THESE ARE ARCHIVED PAGES OF THE OLD EHISTORY SITE
These pages are not actively maintained and may have errors in content and functionality
THESE ARE ARCHIVED PAGES OF THE OLD EHISTORY SITE click here for the NEW eHistory site These pages are not actively maintained and may have errors in content and functionality
President Davis, when old Butler is caught; and my daughter asks that she may be allowed to adjust it around his neck." And Paul R. Haynea South Carolina poet, wrote:
"Yes! but there is one who shall not die
In battle harness! One for whom
Lurks in the darkness silently
Another and a sterner doom!
A warrior's end should crown the brave;
For him, swift cord and felon's grave! "
CHAPTER XVII
Army of the Potomac-Armies Ordered to Move-McClellan's Plan of Operations-Evacuation of Manassas-" Promenade " of the Union Army-McClellan Relieved-The " Monitor " and " Merrimac "-Events in the Shenandoah Vallev-Battle at Kernstown-Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula-Siege of Yorktown-Magruder's Strategy-Battle at Williamsburg-Tardy MovementsMcClellan and the President-Capture of Norfolk-Mlilitary Events in the Valley-Battles at Winchester, Cross Keys and Port Republic-The "White House"-On the Chickahominly-Confederate Government Rebuked-Fatal Hesitation-Battle at Fair Oaks-Stuart's Raid.
While great activity prevailed in the valley of the Mississippi, the
Grand Army of the Potomac, under General McClellan, had been lying almost inactive much of the time, in the vicinity of the National capital. It had, however, been growing in numbers and discipline; and early in 1862, it was composed of full two hundred thousand men. The battles of Ball's Bluff and Drainsville, already mentioned, had prevented its rusting into absolute immobility; and the troops were gladdened, from time to time, by promises of an immediate advance upon the Confederates at Manassas. On account of that expectation, very little had been done toward placing the troops in winter quarters, and much suffering and discontent were the consequence. Efforts were made by many officers to break the monotony of camp-life; and the Secretary of War (Mr. Cameron) permitted the musical Hutchinson family to visit the camps and sing their simple and stirring songs. They were diffusing sunshine through the gloom of the army by delighting crowds of soldiers who listened to their sweet melody, when their career was suddenly checked by the following order:
" By direction of General McClellan, the permit given to the 'Hutchinson Family' to sing in the camps, and their pass to cross the Potomac, are revoked, and they will not be allowed to sing to the troops."
Why not? Because a few of the officers of the army were afraid of offending the confederated slaveholders, and the Hutchinsons had been guilty of singing Whittier's stirring song, then lately written, to the tune of Luther's Hymn, "Ein feste burgist unser Gott," in which, among eight similar verses, was the following:
"
What gives the wheat-fields blades of steel?
What points the rebel cannon?
What sets the roaring rabble's heel
On th' old star-spangled pennon?
What break- th' oath
Of th' men o' th' South?
What whets the knife
For the Union's life?
Hark to the answer: Slavery.''
On the 13th of January, 1862, the energetic Edwin M. Stanton succeeded Simon Cameron, as Secretary of War, and infused new life into the service. The people had become impatient; and the President, satisfied that longer delay was unnecessary, issued a general order on the 27th of January, in which he directed a simultaneous forward movement of "all the land and naval forces of the United States against the insurgent forces on the 22d day of February next ensuing. This order sent a thrill of joy through the hearts of the loyal people, and it was heightened when the President ordered McClellan to move
