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two sections. In such books the manners and customs of one section were held up to the contempt of the people of the other section. In the North the belief was fostered that the South was given up to inhumanity; while in the South the opinion prevailed that the Northern people were a mean race of cowardly Yankees.

11. The evil influence of demagogues may be cited as the fifth general cause of the war. From 1850 to 1860, American statesmanship and patriotism were at a low ebb. Ambitious and scheming politicians had obtained control of the political parties. The welfare of the country was put aside as of little value. In order to gain power, many unprincipled men in the South were anxious to destroy the Union, while others in the North were willing to abuse the Union for the same purpose.

12. Added to all these causes was a growing public opinion in the North against the institution of slavery itself; a belief that slavery was wrong and ought to be destroyed. This opinion, comparatively feeble at the beginning of the war, was rapidly developed, and had much to do in determining the final character of the conflict.

RECAPITULATION.

The causes. First, the different construction of the Constitution in the North and the South.-Fatal character of this dispute.-Second, the system of slavery.— The cotton gin.-The Missouri agitation.-The annexation of Texas, and the Mexican War.--The nullification measures of South Carolina. -The Omnibus Bill.The Kansas-Nebraska imbroglio.-Third, the want of intercourse between the North and the South.-Fourth, the publication of sectional books.-Fifth, the influence of demagogues.-Sixth, hostility to slavery itself.

ON

CHAPTER LXI.

FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR.

N the 24th of May, the Union army crossed the Potomac from Washington to Alexandria. At this time Fortress Monroe was held by twelve thousand men, under General B. F. Butler. At Bethel Church, in that vicinity, was stationed a detachment of

Confederates commanded by General Magruder. On the 10th of June, a body of Union troops was sent to dislodge them, but was repulsed with considerable loss.

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2. In the last of May, General T. A. Morris moved forward from Parkersburg to Grafton, West Virginia. On the 3d of June, he defeated a force of Confederates at F'hilippi. General George B. McClellan now took the command, and on the 11th of July, gained a victory at Rich Mountain. General Garnett, the Confederate commander, fell back to Carrick's Ford, on Cheat River, where he was again defeated and himself killed. On the 10th of August, General Floyd, with a detachment of Confederates at Carnifex Ferry, on Gauley River, was attacked by General William S. Rosecrans and obliged to retreat. of September, the Confederates under General Robert E. Lee were beaten in an engagement at Cheat Mountain.

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3. In the beginning of June, General Robert Patterson marched against Harper's Ferry. On the 11th of the month, a division commanded by Colonel Lewis Wallace made a successful onset upon the Confederates, at Romney. Patterson then crossed the Potomac and pressed back the Confederate forces to Winchester. Thus far there had been only petty engagements and skirmishes. The time had now come for the first great battle of the war.

4. The main body of the Confederates, under General Beauregard, was concentrated at Manassas Junction, twenty-seven miles west of Alexandria. Another large force, commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston, was in the Shenandoah Valley. The Union army at Alexandria was commanded by General Irwin McDowell, while General Patterson was stationed in front of Johnston. On the 16th of July, the national army moved forward, and on the morning of the 21st, came upon the Confederate army, between

Bull Run and Manassas Junction. A general battle ensued, continuing with great severity until noonday. In the crisis of the conflict General Johnston arrived with nearly six thousand fresh troops from the Shenandoah Valley; and in a short time McDowell's army was hurled back in rout and confusion into the

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defences of Washington. The Union loss in killed, wounded and prisoners amounted to two thousand nine hundred and fifty-two; that of the Confederates to two thousand and fifty.

5. Meanwhile, on the 20th of July, the new Confederate government was organized at Richmond. Jefferson Davis, the President, was a man of wide experience in the affairs.

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served in both houses of the national Congress, and as a member of Pierce's cabinet. His decision of character and advocacy of State rights had made him a natural leader of the South.

6. The next military movements were made in Missouri. A convention, called by Governor Jackson in the previous March, had refused to pass an ordinance of secession. But the disunionists were numerous and powerful; and the State became a battle-field. Both Federal and Confederate camps were organized. By capturing the United States arsenal at Liberty, the Confederates obtained a supply of arms and ammunition. By the formation of CampJackson, near St. Louis, the arsenal in that city was endangered ; but by the vigilance of Captain Nathaniel Lyon the arms and stores were sent to Springfield.

7. The Confederates now hurried up troops from Arkansas and Texas in order to secure the lead mines in the southwest part of the State. On the 17th of June, Lyon defeated Governor Jackson at Booneville, and on the 5th of July, the Unionists, led

by Colonel Franz Sigel, were again successful in a fight at Carthage. On the 10th of August, a hard battle was fought at Wilson's Creek, near Springfield. General Lyon made a daring attack on the Confederates under Generals McCulloch and Price. The Federals at first gained

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the field, but General Lyon was killed, and his men retreated.

8. General Price now pressed northward to Lexington, which was defended by two thousand six hundred Federals, commanded by Colonel Mulligan. A stubborn defence was made, but Mulligan was obliged to capitulate. On the

16th of October, Lexington was retaken by the Federals. General John C. Fremont followed the retreating Confederates as far as

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Springfield, when he was superseded by General Hunter. The latter retreated to St. Louis, and Price fell back toward Arkansas.

9. Notwithstanding the neutrality of Kentucky, the Confederate general Polk entered the State and captured the town of Columbus. The Confederates also gathered in force at Belmont, on the opposite bank of the Mississippi. Colonel Ulysses S. Grant, with three thousand Illinois troops, was now sent into Missouri. On the 7th of November, he made a successful attack on the Confederate camp at Belmont; but was afterward obliged to retreat.

10. After the rout at Bull Run, troops were rapidly hurried to Washington. The aged General Scott retired from active duty, and General McClellan took command of the Army of the Potomac.

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their leader, Colonel Baker, killed, and the whole force routed with a loss of eight hundred men.

11. In the summer of 1861, a naval expedition, commanded by Commodore Stringham and General Butler, proceeded to the North Carolina coast, and on the 29th of August, captured

the forts at Hatteras Inlet. On the 7th

of November, an armament, under Commodore Dupont and General Thomas W. Sherman, reached Port Royal, and captured Forts Walker and Beauregard. The blockade became so rigorous that communication between the Confederate States and foreign nations was cut off. In this juncture of affairs, a serious difficulty arose with Great Britain.

12. The Confederate government appointed James M. Mason and John Slidell as ambassadors to France and England. The envoys, escaping from Charleston, reached Havana in safety. At that port they took passage on the British steamer Trent for Europe. On the 8th of November, the vessel was overtaken by the United States frigate San Jacinto, commanded by Captain Wilkes. The Trent was hailed and boarded; the two ambassadors were seized, transferred to the San Jacinto, and carried to Boston. When the Trent reached England, the whole kingdom burst out in a blaze of wrath.

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