PRIVATE EDWIN TENNISON,
KILLED IN ACTION AT MALVERN HILL,
JULY 1, 1862.
DURING THE CIVIL WAR,
PHOTOGRAPHERS FOLLOWED THE ARMIES EVERYWHERE
TO MAKE PROUD PORTRAITS FOR THE BOYS TO SEND HOME
AND TO CAPTURE AS MUCH OF THE ACTION
AS CUMBERSOME EQUIPMENT
AND SLOW SHUTTER SPEEDS ALLOWED.
NEAR THE BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS, VIRGINIA,
CAPTAIN GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER
PAUSED TO HAVE HIS PICTURE TAKEN
WITH J.B. WASHINGTON,
CLOSE FRIEND AND CLASSMATE FROM WEST POINT--
AND NOW A CONFEDERATE LIEUTENANT
WHO HAD JUST THAT MORNING
BEEN CAPTURED BY FEDERAL PICKETS.
AS 1862 DRAGGED ON,
AND MUCH OF THE COUNTRY WAS CHANGING WITH IT.
BY 1862, MORE THAN A MILLION FARM WORKERS
HAD ENLISTED IN THE UNION ARMY,
AND TRAVELERS IN THE MIDWEST
SAW MORE WOMEN AT WORK IN THE FIELDS THAN MEN.
THE YEAR, WHICH HAD BEGUN SO PROMISINGLY FOR THE NORTH,
HAD NOW GONE AWRY.
U.S. GRANT'S TRIUMPHS AT DONELSON AND SHILOH
WERE BEING OVERSHADOWED BY DISASTERS IN THE EAST.
IN VIRGINIA, UNION GENERAL GEORGE McCLELLAN'S ARMY
SAT OUTSIDE RICHMOND,
ITS COMMANDER IN POSSESSION OF VASTLY GREATER FORCES,
BUT WITHOUT THE WILL TO FIGHT.
MEANWHILE, THE CONFEDERACY WAS BEGINNING TO APPRECIATE
THE BRILLIANCE OF A NEW COMMANDER,
ROBERT E. LEE,
WHO WOULD SOON ESTABLISH A REPUTATION
AS ONE OF THE GREATEST MILITARY LEADERS OF ALL TIME.
AND THERE WAS STILL MORE TROUBLE FOR THE UNION.
AT BLACKBURN, ENGLAND,
A PUBLIC MEETING DECLARED THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE
FOR THE NORTH TO VANQUISH THE SOUTH
AND CALLED FOR A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT OF THE WAR.
WITH EUROPE POISED TO RECOGNIZE THE CONFEDERACY,
THE UNTHINKABLE LOOKED INCREASINGLY LIKELY--
THE UNION WAS GOING TO LOSE THE WAR.
"WE MUST CHANGE OUR TACTICS OR LOSE THE GAME,"
ABRAHAM LINCOLN WROTE IN 1862.
TO LINCOLN, IT WAS CLEAR NOW
THAT IT WAS NO LONGER POSSIBLE
TO RESTORE THE OLD UNION.
A NEW ONE HAD TO BE EMBRACED.
BY SUMMER, HE KNEW WHAT TACTIC WAS NEEDED
TO WIN THE WAR-- EMANCIPATION--
BUT DOUBTED WHETHER HE WOULD EVER HAVE
THE POLITICAL OR MILITARY OPPORTUNITY TO USE IT.
"I FIND IT HARD TO MAINTAIN MY LIVELY FAITH
IN THE TRIUMPH OF THE NATION AND THE LAW,"
NEW YORK LAWYER GEORGE TEMPLETON STRONG
"THESE ARE THE DARKEST DAYS WE HAVE SEEN SINCE BULL RUN."
WHAT NO ONE KNEW WAS THAT THE YEAR
WOULD SOON SEE THE BLOODIEST DAY OF THE WAR
AND THEN THE BRIGHTEST.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY UGLY, FILTHY WAR
WITH NO REDEEMING CHARACTERISTICS AT ALL...
AND IT WAS THE BATTLE FOR EMANCIPATION
AND THE PEOPLE WHO PUSHED IT FORWARD--
THE SLAVES, THE FREE BLACK PEOPLE, THE ABOLITIONISTS,
AND A LOT OF ORDINARY CITIZENS--
IT WAS THEY WHO ENNOBLED
WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN MEANINGLESS CARNAGE
INTO SOMETHING HIGHER.
OUTSIDE RICHMOND,
GEORGE McCLELLAN CONTINUED TO CALL ANXIOUSLY
FOR MORE TROOPS,
THOUGH HIS 110,000-MAN FORCE
ALREADY GREATLY OUTNUMBERED JOSEPH JOHNSTON'S ARMY.
MEANWHILE, WEST OF THE BLUE RIDGE
IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY,
GENERAL THOMAS J. JACKSON
WAS KEEPING THREE FEDERAL ARMIES BUSY.
"ALWAYS MYSTIFY, MISLEAD, AND SURPRISE THE ENEMY.
"AND WHEN YOU STRIKE AND OVERCOME HIM,
"NEVER LET UP IN THE PURSUIT.
"NEVER FIGHT AGAINST HEAVY ODDS
"IF YOU CAN HURL YOUR FORCE
"ON ONLY A PART OF YOUR ENEMY AND CRUSH IT.
"A SMALL ARMY MAY THUS DESTROY A LARGE ONE,
AND REPEATED VICTORY WILL MAKE IT INVINCIBLE."
GENERAL T.J. JACKSON.
HE WAS A TRUE ECCENTRIC.
HE BELIEVED THAT IF HE HAD PEPPER IN HIS FOOD,
IT WOULD MAKE HIS LEFT LEG ACHE.
HE WOULD NEVER MAIL A LETTER
THAT WOULD BE IN TRANSIT ON A SUNDAY.
HE WAS A STRICT OBSERVER OF THE SABBATH.
YET SO MANY OF HIS BATTLES WERE FOUGHT ON SUNDAYS
THAT SOLDIERS BELIEVED HE FOUGHT ON SUNDAY
BECAUSE THE LORD WOULD BE EVEN MORE WITH HIM.
JACKSON WAS A PIOUS, BLUE-EYED KILLER,
UTTERLY UNTROUBLED BY THE LIKELIHOOD OF DEATH.
IT WAS A MAN'S "ENTIRE DUTY," HE SAID,
"TO PRAY AND FIGHT."
"HE WOULD HAVE A MAN SHOT AT THE DROP OF A HAT,
AND HE'D DROP IT HIMSELF."
SAM WATKINS.
HE HAD A STRANGE QUALITY OF OVERLOOKING SUFFERING.
DURING ONE OF THE BATTLES, HE HAD A YOUNG COURIER.
JACKSON LOOKED AROUND FOR HIM,
AND HE WASN'T THERE.
HE SAID, "WHERE IS LIEUTENANT SO-AND-SO?"
THEY SAID, "HE WAS KILLED."
JACKSON SAID, "VERY COMMENDABLE,"
AND THEN PUT HIM OUT OF HIS MIND.
"ALL OLD JACKSON GAVE US
"WAS A MUSKET, 100 ROUNDS, AND A GUM BLANKET,
AND HE DROVE US LIKE HELL."
HIS MEN DID NOT LOVE HIM.
HE WAS TOO GRIM, TOO REMOTE, AND HE DEMANDED TOO MUCH.
SOME THOUGHT HIM MAD.
HE BELIEVED THAT KEEPING ONE HAND IN THE AIR
COULD STOP HIM FROM GOING OUT OF BALANCE.
HE SUCKED CONSTANTLY ON LEMONS,
EVEN IN THE MIDST OF BATTLE.
OTHERS WORRIED THAT HIS RELIGIOUS FERVOR
THE CHARACTER OF THE WAR WAS CHANGING,
WOULD CLOUD HIS JUDGMENT.
HIS COMMAND, JACKSON SAID,
WAS "AN ARMY OF THE LIVING GOD,
AS WELL AS OF ITS COUNTRY."
BUT HIS MEN WERE WILLING TO ENDURE
THE 36-MILE-A-DAY MARCHES HE DEMANDED
BECAUSE HE BROUGHT THEM VICTORIES.
IT WAS JACKSON'S DUTY IN THE SHENANDOAH
TO UNSETTLE THE UNION
AND KEEP WASHINGTON FROM REINFORCING McCLELLAN.
OPERATING IN THE MIDST OF THREE FEDERAL ARMIES,
EACH WITH MORE MEN THAN HIS OWN FORCE OF 17,000,
JACKSON LASHED OUT AT ONE ARMY AND THEN ANOTHER.
ARMED WITH A DETAILED MAP THAT STRETCHED 8 1/2 FEET,
HE SURPRISED THEM EVERY TIME--
AT WINCHESTER,
FRONT ROYAL,
CROSS KEYS,
PORT REPUBLIC,
AND A HALF DOZEN OTHER PLACES.
AFTER ROUTING NATHANIEL BANKS' ARMY
AT THE BATTLE OF WINCHESTER,
JACKSON CHASED IT TO THE POTOMAC.
"STOP, MEN!" BANKS SHOUTED TO HIS RETREATING TROOPS.
"DON'T YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY?"
"YES, BY GOD," SAID ONE,
"AND I'M TRYING TO GET BACK TO IT
JUST AS FAST AS I CAN."
JACKSON'S VALLEY CAMPAIGN WAS A TRIUMPH.
IN JUST OVER A MONTH,
HIS MEN MARCHED ALMOST 400 MILES,
INFLICTED 7,000 CASUALTIES,
SEIZED HUGE QUANTITIES OF BADLY NEEDED SUPPLIES,
AND KEPT ALMOST 40,000 FEDERAL TROOPS
OFF THE PENINSULA.
"HE WHO DOES NOT SEE THE HAND OF GOD IN THIS
IS BLIND, SIR, BLIND."
"THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT JEFFERSON DAVIS
"AND OTHER LEADERS OF THE SOUTH
"HAVE MADE AN ARMY.
"THEY ARE MAKING, IT APPEARS, A NAVY,
"AND THEY HAVE MADE WHAT IS MORE THAN EITHER.
"THEY HAVE MADE A NATION.
"WE MAY ANTICIPATE WITH CERTAINTY
THE SUCCESS OF THE SOUTHERN STATES."
WILLIAM E. GLADSTONE.
CONFEDERATE GOSPEL HELD THAT BRITAIN AND FRANCE
COULD NOT SURVIVE WITHOUT SOUTHERN COTTON.
BEFORE LONG, ONE OR BOTH WOULD SURELY INTERVENE
ON BEHALF OF THE CONFEDERACY
TO END THE UNION BLOCKADE.
TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON EUROPE,
THE CONFEDERATES CUT COTTON PRODUCTION 9O%.
2.5 MILLION BALES WERE BURNED
OR LEFT TO ROT ON CONFEDERATE WHARVES
TO KEEP IT OUT OF ENGLISH HANDS.
NOW, IN ADDITION TO DIRECTING A WAR AT HOME,
LINCOLN HAD TO FIND A WAY TO KEEP EUROPE
FROM COMING IN ON THE SIDE OF THE SOUTH.
AND INCREASINGLY, IN THE NORTH,
THERE WAS PRESSURE FOR EMANCIPATION,
AND IT CAME FROM UNLIKELY PEOPLE
IN UNLIKELY PLACES.
ON MAY 1, 1862,
LINCOLN NAMED GENERAL BENJAMIN F. BUTLER
MILITARY GOVERNOR OF OCCUPIED NEW ORLEANS.
BUTLER WENT RIGHT TO WORK.
HE HANGED A MAN
SUSPECTED OF HAVING DESECRATED THE AMERICAN FLAG.
HE CLOSED A SECESSIONIST NEWSPAPER,
CONFISCATED THE PROPERTY
OF CITIZENS WHO REFUSED TO SWEAR ALLEGIANCE
TO THE UNION,
AND WAS GIVEN THE SCORNFUL NICKNAME "SPOONS"
FOR ALLEGEDLY POCKETING SILVERWARE.
NEW ORLEANS WOMEN ROUTINELY INSULTED HIS TROOPS.
WHEN A WOMAN IN THE FRENCH QUARTER
DUMPED HER CHAMBER POT
ON THE HEAD OF ADMIRAL FARRAGUT,
BUTLER ISSUED GENERAL ORDER NUMBER 28.
"AS THE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE UNITED STATES
"HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO REPEATED INSULTS
"FROM THE WOMEN CALLING THEMSELVES LADIES OF NEW ORLEANS,
"IT IS ORDERED THAT, HEREAFTER,
"WHEN ANY FEMALE SHALL,
"BY WORD, GESTURE, OR MOVEMENT,
"INSULT OR SHOW CONTEMPT
"FOR ANY OFFICER OR SOLDIER OF THE UNITED STATES,
"SHE SHALL BE REGARDED AND HELD LIABLE
"TO BE TREATED AS A WOMAN OF THE TOWN,
PLYING HER AVOCATION."
GENERAL BENJAMIN BUTLER.
SOUTHERNERS WERE OUTRAGED
AND CALLED BUTLER "THE BEAST."
A NEW ORLEANS ENTREPRENEUR SOLD CHAMBER POTS
FEATURING BUTLER'S PORTRAIT INSIDE THE BOWL.
IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA,
A PRIVATE CITIZEN OFFERED A $10,000 REWARD
FOR THE CAPTURE OF "BEAST" BEN BUTLER--
DEAD OR ALIVE.
BUT THE HARASSMENT OF HIS MEN STOPPED.
WITH THE UNION ARMY SO NEAR,
UNREST ON LOUISIANA PLANTATIONS INCREASED.
WHEN DESPERATE SLAVE OWNERS
BEGAN COMPLAINING OF REBELLIOUS BLACKS,
BUTLER DECLARED THE PLANTERS DISLOYAL TO THE UNION,
THEN TOOK AWAY THEIR SLAVES.
"GO TO THE YANKEES,"
ONE SLAVE-HOLDER TOLD HIS SLAVES.
"THEY ARE KINGS HERE NOW."
"I HAVE BEEN READING SO MUCH ABOUT THE YANKEES,
"I WAS VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE THEM.
"THE WHITES WOULD TELL THEIR COLORED PEOPLE
"NOT TO GO TO THE YANKEES,
"FOR THEY WOULD HARNESS THEM TO CARTS IN PLACE OF HORSES.
"I ASKED GRANDMOTHER ONE DAY IF THIS WAS TRUE.
"SHE REPLIED, CERTAINLY NOT,
"THAT THE WHITE PEOPLE
"DID NOT WANT SLAVES TO GO OVER TO THE YANKEES
"AND TOLD THEM THESE THINGS TO FRIGHTEN THEM.
"I WANTED TO SEE THOSE WONDERFUL YANKEES SO MUCH,
"AS I HEARD MY PARENTS SAY
THAT THE YANKEES WAS GOING TO SET ALL THE SLAVES FREE."
SUSAN KING TAYLOR.
THE SLAVES UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT WAR WAS ABOUT SLAVERY
BEFORE IT WAS A WAR.
THEY MADE A NUISANCE FOR THE ARMY
AND AN ISSUE THE ARMY HAD TO DEAL WITH.
IF THE ARMY HAD TO DEAL WITH IT,
THE WAR DEPARTMENT HAD TO DEAL WITH IT.
CONGRESS HAD TO DEAL WITH IT.
EVERY FUGITIVE SLAVE WHO MADE A NUISANCE OF HIMSELF
TO THE LOCAL COMMANDER
EVENTUALLY MADE A FIGURE OF HIMSELF
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
CONGRESS, CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS,
NOW FORBADE THE ARMY
TO RETURN SLAVES TO THEIR MASTERS.
IT OUTLAWED SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES,
FINALLY REVERSING THE OLD DRED SCOTT DECISION.
"ONLY THE DAMNEDEST OF DAMNED ABOLITIONISTS
"DREAMED OF SUCH THINGS A YEAR AGO.
"JOHN BROWN'S SOUL IS MARCHING ON,
WITH THE PEOPLE AFTER IT."
GEORGE TEMPLETON STRONG.
"THE SLAVERY QUESTION PERPLEXES THE PRESIDENT
"ALMOST AS MUCH AS EVER,
"AND YET I THINK HE IS ABOUT TO EMERGE
"FROM THE OBSCURITIES
"WHERE HE HAS BEEN GROPING
"INTO SOMEWHAT CLEARER LIGHT.
SO, YOU SEE, THE MAN MOVES."
"JULY 4, 1862.
"I WOULD DO IT
"IF I WERE NOT AFRAID
"THAT HALF THE OFFICERS WOULD FLING DOWN THEIR ARMS
AND THREE MORE STATES WOULD RISE."
LINCOLN CONTINUED TO BACK A PLAN
TO PAY $400 FOR EVERY SLAVE FREED
AND THEN ENCOURAGE THE FREED MEN
TO SAIL OFF TO A COLONY IN AFRICA OR CENTRAL AMERICA.
THE ABOLITIONIST WENDELL PHILLIPS
CALLED ABRAHAM LINCOLN
A FIRST-RATE SECOND-RATE MAN.
I LOSE PATIENCE WITH THE ARGUMENT
THAT BECAUSE OF SOMEONE'S TIME,
HIS LIMITATIONS ARE THEREFORE EXCUSABLE OR EVEN PRAISEWORTHY.
IT IS NOT TRUE THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE
IN THAT TIME AND PLACE
TO LOOK ANY HIGHER.
THINK OF WENDELL PHILLIPS, WHO,
COMMENTING ON ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S PROPOSAL
TO COLONIZE BLACK PEOPLE OUT OF THE COUNTRY,
WAS SARCASTIC.
HE SAID, "COLONIZE THE BLACKS?
"A MAN MIGHT AS WELL COLONIZE HIS OWN HANDS.
"OR WHEN THE ROBBER IS IN HIS HOUSE,
HE MIGHT AS WELL COLONIZE HIS REVOLVER."
"EMANCIPATION IS THE DEMAND OF CIVILIZATION.
"THAT IS A PRINCIPLE.
ALL ELSE IS INTRIGUE."
RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
ON THE VIRGINIA PENINSULA, THE RAINS CAME,
INUNDATING THE BOTTOMLANDS.
ALONG THE ROADS OUTSIDE RICHMOND,
GEORGE McCLELLAN'S FORCE WAS DIVIDED IN TWO
BY THE FLOODED CHICKAHOMINY RIVER.
THE REBELS SAW THEIR CHANCE
AND ATTACKED THE SMALLER FORCE ON MAY 31st.
IN THE FIERCE FIGHTING THAT FOLLOWED,
THE CONFEDERATES DID BEST
NEAR A CROSSROADS CALLED SEVEN PINES.
THE UNION SOLDIERS
WERE MOST SUCCESSFUL AT FAIR OAKS.
WHEN THE BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS WAS OVER,
THE NORTH HAD LOST 5,000 MEN,
THE SOUTH, 6,000,
AND IT HADN'T CHANGED A THING.
JOSEPH JOHNSTON,
THE OVERALL CONFEDERATE COMMANDER,
WAS HIMSELF SEVERELY WOUNDED
AND CARRIED FROM THE FIELD.
"THE SHOT THAT STRUCK ME DOWN
"WAS THE BEST EVER FIRED FOR THE CONFEDERACY,
"FOR I POSSESSED IN NO DEGREE
"THE CONFIDENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT,
"AND NOW A MAN WHO DOES ENJOY IT WILL SUCCEED ME
AND ACCOMPLISH WHAT I NEVER COULD."
"HIS NAME MIGHT BE AUDACITY.
"HE WILL TAKE MORE CHANCES,
"AND TAKE THEM QUICKER,
"THAN ANY OTHER GENERAL IN THIS COUNTRY,
NORTH OR SOUTH."
NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE WAR,
ROBERT E. LEE WAS PLACED
AT THE HEAD OF A MAJOR ARMY.
"I PREFER LEE TO JOHNSTON.
"LEE IS TOO CAUTIOUS
"AND WEAK UNDER GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY.
"PERSONALLY BRAVE AND ENERGETIC TO A FAULT,
"HE IS YET WANTING IN MORAL FIRMNESS
WHEN PRESSED BY HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY."
GEORGE McCLELLAN.
McCLELLAN COMPLETELY MISJUDGED
THE NEW CONFEDERATE COMMANDER.
ROBERT E. LEE WAS A FIGHTER.
WANTING TO GET AT THE UNION MEN
WHO HAD DARED INVADE HIS STATE,
LEE RENAMED HIS FORCE THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
SEIZED THE INITIATIVE, AND NEVER LET IT GO.
FIRST, LEE SENT HIS CAVALRY CHIEF, JEB STUART,
TO RECONNOITER McCLELLAN'S FORCES.
STUART NOW LED 1,200 TROOPERS
ON A POUNDING THREE-DAY, 150-MILE RIDE
AROUND McCLELLAN'S HUGE ARMY.
HIS MEN BURNED FEDERAL CAMPS,
CUT DOWN TELEGRAPH POLES,
TOOK PRISONERS AND HORSES AND MULES,
AND SLOWED ONLY TO ACCEPT BOUQUETS AND KISSES
FROM WOMEN ALONG THE WAY.
IN VAIN PURSUIT
WAS STUART'S OWN FATHER-IN-LAW,
WHO HAD STAYED LOYAL TO THE UNION
AND BECOME A GENERAL--
A DECISION STUART SAID HE WOULD "REGRET BUT ONCE,
AND THAT WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY."
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CAMPAIGN,
LEE CAREFULLY OBSERVED
McCLELLAN'S TENTATIVE ADVANCE UP THE PENINSULA.
AS McCLELLAN WAS PREPARING AT LAST
TO LAY SIEGE TO RICHMOND,
LEE SURPRISED HIM FIRST,
AT MECHANICSVILLE ON JUNE 26th.
IT WAS A DARING MOVE.
DEFYING ALL MILITARY CONVENTION,
LEE DIVIDED HIS TINY FORCE
AND THEN ATTACKED THE HUGE UNION ARMY,
GAMBLING THAT McCLELLAN WOULD BE TOO CAUTIOUS
TO MOVE INTO RICHMOND.
LEE'S ASSAULT DIDN'T WORK.
HE LOST 1,500 MEN AT MECHANICSVILLE,
BUT HE WOULD NOT LET UP.
DETERMINED TO DRIVE McCLELLAN OUT OF VIRGINIA,
LEE KEPT ON THE ATTACK.
AND SO IT WENT.
FOR SEVEN DAYS, THE TWO ARMIES CLASHED.
FROM GAINE'S MILL...
FROM SAVAGE'S STATION...
TO FRAYSER'S FARM...
AND MALVERN HILL,
WHERE FEDERAL GUNNERS STOPPED THE CONFEDERATES
WHO CAME AT THEM UP THE LONG SLOPE.
"OUR EARS HAD BEEN FILLED ALL NIGHT
"WITH AGONIZING CRIES BEFORE THE FOG WAS LIFTED.
"BUT NOW OUR EYES SAW
"THAT 5,000 DEAD OR WOUNDED MEN
"WERE ON THE GROUND.
"A THIRD OF THEM WERE DEAD OR DYING,
"BUT ENOUGH OF THEM WERE ALIVE AND MOVING
TO GIVE THE FIELD A SINGULAR CRAWLING EFFECT."
"EACH OF THE BATTLES OF THOSE SEVEN DAYS
"BROUGHT A HARVEST OF WOUNDED
"TO OUR HOSPITAL.
"I USED TO VEIL MYSELF CLOSELY
"AS I WALKED TO AND FROM MY HOTEL,
"THAT I MIGHT SHUT OUT
"THE DREADFUL SIGHTS.
"ONCE I DID SEE ONE OF THOSE DREADFUL WAGONS.
"IN IT, A STIFF ARM WAS RAISED,
"AND IT SHOOK AS IT WAS DRIVEN DOWN THE STREET,
"AS THOUGH THE DEAD OWNER
APPEALED TO HEAVEN FOR VENGEANCE."
ALL BUT ONE OF THE BATTLES OF THE SEVEN DAYS
WERE UNION VICTORIES,
YET McCLELLAN TREATED THEM AS DEFEATS,
CONTINUING TO BACK DOWN
UNTIL HE REACHED THE SAFETY OF FEDERAL GUNBOATS
AT HARRISON'S LANDING ON THE JAMES RIVER.
UNION OFFICERS URGED A COUNTERATTACK.
LEE HAD LOST 20,000 MEN.
McCLELLAN REFUSED.
ONE OFFICER SUGGESTED
HIS COMMANDER WAS MOTIVATED
EITHER BY "COWARDICE OR TREASON."
IN JUST ONE WEEK,
LEE HAD COMPLETELY UNNERVED THE UNION GENERAL
AND DEMONSTRATED FOR THE FIRST TIME
THE STRENGTHS THAT WOULD MAKE HIM A LEGEND--
SURPRISE, AUDACITY,
AND AN EERIE ABILITY TO READ HIS OPPONENT'S MIND.
IN JUST SEVEN DAYS,
McCLELLAN HAD BEEN TOTALLY OUT-GENERALED.
"I AM TIRED OF THE SICKENING SIGHT OF THE BATTLEFIELD,
"WITH ITS MANGLED CORPSES AND POOR SUFFERING WOUNDED.
"VICTORY HAS NO CHARMS FOR ME
WHEN PURCHASED AT SUCH COST."
ON JULY 7th,
AN EXASPERATED LINCOLN SAILED DOWN TO SEE
HIS COMMANDING GENERAL.
HE HAD NOT LOST, McCLELLAN INSISTED.
HE HAD MERELY FAILED TO WIN.
HE NEEDED 50,000 MORE MEN, OR PERHAPS 100,000.
NO SUCH NUMBERS WERE AVAILABLE,
LINCOLN TOLD HIM.
IF McCLELLAN DID NOT FEEL
HE COULD RESUME THE OFFENSIVE,
HIS MEN WOULD BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE PENINSULA.
"IF I GAVE McCLELLAN THE MEN HE ASKS FOR,
"THEY COULDN'T FIND ROOM TO LIE DOWN.
"THEY'D HAVE TO SLEEP STANDING UP.
"SENDING MEN TO THAT ARMY
"IS LIKE SHOVELING FLEAS ACROSS A BARNYARD--
NOT HALF OF THEM GET THERE."
"SEPTEMBER 3.
"TODAY WE TOOK A STEAMER
AND WENT UP THE POTOMAC AND LANDED AT GEORGETOWN.
"IT IS HARD TO HAVE REACHED
"THE POINT WE STARTED FROM LAST MARCH,
AND RICHMOND IS STILL THE REBEL CAPITAL."
ELISHA HUNT RHODES.
UNION GUNS BATTERED FORT PULASKI, GEORGIA,
INTO SURRENDERING
AND CHOKED OFF THE SAVANNAH RIVER
TO SOUTHERN SHIPS.
THERE WAS FIGHTING
AT FOYT'S PLANTATION, NORTH CAROLINA,
ST. ANDREW'S BAY, FLORIDA,
WARTRACE, TENNESSEE,
AND AT ALBUQUERQUE IN FAR-OFF NEW MEXICO TERRITORY.
"SEA ISLANDS, GEORGIA.
"HERE I AM, SURROUNDED BY TROOPERS,
"MISSIONARIES, CONTRABANDS,
"COTTON FIELDS, AND SERPENTS,
"IN A SUMMER CLIMATE,
"DISGUSTED WITH ALL THINGS MILITARY
"AND FIGHTING OFF MALARIA
"WITH WHISKEY AND TOBACCO.
"NO MAN SEEMS TO REALIZE THAT IN THIS ISLAND,
"ALL AROUND US, HAS BEGUN THE SOLUTION
"OF THE TREMENDOUS NIGGER QUESTION.
"SOME 10,000 FORMER SLAVES
"ARE THROWN UPON THE HANDS
"OF THE UNFORTUNATE GOVERNMENT.
"THEY ARE THE FORERUNNERS
OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE."
LIEUTENANT CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
STATIONED IN PLACES
LIKE HILTON HEAD AND BEAUFORT,
NEW ENGLANDERS FIRST TASTED THE TROPICS.
NONE OF THE 2nd MASSACHUSETTS
HAD EVER SEEN A PALM TREE BEFORE.
WHEN UNION FORCES TOOK PARTS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST,
PLANTATION OWNERS FLED,
LEAVING BEHIND EMPTY HOUSES AND 10,000 SLAVES.
MISSIONARIES, TEACHERS, AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS
SOON ARRIVED TO HELP THE NEWLY-LIBERATED.
"WE HAVE COME TO DO ANTISLAVERY WORK,"
ONE TEACHER WROTE.
"WE THINK IT NOBLE WORK,
AND WE WILL DO IT NOBLY."
"MY DEAR WIFE,
"THIS DAY I CAN ADDRESS YOU,
"THANK GOD, AS A FREE MAN.
"I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE GETTING AWAY,
"BUT AS THE LORD LED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TO THE LAND OF CANAAN,
"SO HE LED ME TO A LAND WHERE FREEDOM WILL REIGN
"IN SPITE OF EARTH AND HELL.
"MY DEAR, I TRUST THE TIME WILL COME
"WHEN WE WILL MEET AGAIN.
"AND IF WE DON'T MEET ON EARTH,
"WE WILL MEET IN HEAVEN, WHERE JESUS REIGNS.
"DEAR WIFE, I MUST CLOSE.
"REST YOURSELF CONTENTED. I AM FREE.
"YOUR AFFECTIONATE HUSBAND.
KISS DANIEL FOR ME."
JOHN BOSTON.
AT DEER ISLE, MAINE,
PEOPLE WERE AFRAID TO GO TO THE POST OFFICE,
WHERE THE CASUALTY LISTS WERE POSTED.
"NEW BERNE, NORTH CAROLINA.
"MARCH 20, 1862.
"TO MR. JOHN WEBSTER, JR.,
"DEER ISLE, MAINE.
"DEAR SIR...
"IT IS WITH PAIN
"THAT I HAVE TO ANNOUNCE TO YOU
"THE DEATH OF YOUR BROTHER, CHARLES GRAY.
"BY HIS GOOD CONDUCT
"AND BRAVERY WHILE WITH ME,
"HE HAD RISEN TO THE RANK OF CORPORAL,
"AND HAD HE LIVED,
"I SHOULD HAVE PROMOTED HIM AGAIN.
"HE WAS SHOT AT THE BATTLE OF NEW BERNE.
"HIS LAST WORDS WERE, WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP.
"HE IS BURIED HERE.
"AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.
"YOURS TRULY, E.A.P. BREWSTER,
23rd MASSACHUSETTS."
DEER ISLE HAD LOST ITS FIRST SOLDIER.
A PARCEL CONTAINING CHARLES GRAY'S PERSONAL EFFECTS
ARRIVED IN THE MAIL--
SHALL SEND HOME
HIS HAT, PROMOTION PAPERS ATTESTING TO HIS VALOR,
AND A CARTRIDGE BOX
IN WHICH SOMEONE HAD PLACED
THE MANGLED BULLET THAT KILLED HIM.
HIS MOTHER REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT.
THE MEN OF THE REDUCED FISHING FLEET
STRUGGLED TO HARVEST A CATCH.
WIVES TENDED KITCHEN GARDENS
AND SCRAPED LINEN FOR THE LINT
FROM WHICH BANDAGES WERE MADE.
MORE BAD NEWS ARRIVED.
PRIVATE ALEX HENDERSON HAD DIED OF DISEASE
AT FORT JACKSON, LOUISIANA,
LEAVING A WIDOW AND SEVERAL CHILDREN.
AT CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE,
TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TOWN
AND THE OCCUPYING UNION ARMY RAN HIGH.
FEDERAL TROOPS VANDALIZED STEWART COLLEGE,
WRECKING LABORATORIES AND STEALING BOOKS,
THEN SET UP HEADQUARTERS THERE.
SOLDIERS BURST IN ON A CHURCH SERVICE,
ARRESTED THE PREACHER, COMMANDEERED HORSES,
AND FORCED RELUCTANT PARISHIONERS
TO TAKE A LOYALTY OATH.
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THE RESIDENTS STAYED AT HOME.
IF A NORTHERNER ASKED A SOUTHERNER, "WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING?"
HE WOULD SAY, "'CAUSE YOU'RE DOWN HERE."
HE WAS BEING INVADED,
AND HE FOUGHT TO DEFEND HIS HOME.
LINCOLN HAD A MORE DIFFICULT JOB
OF SENDING MEN OUT
TO SHOOT UP SOMEBODY ELSE'S HOME.
HE HAD TO UNITE THEM BEFORE HE COULD DO THAT.
HIS WAY OF DOING IT WAS DOUBLE.
ONE WAS TO SAY THAT THE REPUBLIC MUST BE PRESERVED,
NOT SPLIT IN TWO.
THE OTHER ONE HE GAVE THEM AS A CAUSE--
THE FREEING OF THE SLAVES.
ON THE MORNING OF JULY 22, 1862,
THE PRESIDENT CALLED A CABINET MEETING.
WHAT HE SAID TOOK EVERYONE BY SURPRISE.
AFTER LONG THOUGHT, HE TOLD THEM,
HE HAD DECIDED TO EMANCIPATE THE SLAVES.
IT WAS A STUNNING MOMENT.
IT WAS AGAINST EVERYTHING
LINCOLN HAD PROMISED THE REPUBLICANS
AND INDEED THE COUNTRY--
THAT HE WOULD NOT BECOME AN ABOLITIONIST,
HE WOULD NOT STRIKE AT SLAVERY WHERE IT EXISTED.
HERE, SUDDENLY, HE WAS CHANGING
THE CHARACTER OF THE WAR.
BUT SECRETARY OF STATE SEWARD WORRIED
THAT UNTIL THE ARMY HAD WON A REAL VICTORY,
EMANCIPATION WOULD SEEM LIKE
THE LAST SHRIEK ON THE RETREAT.
LINCOLN AGREED TO WAIT FOR A VICTORY.
IT'S HARD TO SEPARATE ONE ISSUE FROM ANOTHER.
OBVIOUSLY, LINCOLN HAD TO WIN THE WAR.
HE HAD TO KEEP HIS RESPECTABILITY
AS PRESIDENT OF A COUNTRY
THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW ITSELF TO BE DEFEATED
BY A GROUP OF REBELS.
THAT WAS ALWAYS AN ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN 1862.
HE COULD NOT LET HIMSELF BE MADE A FOOL
AND THE UNION BE MADE A FOOL
BY STANDING UP FOR PRINCIPLES
THAT COULD NOT BE VINDICATED ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
â™ª I HAVE READ A FIERY GOSPEL â™ª
â™ª WRIT IN BURNISHED ROWS OF STEEL â™ª
â™ª AS YE DEAL WITH MY CONTEMNERS â™ª
â™ª SO WITH YOU MY GRACE SHALL DEAL â™ª
â™ª LET THE HERO BORN OF WOMAN â™ª
â™ª CRUSH THE SERPENT WITH HIS HEEL â™ª
â™ª SINCE GOD IS MARCHING ON â™ª
DESPERATE FOR A VICTORY, LINCOLN REMOVED McCLELLAN
POPE SO OFTEN BRAGGED
THAT HIS HEADQUARTERS WERE IN THE SADDLE,
PEOPLE BEGAN TO SAY HE HAD HIS HEADQUARTERS
AND PUT TALL, BOMBASTIC JOHN POPE IN COMMAND.
WHERE HIS HINDQUARTERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
LINCOLN WAS WARNED AT THE START
THAT POPE COULDN'T BE TRUSTED WITH TELLING THE TRUTH.
LINCOLN SAID, "I'VE KNOWN THE POPES BACK IN ILLINOIS.
"THEY'RE ALL LIARS AND BRAGGARTS,
"BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY A LIAR AND A BRAGGART
SHOULDN'T MAKE A GOOD GENERAL."
POPE WASTED NO TIME CHARGING INTO NORTHERN VIRGINIA
AFTER THE REBEL ARMIES,
BUT HE WAS IN TROUBLE FROM THE START.
FIRST, STONEWALL JACKSON FOUGHT HIM TO A STAND-OFF
AT CEDAR MOUNTAIN.
JEB STUART HIT HIM NEXT,
RAIDING HIS HEADQUARTERS
AND GETTING AWAY WITH $35,000 IN CASH
AND THE UNION COMMANDER'S DRESS COAT.
THEN THE REBELS SIMPLY DISAPPEARED.
IT TOOK POPE TWO DAYS TO FIND THEM,
DUG IN ALONG AN ABANDONED RAILROAD
OVERLOOKING THE OLD BULL RUN BATTLEFIELD.
ON AUGUST 29th, POPE ATTACKED,
PROMISING TO "BAG THE WHOLE CROWD."
BUT THE CONFEDERATES HELD,
JACKSON'S MEN HURLING ROCKS WHEN AMMUNITION RAN LOW.
AT 2:00 THE NEXT AFTERNOON,
CONFEDERATE GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET
SENT FIVE DIVISIONS STORMING INTO THE UNION FLANK.
IT WAS ANOTHER UNION DISASTER.
25,000 MEN WERE KILLED, WOUNDED, OR MISSING
AT SECOND BULL RUN,
FIVE TIMES THE FIGURE
THAT HAD SO HORRIFIED THE COUNTRY
THE FIRST TIME NORTH AND SOUTH FOUGHT THERE.
LINCOLN SENT POPE WEST TO MINNESOTA
TO DEAL WITH AN UPRISING AMONG THE SIOUX
AND RELUCTANTLY PUT GEORGE McCLELLAN
BACK IN COMMAND.
"WE MUST USE THE TOOLS WE HAVE,"
LINCOLN SAID.
McCLELLAN TOLD HIS WIFE
HE HAD BEEN CALLED UPON TO SAVE THE COUNTRY
ONCE AGAIN.
"WE WOULD ASK THE NORTH CAROLINIANS
"IF THEY HAD ANY TAR
"AND CALL THEM TAR HEELS.
"THEY REPLIED NO,
"AS THEY'D LET US VIRGINIANS HAVE IT ALL
"TO MAKE US STICK IN THE LAST FIGHT
"AND CALL US SORE BACKS,
"AS THEY'D KNOCKED THE SKIN OFF OUR BACKS
"RUNNING OVER US TO GET INTO BATTLE.
"SO IT WENT, IN GOOD HUMOR,
KNOWING ALL DID THEIR DUTY."
JOHN CASLER, 33rd REGIMENT, VIRGINIA INFANTRY, STONEWALL'S BRIGADE.
THEY WERE FROM THE SAME STATE.
THEY HAD FOLLOWED THE SAME FLAG.
THE BATTLES THEY HAD FOUGHT IN,
THE NAMES WERE STITCHED ON THAT FLAG.
THERE WAS UNIT PRIDE.
THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF SADNESS
OVER THE LOSSES THEY SUFFERED.
THERE WAS A CLOSENESS AMONG THOSE MEN
THAT CAME FROM YEARS OF EOSURE
TO THE MOST HORRENDOUS WARFARE I KNOW OF.
"DEAR FATHER, THE NEXT MORNING,
"WE HAD OUR SECOND BATTLE.
"IT WAS RATHER STRANGE MUSIC
"TO HEAR THE BALLS SCREAM WITHIN AN INCH OF MY HEAD.
"A BULLET STRUCK ME ON TOP OF THE HEAD
"JUST AS I WAS GOING TO FIRE.
"A BALL HIT MY FINGER. ANOTHER HIT MY THUMB.
"THE FIRING INCREASED TENFOLD,
"THEN IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ROLLS OF THUNDER,
"ALL THE TIME EVERY MAN SHOUTING
"AS LOUD AS HE COULD.
"I GOT RATHER MORE EXCITED
THAN I WISH TO AGAIN."
"I SAW THE BODY
"OF A MAN KILLED THE PREVIOUS DAY,
"AND A HORRIBLE SIGHT IT WAS.
"SUCH SIGHTS DON'T AFFECT ME AS THEY ONCE DID.
"I CANNOT DESCRIBE THE CHANGE,
"NOR DO I KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENED,
"BUT I LOOK ON THE CARCASS OF A MAN NOW
LIKE I WOULD WERE IT A HORSE OR A HOG."
"SUNDAY A SOLDIER OF COMPANY A DIED AND WAS BURIED.
"EVERYTHING WENT ON
"AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED,
"FOR DEATH IS SO COMMON, LITTLE SENTIMENT IS WASTED.
IT IS NOT LIKE DEATH AT HOME."
ELISHA HUNT RHODES.
FALLING BACK FROM THE BULL RUN BATTLEFIELD,
UNION TROOPS SKIRMISHED BRIEFLY WITH REBEL FORCES
AT FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA,
WHERE THE MEN PAUSED TO SCRIBBLE THEIR NAMES
ON THE CHAPEL WALLS.
"IN GREAT CONTESTS,"
ABRAHAM LINCOLN WROTE AS THE SUMMER WANED,
"EACH PARTY CLAIMS TO ACT IN ACCORDANCE
"WITH THE WILL OF GOD.
"BOTH MAY BE, BUT ONE MUST BE, WRONG.
"GOD CANNOT BE FOR AND AGAINST THE SAME THING
AT THE SAME TIME."
"AUGUST 20, 1862.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT."
"WE THINK YOU ARE UNDULY INFLUENCED
"BY THE COUNSELS OF CERTAIN FOSSIL POLITICIANS
"HAILING FROM BORDER SLAVE STATES.
"WE ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT SLAVERY
"IS EVERYWHERE THE INCITING CAUSE AND SUSTAINING BASE
"OF TREASON.
"IT SEEMS TO US THE MOST OBVIOUS TRUTH
"THAT WHATEVER STRENGTHENS OR FORTIFIES SLAVERY
"DRIVES HOME THE WEDGE
INTENDED TO DIVIDE THE UNION."
HORACE GREELEY.
"AUGUST 22nd.
"MY PARAMOUNT OBJECT IN THIS STRUGGLE
"IS TO SAVE THE UNION
"AND IS NOT EITHER TO SAVE
"OR TO DESTROY SLAVERY.
"IF I COULD SAVE THE UNION
"WITHOUT FREEING ANY SLAVE,
"I WOULD DO IT.
"IF I COULD SAVE IT BY FREEING ALL SLAVES,
"I WOULD DO IT.
"IF I COULD SAVE IT BY FREEING ONLY SOME,
I WOULD ALSO DO THAT."
"IT SEEMS THAT TIME IS FAST APPROACHING
"WHEN SOME JOINT OFFER OF MEDIATION
"BY ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND RUSSIA
"MIGHT BE MADE TO THE COMBATANTS IN NORTH AMERICA.
"THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE MADE TO NORTH AND SOUTH.
"IF BOTH ACCEPTED, WE SHOULD RECOMMEND AN ARMISTICE
"AND CESSATION OF BLOCKADES,
"WITH A VIEW TO NEGOTIATION
ON THE BASIS OF SEPARATION."
PRIME MINISTER PALMERSTON.
LINCOLN HAD TO HAVE A VICTORY./
"SEPTEMBER 3, 1862.
"THE PRESENT SEEMS TO BE
"THE MOST PROPITIOUS TIME
"SINCE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR
FOR THE CONFEDERATE ARMY TO ENTER MARYLAND."
ROBERT E. LEE.
THE BRILLIANT SOUTHERN VICTORIES OF SPRING AND SUMMER
HAD BROUGHT LEE'S ARMY INTERNATIONAL RENOWN.
ONE MORE SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN,
HE WROTE JEFFERSON DAVIS,
WOULD FORCE EUROPE TO RECOGNIZE THE CONFEDERACY.
NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME,
LEE LED 40,000 SOLDIERS ACROSS THE POTOMAC
AND ONTO UNION SOIL.
"THIS BODY OF MEN MOVING ALONG WITH NO ORDER,
"THEIR GUNS CARRIED IN EVERY FASHION,
"NO TWO DRESSED ALIKE,
"THEIR OFFICERS HARDLY DISTINGUISHABLE
"FROM THE PRIVATES--
"WERE THESE THE MEN THAT HAD DRIVEN BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN
OUR SPLENDID LEGIONS?"
"THEY WERE THE DIRTIEST MEN I EVER SAW,
"A MOST RAGGED, LEAN,
"AND HUNGRY SET OF WOLVES.
"YET THERE WAS A DASH ABOUT THEM
THAT THE NORTHERN MEN LACKED."
LEE'S TARGET WAS THE FEDERAL RAIL CENTER
AT HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.
HOPING MARYLANDERS WOULD RISE UP
AGAINST THE UNION,
HE INSTRUCTED HIS MEN TO SING MARYLAND, MY MARYLAND
AS THEY MARCHED.
IT DIDN'T WORK.
MOST RESIDENTS OF THE SMALL TOWNS
STAYED FEARFULLY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
THEN, ON SEPTEMBER 13th, IN A MEADOW NEAR FREDERICK,
A UNION SOLDIER FOUND THREE CIGARS
WRAPPED IN A PIECE OF PAPER.
IT WAS A COPY OF LEE'S BATTLE PLANS,
ACCIDENTALLY LEFT BEHIND.
McCLELLAN NOW KNEW LEE HAD DIVIDED HIS ARMY,
SENDING ONE PART OFF TO SEIZE HARPERS FERRY.
McCLELLAN HAD IN HIS HANDS
THE INSTRUMENT WITH WHICH TO DESTROY LEE.
STILL, HE DID NOTHING, FOR 18 CRUCIAL HOURS.
ON SEPTEMBER 15th,
LEE AND HIS CONFEDERATES TOOK UP POSITIONS
ALONG THE CREST OF A 3-MILE RIDGE
JUST EAST OF THE TOWN OF SHARPSBURG
AND ONLY 52 MILES FROM WASHINGTON.
THE POTOMAC WAS AT THEIR BACK.
IN FRONT RAN A CREEK CALLED ANTIETAM.
"ON THE FORENOON OF THE 15th,
"BLUE FEDERAL UNIFORMS APPEARED AMONG THE TREES
"ON THE EASTERN BANK OF THE ANTIETAM.
"THE FIELD OF BLUE GREW LARGER,
"UNTIL IT STRETCHED AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE.
"FROM THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS TO THE STREAM EDGES
GATHERED McCLELLAN'S GREAT ARMY."
GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET.
HAD McCLELLAN HURLED HIS ARMY
AT THE CONFEDERATES THAT DAY,
THE WAR MIGHT HAVE ENDED, BUT HE DID NOT.
"THERE WAS A SINGLE ITEM IN OUR ADVANTAGE,"
AN AIDE TO LEE REMEMBERED,
"BUT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT ONE.
"McCLELLAN HAD BROUGHT SUPERIOR FORCES
TO SHARPSBURG," THE AIDE CONCEDED,
"BUT HE HAD ALSO BROUGHT HIMSELF."
"SEPTEMBER 16th-- THAT NIGHT, I LAY BESIDE THE CHARLESTOWN PIKE
"AND WATCHED UNTIL MORNING
"THE GRIMY COLUMNS COME POURING UP FROM THE PONTOONS.
"IT WAS A WEIRD, UNCANNY SIGHT
"AND DROVE SLEEP FROM MY EYES.
"IT WAS SOMETHING DEMON-LIKE,
"A SCENE FROM AN INFERNO.
"THEY WERE SILENT AS GHOSTS,
"RUTHLESS AND RUSHING IN THEIR SPEED,
"RAGGED, EARTH-COLORED, DISHEVELED, AND DEVILISH.
"THE SHUFFLE OF THEIR BADLY SHOD FEET
"ON THE HARD SURFACE OF THE PIKE
"WAS SO RAPID AS TO BE CONTINUOUS,
"LIKE THE HISS OF A GREAT SERPENT.
"THE SPECTRAL, GHOSTLY PICTURE
WILL NEVER BE ERASED FROM MY MEMORY."
CAPTAIN EDWARD HASTINGS RIPLEY.
"AS NIGHT GREW NEARER,
"WHISPERS OF A GREAT BATTLE
"TO BE FOUGHT THE NEXT DAY GREW LOUDER,
"AND WE SHUDDERED AT THE PROSPECT,
"FOR THE BATTLES HAD COME TO MEAN TO US,
"AS THEY NEVER HAD BEFORE,
BLOOD, WOUNDS, AND DEATH."
THE BATTLE THAT BEGAN THE NEXT DAY
WAS REALLY THREE BATTLES.
THE FIRST BEunGAN AT 6 A.M. ON LEE'S LEFT,
WHERE A FEDERAL FORCE
CHARGED ALONG THE HAGERSTOWN PIKE
TO ATTACK STONEWALL JACKSON'S MEN
HIDDEN IN WOODS BEYOND A BIG CORNFIELD.
THE UNION OBJECTIVE
WAS A PLATEAU EDGED WITH ARTILLERY
ON WHICH STOOD A SMALL WHITEWASHED CHURCH,
BUILT BY A GERMAN BAPTIST PACIFIST SECT, THE DUNKARDS,
FOR WHOM EVEN A STEEPLE WAS THOUGHT IMMODEST.
THE UNION FIELD COMMANDER WAS MAJOR GENERAL JOE HOOKER,
A PROFANE AND HARD-DRINKING MASSACHUSETTS SOLDIER
KNOWN AS FIGHTING JOE.
AS HOOKER CAUTIOUSLY ADVANCED,
HE NOTICED THE GLINT OF BAYONETS IN THE CORNFIELD
AND ORDERED FOUR BATTERIES TO FIRE INTO IT.
[CANNON FIRE]
THE REBELS COUNTERCHARGED.
THE BATTLE SURGED BACK AND FORTH
ACROSS THE CORNFIELD 15 TIMES.
IN A MATTER OF MINUTES,
THE 12th MASSACHUSETTS LOST 224 OF 334 MEN.
HOOKER HIMSELF WAS CARRIED FROM THE FIELD,
SHOT THROUGH THE FOOT.
"THE MEN ARE LOADING AND FIRING
"WITH DEMONIACAL FURY AND SHOUTING AND LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY,
"AND THE WHOLE FIELD BEFORE US
"IS COVERED WITH REBELS FLEEING FOR LIFE
INTO THE WOODS."
HOOKER'S MEN WERE CLOSING IN THE DUNKARD CHURCH.
THEN STONEWALL JACKSON SENT IN HIS LAST RESERVES,
JOHN BELL HOOD'S DIVISION-- FIERCE FIGHTERS AT ANY TIME,
BUT NOW ENRAGED AT HAVING MISSED BREAKFAST,
WHICH HAD PROMISED TO BE THEIR FIRST REAL MEAL IN DAYS.
THEIR FIRST VOLLEY WAS
"LIKE A SCYTHE RUNNING THROUGH OUR LINE,"
ONE UNION SURVIVOR REMEMBERED.
AND THEN THE CONFEDERATE COUNTERATTACK CAME ON.
[YELLING]
"EVERY STALK OF CORN WAS CUT AS CLOSELY
"AS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE WITH A KNIFE,
"AND THE SLAIN LAY IN ROWS,
"PRECISELY AS THEY HAD STOOD IN THEIR RANKS
A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE."
JOSEPH HOOKER.
THE NORTHERN TROOPS RAN BACK THROUGH THE CORNFIELD.
HOOD'S MEN RAN AFTER THEM, BUT WERE STOPPED
BY A HAIL OF SHELLS AND FEDERAL REINFORCEMENTS.
WHEN THE CONFEDERATES FINALLY WITHDREW,
ONE OFFICER ASKED HOOD WHERE HIS DIVISION WAS.
"DEAD ON THE FIELD," HE ANSWERED.
"I HAVE NEVER IN MY SOLDIER'S LIFE
"SEEN SUCH A SIGHT.
"THE DEAD AND WOUNDED COVERED THE GROUND.
"IN ONE SPOT,
"A REBEL OFFICER AND 20 MEN
"LAY NEAR A WRECK OF A BATTERY.
"IT IS SAID BATTERY A,
"1st RHODE ISLAND ARTILLERY
DID THIS WORK."
ELISHA HUNT RHODES.
BY 10 A.M., 8,000 MEN LAY DEAD OR WOUNDED.
JACKSON'S LINES HAD WAVERED, BUT HELD.
AFTER HIS PART OF THE BATTLE WAS OVER,
JACKSON WAS SITTING ON HIS HORSE, EATING A PEACH.
HIS MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DR. McGUIRE, WAS THERE.
"CAPTAIN COMMANDING COMPANY A,
HE LOOKED OUT OVER THIS FIELD
WHERE THERE WERE DEAD OF BOTH SIDES
LITTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE.
HE SAID, "GOD HAS BEEN VERY KIND TO US THIS DAY."
THE SECOND PART OF THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM
BEGAN AT THE CENTER OF LEE'S LINE,
A SUNKEN COUNTRY ROAD
THAT NOW SERVED AS A READY-MADE RIFLE PIT
FOR TWO CONFEDERATE BRIGADES.
LEE ORDERED IT HELD AT ALL COSTS.
GENERAL JOHN B. GORDON ASSURED HIM,
"THESE MEN ARE GOING TO STAY HERE, GENERAL,
TILL THE SUN GOES DOWN OR VICTORY IS WON."
THEN THE UNION ATTACKED.
"THE BRAVE UNION COMMANDER,
"SUPERBLY MOUNTED, PLACED HIMSELF IN FRONT,
"WHILE HIS BAND CHEERED THEM
"WITH MARTIAL MUSIC.
"I THOUGHT, WHAT A PITY TO SPOIL WITH BULLETS
SUCH A SCENE OF MARTIAL BEAUTY."
GENERAL JOHN B. GORDON.
GORDON LET THE BLUE LINE GET WITHIN A FEW YARDS,
THEN GAVE THE ORDER TO FIRE.
THE UNION COMMANDER WAS KILLED INSTANTLY,
HIS MEN WAVERED, RETREATED, THEN CAME BACK
AT THE CONFEDERATES FIVE MORE TIMES.
GORDON WAS HIT TWICE IN THE RIGHT LEG,
ONCE IN THE LEFT ARM,
A FOURTH TIME THROUGH THE SHOULDER.
HE REFUSED ALL AID,
LIMPING ALONG THE LINE TO STEADY HIS MEN
AS THE FEDERALS KEPT COMING.
"I WAS FINALLY SHOT DOWN BY A FIFTH BALL,
"WHICH STRUCK ME SQUARELY IN THE FACE.
"I FELL FORWARD AND LAY UNCONSCIOUS
"WITH MY FACE IN MY CAP.
"I MIGHT HAVE SMOTHERED IN BLOOD
"BUT FOR A YANKEE BULLET HOLE
WHICH LET THE BLOOD RUN OUT."
STILL THE CONFEDERATES HELD.
UNIT AFTER UNIT OF NORTHERN TROOPS
FELL BACK FROM THE SHEETS OF SOUTHERN FIRE.
FINALLY, SOME NEW YORKERS MANAGED TO FIND A SPOT
FROM WHICH THEY COULD SHOOT DOWN
ON THE ROAD'S DEFENDERS.
THE TIDE OF BATTLE TURNED.
THE SUNKEN ROAD,
REMEMBERED NOW AS BLOODY LANE,
RAPIDLY FILLED WITH SOUTHERN BODIES,
TWO AND THREE DEEP.
THE TRIUMPHANT FEDERALS KNELT ON TOP
OF WHAT ONE CALLED "THIS GHASTLY FLOORING"
TO FIRE AT THE FLEEING SURVIVORS.
THE CONFEDERATE CENTER HAD SPLINTERED.
ONE MORE PUSH MIGHT HAVE BROKEN IT APART.
GENERAL McCLELLAN, HOWEVER,
DECIDED IT "WOULD NOT BE PRUDENT" TO ATTACK AGAIN.
ALL DAY LONG, IN HASTILY CONSTRUCTED FIELD HOSPITALS,
CLARA BARTON TENDED THE WOUNDED.
SHE WORKED SO CLOSE TO THE FIGHTING
THAT A BULLET WENT THROUGH HER SLEEVE
AND KILLED A MAN SHE WAS TREATING.
"I HAD TO WRING THE BLOOD
"FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY CLOTHING
"BEFORE I COULD STEP,
FOR THE WEIGHT ABOUT MY FEET."
[CANNON FIRE]
"I WAS LYING ON MY BACK, SUPPORTED ON MY ELBOWS,
"WATCHING THE SHELLS EXPLODE OVERHEAD AND SPECULATING
"AS TO HOW LONG I COULD HOLD UP MY FINGER
"BEFORE IT WOULD BE SHOT OFF.
"WHEN THE ORDER TO GET UP WAS GIVEN,
"I TURNED OVER TO LOOK AT COLONEL KIMBALL,
THINKING HE HAD BECOME SUDDENLY INSANE."
LIEUTENANT MATTHEW J. GROHAN.
THE THIRD BATTLE TOOK PLACE ON THE CONFEDERATE RIGHT,
WHERE THE UNION ARMY, LED BY GENERAL BURNSIDE'S CORPS,
TRIED TO FIGHT ITS WAY
ACROSS A STRONGLY DEFENDED STONE BRIDGE
OVER ANTIETAM CREEK.
AMBROSE BURNSIDE WAS A GENIAL, DAPPER MAN--
HIS DISTINCTIVE WHISKERS OR SIDEBURNS SET A FASHION--
BUT "HE SHRANK FROM RESPONSIBILITY,"
AN ADMIRING FELLOW OFFICER SAID,
"WITH SINCERE MODESTY."
HE OWED HIS POSITION
TO HIS OLD FRIEND McCLELLAN, WHO NOW PROMISED
TO SUPPORT HIS ASSAULT ACROSS THE BRIDGE.
BURNSIDE HAD 12,500 MEN
AGAINST BARELY 400 GEORGIANS
LED BY ROBERT TOOMBS.
BUT THE CONFEDERATES COMMANDED THE BLUFF
OVERLOOKING THE BRIDGE
AND POURED A RELENTLESS VOLLEY OF FIRE
DOWN ON THE UNION TROOPS.
IT TOOK THREE HOURS AND THREE BLOODY CHARGES
FOR THE FEDERALS TO CROSS THE CREEK
AND BEGIN FIGHTING THEIR WAY UP THE SLOPE
TOWARDS SHARPSBURG.
SEVEN SUCCESSIVE UNION COLOR BEARERS WERE HIT
BEFORE THE CONFEDERATES FINALLY BROKE,
RACING BACK INTO THE TOWN.
"OH, HOW I RAN.
"I WAS AFRAID OF BEING STRUCK IN THE BACK,
"AND I FREQUENTLY TURNED AROUND IN RUNNING
SO AS TO AVOID SO DISGRACEFUL A WOUND."
PRIVATE JOHN DOOLEY.
UNION VICTORY AGAIN SEEMED CERTAIN.
BUT WHILE THE UNION TROOPS CHEERED,
THE CONFEDERATE LIGHT DIVISION WAS ARRIVING
FROM HARPERS FERRY...
3,000 MEN, FOOTSORE FROM THEIR 17-MILE MARCH,
BUT OTHERWISE READY TO FIGHT
AND COMMANDED BY GENERAL A.P. HILL,
DRESSED IN THE RED SHIRT HE LIKED TO WEAR IN BATTLE.
"A.P. HILL IS THE FIGHTINGEST DIVISION COMMANDER
"IN LEE'S ARMY.
"HILL ARRIVED AT ANOTHER NICK-OF-THE-MOMENT THING,
"AND IT WAS THE LAST ONE.
"IT SUCCEEDED IN THROWING BURNSIDE BACK
AFTER HE FINALLY GOT ACROSS THE BRIDGE."
HILL SLAMMED INTO THE CELEBRATING UNION TROOPS.
BURNSIDE BEGGED McCLELLAN TO SEND UP
THE REINFORCEMENTS HE HAD PROMISED.
McCLELLAN REFUSED.
AS NIGHT FELL, BURNSIDE WITHDREW
TO THE BRIDGE HE FOUGHT SO HARD TO SEIZE.
THE BATTLE WAS OVER.
NO GROUND HAD BEEN GAINED.
"BEFORE THE SUNLIGHT FADED,
"I WALKED OVER THE NARROW FIELD.
"ALL AROUND LAY THE CONFEDERATE DEAD,
"CLAD IN BUTTERNUT.
"AS I LOOKED DOWN ON THE POOR PINCHED FACES,
ALL ENMITY DIED OUT."
"THERE WASECESSIONSSI IN THOSE RIGID FORMS,
"NOR IN THOSE FIXED EYES STARING AT THE SKY.
CLEARLY, IT WAS NOT THEIR WAR."
"THE SUN WENT DOWN. THE THUNDER DIED AWAY.
"THE MUSKETRY CEASED.
"BIVOUAC FIRES GLEAMED OUT
AS IF A GREAT CITY HAD LIGHTED ITS LAMPS."
IT HAD BEEN THE BLOODIEST DAY
IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
THE UNION LOST 2,108 DEAD,
ANOTHER 10,293 WOUNDED OR MISSING--
DOUBLE THE CASUALTIES OF D-DAY 82 YEARS LATER.
LEE LOST FEWER MEN-- 10,318 CASUALTIES--
BUT THAT WAS A QUARTER OF HIS ARMY.
"WHY DID WE NOT ATTACK THEM
"AND DRIVE THEM INTO THE RIVER?
"I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS.
BUT THEN, I AM ONLY A BOY."
ELISHA HUNT RHODES.
McCLELLAN HAD PLENTY OF RESERVES
WAITING OUTSIDE SHARPSBURG,
BUT HE NEVER USED THEM.
LEE, OUTNUMBERED 3-TO-1,
BRACED FOR A NEW ATTACK ALL THE NEXT DAY.
IT NEVER CAME.
ON THE 18th, LEE AND HIS ARMY SLIPPED BACK
ACROSS THE POTOMAC.
McCLELLAN COULD CLAIM A VICTORY,
BUT HE COULD HAVE WON THE WAR.
LEE'S INVASION HAD BEEN HALTED,
HE HAD SUFFERED TERRIBLE LOSSES,
BUT HIS ARMY HAD NOT BEEN DESTROYED.
"THE CAUSES OF THE WAR WERE WIDE APART,
BUT THE MANHOOD WAS THE SAME."
JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN, 20th MAINE.
HELD IN RESERVE OUTSIDE SHARPSBURG,
THE 20th MAINE INCLUDED FARMERS AND LUMBERMEN,
SEAMEN AND SHOPKEEPERS AND TRAPPERS.
ITS COLONEL WAS JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN,
A 33-YEAR-OLD PROFESSOR OF RHETORIC, ORATORY,
AND MODERN LANGUAGES AT BOWDOIN COLLEGE.
DENIED A LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO ENLIST,
HE APPLIED FOR A SABBATICAL TO STUDY IN EUROPE,
THEN VOLUNTEERED.
ON PAPER, HIS ONLY QUALIFICATION FOR COMMAND
WAS THAT HE WAS A GENTLEMAN OF THE HIGHEST MORAL,
INTELLECTUAL, AND LITERARY WORTH.
CHAMBERLAIN WAS STILL AT SHARPSBURG
WHEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAME TO SEE THE BATTLEFIELD.
"WE COULD SEE THE DEEP SADNESS
"IN THE PRESIDENT'S FACE
"AND FEEL THE BURDEN ON HIS HEART,
"THINKING OF HIS COMMISSION TO SAVE THIS PEOPLE
"AND KNOWING HE COULD DO THIS NO OTHERWISE
"THAN AS HE HAD BEEN DOING--
BY AND THROUGH THE MANLINESS OF THESE MEN."
WATCHING THE PRESIDENT REVIEW HIS TROOPS,
IT SEEMED TO JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN
THAT A "MYSTIC BOND, WONDERFUL IN ITS INTENSITY,"
JOINED THE MEN TO THEIR COMMANDER IN CHIEF.
THE OBJECT OF LINCOLN'S VISIT
WAS TO GET McCLELLAN TO PURSUE LEE.
"I CAME BACK THINKING HE WOULD MOVE AT ONCE.
"WHEN I GOT HOME,
"HE ARGUED WHY HE OUGHT NOT TO MOVE.
"I ORDERED HIM TO ADVANCE.
"IT WAS 19 DAYS BEFORE HE PUT A MAN OVER THE RIVER,
"AND NINE DAYS LONGER BEFORE HE GOT HIS ARMY ACROSS.
AND THEN HE STOPPED AGAIN."
LINCOLN AT LAST HAD HAD ENOUGH OF GEORGE McCLELLAN.
THE PRESIDENT RELIEVED HIM OF COMMAND PERMANENTLY.
"THEY HAVE MADE A GREAT MISTAKE.
ALAS, FOR MY POOR COUNTRY."
"SEPTEMBER 21, 1862.
"DEAR SAM, JR.,
"A GREAT MANY OF YOUR OLD FRIENDS AND SCHOOLMATES
"HAVE DIED OR BEEN KILLED.
"I WILL MERELY NAME LEM AMBERCROMBIE,
"JEFF MONTGOMERY,
"JOHN GARRETT,
"LEM HATCH, JOHN HILL,
"PROCTOR PORTER, BILL HUMES,
"JOHN WHITE, WALTER MAXEY, ANGUS ALSTON.
"OLD MRS. THOMAS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
"HAS LOST FIVE SONS.
YOUR MOTHER, MARGARET HOUSTON."
YOU DO HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN YOU HAVE UNITS
THAT ARE FROM STATES AND COUNTIES AND EVEN TOWNS.
AND ONE OF THOSE REGIMENTS
CAN GET IN A VERY TIGHT SPOT
IN A PARTICULAR BATTLE,
AND THE NEWS MAY BE
THAT THERE ARE NO MORE YOUNG MEN IN THAT TOWN.
THEY'RE ALL DEAD.
IN OCTOBER OF 1862, AT HIS NEW YORK GALLERY,
MATHEW BRADY OPENED AN EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS
ENTITLED "THE DEAD OF ANTIETAM."
NOTHING LIKE THEM HAD EVER BEEN SEEN IN AMERICA BEFORE.
"THE DEAD OF THE BATTLEFIELD COME UP TO US VERY RARELY,
EVEN IN DREAMS."
"WE SEE THE LISTS
"IN THE MORNING PAPER AT BREAKFAST,
BUT DISMISS ITS RECOLLECTION WITH THE COFFEE."
"MR. MATHEW BRADY HAS DONE SOMETHING
"TO BRING TO US THE TERRIBLE REALITY
AND EARNESTNESS OF THE WAR."
"IF HE HAS NOT BROUGHT BODIES
"AND LAID THEM IN OUR DOORYARDS,
HE HAS DONE SOMETHING VERY LIKE IT."
AGAINST THE ADVICE OF HIS ADVISERS,
LINCOLN REINSTATED U.S. GRANT TO FIELD COMMAND.
"I CAN'T SPARE THIS MAN," LINCOLN SAID. "HE FIGHTS."
1,000 MILES TO THE WEST,
VICKSBURG, HIGH ON A BLUFF OVERLOOKING THE MISSISSIPPI,
REMAINED CONFEDERATE.
"VICKSBURG," JEFFERSON DAVIS SAID,
"IS THE NAIL
THAT HOLDS THE SOUTH'S TWO HALVES TOGETHER."
THAT FALL, GRANT TRIED TO TAKE
THE HEAVILY FORTIFIED CITY.
HE FAILED.
THE CONFEDERACY WAS ON THE OFFENSIVE
OVER A 1,000-MILE FRONT.
MR. GLADSTONE, A POWER IN THE ENGLISH CABINET,
IS SAYING, "JEFF DAVIS MADE A NAVY.
HE'S MADE AN ARMY," AND, WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT,
INTIMATING HE'S MADE A NATION.
BUT THE INVASION OF MARYLAND FAILS.
LEE IS DEFEATED, FALLS BACK.
THEY LOSE AT PERRYVILLE IN KENTUCKY.
THEY LOSE AT IUKA AND CORINTH IN MISSISSIPPI,
EVEN NEWTONIA IN MISSOURI.
THE CONFEDERATE TIDE ROLLS BACK.
LINCOLN, AS A RESULT OF ANTIETAM,
CONVERTED THE WAR TO A HIGHER PLANE,
AGAIN THE MASTER POLITICIAN.
HE ANNOUNCES A PRELIMINARY EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
OF COURSE, IT DOESN'T FREE A SINGLE SLAVE IN REVOLT,
FREES ONLY AS A WAR MEASURE
AND ONLY FREES SLAVES IN STATES
WHERE THE CONFEDERACY IS IN CONTROL,
AND IT TAKES EFFECT ON THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY.
"ON THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY,
"IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1863,
"ALL PERSONS HELD AS SLAVES WITHIN ANY STATE
"OR DESIGNATED PART OF A STATE,
"THE PEOPLE WHEREOF SHALL THEN BE IN REBELLION
"AGAINST THE UNITED STATES,
"SHALL BE THEN, THENCEFORTH, AND FOREVER FREE.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN."
ON SEPTEMBER 22nd,
JUST FIVE DAYS AFTER THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM,
THE PRESIDENT ISSUED HIS EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
"IF MY NAME EVER GOES INTO HISTORY,"
LINCOLN SAID,
"IT WILL BE FOR THIS ACT."
THE SOUTH WAS OUTRAGED.
JEFFERSON DAVIS CALLED IT THE "MOST EXECRABLE MEASURE
RECORDED IN THE HISTORY OF GUILTY MAN."
AT A WASHINGTON DINNER, JOHN HAY,
THE PRESIDENT'S 23-YEAR-OLD SECRETARY,
NOTED "EVERYONE SEEMED TO FEEL
"A NEW SORT OF EXHILARATING LIFE.
"THE PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION HAD FREED THEM,
AS WELL AS THE SLAVES."
"IT WAS NO LONGER A QUESTION
"OF THE UNION AS IT WAS
"THAT WAS TO BE RE-ESTABLISHED.
"IT WAS THE UNION AS IT SHOULD BE--
"THAT IS TO SAY, WASHED CLEAN
"FROM ITS ORIGINAL SIN.
"WE WERE NO LONGER MERELY THE SOLDIERS
"OF A POLITICAL CONTROVERSY.
"WE WERE NOW THE MISSIONARIES
"OF A GREAT WORK OF REDEMPTION,
"THE ARMED LIBERATORS OF MILLIONS.
THE WAR WAS ENNOBLED. THE OBJECT WAS HIGHER."
ABROAD, THE PROCLAMATION HAD THE EFFECT
LINCOLN HAD HOPED FOR.
NEITHER ENGLAND NOR FRANCE WAS WILLING OPENLY TO OPPOSE
A UNITED STATES PLEDGE TO END SLAVERY.
"THE TRIUMPH OF THE CONFEDERACY
"WOULD BE A VICTORY OF EVIL,
"WHICH WOULD GIVE COURAGE TO THE ENEMIES OF PROGRESS
"AND DAMP THE SPIRITS OF FRIENDS
"ALL OVER THE CIVILIZED WORLD.
"THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
"IS DESTINED TO BE A TURNING POINT,
"FOR GOOD OR EVIL,
OF THE COURSE OF HUMAN AFFAIRS."
JOHN STUART MILL.
"PUT NOT YOUR TRUST IN PRINCES,
"AND REST NOT YOUR HOPES ON FOREIGN NATIONS.
"THIS WAR IS OURS.
WE MUST FIGHT IT OUT OURSELVES."
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
THAT DECEMBER, LINCOLN SPOKE TO CONGRESS.
"THE DOGMAS OF THE QUIET PAST
"ARE INADEQUATE TO THE STORMY PRESENT.
"AS OUR CASE IS NEW, SO WE MUST THINK ANEW
"AND ACT ANEW.
"WE MUST DISENTHRALL OURSELVES,
"AND THEN WE SHALL SAVE OUR COUNTRY.
"FELLOW CITIZENS, WE CANNOT ESCAPE HISTORY.
"THE FIERY TRIAL THROUGH WHICH WE PASS
"WILL LIGHT US DOWN, IN HONOR OR DISHONOR,
"TO THE LATEST GENERATION.
"WE SAY WE ARE FOR UNION.
"THE WORLD WILL NOT FORGET THAT WE SAY THIS.
"IN GIVING FREEDOM TO THE SLAVE,
"WE ASSURE FREEDOM TO THE FREE--
"HONORABLE ALIKE IN WHAT WE GIVE
"AND WHAT WE PRESERVE.
"WE SHALL NOBLY SAVE OR MEANLY LOSE
THE LAST BEST HOPE OF EARTH."
"DECEMBER 31.
"THE YEAR 1862 IS DRAWING TO A CLOSE,
"AND AS I LOOK BACK, I AM BEWILDERED
"WHEN I THINK OF THE HUNDREDS OF MILES
"I HAVE TRAMPED,
"THE THOUSANDS OF DEAD AND WOUNDED I'VE SEEN.
"BUT WE HOPE FOR THE BEST
"AND FEEL SURE THAT THE UNION WILL BE RESTORED.
GOODBYE, 1862."
ELISHA HUNT RHODES.
"WE SHOUT FOR JOY THAT WE LIVE TO RECORD
"THIS RIGHTEOUS DECREE-- FREE FOREVER!
"OH, YE MILLIONS OF FREE AND LOYAL MEN
"WHO HAVE EARNESTLY SOUGHT
"TO FREE YOUR BLEEDING COUNTRY
"FROM THE DREADFUL RAVAGES OF REVOLUTION AND ANARCHY,
"LIFT UP NOW YOUR VOICES WITH JOY AND THANKSGIVING,
"FOR WITH FREEDOM TO THE SLAVE
WILL COME PEACE AND SAFETY TO YOUR COUNTRY."
FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
[BELL TOLLS]
ON DECEMBER 31st, A LARGE CROWD OF ABOLITIONISTS,
INCLUDING HARRIET TUBMAN AND WENDELL PHILLIPS,
GATHERED TOGETHER THE MUSIC HALL IN BOSTON.
AT MIDNIGHT,
THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION WOULD TAKE EFFECT.
ON THE STAGE, WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON
WEPT WITH JOY BESIDE FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
THE CHEERING CROWD CALLED FOR HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.
SHE STOOD IN THE BALCONY, TEARS IN HER EYES.
AT A WASHINGTON, D.C., CONTRABAND CAMP,
FORMER SLAVES TESTIFIED.
ONE REMEMBERED THE SALE OF HIS DAUGHTER.
"NOW NO MORE OF THAT," HE SAID.
"THEY CAN'T SELL MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ANYMORE.
BLESS THE LORD."
ON THE SEA ISLANDS OFF SOUTH CAROLINA,
FEDERAL AGENTS READ THE PROCLAMATION ALOUD
TO FORMER SLAVES
UNDER THE SPREADING BOUGHS OF A HUGE OAK TREE.
AS THE COMMANDER OF A NEW ALL-BLACK REGIMENT
UNFURLED AN AMERICAN FLAG,
HIS MEN BROKE INTO SONG.
"IT SEEMED THE CHOKED VOICE
OF A RACE AT LAST UNLOOSED," HE WROTE.
â™ª IN THE BEAUTY OF THE LILIES â™ª
â™ª CHRIST WAS BORN ACROSS THE SEA â™ª
â™ª WITH A GLORY IN HIS BOSOM â™ª
â™ª THAT TRANSFIGURES YOU AND ME â™ª
â™ª AS HE DIED TO MAKE MEN HOLY â™ª
â™ª LET US DIE TO MAKE MEN FREE â™ª
â™ª WHILE GOD IS MARCHING ON â™ª
â™ª GLORY, GLORY HALLELUJAH â™ª
â™ª HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON â™ª
CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--