The Lost Cause A New Southern History Of The War Of The Confederates... Drawn From Official Sources And Approved By The Most Distinguished Confederate Leaders.

The Lost Cause; A New Southern History Of The War Of The Confederates... Drawn From Official Sources And Approved By The Most Distinguished Confederate Leaders.

Edward Alfred Pollard...

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I.

There is nothing of political philosophy more plainly taught in history than the limited value of the Federal principle. It had been experimented upon in various ages of the world— in the Amphictyonic Council, in the Achaean league, in the United Provinces of Holland, in Mexico, in Central America, in Columbia, and in the Argentine republic; in all these instances the form of government established upon it had become extinct, or had passed into the alternative of consolidation or anarchy and dis

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II.

Although the American Union, as involving the Federal principle, contained in itself an element ultimately fatal to its form of government, it is not to be denied that by careful and attentive statesmanship a rupture might have been long postponed. We have already briefly seen that, at a most remarkable period in American history, it was proposed by the great political scholar of his times-John C. Calhoun— to modify the Federal principle of the Union and to introduce an ingenious check upon its

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III.

It is not unusual in countries of large extent for the tides of population and enterprise to change their directions and establish new seats of power and prosperity. But the change which in little more than a generation after the American Revolution shifted the numbers and enterprise of the country from the Southern to the Northern States was so distinctly from One side of a line to the other, that we must account such the result of certain special and well-defined causes. To discover these caus

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4 The Kansas Controversy

The wisest statesmen of America were convinced that the true and intelligent means of continuing the Union was to preserve the sectional equilibrium, and to keep a balance of power between North and South. That equilibrium had been violently disturbed, in 1820, at the time of the Missouri Compromise. The relative representations of the North and South in the United States Senate were then so evenly balanced that it came to be decisive of a continuance of political power in the South whether Miss

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V.

The telegraph had no sooner announced the election of Abraham Lincoln President of the United States than the State of South Carolina prepared for a deliberate withdrawal from the Union. Considering the argument as fully exhausted, she determined to resume the exercise of her rights as a sovereign State; and for this purpose her Legislature called a Convention. It assembled in Columbia on the 17th of December, 1860. Its sessions were held in a church, over which floated a flag bearing the device

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VI. The Reduction Of Fort Sumter

A large portion of the Northern people have a custom of apotheosis, at least so far as to designate certain of their public men, to question whose reputation is considered bold assumption, if not sacrilegious daring. But the maxim of De mortuis nil nisi bonum does not apply to history. The character of Abraham Lincoln belongs to history as fully as that of the meanest agent in human affairs; and his own declaration, on One occasion, that he did not expect to “Escape” it is sure to be verified, n

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VII.

It is to be remarked that Virginia did not secede in either the circumstances or sense in which the Cotton States had separated themselves from the Union. She had no delusive prospects of peace to comfort or sustain her in the decisive step she took. She did not secede in the sense in which separation from the Union was was the primary object of secession. On the contrary, her attachment to the Union had been proved by the most untiring and noble efforts to save it; her Legislature originated th

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VIII. The Affair Of Rich Mountain

Some weeks after the secession of Virginia, Mr. Lincoln is said to have remarked that he “Would soon get the wolf by the ears.”He probably meant in this figure of the backwoodsman that he would soon secure the Two important passages into Virginia: that along the Orange and Alexandria and Central Railroads towards Richmond, and that along the water avenue of the James. On the 24th of May Alexandria was occupied by the Federals, the Virginia forces evacuating the town, and falling back towards Man

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IX. The Missouri Campaign

The victory of Manassas proved the greatest misfortune that could have befallen the Confederacy. It was taken by the Southern public as the end of the war, or, at least, as its decisive event. Nor was this merely a vulgar delusion. President Davis, after the battle, assured his intimate friends that the recognition of the Confederate States by the European Powers was now certain. The newspapers declared that the question of manhood between North and South was settled forever; and the phrase of “

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X. The Battle Of Belmont

The new Federal Congress, pursuant to the summons of President Lincoln, met in Washington on the 4th of July. The event was the occasion of a new development of the Northern policy, and a remarkable enlargement of the operations of the war. In his message, Mr. Lincoln announced a great political discovery. It was that all former statesmen of America had lived, and written, and labored under a great delusion that the States, instead of having created the Union, were its Creatures; that they obtai

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XI. The Battle Of Leesburg

In the beginning of the war, General Winfield Scott had been entitled in Northern newspapers “The Greatest Captain of the Age.”After the disaster of Manassas the same newspapers derided him as an imbecile; and in the meanest humiliation General Scott publicly announced himself an “Old coward” for having yielded to popular clamour in fighting the battle, and thus sought by the most infamous confession the mercy of men prompt to insult his fallen fortunes. The fickle course of popular applause in

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XII. Battle Of Fishing Creek

The year 1862 is a remarkable One in the history of the war. It opened with a fearful train of disasters to the Confederacy that brought it almost to the brink of despair, and then was suddenly illuminated by successes that placed it on the highest pinnacle of hope, and put it even in instant expectation of its independence. In the latter part of 1861, while the Confederacy was but little active, the North was sending into camp, from her great population, regiments numbered by hundreds; was dril

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XIII. The Trans-Mississippi.-Battle Of Elk Horn

The series of disasters that befell the Confederates in the early months of 1862, may be distinctly and sufficiently traced to human causes. Instead of being ascribed to the mysterious dispensations of Providence, they are more properly named as the results of human mismanagement. Tho First important defeat of the Federal arms on the plains of Manassas was the initial point with the North of an enlarged scheme of war, and it was now simply giving proof of its “Anaconda plan,” and realizing the n

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XIV. Capture Of Island No.10 By The Enemy

Since falling back to Murfreesboroa, Gen. Johnston had managed, by combining Crittenden's division and the fugitives from Donelson, to collect an army of Seventeen thousand men. His object was now to co-operate with Gen. Beauregard for the defence of the Valley of the Mississippi, on a line of operations south of Nashville. The line extending from Columbus, by way of Forts Henry and Donelson, had been lost. The disaster had involved the surrender of Kentucky, and a large portion of Tennessee to

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XV. The Fall Of New Orleans

The Confederate public had been disposed to find some consolation for the disaster at Island No.10 in the brilliant, though unfruitful story of Shiloh. It was considered, too, that the river below Fort Pillow was safe; and that while the army at Corinth covered Memphis, and held the enemy in check on land, the rich and productive valley of the Lower Mississippi was yet secure to the Confederacy. But in the midst of these pleasing calculations and comparative reassurance, a great disaster was to

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XVI. Battle Of Kernstown

In the First part of the year 1862, the Federal Government, with plans fully matured, had under arms about Six hundred thousand men; more than One-Third of whom were operating in the direction of Richmond. What Gen. McClellan himself said of the vast and brilliant army with which he designed to capture the Confederate capital was not extravagant. It was, indeed, “Magnificent in material, admirable in discipline and instruction, excellently equipped and armed.”On March 1, 1862, the number of Fede

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XVII. Battle Of Seven Pines

The tardiness of McClellan afforded opportunity to the Confederates to recruit their forces, to realize the results of the conscription law, and to assemble before Richmond the largest army they were ever able to put on a single field in any time of the war. The enemy had had the start in the preparation of many months. He delayed the advance upon Richmond, hesitating which line to adopt, when an advance upon either of the proposed lines could hardly have failed of success. A month was lost befo

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XVIII. Battle Of Cedar Run

The news of the retreat of the great Federal army under the command of McClellan from before Richmond to the James River, caused great excitement throughout the North. The details of the repulse fell upon the community with disheartening effect, and produced such a shock as had not been felt since the commencement of the war. A fierce clamour was raised against the unfortunate commander; and the occasion of the organization and direction of another Federal army against Richmond under Maj.-Gen. P

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XIX. Evacuation Of Corinth

While the events we have related in the Two preceding chapters were taking place in Virginia and on its borders, an important campaign was occurring in the country west of the Alleghany Mountains, and in the valley of the Mississippi River; and while Lee entered Maryland, Bragg invaded Kentucky, threatening the line of the Ohio, thus in every direction bringing the front of the war to the enemy's own territory. But before reaching that period wherein the Confederate arms in the West were carried

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XX. Operations In Virginia.-Battle Of Fredericksburg

About the close of the year 1862, Two heavy battles were fought on the Two main theatres of the war, Virginia and Tennessee, and were the great topics of the period referred to. After Lee's retreat into Virginia, McClellan appeared to be concentrating in and near Harper's Ferry, but made no forward movement. On the 6th October President Lincoln had ordered an immediate advance, recommending that McClellan should take the interiour line between Washington and Lee's forces, and make an early battl

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XXI. Military Operations In The Early Months Of 1863

The beginning of the year 1862-when the heavy operations of the war on land were suspended by the rigour of winter-presents a convenient period for review of some political questions in the war. The thread of Anti-Slavery legislation appeared for some time to have been broken with the decree of emancipation in the District of Columbia. President Lincoln evidently hesitated to identify his Administration further with the radical party in the war. A formidable opposition was gathering in the North

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XXII. The Battle Of Chancellorsville

The military situation in the spring months of 1863 may be described by a few general lines drawn through the country, and bounding the main theatres of the war. In Virginia either army was in view of the other from the heights overlooking the town of Fredericksburg, whilst the country between the Rappahannock and the Potomac was at various times visited by detachments of Stuart's daring cavalry. The Army of Tennessee was tied to no special line of operations; it was embarrassed by no important

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XXIII. Battle Of Port Gibson

The object of the enemy's operations, Second to Richmond, was distinctly the possession of Vicksburg and the opening of the whole length of the Mississippi River. Enormous efforts had been made to obtain these Two great prizes. Five attempts upon Richmond had failed. Three at tempts upon Vicksburg— that of Porter's fleet; that of Sherman's army; and that of Grant, which may be designated as an attempt to force a passage to the rear of the town, including the project of a canal across the isthmus

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XXIV. The Battle Of Gettysburg

A single day before the Fall of Vicksburg occurred, far away, what may be emphatically entitled The most important battle of the war. It was fought on the soil of Pennsylvania, on whose wheat-fields President Davis had declared, on the floor of the United States Senate in Washington, when war was First threatened, should be carried the contest for the rights of the South. During the few weeks following the brilliant victory of Chancellorsville, never did affairs look so propitious for the Confed

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XXV. The Financial System Of The Southern Confederacy

Gettysburg and Vicksburg were twin victories for the Federals-twin disasters for the Confederates. They marked the line where the war turned, and the fortunes of the Southern Confederacy declined. The disaster of Vicksburg was a shock to the whole internal economy of the South; and this period of military disaster was coincident with a distress in material resources, in which some men already thought to discover signs of the fatal decay of the Confederacy. Money has been designated as “The sinew

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XXVI.

The most remarkable military event of the midsummer of 1863 was the successful defence of Charleston against a most imposing demonstration of the enemy's power by land and by sea. We have seen how unsuccessful was the naval attack upon this city in April, 1863. It was not long, however, before another attempt was planned upon Fort Sumter and Charleston, the steps of which were the military occupation of Morris Island and the establishment of batteries on that island to assist in the reduction of

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XXVII. Expedition Of John Morgan

There was no Confederate commander so remarkable for long foresight and for the most exact fulfilment of prophetic words as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. He was more profound than Lee; his mind could range over larger fields; at all times of the war his cool, sedate judgments were so in opposition to the intoxicated senses of the Confederate people, that he was rather unpopular than otherwise, and rested his reputation on the appreciative and intelligent, who steadily marked him as the military geniu

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XXVIII. The Battle Of Missionary Ridge

The morning after the Battle of Chickamauga, Gen. Bragg stopped at the bivouac of Longstreet, and asked his views as to future movements. Gen. Longstreet suggested crossing the river above Chattanooga, so as to make ourselves sufficiently felt on the enemy's rear, as to force his evacuation of Chattanooga-indeed, force him back upon Nashville, and, if we should find our transportation inadequate for a continuance of this movement, to follow up the railroad to Knoxville, destroy Burnside, and fro

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XXIX. History Of The Confederate Commissariat

The Federal successes of 1863 produced a well-defined effect upon political parties in the North, and the elections there of this year were in remarkable contrast to those of 1862. It is significant of the little virtue of all the political organizations of the North during the time of the war that opposition to the administration at Washington was checked at every success of its arms, and declined in exact proportion as its military power ascended. The weak instinct of politicians readily took

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XXX. Battle Of Ocean Pond

Although the Northern public was gratified in contemplating the sum of Federal victories in the year 1863, it had yet to see in the early months of 1864 a remarkable train of Confederate successes, which, in the aggregate, did much to re-animate the Confederates, and to subdue expectation at Washington. These successes were principally a decisive victory in Florida; the defeat of Sherman's expedition in the Southwest; and a triumphant issue in the most important campaign that had yet taken place

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XXXI. The Battles Of The Wilderness

It is remarkable that at the opening of the great spring campaign of 1864, there should have simultaneously prevailed at Washington the opinion that the operations of the year would certainly restore the Union, and at Richmond the opinion that the coming campaign was more likely to accomplish the independence of the Southern Confederacy than any preceding One of the war. These opinions were probably equally sincere and intelligent. Some special explanation must be found for a conflict of judgmen

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XXXII. Battle Of Cold Harbour

The First of June, 1864, found the position of the Two armies around Richmond as follows: Grant was between the Chickahominy and the Pamunkey, with his left thrown forward to Mechanicsville, his right withdrawn to White House, and his reserve massed in rear of his left, and Richmond somewhat behind his left flank. Lee was posted from Atlee's Station, extending on his left to Gaines' Mill, with outposts as far as Coal Harbour. His position conformed to that of 1862; and, indeed, the whole Confede

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XXXIII. Battle Of Kenesaw Mountain

The important correspondent of Grant's campaign in Virginia was that of Sherman in Georgia; the great military effort of 1864 being resolved into Two important movements: the “On-to-richmond,” and the “On-to-atlanta.”These grand movements were on different sides of the Alleghany mountains; a Thousand miles of distance intervened between them; but both concurred in the design of attempting deep operations in the South, and reaching what were deemed vital points of the Confederacy. Gen. Sherman de

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XXXIV.

We have already referred to the great consideration which attached to the Presidential contest in the North which was now to take place; we have stated that it gave a new hope for the South in 1864; and we have indicated that the political campaign of this year was, in the minds of the Confederate leaders, scarcely less important than the military. Indeed, the Two were indissolubly connected; and the calculation in Richmond was that if military matters could even be held in a negative condition,

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XXXV. The Battles Of Atlanta

Gen. Lee had moved from the Rapidan to Richmond, with an increase of reputation at each stage of the retreat. It is curious that when Gen. Johnston moved from the Northern frontier of Georgia to Atlanta, even with greater success, he should not have experienced similar tokens of approbation. The fact was that he was the subject of a deep intrigue in Richmond, to displace him from the command of an army, whose affections and confidence he had never ceased to enjoy; and even while he was moving in

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XXXVI. Battle Of Winchester

To Hood's unbroken series of disasters there was a companion-piece in another part of the Confederacy: a small theatre of the war, but an important and a conspicuous One, associated with many heroic memories of the Confederacy. This other chapter of misfortune was Early's campaign in the Valley of Virginia. In this campaign a Confederate General never won a victory; lost all of his artillery, and brought an army to practical annihilation. But, although like Hood's misadventure in these particula

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XXXVII. Sherman's March To The Sea

It is said that at the opening of the campaign on the Rapidan, Gen. Meade, in conversation with Gen. Grant, was telling him that he proposed to maneuver thus and so; whereupon Gen. Grant stopped him at the word “Manoeuvre,” and said, “Oh! I never maneuvre.”We have seen that the famous Federal commander, who thus despised manuring, had failed to destroy Lee's army by “Hammering continuously” at it; had failed to take either Richmond or Petersburg by a Coup de main. We shall now see that he was no

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XXXVIII. Report Of The Joint Select Committee Of The Confederate Congress, Appointed To Investigate The Condition And Treatment Of Prisoners Of War

The exchange of prisoners taken during the war; their treatment in their places of confinement North and South; the incidents of the cartel, altogether, constitute so large and interesting a subject that we have reserved its treatment for a separate chapter. On the exposition of this intricate matter depends much of the good name of the Confederates and the contrary title of the enemy; and it may be remarked that no subject which tended to keep alive a feeling of bitterness and animosity between

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XXXIX. Condition Of The Commissariat

There was nothing fatal in a military point of view in Sherman's memorable march; and yet it dated the First chapter of the subjugation of the Confederacy. It brought the demoralization of the country to the surface; it had plainly originated in the pragmatic and excessive folly of President Davis; it furnished a striking occasion for recrimination, and was accompanied with a loss of confidence in his administration, that nothing but a miracle could repair. We have already referred in another pa

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XL. Sack And Destruction Of Columbia

In capturing Savannah, Sherman not only obtained a great prize in ordnance and cotton, which, after a fashion somewhat Oriental, he designated as a “Christmas gift” to his master in Washington. He also obtained a position of great military value. From the banks of the Savannah River, he beheld opened before him all the avenues into and through South Carolina, and discovered a new route, reaching to what had now become the last and contracted theatre of war in the Confederacy. The Northern newspa

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XLI. The Fortress Monroe Conference

In the First months of 1865 Gen. Lee held both Richmond and Petersburg with not more than Thirty-three thousand men. At this time Grant's strength, as rated at the War Department in Washington, exceeded One hundred and sixty-thousand men. Such was the disparity of force in the final array of the contest for Richmond. Gen. Lee's lines stretched from below Richmond on the north side of the James to Hatcher's Run away beyond Petersburg on the south side. He had Forty miles of defence; and it may we

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XLII. Retreat And Final Surrender Of Lee's Army

The Federal occupants of Richmond no doubt thought the people very submissive to the new authority. They saw no sign of violence, and they heard no expression of defiance. The population of Richmond moved mechanically before their new masters. But there was, for some days, an undercurrent of eager, excited thought which the Federals did not perceive; citizens whispered among themselves, and went around the street-corners to relate in low tones to each other some rumour eagerly grasped for the ne

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XLIII. Surrender Of Johnston's Army

The surrender of Gen. Lee was plainly the decisive event of the war, and drew after it rapid and important consequences. The situation in the Atlantic States south of Virginia, was weak; and that part of the Confederacy had been for some time thoroughly demoralized. The limits of Johnston's command included North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida; and the fate of this extensive military territory depended upon an army whose effective force was less than Twenty thousand men. Gen. Johnston's

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XLIV.

The record of the war closes exactly with the laying down of the Confederate arms. We do not design to transgress this limit of our narrative. Bat it will not be out of place to regard generally the political consequences of the war, so far as they have been developed in a formation of parties, involving the further destinies of the country, and in the light of whose actions will probably be read many future pages of American History. The surrender of Gen. Lee's army was not the simple act of a

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