importance, +because they mark the line of cleavage between naval warfare under the +old, and naval warfare under the new, conditions. The ships with +which Hull and Decatur and McDonough won glory in the war of 1812 were +essentially like those with which Drake and Hawkins and Frobisher had +harried the Spanish armadas two centuries and a half earlier. They were +wooden sailing-vessels, carrying many guns mounted in broadside, like +those of De Ruyter and Tromp, of Blake and Nelson. Throughout +this period all the great admirals, all the famous single-ship +fighters,--whose skill reached its highest expression in our own +navy during the war of 1812,--commanded craft built and armed in a +substantially similar manner, and fought with the same weapons and under +much the same conditions. But in the Civil War weapons and methods +were introduced which caused a revolution greater even than that which +divided the sailing-ship from the galley. The use of steam, the casing of +ships in iron armor, and the employment of the torpedo, the ram, and the +gun of high power, produced such radically new types that the old +ships of the line became at one stroke as antiquated as the galleys of +Hamilcar or Alcibiades. Some of these new engines of destruction were +invented, and all were for the first time tried in actual combat, during +our own Civil War. The first occasion on which any of the new methods +were thoroughly tested was attended by incidents which made it one of +the most striking of naval battles. + + +In Chesapeake Bay, near Hampton Roads, the United States had collected +a fleet of wooden ships; some of them old-style sailing-vessels, others +steamers. The Confederates were known to be building a great iron-clad +ram, and the wooden vessels were eagerly watching for her appearance +when she should come out of Gosport Harbor. Her powers and capacity +were utterly unknown. She was made out of the former United States +steam-frigate Merrimac, cut down so as to make her fore and aft decks +nearly flat, and not much above the water, while the guns were mounted +in a covered central battery, with sloping flanks. Her sides, deck, +and battery were coated with iron, and she was armed with formidable +rifle-guns, and, most important of all, with a steel ram thrust out +under water forward from her bow. She was commanded by a gallant and +efficient officer, Captain Buchanan. + +It was March 8, 1862, when the ram at last made her appearance within +sight of the Union fleet. The day was calm and very clear, so that the +throngs of spectators on shore could see every feature of the battle. +With the great ram came three light gunboats, all of which took part in +the action, harassing the vessels which she assailed; but they were +not factors of importance in the fight. On the Union side the vessels +nearest were the sailing-ships Cumberland and Congress, and the +steam-frigate Minnesota. The Congress and Cumberland were anchored not +far from each other; the Minnesota got aground, and was some distance +off. Owing to the currents and shoals and the lack of wind, no other +vessel was able to get up in time to take a part in the fight. + +As soon as the ram appeared, out of the harbor, she turned and steamed +toward the Congress and the Cumberland, the black smoke rising from her +funnels, and the great ripples running from each side of her iron prow +as she drove steadily through the still waters. On board of the Congress +and Cumberland there was eager anticipation, but not a particle of fear. +The officers in command, Captain Smith and Lieutenant Morris, were two +of the most gallant men in a service where gallantry has always been +too common to need special comment. The crews were composed of veterans, +well trained, self-confident, and proud beyond measure of the flag whose +honor they upheld. The guns were run out, and the men stood at quarters, +while the officers eagerly conned the approaching ironclad. The Congress +was the first to open fire; and, as her volleys flew, the men on the +Cumberland were astounded to see the cannon-shot bound off the sloping +sides of the ram as hailstones bound from a windowpane. The ram +answered, and her rifle-shells tore the sides of the Congress; but for +her first victim she aimed at the Cumberland, and, firing her bow +guns, came straight as an arrow at the little sloop-of-war, which lay +broadside to her. + +It was an absolutely hopeless struggle. The Cumberland was a +sailing-ship, at anchor, with wooden sides, and a battery of light guns. +Against the formidable steam ironclad, with her heavy rifles and steel +ram, she was as powerless as if she had been a rowboat; and from the +moment the men saw the cannon-shot bound from the ram's sides they knew +they were doomed. But none of them flinched. Once and again they fired +their guns full against the approaching ram, and in response received a +few shells from the great bow-rifles of the latter. Then, forging +ahead, the Merrimac struck her antagonist with her steel prow, and the +sloop-of-war reeled and shuddered, and through the great rent in her +side the black water rushed. She foundered in a few minutes; but her +crew fought her to the last, cheering as they ran out the guns, and +sending shot after shot against the ram as the latter backed off after +delivering her blow. The rush of the water soon swamped the lower decks, +but the men above continued to serve their guns until the upper deck +also was awash, and the vessel had not ten seconds of life left. Then, +with her flags flying, her men cheering, and her guns firing, the +Cumberland sank. It was shallow where she settled down, so that her +masts remained above the water. The glorious flag for which the brave +men aboard her had died flew proudly in the wind all that day, while the +fight went on, and throughout the night; and next morning it was still +streaming over the beautiful bay, to mark the resting-place of as +gallant a vessel as ever sailed or fought on the high seas. + +After the Cumberland sank, the ram turned her attention to the Congress. +Finding it difficult to get to her in the shoal water, she began to +knock her to pieces with her great rifle-guns. The unequal fight between +the ironclad and the wooden ship lasted for perhaps half an hour. By +that time the commander of the Congress had been killed, and her +decks looked like a slaughterhouse. She was utterly unable to make +any impression on her foe, and finally she took fire and blew up. The +Minnesota was the third victim marked for destruction, and the Merrimac +began the attack upon her at once; but it was getting very late, and as +the water was shoal and she could not get close, the rain finally +drew back to her anchorage, to wait until next day before renewing and +completing her work of destruction. + +All that night there was the wildest exultation among the Confederates, +while the gloom and panic of the Union men cannot be described. It +was evident that the United States ships-of-war were as helpless as +cockle-shells against their iron-clad foe, and there was no question +but that she could destroy the whole fleet with ease and with absolute +impunity. This meant not only the breaking of the blockade; but the +sweeping away at one blow of the North's naval supremacy, which was +indispensable to the success of the war for the Union. It is small +wonder that during that night the wisest and bravest should have almost +despaired. + +But in the hour of the nation's greatest need a champion suddenly +appeared, in time to play the last scene in this great drama of sea +warfare. The North, too, had been trying its hand at building ironclads. +The most successful of them was the little Monitor, a flat-decked, low, +turreted, ironclad, armed with a couple of heavy guns. She was the first +experiment of her kind, and her absolutely flat surface, nearly level +with the water, her revolving turret, and her utter unlikeness to any +pre-existing naval type, had made her an object of mirth among most +practical seamen; but her inventor, Ericsson, was not disheartened in +the least by the jeers. Under the command of a gallant naval officer, +Captain Worden, she was sent South from New York, and though she almost +foundered in a gale she managed to weather it, and reached the scene +of the battle at Hampton Roads at the moment when her presence was +all-important. + +Early the following morning the Merrimac, now under Captain Jones (for +Buchanan had been wounded), again steamed forth to take up the work she +had so well begun and to destroy the Union fleet. She steered straight +for the Minnesota; but when she was almost there, to her astonishment +a strange-looking little craft advanced from the side of the big +wooden frigate and boldly barred the Merrimac's path. For a moment the +Confederates could hardly believe their eyes. The Monitor was tiny, +compared to their ship, for she was not one fifth the size, and her +queer appearance made them look at their new foe with contempt; but the +first shock of battle did away with this feeling. The Merrimac turned on +her foe her rifleguns, intending to blow her out of the water, but +the shot glanced from the thick iron turret of the Monitor. Then the +Monitors guns opened fire, and as the great balls struck the sides of +the ram her plates started and her timbers gave. Had the Monitor been +such a vessel as those of her type produced later in the war, the ram +would have been sunk then and there; but as it was her shot were not +quite heavy enough to pierce the iron walls. Around and around the two +strange combatants hovered, their guns bellowing without cessation, +while the men on the frigates and on shore watched the result with +breathless interest. Neither the Merrimac nor the Monitor could dispose +of its antagonist. The ram's guns could not damage the turret, and the +Monitor was able dexterously to avoid the stroke of the formidable +prow. On the other hand, the shot of the Monitor could not penetrate the +Merrimac's tough sides. Accordingly, fierce though the struggle was, and +much though there was that hinged on it, it was not bloody in character. +The Merrimac could neither destroy nor evade the Monitor. She could not +sink her when she tried to, and when she abandoned her and turned to +attack one of the other wooden vessels, the little turreted ship was +thrown across her path, so that the fight had to be renewed. Both sides +grew thoroughly exhausted, and finally the battle ceased by mutual +consent. + +Nothing more could be done. The ram was badly damaged, and there was +no help for her save to put back to the port whence she had come. Twice +afterward she came out, but neither time did she come near enough to the +Monitor to attack her, and the latter could not move off where she would +cease to protect the wooden vessels. The ram was ultimately blown up by +the Confederates on the advance of the Union army. + +Tactically, the fight was a drawn battle--neither ship being able to +damage the other, and both ships, being fought to a standstill; but +the moral and material effects were wholly in favor of the Monitor. Her +victory was hailed with exultant joy throughout the whole Union, and +exercised a correspondingly depressing effect in the Confederacy; while +every naval man throughout the world, who possessed eyes to see, saw +that the fight in Hampton Roads had inaugurated a new era in ocean +warfare, and that the Monitor and Merrimac, which had waged so gallant +and so terrible a battle, were the first ships of the new era, and that +as such their names would be forever famous. + + + + +THE FLAG-BEARER + + Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; + He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are + stored; + He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; + His truth is marching on. + + I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; + They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; + I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; + His day is marching on. + + He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never beat retreat; + He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat; + Oh! be swift, my soul, to answer him! be jubilant, my feet! + Our God is marching on. + --Julia Ward Howe. + + +In no war since the close of the great Napoleonic struggles has the +fighting been so obstinate and bloody as in the Civil War. Much has +been said in song and story of the resolute courage of the Guards +at Inkerman, of the charge of the Light Brigade, and of the terrible +fighting and loss of the German armies at Mars La Tour and Gravelotte. +The praise bestowed, upon the British and Germans for their valor, and +for the loss that proved their valor, was well deserved; but there were +over one hundred and twenty regiments, Union and Confederate, each of +which, in some one battle of the Civil War, suffered a greater loss than +any English regiment at Inkerman or at any other battle in the Crimea, +a greater loss than was suffered by any German regiment at Gravelotte or +at any other battle of the Franco-Prussian war. No European regiment in +any recent struggle has suffered such losses as at Gettysburg befell the +1st Minnesota, when 82 per cent. of the officers and men were killed and +wounded; or the 141st Pennsylvania, which lost 76 per cent.; or the 26th +North Carolina, which lost 72 per cent.; such as at the second battle +of Manassas befell the 101st New York, which lost 74 per cent., and +the 21st Georgia, which lost 76 per cent. At Cold Harbor the 25th +Massachusetts lost 70 per cent., and the 10th Tennessee at Chickamauga +68 per cent.; while at Shiloh the 9th Illinois lost 63 per cent., and +the 6th Mississippi 70 per cent.; and at Antietam the 1st Texas lost +82 percent. The loss of the Light Brigade in killed and wounded in its +famous charge at Balaklava was but 37 per cent. + +These figures show the terrible punishment endured by these +regiments, chosen at random from the head of the list which shows the +slaughter-roll of the Civil War. Yet the shattered remnants of each +regiment preserved their organization, and many of the severest losses +were incurred in the hour of triumph, and not of disaster. Thus, the 1st +Minnesota, at Gettysburg, suffered its appalling loss while charging a +greatly superior force, which it drove before it; and the little huddle +of wounded and unwounded men who survived their victorious charge +actually kept both the flag they had captured and the ground from which +they had driven their foes. + +A number of the Continental regiments under Washington, Greene, and +Wayne did valiant fighting and endured heavy punishment. Several of the +regiments raised on the northern frontier in 1814 showed, under Brown +and Scott, that they were able to meet the best troops of Britain on +equal terms in the open, and even to overmatch them in fair fight with +the bayonet. The regiments which, in the Mexican war, under the lead of +Taylor, captured Monterey, and beat back Santa Anna at Buena Vista, or +which, with Scott as commander, stormed Molino Del Rey and Chapultepec, +proved their ability to bear terrible loss, to wrest victory from +overwhelming numbers, and to carry by open assault positions of +formidable strength held by a veteran army. But in none of these three +wars was the fighting so resolute and bloody as in the Civil War. + +Countless deeds of heroism were performed by Northerner and by +Southerner, by officer and by private, in every year of the great +struggle. The immense majority of these deeds went unrecorded, and +were known to few beyond the immediate participants. Of those that were +noticed it would be impossible even to make a dry catalogue in ten such +volumes as this. All that can be done is to choose out two or three acts +of heroism, not as exceptions, but as examples of hundreds of others. +The times of war are iron times, and bring out all that is best as well +as all that is basest in the human heart. In a full recital of the civil +war, as of every other great conflict, there would stand out in naked +relief feats of wonderful daring and self-devotion, and, mixed among +them, deeds of cowardice, of treachery, of barbarous brutality. Sadder +still, such a recital would show strange contrasts in the careers of +individual men, men who at one time acted well and nobly, and at another +time ill and basely. The ugly truths must not be blinked, and the +lessons they teach should be set forth by every historian, and learned +by every statesman and soldier; but, for our good fortune, the lessons +best worth learning in the nation's past are lessons of heroism. + +From immemorial time the armies of every warlike people have set the +highest value upon the standards they bore to battle. To guard one's own +flag against capture is the pride, to capture the flag of one's enemy +the ambition, of every valiant soldier. In consequence, in every war +between peoples of good military record, feats of daring performed +by color-bearers are honorably common. The Civil War was full of such +incidents. Out of very many two or three may be mentioned as noteworthy. + +One occurred at Fredericksburg on the day when half the brigades +of Meagher and Caldwell lay on the bloody slope leading up to the +Confederate entrenchments. Among the assaulting regiments was the 5th +New Hampshire, and it lost one hundred and eighty-six out of three +hundred men who made the charge. The survivors fell sullenly back behind +a fence, within easy range of the Confederate rifle-pits. Just before +reaching it the last of the color guard was shot, and the flag fell +in the open. A Captain Perry instantly ran out to rescue it, and as he +reached it was shot through the heart; another, Captain Murray, made +the same attempt and was also killed; and so was a third, Moore. Several +private soldiers met a like fate. They were all killed close to the +flag, and their dead bodies fell across one another. Taking advantage of +this breastwork, Lieutenant Nettleton crawled from behind the fence to +the colors, seized them, and bore back the blood-won trophy. + +Another took place at Gaines' Mill, where Gregg's 1st South Carolina +formed part of the attacking force. The resistance was desperate, and +the fury of the assault unsurpassed. At one point it fell to the lot of +this regiment to bear the brunt of carrying a certain strong position. +Moving forward at a run, the South Carolinians were swept by a fierce +and searching fire. Young James Taylor, a lad of sixteen, was carrying +the flag, and was killed after being shot down three times, twice rising +and struggling onward with the colors. The third time he fell the flag +was seized by George Cotchet, and when he, in turn, fell, by Shubrick +Hayne. Hayne was also struck down almost immediately, and the fourth +lad, for none of them were over twenty years old, grasped the colors, +and fell mortally wounded across the body of his friend. The fifth, +Gadsden Holmes, was pierced with no less than seven balls. The sixth +man, Dominick Spellman, more fortunate, but not less brave, bore the +flag throughout the rest of the battle. + +Yet another occurred at Antietam. The 7th Maine, then under the command +of Major T. W. Hyde, was one of the hundreds of regiments that on many +hard-fought fields established a reputation for dash and unyielding +endurance. Toward the early part of the day at Antietam it merely took +its share in the charging and long-range firing, together with the New +York and Vermont regiments which were its immediate neighbors in the +line. The fighting was very heavy. In one of the charges, the Maine men +passed over what had been a Confederate regiment. The gray-clad soldiers +were lying, both ranks, privates and officers, as they fell, for so many +had been killed or disabled that it seemed as if the whole regiment was +prone in death. + +Much of the time the Maine men lay on the battle-field, hugging the +ground, under a heavy artillery fire, but beyond the reach of ordinary +musketry. One of the privates, named Knox, was a wonderful shot, and had +received permission to use his own special rifle, a weapon accurately +sighted for very long range. While the regiment thus lay under the storm +of shot and shell, he asked leave to go to the front; and for an hour +afterward his companions heard his rifle crack every few minutes. Major +Hyde finally, from curiosity, crept forward to see what he was doing, +and found that he had driven every man away from one section of a +Confederate battery, tumbling over gunner after gunner as they came +forward to fire. One of his victims was a general officer, whose horse +he killed. At the end of an hour or so, a piece of shell took off the +breech of his pet rifle, and he returned disconsolate; but after a few +minutes he gathered three rifles that were left by wounded men, and went +back again to his work. + +At five o'clock in the afternoon the regiment was suddenly called upon +to undertake a hopeless charge, owing to the blunder of the brigade +commander, who was a gallant veteran of the Mexican war, but who was +also given to drink. Opposite the Union lines at this point were some +haystacks, near a group of farm buildings. They were right in the center +of the Confederate position, and sharpshooters stationed among them were +picking off the Union gunners. The brigadier, thinking that they were +held by but a few skirmishers, rode to where the 7th Maine was lying +on the ground, and said: "Major Hyde, take your regiment and drive the +enemy from those trees and buildings." Hyde saluted, and said that he +had seen a large force of rebels go in among the buildings, probably two +brigades in all. The brigadier answered, "Are you afraid to go, sir?" +and repeated the order emphatically. "Give the order, so the regiment +can hear it, and we are ready, sir," said Hyde. This was done, and +"Attention" brought every man to his feet. With the regiment were two +young boys who carried the marking guidons, and Hyde ordered these to +the rear. They pretended to go, but as soon as the regiment charged came +along with it. One of them lost his arm, and the other was killed on the +field. The colors were carried by the color corporal, Harry Campbell. + +Hyde gave the orders to left face and forward and the Maine men marched +out in front of a Vermont regiment which lay beside them; then, facing +to the front, they crossed a sunken road, which was so filled with dead +and wounded Confederates that Hyde's horse had to step on them to get +over. + +Once across, they stopped for a moment in the trampled corn to +straighten the line, and then charged toward the right of the barns. +On they went at the double-quick, fifteen skirmishers ahead under +Lieutenant Butler, Major Hyde on the right on his Virginia thoroughbred, +and Adjutant Haskell to the left on a big white horse. The latter was +shot down at once, as was his horse, and Hyde rode round in front of the +regiment just in time to see a long line of men in gray rise from behind +the stone wall of the Hagerstown pike, which was to their right, and +pour in a volley; but it mostly went too high. He then ordered his men +to left oblique. + +Just as they were abreast a hill to the right of the barns, Hyde, being +some twenty feet ahead, looked over its top and saw several regiments of +Confederates, jammed close together and waiting at the ready; so he gave +the order left flank, and, still at the double quick, took his column +past the barns and buildings toward an orchard on the hither side, +hoping that he could get them back before they were cut off, for they +were faced by ten times their number. By going through the orchard he +expected to be able to take advantage of a hollow, and partially escape +the destructive flank fire on his return. + +To hope to keep the barns from which they had driven the sharpshooters +was vain, for the single Maine regiment found itself opposed to portions +of no less than four Confederate brigades, at least a dozen regiments +all told. When the men got to the orchard fence, Sergeant Benson +wrenched apart the tall pickets to let through Hyde's horse. While he +was doing this, a shot struck his haversack, and the men all laughed at +the sight of the flying hardtack. + +Going into the orchard there was a rise of ground, and the Confederates +fired several volleys at the Maine men, and then charged them. Hyde's +horse was twice wounded, but was still able to go on. + +No sooner were the men in blue beyond the fence than they got into +line and met the Confederates, as they came crowding behind, with +a slaughtering fire, and then charged, driving them back. The color +corporal was still carrying the colors, though one of his arms had been +broken; but when half way through the orchard, Hyde heard him call out +as he fell, and turned back to save the colors, if possible. + +The apple-trees were short and thick, and he could not see much, and the +Confederates speedily got between him and his men. Immediately, with the +cry of "Rally, boys, to save the Major," back surged the regiment, and +a volley at arm's length again destroyed all the foremost of their +pursuers; so they rescued both their commander and the flag, which was +carried off by Corporal Ring. + +Hyde then formed the regiment on the colors, sixty-eight men all told, +out of two hundred and forty who had begun the charge, and they slowly +marched back toward their place in the Union line, while the New Yorkers +and Vermonters rose from the ground cheering and waving their hats. +Next day, when the Confederates had retired a little from the field, +the color corporal, Campbell, was found in the orchard, dead, propped up +against a tree, with his half-smoked pipe beside him. + + + + +THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON + + Like a servant of the Lord, with his bible and his sword, + Our general rode along us, to form us for the fight. + --Macaulay. + + +The Civil War has left, as all wars of brother against brother must +leave, terrible and heartrending memories; but there remains as an +offset the glory which has accrued to the nation by the countless deeds +of heroism performed by both sides in the struggle. The captains and the +armies that, after long years of dreary campaigning and bloody, stubborn +fighting, brought the war to a close, have left us more than a reunited +realm. North and South, all Americans, now have a common fund of +glorious memories. We are the richer for each grim campaign, for each +hard-fought battle. We are the richer for valor displayed alike by +those who fought so valiantly for the right, and by those who, no less +valiantly, fought for what they deemed the right. We have in us nobler +capacities for what is great and good because of the infinite woe and +suffering, and because of the splendid ultimate triumph. We hold that it +was vital to the welfare, not only of our people on this continent, but +of the whole human race, that the Union should be preserved and slavery +abolished; that one flag should fly from the Great Lakes to the Rio +Grande; that we should all be free in fact as well as in name, and that +the United States should stand as one nation--the greatest nation on the +earth. But we recognize gladly that, South as well as North, when the +fight was once on, the leaders of the armies, and the soldiers whom they +led, displayed the same qualities of daring and steadfast courage, of +disinterested loyalty and enthusiasm, and of high devotion to an ideal. + +The greatest general of the South was Lee, and his greatest lieutenant +was Jackson. Both were Virginians, and both were strongly opposed to +disunion. Lee went so far as to deny the right of secession, while +Jackson insisted that the South ought to try to get its rights inside +the Union, and not outside. But when Virginia joined the Southern +Confederacy, and the war had actually begun, both men cast their lot +with the South. + +It is often said that the Civil War was in one sense a repetition of +the old struggle between the Puritan and the Cavalier; but Puritan and +Cavalier types were common to the two armies. In dash and light-hearted +daring, Custer and Kearney stood as conspicuous as Stuart and Morgan; +and, on the other hand, no Northern general approached the Roundhead +type--the type of the stern, religious warriors who fought under +Cromwell--so closely as Stonewall Jackson. He was a man of intense +religious conviction, who carried into every thought and deed of his +daily life the precepts of the faith he cherished. He was a tender and +loving husband and father, kindhearted and gentle to all with whom he +was brought in contact; yet in the times that tried men's souls, he +proved not only a commander of genius, but a fighter of iron will and +temper, who joyed in the battle, and always showed at his best when +the danger was greatest. The vein of fanaticism that ran through his +character helped to render him a terrible opponent. He knew no such word +as falter, and when he had once put his hand to a piece of work, he did +it thoroughly and with all his heart. It was quite in keeping with his +character that this gentle, high-minded, and religious man should, early +in the contest, have proposed to hoist the black flag, neither take nor +give quarter, and make the war one of extermination. No such policy was +practical in the nineteenth century and in the American Republic; but it +would have seemed quite natural and proper to Jackson's ancestors, the +grim Scotch-Irish, who defended Londonderry against the forces of the +Stuart king, or to their forefathers, the Covenanters of Scotland, and +the Puritans who in England rejoiced at the beheading of King Charles I. + +In the first battle in which Jackson took part, the confused struggle at +Bull Run, he gained his name of Stonewall from the firmness with which +he kept his men to their work and repulsed the attack of the Union +troops. From that time until his death, less than two years afterward, +his career was one of brilliant and almost uninterrupted success; +whether serving with an independent command in the Valley, or acting +under Lee as his right arm in the pitched battles with McClellan, Pope, +and Burnside. Few generals as great as Lee have ever had as great a +lieutenant as Jackson. He was a master of strategy and tactics, fearless +of responsibility, able to instil into his men his own intense ardor +in battle, and so quick in his movements, so ready to march as well as +fight, that his troops were known to the rest of the army as the "foot +cavalry." + +In the spring of 1863 Hooker had command of the Army of the Potomac. +Like McClellan, he was able to perfect the discipline of his forces +and to organize them, and as a division commander he was better +than McClellan, but he failed even more signally when given a great +independent command. He had under him 120,000 men when, toward the +end of April, he prepared to attack Lee's army, which was but half as +strong. + +The Union army lay opposite Fredericksburg, looking at the fortified +heights where they had received so bloody a repulse at the beginning of +the winter. Hooker decided to distract the attention of the Confederates +by letting a small portion of his force, under General Sedgwick, attack +Fredericksburg, while he himself took the bulk of the army across the +river to the right hand so as to crush Lee by an assault on his flank. +All went well at the beginning, and on the first of May Hooker found +himself at Chancellorsville, face-to-face with the bulk of Lee's +forces; and Sedgwick, crossing the river and charging with the utmost +determination, had driven out of Fredericksburg the Confederate division +of Early; but when Hooker found himself in front of Lee he hesitated, +faltered instead of pushing on, and allowed the consummate general to +whom he was opposed to take the initiative. + +Lee fully realized his danger, and saw that his only chance was, first +to beat back Hooker, and then to turn and overwhelm Sedgwick, who was in +his rear. He consulted with Jackson, and Jackson begged to be allowed +to make one of his favorite flank attacks upon the Union army; attacks +which could have been successfully delivered only by a skilled and +resolute general, and by troops equally able to march and to fight. Lee +consented, and Jackson at once made off. The country was thickly covered +with a forest of rather small growth, for it was a wild region, in which +there was still plenty of game. Shielded by the forest, Jackson marched +his gray columns rapidly to the left along the narrow country roads +until he was square on the flank of the Union right wing, which was held +by the Eleventh Corps, under Howard. The Union scouts got track of the +movement and reported it at headquarters, but the Union generals thought +the Confederates were retreating; and when finally the scouts brought +word to Howard that he was menaced by a flank attack he paid no heed to +the information, and actually let his whole corps be surprised in broad +daylight. Yet all the while the battle was going on elsewhere, and +Berdan's sharpshooters had surrounded and captured a Georgia regiment, +from which information was received showing definitely that Jackson was +not retreating, and must be preparing to strike a heavy blow. + +The Eleventh Corps had not the slightest idea that it was about to be +assailed. The men were not even in line. Many of them had stacked their +muskets and were lounging about, some playing cards, others cooking +supper, intermingled with the pack-mules and beef cattle. While they +were thus utterly unprepared Jackson's gray-clad veterans pushed +straight through the forest and rushed fiercely to the attack. The first +notice the troops of the Eleventh Corps received did not come from the +pickets, but from the deer, rabbits and foxes which, fleeing from their +coverts at the approach of the Confederates, suddenly came running over +and into the Union lines. In another minute the frightened pickets came +tumbling back, and right behind them came the long files of charging, +yelling Confederates; With one fierce rush Jackson's men swept over +the Union lines, and at a blow the Eleventh Corps became a horde of +panicstruck fugitives. Some of the regiments resisted for a few moments, +and then they too were carried away in the flight. + +For a while it seemed as if the whole army would be swept off; but +Hooker and his subordinates exerted every effort to restore order. It +was imperative to gain time so that the untouched portions of the army +could form across the line of the Confederate advance. + +Keenan's regiment of Pennsylvania cavalry, but four hundred sabers +strong, was accordingly sent full against the front of the ten thousand +victorious Confederates. + +Keenan himself fell, pierced by bayonets, and the charge was repulsed +at once; but a few priceless moments had been saved, and Pleasanton had +been given time to post twenty-two guns, loaded with double canister, +where they would bear upon the enemy. + +The Confederates advanced in a dense mass, yelling and cheering, and the +discharge of the guns fairly blew them back across the work's they had +just taken. Again they charged, and again were driven back; and when the +battle once more began the Union reinforcements had arrived. + +It was about this time that Jackson himself was mortally wounded. He had +been leading and urging on the advance of his men, cheering them with +voice and gesture, his pale face flushed with joy and excitement, +while from time to time as he sat on his horse he took off his hat and, +looking upward, thanked heaven for the victory it had vouchsafed him. +As darkness drew near he was in the front, where friend and foe were +mingled in almost inextricable confusion. He and his staff were fired +at, at close range, by the Union troops, and, as they turned, were fired +at again, through a mistake, by the Confederates behind them. Jackson +fell, struck in several places. He was put in a litter and carried back; +but he never lost consciousness, and when one of his generals complained +of the terrible effect of the Union cannonade he answered: + +"You must hold your ground." + +For several days he lingered, hearing how Lee beat Hooker, in detail, +and forced him back across the river. Then the old Puritan died. At the +end his mind wandered, and he thought he was again commanding in battle, +and his last words were. + +"Let us cross over the river and rest in the shade." + +Thus perished Stonewall Jackson, one of the ablest of soldiers and one +of the most upright of men, in the last of his many triumphs. + + + + +THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG + + For the Lord + On the whirlwind is abroad; + In the earthquake he has spoken; + He has smitten with his thunder + The iron walls asunder, + And the gates of brass are broken! + --Whittier + + With bray of the trumpet, + And roll of the drum, + And keen ring of bugle + The cavalry come: + Sharp clank the steel scabbards, + The bridle-chains ring, + And foam from red nostrils + The wild chargers fling! + + Tramp, tramp o'er the greensward + That quivers below, + Scarce held by the curb bit + The fierce horses go! + And the grim-visaged colonel, + With ear-rending shout, + Peals forth to the squadrons + The order, "Trot Out"! + --Francis A. Durivage. + + +The battle of Chancellorsville marked the zenith of Confederate good +fortune. Immediately afterward, in June, 1863, Lee led the victorious +army of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania. The South was now the +invader, not the invaded, and its heart beat proudly with hopes of +success; but these hopes went down in bloody wreck on July 4, when word +was sent to the world that the high valor of Virginia had failed at last +on the field of Gettysburg, and that in the far West Vicksburg had been +taken by the army of the "silent soldier." + +At Gettysburg Lee had under him some seventy thousand men, and his +opponent, Meade, about ninety thousand. Both armies were composed mainly +of seasoned veterans, trained to the highest point by campaign after +campaign and battle after battle; and there was nothing to choose +between them as to the fighting power of the rank and file. The Union +army was the larger, yet most of the time it stood on the defensive; +for the difference between the generals, Lee and Meade, was greater +than could be bridged by twenty thousand men. For three days the battle +raged. No other battle of recent time has been so obstinate and so +bloody. The victorious Union army lost a greater percentage in killed +and wounded than the allied armies of England, Germany, and the +Netherlands lost at Waterloo. Four of its seven corps suffered each a +greater relative loss than befell the world-renowned British infantry +on the day that saw the doom of the French emperor. The defeated +Confederates at Gettysburg lost, relatively, as many men as the defeated +French at Waterloo; but whereas the French army became a mere rabble, +Lee withdrew his formidable soldiery with their courage unbroken, and +their fighting power only diminished by their actual losses in the +field. + +The decisive moment of the battle, and perhaps of the whole war, was +in the afternoon of the third day, when Lee sent forward his choicest +troops in a last effort to break the middle of the Union line. The +center of the attacking force was Pickett's division, the flower of the +Virginia infantry; but many other brigades took part in the assault, and +the column, all told, numbered over fifteen thousand men. At the same +time, the Confederates attacked the Union left to create a diversion. +The attack was preceded by a terrific cannonade, Lee gathering one +hundred and fifteen guns, and opening a fire on the center of the Union +line. In response, Hunt, the Union chief of artillery, and Tyler, of +the artillery reserves, gathered eighty guns on the crest of the gently +sloping hill, where attack was threatened. For two hours, from one till +three, the cannonade lasted, and the batteries on both sides suffered +severely. In both the Union and Confederate lines caissons were blown up +by the fire, riderless horses dashed hither and thither, the dead lay in +heaps, and throngs of wounded streamed to the rear. Every man lay down +and sought what cover he could. It was evident that the Confederate +cannonade was but a prelude to a great infantry attack, and at three +o'clock Hunt ordered the fire to stop, that the guns might cool, to be +ready for the coming assault. The Confederates thought that they had +silenced the hostile artillery, and for a few minutes their firing +continued; then, suddenly, it ceased, and there was a lull. + +The men on the Union side who were not at the point directly menaced +peered anxiously across the space between the lines to watch the next +move, while the men in the divisions which it was certain were about +to be assaulted, lay hugging the ground and gripping their muskets, +excited, but confident and resolute. They saw the smoke clouds rise +slowly from the opposite crest, where the Confederate army lay, and the +sunlight glinted again on the long line of brass and iron guns which had +been hidden from view during the cannonade. In another moment, out of +the lifting smoke there appeared, beautiful and terrible, the picked +thousands of the Southern army coming on to the assault. They advanced +in three lines, each over a mile long, and in perfect order. Pickett's +Virginians held the center, with on their left the North Carolinians +of Pender and Pettigrew, and on their right the Alabama regiments of +Wilcox; and there were also Georgian and Tennessee regiments in the +attacking force. Pickett's division, however, was the only one able to +press its charge home. After leaving the woods where they started, the +Confederates had nearly a mile and a half to go in their charge. As the +Virginians moved, they bent slightly to the left, so as to leave a gap +between them and the Alabamians on the right. + +The Confederate lines came on magnificently. As they crossed the +Emmetsburg Pike the eighty guns on the Union crest, now cool and in good +shape, opened upon them, first with shot and then with shell. Great gaps +were made every second in the ranks, but the gray-clad soldiers closed +up to the center, and the color-bearers leaped to the front, shaking +and waving the flags. The Union infantry reserved their fire until the +Confederates were within easy range, when the musketry crashed out with +a roar, and the big guns began to fire grape and canister. On came the +Confederates, the men falling by hundreds, the colors fluttering in +front like a little forest; for as fast as a color-bearer was shot +some one else seized the flag from his hand before it fell. The North +Carolinians were more exposed to the fire than any other portion of +the attacking force, and they were broken before they reached the line. +There was a gap between the Virginians and the Alabama troops, and this +was taken advantage of by Stannard's Vermont brigade and a demi-brigade +under Gates, of the 20th New York, who were thrust forward into it. +Stannard changed front with his regiments and fell on Pickett's forces +in flank, and Gates continued the attack. When thus struck in the flank, +the Virginians could not defend themselves, and they crowded off toward +the center to avoid the pressure. Many of them were killed or captured; +many were driven back; but two of the brigades, headed by General +Armistead, forced their way forward to the stone wall on the crest, +where the Pennsylvania regiments were posted under Gibbon and Webb. + +The Union guns fired to the last moment, until of the two batteries +immediately in front of the charging Virginians every officer but one +had been struck. One of the mortally wounded officers was young Cushing, +a brother of the hero of the Albemarle fight. He was almost cut in two, +but holding his body together with one hand, with the other he fired his +last gun, and fell dead, just as Armistead, pressing forward at the head +of his men, leaped the wall, waving his hat on his sword. Immediately +afterward the battle-flags of the foremost Confederate regiments crowned +the crest; but their strength was spent. The Union troops moved forward +with the bayonet, and the remnant of Pickett's division, attacked on all +sides, either surrendered or retreated down the hill again. Armistead +fell, dying, by the body of the dead Cushing. Both Gibbon and Webb +were wounded. Of Pickett's command two thirds were killed, wounded or +captured, and every brigade commander and every field officer, save one, +fell. The Virginians tried to rally, but were broken and driven again +by Gates, while Stannard repeated, at the expense of the Alabamians, the +movement he had made against the Virginians, and, reversing his front, +attacked them in flank. Their lines were torn by the batteries in front, +and they fell back before the Vermonter's attack, and Stannard reaped a +rich harvest of prisoners and of battle-flags. + +The charge was over. It was the greatest charge in any battle of +modern times, and it had failed. It would be impossible to surpass +the gallantry of those that made it, or the gallantry of those that +withstood it. Had there been in command of the Union army a general +like Grant, it would have been followed by a counter-charge, and in all +probability the war would have been shortened by nearly two years; but +no countercharge was made. + +As the afternoon waned, a fierce cavalry fight took place on the Union +right. Stuart, the famous Confederate cavalry commander, had moved +forward to turn the Union right, but he was met by Gregg's cavalry, and +there followed a contest, at close quarters, with "the white arm." It +closed with a desperate melee, in which the Confederates, charged under +Generals Wade Hampton and Fitz Lee, were met in mid career by the Union +generals Custer and McIntosh. All four fought, saber in hand, at the +head of their troopers, and every man on each side was put into the +struggle. Custer, his yellow hair flowing, his face aflame with the +eager joy of battle, was in the thick of the fight, rising in his +stirrups as he called to his famous Michigan swordsmen: "Come on, you +Wolverines, come on!" All that the Union infantry, watching eagerly +from their lines, could see, was a vast dust-cloud where flakes of +light shimmered as the sun shone upon the swinging sabers. At last the +Confederate horsemen were beaten back, and they did not come forward +again or seek to renew the combat; for Pickett's charge had failed, and +there was no longer hope of Confederate victory. + +When night fell, the Union flags waved in triumph on the field of +Gettysburg; but over thirty thousand men lay dead or wounded, strewn +through wood and meadow, on field and hill, where the three days' fight +had surged. + + + + +GENERAL GRANT AND THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN + + What flag is this you carry + Along the sea and shore? + The same our grandsires lifted up-- + The same our fathers bore. + In many a battle's tempest + It shed the crimson rain-- + What God has woven in his loom + Let no man rend in twain. + To Canaan, to Canaan, + The Lord has led us forth, + To plant upon the rebel towers + The banners of the North. + --Holmes. + + +On January 29, 1863, General Grant took command of the army intended +to operate against Vicksburg, the last place held by the rebels on the +Mississippi, and the only point at which they could cross the river and +keep up communication with their armies and territory in the southwest. +It was the first high ground below Memphis, was very strongly fortified, +and was held by a large army under General Pemberton. The complete +possession of the Mississippi was absolutely essential to the National +Government, because the control of that great river would cut the +Confederacy in two, and do more, probably, than anything else, to make +the overthrow of the Rebellion both speedy and certain. + +The natural way to invest and capture so strong a place, defended and +fortified as Vicksburg was, would have been, if the axioms of the art +of war had been adhered to, by a system of gradual approaches. A strong +base should have been established at Memphis, and then the army and the +fleet moved gradually forward, building storehouses and taking strong +positions as they went. To do this, however, it first would have been +necessary to withdraw the army from the positions it then held not far +above Vicksburg, on the western bank of the river. But such a movement, +at that time, would not have been understood by the country, and would +have had a discouraging effect on the public mind, which it was +most essential to avoid. The elections of 1862 had gone against the +government, and there was great discouragement throughout the North. +Voluntary enlistments had fallen off, a draft had been ordered, and the +peace party was apparently gaining rapidly in strength. General Grant, +looking at this grave political situation with the eye of a statesman, +decided, as a soldier, that under no circumstances would he withdraw the +army, but that, whatever happened, he would "press forward to a decisive +victory." In this determination he never faltered, but drove straight +at his object until, five months later, the great Mississippi stronghold +fell before him. + +Efforts were made through the winter to reach Vicksburg from the north +by cutting canals, and by attempts to get in through the bayous and +tributary streams of the great river. All these expedients failed, +however, one after another, as Grant, from the beginning, had feared +that they would. He, therefore, took another and widely different line, +and determined to cross the river from the western to the eastern bank +below Vicksburg, to the south. With the aid of the fleet, which ran the +batteries successfully, he moved his army down the west bank until he +reached a point beyond the possibility of attack, while a diversion +by Sherman at Haines' Bluff, above Vicksburg, kept Pemberton in his +fortifications. On April 26, Grant began to move his men over the river +and landed them at Bruinsburg. "When this was effected," he writes, "I +felt a degree of relief scarcely ever equaled since. Vicksburg was not +yet taken, it is true, nor were its defenders demoralized by any of our +previous movements. I was now in the enemy's country, with a vast river +and the stronghold of Vicksburg between me and my base of supplies, but +I was on dry ground, on the same side of the river with the enemy." + +The situation was this: The enemy had about sixty thousand men at +Vicksburg, Haines' Bluff, and at Jackson, Mississippi, about fifty +miles east of Vicksburg. Grant, when he started, had about thirty-three +thousand men. It was absolutely necessary for success that Grant, with +inferior numbers, should succeed in destroying the smaller forces to +the eastward, and thus prevent their union with Pemberton and the +main army at Vicksburg. His plan, in brief; was to fight and defeat a +superior enemy separately and in detail. He lost no time in putting his +plan into action, and pressing forward quickly, met a detachment of the +enemy at Port Gibson and defeated them. Thence he marched to Grand Gulf, +on the Mississippi, which he took, and which he had planned to make a +base of supply. When he reached Grand Gulf, however, he found that he +would be obliged to wait a month, in order to obtain the reinforcements +which he expected from General Banks at Port Hudson. He, therefore, gave +up the idea of making Grand Gulf a base, and Sherman having now joined +him with his corps, Grant struck at once into the interior. He took +nothing with him except ammunition, and his army was in the lightest +marching order. This enabled him to move with great rapidity, but +deprived him of his wagon trains, and of all munitions of war except +cartridges. Everything, however, in this campaign, depended on +quickness, and Grant's decision, as well as all his movements, marked +the genius of the great soldier, which consists very largely in knowing +just when to abandon the accepted military axioms. + +Pressing forward, Grant met the enemy, numbering between seven and eight +thousand, at Raymond, and readily defeated them. He then marched on +toward Jackson, fighting another action at Clinton, and at Jackson he +struck General Joseph Johnston, who had arrived at that point to take +command of all the rebel forces. Johnston had with him, at the moment, +about eleven thousand men, and stood his ground. There was a sharp +fight, but Grant easily defeated the enemy, and took possession of the +town. This was an important point, for Jackson was the capital of +the State of Mississippi, and was a base of military supplies. Grant +destroyed the factories and the munitions of war which were gathered +there, and also came into possession of the line of railroad which ran +from Jackson to Vicksburg. While he was thus engaged, an intercepted +message revealed to him the fact that Pemberton, in accordance with +Johnston's orders, had come out of Vicksburg with twenty-five thousand +men, and was moving eastward against him. Pemberton, however, instead +of holding a straight line against Grant, turned at first to the south, +with the view of breaking the latter's line of communication. This was +not a success, for, as Grant says, with grim humor, "I had no line of +communication to break"; and, moreover, it delayed Pemberton when delay +was of value to Grant in finishing Johnston. After this useless turn to +the southward Pemberton resumed his march to the east, as he should have +done in the beginning, in accordance with Johnston's orders; but Grant +was now more than ready. He did not wait the coming of Pemberton. +Leaving Jackson as soon as he heard of the enemy's advance from +Vicksburg, he marched rapidly westward and struck Pemberton at Champion +Hills. The forces were at this time very nearly matched, and the +severest battle of the campaign ensued, lasting four hours. Grant, +however, defeated Pemberton completely, and came very near capturing +his entire force. With a broken army, Pemberton fell back on Vicksburg. +Grant pursued without a moment's delay, and came up with the rear guard +at Big Black River. A sharp engagement followed, and the Confederates +were again defeated. Grant then crossed the Big Black and the next day +was before Vicksburg, with his enemy inside the works. + +When Grant crossed the Mississippi at Bruinsburg and struck into the +interior, he, of course, passed out of communication with Washington, +and he did not hear from there again until May 11, when, just as his +troops were engaging in the battle of Black River Bridge, an officer +appeared from Port Hudson with an order from General Halleck to return +to Grand Gulf and thence cooperate with Banks against Port Hudson. +Grant replied that the order came too late. "The bearer of the despatch +insisted that I ought to obey the order, and was giving arguments to +support the position, when I heard a great cheering to the right of our +line, and looking in that direction, saw Lawler, in his shirt-sleeves, +leading a charge on the enemy. I immediately mounted my horse and rode +in the direction of the charge, and saw no more of the officer who had +delivered the message; I think not even to this day." When Grant reached +Vicksburg, there was no further talk of recalling him to Grand Gulf or +Port Hudson. The authorities at Washington then saw plainly enough what +had been done in the interior of Mississippi, far from the reach of +telegraphs or mail. + +As soon as the National troops reached Vicksburg an assault was +attempted, but the place was too strong, and the attack was repulsed, +with heavy loss. Grant then settled down to a siege, and Lincoln and +Halleck now sent him ample reinforcements. He no longer needed to ask +for them. His campaign had explained itself, and in a short time he +had seventy thousand men under his command. His lines were soon made so +strong that it was impossible for the defenders of Vicksburg to break +through them, and although Johnston had gathered troops again to the +eastward, an assault from that quarter on the National army, now so +largely reinforced, was practically out of the question. Tighter and +tighter Grant drew his lines about the city, where, every day, the +suffering became more intense. It is not necessary to give the details +of the siege. On July 4, 1863, Vicksburg surrendered, the Mississippi +was in control of the National forces from its source to its mouth, and +the Confederacy was rent in twain. On the same day Lee was beaten at +Gettysburg, and these two great victories really crushed the Rebellion, +although much hard fighting remained to be done before the end was +reached. + +Grant's campaign against Vicksburg deserves to be compared with that of +Napoleon which resulted in the fall of Ulm. It was the most brilliant +single campaign of the war. With an inferior force, and abandoning +his lines of communication, moving with a marvelous rapidity through a +difficult country, Grant struck the superior forces of the enemy on the +line from Jackson to Vicksburg. He crushed Johnston before Pemberton +could get to him, and he flung Pemberton back into Vicksburg before +Johnston could rally from the defeat which had been inflicted. With an +inferior force, Grant was superior at every point of contest, and he won +every fight. Measured by the skill displayed and the result achieved, +there is no campaign in our history which better deserves study and +admiration. + + + + +ROBERT GOULD SHAW + + Brave, good, and true, + I see him stand before me now, + And read again on that young brow, + Where every hope was new, + HOW SWEET WERE LIFE! Yet, by the mouth firm-set, + And look made up for Duty's utmost debt, + I could divine he knew + That death within the sulphurous hostile lines, + In the mere wreck of nobly-pitched designs, + Plucks hearts-ease, and not rue. + + Right in the van, + On the red ramparts slippery swell, + With heart that beat a charge, he fell, + Foeward, as fits a man; + But the high soul burns on to light men's feet + Where death for noble ends makes dying sweet; + His life her crescent's span + Orbs full with share in their undarkening days + Who ever climbed the battailous steeps of praise + Since valor's praise began. + + We bide our chance, + Unhappy, and make terms with Fate + A little more to let us wait; + He leads for aye the advance, + Hope's forlorn-hopes that plant the desperate good + For nobler Earths and days of manlier mood; + Our wall of circumstance + Cleared at a bound, he flashes o'er the fight, + A saintly shape of fame, to cheer the right + And steel each wavering glance. + + I write of one, + While with dim eyes I think of three; + Who weeps not others fair and brave as he? + Ah, when the fight is won, + Dear Land, whom triflers now make bold to scorn + (Thee from whose forehead Earth awaits her morn), + How nobler shall the sun + Flame in thy sky, how braver breathe thy air, + That thou bred'st children who for thee could dare + And die as thine have done. + --Lowell. + + +Robert Gould Shaw was born in Boston on October 10, 1837, the son of +Francis and Sarah Sturgis Shaw. When he was about nine years old, his +parents moved to Staten Island, and he was educated there, and at school +in the neighborhood of New York, until he went to Europe in 1853, where +he remained traveling and studying for the next three years. He entered +Harvard College in 1856, and left at the end of his third year, in order +to accept an advantageous business offer in New York. + +Even as a boy he took much interest in politics, and especially in the +question of slavery. He voted for Lincoln in 1860, and at that time +enlisted as a private in the New York 7th Regiment, feeling that there +was likelihood of trouble, and that there would be a demand for soldiers +to defend the country. His foresight was justified only too soon, and on +April 19, 1861, he marched with his regiment to Washington. The call for +the 7th Regiment was only for thirty days, and at the expiration of that +service he applied for and obtained a commission as second lieutenant in +the 2d Massachusetts, and left with that regiment for Virginia in July, +1861. He threw himself eagerly into his new duties, and soon gained +a good position in the regiment. At Cedar Mountain he was an aid on +General Gordon's staff, and was greatly exposed in the performance of +his duties during the action. He was also with his regiment at Antietam, +and was in the midst of the heavy fighting of that great battle. + +Early in 1863, the Government determined to form negro regiments, and +Governor Andrew offered Shaw, who had now risen to the rank of captain, +the colonelcy of one to be raised in Massachusetts, the first black +regiment recruited under State authority. It was a great compliment to +receive this offer, but Shaw hesitated as to his capacity for such a +responsible post. He first wrote a letter declining, on the ground that +he did not feel that he had ability enough for the undertaking, and then +changed his mind, and telegraphed Governor Andrew that he would accept. +It is not easy to realize it now, but his action then in accepting this +command required high moral courage, of a kind quite different from that +which he had displayed already on the field of battle. The prejudice +against the blacks was still strong even in the North. There was a great +deal of feeling among certain classes against enlisting black regiments +at all, and the officers who undertook to recruit and lead negroes were. +exposed to much attack and criticism. Shaw felt, however, that this very +opposition made it all the more incumbent on him to undertake the duty. +He wrote on February 8: + +After I have undertaken this work, I shall feel that what I have to do +is to prove that the negro can be made a good soldier... . I am inclined +to think that the undertaking will not meet with so much opposition as +was at first supposed. All sensible men in the army, of all parties, +after a little thought, say that it is the best thing that can be done, +and surely those at home who are not brave or patriotic enough to enlist +should not ridicule or throw obstacles in the way of men who are going +to fight for them. There is a great prejudice against it, but now that +it has become a government matter, that will probably wear away. At +any rate I sha'n't be frightened out of it by its unpopularity. I feel +convinced I shall never regret having taken this step, as far as I +myself am concerned; for while I was undecided, I felt ashamed of myself +as if I were cowardly. + + +Colonel Shaw went at once to Boston, after accepting his new duty, and +began the work of raising and drilling the 54th Regiment. He met with +great success, for he and his officers labored heart and soul, and the +regiment repaid their efforts. On March 30, he wrote: "The mustering +officer who was here to-day is a Virginian, and has always thought it +was a great joke to try to make soldiers of 'niggers,' but he tells me +now that he has never mustered in so fine a set of men, though about +twenty thousand had passed through his hands since September." On May +28, Colonel Shaw left Boston, and his march through the city was a +triumph. The appearance of his regiment made a profound impression, and +was one of the events of the war which those who saw it never forgot. + +The regiment was ordered to South Carolina, and when they were off Cape +Hatteras, Colonel Shaw wrote: + +The more I think of the passage of the 54th through Boston, the more +wonderful it seems to me just remember our own doubts and fears, and +other people's sneering and pitying remarks when we began last winter, +and then look at the perfect triumph of last Thursday. We have gone +quietly along, forming the first regiment, and at last left Boston +amidst greater enthusiasm than has been seen since the first three +months' troops left for the war. Truly, I ought to be thankful for +all my happiness and my success in life so far; and if the raising of +colored troops prove such a benefit to the country and to the blacks as +many people think it will, I shall thank God a thousand times that I was +led to take my share in it. + + +He had, indeed, taken his share in striking one of the most fatal blows +to the barbarism of slavery which had yet been struck. The formation of +the black regiments did more for the emancipation of the negro and the +recognition of his rights, than almost anything else. It was impossible, +after that, to say that men who fought and gave their lives for the +Union and for their own freedom were not entitled to be free. The +acceptance of the command of a black regiment by such men as Shaw and +his fellow-officers was the great act which made all this possible. + +After reaching South Carolina, Colonel Shaw was with his regiment at +Port Royal and on the islands of that coast for rather more than a +month, and on July 18 he was offered the post of honor in an assault +upon Fort Wagner, which was ordered for that night. He had proved that +the negroes could be made into a good regiment, and now the second great +opportunity had come, to prove their fighting quality. He wanted to +demonstrate that his men could fight side by side with white soldiers, +and show to somebody beside their officers what stuff they were made of. +He, therefore, accepted the dangerous duty with gladness. Late in the +day the troops were marched across Folly and Morris islands and formed +in line of battle within six hundred yards of Fort Wagner. At half-past +seven the order for the charge was given, and the regiment advanced. +When they were within a hundred yards of the fort, the rebel fire opened +with such effect that the first battalion hesitated and wavered. Colonel +Shaw sprang to the front, and waving his sword, shouted: "Forward, +54th!" With another cheer, the men rushed through the ditch, and gained +a parapet on the right. Colonel Shaw was one of the first to scale the +walls. As he stood erect, a noble figure, ordering his men forward and +shouting to them to press on, he was shot dead and fell into the fort. +After his fall, the assault was repulsed. + +General Haywood, commanding the rebel forces, said to a Union prisoner: +"I knew Colonel Shaw before the war, and then esteemed him. Had he been +in command of white troops, I should have given him an honorable burial. +As it is, I shall bury him in the common trench, with the negroes that +fell with him." He little knew that he was giving the dead soldier the +most honorable burial that man could have devised, for the savage words +told unmistakably that Robert Shaw's work had not been in vain. The +order to bury him with his "niggers," which ran through the North and +remained fixed in our history, showed, in a flash of light, the hideous +barbarism of a system which made such things and such feelings possible. +It also showed that slavery was wounded to the death, and that the +brutal phrase was the angry snarl of a dying tiger. Such words rank with +the action of Charles Stuart, when he had the bones of Oliver Cromwell +and Robert Blake torn from their graves and flung on dunghills or fixed +on Temple Bar. + +Robert Shaw fell in battle at the head of his men, giving his life to +his country, as did many another gallant man during those four years of +conflict. But he did something more than this. He faced prejudice and +hostility in the North, and confronted the blind and savage rage of the +South, in order to demonstrate to the world that the human beings who +were held in bondage could vindicate their right to freedom by fighting +and dying for it. He helped mightily in the great task of destroying +human slavery, and in uplifting an oppressed and down-trodden race. He +brought to this work the qualities which were particularly essential for +his success. He had all that birth and wealth, breeding, education, and +tradition could give. He offered up, in full measure, all those things +which make life most worth living. He was handsome and beloved. He had a +serene and beautiful nature, and was at once brave and simple. Above +all things, he was fitted for the task which he performed and for the +sacrifice which he made. The call of the country and of the time came +to him, and he was ready. He has been singled out for remembrance from +among many others of equal sacrifice, and a monument is rising to his +memory in Boston, because it was his peculiar fortune to live and die +for a great principle of humanity, and to stand forth as an ideal and +beautiful figure in a struggle where the onward march of civilization +was at stake. He lived in those few and crowded years a heroic life, and +he met a heroic death. When he fell, sword in hand, on the parapet of +Wagner, leading his black troops in a desperate assault, we can only say +of him as Bunyan said of "Valiant for Truth": "And then he passed over, +and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side." + + + + +CHARLES RUSSELL LOWELL + + Wut's wurds to them whose faith an' truth + On war's red techstone rang true metal, + Who ventered life an' love an, youth + For the gret prize o' death in battle? + + To him who, deadly hurt, agen + Flashed on afore the charge's thunder, + Tippin' with fire the bolt of men + Thet rived the rebel line asunder? + --Lowell. + + +Charles Russell Lowell was born in Boston, January 2, 1835. He was the +eldest son of Charles Russell and Anna Cabot (Jackson) Lowell, and the +nephew of James Russell Lowell. He bore the name, distinguished in many +branches, of a family which was of the best New England stock. Educated +in the Boston public schools, he entered Harvard College in 1850. +Although one of the youngest members of his class, he went rapidly to +the front, and graduated not only the first scholar of his year, but +the foremost man of his class. He was, however, much more than a fine +scholar, for even then he showed unusual intellectual qualities. He read +widely and loved letters. He was a student of philosophy and religion, a +thinker, and, best of all, a man of ideals--"the glory of youth," as +he called them in his valedictory oration. But he was something still +better and finer than a mere idealist; he was a man of action, eager to +put his ideals into practice and bring them to the test of daily life. +With his mind full of plans for raising the condition of workingmen +while he made his own career, he entered the iron mills of the Ames +Company, at Chicopee. Here he remained as a workingman for six months, +and then received an important post in the Trenton Iron Works of New +Jersey. There his health broke down. Consumption threatened him, and all +his bright hopes and ambitions were overcast and checked. He was obliged +to leave his business and go to Europe, where he traveled for two years, +fighting the dread disease that was upon him. In 1858 he returned, and +took a position on a Western railroad. Although the work was new to +him, he manifested the same capacity that he had always shown, and more +especially his power over other men and his ability in organization. In +two years his health was reestablished, and in 1860 he took charge of +the Mount Savage Iron Works, at Cumberland, Maryland. He was there +when news came of the attack made by the mob upon the 6th Massachusetts +Regiment, in Baltimore. Two days later he had made his way to +Washington, one of the first comers from the North, and at once applied +for a commission in the regular army. While he was waiting, he employed +himself in looking after the Massachusetts troops, and also, it is +understood, as a scout for the Government, dangerous work which suited +his bold and adventurous nature. + +In May he received his commission as captain in the United States +cavalry. Employed at first in recruiting and then in drill, he gave +himself up to the study of tactics and the science of war. The career +above all others to which he was suited had come to him. The field, at +last, lay open before him, where all his great qualities of mind and +heart, his high courage, his power of leadership and of organization, and +his intellectual powers could find full play. He moved rapidly forward, +just as he had already done in college and in business. His regiment, +in 1862, was under Stoneman in the Peninsula, and was engaged in many +actions, where Lowell's cool bravery made him constantly conspicuous. +At the close of the campaign he was brevetted major, for distinguished +services at Williamsburg and Slatersville. + +In July, Lowell was detailed for duty as an aid to General McClellan. +At Malvern Hill and South Mountain his gallantry and efficiency were +strongly shown, but it was at Antietam that he distinguished himself +most. Sent with orders to General Sedgwick's division, he found it +retreating in confusion, under a hot fire. He did not stop to think +of orders, but rode rapidly from point to point of the line, rallying +company after company by the mere force and power of his word and look, +checking the rout, while the storm of bullets swept all round him. His +horse was shot under him, a ball passed through his coat, another +broke his sword-hilt, but he came off unscathed, and his service was +recognized by his being sent to Washington with the captured flags of +the enemy. + +The following winter he was ordered to Boston, to recruit a regiment +of cavalry, of which he was appointed colonel. While the recruiting was +going on, a serious mutiny broke out, but the man who, like Cromwell's +soldiers, "rejoiced greatly" in the day of battle was entirely capable +of meeting this different trial. He shot the ringleader dead, and by +the force of his own strong will quelled the outbreak completely and at +once. + +In May, he went to Virginia with his regiment, where he was engaged in +resisting and following Mosby, and the following summer he was opposed +to General Early in the neighborhood of Washington. On July 14, when +on a reconnoissance his advance guard was surprised, and he met them +retreating in wild confusion, with the enemy at their heels. Riding into +the midst of the fugitives, Lowell shouted, "Dismount!" The sharp word +of command, the presence of the man himself, and the magic of discipline +prevailed. The men sprang down, drew up in line, received the enemy, +with a heavy fire, and as the assailants wavered, Lowell advanced at +once, and saved the day. + +In July, he was put in command of the "Provisional Brigade," and joined +the army of the Shenandoah, of which in August General Sheridan took +command. He was so struck with Lowell's work during the next month that +in September he put him in command of the "Reserved Brigade," a very +fine body of cavalry and artillery. In the fierce and continuous +fighting that ensued Lowell was everywhere conspicuous, and in thirteen +weeks he had as many horses shot under him. But he now had scope to +show more than the dashing gallantry which distinguished him always and +everywhere. His genuine military ability, which surely would have +led him to the front rank of soldiers had his life been spared, his +knowledge, vigilance, and nerve all now became apparent. One brilliant +action succeeded another, but the end was drawing near. It came at +last on the famous day of Cedar Creek, when Sheridan rode down from +Winchester and saved the battle. Lowell had advanced early in the +morning on the right, and his attack prevented the disaster on that wing +which fell upon the surprised army. He then moved to cover the retreat, +and around to the extreme left, where he held his position near +Middletown against repeated assaults. Early in the day his last horse +was shot under him, and a little later, in a charge at one o'clock, he +was struck in the right breast by a spent ball, which embedded itself +in the muscles of the chest. Voice and strength left him. "It is only +my poor lung," he announced, as they urged him to go to the rear; "you +would not have me leave the field without having shed blood." As a +matter of fact, the "poor" lung had collapsed, and there was an internal +hemorrhage. He lay thus, under a rude shelter, for an hour and a half, +and then came the order to advance along the whole line, the victorious +advance of Sheridan and the rallied army. Lowell was helped to his +saddle. "I feel well now," he whispered, and, giving his orders through +one of his staff, had his brigade ready first. Leading the great charge, +he dashed forward, and, just when the fight was hottest, a sudden cry +went up: "The colonel is hit!" He fell from the saddle, struck in the +neck by a ball which severed the spine, and was borne by his officers to +a house in the village, where, clear in mind and calm in spirit, he died +a few hours afterward. + +"I do not think there was a quality," said General Sheridan, "which +I could have added to Lowell. He was the perfection of a man and a +soldier." On October 19, the very day on which he fell, his commission +was signed to be a brigadier-general. + +This was a noble life and a noble death, worthy of much thought and +admiration from all men. Yet this is not all. It is well for us to see +how such a man looked upon what he was doing, and what it meant to him. +Lowell was one of the silent heroes so much commended by Carlyle. He +never wrote of himself or his own exploits. As some one well said, he +had "the impersonality of genius." But in a few remarkable passages +in his private letters, we can see how the meaning of life and of that +great time unrolled itself before his inner eyes. In June, 1861, he +wrote: + +I cannot say I take any great pleasure in the contemplation of the +future. I fancy you feel much as I do about the profitableness of a +soldier's life, and would not think of trying it, were it not for a +muddled and twisted idea that somehow or other this fight was going to +be one in which decent men ought to engage for the sake of humanity,--I +use the word in its ordinary sense. It seems to me that within a year +the slavery question will again take a prominent place, and that many +cases will arise in which we may get fearfully in the wrong if we put +our cause wholly in the hands of fighting men and foreign legions. + +In June, 1863, he wrote: + +I wonder whether my theories about self-culture, etc., would ever have +been modified so much, whether I should ever have seen what a necessary +failure they lead to, had it not been for this war. Now I feel every +day, more and more, that a man has no right to himself at all; that, +indeed, he can do nothing useful unless he recognizes this clearly. Here +again, on July 3, is a sentence which it is well to take to heart, and +for all men to remember when their ears are deafened with the cry that +war, no matter what the cause, is the worst thing possible, because it +interferes with comfort, trade, and money-making: "Wars are bad," Lowell +writes, "but there are many things far worse. Anything immediately +comfortable in our affairs I don't see; but comfortable times are not +the ones t hat make a nation great." On July 24, he says: + +Many nations fail, that one may become great; ours will fail, unless we +gird up our loins and do humble and honest days' work, without trying +to do the thing by the job, or to get a great nation made by a patent +process. It is not safe to say that we shall not have victories till we +are ready for them. We shall have victories, and whether or no we are +ready for them depends upon ourselves; if we are not ready, we shall +fail,--voila tout. If you ask, what if we do fail? I have nothing to +say; I shouldn't cry over a nation or two, more or less, gone under. + +Finally, on September 10, a little more than a month before his death, +he wrote to a disabled officer: + +I hope that you are going to live like a plain republican, mindful of +the beauty and of the duty of simplicity. Nothing fancy now, sir, if you +please; it's disreputable to spend money when the government is so +hard up, and when there are so many poor officers. I hope that you have +outgrown all foolish ambitions, and are now content to become a "useful +citizen." Don't grow rich; if you once begin, you will find it much +more difficult to be a useful citizen. Don't seek office, but don't +"disremember" that the "useful citizen" always holds his time, his +trouble, his money, and his life ready at the hint of his country. The +useful citizen is a mighty, unpretending hero; but we are not going to +have any country very long, unless such heroism is developed. There, +what a stale sermon I'm preaching. But, being a soldier, it does seem to +me that I should like nothing so well as being a useful citizen. Well, +trying to be one, I mean. I shall stay in the service, of course, till +the war is over, or till I'm disabled; but then I look forward to a +pleasanter career. + +I believe I have lost all my ambitions. I don't think I would turn my +hand to be a distinguished chemist or a famous mathematician. All I now +care about is to be a useful citizen, with money enough to buy bread +and firewood, and to teach my children to ride on horseback, and look +strangers in the face, especially Southern strangers. + +There are profound and lofty lessons of patriotism and conduct in these +passages, and a very noble philosophy of life and duty both as a man +and as a citizen of a great republic. They throw a flood of light on +the great underlying forces which enabled the American people to save +themselves in that time of storm and stress. They are the utterances of +a very young man, not thirty years old when he died in battle, but much +beyond thirty in head and heart, tried and taught as he had been in a +great war. What precisely such young men thought they were fighting for +is put strikingly by Lowell's younger brother James, who was killed at +Glendale, July 4, 1862. In 1861, James Lowell wrote to his classmates, +who had given him a sword: + +Those who died for the cause, not of the Constitution and the laws,--a +superficial cause, the rebels have now the same,--but of civilization +and law, and the self-restrained freedom which is their result. As the +Greeks at Marathon and Salamis, Charles Martel and the Franks at Tours, +and the Germans at the Danube, saved Europe from Asiatic barbarism, so +we, at places to be famous in future times, shall have saved America +from a similar tide of barbarism; and we may hope to be purified and +strengthened ourselves by the struggle. + +This is a remarkable passage and a deep thought. Coming from a young +fellow of twenty-four, it is amazing. But the fiery trial of the times +taught fiercely and fast, and James Lowell, just out of college, could +see in the red light around him that not merely the freedom of a race +and the saving of a nation were at stake, but that behind all this +was the forward movement of civilization, brought once again to the +arbitrament of the sword. Slavery was barbarous and barbarizing. It +had dragged down the civilization of the South to a level from which it +would take generations to rise up again. Was this barbarous force now +to prevail in the United States in the nineteenth century? Was it to +destroy a great nation, and fetter human progress in the New World? That +was the great question back of, beyond and above all. Should this force +of barbarism sweep conquering over the land, wrecking an empire in its +onward march, or should it be flung back as Miltiades flung back Asia +at Marathon, and Charles Martel stayed the coming of Islam at Tours? The +brilliant career, the shining courage, best seen always where the dead +were lying thickest, the heroic death of Charles Lowell, are good for +us all to know and to remember. Yet this imperfect story of his life +has not been placed here for these things alone. Many thousand others, +officers and soldiers alike, in the great Civil War gave their lives as +freely as he, and brought to the service of their country the best that +was in them. He was a fine example of many who, like him, offered up +all they had for their country. But Lowell was also something more +than this. He was a high type of a class, and a proof of certain very +important things, and this is a point worthy of much consideration. + +The name of John Hampden stands out in the history of the +English-speaking people, admired and unquestioned. He was neither a +great statesman, nor a great soldier; he was not a brilliant orator, nor +a famous writer. He fell bravely in an unimportant skirmish at Chalgrove +Field, fighting for freedom and what he believed to be right. Yet he +fills a great place in the past, both for what he did and what he +was, and the reason for this is of high importance. John Hampden was +a gentleman, with all the advantages that the accidents of birth could +give. He was rich, educated, well born, of high traditions. English +civilization of that day could produce nothing better. The memorable +fact is that, when the time came for the test, he did not fail. He was +a type of what was best among the English people, and when the call +sounded, he was ready. He was brave, honest, high-minded, and he +gave all, even his life, to his country. In the hour of need, the +representative of what was best and most fortunate in England was put to +the touch, and proved to be current gold. All men knew what that meant, +and Hampden's memory is one of the glories of the English-speaking +people. + +Charles Lowell has the same meaning for us when rightly understood. He +had all that birth, breeding, education, and tradition could give. The +resources of our American life and civilization could produce nothing +better. How would he and such men as he stand the great ordeal when it +came? If wealth, education, and breeding were to result in a class +who could only carp and criticize, accumulate money, give way to +self-indulgence, and cherish low foreign ideals, then would it have +appeared that there was a radical unsoundness in our society, refinement +would have been proved to be weakness, and the highest education would +have been shown to be a curse, rather than a blessing. But Charles +Lowell, and hundreds of others like him, in greater or less degree, all +over the land, met the great test and emerged triumphant. The Harvard +men may be taken as fairly representing the colleges and universities of +America. Harvard had, in 1860, 4157 living graduates, and 823 students, +presumably over eighteen years old. Probably 3000 of her students and +graduates were of military age, and not physically disqualified for +military service. Of this number, 1230 entered the Union army or navy. +One hundred and fifty-six died in service, and 67 were killed in action. +Many did not go who might have gone, unquestionably, but the record is a +noble one. Nearly one man of every two Harvard men came forward to serve +his country when war was at our gates, and this proportion holds true, +no doubt, of the other universities of the North. It is well for the +country, well for learning, well for our civilization, that such a +record was made at such a time. Charles Lowell, and those like him, +showed, once for all, that the men to whom fortune had been kindest were +capable of the noblest patriotism, and shrank from no sacrifices. They +taught the lesson which can never be heard too often--that the man to +whom the accidents of birth and fortune have given most is the man who +owes most to his country. If patriotism should exist anywhere, it should +be strongest with such men as these, and their service should be ever +ready. How nobly Charles Lowell in this spirit answered the great +question, his life and death, alike victorious, show to all men. + + + + +SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK + + Inspired repulsed battalions to engage, + And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. + --Addison. + + +General Sheridan took command of the Army of the Shenandoah in August, +1864. His coming was the signal for aggressive fighting, and for a +series of brilliant victories over the rebel army. He defeated Early +at Winchester and again at Fisher's Hill, while General Torbert whipped +Rosser in a subsequent action, where the rout of the rebels was so +complete that the fight was known as the "Woodstock races." Sheridan's +plan after this was to terminate his campaign north of Staunton, and, +returning thence, to desolate the Valley, so as to make it untenable +for the Confederates, as well as useless as a granary or storehouse, and +then move the bulk of his army through Washington, and unite them +with General Grant in front of Petersburg. Grant, however, and the +authorities at Washington, were in favor of Sheridan's driving Early +into Eastern Virginia, and following up that line, which Sheri dan +himself believed to be a false move. This important matter was in debate +until October 16, when Sheridan, having left the main body of his army +at Cedar Creek under General Wright, determined to go to Washington, and +discuss the question personally with General Halleck and the Secretary +of War. He reached Washington on the morning of the 17th about eight +o'clock, left there at twelve; and got back to Martinsburg the same +night about dark. At Martinsburg he spent the night, and the next day, +with his escort, rode to Winchester, reaching that point between three +and four o'clock in the afternoon of the 18th. He there heard that all +was quiet at Cedar Creek and along the front, and went to bed, expecting +to reach his headquarters and join the army the next day. + +About six o'clock, on the morning of the 19th, it was reported to him +that artillery firing could be heard in the direction of Cedar Creek, +but as the sound was stated to be irregular and fitful, he thought it +only a skirmish. He, nevertheless, arose at once, and had just finished +dressing when another officer came in, and reported that the firing was +still going on in the same direction, but that it did not sound like +a general battle. Still Sheridan was uneasy, and, after breakfasting, +mounted his horse between eight and nine o'clock, and rode slowly +through Winchester. When he reached the edge of the town he halted a +moment, and then heard the firing of artillery in an unceasing roar. +He now felt confident that a general battle was in progress, and, as he +rode forward, he was convinced, from the rapid increase of the sound, +that his army was failing back. After he had crossed Mill Creek, just +outside Winchester, and made the crest of the rise beyond the stream, +there burst upon his view the spectacle of a panic-stricken army. +Hundreds of slightly wounded men, with hundreds more unhurt, but +demoralized, together with baggage wagons and trains, were all pressing +to the rear, in hopeless confusion. + +There was no doubt now that a disaster had occurred at the front. A +fugitive told Sheridan that the army was broken and in full retreat, +and that all was lost. Sheridan at once sent word to Colonel Edwards, +commanding a brigade at Winchester, to stretch his troops across the +valley, and stop all fugitives. His first idea was to make a stand +there, but, as he rode along, a different plan flashed into his mind. He +believed that his troops had great confidence in him, and he determined +to try to restore their broken ranks, and, instead of merely holding the +ground at Winchester, to rally his army, and lead them forward again to +Cedar Creek. He had hardly made up his mind to this course, when news +was brought to him that his headquarters at Cedar Creek were captured, +and the troops dispersed. He started at once, with about twenty men as +an escort, and rode rapidly to the front. As he passed along, the unhurt +men, who thickly lined the road, recognized him, and, as they did so, +threw up their hats, shouldered their muskets, and followed him as fast +as they could on foot. His officers rode out on either side to tell the +stragglers that the general had returned, and, as the news spread the +retreating men in every direction rallied, and turned their faces toward +the battle-field they had left. + +In his memoirs, Sheridan says, in speaking of his ride through the +retreating troops: "I said nothing, except to remark, as I rode among +them 'If I had been with you this morning, this disaster would not have +happened. We must face the other way. We will go back and recover our +camp.'" Thus he galloped on over the twenty miles, with the men rallying +behind him, and following him in ever increasing numbers. As he went by, +the panic of retreat was replaced by the ardor of battle. Sheridan had +not overestimate the power of enthusiasm or his own ability to rouse it +to fighting pitch. He pressed steadily on to the front, until at last he +came up to Getty's division of the 6th Corps, which, with the cavalry, +were the only troops who held their line and were resisting the enemy. +Getty's division was about a mile north of Middletown on some slightly +rising ground, and were skirmishing with the enemy's pickets. Jumping a +rail fence, Sheridan rode to the crest of the hill, and, as he took +off his hat, the men rose up from behind the barricades with cheers of +recognition. + +It is impossible to follow in detail Sheridan's actions from that +moment, but he first brought up the 19th Corps and the two divisions of +Wright to the front. He then communicated with Colonel Lowell, who was +fighting near Middletown with his men dismounted, and asked him if he +could hold on where he was, to which Lowell replied in the affirmative. +All this and many similar quickly-given orders consumed a great deal of +time, but still the men were getting into line, and at last, seeing that +the enemy were about to renew the attack, Sheridan rode along the line +so that the men could all see him. He was received with the wildest +enthusiasm as he rode by, and the spirit of the army was restored. The +rebel attack was made shortly after noon, and was repulsed by General +Emory. + +This done, Sheridan again set to work to getting his line completely +restored, while General Merritt charged and drove off an exposed battery +of the Confederates. By halfpast three Sheridan was ready to attack. +The fugitives of the morning, whom he had rallied as he rode from +Winchester, were again in their places, and the different divisions were +all disposed in their proper positions. With the order to advance, +the whole line pressed forward. The Confederates at first resisted +stubbornly, and then began to retreat. On they went past Cedar Creek, +and there, where the pike made a sharp turn to the west toward Fisher's +Hill, Merritt and Custer fell on the flank of the retreating columns, +and the rebel army fell back, routed and broken, up the Valley. The day +had begun in route and defeat; it ended in a great victory for the Union +army. + +How near we had been to a terrible disaster can be realized by recalling +what had happened before the general galloped down from Winchester. + +In Sheridan's absence, Early, soon after dawn, had made an unexpected +attack on our army at Cedar Creek. Surprised by the assault, the +national troops had given way in all directions, and a panic had set in. +Getty's division with Lowell's cavalry held on at Middletown, but, +with this exception, the rout was complete. When Sheridan rode out of +Winchester, he met an already beaten army. His first thought was the +natural one to make a stand at Winchester and rally his troops about him +there. His second thought was the inspiration of the great commander. He +believed his men would rally as soon as they saw him. He believed that +enthusiasm was one of the great weapons of war, and that this was the +moment of all others when it might be used with decisive advantage. With +this thought in his mind he abandoned the idea of forming his men at +Winchester, and rode bareheaded through the fugitives, swinging his hat, +straight for the front, and calling on his men as he passed to follow +him. As the soldiers saw him, they turned and rushed after him. He had +not calculated in vain upon the power of personal enthusiasm, but, at +the same time, he did not rely upon any wild rush to save the day. The +moment he reached the field of battle, he set to work with the coolness +of a great soldier to make all the dispositions, first, to repel the +enemy, and then to deliver an attack which could not be resisted. One +division after another was rapidly brought into line and placed +in position, the thin ranks filling fast with the soldiers who had +recovered from their panic, and followed Sheridan and the black horse +all the way down from Winchester. He had been already two hours on the +field when, at noon, he rode along the line, again formed for battle. +Most of the officers and men then thought he had just come, while in +reality it was his own rapid work which had put them in the line along +which he was riding. + +Once on the field of battle, the rush and hurry of the desperate ride +from Winchester came to an end. First the line was reformed, then the +enemy's assault was repulsed, and it was made impossible for them to +again take the offensive. But Sheridan, undazzled by his brilliant +success up to this point, did not mar his work by overhaste. Two hours +more passed before he was ready, and then, when all was prepared, with +his ranks established and his army ranged in position, he moved his +whole line forward, and won one of the most brilliant battles of the +war, having, by his personal power over his troops, and his genius in +action, snatched a victory from a day which began in surprise, disaster, +and defeat. + + + + +LIEUTENANT CUSHING AND THE RAM "ALBEMARLE" + + God give us peace! Not such as lulls to sleep, + But sword on thigh, and brow with purpose knit! + And let our Ship of State to harbor sweep, + Her ports all up, her battle-lanterns lit, + And her leashed thunders gathering for their leap! + --Lowell. + + +The great Civil War was remarkable in many ways, but in no way more +remarkable than for the extraordinary mixture of inventive mechanical +genius and of resolute daring shown by the combatants. After the first +year, when the contestants had settled down to real fighting, and +the preliminary mob work was over, the battles were marked by their +extraordinary obstinacy and heavy loss. In no European conflict since +the close of the Napoleonic wars has the fighting been anything like +as obstinate and as bloody as was the fighting in our own Civil War. +In addition to this fierce and dogged courage, this splendid fighting +capacity, the contest also brought out the skilled inventive power of +engineer and mechanician in a way that few other contests have ever +done. + +This was especially true of the navy. The fighting under and against +Farragut and his fellow-admirals revolutionized naval warfare. The +Civil War marks the break between the old style and the new. Terrible +encounters took place when the terrible new engines of war were brought +into action for the first time; and one of these encounters has given +an example which, for heroic daring combined with cool intelligence, is +unsurpassed in all time. + +The Confederates showed the same skill and energy in building their +great ironclad rams as the men of the Union did in building the monitors +which were so often pitted against them. Both sides, but especially +the Confederates, also used stationary torpedoes, and, on a number of +occasions, torpedo-boats likewise. These torpedo-boats were sometimes +built to go under the water. One such, after repeated failures, was +employed by the Confederates, with equal gallantry and success, in +sinking a Union sloop of war off Charleston harbor, the torpedo-boat +itself going down to the bottom with its victim, all on board being +drowned. The other type of torpedo-boat was simply a swift, ordinary +steam-launch, operated above water. + +It was this last type of boat which Lieutenant W. B. Cushing brought +down to Albemarle Sound to use against the great Confederate ram +Albemarle. The ram had been built for the purpose of destroying the +Union blockading forces. Steaming down river, she had twice attacked the +Federal gunboats, and in each case had sunk or disabled one or more of +them, with little injury to herself. She had retired up the river again +to lie at her wharf and refit. The gunboats had suffered so severely as +to make it a certainty that when she came out again, thoroughly fitted +to renew the attack, the wooden vessels would be destroyed; and while +she was in existence, the Union vessels could not reduce the forts and +coast towns. Just at this time Cushing came down from the North with +his swift little torpedo-boat, an open launch, with a spar-rigged out +in front, the torpedo being placed at the end. The crew of the launch +consisted of fifteen men, Cushing being in command. He not only guided +his craft, but himself handled the torpedo by means of two small ropes, +one of which put it in place, while the other exploded it. The action +of the torpedo was complicated, and it could not have been operated in +a time of tremendous excitement save by a man of the utmost nerve +and self-command; but Cushing had both. He possessed precisely that +combination of reckless courage, presence of mind, and high mental +capacity necessary to the man who leads a forlorn hope under peculiarly +difficult circumstances. + +On the night of October 27, 1864, Cushing slipped away from the +blockading fleet, and steamed up river toward the wharf, a dozen miles +distant, where the great ram lay. The Confederates were watchful to +guard against surprise, for they feared lest their foes should try to +destroy the ram before she got a chance to come down and attack them +again in the Sound. She lay under the guns of a fort, with a regiment +of troops ready at a moment's notice to turn out and defend her. Her own +guns were kept always clear for action, and she was protected by a +great boom of logs thrown out roundabout; of which last defense the +Northerners knew nothing. + +Cushing went up-stream with the utmost caution, and by good luck passed, +unnoticed, a Confederate lookout below the ram. + +About midnight he made his assault. Steaming quietly on through the +black water, and feeling his way cautiously toward where he knew the +town to be, he finally made out the loom of the Albemarle through the +night, and at once drove at her. He was almost upon her before he was +discovered; then the crew and the soldiers on the wharf opened fire, +and, at the same moment, he was brought-to by the boom, the existence +of which he had not known. The rifle balls were singing round him as +he stood erect, guiding his launch, and he heard the bustle of the men +aboard the ram, and the noise of the great guns as they were got ready. +Backing off, he again went all steam ahead, and actually surged over the +slippery logs of the boom. Meanwhile, on the Albemarle the sailors were +running to quarters, and the soldiers were swarming down to aid in her +defense; and the droning bullets came always thicker through the dark +night. Cushing still stood upright in his little craft, guiding and +controlling her by voice and signal, while in his hands he kept the +ropes which led to the torpedo. As the boat slid forward over the boom, +he brought the torpedo full against the somber side of the huge ram, and +instantly exploded it, almost at the same time that the pivot-gun of the +ram, loaded with grape, was fired point-blank at him not ten yards off. + +At once the ram settled, the launch sinking at the same moment, while +Cushing and his men swam for their lives. Most of them sank or were +captured, but Cushing reached mid-stream. Hearing something splashing in +the darkness, he swam toward it, and found that it was one of his crew. +He went to his rescue, and they kept together for some time, but the +sailor's strength gave out, and he finally sank. In the pitch darkness +Cushing could form no idea where he was; and when, chilled through, and +too exhausted to rise to his feet, he finally reached shore, shortly +before dawn, he found that he had swum back and landed but a few +hundred feet below the sunken ram. All that day he remained within easy +musket-shot of where his foes were swarming about the fort and the great +drowned ironclad. He hardly dared move, and until the afternoon he lay +without food, and without protection from the heat or venomous insects. +Then he managed to slip unobserved into the dense swamp, and began to +make his way to the fleet. Toward evening he came out on a small stream, +near a camp of Confederate soldiers. They had moored to the bank a +skiff, and, with equal stealth and daring, he managed to steal this and +to paddle down-stream. Hour after hour he paddled on through the fading +light, and then through the darkness. At last, utterly worn out, he +found the squadron, and was picked up. At once the ships weighed; and +they speedily captured every coast town and fort, for their dreaded +enemy was no longer in the way. The fame of Cushing's deed went all over +the North, and his name will stand forever among the brightest on the +honor-roll of the American navy. + + + + +FARRAGUT AT MOBILE BAY + + Ha, old ship, do they thrill, + The brave two hundred scars + You got in the river wars? + That were leeched with clamorous skill + (Surgery savage and hard), + At the Brooklyn Navy Yard. + + * * * * + + How the guns, as with cheer and shout, + Our tackle-men hurled them out, + Brought up in the waterways... + As we fired, at the flash + 'T was lightning and black eclipse + With a bellowing sound and crash. + + * * * * + + The Dahlgrens are dumb, + Dumb are the mortars; + Never more shall the drum + Beat to colors and quarters-- + The great guns are silent. + --Henry Howard Brownell + + +During the Civil War our navy produced, as it has always produced +in every war, scores of capable officers, of brilliant single-ship +commanders, of men whose daring courage made them fit leaders in any +hazardous enterprise. In this respect the Union seamen in the Civil War +merely lived up to the traditions of their service. In a service with +such glorious memories it was a difficult thing to establish a new +record in feats of personal courage or warlike address. Biddle, in the +Revolutionary War, fighting his little frigate against a ship of the +line until she blew up with all on board, after inflicting severe loss +on her huge adversary; Decatur, heading the rush of the boarders in the +night attack when they swept the wild Moorish pirates from the decks of +their anchored prize; Lawrence, dying with the words on his lips, +"Don't give up the ship"; and Perry, triumphantly steering his bloody +sloop-of-war to victory with the same words blazoned on his banner--men +like these, and like their fellows, who won glory in desperate conflicts +with the regular warships and heavy privateers of England and France, or +with the corsairs of the Barbary States, left behind a reputation which +was hardly to be dimmed, though it might be emulated, by later feats of +mere daring. + +But vital though daring is, indispensable though desperate personal +prowess and readiness to take chances are to the make-up of a fighting +navy, other qualities are needed in addition to fit a man for a place +among the great sea-captains of all time. It was the good fortune of the +navy in the Civil War to produce one admiral of renown, one peer of all +the mighty men who have ever waged war on the ocean. Farragut was not +only the greatest admiral since Nelson, but, with the sole exception +of Nelson, he was as great an admiral as ever sailed the broad or the +narrow seas. + +David Glasgow Farragut was born in Tennessee. He was appointed to the +navy while living in Louisiana, but when the war came he remained +loyal to the Union flag. This puts him in the category of those men +who deserved best of their country in the Civil War; the men who were +Southern by birth, but who stood loyally by the Union; the men like +General Thomas of Virginia, and like Farragut's own flag-captain at the +battle of Mobile Bay, Drayton of South Carolina. It was an easy thing in +the North to support the Union, and it was a double disgrace to be, like +Vallandigham and the Copperheads, against it; and in the South there +were a great multitude of men, as honorable as they were brave, who, +from the best of motives, went with their States when they seceded, or +even advocated secession. But the highest and loftiest patriots, those +who deserved best of the whole country, we re the men from the South who +possessed such heroic courage, and such lofty fealty to the high ideal +of the Union, that they stood by the flag when their fellows deserted +it, and unswervingly followed a career devoted to the cause of the whole +nation and of the whole people. Among all those who fought in this, the +greatest struggle for righteousness which the present century has seen, +these men stand preeminent; and among them Farragut stands first. It +was his good fortune that by his life he offered an example, not only +of patriotism, but of supreme skill and daring in his profession. He +belongs to that class of commanders who possess in the highest +degree the qualities of courage and daring, of readiness to assume +responsibility, and of willingness to run great risks; the qualities +without which no commander, however cautious and able, can ever become +really great. He possessed also the unwearied capacity for taking +thought in advance, which enabled him to prepare for victory before the +day of battle came; and he added to this an inexhaustible fertility of +resource and presence of mind under no matter what strain. + +His whole career should be taught every American schoolboy, for when +that schoolboy becomes a voter he should have learned the lesson that +the United States, while it ought not to become an overgrown military +power, should always have a first-class navy, formidable from the number +of its ships, and formidable still more from the excellence of the +individual ships and the high character of the officers and men. +Farragut saw the war of 1812, in which, though our few frigates and +sloops fought some glorious actions, our coasts were blockaded and +insulted, and the Capitol at Washington burned, because our statesmen +and our people had been too short-sighted to build a big fighting navy; +and Farragut was able to perform his great feats on the Gulf coast +because, when the Civil War broke out, we had a navy which, though too +small in point of numbers, was composed of ships as good as any afloat. + +Another lesson to be learned by a study of his career is that no man +in a profession so highly technical as that of the navy can win a great +success unless he has been brought up in and specially trained for that +profession, and has devoted his life to the work. This fact was made +plainly evident in the desperate hurly-burly of the night battle with +the Confederate flotilla below New Orleans--the incidents of this +hurly-burly being, perhaps, best described by the officer who, in +his report of his own share in it, remarked that "all sorts of things +happened." Of the Confederate rams there were two, commanded by trained +officers formerly in the United States navy, Lieutenants Kennon and +Warley. Both of these men handled their little vessels with remarkable +courage, skill, and success, fighting them to the last, and inflicting +serious and heavy damage upon the Union fleet. The other vessels of the +flotilla were commanded by men who had not been in the regular navy, who +were merely Mississippi River captains, and the like. These men were, +doubtless, naturally as brave as any of the regular officers; but, with +one or two exceptions, they failed ignobly in the time of trial, and +showed a fairly startling contrast with the regular naval officers +beside or against whom they fought. This is a fact which may well be +pondered by the ignorant or unpatriotic people who believe that the +United States does not need a navy, or that it can improvise one, and +improvise officers to handle it, whenever the moment of need arises. + +When a boy, Farragut had sailed as a midshipman on the Essex in her +famous cruise to the South Pacific, and lived through the murderous +fight in which, after losing three fifths of her crew, she was captured +by two British vessels. Step by step he rose in his profession, but +never had an opportunity of distinguishing himself until, when he was +sixty years old, the Civil War broke out. He was then made flag officer +of the Gulf squadron; and the first success which the Union forces met +with in the southwest was scored by him, when one night he burst the +iron chains which the Confederates had stretched across the +Mississippi, and, stemming the swollen flood with his splendidly-handled +steam-frigates, swept past the forts, sank the rams and gunboats that +sought to bar his path, and captured the city of New Orleans. After +further exciting service on the Mississippi, service in which he +turned a new chapter in the history of naval warfare by showing the +possibilities of heavy seagoing vessels when used on great rivers, +he again went back to the Gulf, and, in the last year of the war, +was allotted the task of attempting the capture of Mobile, the only +important port still left open to the Confederates. + +In August, 1864, Farragut was lying with his fleet off Mobile Bay. For +months he had been eating out his heart while undergoing the wearing +strain of the blockade; sympathizing, too, with every detail of the +doubtful struggle on land. "I get right sick, every now and then, at +the bad news," he once wrote home; and then again, "The victory of the +Kearsarge over the Alabama raised me up; I would sooner have fought that +fight than any ever fought on the ocean." As for himself, all he wished +was a chance to fight, for he had the fighting temperament, and he knew +that, in the long run, an enemy can only be beaten by being out-fought, +as well as out-manoeuvered. He possessed a splendid self-confidence, +and scornfully threw aside any idea that he would be defeated, while he +utterly refused to be daunted by the rumors of the formidable nature of +the defenses against which he was to act. "I mean to be whipped or to +whip my enemy, and not to be scared to death," he remarked in speaking +of these rumors. + +The Confederates who held Mobile used all their skill in preparing for +defense, and all their courage in making that defense good. The mouth +of the bay was protected by two fine forts, heavily armed, Morgan +and Gaines. The winding channels were filled with torpedoes, and, in +addition, there was a flotilla consisting of three gunboats, and, above +all, a big ironclad ram, the Tennessee, one of the most formidable +vessels then afloat. She was not fast, but she carried six high-power +rifled guns, and her armor was very powerful, while, being of light +draft, she could take a position where Farragut's deep-sea ships could +not get at her. Farragut made his attack with four monitors,--two of +them, the Tecumseh and Manhattan, of large size, carrying 15-inch guns, +and the other two, the Winnebago and Chickasaw, smaller and lighter, +with 11-inch guns,--and the wooden vessels, fourteen in number. Seven +of these were big sloops-of-war, of the general type of Farragut's own +flagship, the Hartford. She was a screw steamer, but was a full-rigged +ship likewise, with twenty-two 9-inch shell guns, arranged in broadside, +and carrying a crew of three hundred men. The other seven were light +gunboats. When Farragut prepared for the assault, he arranged to make +the attack with his wooden ships in double column. The seven most +powerful were formed on the right, in line ahead, to engage Fort Morgan, +the heaviest of the two forts, which had to be passed close inshore to +the right. The light vessels were lashed each to the left of one of the +heavier ones. By this arrangement each pair of ships was given a double +chance to escape, if rendered helpless by a shot in the boiler or other +vital part of the machinery. The heaviest ships led in the fighting +column, the first place being taken by the Brooklyn and her gunboat +consort, while the second position was held by Farragut himself in +the Hartford, with the little Metacomet lashed alongside. He waited to +deliver the attack until the tide and the wind should be favorable, +and made all his preparations with the utmost care and thoughtfulness. +Preeminently a man who could inspire affection in others, both the +officers and men of the fleet regarded him with fervent loyalty and +absolute trust. + +The attack was made early on the morning of August 5. Soon after +midnight the weather became hot and calm, and at three the Admiral +learned that a light breeze had sprung up from the quarter he wished, +and he at once announced, "Then we will go in this morning." At daybreak +he was at breakfast when the word was brought that the ships were all +lashed in couples. Turning quietly to his captain, he said, "Well, +Drayton, we might as well get under way;" and at half-past six the +monitors stood down to their stations, while the column of wooden ships +was formed, all with the United States flag hoisted, not only at the +peak, but also at every masthead. The four monitors, trusting in their +iron sides, steamed in between the wooden ships and the fort. Every man +in every craft was thrilling with the fierce excitement of battle; but +in the minds of most there lurked a vague feeling of unrest over one +danger. For their foes who fought in sight, for the forts, the gunboats, +and, the great ironclad ram, they cared nothing; but all, save the very +boldest, were at times awed, and rendered uneasy by the fear of the +hidden and the unknown. Danger which is great and real, but which +is shrouded in mystery, is always very awful; and the ocean veterans +dreaded the torpedoes--the mines of death--which lay, they knew not +where, thickly scattered through the channels along which they were to +thread their way. + +The tall ships were in fighting trim, with spars housed, and canvas +furled. The decks were strewn with sawdust; every man was in his place; +the guns were ready, and except for the song of the sounding-lead there +was silence in the ships as they moved forward through the glorious +morning. It was seven o'clock when the battle began, as the Tecumseh, +the leading monitor, fired two shots at the fort. In a few minutes Fort +Morgan was ablaze with the flash of her guns, and the leading wooden +vessels were sending back broadside after broadside. Farragut stood in +the port main-rigging, and as the smoke increased he gradually climbed +higher, until he was close by the maintop, where the pilot was stationed +for the sake of clearer vision. The captain, fearing lest by one of +the accidents of battle the great admiral should lose his footing, sent +aloft a man with a lasher, and had a turn or two taken around his body +in the shrouds, so that he might not fall if wounded; for the shots +were flying thick. + +At first the ships used only their bow guns, and the Confederate ram, +with her great steel rifles, and her three consorts, taking station +where they could rake the advancing fleet, caused much loss. In twenty +minutes after the opening of the fight the ships of the van were fairly +abreast of the fort, their guns leaping and thundering; and under the +weight of their terrific fire that of the fort visibly slackened. All +was now uproar and slaughter, the smoke drifting off in clouds. The +decks were reddened and ghastly with blood, and the wreck of flying +splinters drove across them at each discharge. The monitor Tecumseh +alone was silent. After firing the first two shots, her commander, +Captain Craven, had loaded his two big guns with steel shot, and, thus +prepared, reserved himself for the Confederate ironclad, which he had +set his heart upon taking or destroying single-handed. The two columns +of monitors and the wooden ships lashed in pairs were now approaching +the narrowest part of the channel, where the torpedoes lay thickest; and +the guns of the vessels fairly overbore and quelled the fire from the +fort. All was well, provided only the two columns could push straight on +without hesitation; but just at this moment a terrible calamity befell +the leader of the monitors. The Tecumseh, standing straight for the +Tennessee, was within two hundred yards of her foe, when a torpedo +suddenly exploded beneath her. The monitor was about five hundred yards +from the Hartford, and from the maintop Farragut, looking at her, saw +her reel violently from side to side, lurch heavily over, and go down +headforemost, her screw revolving wildly in the air as she disappeared. +Captain Craven, one of the gentlest and bravest of men, was in the +pilot-house with the pilot at the time. As she sank, both rushed to +the narrow door, but there was time for only one to get out. Craven was +ahead, but drew to one side, saying, "After you, pilot." As the pilot +leaped through, the water rushed in, and Craven and all his crew, save +two men, settled to the bottom in their iron coffin. + +None of the monitors were awed or daunted by the fate of their consort, +but drew steadily onward. In the bigger monitors the captains, like the +crews, had remained within the iron walls; but on the two light crafts +the commanders had found themselves so harassed by their cramped +quarters, that they both stayed outside on the deck. As these two +steamed steadily ahead, the men on the flagship saw Captain Stevens, +of the Winnebago, pacing calmly, from turret to turret, on his unwieldy +iron craft, under the full fire of the fort. The captain of the +Chickasaw, Perkins, was the youngest commander in the fleet, and as he +passed the Hartford, he stood on top of the turret, waving his hat and +dancing about in wildest excitement and delight. + +But, for a moment, the nerve of the commander of the Brooklyn failed +him. The awful fate of the Tecumseh and the sight of a number of objects +in the channel ahead, which seemed to be torpedoes, caused him to +hesitate. He stopped his ship, and then backed water, making sternway to +the Hartford, so as to stop her also. It was the crisis of the fight +and the crisis of Farragut's career. The column was halted in a narrow +channel, right under the fire of the forts. A few moments' delay and +confusion, and the golden chance would have been past, and the only +question remaining would have been as to the magnitude of the disaster. +Ahead lay terrible danger, but ahead lay also triumph. It might be that +the first ship to go through would be sacrificed to the torpedoes; it +might be that others would be sacrificed; but go through the fleet must. +Farragut signaled to the Brooklyn to go ahead, but she still hesitated. +Immediately, the admiral himself resolved to take the lead. Backing hard +he got clear of the Brooklyn, twisted his ship's prow short round, and +then, going ahead fast, he dashed close under the Brooklyn's stern, +straight at the line of buoys in the channel. As he thus went by the +Brooklyn, a warning cry came from her that there were torpedoes ahead. +"Damn the torpedoes!" shouted the admiral; "go ahead, full speed;" and +the Hartford and her consort steamed forward. As they passed between the +buoys, the cases of the torpedoes were heard knocking against the +bottom of the ship; but for some reason they failed to explode, and the +Hartford went safely through the gates of Mobile Bay, passing the forts. +Farragut's last and hardest battle was virtually won. After a delay +which allowed the flagship to lead nearly a mile, the Brooklyn got her +head round, and came in, closely followed by all the other ships. The +Tennessee strove to interfere with the wooden craft as they went in, but +they passed, exchanging shots, and one of them striving to ram her, but +inflicting only a glancing blow. The ship on the fighting side of the +rear couple had been completely disabled by a shot through her boiler. + +As Farragut got into the bay he gave orders to slip the gunboats, which +were lashed to each of the Union ships of war, against the Confederate +gunboats, one of which he had already disabled by his fire, so that she +was run ashore and burnt. Jouett, the captain of the Metacomet, had +been eagerly waiting this order, and had his men already standing at the +hawsers, hatchet in hand. When the signal for the gunboats to chase +was hoisted, the order to Jouett was given by word of mouth, and as his +hearty "Aye, aye, sir," came in answer, the hatchets fell, the hawsers +parted, and the Metacomet leaped forward in pursuit. A thick rainsquall +came up, and rendered it impossible for the rear gunboats to know +whither the Confederate flotilla had fled. When it cleared away, the +watchers on the fleet saw that one of the two which were uninjured had +slipped off to Fort Morgan, while the other, the Selma, was under the +guns of the Metacomet, and was promptly carried by the latter. + +Meanwhile the ships anchored in the bay, about four miles from Fort +Morgan, and the crews were piped to breakfast; but almost as soon as it +was begun, the lookouts reported that the great Confederate ironclad was +steaming down, to do battle, single-handed, with the Union fleet. She +was commanded by Buchanan, a very gallant and able officer, who had been +on the Merrimac, and who trusted implicitly in his invulnerable sides, +his heavy rifle guns, and his formidable iron beak. As the ram came on, +with splendid courage, the ships got under way, while Farragut sent +word to the monitors to attack the Tennessee at once. The fleet surgeon, +Palmer, delivered these orders. In his diary he writes: + +"I came to the Chickasaw; happy as my friend Perkins habitually is, I +thought he would turn a somerset with joy, when I told him, 'The admiral +wants you to go at once and fight the Tennessee.'" + +At the same time, the admiral directed the wooden vessels to charge the +ram, bow on, at full speed, as well as to attack her with their guns. +The monitors were very slow, and the wooden vessels began the attack. +The first to reach the hostile ironclad was the Monongahela, which +struck her square amidships; and five minutes later the Lackawanna, +going at full speed, delivered another heavy blow. Both the Union +vessels fired such guns as would bear as they swung round, but the shots +glanced harmlessly from the armor, and the blows of the ship produced +no serious injury to the ram, although their own stems were crushed in +several feet above and below the water line. The Hartford then struck +the Tennessee, which met her bows on. The two antagonists scraped by, +their port sides touching. As they rasped past, the Hartford's guns were +discharged against the ram, their muzzles only half a dozen feet distant +from her iron-clad sides; but the shot made no impression. While the +three ships were circling to repeat the charge, the Lackawanna ran +square into the flagship, cutting the vessel down to within two feet of +the water. For a moment the ship's company thought the vessel sinking, +and almost as one man they cried: "Save the admiral! get the admiral on +board the Lackawanna." But Farragut, leaping actively into the chains, +saw that the ship was in no present danger, and ordered her again to be +headed for the Tennessee. Meanwhile, the monitors had come up, and the +battle raged between them and the great ram, Like the rest of the Union +fleet, they carried smooth-bores, and their shot could not break through +her iron plates; but by sustained and continuous hammering, her frame +could be jarred and her timbers displaced. Two of the monitors had been +more or less disabled already, but the third, the Chickasaw, was in +fine trim, and Perkins got her into position under the stern of the +Tennessee, just after the latter was struck by the Hartford; and there +he stuck to the end, never over fifty yards distant, and keeping up a +steady rapping of 11-inch shot upon the iron walls, which they could +not penetrate, but which they racked and shattered. The Chickasaw +fired fifty-two times at her antagonist, shooting away the exposed +rudder-chains and the smokestack, while the commander of the ram, +Buchanan, was wounded by an iron splinter which broke his leg. Under the +hammering, the Tennessee became helpless. She could not be steered, and +was unable to bring a gun to bear, while many of the shutters of the +ports were jammed. For twenty minutes she had not fired a shot. The +wooden vessels were again bearing down to ram her; and she hoisted the +white flag. + +Thus ended the battle of Mobile Bay, Farragut's crowning victory. Less +than three hours elapsed from the time that Fort Morgan fired its first +gun to the moment when the Tennessee hauled down her flag. Three hundred +and thirty-five men had been killed or wounded in the fleet, and one +vessel, the Tecumseh, had gone down; but the Confederate flotilla +was destroyed, the bay had been entered, and the forts around it were +helpless to do anything further. One by one they surrendered, and the +port of Mobile was thus sealed against blockade runners, so that the +last source of communication between the Confederacy and the outside +world was destroyed. Farragut had added to the annals of the Union the +page which tells of the greatest sea-fight in our history. + + + + +LINCOLN + + O captain. My captain. Our fearful trip is done; + The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won; + The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, + While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: + But O heart! Heart! Heart! + Leave you not the little spot, + Where on the deck my captain lies, + Fallen cold and dead. + + O captain. My captain. Rise up and hear the bells; + Rise up--for you the flag is flung--for you the bugle trills; + For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths--for you the shores + a-crowding; + For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; + O captain. Dear father. + This arm I push beneath you; + It is some dream that on the deck, + You've fallen cold and dead. + + My captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; + My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor win: + But the ship, the ship is anchor'd safe, its voyage closed and + done; + From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won: + Exult O shores, and ring, O bells. + But I with silent tread, + Walk the spot the captain lies, + Fallen cold and dead. + --Walt Whitman. + + +As Washington stands to the Revolution and the establishment of the +government, so Lincoln stands as the hero of the mightier struggle +by which our Union was saved. He was born in 1809, ten years after +Washington, his work done had been laid to rest at Mount Vernon. No +great man ever came from beginnings which seemed to promise so little. +Lincoln's family, for more than one generation, had been sinking, +instead of rising, in the social scale. His father was one of those +men who were found on the frontier in the early days of the western +movement, always changing from one place to another, and dropping a +little lower at each remove. Abraham Lincoln was born into a family +who were not only poor, but shiftless, and his early days were days +of ignorance, and poverty, and hard work. Out of such inauspicious +surroundings, he slowly and painfully lifted himself. He gave himself +an education, he took part in an Indian war, he worked in the fields, +he kept a country store, he read and studied, and, at last, he became +a lawyer. Then he entered into the rough politics of the newly-settled +State. He grew to be a leader in his county, and went to the +legislature. The road was very rough, the struggle was very hard and +very bitter, but the movement was always upward. + +At last he was elected to Congress, and served one term in Washington +as a Whig with credit, but without distinction. Then he went back to his +law and his politics in Illinois. He had, at last, made his position. +All that was now needed was an opportunity, and that came to him in the +great anti-slavery struggle. + +Lincoln was not an early Abolitionist. His training had been that of a +regular party man, and as a member of a great political organization, +but he was a lover of freedom and justice. Slavery, in its essence, was +hateful to him, and when the conflict between slavery and freedom was +fairly joined, his path was clear before him. He took up the antislavery +cause in his own State and made himself its champion against Douglas, +the great leader of the Northern Democrats. He stumped Illinois in +opposition to Douglas, as a candidate for the Senate, debating the +question which divided the country in every part of the State. He +was beaten at the election, but, by the power and brilliancy of his +speeches, his own reputation was made. Fighting the anti-slavery battle +within constitutional lines, concentrating his whole force against the +single point of the extension of slavery to the Territories, he had +made it clear that a new leader had arisen in the cause of freedom. From +Illinois his reputation spread to the East, and soon after his great +debate he delivered a speech in New York which attracted wide attention. +At the Republican convention of 1856, his name was one of those proposed +for vice-president. + +When 1860 came, he was a candidate for the first place on the national +ticket. The leading candidate was William H. Seward, of New York, the +most conspicuous man of the country on the Republican side, but the +convention, after a sharp struggle, selected Lincoln, and then the great +political battle came at the polls. The Republicans were victorious, +and, as soon as the result of the voting was known, the South set +to work to dissolve the Union. In February Lincoln made his way to +Washington, at the end coming secretly from Harrisburg to escape a +threatened attempt at assassination, and on March 4, 1861 assumed the +presidency. + +No public man, no great popular leader, ever faced a more terrible +situation. The Union was breaking, the Southern States were seceding, +treason was rampant in Washington, and the Government was bankrupt. The +country knew that Lincoln was a man of great capacity in debate, devoted +to the cause of antislavery and to the maintenance of the Union. But +what his ability was to deal with the awful conditions by which he was +surrounded, no one knew. To follow him through the four years of civil +war which ensued is, of course, impossible here. Suffice it to say that +no greater, no more difficult, task has ever been faced by any man +in modern times, and no one ever met a fierce trial and conflict more +successfully. + +Lincoln put to the front the question of the Union, and let the question +of slavery drop, at first, into the background. He used every exertion +to hold the border States by moderate measures, and, in this way, +prevented the spread of the rebellion. For this moderation, the +antislavery extremists in the North assailed him, but nothing shows more +his far-sighted wisdom and strength of purpose than his action at this +time. By his policy at the beginning of his administration, he held +the border States, and united the people of the North in defense of the +Union. + +As the war went on, he went on, too. He had never faltered in his +feelings about slavery. He knew, better than any one, that the +successful dissolution of the Union by the slave power meant, not +only the destruction of an empire, but the victory of the forces of +barbarism. But he also saw, what very few others at the moment could +see, that, if he was to win, he must carry his people with him, step +by step. So when he had rallied them to the defense of the Union, and +checked the spread of secession in the border States, in the autumn of +1862 he announced that he would issue a proclamation freeing the slaves. +The extremists had doubted him in the beginning, the conservative and +the timid doubted him now, but when the Emancipation Proclamation was +issued, on January 1, 1863, it was found that the people were with him +in that, as they had been with him when he staked everything upon the +maintenance of the Union. The war went on to victory, and in 1864 +the people showed at the polls that they were with the President, and +reelected him by overwhelming majorities. Victories in the field went +hand in hand with success at the ballot-box, and, in the spring of 1865, +all was over. On April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered at Appomattox, and five +days later, on April 14, a miserable assassin crept into the box at the +theater where the President was listening to a play, and shot him. The +blow to the country was terrible beyond words, for then men saw, in one +bright flash, how great a man had fallen. + +Lincoln died a martyr to the cause to which he had given his life, and +both life and death were heroic. The qualities which enabled him to +do his great work are very clear now to all men. His courage and his +wisdom, his keen perception and his almost prophetic foresight, enabled +him to deal with all the problems of that distracted time as they +arose around him. But he had some qualities, apart from those of the +intellect, which were of equal importance to his people and to the work +he had to do. His character, at once strong and gentle, gave confidence +to every one, and dignity to his cause. He had an infinite patience, +and a humor that enabled him to turn aside many difficulties which could +have been met in no other way. But most important of all was the fact +that he personified a great sentiment, which ennobled and uplifted his +people, and made them capable of the patriotism which fought the war +and saved the Union. He carried his people with him, because he knew +instinctively, how they felt and what they wanted. He embodied, in +his own person, all their highest ideals, and he never erred in his +judgment. + +He is not only a great and commanding figure among the great statesmen +and leaders of history, but he personifies, also, all the sadness and +the pathos of the war, as well as its triumphs and its glories. No words +that any one can use about Lincoln can, however, do him such justice as +his own, and I will close this volume with two of Lincoln's speeches, +which show what the war and all the great deeds of that time meant to +him, and through which shines, the great soul of the man himself. On +November 19, 1863, he spoke as follows at the dedication of the National +cemetery on the battle-field of Gettysburg: + +Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this +continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the +proposition that all men are created equal. + +Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or +any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on +a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of +that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives +that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we +should do this. + +But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate--we cannot consecrate--we +cannot hallow--this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who +struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or +detract. The world will little note or long remember what we say here, +but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, +rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who have +fought here, have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to +be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from the +honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they +gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that +these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, +shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by +the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. + + +On March 4, 1865, when he was inaugurated the second time, he made the +following address: + +Fellow-Countrymen: At this second appearing to take the oath of +presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended address +than there was at the first. Then a statement, somewhat in detail, of +a course to be pursued, seemed proper. Now, at the expiration of four +years, during which public declarations have been constantly called +forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs +the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is +new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else +chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself; and it is, +I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope +for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured. + +On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were +anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it--all sought +to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this +place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent +agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war--seeking to +dissolve the Union, and divide effects, by negotiation. Both parties +deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let it +perish. And the war came. + +One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed +generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. +These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew +that this interest was, somehow, the cause of the war. To strengthen, +perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the +insurgents would rend the Union, even by war; while the government +claimed no right to do more than to restrict the Territorial enlargement +of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration +which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the +conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should +cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental +and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and +each invokes his aid against the other. It may seem strange that any man +should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from +the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not, that we be not +judged. The prayers of both could not be answered that of neither has +been answered fully. + +The Almighty has his own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of +offenses, for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man +by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery +is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs +come, but which, having continued through his appointed time, he now +wills to remove, and that he gives to both North and South this terrible +war, as the woe due to those by whom the offenses come, shall we discern +therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers +in a living God always ascribe to him? Fondly do we hope-fervently do +we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if +God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondman's +two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until +every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn +with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must +be said, "The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." + +With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the +right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish +the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who +shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan-to do all +which may achieve and cherish a just, a lasting, peace among ourselves +and with all nations. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hero Tales From American History, by +Henry Cabot Lodge, and Theodore Roosevelt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERO TALES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY *** + +***** This file should be named 1864.txt or 1864.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/6/1864/ + +Produced by Dianne Bean + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/1864.zip b/1864.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f62a28a --- /dev/null +++ b/1864.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c73862 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #1864 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1864) diff --git a/old/htfah10.txt b/old/htfah10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..621fb87 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/htfah10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5910 @@ +The Project Gutenberg of Etext Hero Tales From American History + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +Hero Tales From American History + +by Henry Cabot Lodge and Theodore Roosevelt + +August, 1999 [Etext #1864] + + +The Project Gutenberg of Etext Hero Tales From American History +*****This file should be named htfah10.txt or htfah10.zip****** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, htfah11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, htfah10a.txt + + +Etext scanned by Dianne Bean of Phoenix, Arizona. + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. Therefore, we usually do NOT keep any +of these books in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +We are now trying to release all our books one month in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. + +Please note: neither this list nor its contents are final till +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. To be sure you have an +up to date first edition [xxxxx10x.xxx] please check file sizes +in the first week of the next month. Since our ftp program has +a bug in it that scrambles the date [tried to fix and failed] a +look at the file size will have to do, but we will try to see a +new copy has at least one byte more or less. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour this year as we release thirty-six text +files per month, or 432 more Etexts in 1999 for a total of 2000+ +If these reach just 10% of the computerized population, then the +total should reach over 200 billion Etexts given away this year. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only ~5% of the present number of computer users. + +At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third +of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 3,333 Etexts unless we +manage to get some real funding; currently our funding is mostly +from Michael Hart's salary at Carnegie-Mellon University, and an +assortment of sporadic gifts; this salary is only good for a few +more years, so we are looking for something to replace it, as we +don't want Project Gutenberg to be so dependent on one person. + +We need your donations more than ever! + + +All donations should be made to "Project Gutenberg/CMU": and are +tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. (CMU = Carnegie- +Mellon University). + +For these and other matters, please mail to: + +Project Gutenberg +P. O. Box 2782 +Champaign, IL 61825 + +When all other email fails. . .try our Executive Director: +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> +hart@pobox.com forwards to hart@prairienet.org and archive.org +if your mail bounces from archive.org, I will still see it, if +it bounces from prairienet.org, better resend later on. . . . + +We would prefer to send you this information by email. + +****** + +To access Project Gutenberg etexts, use any Web browser +to view http://promo.net/pg. This site lists Etexts by +author and by title, and includes information about how +to get involved with Project Gutenberg. You could also +download our past Newsletters, or subscribe here. This +is one of our major sites, please email hart@pobox.com, +for a more complete list of our various sites. + +To go directly to the etext collections, use FTP or any +Web browser to visit a Project Gutenberg mirror (mirror +sites are available on 7 continents; mirrors are listed +at http://promo.net/pg). + +Mac users, do NOT point and click, typing works better. + +Example FTP session: + +ftp sunsite.unc.edu +login: anonymous +password: your@login +cd pub/docs/books/gutenberg +cd etext90 through etext99 +dir [to see files] +get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] +GET GUTINDEX.?? [to get a year's listing of books, e.g., GUTINDEX.99] +GET GUTINDEX.ALL [to get a listing of ALL books] + +*** + +**Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor** + +(Three Pages) + + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you can distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG- +tm etexts, is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor +Michael S. Hart through the Project Gutenberg Association at +Carnegie-Mellon University (the "Project"). Among other +things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the Project's "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] the Project (and any other party you may receive this +etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold the Project, its directors, +officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost +and expense, including legal fees, that arise directly or +indirectly from any of the following that you do or cause: +[1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration, modification, +or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word pro- + cessing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Project of 20% of the + net profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Etext scanned by Dianne Bean of Phoenix, Arizona. + + + + + +HERO TALES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY + +by HENRY CABOT LODGE AND THEODORE ROOSEVELT + +Hence it is that the fathers of these men and ours also, and they +themselves likewise, being nurtured in all freedom and well born, +have shown before all men many and glorious deeds in public and +private, deeming it their duty to fight for the cause of liberty +and the Greeks, even against Greeks, and against Barbarians for +all the Greeks." + --PLATO: "Menexenus." + + +TO E. Y. R. + +To you we owe the suggestion of writing this book. Its purpose, +as you know better than any one else, is to tell in simple +fashion the story of some Americans who showed that they knew how +to live and how to die; who proved their truth by their endeavor; +and who joined to the stern and manly qualities which are +essential to the well-being of a masterful race the virtues of +gentleness, of patriotism, and of lofty adherence to an ideal. + +It is a good thing for all Americans, and it is an especially +good thing for young Americans, to remember the men who have +given their lives in war and peace to the service of their +fellow-countrymen, and to keep in mind the feats of daring and +personal prowess done in time past by some of the many champions +of the nation in the various crises of her history. Thrift, +industry, obedience to law, and intellectual culvation are +essential qualities in the makeup of any successful people; but +no people can be really great unless they possess also the heroic +virtues which are as needful in time of peace as in time of war, +and as important in civil as in military life. As a civilized +people we desire peace, but the only peace worth having is +obtained by instant readiness to fight when wronged--not by +unwillingness or inability to fight at all. Intelligent foresight +in preparation and known capacity to stand well in battle are the +surest safeguards against war. America will cease to be a great +nation whenever her young men cease to possess energy, daring, +and endurance, as well as the wish and the power to fight the +nation's foes. No citizen of a free state should wrong any man; +but it is not enough merely to refrain from infringing on the +rights of others; he must also be able and willing to stand up +for his own rights and those of his country against all comers, +and he must be ready at any time to do his full share in +resisting either malice domestic or foreign levy. + +HENRY CABOT LODGE. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. + +WASHINGTON, April 19, 1895. + + + +CONTENTS + +GEORGE WASHINGTON--H. C. Lodge. + +DANIEL BOONE AND THE FOUNDING OF KENTUCKY--Theodore Roosevelt. + +GEORGE ROGERS CLARK AND THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTHWEST--Theodore +Roosevelt. + +THE BATTLE OF TRENTON--H. C. Lodge. + +BENNINGTON--H. C. Lodge. + +KING'S MOUNTAIN--Theodore Roosevelt. + +THE STORMING OF STONY POINT--Theodore Roosevelt. + +GOUVERNEUR MORRIS--H. C. Lodge. + +THE BURNING OF THE "PHILADELPHIA"--H. C. Lodge. + +THE CRUISE OF THE "WASP"--Theodore Roosevelt. + +THE "GENERAL ARMSTRONG" PRIVATEER--Theodore Roosevelt. + +THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS--Theodore Roosevelt. + +JOHN QUINCY ADAMS AND THE RIGHT OF PETITION--H. C. Lodge. + +FRANCIS PARKMAN--H. C. Lodge. + +"REMEMBER THE ALAMO"--Theodore Roosevelt. + +HAMPTON ROADS--Theodore Roosevelt. + +THE FLAG-BEARER--Theodore Roosevelt. + +THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACK--Theodore Roosevelt. + +THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG--Theodore Roosevelt. + +GENERAL GRANT AND THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN--H. C. Lodge. + +ROBERT GOULD SHAW--H. C. Lodge. + +CHARLES RUSSELL LOWELL--H. C. Lodge. + +SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK--H. C. Lodge. + +LIEUTENANT CUSHING AND THE RAM "ALBEMARLE"--Theodore Roosevelt. + +FARRAGUT AT MOBILE BAY--Theodore Roosevelt. + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN--H. C. Lodge. + + + +"Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly king. +Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all +I shall not look upon his like again." + --Hamlet + + + +HERO TALES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY + + + +WASHINGTON + +The brilliant historian of the English people* has written of +Washington, that "no nobler figure ever stood in the fore-front +of a nation's life." In any book which undertakes to tell, no +matter how slightly, the story of some of the heroic deeds of +American history, that noble figre must always stand in the +fore-front. But to sketch the life of Washington even in the +barest outline is to write the history of the events which made +the United States independent and gave birth to the American +nation. Even to give alist of what he did, to name his battles +and recount his acts as president, would be beyond the limit and +the scope of this book. Yet it is always possible to recall the +man and to consider what he was and what he meant for us and for +mankind He is worthy the study and the remembrance of all men, +and to Americans he is at once a great glory of their past and an +inspiration and an assurance of their future. + +*John Richard Green. + + +To understand Washington at all we must first strip off all the +myths which have gathered about him. We must cast aside into the +dust-heaps all the wretched inventions of the cherry-tree +variety, which were fastened upon him nearly seventy years after +his birth. We must look at him as he looked at life and the facts +about him, without any illusion or deception, and no man in +history can better stand such a scrutiny. + +Born of a distinguished family in the days when the American +colonies were still ruled by an aristocracy, Washington started +with all that good birth and tradition could give. Beyond this, +however, he had little. His family was poor, his mother was left +early a widow, and he was forced after a very limited education +to go out into the world to fight for himself He had strong +within him the adventurous spirit of his race. He became a +surveyor, and in the pursuit of this profession plunged into the +wilderness, where he soon grew to be an expert hunter and +backwoodsman. Even as a boy the gravity of his character and his +mental and physical vigor commended him to those about him, and +responsibility and military command were put in his hands at an +age when most young men are just leaving college. As the times +grew threatening on the frontier, he was sent on a perilous +mission to the Indians, in which, after passing through many +hardships and dangers, he achieved success. When the troubles +came with France it was by the soldiers under his command that +the first shots were fired in the war which was to determine +whether the North American continent should be French or English. +In his earliest expedition he was defeated by the enemy. Later he +was with Braddock, and it was he who tried, to rally the broken +English army on the stricken field near Fort Duquesne. On that +day of surprise and slaughter he displayed not only cool courage +but the reckless daring which was one of his chief +characteristics. He so exposed himself that bullets passed +through his coat and hat, and the Indians and the French who +tried to bring him down thought he bore a charmed life. He +afterwards served with distinction all through the French war, +and when peace came he went back to the estate which he had +inherited from his brother, the most admired man in Virginia. + +At that time he married, and during the ensuing years he lived +the life of a Virginia planter, successful in his private affairs +and serving the public effectively but quietly as a member of the +House of Burgesses. When the troubles with the mother country +began to thicken he was slow to take extreme ground, but he never +wavered in his belief that all attempts to oppress the colonies +should be resisted, and when he once took up his position there +was no shadow of turning. He was one of Virginia's delegates to +the first Continental Congress, and, although he said but little, +he was regarded by all the representatives from the other +colonies as the strongest man among them. There was something +about him even then which commanded the respect and the +confidence of every one who came in contact with him. + +It was from New England, far removed from his own State, that the +demand came for his appointment as commander-in-chief of the +American army. Silently he accepted the duty, and, leaving +Philadelphia, took command of the army at Cambridge. There is no +need to trace him through the events that followed. From the time +when he drew his sword under the famous elm tree, he was the +embodiment of the American Revolution, and without him that +revolution would have failed almost at the start. How he carried +it to victory through defeat and trial and every possible +obstacle is known to all men. + +When it was all over he found himself facing a new situation. He +was the idol of the country and of his soldiers. The army was +unpaid, and the veteran troops, with arms in their hands, were +eager to have him take control of the disordered country as +Cromwell had done in England a little more than a century before. +With the army at his back, and supported by the great forces +which, in every community, desire order before everything else, +and are ready to assent to any arrangement which will bring peace +and quiet, nothing would have been easier than for Washington to +have made himself the ruler of the new nation. But that was not +his conception of duty, and he not only refused to have anything +to do with such a movement himself, but he repressed, by his +dominant personal influence, all such intentions on the part of +the army. On the 23d of December, 1783, he met the Congress at +Annapolis, and there resigned his commission. What he then said +is one of the two most memorable speeches ever made in the United +States, and is also memorable for its meaning and spirit among +all speeches ever made by men. He spoke as follows: + +Mr. President:--The great events on which my resignation depended +having at length taken place, I have now the honor of offering my +sincere congratulations to Congress, and of presenting myself +before them, to surrender into their hands the trust committed to +me and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the service of my +country. + +Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignity +and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States of +becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction the +appointment I accepted with diffidence; a diffidence in my +abilities to accomplish so arduous a task, which, however, was +superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the +support of the supreme power of the Union, and the patronage of +Heaven. + +The successful termination of the war has verified the most +sanguine expectations, and my gratitude for the interposition of +Providence and the assistance I have received from my countrymen +increases with every review of the momentous contest. + +While I repeat my obligations to the Army in general, I should do +injustice to my own feelings not to acknowledge, in this place, +the peculiar services and distinguished merits of the Gentlemen +who have been attached to my person during the war. It was +impossible that the choice of confidential officers to compose my +family should have been more fortunate. Permit me, sir, to +recommend in particular those who have continued in service to +the present moment as worthy of the favorable notice and +patronage of Congress. + +I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act +of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest +country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the +superintendence of them to His holy keeping. + +Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great +theatre of action, and, bidding an affectionate farewell to this +august body, under whose orders I have so long acted, I here +offer my commission and take my leave of all the employments of +public life." + +The great master of English fiction, writing of this scene at +Annapolis, says: 'Which was the most splendid spectacle ever +witnessed--the opening feast of Prince George in London, or the +resignation of Washington? Which is the noble character for after +ages to admire--yon fribble dancing in lace and spangles, or +yonder hero who sheathes his sword after a life of spotless +honor, a purity unreproached, a courage indomitable and a +consummate victory?" + +Washington did not refuse the dictatorship, or, rather, the +opportunity to take control of the country, because he feared +heavy responsibility, but solely because, as a high-minded and +patriotic man, he did not believe in meeting the situation in +that way. He was, moreover, entirely devoid of personal ambition, +and had no vulgar longing for personal power. After resigning his +commission he returned quietly to Mount Vernon, but he did not +hold himself aloof from public affairs. On the contrary, he +watched their course with the utmost anxiety. He saw the feeble +Confederation breaking to pieces, and he soon realized that that +form of government was an utter failure. In a time when no +American statesman except Hamilton had yet freed himself from the +local feelings of the colonial days, Washington was thoroughly +national in all his views. Out of the thirteen jarring colonies +he meant that a nation should come, and he saw--what no one else +saw--the destiny of the country to the westward. He wished a +nation founded which should cross the Alleghanies, and, holding +the mouths of the Mississippi, take possession of all that vast +and then unknown region. For these reasons he stood at the head +of the national movement, and to him all men turned who desired a +better union and sought to bring order out of chaos. With him +Hamilton and Madison consulted in the preliminary stages which +were to lead to the formation of a new system. It was his vast +personal influence which made that movement a success, and when +the convention to form a constitution met at Philadelphia, he +presided over its deliberations, and it was his commanding will +which, more than anything else, brought a constitution through +difficulties and conflicting interests which more than once made +any result seem well-nigh hopeless. When the Constitution formed +at Philadelphia had been ratified by the States, all men turned +to Washington to stand at the head of the new government. As he +had borne the burden of the Revolution, so he now took up the +task of bringing the government of the Constitution into +existence. For eight years he served as president. He came into +office with a paper constitution, the heir of a bankrupt, +broken-down confederation. He left the United States, when he +went out of office, an effective and vigorous government. When he +was inaugurated, we had nothing but the clauses of the +Constitution as agreed to by the Convention. When he laid down +the presidency, we had an organized government, an established +revenue, a funded debt, a high credit, an efficient system of +banking, a strong judiciary, and an army. We had a vigorous and +well-defined foreign policy; we had recovered the western posts, +which, in the hands of the British, had fettered our march to the +west; and we had proved our power to maintain order at home, to +repress insurrection, to collect the national taxes, and to +enforce the laws made by Congress. Thus Washington had shown that +rare combination of the leader who could first destroy by +revolution, and who, having led his country through a great civil +war, was then able to build up a new and lasting fabric upon the +ruins of a system which had been overthrown. At the close of his +official service he returned again to Mount Vernon, and, after a +few years of quiet retirement, died just as the century in which +he had played so great a part was closing. + +Washington stands among the greatest men of human history, and +those in the same rank with him are very few. Whether measured by +what he did, or what he was, or by the effect of his work upon +the history of mankind, in every aspect he is entitled to the +place he holds among the greatest of his race. Few men in all +time have such a record of achievement. Still fewer can show at +the end of a career so crowded with high deeds and memorable +victories a life so free from spot, a character so unselfish and +so pure, a fame so void of doubtful points demanding either +defense or explanation. Eulogy of such a life is needless, but it +is always important to recall and to freshly remember just what +manner of man he was. In the first place he was physically a +striking figure. He was very tall, powerfully made, with a +strong, handsome face. He was remarkably muscular and powerful. +As a boy he was a leader in all outdoor sports. No one could +fling the bar further than he, and no one could ride more +difficult horses. As a young man he became a woodsman and hunter. +Day after day he could tramp through the wilderness with his gun +and his surveyor's chain, and then sleep at night beneath the +stars. He feared no exposure or fatigue, and outdid the hardiest +backwoodsman in following a winter trail and swimming icy +streams. This habit of vigorous bodily exercise he carried +through life. Whenever he was at Mount Vernon he gave a large +part of his time to fox-hunting, riding after his hounds through +the most difficult country. His physical power and endurance +counted for much in his success when he commanded his army, and +when the heavy anxieties of general and president weighed upon +his mind and heart. + +He was an educated, but not a learned man. He read well and +remembered what he read, but his life was, from the beginning, a +life of action, and the world of men was his school. He was not a +military genius like Hannibal, or Caesar, or Napoleon, of which +the world has had only three or four examples. But he was a great +soldier of the type which the English race has produced, like +Marlborough and Cromwell, Wellington, Grant, and Lee. He was +patient under defeat, capable of large combinations, a stubborn +and often reckless fighter, a winner of battles, but much more, a +conclusive winner in a long war of varying fortunes. He was, in +addition, what very few great soldiers or commanders have ever +been, a great constitutional statesman, able to lead a people +along the paths of free government without undertaking himself to +play the part of the strong man, the usurper, or the savior of +society. + +He was a very silent man. Of no man of equal importance in the +world's history have we so few sayings of a personal kind. He was +ready enough to talk or to write about the public duties which he +had in hand, but he hardly ever talked of himself. Yet there can +be no greater error than to suppose Washington cold and +unfeeling, because of his silence and reserve. He was by nature a +man of strong desires and stormy passions. Now and again he would +break out, even as late as the presidency, into a gust of anger +that would sweep everything before it. He was always reckless of +personal danger, and had a fierce fighting spirit which nothing +could check when it was once unchained. + +But as a rule these fiery impulses and strong passions were under +the absolute control of an iron will, and they never clouded his +judgment or warped his keen sense of justice. + +But if he was not of a cold nature, still less was he hard or +unfeeling. His pity always went out to the poor, the oppressed, +or the unhappy, and he was all that was kind and gentle to those +immediately about him. + +We have to look carefully into his life to learn all these +things, for the world saw only a silent, reserved man, of +courteous and serious manner, who seemed to stand alone and +apart, and who impressed every one who came near him with a sense +of awe and reverence. + +One quality he had which was, perhaps, more characteristic of the +man and his greatness than any other. This was his perfect +veracity of mind. He was, of course, the soul of truth and honor, +but he was even more than that. He never deceived himself He +always looked facts squarely in the face and dealt with them as +such, dreaming no dreams, cherishing no delusions, asking no +impossibilities,--just to others as to himself, and thus winning +alike in war and in peace. + +He gave dignity as well as victory to his country and his cause. +He was, in truth, a "character for after ages to admire." + + + +DANIEL BOONE AND THE FOUNDING OF KENTUCKY + +. . . Boone lived hunting up to ninety; +And, what's still stranger, left behind a name + For which men vainly decimate the throng, +Not only famous, but of that GOOD fame, + Without which glory's but a tavern song,-- +Simple, serene, the antipodes of shame, + Which hate nor envy e'er could tinge with wrong; + +'T is true he shrank from men, even of his nation; + When they built up unto his darling trees, +He moved some hundred miles off, for a station + Where there were fewer houses and more ease; + + * * * * * * * + +But where he met the individual man, +He showed himself as kind as mortal can. + + * * * * * * * + +The freeborn forest found and kept them free, +And fresh as is a torrent or a tree. + +And tall, and strong, and swift of foot were they, + Beyond the dwarfing city's pale abortions, +Because their thoughts had never been the prey + Of care or gain; the green woods were their portions + + * * * * * * * + +Simple they were, not savage; and their rifles, +Though very true, were yet not used for trifles. + + * * * + +Serene, not sullen, were the solitudes +Of this unsighing people of the woods. + --Byron. + + + +DANIEL BOONE AND THE FOUNDING OF KENTUCKY + +Daniel Boone will always occupy a unique place in our history as +the archetype of the hunter and wilderness wanderer. He was a +true pioneer, and stood at the head of that class of +Indian-fighters, game-hunters, forest-fellers, and backwoods +farmers who, generation after generation, pushed westward the +border of civilization from the Alleghanies to the Pacific. As he +himself said, he was "an instrument ordained of God to settle the +wilderness." Born in Pennsylvania, he drifted south into western +North Carolina, and settled on what was then the extreme +frontier. There he married, built a log cabin, and hunted, +chopped trees, and tilled the ground like any other frontiersman. +The Alleghany Mountains still marked a boundary beyond which the +settlers dared not go; for west of them lay immense reaches of +frowning forest, uninhabited save by bands of warlike Indians. +Occasionally some venturesome hunter or trapper penetrated this +immense wilderness, and returned with strange stories of what he +had seen and done. + +In 1769 Boone, excited by these vague and wondrous tales, +determined himself to cross the mountains and find out what +manner of land it was that lay beyond. With a few chosen +companions he set out, making his own trail through the gloomy +forest. After weeks of wandering, he at last emerged into the +beautiful and fertile country of Kentucky, for which, in after +years, the red men and the white strove with such obstinate fury +that it grew to be called "the dark and bloody ground." But when +Boone first saw it, it was a fair and smiling land of groves and +glades and running waters, where the open forest grew tall and +beautiful, and where innumerable herds of game grazed, roaming +ceaselessly to and fro along the trails they had trodden during +countless generations. Kentucky was not owned by any Indian +tribe, and was visited only by wandering war-parties and +hunting-parties who came from among the savage nations living +north of the Ohio or south of the Tennessee. + +A roving war-party stumbled upon one of Boone's companions and +killed him, and the others then left Boone and journeyed home; +but his brother came out to join him, and the two spent the +winter together. Self-reliant, fearless, and the frowning defiles +of Cumberland Gap, they were attacked by Indians, and driven +back--two of Boone's own sons being slain. In 1775, however, he +made another attempt; and this attempt was successful. The +Indians attacked the newcomers; but by this time the parties of +would-be settlers were sufficiently numerous to hold their own. +They beat back the Indians, and built rough little hamlets, +surrounded by log stockades, at Boonesborough and Harrodsburg; +and the permanent settlement of Kentucky had begun. + +The next few years were passed by Boone amid unending Indian +conflicts. He was a leader among the settlers, both in peace and +in war. At one time he represented them in the House of Burgesses +of Virginia; at another time he was a member of the first little +Kentucky parliament itself; and he became a colonel of the +frontier militia. He tilled the land, and he chopped the trees +himself; he helped to build the cabins and stockades with his own +hands, wielding the longhandled, light-headed frontier ax as +skilfully as other frontiersmen. His main business was that of +surveyor, for his knowledge of the country, and his ability to +travel through it, in spite of the danger from Indians, created +much demand for his services among people who wished to lay off +tracts of wild land for their own future use. But whatever he +did, and wherever he went, he had to be sleeplessly on the +lookout for his Indian foes. When he and his fellows tilled the +stump-dotted fields of corn, one or more of the party were always +on guard, with weapon at the ready, for fear of lurking savages. +When he went to the House of Burgesses he carried his long rifle, +and traversed roads not a mile of which was free from the danger +of Indian attack. The settlements in the early years depended +exclusively upon game for their meat, and Boone was the mightiest +of all the hunters, so that upon him devolved the task of keeping +his people supplied. He killed many buffaloes, and pickled the +buffalo beef for use in winter. He killed great numbers of black +bear, and made bacon of them, precisely as if they had been hogs. +The common game were deer and elk. At that time none of the +hunters of Kentucky would waste a shot on anything so small as a +prairie-chicken or wild duck; but they sometimes killed geese and +swans when they came south in winter and lit on the rivers. + +But whenever Boone went into the woods after game, he had +perpetually to keep watch lest he himself might be hunted in +turn. He never lay in wait at a game-lick, save with ears +strained to hear the approach of some crawling red foe. He never +crept up to a turkey he heard calling, without exercising the +utmost care to see that it was not an Indian; for one of the +favorite devices of the Indians was to imitate the turkey call, +and thus allure within range some inexperienced hunter. + +Besides this warfare, which went on in the midst of his usual +vocations, Boone frequently took the field on set expeditions +against the savages. Once when he and a party of other men were +making salt at a lick, they were surprised and carried off by the +Indians. The old hunter was a prisoner with them for some months, +but finally made his escape and came home through the trackless +woods as straight as the wild pigeon flies. He was ever on the +watch to ward off the Indian inroads, and to follow the +warparties, and try to rescue the prisoners. Once his own +daughter, and two other girls who were with her, were carried off +by a band of Indians. Boone raised some friends and followed the +trail steadily for two days and a night; then they came to where +the Indians had killed a buffalo calf and were camped around it. +Firing from a little distance, the whites shot two of the +Indians, and, rushing in, rescued the girls. On another occasion, +when Boone had gone to visit a salt-lick with his brother, the +Indians ambushed them and shot the latter. Boone himself escaped, +but the Indians followed him for three miles by the aid of a +tracking dog, until Boone turned, shot the dog, and then eluded +his pursuers. In company with Simon Kenton and many other noted +hunters and wilderness warriors, he once and again took part in +expeditions into the Indian country, where they killed the braves +and drove off the horses. Twice bands of Indians, accompanied by +French, Tory, and British partizans from Detroit, bearing the +flag of Great Britain, attacked Boonesboroug. In each case Boone +and his fellowsettlers beat them off with loss. At the fatal +battle of the Blue Licks, in which two hundred of the best +riflemen of Kentucky were beaten with terrible slaughter by a +great force of Indians from the lakes, Boone commanded the left +wing. Leading his men, rifle in hand, he pushed back and +overthrew the force against him; but meanwhile the Indians +destroyed the right wing and center, and got round in his rear, +so that there was nothing left for Boone's men except to flee +with all possible speed. + +As Kentucky became settled, Boone grew restless and ill at ease. +He loved the wilderness; he loved the great forests and the great +prairielike glades, and the life in the little lonely cabin, +where from the door he could see the deer come out into the +clearing at nightfall. The neighborhood of his own kind made him +feel cramped and ill at ease. So he moved ever westward with the +frontier; and as Kentucky filled up he crossed the Mississippi +and settled on the borders of the prairie country of Missouri, +where the Spaniards, who ruled the territory, made him an +alcalde, or judge. He lived to a great age, and died out on the +border, a backwoods hunter to the last. + + + +GEORGE ROGERS CLARK AND THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTHWEST + +Have the elder races halted? +Do they droop and end their lesson, wearied over there beyond the +seas ? +We take up the task eternal, and the burden and the lesson, + Pioneers! O Pioneers! + All the past we leave behind, +We debouch upon a newer, mightier world, varied world; + +Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the +march, + Pioneers! O Pioneers! +We detachments steady throwing, +Down the edges, through the passes, up the mountains steep, +Conquering, holding, daring, venturing, as we go the unknown +ways, + Pioneers! O Pioneers! + + * * * * * * * + +The sachem blowing the smoke first towards the sun and then +towards the earth, +The drama of the scalp dance enacted with painted faces and +guttural exclamations, +The setting out of the war-party, the long and stealthy march, +The single file, the swinging hatchets, the surprise and +slaughter of enemies. + --Whitman. + + + +GEORGE ROGERS CLARK AND THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTHWEST + +In 1776, when independence was declared, the United States +included only the thirteen original States on the seaboard. With +the exception of a few hunters there were no white men west of +the Alleghany Mountains, and there was not even an American +hunter in the great country out of which we have since made the +States of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. All +this region north of the Ohio River then formed apart of the +Province of Quebec. It was a wilderness of forests and prairies, +teeming with game, and inhabited by many warlike tribes of +Indians. + +Here and there through it were dotted quaint little towns of +French Creoles, the most important being Detroit, Vincennes on +the Wabash, and Kaskaskia and Kahokia on the Illinois. These +French villages were ruled by British officers comanding small +bodies of regular soldiers or Tory rangers and Creole partizans. +The towns were completely in the power of the British government; +none of the American States had actual possession of a foot of +property in the Northwestern Territory. + +The Northwest was acquired in the midst of the Revolution only by +armed conquest, and if it had not been so acquired, it would have +remained a part of the British Dominion of Canada. + +The man to whom this conquest was clue was a famous backwoods +leader, a mighty hunter, a noted Indian-fighter, George Rogers +Clark. He was a very strong man, with light hair and blue eyes. +He was of good Virginian family. Early in his youth, he embarked +on the adventurous career of a backwoods surveyor, exactly as +Washington and so many other young Virginians of spirit did at +that period. He traveled out to Kentucky soon after it was +founded by Boone, and lived there for a year, either at the +stations or camping by him self in the woods, surveying, hunting, +and making war against the Indians like any other settler; but +all the time his mind was bent on vaster schemes than were +dreamed of by the men around him. He had his spies out in the +Northwestern Territory, and became convinced that with a small +force of resolute backwoodsmen he could conquer it for the United +States. When he went back to Virginia, Governor Patrick Henry +entered heartily into Clark's schemes and gave him authority to +fit out a force for his purpose. + +In 1778, after encountering endless difficulties and delays, he +finally raised a hundred and fifty backwoods riflemen. In May +they started down the Ohio in flatboats to undertake the allotted +task. They drifted and rowed downstream to the Falls of the Ohio, +where Clark founded a log hamlet, which has since become the +great city of Louisville. + +Here he halted for some days and was joined by fifty or sixty +volunteers; but a number of the men deserted, and when, after an +eclipse of the sun, Clark again pushed off to go down with the +current, his force was but about one hundred and sixty riflemen. +All, however, were men on whom he could depend--men well used to +frontier warfare. They were tall, stalwart backwoodsmen, clad in +the hunting-shirt and leggings that formed the national dress of +their kind, and armed with the distinctive weapon of the +backwoods, the long-barreled, small-bore rifle. + +Before reaching the Mississippi the little flotilla landed, and +Clark led his men northward against the Illinois towns. In one of +them, Kaskaskia, dwelt the British commander of the entire +district up to Detroit. The small garrison and the Creole militia +taken together outnumbered Clark's force, and they were in close +alliance with the Indians roundabout. Clark was anxious to take +the town by surprise and avoid bloodshed, as he believed he could +win over the Creoles to the American side. Marching cautiously by +night and generally hiding by day, he came to the outskirts of +the little village on the evening of July 4, and lay in the woods +near by until after nightfall. + +Fortune favored him. That evening the officers of the garrison +had given a great ball to the mirth-loving Creoles, and almost +the entire population of the village had gathered in the fort, +where the dance was held. While the revelry was at its height, +Clark and his tall backwoodsmen, treading silently through the +darkness, came into the town, surprised the sentries, and +surrounded the fort without causing any alarm. + +All the British and French capable of bearing arms were gathered +in the fort to take part in or look on at the merrymaking. When +his men were posted Clark walked boldly forward through the open +door, and, leaning against the wall, looked at the dancers as +they whirled around in the light of the flaring torches. For some +moments no one noticed him. Then an Indian who had been lying +with his chin on his hand, looking carefully over the gaunt +figure of the stranger, sprang to his feet, and uttered the wild +war-whoop. Immediately the dancing ceased and the men ran to and +fro in confusion; but Clark, stepping forward, bade them be at +their ease, but to remember that henceforth they danced under the +flag of the United States, and not under that of Great Britain. + +The surprise was complete, and no resistance was attempted. For +twenty-four hours the Creoles were in abject terror. Then Clark +summoned their chief men together and explained that he came as +their ally, and not as their foe, and that if they would join +with him they should be citizens of the American republic, and +treated in all respects on an equality with their comrades. The +Creoles, caring little for the British, and rather fickle of +nature, accepted the proposition with joy, and with the most +enthusiastic loyalty toward Clark. Not only that, but sending +messengers to their kinsmen on the Wabash, they persuaded the +people of Vincennes likewise to cast off their allegiance to the +British king, and to hoist the American flag. + +So far, Clark had conquered with greater ease than he had dared +to hope. But when the news reached the British governor, +Hamilton, at Detroit, he at once prepared to reconquer the land. +He had much greater forces at his command than Clark had; and in +the fall of that year he came down to Vincennes by stream and +portage, in a great fleet of canoes bearing five hundred fighting +men-British regulars, French partizans, and Indians. The +Vincennes Creoles refused to fight against the British, and the +American officer who had been sent thither by Clark had no +alternative but to surrender. + +If Hamilton had then pushed on and struck Clark in Illinois, +having more than treble Clark's force, he could hardly have +failed to win the victory; but the season was late and the +journey so difficult that he did not believe it could be taken. +Accordingly he disbanded the Indians and sent some of his troops +back to Detroit, announcing that when spring came he would march +against Clark in Illinois. + +If Clark in turn had awaited the blow he would have surely met +defeat; but he was a greater man than his antagonist, and he did +what the other deemed impossible. + +Finding that Hamilton had sent home some of his troops and +dispersed all his Indians, Clark realized that his chance was to +strike before Hamilton's soldiers assembled again in the spring. +Accordingly he gathered together the pick of his men, together +with a few Creoles, one hundred and seventy all told, and set out +for Vincennes. At first the journey was easy enough, for they +passed across the snowy Illinois prairies, broken by great +reaches of lofty woods. They killed elk, buffalo, and deer for +food, there being no difficulty in getting all they wanted to +eat; and at night they built huge fires by which to sleep, and +feasted "like Indian war-dancers," as Clark said in his report. + +But when, in the middle of February, they reached the drowned +lands of the Wabash, where the ice had just broken up and +everything was flooded, the difficulties seemed almost +insuperable, and the march became painful and laborious to a +degree. All day long the troops waded in the icy water, and at +night they could with difficulty find some little hillock on +which to sleep. Only Clark's indomitable courage and cheerfulness +kept the party in heart and enabled them to persevere. However, +persevere they did, and at last, on February 23, they came in +sight of the town of Vincennes. They captured a Creole who was +out shooting ducks, and from him learned that their approach was +utterly unsuspected, and that there were many Indians in town. + +Clark was now in some doubt as to how to make his fight. The +British regulars dwelt in a small fort at one end of the town, +where they had two light guns; but Clark feared lest, if he made +a sudden night attack, the townspeople and Indians would from +sheer fright turn against him. He accordingly arranged, just +before he himself marched in, to send in the captured +duck-hunter, conveying a warning to the Indians and the Creoles +that he was about to attack the town, but that his only quarrel +was with the British, and that if the other inhabitants would +stay in their own homes they would not be molested. Sending the +duck-hunter ahead, Clark took up his march and entered the town +just after nightfall. The news conveyed by the released hunter +astounded the townspeople, and they talked it over eagerly, and +were in doubt what to do. The Indians, not knowing how great +might be the force that would assail the town, at once took +refuge in the neighboring woods, while the Creoles retired to +their own houses. The British knew nothing of what had happened +until the Americans had actually entered the streets of the +little village. Rushing forward, Clark's men soon penned the +regulars within their fort, where they kept them surrounded all +night. The next day a party of Indian warriors, who in the +British interest had been ravaging the settlements of Kentucky, +arrived and entered the town, ignorant that the Americans had +captured it. Marching boldly forward to the fort, they suddenly +found it beleaguered, and before they could flee they were seized +by the backwoodsmen. In their belts they carried the scalps of +the slain settlers. The savages were taken redhanded, and the +American frontiersmen were in no mood to show mercy. All the +Indians were tomahawked in sight of the fort. + +For some time the British defended themselves well; but at length +their guns were disabled, all of the gunners being picked off by +the backwoods marksmen, and finally the garrison dared not so +much as appear at a port-hole, so deadly was the fire from the +long rifles. Under such circumstances Hamilton was forced to +surrender. + +No attempt was afterward made to molest the Americans in the land +they had won, and upon the conclusion of peace the Northwest, +which had been conquered by Clark, became part of the United +States. + + + +THE BATTLE OF TRENTON + +And such they are--and such they will be found: +Not so Leonidas and Washington, +Their every battle-field is holy ground +Which breathes of nations saved, not worlds undone. +How sweetly on the ear such echoes sound! +While the mere victor's may appal or stun +The servile and the vain, such names will be +A watchword till the future shall be free. + --Byron. + +THE BATTLE OF TRENTON + +In December, 1776, the American Revolution was at its lowest ebb. +The first burst of enthusiasm, which drove the British back from +Concord and met them hand to hand at Bunker Hill, which forced +them to abandon Boston and repulsed their attack at Charleston, +had spent its force. The undisciplined American forces called +suddenly from the workshop and the farm had given way, under the +strain of a prolonged contest, and had been greatly scattered, +many of the soldiers returning to their homes. The power of +England, on the other hand, with her disciplined army and +abundant resources, had begun to tell. Washington, fighting +stubbornly, had been driven during the summer and autumn from +Long Island up the Hudson, and New York had passed into the hands +of the British. Then Forts Lee and Washington had been lost, and +finally the Continental army had retreated to New Jersey. On the +second of December Washington was at Princeton with some three +thousand ragged soldiers, and had escaped destruction only by the +rapidity of his movements. By the middle of the month General +Howe felt that the American army, unable as he believed either to +fight or to withstand the winter, must soon dissolve, and, +posting strong detachments at various points, he took up his +winter quarters in New York. The British general had under his +command in his various divisions twenty-five thousand +well-disciplined soldiers, and the conclusion he had reached was +not an unreasonable one; everything, in fact, seemed to confirm +his opinion. Thousands of the colonists were coming in and +accepting his amnesty. The American militia had left the field, +and no more would turn out, despite Washington's earnest appeals. +All that remained of the American Revolution was the little +Continental army and the man who led it. + +Yet even in this dark hour Washington did not despair. He sent in +every direction for troops. Nothing was forgotten. Nothing that +he could do was left undone. Unceasingly he urged action upon +Congress, and at the same time with indomitable fighting spirit +he planned to attack the British. It was a desperate undertaking +in the face of such heavy odds, for in all his divisions he had +only some six thousand men, and even these were scattered. The +single hope was that by his own skill and courage he could snatch +victory from a situation where victory seemed impossible. With +the instinct of a great commander he saw that his only chance was +to fight the British detachments suddenly, unexpectedly, and +separately, and to do this not only required secrecy and perfect +judgment, but also the cool, unwavering courage of which, under +such circumstances, very few men have proved themselves capable. +As Christmas approached his plans were ready. He determined to +fall upon the British detachment of Hessians, under Colonel Rahl, +at Trenton, and there strike his first blow. To each division of +his little army a part in the attack was assigned with careful +forethought. Nothing was overlooked and nothing omitted, and +then, for some reason good or bad, every one of the division +commanders failed to do his part. As the general plan was +arranged, Gates was to march from Bristol with two thousand men; +Ewing was to cross at Trenton; Putnam was to come up from +Philadelphia; and Griffin was to make a diversion against Donop. +When the moment came, Gates, who disapproved the plan, was on his +way to Congress; Griffin abandoned New Jersey and fled before +Donop; Putnam did not attempt to leave Philadelphia; and Ewing +made no effort to cross at Trenton. Cadwalader came down from +Bristol, looked at the river and the floating ice, and then gave +it up as desperate. Nothing remained except Washington himself +with the main army, but he neither gave up, nor hesitated, nor +stopped on account of the ice, or the river, or the perils which +lay beyond. On Christmas Eve, when all the Christian world was +feasting and rejoicing, and while the British were enjoying +themselves in their comfortable quarters, Washington set out. +With twentyfour hundred men he crossed the Delaware through the +floating ice, his boats managed and rowed by the sturdy fishermen +of Marblehead from Glover's regiment. The crossing was +successful, and he landed about nine miles from Trenton. It was +bitter cold, and the sleet and snow drove sharply in the faces of +the troops. Sullivan, marching by the river, sent word that the +arms of his soldiers were wet. "Tell your general," was +Washington's reply to the message, "to use the bayonet, for the +town must be taken." When they reached Trenton it was broad +daylight. Washington, at the front and on the right of the line, +swept down the Pennington road, and, as he drove back the Hessian +pickets, he heard the shout of Sullivan's men as, with Stark +leading the van, they charged in from the river. A company of +jaegers and of light dragoons slipped away. There was some +fighting in the streets, but the attack was so strong and well +calculated that resistance was useless. Colonel Rahl, the British +commander, aroused from his revels, was killed as he rushed out +to rally his men, and in a few moments all was over. A thousand +prisoners fell into Washington's hands, and this important +detachment of the enemy was cut off and destroyed. + +The news of Trenton alarmed the British, and Lord Cornwallis with +seven thousand of the best troops started at once from New York +in hot pursuit of the American army. Washington, who had now +rallied some five thousand men, fell back, skirmishing heavily, +behind the Assunpink, and when Cornwallis reached the river he +found the American army awaiting him on the other side of the +stream. Night was falling, and Cornwallis, feeling sure of his +prey, decided that he would not risk an assault until the next +morning. Many lessons had not yet taught him that it was a fatal +business to give even twelve hours to the great soldier opposed +to him. During the night Washington, leaving his fires burning +and taking a roundabout road which he had already reconnoitered, +marched to Princeton. There he struck another British detachment. +A sharp fight ensued, the British division was broken and +defeated, losing some five hundred men, and Washington withdrew +after this second victory to the highlands of New Jersey to rest +and recruit. + +Frederick the Great is reported to have said that this was the +most brilliant campaign of the century. With a force very much +smaller than that of the enemy, Washington had succeeded in +striking the British at two places with superior forces at each +point of contact. At Trenton he had the benefit of a surprise, +but the second time he was between two hostile armies. He was +ready to fight Cornwallis when the latter reached the Assunpink, +trusting to the strength of his position to make up for his +inferiority of numbers. But when Cornwallis gave him the delay +of. a night, Washington, seeing the advantage offered by his +enemy's mistake, at once changed his whole plan, and, turning in +his tracks, fell upon the smaller of the two forces opposed to +him, wrecking and defeating it before the outgeneraled Cornwallis +could get up with the main army. Washington had thus shown the +highest form of military skill, for there is nothing that +requires so much judgment and knowledge, so much certainty of +movement and quick decision, as to meet a superior enemy at +different points, force the fighting, and at each point to +outnumber and overwhelm him. + +But the military part of this great campaign was not all. Many +great soldiers have not been statesmen, and have failed to +realize the political necessities of the situation. Washington +presented the rare combination of a great soldier and a great +statesman as well. He aimed not only to win battles, but by his +operations in the field to influence the political situation and +affect public opinion. The American Revolution was going to +pieces. Unless some decisive victory could be won immediately, it +would have come to an end in the winter of 1776-77. This +Washington knew, and it was this which nerved his arm. The +results justified his forethought. The victories of Trenton and +Princeton restored the failing spirits of the people, and, what +was hardly less important, produced a deep impression in Europe +in favor of the colonies. The country, which had lost heart, and +become supine and almost hostile, revived. The militia again took +the field. Outlying parties of the British were attacked and cut +off, and recruits once more began to come in to the Continental +army. The Revolution was saved. That the English colonies in +North America would have broken away from the mother country +sooner or later cannot be doubted, but that particular Revolution +Of 1776 would have failed within a year, had it not been for +Washington. It is not, however, merely the fact that he was a +great soldier and statesman which we should remember. The most +memorable thing to us, and to all men, is the heroic spirit of +the man, which rose in those dreary December days to its greatest +height, under conditions so adverse that they had crushed the +hope of every one else. Let it be remembered, also, that it was +not a spirit of desperation or of ignorance, a reckless daring +which did not count the cost. No one knew better than +Washington--no one, indeed, so well--the exact state of affairs; +for he, conspicuously among great men, always looked facts +fearlessly in the face, and never deceived himself. He was under +no illusions, and it was this high quality of mind as much as any +other which enabled him to win victories. + +How he really felt we know from what he wrote to Congress on +December 20, when he said: "It may be thought that I am going a +good deal out of the line of my duty to adopt these measures or +to advise thus freely. A character to lose, an estate to forfeit, +the inestimable blessing of liberty at stake, and a life devoted, +must be my excuse." These were the thoughts in his mind when he +was planning this masterly campaign. These same thoughts, we may +readily believe, were with him when his boat was making its way +through the ice of the Delaware on Christmas Eve. It was a very +solemn moment, and he was the only man in the darkness of that +night who fully understood what was at stake; but then, as +always, he was calm and serious, with a high courage which +nothing could depress. + +The familiar picture of a later day depicts Washington crossing +the Delaware at the head of his soldiers. He is standing up in +the boat, looking forward in the teeth of the storm. It matters +little whether the work of the painter is in exact accordance +with the real scene or not. The daring courage, the high resolve, +the stern look forward and onward, which the artist strove to +show in the great leader, are all vitally true. For we may be +sure that the man who led that well-planned but desperate +assault, surrounded by darker conditions than the storms of +nature which gathered about his boat, and carrying with him the +fortunes of his country, was at that moment one of the most +heroic figures in history. + + + +BENNINGTON + +We are but warriors for the working-day; +Our gayness and our guilt are all besmirch'd +With rainy marching in the painful field; +There's not a piece of feather in our host +(Good argument, I hope, we shall not fly), +And time hath worn us into slovenry. +But, by the mass, our hearts are in the trim, +And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night +They'll be in fresher robes. + --Henry V. + + +BENNINGTON + +The battle of Saratoga is included by Sir Edward Creasy among his +fifteen decisive battles which have, by their result, affected +the history of the world. It is true that the American Revolution +was saved by Washington in the remarkable Princeton and Trenton +campaign, but it is equally true that the surrender of Burgoyne +at Saratoga, in the following autumn, turned the scale decisively +in favor of the colonists by the impression which it made in +Europe. It was the destruction of Burgoyne's army which +determined France to aid the Americans against England. Hence +came the French alliance, the French troops, and, what was of far +more importance, a French fleet by which Washington was finally +able to get control of the sea, and in this way cut off +Cornwallis at Yorktown and bring the Revolution to a successful +close. That which led, however, more directly than anything else +to the final surrender at Saratoga was the fight at Bennington, +by which Burgoyne's army was severely crippled and weakened, and +by which also, the hardy militia of the North eastern States were +led to turn out in large numbers and join the army of Gates. + +The English ministry had built great hopes upon Burgoyne's +expedition, and neither expense nor effort had been spared to +make it successful. He was amply furnished with money and +supplies as well as with English and German troops, the latter of +whom were bought from their wretched little princes by the +payment of generous subsidies. With an admirably equipped army of +over seven thousand men, and accompanied by a large force of +Indian allies, Burgoyne had started in May, 1777, from Canada. +His plan was to make his way by the lakes to the head waters of +the Hudson, and thence southward along the river to New York, +where he was to unite with Sir William Howe and the main army; in +this way cutting the colonies in two, and separating New England +from the rest of the country. + +At first all went well. The Americans were pushed back from their +posts on the lakes, and by the end of July Burgoyne was at the +head waters of the Hudson. He had. already sent out a force, +under St. Leger, to take possession of the valley of the +Mohawk--an expedition which finally resulted in the defeat of the +British by Herkimer, and the capture of Fort Stanwix. To aid St. +Leger by a diversion, and also to capture certain magazines which +were reported to be at Bennington, Burgoyne sent another +expedition to the eastward. This force consisted of about five +hundred and fifty white troops, chiefly Hessians, and one hundred +and fifty Indians, all under the command of Colonel Baum. They +were within four miles of Bennington on August 13, 1777, and +encamped on a hill just within the boundaries of the State of New +York. The news of the advance of Burgoyne had already roused the +people of New York and New Hampshire, and the legislature of the +latter State had ordered General Stark with a brigade of militia +to stop the progress of the enemy on the western frontier. Stark +raised his standard at Charlestown on the Connecticut River, and +the militia poured into his camp. Disregarding Schuyler's orders +to join the main American army, which was falling back before +Burgoyne, Stark, as soon as he heard of the expedition against +Bennington, marched at once to meet Baum. He was within a mile of +the British camp on August 14, and vainly endeavored to draw Baum +into action. On the 15th it rained heavily, and the British +forces occupied the time in intrenching themselves strongly upon +the hill which they held. Baum meantime had already sent to +Burgoyne for reinforcements, and Burgoyne had detached Colonel +Breymann with over six hundred regular troops to go to Baum's +assistance. On the 16th the weather cleared, and Stark, who had +been reinforced by militia from western Massachusetts, determined +to attack. + +Early in the day he sent men, under Nichols and Herrick, to get +into the rear of Baum's position. The German officer, ignorant of +the country and of the nature of the warfare in which he was +engaged, noticed small bodies of men in their shirtsleeves, and +carrying guns without bayonets, making their way to the rear of +his intrenchments. With singular stupidity he concluded that they +were Tory inhabitants of the country who were coming to his +assistance, and made no attempt to stop them. In this way Stark +was enabled to mass about five hundred men in the rear of the +enemy's position. Distracting the attention of the British by a +feint, Stark also moved about two hundred men to the right, and +having thus brought his forces into position he ordered a general +assault, and the Americans proceeded to storm the British +intrenchments on every side. The fight was a very hot one, and +lasted some two hours. The Indians, at the beginning of the +action, slipped away between the American detachments, but the +British and German regulars stubbornly stood their ground. It is +difficult to get at the exact numbers of the American troops, but +Stark seems to have had between fifteen hundred and two thousand +militia. He thus outnumbered his enemy nearly three to one, but +his men were merely country militia, farmers of the New England +States, very imperfectly disciplined, and armed only with muskets +and fowling-pieces, without bayonets or side-arms. On the other +side Baum had the most highly disciplined troops of England and +Germany under his command, well armed and equipped, and he was +moreover strongly intrenched with artillery well placed behind +the breastworks. The advantage in the fight should have been +clearly with Baum and his regulars, who merely had to hold an +intrenched hill. + +It was not a battle in which either military strategy or a +scientific management of troops was displayed. All that Stark did +was to place his men so that they could attack the enemy's +position on every side, and then the Americans went at it, firing +as they pressed on. The British and Germans stood their ground +stubbornly, while the New England farmers rushed up to within +eight yards of the cannon, and picked off the men who manned the +guns. Stark himself was in the midst of the fray, fighting with +his soldiers, and came out of the conflict so blackened with +powder and smoke that he could hardly be recognized. One +desperate assault succeeded another, while the firing on both +sides was so incessant as to make, in Stark's own words, a +"continuous roar." At the end of two hours the Americans finally +swarmed over the intrenchments, beating down the soldiers with +their clubbed muskets. Baum ordered his infantry with the bayonet +and the dragoons with their sabers to force their way through, +but the Americans repulsed this final charge, and Baum himself +fell mortally wounded. All was then over, and the British forces +surrendered. + +It was only just in time, for Breymann, who had taken thirty +hours to march some twenty-four miles, came up just after Baum's +men had laid down their arms. It seemed for a moment as if all +that had been gained might be lost. The Americans, attacked by +this fresh foe, wavered; but Stark rallied his line, and putting +in Warner, with one hundred and fifty Vermont men who had just +come on the field, stopped Breymann's advance, and finally forced +him to retreat with a loss of nearly one half his men. The +Americans lost in killed and wounded some seventy men, and the +Germans and British about twice as many, but the Americans took +about seven hundred prisoners, and completely wrecked the forces +of Baum and Breymann. + +The blow was a severe one, and Burgoyne's army never recovered +from it. Not only had he lost nearly a thousand of his best +troops, besides cannon, arms, and munitions of war, but the +defeat affected the spirits of his army and destroyed his hold +over his Indian allies, who began to desert in large numbers. +Bennington, in fact, was one of the most important fights of the +Revolution, contributing as it did so largely to the final +surrender of Burgoyne's whole army at Saratoga, and the utter +ruin of the British invasion from the North. It is also +interesting as an extremely gallant bit of fighting. As has been +said, there was no strategy displayed, and there were no military +operations of the higher kind. There stood the enemy strongly +intrenched on a hill, and Stark, calling his undisciplined levies +about him, went at them. He himself was a man of the highest +courage and a reckless fighter. It was Stark who held the +railfence at Bunker Hill, and who led the van when Sullivan's +division poured into Trenton from the river road. He was +admirably adapted for the precise work which was necessary at +Bennington, and he and his men fought well their hand-to-hand +fight on that hot August day, and carried the intrenchments +filled with regular troops and defended by artillery. It was a +daring feat of arms, as well as a battle which had an important +effect upon the course of history and upon the fate of the +British empire in America. + + + +KING'S MOUNTAIN + +Our fortress is the good greenwood, + Our tent the cypress tree; +We know the forest round us + As seamen know the sea. +We know its walls of thorny vines, + Its glades of reedy grass, +Its safe and silent islands + Within the dark morass. + --Bryant. + +KING'S MOUNTAIN + +The close of the year 1780 was, in the Southern States, the +darkest time of the Revolutionary struggle. Cornwallis had just +destroyed the army of Gates at Camden, and his two formidable +lieutenants, Tarlton the light horseman, and Ferguson the skilled +rifleman, had destroyed or scattered all the smaller bands that +had been fighting for the patriot cause. The red dragoons rode +hither and thither, and all through Georgia and South Carolina +none dared lift their heads to oppose them, while North Carolina +lay at the feet of Cornwallis, as he started through it with his +army to march into Virginia. There was no organized force against +him, and the cause of the patriots seemed hopeless. It was at +this hour that the wild backwoodsmen of the western border +gathered to strike a blow for liberty. + +When Cornwallis invaded North Carolina he sent Ferguson into the +western part of the State to crush out any of the patriot forces +that might still be lingering among the foot-hills. Ferguson was +a very gallant and able officer, and a man of much influence with +the people wherever he went, so that he was peculiarly fitted for +this scrambling border warfare. He had under him a battalion of +regular troops and several other battalions of Tory militia, in +all eleven or twelve hundred men. He shattered and drove the +small bands of Whigs that were yet in arms, and finally pushed to +the foot of the mountain wall, till he could see in his front the +high ranges of the Great Smokies. Here he learned for the first +time that beyond the mountains there lay a few hamlets of +frontiersmen, whose homes were on what were then called the +Western Waters, that is, the waters which flowed into the +Mississippi. To these he sent word that if they did not prove +loyal to the king, he would cross their mountains, hang their +leaders, and burn their villages. + +Beyond the, mountains, in the valleys of the Holston and Watauga, +dwelt men who were stout of heart and mighty in battle, and when +they heard the threats of Ferguson they burned with a sullen +flame of anger. Hitherto the foes against whom they had warred +had been not the British, but the Indian allies of the British, +Creek, and Cherokee, and Shawnee. Now that the army of the king +had come to their thresholds, they turned to meet it as fiercely +as they had met his Indian allies. Among the backwoodsmen of this +region there were at that time three men of special note: Sevier, +who afterward became governor of Tennessee; Shelby, who afterward +became governor of Kentucky; and Campbell, the Virginian, who +died in the Revolutionary War. Sevier had given a great barbecue, +where oxen and deer were roasted whole, while horseraces were +run, and the backwoodsmen tried their skill as marksmen and +wrestlers. In the midst of the feasting Shelby appeared, hot with +hard riding, to tell of the approach of Ferguson and the British. +Immediately the feasting was stopped, and the feasters made ready +for war. Sevier and Shelby sent word to Campbell to rouse the men +of his own district and come without delay, and they sent +messengers to and fro in their own neighborhood to summon the +settlers from their log huts on the stump-dotted clearings and +the hunters from their smoky cabins in the deep woods. + +The meeting-place was at the Sycamore Shoals. On the appointed +day the backwoodsmen gathered sixteen hundred strong, each man +carrying a long rifle, and mounted on a tough, shaggy horse. They +were a wild and fierce people, accustomed to the chase and to +warfare with the Indians. Their hunting-shirts of buckskin or +homespun were girded in by bead-worked belts, and the trappings +of their horses were stained red and yellow. At the gathering +there was a black-frocked Presbyterian preacher, and before they +started he addressed the tall riflemen in words of burning zeal, +urging them to stand stoutly in the battle, and to smite with the +sword of the Lord and of Gideon. Then the army started, the +backwoods colonels riding in front. Two or three days later, word +was brought to Ferguson that the Back-water men had come over the +mountains; that the Indian-fighters of the frontier, leaving +unguarded their homes on the Western Waters, had crossed by +wooded and precipitous defiles to the help of the beaten men of +the plains. Ferguson at once fell back, sending out messengers +for help. When he came to King's Mountain, a wooded, hog-back +hill on the border line between North and South Carolina, he +camped on its top, deeming that there he was safe, for he +supposed that before the backwoodsmen could come near enough to +attack him help would reach him. But the backwoods leaders felt +as keenly as he the need of haste, and choosing out nine hundred +picked men, the best warriors of their force, and the best +mounted and armed, they made a long forced march to assail +Ferguson before help could come to him. All night long they rode +the dim forest trails and splashed across the fords of the +rushing rivers. All the next day, October 16, they rode, until in +mid-afternoon, just as a heavy shower cleared away, they came in +sight of King's Mountain. The little armies were about equal in +numbers. Ferguson's regulars were armed with the bayonet, and so +were some of his Tory militia, whereas the Americans had not a +bayonet among them; but they were picked men, confident in their +skill as riflemen, and they were so sure of victory that their +aim was not only to defeat the British but to capture their whole +force. The backwoods colonels, counseling together as they rode +at the head of the column, decided to surround the mountain and +assail it on all sides. Accordingly the bands of frontiersmen +split one from the other, and soon circled the craggy hill where +Ferguson's forces were encamped. They left their horses in the +rear and immediately began the battle, swarming forward on foot, +their commanders leading the attack. + +The march had been so quick and the attack so sudden that +Ferguson had barely time to marshal his men before the assault +was made. Most of his militia he scattered around the top of the +hill to fire down at the Americans as they came up, while with +his regulars and with a few picked militia he charged with the +bayonet in person, first down one side of the mountain and then +down the other. Sevier, Shelby, Campbell, and the other colonels +of the frontiersmen, led each his force of riflemen straight +toward the summit. Each body in turn when charged by the regulars +was forced to give way, for there were no bayonets wherewith to +meet the foe; but the backwoodsmen retreated only so long as the +charge lasted, and the minute that it stopped they stopped too, +and came back ever closer to the ridge and ever with a deadlier +fire. Ferguson, blowing a silver whistle as a signal to his men, +led these charges, sword in hand, on horseback. At last, just as +he was once again rallying his men, the riflemen of Sevier and +Shelby crowned the top of the ridge. The gallant British +commander became a fair target for the backwoodsmen, and as for +the last time he led his men against them, seven bullets entered +his body and he fell dead. With his fall resistance ceased. The +regulars and Tories huddled together in a confused mass, while +the exultant Americans rushed forward. A flag of truce was +hoisted, and all the British who were not dead surrendered. + +The victory was complete, and the backwoodsmen at once started to +return to their log hamlets and rough, lonely farms. They could +not stay, for they dared not leave their homes at the mercy of +the Indians. They had rendered a great service; for Cornwallis, +when he heard of the disaster to his trusted lieutenant, +abandoned his march northward, and retired to South Carolina. +When he again resumed the offensive, he found his path barred by +stubborn General Greene and his troops of the Continental line. + + + +THE STORMING OF STONY POINT + + In their ragged regimentals + Stood the old Continentals, + Yielding not, + When the grenadiers were lunging, + And like hail fell the plunging + Cannon-shot; + When the files + Of the isles +From the smoky night encampment bore the banner of the rampant +Unicorn, +And grummer, grummer, grummer, rolled the roll of the drummer, + Through the morn! + + Then with eyes to the front all, + And with guns horizontal, + Stood our sires; + And the balls whistled deadly, + And in streams flashing redly + Blazed the fires; + As the roar + On the shore +Swept the strong battle-breakers o'er the green-sodded acres + Of the plain; +And louder, louder, louder cracked the black gunpowder, + Cracked amain! + --Guy Humphrey McMaster. + + + +THE STORMING OF STONY POINT + +One of the heroic figures of the Revolution was Anthony Wayne, +Major-General of the Continental line. With the exception of +Washington, and perhaps Greene, he was the bestgeneral the +Americans developed in the contest; and without exception he +showed himself to be the hardest fighter produced on either side. +He belongs, as regards this latter characteristic, with the men +like Winfield Scott, Phil Kearney, Hancock, and Forrest, who +reveled in the danger and the actual shock of arms. Indeed, his +eager loveof battle, and splendid disregard of peril, have made +many writers forget his really great qualities as a general. +Soldiers are always prompt to recognize the prime virtue of +physical courage, and Wayne's followers christened their daring +commander "Mad Anthony," in loving allusion to his reckless +bravery. It is perfectly true that Wayne had this courage, and +that he was a born fighter; otherwise, he never would have been a +great commander. A man who lacks the fondness for fighting, the +eager desire to punish his adversary, and the willingness to +suffer punishment in return, may be a great organizer, like +McClellan, but can never become a great general or win great +victories. There are, however, plenty of men who, though they +possess these fine manly traits, yet lack the head to command an +army; but Wayne had not only the heart and the hand but the head +likewise. No man could dare as greatly as he did without +incurring the risk of an occasional check; but he was an able and +bold tactician, a vigilant and cautious leader, well fitted to +bear the terrible burden of responsibility which rests upon a +commander-in-chief. + +Of course, at times he had some rather severe lessons. Quite +early in his career, just after the battle of the Brandywine, +when he was set to watch the enemy, he was surprised at night by +the British general Grey, a redoubtable fighter, who attacked him +with the bayonet, killed a number of his men, and forced him to +fall back some distance from the field of action. This mortifying +experience had no effect whatever on Wayne's courage or +self-reliance, but it did give him a valuable lesson in caution. +He showed what he had learned by the skill with which, many years +later, he conducted the famous campaign in which he overthrew the +Northwestern Indians at the Fight of the Fallen Timbers. + +Wayne's favorite weapon was the bayonet, and, like Scott he +taught his troops, until they were able in the shock of +hand-to-hand conflict to overthrow the renowned British infantry, +who have always justly prided themselves on their prowess with +cold steel. At the battle of Germantown it was Wayne's troops +who, falling on with the bayonet, drove the Hessians and the +British light infantry, and only retreated under orders when the +attack had failed elsewhere. At Monmouth it was Wayne and his +Continentals who first checked the British advance by repulsing +the bayonet charge of the guards and grenadiers. + +Washington, a true leader of men, was prompt to recognize in +Wayne a soldier to whom could be intrusted any especially +difficult enterprise which called for the exercise alike of +intelligence and of cool daring. In the summer of 1780 he was +very anxious to capture the British fort at Stony Point, which +commanded the Hudson. It was impracticable to attack it by +regular siege while the British frigates lay in the river, and +the defenses ere so strong that open assault by daylight was +equally out of the question. Accordingly Washington suggested to +Wayne that he try a night attack. Wayne eagerly caught at the +idea. It was exactly the kind of enterprise in which he +delighted. The fort was on a rocky promontory, surrounded on +three sides by water, and on the fourth by a neck of land, which +was for the most part mere morass. It was across this neck of +land that any attacking column had to move. The garrison was six +hundred strong. To deliver the assault Wayne took nine hundred +men. The American army was camped about fourteen miles from Stony +Point. One July afternoon Wayne started, and led his troops in +single file along the narrow rocky roads, reaching the hills on +the mainland near the fort after nightfall. He divided his force +into two columns, to advance one along each side of the neck, +detaching two companies of North Carolina troops to move in +between the two columns and make a false attack. The rest of the +force consisted of New Englanders, Pennsylvanians, and +Virginians. Each attacking column was divided into three parts, a +forlorn hope of twenty men leading, which was followed by an +advance guard of one hundred and twenty, and then by the main +body. At the time commanding officers still carried spontoons, +and other old-time weapons, and Wayne, who himself led the right +column, directed its movements spear in hand. It was nearly +midnight when the Americans began to press along the causeways +toward the fort. Before they were near the walls they were +discovered, and the British opened a heavy fire of great guns and +musketry, to which the Carolinians, who were advancing between +the two columns, responded in their turn, according to orders; +but the men in the columns were forbidden to fire. Wayne had +warned them that their work must be done with the bayonet, and +their muskets were not even loaded. Moreover, so strict was the +discipline that no one was allowed to leave the ranks, and when +one of the men did so an officer promptly ran him through the +body. + +No sooner had the British opened fire than the charging columns +broke into a run, and in a moment the forlorn hopes plunged into +the abattis of fallen timber which the British had constructed +just without the walls. On the left, the forlorn hope was very +roughly handled, no less than seventeen of the twenty men being +either killed or wounded, but as the columns came up both burst +through the down timber and swarmed up the long, sloping +embankments of the fort. The British fought well, cheering loudly +as their volley's rang, but the Americans would not be denied, +and pushed silently on to end the contest with the bayonet. A +bullet struck Wayne in the head. He fell, but struggled to his +feet and forward, two of his officers supporting him. A rumor +went among the men that he was dead, but it only impelled them to +charge home, more fiercely than ever. + +With a rush the troops swept to the top of the wall. A fierce but +short fight followed in the intense darkness, which was lit only +by the flashes from the British muskets. The Americans did not +fire, trusting solely to the bayonet. The two columns had kept +almost equal pace, and they swept into the fort from opposite +sides at the same moment. The three men who first got over the +walls were all wounded, but one of them hauled down the British +flag. The Americans had the advantage which always comes from +delivering an attack that is thrust home. Their muskets were +unloaded and they could not hesitate; so, running boldly into +close quarters, they fought hand to hand with their foes and +speedily overthrew them. For a moment the bayonets flashed and +played; then the British lines broke as their assailants thronged +against them, and the struggle was over. The Americans had lost a +hundred in killed and wounded. Of the British sixty-three had +been slain and very many wounded, every one of the dead or +disabled having suffered from the bayonet. A curious coincidence +was that the number of the dead happened to be exactly equal to +the number of Wayne's men who had been killed in the night attack +by the English general, Grey. + +There was great rejoicing among the Americans over the successful +issue of the attack. Wayne speedily recovered from his wound, and +in the joy of his victory it weighed but slightly. He had +performed a most notable feat. No night attack of the kind was +ever delivered with greater boldness, skill, and success. When +the Revolutionary War broke out the American armies were composed +merel y of armed yeomen, stalwart men, of good courage, and +fairly proficient in the use of their weapons, but entirely +without the training which alone could enable them to withstand +the attack of the British regulars in the open, or to deliver an +attack themselves. Washington's victory at Trenton was the first +encounter which showed that the Americans were to be feared when +they took the offensive. With the exception of the battle of +Trenton, and perhaps of Greene's fight at Eutaw Springs, Wayne's +feat was the most successful illustration of daring and +victorious attack by an American army that occurred during the +war; and, unlike Greene, who was only able to fight a drawn +battle, Wayne's triumph was complete. At Monmouth he had shown, +as he afterward showed against Cornwallis, that his troops could +meet the renowned British regulars on even terms in the open. At +Stony Point he showed that he could lead them to a triumphant +assault with the bayonet against regulars who held a fortified +place of strength. No American commander has ever displayed +greater energy and daring, a more resolute courage, or readier +resource, than the chief of the hard-fighting Revolutionary +generals, Mad Anthony Wayne. + + + +GOUVERNEUR MORRIS + +GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. PARIS. AUGUST 10, 1792. + +Justum et tenacem propositi virum +Non civium ardor prava jubentium, + Non vultus instantis tyranni + Mente quatit solida, neque Auster +Dux inquieti turbidus Hadriae, +Nec fulminantis magna manus Jovis: + Si fractus illabatur orbis, + Impavidum ferient ruinae. + --Hor., Lib. III. Carm. III. + + +GOUVERNEUR MORRIS + +The 10th of August, 1792, was one of the most memorable days of +the French Revolution. It was the day on which the French +monarchy received its death-blow, and was accompanied by fighting +and bloodshed which filled Paris with terror. In the morning +before daybreak the tocsin had sounded, and not long after the +mob of Paris, headed by the Marseillais, "Six hundred men not +afraid to die," who had been summoned there by Barbaroux, were +marching upon the Tuileries. The king, or rather the queen, had +at last determined to make a stand and to defend the throne. The +Swiss Guards were there at the palace, well posted to protect the +inner court; and there, too, were the National Guards, who were +expected to uphold the government and guard the king. The tide of +people poured on through the streets, gathering strength as they +went the Marseillais, the armed bands, the Sections, and a vast +floating mob. The crowd drew nearer and nearer, but the squadrons +of the National Guards, who were to check the advance, did not +stir. It is not apparent, indeed, that they made any resistance, +and the king and his family at eight o'clock lost heart and +deserted the Tuileries, to take refuge with the National +Convention. The multitude then passed into the court of the +Carrousel, unchecked by the National Guards, and were face to +face with the Swiss. Deserted by their king, the Swiss knew not +how to act, but still stood their ground. There was some +parleying, and at last the Marseillais fired a cannon. Then the +Swiss fired. They were disciplined troops, and their fire was +effective. There was a heavy slaughter and the mob recoiled, +leaving their cannon, which the Swiss seized. The Revolutionists, +however, returned to the charge, and the fight raged on both +sides, the Swiss holding their ground firmly. + +Suddenly, from the legislative hall, came an order from the king +to the Swiss to cease firing. It was their death warrant. +Paralyzed by the order, they knew not what to do. The mob poured +in, and most of the gallant Swiss were slaughtered where they +stood. Others escaped from the Tuileries only to meet their death +in the street. The palace was sacked and the raging mob was in +possession of the city. No man's life was safe, least of all +those who were known to be friends of the king, who were nobles, +or who had any connection with the court. Some of these people +whose lives were thus in peril at the hands of the bloodstained +and furious mob had been the allies of the United States, and had +fought under Washington in the war for American independence. In +their anguish and distress their thoughts recurred to the country +which they had served in its hour of trial, three thousand miles +away. They sought the legation of the United States and turned to +the American minister for protection. + +Such an exercise of humanity at that moment was not a duty that +any man craved. In those terrible days in Paris, the +representatives of foreign governments were hardly safer than any +one else. Many of the ambassadors and ministers had already left +the country, and others were even then abandoning their posts, +which it seemed impossible to hold at such a time. But the +American minister stood his ground. Gouverneur Morris was not a +man to shrink from what he knew to be his duty. He had been a +leading patriot in our revolution; he had served in the +Continental Congress, and with Robert Morris in the difficult +work of the Treasury, when all our resources seemed to be at +their lowest ebb. In 1788 he had gone abroad on private business, +and had been much in Paris, where he had witnessed the beginning +of the French Revolution and had been consulted by men on both +sides. In 1790, by Washington's direction, he had gone to London +and had consulted the ministry there as to whether they would +receive an American minister. Thence he had returned to Paris, +and at the beginning Of 1792 Washington appointed him minister of +the United States to France. + +As an American, Morris's sympathies had run strongly in favor of +the movement to relieve France from the despotism under which she +was sinking, and to give her a better and more liberal +government. But, as the Revolution progressed, he became outraged +and disgusted by the methods employed. He felt a profound +contempt for both sides. The inability of those who were +conducting the Revolution to carry out intelligent plans or +maintain order, and the feebleness of the king and his advisers, +were alike odious to the man with American conceptions of ordered +liberty. He was especially revolted by the bloodshed and cruelty, +constantly gathering in strength, which were displayed by the +revolutionists, and he had gone to the very verge of diplomatic +propriety in advising the ministers of the king in regard to the +policies to be pursued, and, as he foresaw what was coming, in +urging the king himself to leave France. All his efforts and all +his advice, like those of other intelligent men who kept their +heads during the whirl of the Revolution, were alike vain. + +On August 10 the gathering storm broke with full force, and the +populace rose in arms to sweep away the tottering throne. Then it +was that these people, fleeing for their lives, came to the +representative of the country for which many of them had fought, +and on both public and private grounds besought the protection of +the American minister. Let me tell what happened in the words of +an eye-witness, an American gentleman who was in Paris at that +time, and who published the following account of his experiences: + +On the ever memorable 10th of August, after viewing the +destruction of the Royal Swiss Guards and the dispersion of the +Paris militia by a band of foreign and native incendiaries, the +writer thought it his duty to visit the Minister, who had not +been out of his hotel since the insurrection began, and, as was +to be expected, would be anxious to learn what was passing +without doors. He was surrounded by the old Count d'Estaing, and +about a dozen other persons of distinction, of different sexes, +who had, from their connection with the United States, been his +most intimate acquaintances at Paris, and who had taken refuge +with him for protection from the bloodhounds which, in the forms +of men and women, were prowling in the streets at the time. All +was silence here, except that silence was occasionally +interrupted by the crying of the women and children. As I +retired, the Minister took me aside, and observed: "I have no +doubt, sir, but there are persons on the watch who would find +fault with my conduct as Minister in receiving and protecting +these people, but I call on you to witness the declaration which +I now make, and that is that they were not invited to my house, +but came of their own accord. Whether my house will be a +protection to them or to me, God only knows, but I will not turn +them out of it, let what will happen to me to which he added, +"You see, sir, they are all persons to whom our country is more +or less indebted, and it would be inhuman to force them into the +hands of the assas. sins, had they no such claim upon me." + +Nothing can be added to this simple account, and no American can +read it or repeat the words of Mr. Morris without feeling even +now, a hundred years after the event, a glow of pride that such +words were uttered at such a time by the man who represented the +United States. + +After August 10, when matters in Paris became still worse, Mr. +Morris still stayed at his post. Let me give, in his own words, +what he did and his reasons for it: + +The different ambassadors and ministers are all taking their +flight, and if I stay I shall be alone. I mean, however, to stay, +unless circumstances should command me away, because, in the +admitted case that my letters of credence are to the monarchy, +and not to the Republic of France, it becomes a matter of +indifference whether I remain in this country or go to England +during the time which may be needful to obtain your orders, or to +produce a settlement of affairs here. Going hence, however, would +look like taking part against the late Revolution, and I am not +only unauthorized in this respect, but I am bound to suppose that +if the great majority of the nation adhere to the new form, the +United States will approve thereof; because, in the first place, +we have no right to prescribe to this country the government they +shall adopt, and next, because the basis of our own Constitution +is the indefeasible right of the people to establish it. + +Among those who are leaving Paris is the Venetian ambassador. He +was furnished with passports from the Office of Foreign Affairs, +but he was, nevertheless, stopped at the barrier, was conducted +to the Hotel de Ville, was there questioned for hours, and his +carriages examined and searched. This violation of the rights of +ambassadors could not fail, as you may suppose, to make an +impression. It has been broadly hinted to me that the honor of my +country and my own require that I should go away. But I am of a +different opinion, and rather think that those who give such +hints are somewhat influenced by fear. It is true that the +position is not without danger, but I presume that when the +President did me the honor of naming me to this embassy, it was +not for my personal pleasure or safety, but to promote the +interests of my country. These, therefore, I shall continue to +pursue to the best of my judgment, and as to consequences, they +are in the hand of God. + +He remained there until his successor arrived. When all others +fled, he was faithful, and such conduct should never be +forgotten. Mr. Morris not only risked his life, but he took a +heavy responsibility, and laid himself open to severe attack for +having protected defenseless people against the assaults of the +mob. But his courageous humanity is something which should ever +be remembered, and ought always to be characteristic of the men +who represent the United States in foreign countries. When we +recall the French Revolution, it is cheering to think of that +fearless figure of the American minister, standing firm and calm +in the midst of those awful scenes, with sacked palaces, +slaughtered soldiers, and a bloodstained mob about him, +regardless of danger to himself, determined to do his duty to his +country, and to those to whom his country was indebted. + + + +THE BURNING OF THE "PHILADELPHIA" + +And say besides, that in Aleppo once, +Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk +Beat a Venetian and traduced the state, +I took by the throat the circumcised dog +And smote him, thus. + --Othello. + + + +THE BURNING OF THE "PHILADELPHIA" + +It is difficult to conceive that there ever was a time when the +United States paid a money tribute to anybody. It is even more +difficult to imagine the United States paying blackmail to a set +of small piratical tribes on the coast of Africa. Yet this is +precisely what we once did with the Barbary powers, as they were +called the States of Morocco, Tunis, Tripoli, and Algiers, lying +along the northern coast of Africa. The only excuse to be made +for such action was that we merely followed the example of +Christendom. The civilized people of the world were then in the +habit of paying sums of money to these miserable pirates, in +order to secure immunity for their merchant vessels in the +Mediterranean. For this purpose Congress appropriated money, and +treaties were made by the President and ratified by the Senate. +On one occasion, at least, Congress actually revoked the +authorization of some new ships for the navy, and appropriated +more money than was required to build the men-of-war in order to +buy off the Barbary powers. The fund for this disgraceful purpose +was known as the "Mediterranean fund," and was intrusted to the +Secretary of State to be disbursed by him in his discretion. +After we had our brush with France, however, in 1798, and after +Truxtun's brilliant victory over the French frigate L'Insurgente +in the following year, it occurred to our government that perhaps +there was a more direct as well as a more manly way of dealing +with the Barbary pirates than by feebly paying them tribute, and +in 1801 a small squadron, under Commodore Dale, proceeded to the +Mediterranean. + +At the same time events occurred which showed strikingly the +absurdity as well as the weakness of this policy of paying +blackmail to pirates. The Bashaw of Tripoli, complaining that we +had given more money to some of the Algerian ministers than we +had to him, and also that we had presented Algiers with a +frigate, declared war upon us, and cut down the flag-staff in +front of the residence of the American consul. At the same time, +and for the same reason, Morocco and Tunis began to grumble at +the treatment which they had received. The fact was that, with +nations as with individuals, when the payment of blackmail is +once begun there is no end to it. The appearance, however, of our +little squadron in the Mediterranean showed at once the +superiority of a policy of force over one of cowardly submission. +Morocco and Tunis immediately stopped their grumbling and came to +terms with the United States, and this left us free to deal with +Tripoli. + +Commodore Dale had sailed before the declaration of war by +Tripoli was known, and he was therefore hampered by his orders, +which permitted him only to protect our commerce, and which +forbade actual hostilities. Nevertheless, even under these +limited orders, the Enterprise, of twelve guns, commanded by +Lieutenant Sterrett, fought an action with the Tripolitan ship +Tripoli, of fourteen guns. The engagement lasted three hours, +when the Tripoli struck, having lost her mizzenmast, and with +twenty of her crew killed and thirty wounded. Sterrett, having no +orders to make captures, threw all the guns and ammunition of the +Tripoli overboard, cut away her remaining masts, and left her +with only one spar and a single sail to drift back to Tripoli, as +a hint to the Bashaw of the new American policy. + +In 1803 the command of our fleet in the Mediterranean was taken +by Commodore Preble, who had just succeeded in forcing +satisfaction from Morocco for an attack made upon our merchantmen +by a vessel from Tangier. He also proclaimed a blockade of +Tripoli and was preparing to enforce it when the news reached him +that the frigate Philadelphia, forty-four guns, commanded by +Captain Bainbridge, and one of the best ships in our navy, had +gone upon a reef in the harbor of Tripoli, while pursuing a +vessel there, and had been surrounded and captured, with all her +crew, by the Tripolitan gunboats, when she was entirely helpless +either to fight or sail. This was a very serious blow to our navy +and to our operations against Tripoli. It not only weakened our +forces, but it was also a great help to the enemy. The +Tripolitans got the Philadelphia off the rocks, towed her into +the harbor, and anchored her close under the guns of their forts. +They also replaced her batteries, and prepared to make her ready +for sea, where she would have been a most formidable danger to +our shipping. + +Under these circumstances Stephen Decatur, a young lieutenant in +command of the Enterprise, offered to Commodore Preble to go into +the harbor and destroy the Philadelphia. Some delay ensued, as +our squadron was driven by severe gales from the Tripolitan +coast; but at last, in January, 1804, Preble gave orders to +Decatur to undertake the work for which he had volunteered. A +small vessel known as a ketch had been recently captured from the +Tripolitans by Decatur, and this prize was now named the +Intrepid, and assigned to him for the work he had in hand. He +took seventy men from his own ship, the Enterprise, and put them +on the Intrepid, and then, accompanied by Lieutenant Stewart in +the Siren, who was to support him, he set sail for Tripoli. He +and his crew were very much cramped as well as badly fed on the +little vessel which had been given to them, but they succeeded, +nevertheless, in reaching Tripoli in safety, accompanied by the +Siren. + +For nearly a week they were unable to approach the harbor, owing +to severe gales which threatened the loss of their vessel; but on +February 16 the weather moderated and Decatur determined to go +in. It is well to recall, briefly, the extreme peril of the +attack which he was about to make. The Philadelphia, with forty +guns mounted, double-shotted, and ready for firing, and manned by +a full complement of men, was moored within half a gunshot of the +Bashaw's castle, the mole and crown batteries, and within range +of ten other batteries, mounting, altogether, one hundred and +fifteen guns. Some Tripolitan cruisers, two galleys, and nineteen +gunboats also lay between the Philadelphia and the shore. Into +the midst of this powerful armament Decatur had to go with his +little vessel of sixty tons, carrying four small guns and having +a crew of seventy-five men. + +The Americans, however, were entirely undismayed by the odds +against them, and at seven o'clock Decatur went into the harbor +between the reef and shoal which formed its mouth. He steered on +steadily toward the Philadelphia, the breeze getting constantly +lighter, and by half-past nine was within two hundred yards of +the frigate. As they approached Decatur stood at the helm with +the pilot, only two or three men showing on deck and the rest of +the crew lying hidden under the bulwarks. In this way he drifted +to within nearly twenty yards of the Philadelphia. The suspicions +of the Tripolitans, however, were not aroused, and when they +hailed the Intrepid, the pilot answered that they had lost their +anchors in a gale, and asked that they might run a warp to the +frigate and ride by her. While the talk went on the Intrepid's +boat shoved off with the rope, and pulling to the fore-chains of +the Philadelphia, made the line fast. A few of the crew then +began to haul on the lines, and thus the Intrepid was drawn +gradually toward the frigate. + +The suspicions of the Tripolitans were now at last awakened. They +raised the cry of "Americanos!" and ordered off the Intrepiid, +but it was too late. As the vessels came in contact, Decatur +sprang up the main chains of the Philadelphia, calling out the +order to board. He was rapidly followed by his officers and men, +and as they swarmed over the rails and came upon the deck, the +Tripolitan crew gathered, panic-stricken, in a confused mass on +the forecastle. Decatur waited a moment until his men were behind +him, and then, placing himself at their head, drew his sword and +rushed upon the Tripolitans. There was a very short struggle, and +the Tripolitans, crowded together, terrified and surprised, were +cut down or driven overboard. In five minutes the ship was +cleared of the enemy. + +Decatur would have liked to have taken the Philadelphia out of +the harbor, but that was impossible. He therefore gave orders to +burn the ship, and his men, who had been thoroughly instructed in +what they were to do, dispersed into all parts of the frigate +with the combustibles which had been prepared, and in a few +minutes, so well and quickly was the work done, the flames broke +out in all parts of the Philadelphia. As soon as this was +effected the order was given to return to the Intrepid. Without +confusion the men obeyed. It was a moment of great danger, for +fire was breaking out on all sides, and the Intrepid herself, +filled as she was with powder and combustibles, was in great +peril of sudden destruction. The rapidity of Decatur's movements, +however, saved everything. The cables were cut, the sweeps got +out, and the Intrepid drew rapidly away from the burning frigate. +It was a magnificent sight as the flames burst out over the +Philadephia and ran rapidly and fiercely up the masts and +rigging. As her guns became heated they were discharged, one +battery pouring its shots into the town. Finally the cables +parted, and then the Philadelphia, a mass of flames, drifted +across the harbor, and blew up. Meantime the batteries of the +shipping and the castle had been turned upon the Intrepid, but +although the shot struck all around her, she escaped successfully +with only one shot through her mainsail, and, joining the Siren, +bore away. + +This successful attack was carried through by the cool courage of +Decatur and the admirable discipline of his men. The hazard was +very great, the odds were very heavy, and everything depended on +the nerve with which the attack was made and the completeness of +the surprise. Nothing miscarried, and no success could have been +more complete. Nelson, at that time in the Mediterranean, and the +best judge of a naval exploit as well as the greatest naval +commander who has ever lived, pronounced it "the most bold and +daring act of the age." We meet no single feat exactly like it in +our own naval history, brilliant as that has been, until we come +to Cushing's destruction of the A1bemarle in the war of the +rebellion. In the years that have elapsed, and among the great +events that have occurred since that time, Decatur's burning of +the Philadephia has been well-nigh forgotten; but it is one of +those feats of arms which illustrate the high courage of American +seamen, and which ought always to be remembered. + + + +THE CRUISE OF THE "WASP" + +A crash as when some swollen cloud + Cracks o'er the tangled trees! +With side to side, and spar to spar, + Whose smoking decks are these? +I know St. George's blood-red cross, + Thou mistress of the seas, +But what is she whose streaming bars + Roll out before the breeze? + +Ah, well her iron ribs are knit, + Whose thunders strive to quell +The bellowing throats, the blazing lips, + That pealed the Armada's knell! +The mist was cleared,--a wreath of stars + Rose o'er the crimsoned swell, +And, wavering from its haughty peak, + The cross of England fell! + --Holmes. + + +THE CRUISE OF THE "WASP" + +In the war of 1812 the little American navy, including only a +dozen frigates and sloops of war, won a series of victories +against the English, the hitherto undoubted masters of the sea, +that attracted an attention altogether out of proportion to the +force of the combatants or the actual damage done. For one +hundred and fifty years the English ships of war had failed to +find fit rivals in those of any other European power, although +they had been matched against each in turn; and when the unknown +navy of the new nation growing up across the Atlantic did what no +European navy had ever been able to do, not only the English and +Americans, but the people of Continental Europe as well, regarded +the feat as important out of all proportion to the material +aspects of the case. The Americans first proved that the English +could be beaten at their own game on the sea. They did what the +huge fleets of France, Spain, and Holland had failed to do, and +the great modern writers on naval warfare in Continental Europe- +-men like Jurien de la Graviere--have paid the same attention to +these contests of frigates and sloops that they give to whole +fleet actions of other wars. + +Among the famous ships of the Americans in this war were two +named the Wasp. The first was an eighteen-gun ship-sloop, which +at the very outset of the war captured a British brig-sloop of +twenty guns, after an engagement in which the British fought with +great gallantry, but were knocked to Pieces, while the Americans +escaped comparatively unscathed. Immediately afterward a British +seventy-four captured the victor. In memory of her the Americans +gave the same name to one of the new sloops they were building. +These sloops were stoutly made, speedy vessels which in strength +and swiftness compared favorably with any ships of their class in +any other navy of the day, for the American shipwrights were +already as famous as the American gunners and seamen. The new +Wasp, like her sister ships, carried twenty-two guns and a crew +of one hundred and seventy men, and was ship-rigged. Twenty of +her guns were 32-pound carronades, while for bow-chasers she had +two "long Toms." It was in the year 1814 that the Wasp sailed +from the United States to prey on the navy and commerce of Great +Britain. Her commander was a gallant South Carolinian named +Captain Johnson Blakeley. Her crew were nearly all native +Americans, and were an exceptionally fine set of men. Instead of +staying near the American coasts or of sailing the high seas, the +Wasp at once headed boldly for the English Channel, to carry the +war to the very doors of the enemy. + +At that time the English fleets had destroyed the navies of every +other power of Europe, and had obtained such complete supremacy +over the French that the French fleets were kept in port. Off +these ports lay the great squadrons of the English ships of the +line, never, in gale or in calm, relaxing their watch upon the +rival war-ships of the French emperor. So close was the blockade +of the French ports, and so hopeless were the French of making +headway in battle with their antagonists, that not only the great +French three-deckers and two-deckers, but their frigates and +sloops as well, lay harmless in their harbors, and the English +ships patroled the seas unchecked in every direction. A few +French privateers still slipped out now and then, and the far +bolder and more formidable American privateersmen drove hither +and thither across the ocean in their swift schooners and +brigantines, and harried the English commerce without mercy. + +The Wasp proceeded at once to cruise in the English Channel and +off the coasts of England, France, and Spain. Here the water was +traversed continually by English fleets and squadrons and single +ships of war, which were sometimes covoying detachments of troops +for Wellington's Peninsular army, sometimes guarding fleets of +merchant vessels bound homeward, and sometimes merely cruising +for foes. It was this spot, right in the teeth of the British +naval power, that the Wasp chose for her cruising ground. Hither +and thither she sailed through the narrow seas, capturing and +destroying the merchantmen, and by the seamanship of her crew and +the skill and vigilance of her commander, escaping the pursuit of +frigate and ship of the line. Before she had been long on the +ground, one June morning, while in chase of a couple of merchant +ships, she spied a sloop of war, the British brig Reindeer, of +eighteen guns and a hundred and twenty men. The Reindeer was a +weaker ship than the Wasp, her guns were lighter, and her men +fewer; but her commander, Captain Manners, was one of the most +gallant men in the splendid British navy, and he promptly took up +the gage of battle which the Wasp threw down. + +The day was calm and nearly still; only a light wind stirred +across the sea. At one o'clock the Wasp's drum beat to quarters, +and the sailors and marines gathered at their appointed posts. +The drum of the Reindeer responded to the challenge, and with her +sails reduced to fighting trim, her guns run out, and every man +ready, she came down upon the Yankee ship. On her forecastle she +had rigged a light carronade, and coming up from behind, she five +times discharged this pointblank into the American sloop; then in +the light air the latter luffed round, firing her guns as they +bore, and the two ships engaged yard-arm to yard-arm. The guns +leaped and thundered as the grimy gunners hurled them out to fire +and back again to load, working like demons. For a few minutes +the cannonade was tremendous, and the men in the tops could +hardly see the decks for the wreck of flying splinters. Then the +vessels ground together, and through the open ports the rival +gunners hewed, hacked, and thrust at one another, while the black +smoke curled up from between the hulls. The English were +suffering terribly. Captain Manners himself was wounded, and +realizing that he was doomed to defeat unless by some desperate +effort he could avert it, he gave the signal to board. At the +call the boarders gathered, naked to the waist, black with powder +and spattered with blood, cutlas and pistol in hand. But the +Americans were ready. Their marines were drawn up on deck, the +pikemen stood behind the bulwarks, and the officers watched, cool +and alert, every movement of the foe. Then the British sea-dogs +tumbled aboard, only to perish by shot or steel. The combatants +slashed and stabbed with savage fury, and the assailants were +driven back. Manners sprang to their head to lead them again +himself, when a ball fired by one of the sailors in the American +tops crashed through his skull, and he fell, sword in hand, with +his face to the foe, dying as honorable a death as ever a brave +man died in fighting against odds for the flag of his country. As +he fell the American officers passed the word to board. With wild +cheers the fighting sailormen sprang forward, sweeping the wreck +of the British force before them, and in a minute the Reindeer +was in their possession. All of her officers, and nearly two +thirds of the crew, were killed or wounded; but they had proved +themselves as skilful as they were brave, and twenty-six of the +Americans had been killed or wounded. + +The Wasp set fire to her prize, and after retiring to a French +port to refit, came out again to cruise. For some time she met no +antagonist of her own size with which to wage war, and she had to +exercise the sharpest vigilance to escape capture. Late one +September afternoon, when she could see ships of war all around +her, she selected one which was isolated from the others, and +decided to run alongside her and try to sink her after nightfall. +Accordingly she set her sails in pursuit, and drew steadily +toward her antagonist, a big eighteen-gun brig, the Avon, a ship +more powerful than the Reindeer. The Avon kept signaling to two +other British war vessels which were in sight--one an +eighteen-gun brig and the other a twenty-gun ship; they were so +close that the Wasp was afraid they would interfere before the +combat could be ended. Nevertheless, Blakeley persevered, and +made his attack with equal skill and daring. It was after dark +when he ran alongside his opponent, and they began forthwith to +exchange furious broadsides. As the ships plunged and wallowed in +the seas, the Americans could see the clusters of topmen in the +rigging of their opponent, but they knew nothing of the vessel's +name or of her force, save only so far as they felt it. The +firing was fast and furious, but the British shot with bad aim, +while the skilled American gunners hulled their opponent at +almost every discharge. In a very few minutes the Avon was in a +sinking condition, and she struck her flag and cried for quarter, +having lost forty or fifty men, while but three of the Americans +had fallen. Before the Wasp could take possession of her +opponent, however, the two war vessels to which the Avon had been +signaling came up. One of them fired at the Wasp, and as the +latter could not fight two new foes, she ran off easily before +the wind. Neither of her new antagonists followed her, devoting +themselves to picking up the crew of the sinking Avon. + + It would be hard to find a braver feat more skilfully performed +than this; for Captain Blakeley, with hostile foes all round him, +had closed with and sunk one antagonist not greatly his inferior +in force, suffering hardly any loss himself, while two of her +friends were coming to her help. + +Both before and after this the Wasp cruised hither and thither +making prizes. Once she came across a convoy of ships bearing +arms and munitions to Wellington's army, under the care of a +great two-decker. Hovering about, the swift sloop evaded the +two-decker's movements, and actually cut out and captured one of +the transports she was guarding, making her escape unharmed. Then +she sailed for the high seas. She made several other prizes, and +on October 9 spoke a Swedish brig. + +This was the last that was ever heard of the gallant Wasp. She +never again appeared, and no trace of any of those aboard her was +ever found. Whether she was wrecked on some desert coast, whether +she foundered in some furious gale, or what befell her none ever +knew. All that is certain is that she perished, and that all on +board her met death in some one of the myriad forms in which it +must always be faced by those who go down to the sea in ships; +and when she sank there sank one of the most gallant ships of the +American navy, with. as brave a captain and crew as ever sailed +from any port of the New World. + + + +THE "GENERAL ARMSTRONG" PRIVATEER + +We have fought such a fight for a day and a night +As may never be fought again! +We have won great glory, my men! +And a day less or more +At sea or ashore, +We die--does it matter when? + --Tennyson. + + +THE "GENERAL ARMSTRONG" PRIVATEER + +In the revolution, and again in the war of 1812, the seas were +covered by swift-sailing American privateers, which preyed on the +British trade. The hardy seamen of the New England coast, and of +New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, turned readily from their +adventurous careers in the whalers that followed the giants of +the ocean in every sea and every clime, and from trading voyages +to the uttermost parts of the earth, to go into the business of +privateering, which was more remunerative, and not so very much +more dangerous, than their ordinary pursuits. By the end of the, +war of 1812, in particular, the American privateers had won for +themselves a formidable position on the ocean. The schooners, +brigs, and brigantines in which the privateersmen sailed were +beautifully modeled, and were among the fastest craft afloat. +They were usually armed with one heavy gun, the "long Tom," as it +was called, arranged on a pivot forward or amidships, and with a +few lighter pieces of cannon. They carried strong crews of +well-armed men, and their commanders were veteran seamen, used to +brave every danger from the elements or from man. So boldly did +they prey on the British commerce, that they infested even the +Irish Sea and the British Channel, and increased many times the +rate of insurance on vessels passing across those waters. They +also often did battle with the regular men-of-war of the British, +being favorite objects for attack by cutting-out parties from the +British frigates and ships of the line, and also frequently +encountering in fight the smaller sloops-of-war. Usually, in +these contests, the privateersmen were worsted, for they had not +the training which is obtained only in a regular service, and +they were in no way to be compared to the little fleet of regular +vessels which in this same war so gloriously upheld the honor of +the American flag. Nevertheless, here and there a privateer +commanded by an exceptionally brave and able captain, and manned +by an unusually well-trained crew, performed some feat of arms +which deserves to rank with anything ever performed by the +regular navy. Such a feat was the defense of the brig General +Armstrong, in the Portuguese port of Fayal, of the Azores, +against an overwhelming British force. + +The General Armstrong hailed from New York, and her captain was +named Reid. She had a crew of ninety men, and was armed with one +heavy 32 pounder and six lighter guns. In December, 1814, she was +lying in Fayal, a neutral port, when four British war-vessels, a +ship of the line, a frigate and two brigs, hove into sight, and +anchored off the mouth of the harbor. The port was neutral, but +Portugal was friendly to England, and Reid knew well that the +British would pay no respect to the neutrality laws if they +thought that at the cost of their violation they could destroy +the privateer. He immediately made every preparation to resist an +attack, The privateer was anchored close to the shore. The +boarding-nettings were got ready, and were stretched to booms +thrust outward from the brig's side, so as to check the boarders +as they tried to climb over the bulwarks. The guns were loaded +and cast loose, and the men went to quarters armed with muskets, +boarding-pikes, and cutlases. + +On their side the British made ready to carry the privateer by +boarding. The shoals rendered it impossible for the heavy ships +to approach, and the lack of wind and the baffling currents also +interfered for the moment with the movements of the +sloops-of-war. Accordingly recourse was had to a cutting-out +party, always a favorite device with the British seamen of that +age, who were accustomed to carry French frigates by boarding, +and to capture in their boats the heavy privateers and armed +merchantmen, as well as the lighter war-vessels of France and +Spain. + +The British first attempted to get possession of the brig by +surprise, sending out but four boats. These worked down near to +the brig, under pretense of sounding, trying to get close enough +to make a rush and board her. The privateersmen were on their +guard, and warned the boats off, and after the warning had been +repeated once or twice unheeded, they fired into them, killing +and wounding several men. Upon this the boats promptly returned +to the ships. + +This first check greatly irritated the British captains, and they +decided to repeat the experiment that night with a force which +would render resistance vain. Accordingly, after it became dark, +a dozen boats were sent from the liner and the frigate, manned by +four hundred stalwart British seamen, and commanded by the +captain of one of the brigs of war. Through the night they rowed +straight toward the little privateer lying dark and motionless in +the gloom. As before, the privateersmen were ready for their foe, +and when they came within range opened fire upon them, first with +the long gun and then with the lighter cannon; but the British +rowed on with steady strokes, for they were seamen accustomed to +victory over every European foe, and danger had no terrors for +them. With fierce hurrahs they dashed through the shot-riven +smoke and grappled the brig; and the boarders rose, cutlas in +hand, ready to spring over the bulwarks. A terrible struggle +followed. The British hacked at the boarding-nets and strove to +force their way through to the decks of the privateer, while the +Americans stabbed the assailants with their long pikes and +slashed at them with their cutlases. The darkness was lit by the +flashes of flame from the muskets and the cannon, and the air was +rent by the oaths and shouts of the combatants, the heavy +trampling on the decks, the groans of the wounded, the din of +weapon meeting weapon, and all the savage tumult of a +hand-to-hand fight. At the bow the British burst through the +boarding-netting, and forced their way to the deck, killing or +wounding all three of the lieutenants of the privateer; but when +this had happened the boats had elsewhere been beaten back, and +Reid, rallying his grim sea-dogs, led them forward with a rush, +and the boarding party were all killed or tumbled into the sea. +This put an end to the fight. In some of the boats none but +killed and wounded men were left. The others drew slowly off, +like crippled wild-fowl, and disappeared in the darkness toward +the British squadron. Half of the attacking force had been killed +or wounded, while of the Americans but nine had fallen. + +The British commodore and all his officers were maddened with +anger and shame over the repulse, and were bent upon destroying +the privateer at all costs. Next day, after much exertion, one of +the war-brigs was warped into position to attack the American, +but she first took her station at long range, so that her +carronades were not as effective as the pivot gun of the +privateer; and so well was the latter handled, that the British +brig was repeatedly hulled, and finally was actually driven off. +A second attempt was made, however, and this time the +sloop-of-war got so close that she could use her heavy +carronades, which put the privateer completely at her mercy. Then +Captain Reid abandoned his brig and sank her, first carrying +ashore the guns, and marched inland with his men. They were not +further molested; and, if they had lost their brig, they had at +least made their foes pay dear for her destruction, for the +British had lost twice as many men as there were in the whole +hard-fighting crew of the American privateer. + + + +THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS + +The heavy fog of morning + Still hid the plain from sight, +When came a thread of scarlet + Marked faintly in the white. +We fired a single cannon, + And as its thunders rolled, +The mist before us lifted + In many a heavy fold. +The mist before us lifted, + And in their bravery fine +Came rushing to their ruin + The fearless British line. + --Thomas Dunn English. + + +THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS + +When, in 1814, Napoleon was overthrown and forced to retire to +Elba, the British troops that had followed Wellington into +southern France were left free for use against the Americans. A +great expedition was organized to attack and capture New Orleans, +and at its head was placed General Pakenham, the brilliant +commander of the column that delivered the fatal blow at +Salamanca. In December a fleet of British war-ships and +transports, carrying thousands of victorious veterans from the +Peninsula, and manned by sailors who had grown old in a quarter +of a century's triumphant ocean warfare, anchored off the broad +lagoons of the Mississippi delta. The few American gunboats were +carried after a desperate hand-to-hand struggle, the troops were +landed, and on December 23 the advance-guard of two thousand men +reached the banks of the Mississippi, but ten miles below New +Orleans, and there camped for the night. It seemed as if nothing +could save the Creole City from foes who had shown, in the +storming of many a Spanish walled town, that they were as +ruthless in victory as they were terrible in battle. There were +no forts to protect the place, and the militia were ill armed and +ill trained. But the hour found the man. On the afternoon of the +very day when the British reached the banks of the river the +vanguard of Andrew Jackson's Tennesseeans marched into New +Orleans. Clad in hunting-shirts of buckskin or homespun, wearing +wolfskin and coonskin caps, and carrying their long rifles on +their shoulders, the wild soldiery of the backwoods tramped into +the little French town. They were tall men, with sinewy frames +and piercing eyes. Under "Old Hickory's" lead they had won the +bloody battle of the Horseshoe Bend against the Creeks; they had +driven the Spaniards from Pensacola; and now they were eager to +pit themselves against the most renowned troops of all Europe. + +Jackson acted with his usual fiery, hasty decision. It was +absolutely necessary to get time in which to throw up some kind +of breastworks or defenses for the city, and he at once resolved +on a night attack against the British. As for the British, they +had no thought of being molested. They did not dream of an +assault from inferior numbers of undisciplined and ill-armed +militia, who did not possess so much as bayonets to their guns. +They kindled fires along the levees, ate their supper, and then, +as the evening fell, noticed a big schooner drop down the river +in ghostly silence and bring up opposite to them. The soldiers +flocked to the shore, challenging the stranger, and finally fired +one or two shots at her. Then suddenly a rough voice was heard, +"Now give it to them, for the honor of America!" and a shower of +shell and grape fell on the British, driving them off the levee. +The stranger was an American man-of-war schooner. The British +brought up artillery to drive her off, but before they succeeded +Jackson's land troops burst upon them, and a fierce, indecisive +struggle followed. In the night all order was speedily lost, and +the two sides fought singly or in groups in the utmost confusion. +Finally a fog came up and the combatants separated. Jackson drew +off four or five miles and camped. + +The British had been so roughly handled that they were unable to +advance for three or four days, until the entire army came up. +When they did advance, it was only to find that Jackson had made +good use of the time he had gained by his daring assault. He had +thrown up breastworks of mud and logs from the swamp to the +river. At first the British tried to batter down these +breastworks with their cannon, for they had many more guns than +the Americans. A terrible artillery duel followed. For an hour or +two the result seemed in doubt; but the American gunners showed +themselves to be far more skilful than their antagonists, and +gradually getting the upper hand, they finally silenced every +piece of British artillery. The Americans had used cotton bales +in the embrasures, and the British hogsheads of sugar; but +neither worked well, for the cotton caught fire and the sugar +hogsheads were ripped and splintered by the roundshot, so that +both were abandoned. By the use of red-hot shot the British +succeeded in setting on fire the American schooner which had +caused them such annoyance on the evening of the night attack; +but she had served her purpose, and her destruction caused little +anxiety to Jackson. + +Having failed in his effort to batter down the American +breastworks, and the British artillery having been fairly worsted +by the American, Pakenham. decided to try open assault. He had +ten thousand regular troops, while Jackson had under him but +little over five thousand men, who were trained only as he had +himself trained them in his Indian campaigns. Not a fourth of +them carried bayonets. Both Pakenham and the troops under him +were fresh from victories won over the most renowned marshals of +Napoleon, andover soldiers that had proved themselves on a +hundred stricken fields the masters of all others in Continental +Europe. At Toulouse they had driven Marshal Soult from a position +infinitely stronger than that held by Jackson, and yet Soult had +under him a veteran army. At Badajoz, Ciudad Rodrigo, and San +Sebastian they had carried by open assault fortified towns whose +strength made the intrenchments of the Americans seem like the +mud walls built by children, though these towns were held by the +best soldiers of France. With such troops to follow him, and with +such victories behind him in the past, it did not seem possible +to Pakenham that the assault of the terrible British infantry +could be successfully met by rough backwoods riflemen fighting +under a general as wild and untrained as themselves. + +He decreed that the assault should take place on the morning of +the eighth. Throughout the previous night the American officers +were on the alert, for they could hear the rumbling of artillery +in the British camp, the muffled tread of the battalions as they +were marched to their points in the line, and all the smothered +din of the preparation for assault. Long before dawn the riflemen +were awake and drawn up behind the mud walls, where they lolled +at ease, or, leaning on their long rifles, peered out through the +fog toward the camp of their foes. At last the sun rose and the +fog lifted, showing the scarlet array of the splendid British +infantry. As soon as the air was clear Pakenham gave the word, +and the heavy columns of redcoated grenadiers and kilted +Highlanders moved steadily forward. From the American breastworks +the great guns opened, but not a rifle cracked. Three fourths of +the distance were covered, and the eager soldiers broke into a +run; then sheets of flame burst from the breastworks in their +front as the wild riflemen of the backwoods rose and fired, line +upon line. Under the sweeping hail the head of the British +advance was shattered, and the whole column stopped. Then it +surged forward again, almost to the foot of the breastworks; but +not a man lived to reach them, and in a moment more the troops +broke and ran back. Mad with shame and rage, Pakenham rode among +them to rally and lead them forward, and the officers sprang +around him, smiting the fugitives with their swords and cheering +on the men who stood. For a moment the troops halted, and again +came forward to the charge; but again they were met by a hail of +bullets from the backwoods rifles. One shot struck Pakenham +himself. He reeled and fell from the saddle, and was carried off +the field. The second and third in command fell also, and then +all attempts at further advance were abandoned, and the British +troops ran back to their lines. Another assault had meanwhile +been made by a column close to the river, the charging soldiers +rushing to the top of the breastworks; but they were all killed +or driven back. A body of troops had also been sent across the +river, where they routed a small detachment of Kentucky militia; +but they were, of course, recalled when the main assault failed. + +At last the men who had conquered the conquerors of Europe had +themselves met defeat. Andrew Jackson and his rough riflemen had +worsted, in fair fight, a far larger force of the best of +Wellington's veterans, and had accomplished what no French +marshal and no French troops had been able to accomplish +throughout the long war in the Spanish peninsula. For a week the +sullen British lay in their lines; then, abandoning their heavy +artillery, they marched back to the ships and sailed for Europe. + + + +JOHN QUINCY ADAMS AND THE RIGHT OF PETITION + +He rests with the immortals; his journey has been long: +For him no wail of sorrow, but a paean full and strong! +So well and bravely has he done the work be found to do, +To justice, freedom, duty, God, and man forever true. + --Whittier. + + +JOHN QUINCY ADAMS AND THE RIGHT OF PETITION + +The lot of ex-Presidents of the United States, as a rule, has +been a life of extreme retirement, but to this rule there is one +marked exception. When John Quincy Adams left the White House in +March, 1829, it must have seemed as if public life could hold +nothing more for him. He had had everything apparently that an +American statesman could hope for. He had been Minister to +Holland and Prussia, to Russia and England. He had been a Senator +of the United States, Secretary of State for eight years, and +finally President. Yet, notwithstanding all this, the greatest +part of his career, and his noblest service to his country, were +still before him when he gave up the Presidency. + +In the following year (1830) he was told that he might be elected +to the House of Representatives, and the gentleman who made the +proposition ventured to say that he thought an ex-President, by +taking such a position, "instead of degrading the individual +would elevate the representative character." Mr. Adams replied +that he had "in that respect no scruples whatever. No person can +be degraded by serving the people as Representative in Congress, +nor, in my opinion, would an ex-President of the United States be +degraded by serving as a selectman of his town if elected thereto +by the people." A few weeks later he was chosen to the House, and +the district continued to send him every two years from that time +until his death. He did much excellent work in the House, and was +conspicuous in more than one memorable scene; but here it is +possible to touch on only a single point, where he came forward +as the champion of a great principle, and fought a battle for the +right which will always be remembered among the great deeds of +American public men. + +Soon after Mr. Adams took his seat in Congress, the movement for +the abolition of slavery was begun by a few obscure agitators. It +did not at first attract much attention, but as it went on it +gradually exasperated the overbearing temper of the Southern +slaveholders. One fruit of this agitation was the appearance of +petitions for the abolition of slavery in the House of +Representatives. A few were presented by Mr. Adams without +attracting much notice; but as the petitions multiplied, the +Southern representatives became aroused. They assailed Mr. Adams +for presenting them, and finally passed what was known as the gag +rule, which prevented the reception of these petitions by the +House. Against this rule Mr. Adams protested, in the midst of the +loud shouts of the Southerners, as a violation of his +constitutional rights. But the tyranny of slavery at that time +was so complete that the rule was adopted and enforced, and the +slaveholders, undertook in this way to suppress free speech in +the House, just as they also undertook to prevent the +transmission through the mails of any writings adverse to +slavery. With the wisdom of a statesman and a man of affairs, Mr. +Adams addressed himself to the one practical point of the +contest. He did not enter upon a discussion of slavery or of its +abolition, but turned his whole force toward the vindication of +the right of petition. On every petition day he would offer, in +constantly increasing numbers, petitions which came to him from +all parts of the country for the abolition of slavery, in this +way driving the Southern representatives almost to madness, +despite their rule which prevented the reception of such +documents when offered. Their hatred of Mr. Adams is something +difficult to conceive, and they were burning to break him down, +and, if possible, drive him from the House. On February 6, 1837, +after presenting the usual petitions, Mr. Adams offered one upon +which he said he should like the judgment of the Speaker as to +its propriety, inasmuch as it was a petition from slaves. In a +moment the House was in a tumult, and loud cries of "Expel him!" +"Expel him!" rose in all directions. One resolution after another +was offered looking toward his expulsion or censure, and it was +not until February 9, three days later, that he was able to take +the floor in his own defense. His speech was a masterpiece of +argument, invective, and sarcasm. He showed, among other things, +that he had not offered the petition, but had only asked the +opinion of the Speaker upon it, and that the petition itself +prayed that slavery should not be abolished. When he closed his +speech, which was quite as savage as any made against him, and +infinitely abler, no one desired to reply, and the idea of +censuring him was dropped. + +The greatest struggle, however, came five years later, when, on +January 21, 1842, Mr. Adams presented the petition of certain +citizens of Haverhill, Massachusetts, praying for the dissolution +of the Union on account of slavery. His enemies felt. that now, +at last, he had delivered himself into their hands. Again arose +the cry for his expulsion, and again vituperation was poured out +upon him, and resolutions to expel him freely introduced. When he +got the floor to speak in his own defense, he faced an excited +House, almost unanimously hostile to him, and possessing, as he +well knew, both the will and the power to drive him from its +walls. But there was no wavering in Mr. Adams. "If they say they +will try me," he said, "they must try me. If they say they will +punish me, they must punish me. But if they say that in peace and +mercy they will spare me expulsion, I disdain and cast away their +mercy, and I ask if they will come to such a trial and expel me. +I defy them. I have constituents to go to, and they will have +something to say if this House expels me, nor will it be long +before the gentlemen will see me here again." The fight went on +for nearly a fortnight, and on February 7 the whole subject was +finally laid on the table. The sturdy, dogged fighter, +single-handed and alone, had beaten all the forces of the South +and of slavery. No more memorable fight has ever been made by one +man in a parliamentary body, and after this decisive struggle the +tide began to turn. Every year Mr. Adams renewed his motion to +strike out the gag rule, and forced it to a vote. Gradually the +majority against it dwindled, until at last, on December 3, 1844, +his motion prevailed. Freedom of speech had been vindicated in +the American House of Representatives, the right of petition had +been won, and the first great blow against the slave power had +been struck. + +Four years later Mr. Adams fell, stricken with paralysis, at his +place in the House, and a few hours afterward, with the words, +"This is the last of earth; I am content," upon his lips, he sank +into unconsciousness and died. It was a fit end to a great public +career. His fight for the right of petition is one to be studied +and remembered, and Mr. Adams made it practically alone. The +slaveholders of the South and the representatives of the North +were alike against him. Against him, too, as his biographer, Mr. +Morse, says, was the class in Boston to which he naturally +belonged by birth and education. He had to encounter the bitter +resistance in his own set of the "conscienceless respectability +of wealth," but the great body of the New England people were +with him, as were the voters of his own district. He was an old +man, with the physical infirmities of age. His eyes were weak and +streaming; his hands were trembling; his voice cracked in moments +of excitement; yet in that age of oratory, in the days of Webster +and Clay, he was known as the "old man eloquent." It was what he +said, more than the way he said it, which told. His vigorous mind +never worked more surely and clearly than when he stood alone in +the midst of an angry House, the target of their hatred and +abuse. His arguments were strong, and his large knowledge and +wide experience supplied him with every weapon for defense and +attack. Beneath the lash of his invective and his sarcasm the +hottest of the slaveholders cowered away. He set his back against +a great principle. He never retreated an inch, he never yielded, +he never conciliated, he was always an assailant, and no man and +no body of men had the power to turn him. He had his dark hours, +he felt bitterly the isolation of his position, but he never +swerved. He had good right to set down in his diary, when the gag +rule was repealed, "Blessed, forever blessed, be the name of +God." + + + +FRANCIS PARKMAN + +He told the red man's story; far and wide + He searched the unwritten annals of his race; +He sat a listener at the Sachem's side, + He tracked the hunter through his wild-wood chase. + +High o'er his head the soaring eagle screamed; + The wolfs long howl rang nightly; through the vale +Tramped the lone bear; the panther's eyeballs gleamed; + The bison's gallop thundered on the gale. + +Soon o'er the horizon rose the cloud of strife, + Two proud, strong nations battling for the prize: +Which swarming host should mould a nation's life; + Which royal banner flout the western skies. + +Long raged the conflict; on the crimson sod + Native and alien joined their hosts in vain; +The lilies withered where the lion trod, + Till Peace lay panting on the ravaged plain. + +A nobler task was theirs who strove to win + The blood-stained heathen to the Christian fold; +To free from Satan's clutch the slaves of sin; + These labors, too, with loving grace he told. + +Halting with feeble step, or bending o'er + The sweet-breathed roses which he loved so well, +While through long years his burdening cross he bore, + From those firm lips no coward accents fell. + +A brave bright memory! His the stainless shield + No shame defaces and no envy mars! +When our far future's record is unsealed, + His name will shine among its morning stars. + --Holmes. + + +FRANCIS PARKMAN +(1822-1893) + +The stories in this volume deal, for the most part, with single +actions, generally with deeds of war and feats of arms. In this +one I desire to give if possible the impression, for it can be no +more than an impression, of a life which in its conflicts and its +victories manifested throughout heroic qualities. Such qualities +can be shown in many ways, and the field of battle is only one of +the fields of human endeavor where heroism can be displayed. + +Francis Parkman was born in Boston on September 16, 1822. He came +of a well-known family, and was of a good Puritan stock. He was +rather a delicate boy, with an extremely active mind and of a +highly sensitive, nervous organization. Into everything that +attracted him he threw himself with feverish energy. His first +passion, when he was only about twelve years old, was for +chemistry, and his eager boyish experiments in this direction +were undoubtedly injurious to his health. The interest in +chemistry was succeeded by a passion for the woods and the +wilderness, and out of this came the longing to write the history +of the men of the wilderness, and of the great struggle between +France and England for the control of the North American +continent. All through his college career this desire was with +him, and while in secret he was reading widely to prepare himself +for his task, he also spent a great deal of time in the forests +and on the mountains. To quote his own words, he was "fond of +hardships, and he was vain of enduring them, cherishing a +sovereign scorn for every physical weakness or defect; but +deceived, moreover, by the rapid development of frame and sinew, +which flattered him into the belief that discipline sufficiently +unsparing would harden him into an athlete, he slighted the +precautions of a more reasonable woodcraft, tired old foresters +with long marches, stopped neither for heat nor for rain, and +slept on the earth without blankets." The result was that his +intense energy carried him beyond his strength, and while his +muscles strengthened and hardened, his sensitive nervous +organization began to give way. It was not merely because he led +an active outdoor life. He himself protests against any such +conclusion, and says that "if any pale student glued to his desk +here seek an apology for a way of life whose natural fruit is +that pallid and emasculate scholarship, of which New England has +had too many examples, it will be far better that this sketch had +not been written. For the student there is, in its season, no +better place than the saddle, and no better companion than the +rifle or the oar." + +The evil that was done was due to Parkman's highly irritable +organism, which spurred him to excess in everything he undertook. +The first special sign of the mischief he was doing to himself +and his health appeared in a weakness of sight. It was essential +to his plan of historical work to study not only books and +records but Indian life from the inside. Therefore, having +graduated from college and the law-school, he felt that the time +had come for this investigation, which would enable him to gather +material for his history and at the same time to rest his eyes. +He went to the Rocky Mountains, and after great hardships, living +in the saddle, as he said, with weakness and pain, he joined a +band of Ogallalla Indians. With them he remained despite his +physical suffering, and from them he learned, as he could not +have learned in any other way, what Indian life really was. + +The immediate result of the journey was his first book, instinct +with the freshness and wildness of the mountains and the +prairies, and called by him "The Oregon Trail." Unfortunately, +the book was not the only outcome. The illness incurred during +his journey from fatigue and exposure was followed by other +disorders. The light of the sun became insupportable, and his +nervous vous system was entirely deranged. His sight was now so +impaired that he was almost blind, and could neither read nor +write. It was a terrible prospect for a brilliant and ambitious +man, but Parkman faced it unflinchingly. He devised a frame by +which he could write with closed eyes, and books and manuscripts +were read to him. In this way he began the history of "The +Conspiracy of Pontiac," and for the first half-year the rate of +composition covered about six lines a day. His courage was +rewarded by an improvement in his health, and a little more quiet +in nerves and brain. In two and a half years he managed to +complete the book. He then entered upon his great subject of +"France in the New World." The material was mostly in manuscript, +and had to be examined, gathered, and selected in Europe and in +Canada. He could not read, he could write only a very little and +that with difficulty, and yet he pressed on. He slowly collected +his material and digested and arranged it, using the eyes of +others to do that which he could not do himself, and always on +the verge of a complete breakdown of mind and body. In 1851 he +had an effusion of water on the left knee, which stopped his +outdoor exercise, on which he had always largely depended. All +the irritability of the system then centered in the head, +resulting in intense pain and in a restless and devouring +activity of thought. He himself says: "The whirl, the confusion, +and strange, undefined tortures attending this condition are only +to be conceived by one who has felt them." The resources of +surgery and medicine were exhausted in vain. The trouble in the +head and eyes constantly recurred. In 1858 there came a period +when for four years he was incapable of the slightest mental +application, and the attacks varied in duration from four hours +to as many months. When the pressure was lightened a little he +went back to his work. When work was impossible, he turned to +horticulture, grew roses, and wrote a book about the cultivation +of those flowers which is a standard authority. + +As he grew older the attacks moderated, although they never +departed. Sleeplessness pursued him always, the slightest +excitement would deprive him of the power of exertion, his sight +was always sensitive, and at times he was bordering on blindness. +In this hard-pressed way he fought the battle of life. He says +himself that his books took four times as long to prepare and +write as if he had been strong and able to use his faculties. +That this should have been the case is little wonder, for those +books came into being with failing sight and shattered nerves, +with sleeplessness and pain, and the menace of insanity ever +hanging over the brave man who, nevertheless, carried them +through to an end. + +Yet the result of those fifty years, even in amount, is a noble +one, and would have been great achievement for a man who had +never known a sick day. In quality, and subject, and method of +narration, they leave little to be desired. There, in Parkman's +volumes, is told vividly, strongly, and truthfully, the history +of the great struggle between France and England for the mastery +of the North American continent, one of the most important events +of modern times. This is not the place to give any critical +estimate of Mr. Parkman's work. It is enough to say that it +stands in the front rank. It is a great contribution to history, +and a still greater gift to the literature of this country. All +Americans certainly should read the volumes in which Parkman has +told that wonderful story of hardship and adventure, of fighting +and of statesmanship, which gave this great continent to the +English race and the English speech. But better than the +literature or the history is the heroic spirit of the man, which +triumphed over pain and all other physical obstacles, and brought +a work of such value to his country and his time into existence. +There is a great lesson as well as a lofty example in such a +career, and in the service which such a man rendered by his life +and work to literature and to his country. On the tomb of the +conqueror of Quebec it is written: "Here lies Wolfe victorious." +The same epitaph might with entire justice be carved above the +grave of Wolfe's historian. + + + +"REMEMBER THE ALAMO" + +The muffled drum's sad roll has beat + The soldier's last tattoo; +No more on life's parade shall meet + That brave and fallen few. +On fame's eternal camping-ground + Their silent tents are spread, +And glory guards with solemn round + The bivouac of the dead. + + * * * + +The neighing troop, the flashing blade, + The bugle's stirring blast, +The charge, the dreadful cannonade, + The din and shout are past; +Nor war's wild note, nor glory's peal + Shall thrill with fierce delight +Those breasts that never more may feel + The rapture of the fight. + --Theodore O'Hara. + +"REMEMBER THE ALAMO" + +"Thermopylae had its messengers of death, but the Alamo had +none." These were the words with which a United States senator +referred to one of the most resolute and effective fights ever +waged by brave men against overwhelming odds in the face of +certain death. + +Soon after the close of the second war with Great Britain, +parties of American settlers began to press forward into the +rich, sparsely settled territory of Texas, then a portion. of +Mexico. At first these immigrants were well received, but the +Mexicans speedily grew jealous of them, and oppressed them in +various ways. In consequence, when the settlers felt themselves +strong enough, they revolted against Mexican rule, and declared +Texas to be an independent republic. Immediately Santa Anna, the +Dictator of Mexico, gathered a large army, and invaded Texas. The +slender forces of the settlers were unable to meet his hosts. +They were pressed back by the Mexicans, and dreadful atrocities +were committed by Santa Anna and his lieutenants. In the United +States there was great enthusiasm for the struggling Texans, and +many bold backwoodsmen and Indian-fighters swarmed to their help. +Among them the two most famous were Sam Houston and David +Crockett. Houston was the younger man, and had already led an +extraordinary and varied career. When a mere lad he had run away +from home and joined the Cherokees, living among them for some +years; then he returned home. He had fought under Andrew Jackson +in his campaigns against the Creeks, and had been severely +wounded at the battle of the Horse-shoe Bend. He had risen to the +highest political honors in his State, becoming governor of +Tennessee; and then suddenly, in a fit of moody longing for the +life of the wilderness, he gave up his governorship, left the +State, and crossed the Mississippi, going to join his old +comrades, the Cherokees, in their new home along the waters of +the Arkansas. Here he dressed, lived, fought, hunted, and drank +precisely like any Indian, becoming one of the chiefs. + +David Crockett was born soon after the Revolutionary War. He, +too, had taken part under Jackson in the campaigns against the +Creeks, and had afterward become a man of mark in Tennessee, and +gone to Congress as a Whig; but he had quarreled with Jackson, +and been beaten for Congress, and in his disgust he left the +State and decided to join the Texans. He was the most famous +rifle-shot in all the United States, and the most successful +hunter, so that his skill was a proverb all along the border. + +David Crockett journeyed south, by boat and horse, making his way +steadily toward the distant plains where the Texans were waging +their life-and-death fight. Texas was a wild place in those days, +and the old hunter had more than one hairbreadth escape from +Indians, desperadoes, and savage beasts, ere he got to the +neighborhood of San Antonio, and joined another adventurer, a +bee-hunter, bent on the same errand as himself. The two had been +in ignorance of exactly what the situation in Texas was; but they +soon found that the Mexican army was marching toward San Antonio, +whither they were going. Near the town was an old Spanish fort, +the Alamo, in which the hundred and fifty American defenders of +the place had gathered. Santa Anna had four thousand troops with +him. The Alamo was a mere shell, utterly unable to withstand +either a bombardment or a regular assault. It was evident, +therefore, that those within it would be in the utmost jeopardy +if the place were seriously assaulted, but old Crockett and his +companion never wavered. They were fearless and resolute, and +masters of woodcraft, and they managed to slip through the +Mexican lines and join the defenders within the walls. The +bravest, the hardiest, the most reckless men of the border were +there; among them were Colonel Travis, the commander of the fort, +and Bowie, the inventor of the famous bowie-knife. They were a +wild and ill-disciplined band, little used to restraint or +control, but they were men of iron courage and great bodily +powers, skilled in the use of their weapons, and ready to meet +with stern and uncomplaining indifference whatever doom fate +might have in store for them. + +Soon Santa Anna approached with his army, took possession of the +town, and besieged the fort. The defenders knew there was +scarcely a chance of rescue, and that it was hopeless to expect +that one hundred and fifty men, behind defenses so weak, could +beat off four thousand trained soldiers, well armed and provided +with heavy artillery; but they had no idea of flinching, and made +a desperate defense. The days went by, and no help came, while +Santa Anna got ready his lines, and began a furious cannonade. +His gunners were unskilled, however, and he had to serve the guns +from a distance; for when they were pushed nearer, the American +riflemen crept forward under cover, and picked off the +artillerymen. Old Crockett thus killed five men at one gun. But, +by degrees, the bombardment told. The walls of the Alamo were +battered and riddled; and when they had been breached so as to +afford no obstacle to the rush of his soldiers, Santa Anna +commanded that they be stormed. + +The storm took place on March 6, 1836. The Mexican troops came on +well and steadily, breaking through the outer defenses at every +point, for the lines were too long to be manned by the few +Americans. The frontiersmen then retreated to the inner building, +and a desperate hand-to-hand conflict followed, the Mexicans +thronging in, shooting the Americans with their muskets, and +thrusting at them with lance and bayonet, while the Americans, +after firing their long rifles, clubbed them, and fought +desperately, one against many; and they also used their +bowie-knives and revolvers with deadly effect. The fight reeled +to and fro between the shattered walls, each American the center +of a group of foes; but, for all their strength and their wild +fighting courage, the defenders were too few, and the struggle +could have but one end. One by one the tall riflemen succumbed, +after repeated thrusts with bayonet and lance, until but three or +four were left. Colonel Travis, the commander, was among them; +and so was Bowie, who was sick and weak from a wasting disease, +but who rallied all his strength to die fighting, and who, in the +final struggle, slew several Mexicans with his revolver, and with +his big knife of the kind to which he had given his name. Then +these fell too, and the last man stood at bay. It was old Davy +Crockett. Wounded in a dozen places, he faced his foes with his +back to the wall, ringed around by the bodies of the men he had +slain. So desperate was the fight he waged, that the Mexicans who +thronged round about him were beaten back for the moment, and no +one dared to run in upon him. Accordingly, while the lancers held +him where he was, for, weakened by wounds and loss of blood, he +could not break through them, the musketeers loaded their +carbines and shot him down. Santa Anna declined to give him +mercy. Some say that when Crockett fell from his wounds, he was +taken alive, and was then shot by Santa Anna's order; but his +fate cannot be told with certainty, for not a single American was +left alive. At any rate, after Crockett fell the fight was over. +Every one of the hardy men who had held the Alamo lay still in +death. Yet they died well avenged, for four times their number +fell at their hands in the battle. + +Santa Anna had but a short while in which to exult over his +bloody and hard-won victory. Already a rider from the rolling +Texas plains, going north through the Indian Territory, had told +Houston that the Texans were up and were striving for their +liberty. At once in Houston's mind there kindled a longing to +return to the men of his race at the time of their need. Mounting +his horse, he rode south by night and day, and was hailed by the +Texans as a heaven-sent leader. He took command of their forces, +eleven hundred stark riflemen, and at the battle of San Jacinto, +he and his men charged the Mexican hosts with the cry of +"Remember the Alamo." Almost immediately, the Mexicans were +overthrown with terrible slaughter; Santa Anna himself was +captured, and the freedom of Texas was won at a blow. + + + +HAMPTON ROADS + +Then far away to the south uprose + A little feather of snow-white smoke, +And we knew that the iron ship of our foes + Was steadily steering its course + To try the force +Of our ribs of oak. + +Down upon us heavily runs, + Silent and sullen, the floating fort; +Then comes a puff of smoke from her guns, + And leaps the terrible death, With fiery breath, +From her open port. + + * * * + +Ho! brave hearts, that went down in the seas! + Ye are at peace in the troubled stream; +Ho! brave land! with hearts like these, + Thy flag, that is rent in twain, + Shall be one again, +And without a seam! + --Longfellow + + +HAMPTON ROADS + +The naval battles of the Civil War possess an immense importance, +because they mark the line of cleavage between naval warfare +under the old, and naval warfare under the new, conditions. The +ships with which Hull and Decatur and McDonough won glory in the +war of 1812 were essentially like those with which Drake and +Hawkins and Frobisher had harried the Spanish armadas two +centuries and a half earlier. They were wooden sailing-vessels, +carrying many guns mounted in broadside, like those of De Ruyter +and Tromp, of Blake and Nelson. Throughout this period all the +great admirals, all the famous single-ship fighters,--whose skill +reached its highest expression in our own navy during the war of +1812,--commanded craft built and armed in a substantially similar +manner, and fought with the same weapons and under much the same +conditions. But in the Civil War weapons and methods were +introduced which caused a revolution greater even than that which +divided the sailingship from the galley. The use of steam, the +casing of ships in iron armor, and the employment of the torpedo, +the ram, and the gun of high power, produced such radically new +types that the old ships of the line became at one stroke as +antiquated as the galleys of Hamilcar or Alcibiades. Some of +these new engines of destruction were invented, and all were for +the first time tried in actual combat, during our own Civil War. +The first occasion on which any of the new methods were +thoroughly tested was attended by incidents which made it one of +the most striking of naval battles. + + +In Chesapeake Bay, near Hampton Roads, the United States had +collected a fleet of wooden ships; some of them old-style +sailing-vessels, others steamers. The Confederates were known to +be building a great iron-clad ram, and the wooden vessels were +eagerly watching for her appearance when she should come out of +Gosport Harbor. Her powers and capacity were utterly unknown. She +was made out of the former United States steamfrigate Merrimac, +cut down so as to make her fore and aft decks nearly flat, and +not much above the water, while the guns were mounted in a +covered central battery, with sloping flanks. Her sides, deck, +and battery were coated with iron, and she was armed with +formidable rifle-guns, and, most important of all, with a steel +ram thrust out under water forward from her bow. She was +commanded by a gallant and efficient officer, Captain Buchanan. + +It was March 8, 1862, when the ram at last made her appearance +within sight of the Union fleet. The day was calm and very clear, +so that the throngs of spectators on shore could see every +feature of the battle. With the great ram came three light +gunboats, all of which took part in the action, haraising the +vessels which she assailed; but they were not factors of +importance in the fight. On the Union side the vessels nearest +were the sailing-ships Cumberland and Congress, and the +steam-frigate Minnesota. The Congress and Cumberland were +anchored not far from each other; the Minnesota got aground, and +was some distance off. Owing to the currents and shoals and the +lack of wind, no other vessel was able to get up in time to take +a part in the fight. + +As soon as the ram appeared, out of the harbor, she turned and +steamed toward the Congress and the Cumberland, the black smoke +rising from her funnels, and the great ripples running from each +side of her iron prow as she drove steadily through the still +waters. On board of the Congress and Cumberland there was eager +anticipation, but not a particle of fear. The officers in +command, Captain Smith and Lieutenant Morris, were two of the +most gallant men in a service where gallantry has always been too +common to need special comment. The crews were composed of +veterans, well trained, self-confident, and proud beyond measure +of the flag whose honor they upheld. The guns were run out, and +the men stood at quarters, while the officers eagerly conned the +approaching ironclad. The Congress was the first to open fire; +and, as her volleys flew, the men on the Cumberland were +astounded to see the cannon-shot bound off the sloping sides of +the ram as hailstones bound from a windowpane. The ram answered, +and her rifle-shells tore the sides of the Congress; but for her +first victim she aimed at the Cumberland, and, firing her bow +guns, came straight as an arrow at the little sloop-of-war, which +lay broadside to her. + +It was an absolutely hopeless struggle. The Cumberland was a +sailing-ship, at anchor, with wooden sides, and a battery of +light guns. Against the formidable steam ironclad, with her heavy +rifles and steel ram, she was as powerless as if she had been a +rowboat; and from the moment the men saw the cannon-shot bound +from the ram's sides they knew they were doomed. But none of them +flinched. Once and again they fired their guns full against the +approaching ram, and in response received a few shells from the +great bow-rifles of the latter. Then, forging ahead, the Merrimac +struck her antagonist with her steel prow, and the sloop-of-war +reeled and shuddered, and through the great rent in her side the +black water rushed. She foundered in a few minutes; but her crew +fought her to the last, cheering as they ran out the guns, and +sending shot after shot against the ram as the latter backed off +after delivering her blow. The rush of the water soon swamped the +lower decks, but the men above continued to serve their guns +until the upper deck also was awash, and the vessel had not ten +seconds of life left. Then, with her flags flying, her men +cheering, and her guns firing, the Cumberland sank. It was +shallow where she settled down, so that her masts remained above +the water. The glorious flag for which the brave men aboard her +had died flew proudly in the wind all that day, while the fight +went on, and throughout the night; and next morning it was still +streaming over the beautiful bay, to mark the resting-place of as +gallant a vessel as ever sailed or fought on the high seas. + +After the Cumberland sank, the ram turned her attention to the +Congress. Finding it difficult to get to her in the shoal water, +she began to knock her to pieces with her great rifle-guns. The +unequal fight between the ironclad and the wooden ship lasted for +perhaps half an hour. By that time the commander of the Congress +had been killed, and her decks looked like a slaughterhouse. She +was utterly unable to make any impression on her foe, and finally +she took fire and blew up. The Minnesota was the third victim +marked for destruction, and the Merrimac began the attack upon +her at once; but it was getting very late, and as the water was +shoal and she could not get close, the rain finally drew back to +her anchorage, to wait until next day before renewing and +completing her work of destruction. + +All that night there was the wildest exultation among the +Confederates, while the gloom and panic of the Union men cannot +be described. It was evident that the United States ships-of-war +were as helpless as cockle-shells against their iron-clad foe, +and there was no question but that she could destroy the whole +fleet with ease and with absolute impunity. This meant not only +the breaking of the blockade; but the sweeping away at one blow +of the North's naval supremacy, which was indispensable to the +success of the war for the Union. It is small wonder that during +that night the wisest and bravest should have almost despaired. + +But in the hour of the nation's greatest need a champion suddenly +appeared, in time to play the last scene in this great drama of +sea warfare. The North, too, had been trying its hand at building +ironclads. The most successful of them was the little Monitor, a +flat-decked, low, turreted. ironclad, armed with a couple of +heavy guns. She was the first experiment of her kind, and her +absolutely flat surface, nearly level with the water, her +revolving turret, and her utter unlikeness to any pre-existing +naval type, had made her an object of mirth among most practical +seamen; but her inventor, Ericsson, was not disheartened in the +least by the jeers. Under the command of a gallant naval officer, +Captain Worden, she was sent South from New York, and though she +almost foundered in a gale she managed to weather it, and reached +the scene of the battle at Hampton Roads at the moment when her +presence was allimportant. + +Early the following morning the Merrimac, now under Captain Jones +(for Buchanan had been wounded), again steamed forth to take up +the work she had so well begun and to destroy the Union fleet. +She steered straight for the Minnesota; but when she was almost +there, to her astonishment a strange-looking little craft +advanced from the side of the big wooden frigate and boldly +barred the Merrimac's path. For a moment the Confederates could +hardly believe their eyes. The Monitor was tiny, compared to +their ship, for she was not one fifth the size, and her queer +appearance made them look at their new foe with contempt; but the +first shock of battle did away with this feeling. The Merrimac +turned on her foe her rifleguns, intending to blow her out of the +water, but the shot glanced from the thick iron turret of the +Monitor. Then the Monitors guns opened fire, and as the great +balls struck the sides of the ram her plates started and her +timbers gave. Had the Monitor been such a vessel as those of her +type produced later in the war, the ram would have been sunk then +and there; but as it was her shot were not quite heavy enough to +pierce the iron walls. Around and around the two strange +combatants hovered, their guns bellowing without cessation, while +the men on the frigates and on shore watched the result with +breathless interest. Neither the Merrimac nor the Monitor could +dispose of its antagonist. The ram's guns could not damage the +turret, and the Monitor was able dexterously to avoid the stroke +of the formidable prow. On the other hand, the shot of the +Monitor could not penetrate the Merrimac's tough sides. +Accordingly, fierce though the struggle was, and much though +there was that hinged on it, it was not bloody in character. The +Merrimac could neither destroy nor evade the Monitor. She could +not sink her when she tried to, and when she abandoned her and +turned to attack one of the other wooden vessels, the little +turreted ship was thrown across her path, so that the fight had +to be renewed. Both sides grew thoroughly exhausted, and finally +the battle ceased by mutual consent. + +Nothing more could be done. The ram was badly damaged, and there +was no help for her save to put back to the port whence she had +come. Twice afterward she came out, but neither time did she come +near enough to the Monitor to attack her, and the latter could +not move off where she would cease to protect the wooden vessels. +The ram was ultimately blown up by the Confederates on the +advance of the Union army. + +Tactically, the fight was a drawn battle--neither ship being able +to damage the other, and both ships, being fought to a +standstill; but the moral and material effects were wholly in +favor of the Monitor. Her victory was hailed with exultant joy +throughout the whole Union, and exercised a correspondingly +depressing effect in the Confederacy; while every naval man +throughout the world, who possessed eyes to see, saw that the +fight in Hampton Roads had inaugurated a new era in ocean +warfare, and that the Monitor and Merrimac, which had waged so +gallant and so terrible a battle, were the first ships of the new +era, and that as such their names would be forever famous. + + + +THE FLAG-BEARER + +Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; +He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are +stored; +He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; + His truth is marching on. + +I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; +They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; +I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; + His day is marching on. + +He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never beat retreat; +He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat; +Oh! be swift, my soul, to answer him! be jubilant, my feet! + Our God is marching on. + --Julia Ward Howe. + + +THE FLAG-BEARER + +In no war since the close of the great Napoleonic struggles has +the fighting been so obstinate and bloody as in the Civil War. +Much has been said in song and story of the resolute courage of +the Guards at Inkerman, of the charge of the Light Brigade, and +of the terrible fighting and loss of the German armies at Mars La +Tour and Gravelotte. The praise bestowed, upon the British and +Germans for their valor, and for the loss that proved their +valor, was well deserved; but there were over one hundred and +twenty regiments, Union and Confederate, each of which, in some +one battle of the Civil War, suffered a greater loss than any +English regiment at Inkerman or at any other battle in the +Crimea, a greater loss than was suffered by any German regiment +at Gravelotte or at any other battle of the Franco-Prussian war. +No European regiment in any recent struggle has suffered such +losses as at Gettysburg befell the 1st Minnesota, when 82 per +cent. of the officers and men were killed and wounded; or the +141st Pennsylvania, which lost 76 per cent.; or the 26th North +Carolina, which lost 72 per cent.; such as at the second battle +of Manassas befell the 101st New York, which lost 74 per cent., +and the 21st Georgia, which lost 76 per cent. At Cold Harbor the +25th Massachusetts lost 70 per cent., and the 10th Tennessee at +Chickamauga 68 per cent.; while at Shiloh the 9th Illinois lost +63 per cent., and the 6th Mississippi 70 per cent.; and at +Antietam the 1st Texas lost 82 percent. The loss of the Light +Brigade in killed and wounded in its famous charge at Balaklava +was but 37 per cent. + +These figures show the terrible punishment endured by these +regiments, chosen at random from the head of the list which shows +the slaughter-roll of the Civil War. Yet the shattered remnants +of each regiment preserved their organization, and many of the +severest losses were incurred in the hour of triumph, and not of +disaster. Thus, the 1st Minnesota, at Gettysburg, suffered its +appalling loss while charging a greatly superior force, which it +drove before it; and the little huddle of wounded and unwounded +men who survived their victorious charge actually kept both the +flag they had captured and the ground from which they had driven +their foes. + +A number of the Continental regiments under Washington, Greene, +and Wayne did valiant fighting and endured heavy punishment. +Several of the regiments raised on the northern frontier in 1814 +showed, under Brown and Scott, that they were able to meet the +best troops of Britain on equal terms in the open, and even to +overmatch them in fair fight with the bayonet. The regiments +which, in the Mexican war, under the lead of Taylor, captured +Monterey, and beat back Santa Anna at Buena Vista, or which, with +Scott as commander, stormed Molino Del Rey and Chapultepec, +proved their ability to bear terrible loss, to wrest victory from +overwhelming numbers, and to carry by open assault positions of +formidable strength held by a veteran army. But in none of these +three wars was the fighting so resolute and bloody as in the +Civil War. + +Countless deeds of heroism were performed by Northerner and by +Southerner, by officer and by private, in every year of the great +struggle. The immense majority of these deeds went unrecorded, +and were known to few beyond the immediate participants. Of those +that were noticed it would be impossible even to make a dry +catalogue in ten such volumes as this. All that can be done is to +choose out two or three acts of heroism, not as exceptions, but +as examples of hundreds of others. The times of war are iron +times, and bring out all that is best as well as all that is +basest in the human heart. In a full recital of the civil war, as +of every other great conflict, there would stand out in naked +relief feats of wonderful daring and self-devotion, and, mixed +among them, deeds of cowardice, of treachery, of barbarous +brutality. Sadder still, such a recital would show strange +contrasts in the careers of individual men, men who at one time +acted well and nobly, and at another time ill and basely. The +ugly truths must not be blinked, and the lessons they teach +should be set forth by every historian, and learned by every +statesman and soldier; but, for our good fortune, the lessons +best worth learning in the nation's past are lessons of heroism. + +From immemorial time the armies of every warlike people have set +the highest value upon the standards they bore to battle. To +guard one's own flag against capture is the pride, to capture the +flag of one's enemy the ambition, of every valiant soldier. In +consequence, in every war between peoples of good military +record, feats of daring performed by color-bearers are honorably +common. The Civil War was full of such incidents. Out of very +many two or three may be mentioned as noteworthy. + +One occurred at Fredericksburg on the day when half the brigades +of Meagher and Caldwell lay on the bloody slope leading up to the +Confederate entrenchments. Among the assaulting regiments was the +5th New Hampshire, and it lost one hundred and eighty-six out of +three hundred men who made the charge. The survivors fell +sullenly back behind a fence, within easy range of the +Confederate rifle-pits. Just before reaching it the last of the +color guard was shot, and the flag fell in the open. A Captain +Perry instantly ran out to rescue it, and as he reached it was +shot through the heart; another, Captain Murray, made the same +attempt and was also killed; and so was a third, Moore. Several +private soldiers met a like fate. They were all killed close to +the flag, and their dead bodies fell across one another. Taking +advantage of this breastwork, Lieutenant Nettleton crawled from +behind the fence to the colors, seized them, and bore back the +bloodwon trophy. + +Another took place at Gaines' Mill, where Gregg's 1st South +Carolina formed part of the attacking force. The resistance was +desperate, and the fury of the assault unsurpassed. At one point +it fell to the lot of this regiment to bear the brunt of carrying +a certain strong position. Moving forward at a run, the South +Carolinians were swept by a fierce and searching fire. Young +James Taylor, a lad of sixteen, was carrying the flag, and was +killed after being shot down three times, twice rising and +struggling onward with the colors. The third time he fell the +flag was seized by George Cotchet, and when he, in turn, fell, by +Shubrick Hayne. Hayne was also struck down almost immediately, +and the fourth lad, for none of them were over twenty years old, +grasped the colors, and fell mortally wounded across the body of +his friend. The fifth, Gadsden Holmes, was pierced with no less +than seven balls. The sixth man, Dominick Spellman, more +fortunate, but not less brave, bore the flag throughout the rest +of the battle. + +Yet another occurred at Antietam. The 7th Maine, then under the +command of Major T. W. Hyde, was one of the hundreds of regiments +that on many hard-fought fields established a reputation for dash +and unyielding endurance. Toward the early part of the day at +Antietam it merely took its share in the charging and long-range +firing, together with the New York and Vermont regiments which +were its immediate neighbors in the line. The fighting was very +heavy. In one of the charges, the Maine men passed over what had +been a Confederate regiment. The gray-clad soldiers were lying, +both ranks, privates and officers, as they fell, for so many had +been killed or disabled that it seemed as if the whole regiment +was prone in death. + +Much of the time the Maine men lay on the battle-field, hugging +the ground, under a heavy artillery fire, but beyond the reach of +ordinary musketry. One of the privates, named Knox, was a +wonderful shot, and had received permission to use his own +special rifle, a weapon accurately sighted for very long range. +While the regiment thus lay under the storm of shot and shell, he +asked leave to go to the front; and for an hour afterward his +companions heard his rifle crack every few minutes. Major Hyde +finally, from curiosity, crept forward to see what he was doing, +and found that he had driven every man away from one section of a +Confederate battery, tumbling over gunner after gunner as they +came forward to fire. One of his victims was a general officer, +whose horse he killed. At the end of an hour or so, a piece of +shell took off the breech of his pet rifle, and he returned +disconsolate; but after a few minutes he gathered three rifles +that were left by wounded men, and went back again to his work. + +At five o'clock in the afternoon the regiment was suddenly called +upon to undertake a hopeless charge, owing to the blunder of the +brigade commander, who was a gallant veteran of the Mexican war, +but who was also given to drink. Opposite the Union lines at this +point were some haystacks, near a group of farm buildings. They +were right in the center of the Confederate position, and +sharpshooters stationed among them were picking off the Union +gunners. The brigadier, thinking that they were held by but a few +skirmishers, rode to where the 7th Maine was lying on the ground, +and said: "Major Hyde, take your regiment and drive the enemy +from those trees and buildings." Hyde saluted, and said that he +had seen a large force of rebels go in among the buildings, +probably two brigades in all. The brigadier answered, "Are you +afraid to go, sir?" and repeated the order emphatically. "Give +the order, so the regiment can hear it, and we are ready, sir," +said Hyde. This was done, and "Attention" brought every man to +his feet. With the regiment were two young boys who carried the +marking guidons, and Hyde ordered these to the rear. They +pretended to go, but as soon as the regiment charged came along +with it. One of them lost his arm, and the other was killed on +the field. The colors were carried by the color corporal, Harry +Campbell. + +Hyde gave the orders to left face and forward and the Maine men +marched out in front of a Vermont regiment which lay beside them; +then, facing to the front, they crossed a sunken road, which was +so filled with dead and wounded Confederates that Hyde's horse +had to step on them to get over. + +Once across, they stopped for a moment in the trampled corn to +straighten the line, and then charged toward the right of the +barns. On they went at the double-quick, fifteen skirmishers +ahead under Lieutenant Butler, Major Hyde on the right on his +Virginia thoroughbred, and Adjutant Haskell to the left on a big +white horse. The latter was shot down at once, as was his horse, +and Hyde rode round in front of the regiment just in time to see +a long line of men in gray rise from behind the stone wall of the +Hagerstown pike, which was to their right, and pour in a volley; +but it mostly went too high. He then ordered his men to left +oblique. + +Just as they were abreast a hill to the right of the barns, Hyde, +being some twenty feet ahead, looked over its top and saw several +regiments of Confederates, jammed close together and waiting at +the ready; so he gave the order left flank, and, still at the +double quick, took his column past the barns and buildings toward +an orchard on the hither side, hoping that he could get them back +before they were cut off, for they were faced by ten times their +number. By going through the orchard he expected to be able to +take advantage of a hollow, and partially escape the destructive +flank fire on his return. + +To hope to keep the barns from which they had driven the +sharpshooters was vain, for the single Maine regiment found +itself opposed to portions of no less than four Confederate +brigades, at least a dozen regiments all told. When the men got +to the orchard fence, Sergeant Benson wrenched apart the tall +pickets to let through Hyde's horse. While he was doing this, a +shot struck his haversack, and the men all laughed at the sight +of the flying hardtack. + +Going into the orchard there was a rise of ground, and the +Confederates fired several volleys at the Maine men, and then +charged them. Hyde's horse was twice wounded, but was still able +to go on. + +No sooner were the men in blue beyond the fence than they got +into line and met the Confederates, as they came crowding behind, +with a slaughtering fire, and then charged, driving them back. +The color corporal was still carrying the colors, though one of +his arms had been broken; but when half way through the orchard, +Hyde heard him call out as he fell, and turned back to save the +colors, if possible. + +The apple-trees were short and thick, and he could not see much, +and the Confederates speedily got between him and his men. +Immediately, with the cry of "Rally, boys, to save the Major," +back surged the regiment, and a volley at arm's length again +destroyed all the foremost of their pursuers; so they rescued +both their commander and the flag, which was carried off by +Corporal Ring. + +Hyde then formed the regiment on the colors, sixty-eight men all +told, out of two hundred and forty who had begun the charge, and +they slowly marched back toward their place in the Union line, +while the New Yorkers and Vermonters rose from the ground +cheering and waving their hats. Next day, when the Confederates +had retired a little from the field, the color corporal, +Campbell, was found in the orchard, dead, propped up against a +tree, with his half-smoked pipe beside him. + + + +THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON + +Like a servant of the Lord, with his bible and his sword, + Our general rode along us, to form us for the fight. + --Macaulay. + + +THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON + +The Civil War has left, as all wars of brother against brother +must leave, terrible and heartrending memories; but there remains +as an offset the glory which has accrued to the nation by the +countless deeds of heroism performed by both sides in the +struggle. The captains and the armies that, after long years of +dreary campaigning and bloody, stubborn fighting, brought the war +to a close, have left us more than a reunited realm. North and +South, all Americans, now have a common fund of glorious +memories. We are the richer for each grim campaign, for each +hard-fought battle. We are the richer for valor displayed alike +by those who fought so valiantly for the right, and by those who, +no less valiantly, fought for what they deemed the right. We have +in us nobler capacities for what is great and good because of the +infinite woe and suffering, and because of the splendid ultimate +triumph. We hold that it was vital to the welfare, not only of +our people on this continent, but of the whole human race, that +the Union should be preserved and slavery abolished; that one +flag should fly from the Great Lakes to the Rio Grande; that we +should all be free in fact as well as in name, and that the +United States should stand as one nation--the greatest nation on +the earth. But we recognize gladly that, South as well as North, +when the fight was once on, the leaders of the armies, and the +soldiers whom they led, displayed the same qualities of daring +and steadfast courage, of disinterested loyalty and enthusiasm, +and of high devotion to an ideal. + +The greatest general of the South was Lee, and his greatest +lieutenant was Jackson. Both were Virginians, and both were +strongly opposed to disunion. Lee went so far as to deny the +right of secession, while Jackson insisted that the South ought +to try to get its rights inside the Union, and not outside. But +when Virginia joined the Southern Confederacy, and the war had +actually begun, both men cast their lot with the South. + +It is often said that the Civil War was in one sense a repetition +of the old struggle between the Puritan and the Cavalier; but +Puritan and Cavalier types were common to the two armies. In dash +and light-hearted daring, Custer and Kearney stood as conspicuous +as Stuart and Morgan; and, on the other hand, no Northern general +approached the Roundhead type--the type of the stern, religious +warriors who fought under Cromwell--so closely as Stonewall +Jackson. He was a man of intense religious conviction, who +carried into every thought and deed of his daily life the +precepts of the faith he cherished. He was a tender and loving +husband and father, kindhearted and gentle to all with whom he +was brought in contact; yet in the times that tried men's souls, +he proved not only a commander of genius, but a fighter of iron +will and temper, who joyed in the battle, and always showed at +his best when the danger was greatest. The vein of fanaticism +that ran through his character helped to render him a terrible +opponent. He knew no such word as falter, and when he had once +put his hand to a piece of work, he did it thoroughly and with +all his heart. It was quite in keeping with his character that +this gentle, high-minded, and religious man should, early in the +contest, have proposed to hoist the black flag, neither take nor +give quarter, and make the war one of extermination. No such +policy was practical in the nineteenth century and in the +American Republic; but it would have seemed quite natural and +proper to Jackson's ancestors, the grim Scotch-Irish, who +defended Londonderry against the forces of the Stuart king, or to +their forefathers, the Covenanters of Scotland, and the Puritans +who in England rejoiced at the beheading of King Charles I. + +In the first battle in which Jackson took part, the confused +struggle at Bull Run, he gained his name of Stonewall from the +firmness with which he kept his men to their work and repulsed +the attack of the Union troops. From that time until his death, +less than two years afterward, his career was one of brilliant +and almost uninterrupted success; whether serving with an +independent command in the Valley, or acting under Lee as his +right arm in the pitched battles with McClellan, Pope, and +Burnside. Few generals as great as Lee have ever had as great a +lieutenant as Jackson. He was a master of strategy and tactics, +fearless of responsibility, able to instil into his men. his own +intense ardor in battle, and so quick in his movements, so ready +to march as well as fight, that his troops were known to the rest +of the army as the "foot cavalry." + +In the spring of 1863 Hooker had command of the Army of the +Potomac. Like McClellan, he was able to perfect the discipline of +his forces and to organize them, and as a division commander he +was better than McClellan, but he failed even more signally when +given a great independent command. He had under him 120,000 men +when, toward the end of April, he prepared to attack Lee's army, +which was but half as strong. + +The Union army lay opposite Fredericksburg, looking at the +fortified heights where they had received so bloody a repulse at +the beginning of the winter. Hooker decided to distract the +attention of the Confederates by letting a small portion of his +force, under General Sedgwick, attack Fredericksburg, while he +himself took the bulk of the army across the river to the right +hand so as to crush Lee by an assault on his flank. All went well +at the beginning, and on the first of May Hooker found himself at +Chancellorsville, face-to-face with the bulk of Lee's forces; and +Sedgwick, crossing the river and charging with the utmost +determination, had driven out of Fredericksburg the Confederate +division of Early; but when Hooker found himself in front of Lee +he hesitated, faltered instead of pushing on, and allowed the +consummate general to whom he was opposed to take the initiative. + +Lee fully realized his danger, and saw that his only chance was, +first to beat back Hooker, and then to turn and overwhelm +Sedgwick, who was in his rear. He consulted with Jackson, and +Jackson begged to be allowed to make one of his favorite flank +attacks upon the Union army; attacks which could have been +successfully delivered only by a skilled and resolute general, +and by troops equally able to march and to fight. Lee consented, +and Jackson at once made off. The country was thickly covered +with a forest of rather small growth, for it was a wild region, +in which there was still plenty of game. Shielded by the forest, +Jackson marched his gray columns rapidly to the left along the +narrow country roads until he was square on the flank of the +Union right wing, which was held by the Eleventh Corps, under +Howard. The Union scouts got track of the movement and reported +it at headquarters, but the Union generals thought the +Confederates were retreating; and when finally the scouts brought +word to Howard that he was menaced by a flank attack he paid no +heed to the information, and actually let his whole corps be +surprised in broad daylight. Yet all the while the battle was +going on elsewhere, and Berdan's sharpshooters had surrounded and +captured a Georgia regiment, from which information was received +showing definitely that Jackson was not retreating, and must be +preparing to strike a heavy blow. + +The Eleventh Corps had not the slightest idea that it was about +to be assailed. The men were not even in line. Many of them had +stacked their muskets and were lounging about, some playing +cards, others cooking supper, intermingled with the pack-mules +and beef cattle. While they were thus utterly unprepared +Jackson's gray-clad veterans pushed straight through the forest +and rushed fiercely to the attack. The first notice the troops of +the Eleventh Corps received did not come from the pickets, but +from the deer, rabbits and foxes which, fleeing from their +coverts at the approach of the Confederates, suddenly came +running over and into the Union lines. In another minute the +frightened pickets came tumbling back, and right behind them came +the long files of charging, yelling Confederates; With one fierce +rush Jackson's men swept over the Union lines, and at a blow the +Eleventh Corps became a horde of panicstruck fugitives. Some of +the regiments resisted for a few moments, and then they too were +carried away in the flight. + +For a while it seemed as if the whole army would be swept off; +but Hooker and his subordinates exerted every effort to restore +order. It was imperative to gain time so that the untouched +portions of the army could form across the line of the +Confederate advance. + +Keenan's regiment of Pennsylvania cavalry, but four hundred +sabers strong, was accordingly sent full against the front of the +ten thousand victorious Confederates. + +Keenan himself fell, pierced by bayonets, and the charge was +repulsed at once; but a few priceless moments had been saved, and +Pleasanton had been given time to post twenty-two guns, loaded +with double canister, where they would bear upon the enemy. + +The Confederates advanced in a dense mass, yelling and cheering, +and the discharge of the guns fairly blew them back across the +work's they had just taken. Again they charged, and again were +driven back; and when the battle once more began the Union +reinforcements had arrived. + +It was about this time that Jackson himself was mortally wounded. +He had been leading and urging on the advance of his men, +cheering them with voice and gesture, his pale face flushed with +joy and excitement, while from time to time as he sat on his +horse he took off his hat and, looking upward, thanked heaven for +the victory it had vouchsafed him. As darkness drew near he was +in the front, where friend and foe were mingled in almost +inextricable confusion. He and his staff were fired at, at close +range, by the Union troops, and, as they turned, were fired at +again, through a mistake, by the Confederates behind them. +Jackson fell, struck in several places. He was put in a litter +and carried back; but he never lost consciousness, and when one +of his generals complained of the terrible effect of the Union +cannonade he answered: + +"You must hold your ground." + +For several days he lingered, hearing how Lee beat Hooker, in +detail, and forced him back across the river. Then the old +Puritan died. At the end his mind wandered, and he thought he was +again commanding in battle, and his last words were. + +"Let us cross over the river and rest in the shade." + +Thus perished Stonewall Jackson, one of the ablest of soldiers +and one of the most upright of men, in the last of his many +triumphs. + + + +THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG + + For the Lord + On the whirlwind is abroad; +In the earthquake he has spoken; + He has smitten with his thunder + The iron walls asunder, +And the gates of brass are broken! + --Whittier + +With bray of the trumpet, + And roll of the drum, +And keen ring of bugle + The cavalry come: +Sharp clank the steel scabbards, + The bridle-chains ring, +And foam from red nostrils + The wild chargers fling! + +Tramp, tramp o'er the greensward + That quivers below, +Scarce held by the curb bit + The fierce horses go! +And the grim-visaged colonel, + With ear-rending shout, +Peals forth to the squadrons + The order, "Trot Out"! + --Francis A. Durivage. + + +THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG + +The battle of Chancellorsville marked the zenith of Confederate +good fortune. Immediately afterward, in June, 1863, Lee led the +victorious army of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania. The South +was now the invader, not the invaded, and its heart beat proudly +with hopes of success; but these hopes went down in bloody wreck +on July 4, when word was sent to the world that the high valor of +Virginia had failed at last on the field of Gettysburg, and that +in the far West Vicksburg had been taken by the army of the +"silent soldier." + +At Gettysburg Lee had under him some seventy thousand men, and +his opponent, Meade, about ninety thousand. Both armies were +composed mainly of seasoned veterans, trained to the highest +point by campaign after campaign and battle after battle; and +there was nothing to choose between them as to the fighting power +of the rank and file. The Union army was the larger, yet most of +the time it stood on the defensive; for the difference between +the generals, Lee and Meade, was greater than could be bridged by +twenty thousand men. For three days the battle raged. No other +battle of recent time has been so obstinate and so bloody. The +victorious Union army lost a greater percentage in killed and +wounded than the allied armies of England, Germany, and the +Netherlands lost at Waterloo. Four of its seven corps suffered +each a greater relative loss than befell the world-renowned +British infantry on the day that saw the doom of the French +emperor. The defeated Confederates at Gettysburg lost, +relatively, as many men as the defeated French at Waterloo; but +whereas the French army became a mere rabble, Lee withdrew his +formidable soldiery with their courage unbroken, and their +fighting power only diminished by their actual losses in the +field. + +The decisive moment of the battle, and perhaps of the whole war, +was in the afternoon of the third day, when Lee sent forward his +choicest troops in a last effort to break the middle of the Union +line. The center of the attacking force was Pickett's division, +the flower of the Virginia infantry; but many other brigades took +part in the assault, and the column, all told, numbered over +fifteen thousand men. At the same time, the Confederates attacked +the Union left to create a diversion. The attack was preceded by +a terrific cannonade, Lee gathering one hundred and fifteen guns, +and opening a fire on the center of the Union line. In response, +Hunt, the Union chief of artillery, and Tyler, of the artillery +reserves, gathered eighty guns on the crest of the gently sloping +hill, where attack was threatened. For two hours, from one till +three, the cannonade lasted, and the batteries on both sides +suffered severely. In both the Union and Confederate lines +caissons were blown up by the fire, riderless horses dashed +hither and thither, the dead lay in heaps, and throngs of wounded +streamed to the rear. Every man lay down and sought what cover he +could. It was evident that the Confederate cannonade was but a +prelude to a great infantry attack, and at three o'clock Hunt +ordered the fire to stop, that the guns might cool, to be ready +for the coming assault. The Confederates thought that they had +silenced the hostile artillery, and for a few minutes their +firing continued; then, suddenly, it ceased, and there was a +lull. + +The men on the Union side who were not at the point directly +menaced peered anxiously across the space between the lines to +watch the next move, while the men in the divisions which it was +certain were about to be assaulted, lay hugging the ground and +gripping their muskets, excited, but confident and resolute. They +saw the smoke clouds rise slowly from the opposite crest, where +the Confederate army lay, and the sunlight glinted again on the +long line of brass and iron guns which had been hidden from view +during the cannonade. In another moment, out of the lifting smoke +there appeared, beautiful and terrible, the picked thousands of +the Southern army coming on to the assault. They advanced in +three lines, each over a mile long, and in perfect order. +Pickett's Virginians held the center, with on their left the +North Carolinians of Pender and Pettigrew, and on their right the +Alabama regiments of Wilcox; and there were also Georgian and +Tennessee regiments in the attacking force. Pickett's division, +however, was the only one able to press its charge home. After +leaving the woods where they started, the Confederates had nearly +a mile and a half to go in their charge. As the Virginians moved, +they bent slightly to the left, so as to leave a gap between them +and the Alabamians on the right. + +The Confederate lines came on magnificently. As they crossed the +Emmetsburg Pike the eighty guns on the Union crest, now cool and +in good shape, opened upon them, first with shot and then with +shell. Great gaps were made every second in the ranks, but the +gray-clad soldiers closed up to the center, and the color-bearers +leaped to the front, shaking and waving the flags. The Union +infantry reserved their fire until the Confederates were within +easy range, when the musketry crashed out with a roar, and the +big guns began to fire grape and canister. On came the +Confederates, the men falling by hundreds, the colors fluttering +in front like a little forest; for as fast as a color-bearer was +shot some one else seized the flag from his hand before it fell. +The North Carolinians were more exposed to the fire than any +other portion of the attacking force, and they were broken before +they reached the line. There was a gap between the Virginians and +the Alabama troops, and this was taken advantage of by Stannard's +Vermont brigade and a demi-brigade under Gates, of the 20th New +York, who were thrust forward into it. Stannard changed front +with his regiments and fell on Pickett's forces in flank, and +Gates continued the attack. When thus struck in the flank, the +Virginians could not defend themselves, and they crowded off +toward the center to avoid the pressure. Many of them were killed +or captured; many were driven back; but two of the brigades, +headed by General Armistead, forced their way forward to the +stone wall on the crest, where the Pennsylvania regiments were +posted under Gibbon and Webb. + +The Union guns fired to the last moment, until of the two +batteries immediately in front of the charging Virginians every +officer but one had been struck. One of the mortally wounded +officers was young Cushing, a brother of the hero of the +Albemarle fight. He was almost cut in two, but holding his body +together with one hand, with the other he fired his last gun, and +fell dead, just as Armistead, pressing forward at the head of his +men, leaped the wall, waving his hat on his sword. Immediately +afterward the battle-flags of the foremost Confederate regiments +crowned the crest; but their strength was spent. The Union troops +moved forward with the bayonet, and the remnant of Pickett's +division, attacked on all sides, either surrendered or retreated +down the hill again. Armistead fell, dying, by the body of the +dead Cushing. Both Gibbon and Webb were wounded. Of Pickett's +command two thirds were killed, wounded or captured, and every +brigade commander and every field officer, save one, fell. The +Virginians tried to rally, but were broken and driven again by +Gates, while Stannard repeated, at the expense of the Alabamians, +the movement he had made against the Virginians, and, reversing +his front, attacked them in flank. Their lines were torn by the +batteries in front, and they fell back before the Vermonter's +attack, and Stannard reaped a rich harvest of prisoners and of +battle-flags. + +The charge was over. It was the greatest charge in any battle of +modern times, and it had failed. It would be impossible to +surpass the gallantry of those that made it, or the gallantry of +those that withstood it. Had there been in command of the Union +army a general like Grant, it would have been followed by a +counter-charge, and in all probability the war would have been +shortened by nearly two years; but no countercharge was made. + +As the afternoon waned, a fierce cavalry fight took place on the +Union right. Stuart, the famous Confederate cavalry commander, +had moved forward to turn the Union right, but he was met by +Gregg's cavalry, and there followed a contest, at close quarters, +with "the white arm." It closed with a desperate melee, in which +the Confederates, charged under Generals Wade Hampton and Fitz +Lee, were met in mid career by the Union generals Custer and +McIntosh. All four fought, saber in hand, at the head of their +troopers, and every man on each side was put into the struggle. +Custer, his yellow hair flowing, his face aflame with the eager +joy of battle, was in the thick of the fight, rising in his +stirrups as he called to his famous Michigan swordsmen: "Come on, +you Wolverines, come on!" All that the Union infantry, watching +eagerly from their lines, could see, was a vast dust-cloud where +flakes of light shimmered as the sun shone upon the swinging +sabers. At last the Confederate horsemen were beaten back, and +they did not come forward again or seek to renew the combat; for +Pickett's charge had failed, and there was no longer hope of +Confederate victory. + +When night fell, the Union flags waved in triumph on the field of +Gettysburg; but over thirty thousand men lay dead or wounded, +strewn through wood and meadow, on field and hill, where the +three days' fight had surged. + + + +GENERAL GRANT AND THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN + +What flag is this you carry + Along the sea and shore? +The same our grandsires lifted up-- + The same our fathers bore. +In many a battle's tempest + It shed the crimson rain-- +What God has woven in his loom + Let no man rend in twain. +To Canaan, to Canaan, + The Lord has led us forth, +To plant upon the rebel towers + The banners of the North. + --Holmes. + + +GENERAL GRANT AND THE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN + +On January 29, 1863, General Grant took command of the army +intended to operate against Vicksburg, the last place held by the +rebels on the Mississippi, and the only point at which they could +cross the river and keep up communication with their armies and +territory in the southwest. It was the first high ground below +Memphis, was very strongly fortified, and was held by a large +army under General Pemberton. The complete possession of the +Mississippi was absolutely essential to the National Government, +because the control of that great river would cut the Confederacy +in two, and do more, probably, than anything else, to make the +overthrow of the Rebellion both speedy and certain. + +The natural way to invest and capture so strong a place, defended +and fortified as Vicksburg was, would have been, if the axioms of +the art of war had been adhered to, by a system of gradual +approaches. A strong base should have been established at +Memphis, and then the army and the fleet moved gradually forward, +building storehouses and taking strong positions as they went. To +do this, however, it first would have been necessary to withdraw +the army from the positions it then held not far above Vicksburg, +on the western bank of the river. But such a movement, at that +time, would not have been understood by the country, and would +have had a discouraging effect on the public mind, which it was +most essential to avoid. The elections of 1862 had gone against +the government, and there was great discouragement throughout the +North. Voluntary enlistments had fallen off, a draft had been +ordered, and the peace party was apparently gaining rapidly in +strength. General Grant, looking at this grave political +situation with the eye of a statesman, decided, as a soldier, +that under no circumstances would he withdraw the army, but that, +whatever happened, he would "press forward to a decisive +victory." In this determination he never faltered, but drove +straight at his object until, five months later, the great +Mississippi stronghold fell before him. + +Efforts were made through the winter to reach Vicksburg from the +north by cutting canals, and by attempts to get in through the +bayous and tributary streams of the great river. All these +expedients failed, however, one after another, as Grant, from the +beginning, had feared that they would. He, therefore, took +another and widely different line, and determined to cross the +river from the western to the eastern bank below Vicksburg, to +the south. With the aid of the fleet, which ran the batteries +successfully, he moved his army down the west bank until he +reached a point beyond the possibility of attack, while a +diversion by Sherman at Haines' Bluff, above Vicksburg, kept +Pemberton in his fortifications. On April 26, Grant began to move +his men over the river and landed them at Bruinsburg. "When this +was effected," he writes, "I felt a degree of relief scarcely +ever equaled since. Vicksburg was not yet taken, it is true, nor +were its defenders demoralized by any of our previous movements. +I was now in the enemy's country, with a vast river and the +stronghold of Vicksburg between me and my base of supplies, but I +was on dry ground, on the same side of the river with the enemy." + +The situation was this: The enemy had about sixty thousand men at +Vicksburg, Haines' Bluff, and at Jackson, Mississippi, about +fifty miles east of Vicksburg. Grant, when he started, had about +thirty-three thousand men. It was absolutely necessary for +success that Grant, with inferior numbers, should succeed in. +destroying the smaller forces to the eastward, and thus prevent +their union with Pemberton and the main army at Vicksburg. His +plan, in brief; was to fight and defeat a superior enemy +separately and in detail. He lost no time in putting his plan +into action, and pressing forward quickly, met a detachment of +the enemy at Port Gibson and defeated them. Thence he marched to +Grand Gulf, on the Mississippi, which he took, and which he had +planned to make a base of supply. When he reached Grand Gulf, +however, he found that he would be obliged to wait a month, in +order to obtain the reinforcements which he expected from General +Banks at Port Hudson. He, therefore, gave up the idea of making +Grand Gulf a base, and Sherman having now joined him with his +corps, Grant struck at once into the interior. He took nothing +with him except ammunition, and his army was in the lightest +marching order. This enabled him to move with great rapidity, but +deprived him of his wagon trains, and of all munitions of war +except cartridges. Everything, however, in this campaign, +depended on quickness, and Grant's decision, as well as all his +movements, marked the genius of the great soldier, which consists +very largely in knowing just when to abandon the accepted +military axioms. + +Pressing forward, Grant met the enemy, numbering between seven +and eight thousand, at Raymond, and readily defeated them. He +then marched on toward Jackson, fighting another action at +Clinton, and at Jackson he struck General Joseph Johnston, who +had arrived at that point to take command of all the rebel +forces. Johnston had with him, at the moment, about eleven +thousand men, and stood his ground. There was a sharp fight, but +Grant easily defeated the enemy, and took possession of the town. +This was an important point, for Jackson was the capital of the +State of Mississippi, and was a base of military supplies. Grant +destroyed the factories and the munitions of war which. were +gathered there, and also came into possession of the line of +railroad which ran from Jackson to Vicksburg. While he was thus +engaged, an intercepted message revealed to him the fact that +Pemberton, in accordance with Johnston's orders, had come out of +Vicksburg with twenty-five thousand men, and was moving eastward +against him. Pemberton, however, instead of holding a straight +line against Grant, turned at first to the south, with the view +of breaking the latter's line of communication. This was not a +success, for, as Grant says, with grim humor, "I had no line of +communication to break"; and, moreover, it delayed Pemberton when +delay was of value to Grant in finishing Johnston. After this +useless turn to the southward Pemberton resumed his march to the +east, as he should have done in the beginning, in accordance with +Johnston's orders; but Grant was now more than ready. He did not +wait the coming of Pemberton. Leaving Jackson as soon as he heard +of the enemy's advance from Vicksburg, he marched rapidly +westward and struck Pemberton at Champion Hills. The forces were +at this time very nearly matched, and the severest battle of the +campaign ensued, lasting four hours. Grant, however, defeated +Pemberton completely, and came very near capturing his entire +force. With a broken army, Pemberton fell back on Vicksburg. +Grant pursued without a moment's delay, and came up with the rear +guard at Big Black River. A sharp engagement followed, and the +Confederates were again defeated. Grant then crossed the Big +Black and the next day was before Vicksburg, with his enemy +inside the works. + +When Grant crossed the Mississippi at Bruinsburg and struck into +the interior, he, of course, passed out of communication with +Washington, and he did not hear from there again until May 11, +when, just as his troops were engaging in the battle of Black +River Bridge, an officer appeared from Port Hudson with an order +from General Halleck to return to Grand Gulf and thence cooperate +with Banks against Port Hudson. Grant replied that the order came +too late. "The bearer of the despatch insisted that I ought to +obey the order, and was giving arguments to support the position, +when I heard a great cheering to the right of our line, and +looking in that direction, saw Lawler, in his shirt-sleeves, +leading a charge on the enemy. I immediately mounted my horse and +rode in the direction of the charge, and saw no more of the +officer who had delivered the message; I think not even to this +day." When Grant reached Vicksburg, there was no further talk of +recalling him to Grand Gulf or Port Hudson. The authorities at +Washington then saw plainly enough what had been done in the +interior of Mississippi, far from the reach of telegraphs or +mail. + +As soon as the National troops reached Vicksburg an assault was +attempted, but the place was too strong, and the attack was +repulsed, with heavy loss. Grant then settled down to a siege, +and Lincoln and Halleck now sent him ample reinforcements. He no +longer needed to ask for them. His campaign had explained itself, +and in a short time he had seventy thousand men under his +command. His lines were soon made so strong that it was +impossible for the defenders of Vicksburg to break through them, +and although Johnston had gathered troops again to the eastward, +an assault from that quarter on the National army, now so largely +reinforced, was practically out of the question. Tighter and +tighter Grant drew his lines about the city, where, every day, +the suffering became more intense. It is not necessary to give +the details of the siege. On July 4, 1863, Vicksburg surrendered, +the Mississippi was in control of the National forces from its +source to its mouth, and the Confederacy was rent in twain. On +the same day Lee was beaten at Gettysburg, and these two great +victories really crushed the Rebellion, although much hard +fighting remained to be done before the end was reached. + +Grant's campaign against Vicksburg deserves to be compared with +that of Napoleon which resulted in the fall of Ulm. It was the +most brilliant single campaign of the war. With an inferior +force, and abandoning his lines of communication, moving with a +marvelous rapidity through a difficult country, Grant struck the +superior forces of the enemy on the line from Jackson to +Vicksburg. He crushed Johnston before Pemberton could get to him, +and he flung Pemberton back into Vicksburg before Johnston could +rally from the defeat which had been inflicted. With an inferior +force, Grant was superior at every point of contest, and he won +every fight. Measured by the skill displayed and the result +achieved, there is no campaign in our history which better +deserves study and admiration. + + + +ROBERT GOULD SHAW + +Brave, good, and true, +I see him stand before me now, +And read again on that young brow, +Where every hope was new, +HOW SWEET WERE LIFE! Yet, by the mouth firm-set, +And look made up for Duty's utmost debt, +I could divine he knew +That death within the sulphurous hostile lines, +In the mere wreck of nobly-pitched designs, +Plucks hearts-ease, and not rue. + +Right in the van, +On the red ramparts slippery swell, +With heart that beat a charge, he fell, +Foeward, as fits a man; +But the high soul burns on to light men's feet +Where death for noble ends makes dying sweet; +His life her crescent's span +Orbs full with share in their undarkening days +Who ever climbed the battailous steeps of praise +Since valor's praise began. + +We bide our chance, +Unhappy, and make terms with Fate +A little more to let us wait; +He leads for aye the advance, +Hope's forlorn-hopes that plant the desperate good +For nobler Earths and days of manlier mood; +Our wall of circumstance +Cleared at a bound, he flashes o'er the fight, +A saintly shape of fame, to cheer the right +And steel each wavering glance. + +I write of one, +While with dim eyes I think of three; +Who weeps not others fair and brave as he? +Ah, when the fight is won, +Dear Land, whom triflers now make bold to scorn +(Thee from whose forehead Earth awaits her morn), +How nobler shall the sun +Flame in thy sky, how braver breathe thy air, +That thou bred'st children who for thee could dare +And die as thine have done. + --Lowell. + + +ROBERT GOULD SHAW + +Robert Gould Shaw was born in Boston on October 10, 1837, the son +of Francis and Sarah Sturgis Shaw. When he was about nine years +old, his parents moved to Staten Island, and he was educated +there, and at school in the neighborhood of New York, until he +went to Europein 1853, where he remained traveling and studying +for the next three years. He entered Harvard College in 1856, and +left at the end of his third year, in order to accept an +advantageous business offer in New York. + +Even as a boy he took much interest in politics, and especially +in the question of slavery. He voted for Lincoln in 1860, and at +that time enlisted as a private in the New York 7th Regiment, +feeling that there was likelihood of trouble, and that there +would be a demand for soldiers to defend the country. His +foresight was justified only too soon, and on April 19, 1861, he +marched with his regiment to Washington. The call for the 7th +Regiment was only for thirty days, and at the expiration of that +service he applied for and obtained a commission as second +lieutenant in the 2d Massachusetts, and left with that regiment +for Virginia in July, 1861. He threw himself eagerly into his new +duties, and soon gained a good position in the regiment. At Cedar +Mountain he was an aid on General Gordon's staff, and was greatly +exposed in the performance of his duties during the action. He +was also with his regiment at Antietam, and was in the midst of +the heavy fighting of that great battle. + +Early in 1863, the Government determined to form negro regiments, +and Governor Andrew offered Shaw, who had now risen to the rank +of captain, the colonelcy of one to be raised in Massachusetts, +the first black regiment recruited under State authority. It was +a great compliment to receive this offer, but Shaw hesitated as +to his capacity for such a responsible post. He first wrote a +letter declining, on the ground that he did not feel that he had +ability enough for the undertaking, and then changed his mind, +and telegraphed Governor Andrew that he would accept. It is not +easy to realize it now, but his action then in accepting this +command required high moral courage, of a kind quite different +from that which he had displayed already on the field of battle. +The prejudice against the blacks was still strong even in the +North. There was a great deal of feeling among certain classes +against enlisting black regiments at all, and the officers who +undertook to recruit and lead negroes were. exposed to much +attack and criticism. Shaw felt,however, that this very +opposition made it all the more incumbent on him to undertake the +duty. He wrote on February 8: + +After I have undertaken this work, I shall feel that what I have +to do is to prove that the negro can be made a good soldier. . . +. I am inclined to think that the undertaking will not meet with +so much opposition as was at first supposed. All sensible men in +the army, of all parties, after a little thought, say that it is +the best thing that can be done, and surely those at home who are +not brave or patriotic enough to enlist should not ridicule or +throw obstacles in the way of men who are going to fight for +them. There is a great prejudice against it, but now that it has +become a government matter, that will probably wear away. At any +rate I sha'n't be frightened out of it by its unpopularity. I +feel convinced I shall never regret having taken this step, as +far as I myself am concerned; for while I was undecided, I felt +ashamed of myself as if I were cowardly. + + +Colonel Shaw went at once to Boston, after accepting his new +duty, and began the work of raising and drilling the 54th +Regiment. He met with great success, for he and his officers +labored heart and soul, and the regiment repaid their efforts. On +March 30, he wrote: "The mustering officer who was here to-day is +a Virginian, and has always thought it was a great joke to try to +make soldiers of 'niggers,' but he tells me now that he has never +mustered in so fine a set of men, though about twenty thousand +had passed through his hands since September." On May 28, Colonel +Shaw left Boston, and his march through the city was a triumph. +The appearance of his regiment made a profound impression, and +was one of the events of the war which those who saw it never +forgot. + +The regiment was ordered to South Carolina, and when they were +off Cape Hatteras, Colonel Shaw wrote: + +The more I think of the passage of the 54th through Boston, the +more wonderful it seems to me. just remember our own doubts and +fears, and other people's sneering and pitying remarks when we +began last winter, and then look at the perfect triumph of last +Thursday. We have gone quietly along, forming the first regiment, +and at last left Boston amidst greater enthusiasm than has been +seen since the first three months' troops left for the war. +Truly, I ought to be thankful for all my happiness and my success +in life so far; and if the raising of colored troops prove such a +benefit to the country and to the blacks as many people think it +will, I shall thank God a thousand times that I was led to take +my share in it. + + +He had, indeed, taken his share in striking one of the most fatal +blows to the barbarism of slavery which had yet been struck. The +formation of the black regiments did more for the emancipation of +the negro and the recognition of his rights, than almost anything +else. It was impossible, after that, to say that men who fought +and gave their lives for the Union and for their own freedom were +not entitled to be free. The acceptance of the command of a black +regiment by such men as Shaw and his fellow-officers was the +great act which made all this possible. + +After reaching South Carolina, Colonel Shaw was with his regiment +at Port Royal and on the islands of that coast for rather more +than a month, and on July 18 he was offered the post of honor in +an assault upon Fort Wagner, which was ordered for that night. He +had proved that the negroes could be made into a good regiment, +and now the second great opportunity had come, to prove their +fighting quality. He wanted to demonstrate that his men could +fight side by side with white soldiers, and show to somebody +beside their officers what stuff they were made of. He, +therefore, accepted the dangerous duty with gladness. Late in the +day the troops were marched across Folly and Morris islands and +formed in line of battle within six hundred yards of Fort Wagner. +At half-past seven the order for the charge was given, and the +regiment advanced. When they were within a hundred yards of the +fort, the rebel fire opened with such effect that the first +battalion hesitated and wavered. Colonel Shaw sprang to the +front, and waving his sword, shouted: "Forward, 54th!" With +another cheer, the men rushed through the ditch, and gained a +parapet on the right. Colonel Shaw was one of the first to scale +the walls. As he stood erect, a noble figure, ordering his men +forward and shouting to them to press on, he was shot dead and +fell into the fort. After his fall, the assault was repulsed. + +General Haywood, commanding the rebel forces, said to a Union +prisoner: "I knew Colonel Shaw before the war, and then esteemed +him. Had he been in command of white troops, I should have given +him an honorable burial. As it is, I shall bury him in the common +trench, with the negroes that fell with him." He little knew that +he was giving the dead soldier the most honorable burial that man +could have devised, for the savage words told unmistakably that +Robert Shaw's work had not been in vain. The order to bury him +with his "niggers," which ran through the North and remained +fixed in our history, showed, in a flash of light, the hideous +barbarism of a system which made such things and such feelings +possible. It also showed that slavery was wounded to the death, +and that the brutal phrase was the angry snarl of a dying tiger. +Such words rank with the action of Charles Stuart, when he had +the bones of Oliver Cromwell and Robert Blake torn from their +graves and flung on dunghills or fixed on Temple Bar. + +Robert Shaw fell in battle at the head of his men, giving his +life to his country, as did many another gallant man during those +four years of conflict. But he did something more than this. He +faced prejudice and hostility in the North, and confronted the +blind and savage rage of the South, in order to demonstrate to +the world that the human beings who were held in bondage could +vindicate their right to freedom by fighting and dying for it. He +helped mightily in the great task of destroying human slavery, +and in uplifting an oppressed and down-trodden race. He brought +to this work the qualities which were particularly essential for +his success. He had all that birth and wealth, breeding, +education, and tradition could give. He offered up, in full +measure, all those things which make life most worth living. He +was handsome and beloved. He had a serene and beautiful nature, +and was at once brave and simple. Above all things, he was fitted +for the task which he performed and for the sacrifice which he +made. The call of the country and of the time came to him, and he +was ready. He has been singled out for remembrance from among +many others of equal sacrifice, and a monument is rising to his +memory in Boston, because it was his peculiar fortune to live and +die for a great principle of humanity, and to stand forth as an +ideal and beautiful figure in a struggle where the onward march +of civilization was at stake. He lived in those few and crowded +years a heroic life, and he met a heroic death. When he fell, +sword in hand, on the parapet of Wagner, leading his black troops +in a desperate assault, we can only say of him as Bunyan said of +"Valiant for Truth": "And then he passed over, and all the +trumpets sounded for him on the other side." + + + +CHARLES RUSSELL LOWELL + +Wut's wurds to them whose faith an' truth + On war's red techstone rang true metal, +Who ventered life an' love an, youth + For the gret prize o' death in battle? + +To him who, deadly hurt, agen + Flashed on afore the charge's thunder, +Tippin' with fire the bolt of men + Thet rived the rebel line asunder? + --Lowell. + + +CHARLES RUSSELL LOWELL + +Charles Russell Lowell was born in Boston, January 2, 1835. He +was the eldest son of Charles Russell and Anna Cabot (Jackson) +Lowell, and the nephew of James Russell Lowell. He bore the name, +distinguished in many branches, of a family which was of the best +New England stock. Educated in the Boston public schools, he +entered Harvard College in 1850. Although one of the youngest +members of his class, he went rapidly to the front, and graduated +not only the first scholar of his year, but the foremost man of +his class. He was, however, much more than a fine scholar, for +even then he showed unusual intellectual qualities. He read +widely and loved letters. He was a student of philosophy and +religion, a thinker, and, best of all, a man of ideals--"the +glory of youth," as he called them in his valedictory oration. +But he was something still better and finer than a mere idealist; +he was a man of action, eager to put his ideals into practice and +bring them to the test of daily life. With his mind full of plans +for raising the condition of workingmen while he made his own +career, he entered the iron mills of the Ames Company, at +Chicopee. Here he remained as a workingman for six months, and +then received an important post in the Trenton Iron Works of New +Jersey. There his health broke down. Consumption threatened him, +and all his bright hopes and ambitions were overcast and checked. +He was obliged to leave his business and go to Europe, where he +traveled for two years, fighting the dread disease that was upon +him. In 1858 he returned, and took a position on a Western +railroad. Although the work was new to him, he manifested the +same capacity that he had always shown, and more especially his +power over other men and his ability in organization. In two +years his health was reestablished, and in 1860 he took charge of +the Mount Savage Iron Works, at Cumberland, Maryland. He was +there when news came of the attack made by the mob upon the 6th +Massachusetts Regiment, in Baltimore. Two days later he had made +his way to Washington, one of the first comers from the North, +and at once applied for a commission in the regular army. While +he was waiting, he employed himself in looking after the +Massachusetts troops, and also, it is understood, as a scout for +the Government, dangerous work which suited his bold and +adventurous nature. + +In May he received his commission as captain in the United States +cavalry. Employed at first in recruiting and then in drill, he +gave himself up to the study of tactics and the science of war. +The career above all others to which he was suited had come to +him. The field, at last, lay open before him, where all his great +qualities of mind and hearthis high courage, his power of +leadership and of organization, and his intellectual powers could +find full play. He moved rapidly forward, just as he had already +done in college and in business. His regiment, in 1862, was under +Stoneman in the Peninsula, and was engaged in many actions, where +Lowell's cool bravery made him constantly conspicuous. At the +close of the campaign he was brevetted major, for distinguished +services at Williamsburg and Slatersville. + +In July, Lowell was detailed for duty as an aid to General +McClellan. At Malvern Hill and South Mountain his gallantry and +efficiency were strongly shown, but it was at Antietam that he +distinguished himself most. Sent with orders to General +Sedgwick's division, he found it retreating in confusion, under a +hot fire. He did not stop to think of orders, but rode rapidly +from point to point of the line, rallying company after company +by the mere force and power of his word and look, checking the +rout, while the storm of bullets swept all round him. His horse +was shot under him, a ball passed through his coat, another broke +his sword-hilt, but he came off unscathed, and his service was +recognized by his being sent to Washington with the captured +flags of the enemy. + +The following winter he was ordered to Boston, to recruit a +regiment of cavalry, of which he was appointed colonel. While the +recruiting was going on, a serious mutiny broke out, but the man +who, like Cromwell's soldiers, "rejoiced greatly" in the day of +battle was entirely capable of meeting this different trial. He +shot the ringleader dead, and by the force of his own strong will +quelled the outbreak completely and at once. + +In May, he went to Virginia with his regiment, where he was +engaged in resisting and following Mosby, and the following +summer he was opposed to General Early in the neighborhood of +Washington. On July 14, when on a reconnoissance his advance +guard was surprised, and he met them retreating in wild +confusion, with the enemy at their heels. Riding into the midst +of the fugitives, Lowell shouted, "Dismount!" The sharp word of +command, the presence of the man himself, and the magic of +discipline prevailed. The men sprang down, drew up in line, +received the enemy, with a heavy fire, and as the assailants +wavered, Lowell advanced at once, and saved the day. + +In July, he was put in command of the "Provisional Brigade," and +joined the army of the Shenandoah, of which in August General +Sheridan took command. He was so struck with Lowell's work during +the next month that in September he put him in command of the +"Reserved Brigade," a very fine body of cavalry and artillery. In +the fierce and continuous fighting that ensued Lowell was +everywhere conspicuous, and in thirteen weeks he had as many +horses shot under him. But he now had scope to show more than the +dashing gallantry which distinguished him always and everywhere. +His genuine military ability, which surely would have led him to +the front rank of soldiers had his life been spared, his +knowledge, vigilance, and nerve all now became apparent. One +brilliant action succeeded another, but the end was drawing near. +It came at last on the famous day of Cedar Creek, when Sheridan +rode down from Winchester and saved the battle. Lowell had +advanced early in the morning on the right, and his attack +prevented the disaster on that wing which fell upon the surprised +army. He then moved to cover the retreat, and around to the +extreme left, where he held his position near Middletown against +repeated assaults. Early in the day his last horse was shot under +him, and a little later, in a charge at one o'clock, he was +struck in the right breast by a spent ball, which embedded itself +in the muscles of the chest. Voice and strength left him. "It is +only my poor lung," he announced, as they urged him to go to the +rear; "you would not have me leave the field without having shed +blood." As a matter of fact, the "poor" lung had collapsed, and +there was an internal hemorrhage. He lay thus, under a rude +shelter, for an hour and a half, and then came the order to +advance along the whole line, the victorious advance of Sheridan +and the rallied army. Lowell was helped to his saddle. "I feel +well now," he whispered, and, giving his orders through one of +his staff, had his brigade ready first. Leading the great charge, +he dashed forward, and, just when the fight was hottest, a sudden +cry went up: "The colonel is hit!" He fell from the saddle, +struck in the neck by a ball which severed the spine, and was +borne by his officers to a house in the village, where, clear in +mind and calm in spirit, he died a few hours afterward. + +"I do not think there was a quality," said General Sheridan, +"which I could have added to Lowell. He was the perfection of a +man and a soldier." On October 19, the very day on which he fell, +his commission was signed to be a brigadier-general. + +This was a noble life and a noble death, worthy of much thought +and admiration from all men. Yet this is not all. It is well for +us to see how such a man looked upon what he was doing, and what +it meant to him. Lowell was one of the silent heroes so much +commended by Carlyle. He never wrote of himself or his own +exploits. As some one well said, he had "the impersonality of +genius." But in a few remarkable passages in his private letters, +we can see how the meaning of life and of that great time +unrolled itself before his inner eyes. In June, 1861, he wrote: + +I cannot say I take any great pleasure in the contemplation of +the future. I fancy you feel much as I do about the +profitableness of a soldier's life, and would not think of trying +it, were it not for a muddled and twisted idea that somehow or +other this fight was going to be one in which decent men ought to +engage for the sake of humanity,--I use the word in its ordinary +sense. It seems to me that within a year the slavery question +will again take a prominent place, and that many cases will arise +in which we may get fearfully in the wrong if we put our cause +wholly in the hands of fighting men and foreign legions. + +In June, 1863, he wrote: + +I wonder whether my theories about self-culture, etc., would ever +have been modified so much, whether I should ever have seen what +a necessary failure they lead to, had it not been for this war. +Now I feel every day, more and more, that a man has no right to +himself at all; that, indeed, he can do nothing useful unless he +recognizes this clearly. Here again, on July 3, is a sentence +which it is well to take to heart, and for all men to remember +when their ears are deafened with the cry that war, no matter +what the cause, is the worst thing possible, because it +interferes with comfort, trade, and money-making: "Wars are bad," +Lowell writes, "but there are many things far worse. Anything +immediately comfortable in our affairs I don't see; but +comfortable times are not the ones t hat make a nation great." On +July 24, he says: + +Many nations fail, that one may become great; ours will fail, +unless we gird up our loins and do humble and honest days' work, +without trying to do the thing by the job, or to get a great +nation made by a patent process. It is not safe to say that we +shall not have victories till we are ready for them. We shall +have victories, and whether or no we are ready for them depends +upon ourselves; if we are not ready, we shall fail,--voila tout. +If you ask, what if we do fail? I have nothing to say; I +shouldn't cry over a nation or two, more or less, gone under. + +Finally, on September 10, a little more than a month before his +death, he wrote to a disabled officer: + +I hope that you are going to live like a plain republican, +mindful of the beauty and of the duty of simplicity. Nothing +fancy now, sir, if you please; it's disreputable to spend money +when the government is so hard up, and when there are so many +poor officers. I hope that you have outgrown all foolish +ambitions, and are now content to become a "useful citizen." +Don't grow rich; if you once begin, you will find it much more +difficult to be a useful citizen. Don't seek office, but don't +"disremember" that the "useful citizen" always holds his time, +his trouble, his money, and his life ready at the hint of his +country. The useful citizen is a mighty, unpretending hero; but +we are not going to have any country very long, unless such +heroism is developed. There, what a stale sermon I'm preaching. +But, being a soldier, it does seem to me that I should like +nothing so well as being a useful citizen. Well, trying to be +one, I mean. I shall stay in the service, of course, till the war +is over, or till I'm disabled; but then I look forward to a +pleasanter career. + +I believe I have lost all my ambitions. I don't think I would +turn my hand to be a distinguished chemist or a famous +mathematician. All I now care about is to be a useful citizen, +with money enough to buy bread and firewood, and to teach my +children to ride on horseback, and look strangers in the face, +especially Southern strangers. + +There are profound and lofty lessons of patriotism and conduct in +these passages, and a very noble philosophy of life and duty both +as a man and as a citizen of a great republic. They throw a flood +of light on the great underlying forces which enabled the +American people to save themselves in that time of storm and +stress. They are the utterances of a very young man, not thirty +years old when he died in battle, but much beyond thirty in head +and heart, tried and taught as he had been in a great war. What +precisely such young men thought they were fighting for is put +strikingly by Lowell's younger brother James, who was killed at +Glendale, July 4, 1862. In 1861, James Lowell wrote to his +classmates, who had given him a sword: + +Those who died for the cause, not of the Constitution and the +laws,--a superficial cause, the rebels have now the same,--but of +civilization and law, and the self-restrained freedom which is +their result. As the Greeks at Marathon and Salamis, Charles +Martel and the Franks at Tours, and the Germans at the Danube, +saved Europe from Asiatic barbarism, so we, at places to be +famous in future times, shall have saved America from a similar +tide of barbarism; and we may hope to be purified and +strengthened ourselves by the struggle. + +This is a remarkable passage and a deep thought. Coming from a +young fellow of twenty-four, it is amazing. But the fiery trial +of the times taught fiercely and fast, and James Lowell, just out +of college, could see in the red light around him that not merely +the freedom of a race and the saving of a nation were at stake, +but that behind all this was the forward movement of +civilization, brought once again to the arbitrament of the sword. +Slavery was barbarous and barbarizing. It had dragged down the +civilization of the South to a level from which it would take +generations to rise up again. Was this barbarous force now to +prevail in the United States in the nineteenth century? Was it to +destroy a great nation, and fetter human progress in the New +World? That was the great question back of, beyond and above all. +Should this force of barbarism sweep conquering over the land, +wrecking an empire in its onward march, or should it be flung +back as Miltiades flung back Asia at Marathon, and Charles Martel +stayed the coming of Islam at Tours? The brilliant career, the +shining courage, best seen always where the dead were lying +thickest, the heroic death of Charles Lowell, are good for us all +to know and to remember. Yet this imperfect story of his life has +not been placed here for these things alone. Many thousand +others, officers and soldiers alike, in the great Civil War gave +their lives as freely as he, and brought to the service of their +country the best that was in them. He was a fine example of many +who, like him, offered up all they had for their country. But +Lowell was also something more than this. He was a high type of a +class, and a proof of certain very important things, and this is +a point worthy of much consideration. + +The name of John Hampden stands out in the history of the +English-speaking people, admired and unquestioned. He was neither +a great statesman, nor a great soldier; he was not a brilliant +orator, nor a famous writer. He fell bravely in an unimportant +skirmish at Chalgrove Field, fighting for freedom and what he +believed to be right. Yet he fills a great place in the past, +both for what he did and what he was, and the reason for this is +of high importance. John Hampden was a gentleman, with all the +advantages that the accidents of birth could give. He was rich, +educated, well born, of high traditions. English civilization of +that day could produce nothing better. The memorable fact is +that, when the time came for the test, he did not fail. He was a +type of what was best among the English people, and when the call +sounded, he was ready. He was brave, honest, high-minded, and he +gave all, even his life, to his country. In the hour of need, the +representative of what was best and most fortunate in England was +put to the touch, and proved to be current gold. All men knew +what that meant, and Hampden's memory is one of the glories of +the English-speaking people. + +Charles Lowell has the same meaning for us when rightly +understood. He had all that birth, breeding, education, and +tradition could give. The resources of our American life and +civilization could produce nothing better. How would he and such +men as he stand the great ordeal when it came? If wealth, +education, and breeding were to result in a class who could only +carp and criticize, accumulate money, give way to +self-indulgence, and cherish low foreign ideals, then would it +have appeared that there was a radical unsoundness in our +society, refinement would have been proved to be weakness, and +the highest education would have been shown to be a curse, rather +than a blessing. But Charles Lowell, and hundreds of others like +him, in greater or less degree, all over the land, met the great +test and emerged triumphant. The Harvard men may be taken as +fairly representing the colleges and universities of America. +Harvard had, in 1860, 4157 living graduates, and 823 students, +presumably over eighteen years old. Probably 3000 of her students +and graduates were of military age, and not physically +disqualified for military service. Of this number, 1230 entered +the Union army or navy. One hundred and fifty-six died in +service, and 67 were killed in action. Many did not go who might +have gone, unquestionably, but the record is a noble one. Nearly +one man of every two Harvard men came forward to serve his +country when war was at our gates, and this proportion holds +true, no doubt, of the other universities of the North. It is +well for the country, well for learning, well for our +civilization, that such a record was made at such a time. Charles +Lowell, and those like him, showed, once for all, that the men to +whom fortune had been kindest were capable of the noblest +patriotism, and shrank from no sacrifices. They taught the lesson +which can never be heard too often--that the man to whom the +accidents of birth and fortune have given most is the man who +owes most to his country. If patriotism should exist anywhere, it +should be strongest with such men as these, and their service +should be ever ready. How nobly Charles Lowell in this spirit +answered the great question, his life and death, alike +victorious, show to all men. + + + +SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK + +Inspired repulsed battalions to engage, +And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. + --Addison. + + + SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK + +General Sheridan took command of the Army of the Shenandoah in +August, 1864. His coming was the signal for aggressive fighting, +and for a series of brilliant victories over the rebel army. He +defeated Early at Winchester and again at Fisher's Hill, while +General Torbert whipped Rosser in a subsequent action, where the +rout of the rebels was so complete that the fight was known as +the "Woodstock races." Sheridan's plan after this was to +terminate his campaign north of Staunton, and, returning thence, +to desolate the Valley, so as to make it untenable for the +Confederates, as well as useless as a granary or storehouse, and +then move the bulk of his armythrough Washington, and unite them +with General Grant in front of Petersburg. Grant, however, and +the authorities at Washington, were in favor of Sheridan's +driving Early into Eastern Virginia, and following up that line, +which Sheri dan himself believed to be a false move. This +important matter was in debate until October 16, when Sheridan, +having left the main body of his army at Cedar Creek under +General Wright, determined to go to Washington, and discuss the +question personally with General Halleck and the Secretary of +War. He reached Washington on the morning of the 17th about eight +o'clock, left there at twelve; and got back to Martinsburg the +same night about dark. At Martinsburg he spent the night, and the +next day, with his escort, rode to Winchester, reaching that +point between three and four o'clock in the afternoon of the +18th. He there heard that all was quiet at Cedar Creek and along +the front, and went to bed, expecting to reach his headquarters +and join the army the next day. + +About six o'clock, on the morning of the 19th, it was reported to +him that artillery firing could be heard in the direction of +Cedar Creek, but as the sound was stated to be irregular and +fitful, he thought it only a skirmish. He, nevertheless, arose at +once, and had just finished dressing when another officer came +in, and reported that the firing was still going on in the same +direction, but that it did not sound like a general battle. Still +Sheridan was uneasy, and, after breakfasting, mounted his horse +between eight and nine o'clock, and rode slowly through +Winchester. When he reached the edge of the town he halted a +moment, and then heard the firing of artillery in an unceasing +roar. He now felt confident that a general battle was in +progress, and, as he rode forward, he was convinced, from the +rapid increase of the sound, that his army was failing back. +After he had crossed Mill Creek, just outside Winchester, and +made the crest of the rise beyond the stream, there burst upon +his view the spectacle of a panic-stricken army. Hundreds of +slightly wounded men, with hundreds more unhurt, but demoralized, +together with baggage wagons and trains, were all pressing to the +rear, in hopeless confusion. + +There was no doubt now that a disaster had occurred at the front. +A fugitive told Sheridan that the army was broken and in full +retreat, and that all was lost. Sheridan at once sent word to +Colonel Edwards, commanding a brigade at Winchester, to stretch +his troops across the valley, and stop all fugitives. His first +idea was to make a stand there, but, as he rode along, a +different plan flashed into his mind. He believed that his troops +had great confidence in him, and he determined to try to restore +their broken ranks, and, instead of merely holding the ground at +Winchester, to rally his army, and lead them forward again to +Cedar Creek. He had hardly made up his mind to this course, when +news was brought to him that his headquarters at Cedar Creek were +captured, and the troops dispersed. He started at once, with +about twenty men as an escort, and rode rapidly to the front. As +he passed along, the unhurt men, who thickly lined the road, +recognized him, and, as they did so, threw up their hats, +shouldered their muskets, and followed him as fast as they could +on foot. His officers rode out on either side to tell the +stragglers that the general had returned, and, as the news spread +the retreating men in every direction rallied, and turned their +faces toward the battle-field they had left. + +In his memoirs, Sheridan says, in speaking of his ride through +the retreating troops: "I said nothing, except to remark, as I +rode among them 'If I had been with you this morning, this +disaster would not have happened. We must face the other way. We +will go back and recover our camp.'" Thus he galloped on over the +twenty miles, with the men rallying behind him, and following him +in ever increasing numbers. As he went by, the panic of retreat +was replaced by the ardor of battle. Sheridan had not +overestimate the power of enthusiasm or his own ability to rouse +it to fighting pitch. He pressed steadily on to the front, until +at last he came up to Getty's division of the 6th Corps, which, +with the cavalry, were the only troops who held their line and +were resisting the enemy. Getty's division was about a mile north +of Middletown on some slightly rising ground, and were +skirmishing with the enemy's pickets. Jumping a rail fence, +Sheridan rode to the crest of the hill, and, as he took off his +hat, the men rose up from behind the barricades with cheers of +recognition. + +It is impossible to follow in detail Sheridan's actions from that +moment, but he first brought up the 19th Corps and the two +divisions of Wright to the front. He then communicated with +Colonel Lowell, who was fighting near Middletown with his men +dismounted, and asked him if he could hold on where he was, to +which Lowell replied in the affirmative. All this and many +similar quickly-given orders consumed a great deal of time, but +still the men were getting into line, and at last, seeing that +the enemy were about to renew the attack, Sheridan rode along the +line so that the men could all see him. He was received with the +wildest enthusiasm as he rode by, and the spirit of the army was +restored. The rebel attack was made shortly after noon, and was +repulsed by General Emory. + +This done, Sheridan again set to work to getting his line +completely restored, while General Merritt charged and drove off +an exposed battery of the Confederates. By halfpast three +Sheridan was ready to attack. The fugitives of the morning, whom +he had rallied as he rode from Winchester, were again in their +places, and the different divisions were all disposed in their +proper positions. With the order to advance, the whole line +pressed forward. The Confederates at first resisted stubbornly, +and then began to retreat. On they went past Cedar Creek, and +there, where the pike made a sharp turn to the west toward +Fisher's Hill, Merritt and Custer fell on the flank of the +retreating columns, and the rebel army fell back, routed and +broken, up the Valley. The day had begun in route and defeat; it +ended in a great victory for the Union army. + +How near we had been to a terrible disaster can be realized by +recalling what had happened before the general galloped down from +Winchester. + +In Sheridan's absence, Early, soon after dawn, had made an +unexpected attack on our army at Cedar Creek. Surprised by the +assault, the national troops had given way in all directions, and +a panic had set in. Getty's division with Lowell's cavalry held +on at Middletown, but, with this exception, the rout was +complete. When Sheridan rode out of Winchester, he met an already +beaten army. His first thought was the natural one to make a +stand at Winchester and rally his troops about him there. His +second thought was the inspiration of the great commander. He +believed his men would rally as soon as they saw him. He believed +that enthusiasm was one of the great weapons of war, and that +this was the moment of all others when it might be used with +decisive advantage. With this thought in his mind he abandoned +the idea of forming his men at Winchester, and rode bareheaded +through the fugitives, swinging his hat, straight for the front, +and calling on his men as he passed to follow him. As the +soldiers saw him, they turned and rushed after him. He had not +calculated in vain upon the power of personal enthusiasm, but, at +the same time, he did not rely upon any wild rush to save the +day. The moment he reached the field of battle, he set to work +with the coolness of a great soldier to make all the +dispositions, first, to repel the enemy, and then to deliver an +attack which could not be resisted. One division after another +was rapidly brought into line and placed in position, the thin +ranks filling fast with the soldiers who had recovered from their +panic, and followed Sheridan and the black horse all the way down +from Winchester. He had been already two hours on the field when, +at noon, he rode along the line, again formed for battle. Most of +the officers and men then thought he had just come, while in +reality it was his own rapid work which had put them in the line +along which he was riding. + +Once on the field of battle, the rush and hurry of the desperate +ride from Winchester came to an end. First the line was reformed, +then the enemy's assault was repulsed, and it was made impossible +for them to again take the offensive. But Sheridan, undazzled by +his brilliant success up to this point, did not mar his work by +overhaste. Two hours more passed before he was ready, and then, +when all was prepared, with his ranks established and his army +ranged in position, he moved his whole line forward, and won one +of the most brilliant battles of the war, having, by his personal +power over his troops, and his genius in action, snatched a +victory from a day which began in surprise, disaster, and defeat. + + + +LIEUTENANT CUSHING AND THE RAM "ALBEMARLE" + +God give us peace! Not such as lulls to sleep, +But sword on thigh, and brow with purpose knit! +And let our Ship of State to harbor sweep, +Her ports all up, her battle-lanterns lit, +And her leashed thunders gathering for their leap! + --Lowell. + + +LIEUTENANT CUSHING AND THE RAM "ALBEMARLE" + +The great Civil War was remarkable in many ways, but in no way +more remarkable than for the extraordinary mixture of inventive +mechanical genius and of resolute daring shown by the combatants. +After the first year, when the contestants had settled down to +real fighting, and the preliminary mob work was over, the battles +were marked by their extraordinary obstinacy and heavy loss. In +no European conflict since the close of the Napoleonic wars has +the fighting been anything like as obstinate and as bloody as was +the fighting in our own Civil War. In addition to this fierce and +dogged courage, this splendid fighting capacity, the contest also +brought out the skilled inventive power of engineer and +mechanician in a way that few other contests have ever done. + +This was especially true of the navy. The fighting under and +against Farragut and his fellow-admirals revolutionized naval +warfare. The Civil War marks the break between the old style and +the new. Terrible encounters took place when the terrible new +engines of war were brought into action for the first time; and +one of these encounters has given an example which, for heroic +daring combined with cool intelligence, is unsurpassed in all +time. + +The Confederates showed the same skill and energy in building +their great ironclad rams as the men of the Union did in building +the monitors which were so often pitted against them. Both sides, +but especially the Confederates, also used stationary torpedoes, +and, on a number of occasions, torpedo-boats likewise. These +torpedoboats were sometimes built to go under the water. One +such, after repeated failures, was employed by the Confederates, +with equal gallantry and success, in sinking a Union sloop of war +off Charleston harbor, the torpedoboat itself going down to the +bottom with its victim, all on board being drowned. The other +type of torpedo-boat was simply a swift, ordinary steam-launch, +operated above water. + +It was this last type of boat which Lieutenant W. B. Cushing +brought down to Albemarle Sound to use against the great +Confederate ram Albemarle. The ram had been built for the purpose +of destroying the Union blockading forces. Steaming down river, +she had twice attacked the Federal gunboats, and in each case had +sunk or disabled one or more of them, with little injury to +herself. She had retired up the river again to lie at her wharf +and refit. The gunboats had suffered so severely as to make it a +certainty that when she came out again, thoroughly fitted to +renew the attack, the wooden vessels would be destroyed; and +while she was in existence, the Union vessels could not reduce +the forts and coast towns. Just at this time Cushing came down +from the North with his swift little torpedo-boat, an open +launch, with a spar-rigged out in front, the torpedo being placed +at the end. The crew of the launch consisted of fifteen men, +Cushing being in command. He not only guided his craft, but +himself handled the torpedo by means of two small ropes, one of +which put it in place, while the other exploded it. The action of +the torpedo was complicated, and it could not have been operated +in a time of tremendous excitement save by a man of the utmost +nerve and self-command; but Cushing had both. He possessed +precisely that combination of reckless courage, presence of mind, +and high mental capacity necessary to the man who leads a forlorn +hope under peculiarly difficult circumstances. + +On the night of October 27, 1864, Cushing slipped away from the +blockading fleet, and steamed up river toward the wharf, a dozen +miles distant, where the great ram lay. The Confederates were +watchful to guard against surprise, for they feared lest their +foes should try to destroy the ram before she got a chance to +come down and attack them again in the Sound. She lay under the +guns of a fort, with a regiment of troops ready at a moment's +notice to turn out and defend her. Her own guns were kept always +clear for action, and she was protected by a great boom of logs +thrown out roundabout; of which last defense the Northerners knew +nothing. + +Cushing went up-stream with the utmost caution, and by good luck +passed, unnoticed, a Confederate lookout below the ram. + +About midnight he made his assault. Steaming quietly on through +the black water, and feeling his way cautiously toward where he +knew the town to be, he finally made out the loom of the +Albemarle through the night, and at once drove at her. He was +almost upon her before he was discovered; then the crew and the +soldiers on the wharf opened fire, and, at the same moment, he +was brought-to by the boom, the existence of which he had not +known. The rifle balls were singing round him as he stood erect, +guiding his launch, and he heard the bustle of the men aboard the +ram, and the noise of the great guns as they were got ready. +Backing off, he again went all steam ahead, and actually surged +over the slippery logs of the boom. Meanwhile, on the Albemarle +the sailors were running to quarters, and the soldiers were +swarming down to aid in her defense; and the droning bullets came +always thicker through the dark night. Cushing still stood +upright in his little craft, guiding and controlling her by voice +and signal, while in his hands he kept the ropes which led to the +torpedo. As the boat slid forward over the boom, he brought the +torpedo full against the somber side of the huge ram, and +instantly exploded it, almost at the same time that the pivot-gun +of the ram, loaded with grape, was fired point-blank at him not +ten yards off. + +At once the ram settled, the launch sinking at the same moment, +while Cushing and his men swam for their lives. Most of them sank +or were captured, but Cushing reached mid-stream. Hearing +something splashing in the darkness, he swam toward it, and found +that it was one of his crew. He went to his rescue, and they kept +together for some time, but the sailor's strength gave out, and +he finally sank. In the pitch darkness Cushing could form no idea +where he was; and when, chilled through, and too exhausted to +rise to his feet, he finally reached shore, shortly before dawn, +he found that he had swum back and landed but a few hundred feet +below the sunken ram. All that day he remained within easy +musket-shot of where his foes were swarming about the fort and +the great drowned ironclad. He hardly dared move, and until the +afternoon he lay without food, and without protection from the +heat or venomous insects. Then he managed to slip unobserved into +the dense swamp, and began to make his way to the fleet. Toward +evening he came out on a small stream, near a camp of Confederate +soldiers. They had moored to the bank a skiff, and, with equal +stealth and daring, he managed to steal this and to paddle +down-stream. Hour after hour he paddled on through the fading +light, and then through the darkness. At last, utterly worn out, +he found the squadron, and was picked up. At once the ships +weighed; and they speedily captured every coast town and fort, +for their dreaded enemy was no longer in the way. The fame of +Cushing's deed went all over the North, and his name will stand +forever among the brightest on the honor-roll of the American +navy. + + + +FARRAGUT AT MOBILE BAY + +Ha, old ship, do they thrill, +The brave two hundred scars +You got in the river wars? +That were leeched with clamorous skill +(Surgery savage and hard), +At the Brooklyn Navy Yard. + + * * * * + +How the guns, as with cheer and shout, +Our tackle-men hurled them out, +Brought up in the waterways . . . +As we fired, at the flash +'T was lightning and black eclipse +With a bellowing sound and crash. + +* * * * + +The Dahlgrens are dumb, +Dumb are the mortars; +Never more shall the drum +Beat to colors and quarters-- +The great guns are silent. + --Henry Howard Brownell + + +FARRAGUT AT MOBILE BAY + +During the Civil War our navy produced, as it has always produced +in every war, scores of capable officers, of brilliant +single-ship commanders, of men whose daring courage made them fit +leaders in any hazardous enterprise. In this respect the Union +seamen in the Civil War merely lived up to the traditions of +their service. In a service with such glorious memories it was a +difficult thing to establish a new record in feats of personal +courage or warlike address. Biddle, in the Revolutionary War, +fighting his little frigate against a ship of the line until she +blew up with all on board, after inflicting severe loss on her +huge adversary; Decatur, heading the rush of the boarders in the +night attack when they swept the wild Moorish pirates from the +decks of their anchored prize; Lawrence, dying with the words on +his lips, "Don't give up the ship"; and Perry, triumphantly +steering his bloody sloop-of-war to victory with the same words +blazoned on his banner--men like these, and like their fellows, +who won glory in desperate conflicts with the regular warships +and heavy privateers of England and France, or with the corsairs +of the Barbary States, left behind a reputation which was hardly +to be dimmed, though it might be emulated, by later feats of mere +daring. + +But vital though daring is, indispensable though desperate +personal prowess and readiness to take chances are to the make-up +of a fighting navy, other qualities are needed in addition to fit +a man for a place among the great seacaptains of all time. It was +the good fortune of the navy in the Civil War to produce one +admiral of renown, one peer of all the mighty men who have ever +waged war on the ocean. Farragut was not only the greatest +admiral since Nelson, but, with the sole exception of Nelson, he +was as great an admiral as ever sailed the broad or the narrow +seas. + +David Glasgow Farragut was born in Tennessee. He was appointed to +the navy while living in Louisiana, but when the war came he +remained loyal to the Union flag. This puts him in the category +of those men who deserved best of their country in the Civil War; +the men who were Southern by birth, but who stood loyally by the +Union; the men like General Thomas of Virginia, and like +Farragut's own flag-captain at the battle of Mobile Bay, Drayton +of South Carolina. It was an easy thing in the North to support +the Union, and it was a double disgrace to be, like Vallandigham +and the Copperheads, against it; and in the South there were a +great multitude of men, as honorable as they were brave, who, +from the best of motives, went with their States when they +seceded, or even advocated secession. But the highest and +loftiest patriots, those who deserved best of the whole country, +we re the men from the South who possessed such heroic courage, +and such lofty fealty to the high ideal of the Union, that they +stood by the flag when their fellows deserted it, and +unswervingly followed a career devoted to the cause of the whole +nation and of the whole people. Among all those who fought in +this, the greatest struggle for righteousness which the present +century has seen, these men stand preeminent; and among them +Farragut stands first. It was his good fortune that by his life +he offered an example, not only of patriotism, but of supreme +skill and daring in his profession. He belongs to that class of +commanders who possess in the highest degree the qualities of +courage and daring, of readiness to assume responsibility, and of +willingness to run great risks; the qualities without which no +commander, however cautious and able, can ever become really +great. He possessed also the unwearied capacity for taking +thought in advance, which enabled him to prepare for victory +before the day of battle came; and he added to this. an +inexhaustible fertility of resource and presence of mind under no +matter what strain. + +His whole career should be taught every American schoolboy, for +when that schoolboy becomes a voter he should have learned the +lesson that the United States, while it ought not to become an +overgrown military power, should always have a first-class navy, +formidable from the number of its ships, and formidable still +more from the excellence of the individual ships and the high +character of the officers and men. Farragut saw the war of 1812, +in which, though our few frigates and sloops fought some glorious +actions, our coasts were blockaded and insulted, and the Capitol +at Washington burned, because our statesmen and our people had +been too short-sighted to build a big fighting navy; and Farragut +was able to perform his great feats on the Gulf coast because, +when the Civil War broke out, we had a navy which, though too +small in point of numbers, was composed of ships as good as any +afloat. + +Another lesson to be learned by a study of his career is that no +man in a profession so highly technical as that of the navy can +win a great success unless he has been brought up in and +specially trained for that profession, and has devoted his life +to the work. This fact was made plainly evident in the desperate +hurly-burly of the night battle with the Confederate flotilla +below New Orleans--the incidents of this hurly-burly being, +perhaps, best described by the officer who, in his report of his +own share in it, remarked that "all sorts of things happened." Of +the Confederate rams there were two, commanded by trained +officers formerly in the United States navy, Lieutenants Kennon +and Warley. Both of these men handled their little vessels with +remarkable courage, skill, and success, fighting them to the +last, and inflicting serious and heavy damage upon the Union +fleet. The other vessels of the flotilla were commanded by men +who had not been in the regular navy, who were merely Mississippi +River captains, and the like. These men were, doubtless, +naturally as brave as any of the regular officers; but, with one +or two exceptions, they failed ignobly. in the time of trial, and +showed a fairly startling contrast with the regular naval +officers beside or against whom they fought. This is a fact which +may well be pondered by the ignorant or unpatriotic people who +believe that the United States does not need a navy, or that it +can improvise one, and improvise officers to handle it, whenever +the moment of need arises. + +When a boy, Farragut had sailed as a midshipman on the Essex in +her famous cruise to the South Pacific, and lived through the +murderous fight in which, after losing three fifths of her crew, +she was captured by two British vessels. Step by step he rose in +his profession, but never had an opportunity of distinguishing +himself until, when he was sixty years old, the Civil War broke +out. He was then made flag officer of the Gulf squadron; and the +first success which the Union forces met with in the southwest +was scored by him, when one night he burst the iron chains which +the Confederates had stretched across the Mississippi, and, +stemming the swollen flood with his splendidly-handled +steam-frigates, swept past the forts, sank the rams and gunboats +that sought to bar his path, and captured the city of New +Orleans. After further exciting service on the Mississippi, +service in which he turned a new chapter in the history of naval +warfare by showing the possibilities of heavy seagoing vessels +when used on great rivers, he again went back to the Gulf, and, +in the last year of the war, was allotted the task of attempting +the capture of Mobile, the only important port still left open to +the Confederates. + +In August, 1864, Farragut was lying with his fleet off Mobile +Bay. For months he had been eating out his heart while undergoing +the wearing strain of the blockade; sympathizing, too, with every +detail of the doubtful struggle on land. "I get right sick, every +now and then, at the bad news," he once wrote home; and then +again, "The victory of the Kearsarge over the Alabama raised me +up; I would sooner have fought that fight than any ever fought on +the ocean." As for himself, all he wished was a chance to fight, +for he had the fighting temperament, and he knew that, in the +long run, an enemy can only be beaten by being out-fought, as +well as out-manoeuvered. He possessed a splendid self-confidence, +and scornfully threw aside any idea that he would be defeated, +while he utterly refused to be daunted by the rumors of the +formidable nature of the defenses against which he was to act. "I +mean to be whipped or to whip my enemy, and not to be scared to +death," he remarked in speaking of these rumors. + +The Confederates who held Mobile used all their skill in +preparing for defense, and all their courage in making that +defense good. The mouth of the bay was protected by two fine +forts, heavily armed, Morgan and Gaines. The winding channels +were filled with torpedoes, and, in addition, there was a +flotilla consisting of three gunboats, and, above all, a big +ironclad ram, the Tennessee, one of the most formidable vessels +then afloat. She was not fast, but she carried six high-power +rifled guns, and her armor was very powerful, while, being of +light draft, she could take a position where Farragut's deep-sea +ships could not get at her. Farragut made his attack with four +monitors,--two of them, the Tecumseh and Manhattan, of large +size, carrying 15inch guns, and the other two, the Winnebago and +Chickasaw, smaller and lighter, with 11-inch guns,--and the +wooden vessels, fourteen in number. Seven of these were big +sloops-of-war, of the general type of Farragut's own flagship, +the Hartford. She was a screw steamer, but was a full-rigged ship +likewise, with twenty-two 9-inch shell guns, arranged in +broadside, and carrying a crew of three hundred men. The other +seven were light gunboats. When Farragut prepared for the +assault, he arranged to make the attack with his wooden ships in +double column. The seven most powerful were formed on the right, +in line ahead, to engage Fort Morgan, the heaviest of the two +forts, which had to be passed close inshore to the right. The +light vessels were lashed each to the left of one of the heavier +ones. By this arrangement each pair of ships was given a double +chance to escape, if rendered helpless by a shot in the boiler or +other vital part of the machinery. The heaviest ships led in the +fighting column, the first place being taken by the Brooklyn and +her gunboat consort, while the second position was held by +Farragut himself in the Hartford, with the little Metacomet +lashed alongside. He waited to deliver the attack until the tide +and the wind should be favorable, and made all his preparations +with the utmost care and thoughtfulness. Preeminently a man who +could inspire affection in others, both the officers and men of +the fleet regarded him with fervent loyalty and absolute trust. + +The attack was made early on the morning of August 5. Soon after +midnight the weather became hot and calm, and at three the +Admiral learned that a light breeze had sprung up from the +quarter he wished, and he at once announced, "Then we will go in +this morning." At daybreak he was at breakfast when the word was +brought that the ships were all lashed in couples. Turning +quietly to his captain, he said, "Well, Drayton, we might as well +get under way;" and at half-past six the monitors stood down to +their stations, while the column of wooden ships was formed, all +with the United States flag hoisted, not only at the peak, but +also at every masthead. The four monitors, trusting in their iron +sides, steamed in between the wooden ships and the fort. Every +man in every craft was thrilling with the fierce excitement of +battle; but in the minds of most there lurked a vague feeling of +unrest over one danger. For their foes who fought in sight, for +the forts, the gunboats, and, the great ironclad ram, they cared +nothing; but all, save the very boldest, were at times awed, and +rendered uneasy by the fear of the hidden and the unknown. Danger +which is great and real, but which is shrouded in mystery, is +always very awful; and the ocean veterans dreaded the +torpedoes--the mines of death--which lay, they knew not where, +thickly scattered through the channels along which they were to +thread their way. + +The tall ships were in fighting trim, with spars housed, and +canvas furled. The decks were strewn with sawdust; every man was +in his place; the guns were ready, and except for the song of the +sounding-lead there was silence in the ships as they moved +forward through the glorious morning. It was seven o'clock when +the battle began, as the Tecumseh, the leading monitor, fired two +shots at the fort. In a few minutes Fort Morgan was ablaze with +the flash of her guns, and the leading wooden vessels were +sending back broadside after broadside. Farragut stood in the +port main-rigging, and as the smoke increased he gradually +climbed higher, until he was close by the maintop, where the +pilot was stationed for the sake of clearer vision. The captain, +fearing lest by one of the accidents of battle the great admiral +should lose his footing, sent aloft a man with a lasher, and had +a turn or two taken around his body in the shrouds, so that he. +might not fall if wounded; for the shots were flying thick. + +At first the ships used only their bow guns, and the Confederate +ram, with her great steel rifles, and her three consorts, taking +station where they could rake the advancing fleet, caused much +loss. In twenty minutes after the opening of the fight the ships +of the van were fairly abreast of the fort, their guns leaping +and thundering; and under the weight of their terrific fire that +of the fort visibly slackened. All was now uproar and slaughter, +the smoke drifting off in clouds. The decks were reddened and +ghastly with blood, and the wreck of flying splinters drove +across them at each discharge. The monitor Tecumseh alone was +silent. After firing the first two shots, her commander, Captain +Craven, had loaded his two big guns with steel shot, and, thus +prepared, reserved himself for the Confederate ironclad, which he +had set his heart upon taking or destroying single-handed. The +two columns of monitors and the wooden ships lashed in pairs were +now approaching the narrowest part of the channel, where the +torpedoes lay thickest; and the guns of the vessels fairly +overbore and quelled the fire from the fort. All was well, +provided only the two columns could push straight on without +hesitation; but just at this moment a terrible calamity befell +the leader of the monitors. The Tecumseh, standing straight for +the Tennessee, was within two hundred yards of her foe, when a +torpedo suddenly exploded beneath her. The monitor was about five +hundred yards from the Hartford, and from the maintop Farragut, +looking at her, saw her reel violently from side to side, lurch +heavily over, and go down headforemost, her screw revolving +wildly in the air as she disappeared. Captain Craven, one of the +gentlest and bravest of men, was in the pilot-house with the +pilot at the time. As she sank, both rushed to the narrow door, +but there was time for only one to get out. Craven was ahead, but +drew to one side, saying, "After you, pilot." As the pilot leaped +through, the water rushed in, and Craven and all his crew, save +two men, settled to the bottom in their iron coffin. + +None of the monitors were awed or daunted by the fate of their +consort, but drew steadily onward. In the bigger monitors the +captains, like the crews, had remained within the iron walls; but +on the two light crafts the commanders had found themselves so +harassed by their cramped quarters, that they both stayed outside +on the deck. As these two steamed steadily ahead, the men on the +flagship saw Captain Stevens, of the Winnebago, pacing calmly, +from turret to turret, on his unwieldy iron craft, under the full +fire of the fort. The captain of the Chickasaw, Perkins, was the +youngest commander in the fleet, and as he passed the Hartford, +he stood on top of the turret, waving his hat and dancing about +in wildest excitement and delight. + +But, for a moment, the nerve of the commander of the Brooklyn +failed him. The awful fate of the Tecumseh and the sight of a +number of objects in the channel ahead, which seemed to be +torpedoes, caused him to hesitate. He stopped his ship, and then +backed water, making sternway to the Hartford, so as to stop her +also. It was the crisis of the fight and the crisis of Farragut's +career. The column was halted in a narrow channel, right under +the fire of the forts. A few moments' delay and confusion, and +the golden chance would have been past, and the only question +remaining would have been as to the magnitude of the disaster. +Ahead lay terrible danger, but ahead lay also triumph. It might +be that the first ship to go through would be sacrificed to the +torpedoes; it might be that others would be sacrificed; but go +through the fleet must. Farragut signaled to the Brooklyn to go +ahead, but she still hesitated. Immediately, the admiral himself +resolved to take the lead. Backing hard he got clear of the +Brooklyn, twisted his ship's prow short round, and then, going +ahead fast, he dashed close under the Brooklyn's stern, straight +at the line of buoys in the channel. As he thus went by the +Brooklyn, a warning cry came from her that there were torpedoes +ahead. "Damn the torpedoes!" shouted the admiral; "go ahead, full +speed; and the Hartford and her consort steamed forward. As they +passed between the buoys, the cases of the torpedoes were heard +knocking against the bottom of the ship; but for some reason they +failed to explode, and the Hartford went safely through the gates +of Mobile Bay, passing the forts. Farragut's last and hardest +battle was virtually won. After a delay which allowed the +flagship to lead nearly a mile, the Brooklyn got her head round, +and came in, closely followed by all the other ships. The +Tennessee strove to interfere with the wooden craft as they went +in, but they passed, exchanging shots, and one of them striving +to ram her, but inflicting only a glancing blow. The ship on the +fighting side of the rear couple had been completely disabled by +a shot through her boiler. + +As Farragut got into the bay he gave orders to slip the gunboats, +which were lashed to each of the Union ships of war, against the +Confederate gunboats, one of which he had already disabled by his +fire, so that she was run ashore and burnt. Jouett, the captain +of the Metacomet, had been eagerly waiting this order, and had +his men already standing at the hawsers, hatchet in hand. When +the signal for the gunboats to chase was hoisted, the order to +Jouett was given by word of mouth, and as his hearty "Aye, aye, +sir," came in answer, the hatchets fell, the hawsers parted, and +the Metacomet leaped forward in pursuit. A thick rainsquall came +up, and rendered it impossible for the rear gunboats to know +whither the Confederate flotilla had fled. When it cleared away, +the watchers on the fleet saw that one of the two which were +uninjured had slipped off to Fort Morgan, while the other, the +Selma, was under the guns of the Metacomet, and was promptly +carried by the latter. + +Meanwhile the ships anchored in the bay, about four miles from +Fort Morgan, and the crews were piped to breakfast; but almost as +soon as it was begun, the lookouts reported that the great +Confederate ironclad was steaming down, to do battle, +single-handed, with the Union fleet. She was commanded by +Buchanan, a very gallant and able officer, who had been on the +Merrimac, and who trusted implicitly in his invulnerable sides, +his heavy rifle guns, and his formidable iron beak. As the ram +came on, with splendid courage, the ships got under way, while +Farragut sent word to the monitors to attack the Tennessee at +once. The fleet surgeon, Palmer, delivered these orders. In his +diary he writes: + +"I came to the Chickasaw; happy as my friend Perkins habitually +is, I thought he would turn a somerset with joy, when I told him, +'The admiral wants you to go at once and fight the Tennessee.'" + +At the same time, the admiral directed the wooden vessels to +charge the ram, bow on, at full speed, as well as to attack her +with their guns. The monitors were very slow, and the wooden +vessels began the attack. The first to reach the hostile ironclad +was the Monongahela, which struck her square amidships; and five +minutes later the Lackawanna, going at full speed, delivered +another heavy blow. Both the Union vessels fired such guns as +would bear as they swung round, but the shots glanced harmlessly +from the armor, and the blows of the ship produced no serious +injury to the ram, although their own stems were crushed in +several feet above and below the water line. The Hartford then +struck the Tennessee, which met her bows on. The two antagonists +scraped by, their port sides touching. As they rasped past, the +Hartford's guns were discharged against the ram, their muzzles +only half a dozen feet distant from her iron-clad sides; but the +shot made no impression. While the three ships were circling to +repeat the charge, the Lackawanna ran square into the flagship, +cutting the vessel down to within two feet of the water. For a +moment the ship's company thought the vessel sinking, and almost +as one man they cried: "Save the admiral! get the admiral on +board the Lackawanna." But Farragut, leaping actively into the +chains, saw that the ship was in no present danger, and ordered +her again to be headed for the Tennessee. Meanwhile, the monitors +had come up, and the battle raged between them and the great ram, +Like the rest of the Union fleet, they carried smooth-bores, and +their shot could not break through her iron plates; but by +sustained and continuous hammering, her frame could be jarred and +her timbers displaced. Two of the monitors had been more or less +disabled already, but the third, the Chickasaw, was in fine trim, +and Perkins got her into position under the stern of the +Tennessee, just after the latter was struck by the Hartford; and +there he stuck to the end, never over fifty yards distant, and +keeping up a steady rapping of 11-inch shot upon the iron walls, +which they could not penetrate, but which they racked and +shattered. The Chickasaw fired fifty-two times at her antagonist, +shooting away the exposed rudder-chains and the smokestack, while +the commander of the ram, Buchanan, was wounded by an iron +splinter which broke his leg. Under the hammering, the Tennessee +became helpless. She could not be steered, and was unable to +bring a gun to bear, while many of the shutters of the ports were +jammed. For twenty minutes she had not fired a shot. The wooden +vessels were again bearing down to ram her; and she hoisted the +white flag. + +Thus ended the battle of Mobile Bay, Farragut's crowning victory. +Less than three hours elapsed from the time that Fort Morgan +fired its first gun to the moment when the Tennessee hauled down +her flag. Three hundred and thirty-five men had been killed or +wounded in the fleet, and one vessel, the Tecumseh, had gone +down; but the Confederate flotilla was destroyed, the bay had +been entered, and the forts around it were helpless to do +anything further. One by one they surrendered, and the port of +Mobile was thus sealed against blockade runners, so that the last +source of communication between the Confederacy and the outside +world was destroyed. Farragut had added to the annals of the +Union the page which tells of the greatest sea-fight in our +history. + + + +LINCOLN + +O captain. My captain. Our fearful trip is done; +The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won; +The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, +While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring: +But O heart! Heart! Heart! +Leave you not the little spot, +Where on the deck my captain lies, +Fallen cold and dead. + +O captain. My captain. Rise up and hear the bells; +Rise up--for you the flag is flung--for you the bugle trills; +For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths--for you the shores +a-crowding; +For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning; +O captain. Dear father. +This arm I push beneath you; +It is some dream that on the deck, +You've fallen cold and dead. + +My captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still; +My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor win: +But the ship, the ship is anchor'd safe, its voyage closed and +done; +From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won: +Exult O shores, and ring, O bells. +But I with silent tread, +Walk the spot the captain lies, +Fallen cold and dead. + --Walt Whitman. + + + +LINCOLN + +As Washington stands to the Revolution and the establishment of +the government, so Lincoln stands as the hero of the mightier +struggle by which our Union was saved. He was born in 1809, ten +years after Washington, his work done had been laid to rest at +Mount Vernon. No great man ever came from beginnings which seemed +to promise so little. Lincoln's family, for more than one +generation, had been sinking, instead of rising, in the social +scale. His father was one of those men who were found on the +frontier in the early days of the western movement, always +changing from one place to another, and dropping a little lower +at each remove. Abraham Lincoln was born into a family who were +not only poor, but shiftless, and his early days were days of +ignorance, and poverty, and hard work. Out of such inauspicious +surroundings, he slowly and painfully lifted himself. He gave +himself an education, he took part in an Indian war, he worked in +the fields, he kept a country store, he read and studied, and, at +last, he became a lawyer. Then he entered into the rough politics +of the newly-settled State. He grew to be a leader in his county, +and went to the legislature. The road was very rough, the +struggle was very hard and very bitter, but the movement was +always upward. + +At last he was elected to Congress, and served one term in +Washington as a Whig with credit, but without distinction. Then +he went back to his law and his politics in Illinois. He had, at +last, made his position. All that was now needed was an +opportunity, and that came to him in the great anti-slavery +struggle. + +Lincoln was not an early Abolitionist. His training had been that +of a regular party man, and as a member of a great political +organization, but he was a lover of freedom and justice. Slavery, +in its essence, was hateful to him, and when the conflict between +slavery and freedom was fairly joined, his path was clear before +him. He took up the antislavery cause in his own State and made +himself its champion against Douglas, the great leader of the +Northern Democrats. He stumped Illinois in opposition to Douglas, +as a candidate for the Senate, debating the question which +divided the country in every part of the State. He was beaten at +the election, but, by the power and brilliancy of his speeches, +his own reputation was made. Fighting the anti-slavery battle +within constitutional lines, concentrating his whole force +against the single point of the extension of slavery to the +Territories, he had made it clear that a new leader had arisen in +the cause of freedom. From Illinois his reputation spread to the +East, and soon after his great debate he delivered a speech in +New York which attracted wide attention. At the Republican +convention of 1856, his name was one of those proposed for +vice-president. + +When 1860 came, he was a candidate for the first place on the +national ticket. The leading candidate was William H. Seward, of +New York, the most conspicuous man of the country on the +Republican side, but the convention, after a sharp struggle, +selected Lincoln, and then the great political battle came at the +polls. The Republicans were victorious, and, as soon as the +result of the voting was known, the South set to work to dissolve +the Union. In February Lincoln made his way to Washington, at the +end coming secretly from Harrisburg to escape a threatened +attempt at assassination, and on March 4, 1861 assumed the +presidency. + +No public man, no great popular leader, ever faced a more +terrible situation. The Union was breaking, the Southern States +were seceding, treason was rampant in Washington, and the +Government was bankrupt. The country knew that Lincoln was a man +of great capacity in debate, devoted to the cause of antislavery +and to the maintenance of the Union. But what his ability was to +deal with the awful conditions by which he was surrounded, no one +knew. To follow him through the four years of civil war which +ensued is, of course, impossible here. Suffice it to say that no +greater, no more difficult, task has ever been faced by any man +in modern times, and no one ever met a fierce trial and conflict +more successfully. + +Lincoln put to the front the question of the Union, and let the +question of slavery drop, at first, into the background. He used +every exertion to hold the border States by moderate measures, +and, in this way, prevented the spread of the rebellion. For this +moderation, the antislavery extremists in the North assailed him, +but nothing shows more his far-sighted wisdom and strength of +purpose than his action at this time. By his policy at the +beginning of his administration, he held the border States, and +united the people of the North in defense of the Union. + +As the war went on, he went on, too. He had never faltered in his +feelings about slavery. He knew, better than any one, that the +successful dissolution of the Union by the slave power meant, not +only the destruction of an empire, but the victory of the forces +of barbarism. But he also saw, what very few others at the moment +could see, that, if he was to win, he must carry his people with +him, step by step. So when he had rallied them to the defense of +the Union, and checked the spread of secession in the border +States, in the autumn of 1862 he announced that he would issue a +proclamation freeing the slaves. The extremists had doubted him +in the beginning, the con servative and the timid doubted him +now, but when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, on +January 1, 1863, it was found that the people were with him in +that, as they had been with him when he staked everything upon +the maintenance of the Union. The war went on to victory, and in +1864 the people showed at the polls that they were with the +President, and reelected him by overwhelming majorities. +Victories in the field went hand in hand with success at the +ballot-box, and, in the spring of 1865, all was over. On April 9, +1865, Lee surrendered at Appomattox, and five days later, on +April 14, a miserable assassin crept into the box at the theater +where the President was listening to a play, and shot him. The +blow to the country was terrible beyond words, for then men saw, +in one bright flash, how great a man had fallen. + +Lincoln died a martyr to the cause to which he had given his +life, and both life and death were heroic. The qualities which +enabled him to do his great work are very clear now to all men. +His courage and his wisdom, his keen perception and his almost +prophetic foresight, enabled him to deal with all the problems of +that distracted time as they arose around him. But he had some +qualities, apart from those of the intellect, which were of equal +importance to his people and to the work he had to do. His +character, at once strong and gentle, gave confidence to every +one, and dignity to his cause. He had an infinite patience, and a +humor that enabled him to turn aside many difficulties which +could have been met in no other way. But most important of all +was the fact that he personified a great sentiment, which +ennobled and uplifted his people, and made them capable of the +patriotism which fought the war and saved the Union. He carried +his people with him, because he knew instinctively, how they felt +and what they wanted. He embodied, in his own person, all their +highest ideals, and he never erred in his judgment. + +He is not only a great and commanding figure among the great +statesmen and leaders of history, but he personifies, also, all +the sadness and the pathos of the war, as well as its triumphs +and its glories. No words that any one can use about Lincoln can, +however, do him such justice as his own, and I will close this +volume with two of Lincoln's speeches, which show what the war +and all the great deeds of that time meant to him, and through +which shines, the great soul of the man himself. On November 19, +1863, he spoke as follows at the dedication of the National +cemetery on the battle-field of Gettysburg: + +Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this +continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to +the proposition that all men are created equal. + +Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that +nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long +endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have +come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place +for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. +It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. + +But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate--we cannot +consecrate--we cannot hallow--this ground. The brave men, living +and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our +poor power to add or detract. The world will little note or long +remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did +here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to +the unfinished work which they who have fought here, have thus +far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated +to the great task remaining before us--that from the honored dead +we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the +last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that +these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under +God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of +the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from +the earth. + + +On March 4, 1865, when he was inaugurated the second time, he +made the following address: + +Fellow-Countrymen: At this second appearing to take the oath of +presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended +address than there was at the first. Then a statement, somewhat +in detail, of a course to be pursued, seemed proper. Now, at the +expiration of four years, during which public declarations have +been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the +great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the +energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. +The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is +as well known to the public as to myself; and it is, I trust, +reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope +for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured. + +On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all +thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All +dreaded it--all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address +was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving +the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking +to destroy it without war--seeking to dissolve the Union, and +divide effects, by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war; but +one of them would make war rather than let it perish. And the war +came. + +One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not +distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the +southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and +powerful interest. All knew that this interest was, somehow, the +cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this +interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the +Union, even by war; while the government claimed no right to do +more than to restrict the Territorial enlargement of it. Neither +party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it +has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the +conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself +should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result +less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and +pray to the same God; and each invokes his aid against the other. +It may seem strange that any man should dare to ask a just God's +assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's +faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers +of both could not be answeredthat of neither has been answered +fully. + +The Almighty has his own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of +offenses, for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to +that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that +American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the +providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued +through his appointed time, he now wills to remove, and that he +gives to both North and South this terrible war, as the woe due +to those by whom the offenses come, shall we discern therein any +departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a +living God always ascribe to him? Fondly do we hope-fervently do +we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. +Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by +the bondman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil +shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash +shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three +thousand years ago, so still it must be said, "The judgments of +the Lord are true and righteous altogether." + +With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in +the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to +finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to +care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, +and his orphan-to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, a +lasting, peace among ourselves and with all nations. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg of Etext Hero Tales From American History + diff --git a/old/htfah10.zip b/old/htfah10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f7f0b19 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/htfah10.zip |