The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-09-30
THE SECOND YEAR OF THE WAR.


The opening of the second year of the war
was giled by two other victories on the coast
the capture of Roankoe Island by a combi-
ned attack of our land and naval forces, Civ
ing US six forts, $500 prisoners and ~ guns
followed up promptly by the capture of New
bern, which added six other forts and "a
heavy guns. These conquests restored the
sovereignty of the flag over all the inland
waters of North Carolina, which, up to this
time, had been the main resort of the whole
crew of blockaderunners. Another brilliant
point in the chain of coast victories was ad-
ded by the reduction and capitulation OF
Fort Pulaski. With the fort were surren-
dered a. guns and $50 prisoners. This gave
US the control of the mouth of the Savannah
River.
Turning to the great theatre of war be-
tween the AlleghanieS and the Mississippi,
the Spring Of 1862 saw there the Inaugural
ton of combination of magnificent opera
,ions hy several distinct columns drawn ou,
from the Ohio to the mouth of the Mississippi
and destined to carry their conquests into
the very heart of the Confederacy, and re-
claim the valley Of the Mississippi to the SOW
ereignty of the Union.
The rebel line of defence on this frontier
extended from Columbus, powerfully In
trenched camp on the Mississippi, eastward
to the Allegheny Mountains. About midway
was Bowling Green another intrenched camp,
where Albert Sidney Johnston commanded
in person. East toward the mountains was
Zollicofer with large force, where early in
the winter ne had taken up fortified posi-
lion on the Cumberland River near Mill
Spring.
Against this line Of defence Grant and the
gunboats under Foote were preparing to
move on the west; Buell. was advancing on
Bowling Green in the centre while Thomas
was in motion on the east near the noun
tains. Thomas struck the first blow, and
gave the country the frstlings Of victory in
the West. On Jan. 49, he engaged the re-
bells at Mill Spring, defeated and routed them,
with the loss of their artillery, their intrench-
ed position, and their General, Zolicofer,
killed. The effect of this victory was 20 ex'
pose the whole rebel right flank by way OF
/ East Tennessee.
On the left flank, Grant and Foote were
moving to break the rebel lines of defence by
the Cumberland and Tennessee River. Il
was clearly seen that could these rivers bs
forced, the great rebel stronghOlds at Colum
bus and Bowling Green would be taken il
reverse and their evacuation made a matter
of absolute ccmpulsion. But these rivers
barred by two strong works-Fort Henry OF
the Tennessee and Fort Doneson on th'
Cumberland. The former fell prey to tn
gallantry of Foote'S naval attack ,surrenderlns
on the 9th of Feb, with its armament Of six
ty guns.
A week after the surrender of Fort Henry
Grant drew his lines of investment arount
Fort Donelson, and after conflict running
through four days and nights, and rendered
memorable by the hardest fighting that hat
VT occurred in the war, the rebels were for
ced to accede to Gen Grants demands TO
that " unconditional surrender" which ha
become SO inseparably associated with hi
name. The surrender included 6fteel
thousand prisoners and forty pieces of arti
, lery.
The fall of Forts Donelson and Henr
promptly produced its anticipated effect. Co
lumbus, which the rebels had styled the "Git
rsltsr of America" was Immediately abanc
oned. At the same time Johnson evacuate
his in trenched position at Bowling Gree
and fell back to Nashville, or rather Mroug
, Nashville, ,Yeor the opening Of the Cumbs
, land to our gunboats which resulted from tt
y fall of the fort made Nashville untenable)
S Gen. Buell., whose army had been threat enir
{ the rebel force at Bowling Green, immediat
s ly followed up and took possession Of ,th