fence and house top in the vicinity. Suddenly the sharp reports of several fire-arms were heard from the front of the column, and the spectators that lined the adjacent hill were seen fleeing in the greatest dismay and terror. It appeared that several members of one of the German companies, on being pressed by the crowd and receiving some blows from them, turned and discharged their pieces. Fortunately no one was injured, and the soldiers who had done the act were at once placed under arrest. Hardly, however, had tranquillity been restored when volley after volley of rifle reports was suddenly heard from the extreme rear ranks, and men, women, and children were beheld running wildly and frantically away from the scene. Many, while running, were suddenly struck to the sod, and the wounded and dying made the late beautiful field look like a battle-ground. The total number killed and wounded was twenty-five. It was said that the arsenal troops were attacked with stones, and two shots discharged at them by the crowd before they fired. Most of the people exposed to the fire were citizens with their wives and children, who were merely spectators. It was now night, and the excitement in the city was indescribable. On the next afternoon a large body of the German Home Guard entered the city from the arsenal, where they had been enlisted during the day, and furnished with arms. They passed unmolested until they turned up Walnut Street, and proceeded westward. Large crowds were collected on the corners, who hooted and hissed as the companies passed, and one man standing on the steps of a church fired a revolver into the ranks. A soldier fell dead, when two more shots were fired from the windows of a house near by. At this time the head of the column, which had reached as far as Seventh Street, suddenly turned, and levelling their rifles, fired down the street, and promiscuously among the spectators, who lined the pavements. Shooting, as they did, directly toward their rear ranks, they killed some of their men as well as those composing the crowd. The shower of bullets was for a moment terrible, and the only wonder was that more lives were not lost. The missiles of lead entered the windows and perforated the doors of private residences, tearing the ceilings, and throwing splinters in every direction. On the street the scene presented, as the soldiers moved off, was sad indeed. Six men lay dead at different points, and several were wounded and shrieking with pain upon the pavements. Four of the men killed were members of the regiment, and two were citizens. Immense crowds of people filled the streets after the occurrence, and the whole city presented a scene of excitement seldom witnessed. Among the arms taken at Camp Jackson were three thirty-two pounders, a large quantity of balls and bombs, several pieces of artillery, twelve hundred rifles, of the late model, six brass field-pieces, six brass six-inch mortars,

one ten-inch iron mortar, three six-inch iron cannon, several chests of new muskets, five boxes canister shot, ninety-six ten-inch and three hundred six-inch shells, twenty-five kegs of powder, and a large number of musket stocks and barrels, between thirty and forty horses, and a considerable quantity of camp tools.

The number of prisoners taken to the arsenal was six hundred and thirty-nine privates and fifty officers. On the same day a body of secessionists were dispersed at Liberty, Missouri.

On the 17th a number of persons were arrested at Washington, on the charge of being spies from the insurrectionary States. The transportation of any articles by express, to any point further south than Washington, was also forbidden. Some fortifications were commenced by Southern troops at Harper's Ferry. The yacht Wanderer, formerly noted as having brought a cargo of slaves from Africa into the State of Georgia, was at the same time seized off Key West by the Federal steamer Crusader.

On the 19th the light ship in the Potomac River was seized by a body of Virginians, but they were pursued and the vessel recaptured.

On the 19th a collision took place at Sewell's Point, which is the projection of land on the right shore, where the Elizabeth River turns from a north to an easterly course, becoming then what is called Hampton Roads. It is on this river that Norfolk in Virginia is situated. The point was fortified immediately after the secession of Virginia. The battery placed there by her troops was the exterior of the line of batteries intended to guard the Elizabeth River, through which Norfolk is approached. This line of batteries consisted of seven, the heaviest of which was at Craney Island, mounting about thirty guns. Two batteries further inland mounted about twelve and fifteen guns respectively. The other batteries mounted from seven to ten guns. The battery at Sewell's Point commanded the vessels blockading James River, and if the guns were sufficiently heavy and effective, it could cause them to remove. party being observed perfecting the earthworks, the gunboat Star opened fire upon them with two ten-inch guns and shell. Subsequently the Freeborn, Capt. Ward, arrived, and taking a position near the shore, drove the defenders out of the works, and disabled the battery.

A

The Star was struck by five shots of small calibre, all of which took effect. One ball, a six-pounder, penetrated the hull on the larboard bow, a few inches above the water line. Two of her crew were injured, and one of them, a boy, seriously. This was the first skirmish between the floating batteries of the North and land batteries of the South. On the other side, Vice-President Stephens, in an address at Atlanta, Ga., on the 23d of May, spoke of the affair as resulting in "the vessel being repulsed and disabled."

Southern troops now marched for Harper's Ferry, and on the 20th of May there were on the spot 8,000, made up from Kentucky,

Alabama, South Carolina, and Virginia. They occupied all the neighboring heights on both sides of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, and claimed to hold a position impregnable to 40,000 men, so eligible were the points of defence. They expected accessions to their number, under the belief that the United States Government intended to make an effort to replant the national flag wherever it had been displaced.

A small force was thrown over the river to the heights on the Maryland shore, thus occupying a position important to the security of Harper's Ferry. The invasion of Maryland by Virginia caused a remonstrance from Governor Hicks, addressed to Governor Letcher, of Virginia. The latter replied that the movement was unauthorized and should be countermanded. On the 14th of June the ferry was evacuated by the troops. Their total force on that day in and around the place was about 10,000. On the day when the evacuation commenced the bridge over the Potomac was destroyed, having been partly blown up and then set on fire by the retiring force. It was a long and costly structure. This retreat of the Southern troops was made in consequence of the movement of Union troops up the Potomac, from Washington, and from Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania, toward Harper's Ferry. At a later day, a small force of Confederate troops returned and burned the bridge over the Shenandoah and other property. After the passage of the Union troops across the Potomac at Williamsport, under General Patterson, the Confederate forces retired, and the ferry remained in possession of the former permanently.

On the 22d a body of men from the mainland reoccupied Ship Island, near the mouth of the Mississippi, on which the construction of an extensive fort had been commenced by the Federal Government, and destroyed the wooden work and the lighthouse structure.

On the night of the 23d of May troops from Washington proceeded to occupy the heights on the opposite side of the Potomac in Virginia. The large camps of southern troops formed in such places in Virginia, that a rapid concentration by railroad could be made, rendered it prudent for the Government to occupy these positions, which, in consequence of the railroad connections between Alexandria and Richmond, were of great importance to the security of Washington. The night of the 23d was beautiful on the Potomac. A full moon looked peacefully down, and perfect quietness prevailed over all the shores in the neighborhood of Washington. Companies of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, were stationed near and on the Long Bridge. About midnight two companies of rifles were advanced across the bridge to the neighborhood of Roach's Spring. Scouts were sent out in all directions, who managed to get past the line of Virginia pickets. Somewhat later the latter, getting the alarm, set spurs to their horses, and made off in haste down the road

toward Alexandria. Volunteers of the District of Columbia were also advanced toward Alexandria. At Georgetown, above, a movement was made about half-past eleven over the aqueduct by the Georgetown battalion. They drove off the two or three pickets on the Virginia side of the river, and soon established themselves in position. Next followed the 5th Massachusetts regiment, 28th Brooklyn regiment, Company B of the U. S. cavalry, and the 69th regiment. The last-named regiment scoured Alexandria County, and went back as far as the Loudon and Hampshire Railroad. The sight of the troops crossing the aqueduct, with their burnished weapons gleaming in the bright moonlight, was strikingly beautiful. About 2 o'clock in the morning another large body of troops passed over from Washington and the neighborhood. The 7th New York regiment halted under orders at the Virginia end of the Long Bridge; the 2d New Jersey regiment went to Roach's Spring, half a mile from the end of the bridge; the New York 25th and one cavalry company, and the New York 12th and the 3d and 4th New Jersey regiments, proceeded to the right, after crossing the bridge, for the occupation of the heights of Arlington. They were joined by the other troops, which crossed at the Georgetown aqueduct.

Ellsworth's Zouaves, in two steamers, with the steamer James Guy as tender, left their camp on the East Branch, directly for Alexandria by water. The Michigan regiment, under Col. Wilcox, accompanied by a detachment of United States cavalry and two pieces of Sherman's battery, also proceeded by way of the Long Bridge to Alexandria. At 4 o'clock A. M. the Zouaves landed at Alexandria from the steamers, and the troops, who proceeded by the bridge, also reached that town. As the steamers drew up near the wharf, armed boats left the Pawnee, whose crews leaped ashore just before the Ellsworth Zouaves reached it. The crews of the Pawnee's boats were fired upon by a few Virginia sentries as the boats left the steamship, by way of giving the alarm, but these sentries instantly fled into the town. Their fire was answered by scattering shots from some of the Zouaves on the decks of the steamers. Immediately on landing, the Zouaves marched up into the centre of the town, no resistance whatever to their progress being offered. Thus quiet possession was taken of that part of Alexandria, in the name of the United States, by that portion of the troops immediately commanded by Col. Ellsworth. The Michigan regiment, at the same time, marched into the town by the extension of the Washington turnpike, and the cavalry and artillery came in two or three streets below. The destination of both these detachments was the depot of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, which they instantly seized. They also found there a disunion company of cavalry, of thirty-five men, and as many horses, who were made prisoners, not having heard the alarm made by the

firing of the sentries below. A portion of the Virginia force escaped in cars. Thus was possession taken of the Virginia shore. Intrenching tools were conveyed over from Washington; the next day intrenchments were thrown up, and about noon a large national flag was raised within them, and thrown out to the winds. Great numbers of spectators, of both sexes, lined the heights on the east bank of the Potomac, watching the movements of the troops with eager interest. The only disastrous event occurring was the death of Col. Ellsworth, commander of the Fire Zouave regiment of New York. The intrenchments thus commenced subsequently became of immense extent, and, with those on the other sides of Washington, consisted of forty-eight works, mounting 300 guns. The whole defence perimeter occupied was about thirty-five miles.

During the next day after the occupation of Alexandria, the bridges on the railroad from that city to Leesburg were destroyed. Martial law was at once declared in Alexandria, and the command of the troops in the vicinity of Washington was given to Brig.-Gen. Irvin McDowell. From Fortress Monroe Gen. Butler advanced his forces and formed an intrenched camp at Newport News on the 27th. His object was to command Sand Island, which is about midway in, and completely guards the entrance of the James River.

A blockade of the Mississippi was commenced at this time by the Southern troops, and also a regular blockade of the ports of Savannah and Mobile by the Federal fleet.

On the 30th, Grafton, in Western Virginia, was occupied by Col. Kelly. A small force of the enemy retired on his approach. In Missouri Gen. Lyon superseded Gen. Harney, and at Washington commissions were issued to Gens. Fremont and Banks.

On the 31st an attack was made on the batteries erected by the Virginia troops at Aquia Creek, below Washington, by Commander H. J. Ward in the gunboat Freeborn, supported by the Anacostia and Resolute. He thus reported the affair:

"After an incessant discharge, kept up for two hours by both our 32-pounders, and the expenditure of all the ammunition suitable for distant firing, and silencing completely the three batteries at the railroad terminus, the firing from shore having been rapidly kept up by them until so silenced, and having been recommenced from the new batteries on the heights back, which reached us in volleys, dropping the shot on board and about us like hail for nearly an hour, but fortunately wounding but one man, I hauled the vessel off, as the heights proved wholly above the reach of our elevation. Judging from the explosion of our ten-second shells in the sand-batteries, two of which were thrown by the Anacostia, it is hardly possible the enemy can have escaped considerable loss. Several others of the Anacostia's shells dropped in the vicinity of the battery."

Another attack was made on the batteries on the 1st of June, by the Freeborn and Pawnee gunboats. Just as the firing opened the men at the batteries burned the depot houses at the end of the wharf, probably to prevent them from being in the way of their shot. They continued burning throughout the whole engagement, as it was not safe for any one to leave the batteries to extinguish the fire. The entire wharf to the water's edge was also burned.

A slight affair had taken place on the 29th of May, previous to these two attacks, which was the first hostile collision on the waters of the Potomac.

On June 1st the first collision took place between the hostile forces in the neighborhood of Washington. Lieut. Tompkins, with a company of regular cavalry, consisting of forty-seven men, made a dash upon the village of Fairfax CourtHouse. A body of Southern troops were in possession of the village, who made a vigorous and determined resistance. The cavalry charged through the principal street, and upon their return were met by two detachments of the enemy. Again wheeling, they encountered another detachment, through which they forced their way and escaped, bringing with them five prisoners. They lost nine horses in the skirmish.

BLOODY Conflicts soon began to occur in various quarters, which renders it necessary to notice more fully the preparations each side had been making. On April 29th the insurrectionary Congress had assembled at Montgomery, in compliance with a proclamation from their President. At the opening of the session

he delivered a message recommending such measures as were necessary to conduct a vigorous defensive war. They were promptly passed, and on the 21st of May Congress adjourned to meet at Richmond, in Virginia, on July 20th. The reasons for this change of capital are given by the President of the Congress, Howell

Cobb, in a speech at Atlanta, Ga., on the 22d of May:

"I presume that a curiosity to know what we have been doing in the Congress recently assembled at Montgomery, has induced you to make this call upon me. We have made all the necessary arrangements to meet the present crisis. Last night we adjourned to meet in Richmond on the 20th of July. I will tell you why we did this. The 'Old Dominion,' as you know, has at last shaken off the bonds of Lincoln, and joined her noble Southern sisters. Her soil is to be the battle-ground, and her streams are to be dyed with Southern blood. We felt that her cause was our cause, and that if she fell we wanted to die by her. We have sent our soldiers on to the posts of danger, and we wanted to be there to aid and counsel our brave 'boys.' In the progress of the war further legislation may be necessary, and we will be there, that when the hour of danger comes, we may lay aside the robes of legislation, buckle on the armor of the soldier, and do battle beside the brave ones who have volunteered for the defence of our beloved South.

"The people are coming up gallantly to the work. When the call was made for twelvemonths' volunteers, thousands were offered; but when it was changed to the full term of the war, the numbers increased! The anxiety among our citizens is not as to who shall go to the wars, but who shall stay at home. No man in the whole Confederate States-the gray-haired sire down to the beardless youth-in whose veins was one drop of Southern blood, feared to plant his foot upon Virginia's soil, and die fighting for our rights."

On the next evening the Vice-President, Mr. Stephens, being at Atlanta, also made an address, in which the plan of the Government was more fully unfolded: "The time for speechmaking has passed. The people have heard all that can be said. The time for prompt, vigorous, and decisive action is upon us, and we must do our duty. Upon the surface affairs appear to be quiet, and I can give you no satisfaction as to their real condition. It is true that threats of an attack on Pensacola have been made, but it is uncertain whether any attack will be made. As you know, an attack was made at Sewall's Point, near Norfolk, but the vessel making it was repulsed and disabled. But the general opinion and indications are that the first demonstration will be at Harper's Ferry, and that there, where John Brown inaugurated his work of slaughter, will be fought a fierce and bloody battle. As for myself, I believe that there the war will begin, and that the first boom of cannon that breaks upon our ears will come from that point. But let it begin where it will, and be as bloody and prolonged as it may, we are prepared for the issue! Some think there will be no war; as to that I know not. But whatever others wanted, the object of the Confederate Government is peace. Come peace or war, however, it is determined to maintain our

position at every hazard and at every cost, and to brive back the myrmidons of Abolitionism. We prefer and desire peace if we can have it; but if we cannot, we must meet the issue forced upon us."

Richmond was promptly occupied by the Southern authorities, and was made the capital of the new Confederacy.

Meanwhile President Lincoln had issued another call for troops. On the 4th of May a second proclamation appeared calling for volunteers to serve during the war. So patriotic and enthusiastic were the people in favor of preserving the Union, that, under this call, two hundred and eight regiments had been accepted by July 1st. A number of other regiments were also accepted, on condition of being ready to be mustered into service within a specified time. All of those regiments accepted under this call were infantry and riflemen, with the exception of two battalions of artillery and four regiments of cavalry. Many regiments, mustered as infantry, had attached to them one or more artillery companies; and there were also some regiments partly made up of companies of cavalry. Of the two hundred and eight regiments above mentioned, one hundred and fifty-three were in active service on the 1st of July, and the remaining fifty-five within twenty days afterwards. The total force in the field on July 1st, was computed as follows:

Regulars and volunteers for three months and for

the war..

Add to this 55 regiments of volunteers for the war, accepted and not then in service. 50,000 25,000

Add new regiments of regular army.

Total force at command of Government

Deduct the three-months' volunteers. Force for service after the withdrawal of the threemonths' men......

282,875

75,000

807,875 77,875

230,000

Of this force, 188,000 men were volunteers, and 42,000 men computed for the regular army. The proclamation of the President of May 4th also called for an increase of the regular army. This increase consisted of one regiment of cavalry of twelve companies, numbering, in the maximum aggregate, 1,189, officers and men; one regiment of artillery, of twelve batteries, of six pieces each, numbering, in the maximum aggregate, 1,909, officers and men; nine regiments of infantry, each regiment containing three battalions of eight companies each, numbering, in the maximum aggregate, 2,452, officers and men, making a maximum increase of infantry of 22,068, officers and men.

The system adopted for the organization of the volunteers was different from the one which had existed in the regular army. The French regimental system of three battalions to a regiment was adopted.

Such gatherings of forces along an irregular and disputed line from east to west, soon led to collisions before the earnest work of war could commence. A camp of insurrectionary troops in the neighborhood of Philippi, Barbour County, Western Virginia, were completely sur