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and sent beyond the Federal lines under an escort of cavalry.

A Union meeting was held at Valley Springs Meeting House, Dickson county, on the 21st.

The anniversary of American independence was celebrated with great enthusiasm, and Union speeches were delivered at the capital and in other parts of the State.

Arrests continued frequent, and in the early part of July twenty-eight persons were arrested at Goodlettsville, but were all released on taking the oath of allegiance.

In the mean time, the Union citizens of the State had been almost incessantly harassed by roving bands of guerillas and marauders, of whom the cavalry forces of Cols. Forrest and Morgan acquired the greatest notoriety. Scarcely a day passed which did not bring a report of their seizing horses, cattle, and stores, burning bridges, tearing up railroad tracks, destroying telegraphic communications, and not unfrequently killing prominent Union men or falling unexpectedly upon small detachments of Federal troops. On the 1st of May a party of Col. Morgan's horsemen entered Pulaski and destroyed the goods of a shop keeper of that place. A military commission examined the case on the 20th, and ordered the provost marshal to collect from the secession authorities of the town, or failing in that, from certain well-known Confederate citizens, a sum sufficient to cover all the damages. As soon as Memphis had fallen the Confederate cavalry began to infest the line of the Memphis and Charleston railroad, burning cotton, carrying off Union citizens, and threatening to seize the person and destroy the property of any one who tempted to enter Memphis upon whatever pretext. On the 7th of July the pickets of a Minnesota brigade were attacked near Murfreesboro' by a party of civilians, and two of the soldiers were killed. The next day 90 guerillas were captured between Gallatin and Hartsville. On the 9th a wagon master and a sutler were fired upon from an ambush near Franklin, the the latter being killed and the former severely wounded. Similar murders were perpetrated near Memphis. On the 13th Colonels Forrest and Warner, with a regiment of Texan Rangers and a strong force of other Confederate troops, captured Murfreesboro'; and on the 21st a party of Forrest's guerillas captured the Federal pickets on the Lebanon road.

large quantity of cotton. On the 2d of August Gen. Nelson occupied McMinnville, the Confederates falling back before his arrival. Gen. Negley about the same time led an expedition against the guerillas in the direction of Columbia, dispersing a large assemblage of the marauders at Williamsport, and engaging them again with success at Kinderhook. On the 12th a detachment of Col. Morgan's guerillas surprised Gallatin, on the Louisville and Nashville railroad, making 130 prisoners and capturing a quantity of government stores, with a train of grain and 65 horses on the way from Louisville to Nashville. A force was immediately sent from Nashville to intercept them, but arrived only in time to capture a wagon load of arms, and exchange shots with strag glers on the outskirts of the town. On the 16th a party of workmen sent to repair the railroad which had been injured by Morgan near Gallatin were captured by guerillas, and the same day two Federal couriers were made prisoners a few miles south of Nashville. Railroad communication with the latter place was now entirely cut off on every side, bridges being burned and the track torn up for considerable distances, but the interruption lasted only a short time. On the 18th a railroad train was fired into near Columbia, a woman and child and two Federal soldiers being killed. The day afterward Clarksville was captured by a guerilla force, assisted by the disunion inhab itants of the town, Col. Mason of the 71st Ohio and about 300 men surrendering without resistance.

On the 20th a guard of 20 men under Capattain Atkinson of the 50th Indiana volunteers, being attacked at Edgefield junction by an overwhelming force of guerillas under Col. Morgan, defended themselves for 3 hours behind a stockade, repulsing their assailants three times, and saving the train to Bowling Green which it seems to have been Morgan's intention to capture.

The greatest excitement now existed at Nashville, and the loyal citizens proceeded to enroll themselves in anticipation of an attack upon the city, but in a few days reinforcements arrived and the guerillas fell back toward McMinnville. On the 17th an attack was made by about 60 guerillas upon a small scouting party belonging to Gen. Negley's command, between Mount Pleasant and Columbia. The Federal soldiers, only 8 in number, took refuge in a house and defended themselves for 6 hours, the guerillas finally retiring. On the 19th a party of 11 guerillas entered Brownsville and destroyed a

A second engagement with Morgan at Gallatin on the 22d proved a much more disastrous affair than the raid on the 12th. Gen. R. W. Johnson was taken prisoner, and more than half his command of 800 men were killed or captured. The guerillas emboldened by success now became more than ever troublesome. Travel ceased to be safe even within a few. miles of the capital; the mails were robbed; Union citizens were seized and sent to the South, and small detachments of Federal troops were frequently surprised by these daring horsemen, whose rapid movements generally set pursuit at defiance. At McMinnville they attacked the stockade, but the little guard repulsed them with heavy loss; and on the 28th Col. Forrest's band had a severe engagement with a Federal Kentucky regiment near Woodbury, losing 8 killed, 30 wounded, and 15 prisoners. On the 10th of September some Federal officers were captured by guerillas while dining at a house two or three miles

from Nashville. At Covington, Tipton county, in the western part of the State, where such raids had been common, the citizens gave bonds in the sum of $50,000 to protect Union residents, and declared their purpose of hanging all guerillas who fell into their hands. The interior of the State was not only harassed by organized bands, such as those of Forrest and Morgan, who held regular commissions in the Confederate army, but were also ravaged by marauders of the worst description, who had no object but plunder, and robbed both parties alike. The guerillas also gathered in considerable force in the counties bordering on the Mississippi, and attacked transports and other vessels on the river, generally with musketry alone, but sometimes with light field artillery. On the 23d of September a party of twenty-five or thirty men at Randolph, armed with rifles, muskets, and shot-guns, signalled the steamer Eugene to land. As the boat had two passengers and some freight for that point, she rounded to, none of the officers perceiving the guerilla band, who in fact had kept in the background up to that time. It was now apparent, as the guerillas sprang from their hiding place, that the intention was to seize the boat; and the captain, regardless of the demand to surrender, boldly pushed back into the stream amid several volleys of musketry. There were a great many passengers on board, including women and children, but no one was killed or hurt.

The outrage having been reported the next day to Gen. Sherman, at Memphis, he sent the forty-sixth regiment of Ohio volunteers and a section of Willard's Chicago battery to destroy the town. These troops took passage on the steamers Ohio Belle and Eugene, which arrived at Randolph on the 25th. The inhabitants seemed to have been impressed with the conviction that the town would be destroyed, and consequently most of them had left the place. The quartermaster of the regiment went through the town and took an inventory of the buildings and their probable worth, with their owners' names, as far as they could be learned. This having been done, and everything in each house having been removed, every house in the town was burnt to the ground, except the Methodist church, which was left standing for the accommodation of the few persons turned out of doors by the fire. All the cotton and other property of value as merchandise was brought away.

The town of Randolph, thus destroyed, contained about ninety houses, said to be mostly in a dilapidated condition. It is situated about sixty miles above Memphis, and was the site of extensive Confederate fortifications before the Mississippi river was opened.

To prevent similar occurrences in future, General W. T. Sherman, commanding at Memphis, ordered that for every boat fired upon ten disloyal families should be expelled the city.

On Oct. 21st the President recommended un election for members of Congress to be held in several districts of Tennessee, and instructed the military commanders to take measures to facilitate the execution of the order.

The progress of the campaign had now brought the Confederate forces almost within sight of Nashville, and the guerillas, hovering over the route of the regular forces, carried off stragglers from the Federal columns and rendered important service to their cause by burning bridges, skirmishing with pickets, and threatening the Union supply trains. On the 19th of October, Col. Forrest was defeated on the Gallatin turnpike about 7 miles from Nashville by a Union brigade under Col. Miller. On Nov. 5th Morgan made a dash at a Federal camp north of the Cumberland, but was repulsed with some loss. The same active chieftain on the 9th was driven out of Gallatin by a detachment of Gen. Crittenden's corps, and the next day was beaten at Lebanon, where the Federalists captured a quantity of stores and some prisoners. On the following morning Morgan returned and carried off thirty men from the Union camp, soon after which exploit he joined the rebel army near Murfreesboro'.

Col. Forrest's cavalry was also active in the same part of the State, but the vigorous measures of the Federal generals soon succeeded in checking this species of irregular warfare.

Some of the Federal soldiers, however, had been guilty of excesses hardly less outrageous than those of the guerillas, and rigid orders were issued by Gen. Grant to prevent it.

On the 7th of November, a portion of one of the Illinois regiments broke open a shop at Jackson, Tenn., and plundered and destroyed property to the value of some $1,242. Gen. Grant ordered that sum to be assessed against the regiment, and such of its officers as were absent without leave at the time when the depredations were committed, the money when collected to be paid to the persons who had suffered by the outrage; and two officers who had failed to prevent it were mustered out of the service.

Toward the close of the same month, a plan was matured by the governor and Gen. Rosecrans for requiring bonds and sureties for good behavior from persons suspected as disunionists, or known to have been formerly secessionists.

On the 7th, a brigade of Gen. Dumont's division was captured by Col. Morgan, at Hartsville, near Nashville, having been surprised in their camp, and forced to surrender after a short and desultory resistance. The Confederate military authorities proclaimed a general conscription in Tennessee, and proceeded to draft into the Confederate army all able-bodied men under 40, in the portions of the State under their control. The Union men made a determined resistance. but in general, as might be supposed, with little effect. Even in Middle and West Tennessee, where the na

tional arms were nominally paramount, the guerrillas were employed to drive conscripts into the ranks. East Tennessee suffered still more severely, and it is stated that particular care was had to draft into the Confederate ranks those persons who were most conspicu

ous for their devotion to the Union.

In accordance with the President's order of October 21st, Governor Johnson, in the early part of December, issued a proclamation, calling for an election of Representatives to the 37th Congress, to be held on the 29th, in the Ninth and Tenth Districts of Tennessee. The Ninth District embraces the counties of Henry, Weakly, Dyer, Oberon, Lauderdale, Tipton, Gibson, Carroll, and Henderson, and the Tenth includes the counties of Haywood, Madison, Hardeman, Fayette, and Shelby. The governor ended his lamation with the notice that "no person will be considered an elector qualified to vote who, in addition to the other qualifications required by law, does not give satisfactory evidence to the judges holding the election, of his loyalty to the Government of the United States."

proc

About the same time Gov. Johnson reissued a former order assessing the wealthy secessionists of Nashville and the vicinity to the amount of $60,000, for the support of the poor during the winter. The first order was as follows:

NASHVILLE, August 18, 1862. SIR: There are many wives and helpless children in the city of Nashville and county of Davidson, who have been reduced to poverty and wretchedness in consequence of their husbands and fathers having been forced into the armies of this unholy and nefarious rebellion. Their necessities have become so manifest, and their demands for the necessaries of life so urgent, that the laws of justice and humanity would be violated unless something was done to relieve their suffering and destitute condition.

You are therefore requested to contribute the sum of dollars, which you will pay over within the next five days to James Whitworth, Esq.,

Judge of the County Court, to be by him distributed among these destitute families in such manner as may be prescribed. Respectfully, &c., ANDREW JOHNSON, Military Governor. Attest: EDWARD H. EAST, Secretary of State.

made a raid on the railroad near Jackson, in the On the 20th a body of Confederate horsemen western part of the State, burned a long trestle work, and tore up the track for a considerable distance. The day following a small guerrilla force entered the suburbs of Memphis, pillaged several shops, and carried off 100 cattle and 180 mules.

As the armies of Gens. Bragg and Rosecrans began to prepare for battle, the guerrilla raids became more numerous and more destructive; Nashville was again almost isolated, tinual danger of having their supplies cut off, and the situation of the Union troops, in conbecame extremely precarious. Soon after the close of the year, the Chattanooga "Rebel" published the following from an official source:

Gen. Morgan's report of his expedition shows that of the enemy killed and wounded, and an immense 2,000 prisoners were paroled, and several hundred quantity of arms and property destroyed.

Forrest's 's report shows 1,500 prisoners taken, 1,000 of the enemy killed and wounded, an immense quantity of arms, ammunition, and stores destroyed, and his whole command splendidly equipped from their captures.

Our operations at Murfreesboro', including the capture of 5,000 prisoners and the capture of 2,000 at Hartsville and around Nashville, sum up 10,000 prisoners in less than a month.

We have also captured and sent to the rear 30 cannon, 60,000 small arms, with 2,000 more in the bands of our troops; 1,500 wagons destroyed, and the mules and harnesses secured. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded is estimated at 20,000, including 7 generals.

The exploits of Cols. Forrest and Morgan referred to in this summary were performed principally in the latter half of December and early part of January, 1863.

CHAPTER XVI.

Preparations for the capture of New Orleans-Occupation of Ship Island-The Mortar Fleet-Arrival of Captain Farragut— Bombardment of the Forts on the Mississippi-Preparation to run past the Forts-The Scenes which ensued-Arrival of the Fleet before New Orleans-Surrender of the City-Advance up the River-Surrender of the Forts to Commodore Porter-Gen. Butler occupies New Orleans-His Administration-Superseded by Gen. Banks.

PREPARATIONS for the capture of New Orleans had early in the war been commenced. As a preliminary movement an expedition to Ship Island was projected in September, 1861, almost immediately after Gen. Butler's return from the expedition to Hatteras Inlet, and he was authorized to enlist troops for it in New England. Coming into collision with Gov. Andrew of Massachusetts, in relation to the appointment of persons as field-officers for the regiments he raised in Massachusetts, whom the Governor regarded as unfit for their posts, and refused to commission, the expedition was

delayed for a time. The first instalment of troops for it were embarked at Boston, on the 19th of November, on the U. S. transport Constitution, and sailed at first for Portland, Me., and thence for Fortress Monroe, which they reached on the 26th November, and sailed the next day for Ship Island, where they arrived on the 3d December. They consisted of the Twenty-sixth Massachusetts regiment, Col. Jones, the Ninth Connecticut, Col. Cahill, and the Fourth battery of Massachusetts artillery,. Capt. Manning, and were under the command of Brig.-Gen. John W. Phelps, a native of Ver

mont, and graduate of West Point in 1836. He served for 23 years in the army, but resigned in 1859, and was living at Brattleboro', Vt., at the commencement of the war.

Having completed the debarkation of his command, Gen. Phelps issued a proclamation to the loyal citizens of the Southwest, for which there seemed no occasion, as his superior in command, Maj.-Gen. Butler, had not arrived, and there were on the island none but U. S. troops, and no invasion had been made upon the territory claimed by the Confederate Government. The proclamation was not circulated upon the mainland to any considerable extent; but it created much dissatisfaction among Gen. Phelps's own command.

The Constitution left Ship Island on the 7th of December on her return to the North, and arrived at Fortress Monroe on the 15th; in January, 1862, she returned with another considerable body of troops. Thus the military part of the expedition for the capture of New Orleans under Gen. B. F. Butler, was transferred to a position in the neighborhood of that city.

On the 3d of February Capt. D. G. Farragut sailed from Hampton Roads in the U. S. steamer Hartford to assume the duties of flag-officer of the Western Gulf blockading squadron. In addition to the ordinary duties of the blockade, he was specially charged with the reduction of the defences guarding the approaches to New Orleans. "There will be attached to your squadron," said the Secretary of the Navy in his letter of instructions, "a fleet of bomb vessels, and armed steamers enough to manage them, all under command of Commander D. D. Porter, who will be directed to report to you. When these formidable mortars arrive, and you are completely ready, you will collect such vessels as can be spared from the blockade and proceed up the Mississippi River, and reduce the defences which guard the approaches to New Orleans, when you will appear off that city and take possession of it under the guns your squadron, and hoist the American flag therein, keeping possession until troops can be sent to you. If the Mississippi expedition from Cairo shall not have descended the river, you will take advantage of the panic to push a strong force up the river to take all their defences in the rear."

of

This fleet of mortars spoken of by the Secretary was fitted out at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and was for some months in preparation. It consisted of one gunboat, the Octorara, mounting 18 guns, and serving as Com. Porter's flag-ship, but subsequently diverted from the expedition to Fortress Monroe, and 20 schooners, of from 200 to 300 tons each, of great strength and solidity, and carrying each a mortar, weigh ing 83 tons, of thirty-nine inches length of bore, forty-three inches external and fifteen inches internal diameter, and intended to throw a 15-inch shell, weighing, when unfilled, 212 lbs. They are elevated or depressed by means of projections

on the breech. Each vessel also carried two 32pounders, rifled.

This class of vessels had been selected because they were stronger in proportion to their size than larger ones, at the same time that their light draft enabled them to go into shallow water; and from their small tonnage they could be handled by a small number of men.

To fit them to receive the mortars, a bed had been prepared, which was supported by an almost solid mass of wood, built from the keel to the deck. This consisted of timbers over one foot square and twelve feet in length, interlaced and firmly fastened. The bed rose two or three inches above the deck, and consisted of a solid horizontal surface, circular in form, with a truck near its edge, upon which run rollers bearing a revolving platform. The bed itself was carefully braced and supported by the entire strength of the vessel, so as to sustain the recoil of the mortar.

The circular platform surmounting the bed and bearing the mortar carriage, was constructed of heavy timbers, and was one foot in depth and nearly twelve feet in diameter. When in position for a discharge, it laid flat and firmly on the bed, but by ingenious mechanism it might be made to revolve, in order to aim the mortar in any direction, or to resight it if the vessel shifted its position. The change of direction was easily and quickly accomplished. By means of four eccentric axles in the platform, to which levers were fitted, the mortar and machinery (weighing altogether over ten tons) might be raised, and the weight transferred by the same movement to a great number of metallic rollers attached to a framework of immense strength under the platform. Then, by means of tackle, already arranged, the whole mass might be moved to its desired position, and instantly, by a reverse movement, replaced on the bed. In the centre of the platform, and extending into the solid mass beneath, was an iron cylinder or spindle which prevented any side movement.

The mortar carriage was constructed almost exclusively of wrought-iron. Its length was about nine feet, and its height and width each four feet. In form it had the slightest possible resemblance to a land carriage-gradually sloping at the point where the mortar rested, in the direction of the breech; and having wheels, yet not resting on them when the mortar was discharged. The carriage was composed principally of plate iron, riveted together, braced and bolted. It was a framework of excellent design, and though weighing probably not more than two tons, was capable of resisting a pressure of one to two hundred tons.

Two wheels were set close to the framework, directly under the mortars; and connected with them were eccentric axles, so arranged as to permit so large a part of the weight to be thrown on the wheels, that the carriage might be moved on them.

It was not intended, however, that the recoil of the mortar should in any degree be taken up

or lessened in its effect by the moving of the wheels. The carriage laid firmly on the platform when the mortar was discharged, and the only possible motion was that of the vessel in the water.

The bombs were the most formidable ordnance missile known, except those used in the Rodman columbiad of 15-inch bore. In addition to the two 32-pounder guns, the vessels were provided with pikes, cutlasses, and other necessary

weapons.

The mortars could not be fired directly over the sides of the vessels, and therefore the latter were partially headed toward the point of attack. The vessels were therefore anchored, and a part of the rigging removed. The extraordinary weight and strength of the mortars, the unprecedentedly large charge of powder, the long range and high velocity of the projectiles, with their destructive character, combined to render this novel expedition one of the most important undertaken during the war. The vessels made their first rendezvous at Key West, and subsequently proceeded to Ship Island, Mississippi.

Captain Farragut arrived at Ship Island on the 20th, having been detained for some time at Key West, and immediately began to or ganize his squadron for the important duty which had been assigned to him. There are two routes by which New Orleans may be approached by water, one through Lake Borgne and Lake Pontchartrain, and the other directly up the Mississippi River; but the former, on account of the shallowness of the water, is i npracticable for any but vessels of very light draft. The Confederates had consequently devoted their labors chiefly to the fortification of the Mississippi. Some seventy-five miles below the city, and about twenty-five miles from the "Passes" or mouths of the river, they had possession of two strong works constructed many years before by the United States Government, Fort St. Philip on the left, or north bank, and Fort Jackson on the right. Their united armament was one hundred and twenty-six guns, many of them of the very largest calibre. Starting opposite Fort Jackson and extending to a point a quarter of a mile below Fort St. Philip, a stout chain cable was stretched across the stream (here seven hundred yards wide) supported by a raft of logs and eight hulks securely moored. Adjoining Fort Jackson was a water battery. Under cover of the forts was a fleet of thirteen gunboats, the powerful iron-clad battery Louisiana, and the iron-clad ram Manassas, the naval forces being commanded by Commodore G. N. Hollins. Between New Orleans and the forts several earthworks, well armed, commanded the channel. "Our only fear," said the press of New Orleans of April 5, "is that the Northern invaders may not appear. We have made such extensive preparations to receive them that it were vexatious if their invincible armada escapes the fate we have in store for it."

To reduce these formidable defences, Capt. Farragut was able to collect the following vessels: steam sloops Hartford, 24 guns (flag-ship), Richmond, 26, Pensacola, 24, Brooklyn, 24, Mississippi, 12, Iroquois, 9, Oneida, 9, sailing sloop of war Portsmouth, 17, gunboats Varuna, 12, Cayuga, 6, and Winona, Katahdin, Itasca, Kineo, Wissahickon, Pinola, Kennebeck, and Sciota, 4 each. The frigate Colorado, 48, could not pass over the bar, and the entrance of some of the other large ships was only effected with the expenditure of much time and labor. The mortar fleet comprised twenty schooners, each mounting one large mortar and two small guns. They were accompanied by the steamers Harriet Lane, 4, the flag-ship of Commodore Porter, Miami, 7, Westfield, 6, Clifton, 6, and Owasco, 5. Some of these were merely armed tugs, intended principally to serve the purpose of towing the bomb vessels into position. Including the coast-survey steamer Sachem, the number of vessels under Capt. Farragut's command was therefore forty-six, and their aggregate armament, counting boat howitzers placed in the maintops, was about three hundred guns and mortars. There were no iron-clads in the fleet.

Nearly three weeks were consumed in getting all the ships of the squadron over the bars at the mouths of the Mississippi. Capt. Farragut found the depth considerably less than it had been laid down on the official maps; no doubt for the reason that the daily passing of large ships, before the port was blockaded, had kept the channel open. On the 28th of March, Fleet Captain H. H. Bell made a reconnoissance with two gunboats from the head of the Passes up toward the forts. He found the left bank quite clear of trees and bushes, but on the west side a thick wood extended about four miles below Fort Jackson. By the 8th of April the Mississippi and Pensacola were over the bar, and the mortar boats were moving up toward their appointed stations. On the 13th a detachment from the coast survey party set out under protection of the Owasco, and spent three days in making a minute boat survey of the river and banks, much of the time under fire, and marking the positions which the mortar vessels were to occupy. On the 18th two divisions of Commander Porter's flotilla were moored under the lee of the wood on the right bank of the river, screened from observation by the thick growth of trees interwoven with vines; the masts and rigging were dressed off with bushes, which were renewed as often as they were blown away. The head vessel was 2,850 yards from Fort Jackson and 3,680 from Fort St. Philip. The remaining division, composed of six vessels, was stationed under the opposite bank, the nearest being 3,680 yards from Fort Jackson. There was nothing on this side to screen them from observation, but their hulls were covered with reeds and willows.

The bombardment opened on the 18th, the mortar vessels taking the lead, and the gunboats

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