The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-01-23
SfIwtellal>eolts.
1868.

The most important edict Of the year was
the proclamation Of emancipation, 30 long
promised, which saw the light contemporary
with the advent of the year. Next in impor-
tance was the proclamation OF amnesty, which
was made in the message Of the President, on
| December ID. The results Of the former, rs a
military measure, have been apparent wheIcv.
err our armies have penetrated, and the high
| ways have been thronged by the oppressed ne
groes seeking shelter und protection within the
Federal lines. The full fruits Of the latter's
mission have not been made apparent, rs yet,
but no one doubts that when its provisions are
generally known and understood, there will be
immediate and great practical results there
| from.
The most important military events Of
wero the withdrawal of Gen. Sherman from be-
fore vicksburg, and his movement upon Ar
kansas Post; the victory ut Stone river, Tenn,
by Rosecrans; the relief Of Burnside by Gen.
| Hooker; and the assignment OF Gen. Banks to
the Department of the Gulf Upon the ocean,
the Alabama continued her depredatiOns, and
the Florida commenced her career during the
month. Gen. McClernand took the initial steps
for the siege of Vicksburg about the middle
of the month.
In FEBRUARY the bombardmeut Of Vicksburg
was commenced and the gunboats Of Admiral
Porter's feet began to play havoc with the On
emy's transportation below Vicksburg. lm.
portant Congressional measures were adopted
during the month, including the national cur
rency bill, conscription act, and the bill in-
Identifying the President for suspending the
hdbeas corpus.
In MARCH the military operations were con.
fined to General Grants immediate department,
and Kentucky, where General Burnside took
his corps during the middle Of the month
General Grants bayou and overland canal ex-
peditions were failures.
In APRIL Admiral Farragut CO. operated with
Porter below Vicksburg, and rendered impor.
tant service; Gen. Banks commenced bis move
ment into Western Louisiana; Colonel Grer.
SON commenced foray into Mississippi; Gen.
eral Grant prepared to move aud did. at the
latter part Of the month. move upon the enemy's
works Mt Vicksburg; General Stoneman made q
foray into Virginia, Rchmondward; Colonel
Streght made his foray into Alabama; General
Rosecrans advanced his lines to McMinnvills; |;
and the army Of the Potomac was made ready
for an advan,e upon Chancellorsvillc.
MAY opened with the battle at Chancellorvil-
| le: on the LIST the Federal flag was borne within
the lines of fortifcations ut Richmond, nearer
than 1t ever was before or has been sncei Col.
| Grierson finished his fOray and entered Baton
Rouge In triumph; Admiral Porter and General
Grant were meeting with brilliant success be.
low and to the East Of Vicksburg; General
Banks finished up his West Louisiana campaign
by the CAPTURE Of Alexandria, and commenced
| the siege OF Port Hudson. While oil was ac-
tivity In the West and South, oil was passive In
Virginia.
In JuyE Lee invaded Mary land and Pcnnsyl-
vania; the Army Of the Potomac started in
| pursuit; Gen. Rosecrans commenced forward
movement aud compelled Bragg to fee before
him; Gen Grant, having invested Vicksburg,
was sitting down before it waiting for the oyur-
ripe fruit to drop into his hands; Gen. Banks.
less patiently, was prosecuting the siege OF
Port Hudson. All tho operations In the West
gave bright promise OF victory, while IN the
East all was doubt and fear that Lee would not
he checked in his mad career. The privateers
were unusually active and bold during this
month, and the Tacony especially was lighting
up the ocean with the flame Of her captures.
JuLY entered upon its career, however, when
that which was full Of expectant hope gave
glorious fruit, and that which was doubt van
ished. Vicksburg and Port Hudson surrender
ed; Lees army was whipped Mt Gettysburg,
and the invasion Of THO North was ut an end; (;
Gen. Gilmore had commenced operations be.
fore Charleston, and had met with unexpected
success; Gen. Rosecrans had driven Bragg out
of Tenn; John Morgan, after his foray into In.
diana and Ohio, fell victim to his rashness;
the career Of the Tacony ended In flames and
that OF her successor, the Archer, In capture,
after her foray into Portland harbor. There
was but one thing to cast q cloud upon oil this
sunshine. and that was the draft-riots in New
York, Boston and Troy. 90
IyAuousr Gen. burnside made his movement
into East Tennessee preparatory to the occupa-
tion Of that oppressed region. Gens. Blunt
and Steele were moving rapidly and successful
iy through Arkansas the Mississippi river was
declared open for trade Gen. Meade was inac.
tive In Virginia, aud Gen. Gillnorc was giving
the Charlestonians lessons IN Greck. There
was but little to mourn and much cause for re-
ioicinc, always excepting, however, the deprc.
dations Of tho rebel privateers.
Is SEPTEMBER Chattanooga fell and Knoxvil-
t1iaus were made happy 6y the triumphant en-
lie of Chickamauga Was fought and It's results
created the most lively spprehensons for the
safety OF Gen, Rosecrans, which were relieved
by the timely reinforcement by Gen, Hooker {;
tho cold shoulder had been 80 repeatedly given
Mason that JEFF. Davis deemed Il advisable to
recall him from England, aud thus our foreign
relations improved. This month marked an era
In our history-the arrival Of our Russian allies
AT which there was sincere cause for congrat-
ulation. ..s.
In OcroBER tho monotony with tho Army Of
the Potomac was relieved by the attempt on the
part OF Lee, to execute dank movement, In
which he fhiled General Grant entered upon
the active duties of bis new command at Chat.
tanooga, and General Hooker achieved victo-
ry at the base Of Lookout Mountain General
Banks Was making the initial movements for bis
Texas campaign; General Gilmore having re-
duced Sumter 20 . harmless ruin, employed
himself In alternately shelling II and Charles
ton; and the navy Was winning new lsurels by
multiplying the capture Of blockade runners.
In NOVEMBER General Banks occupied i'm
portant positions In Texas. where he has secure
bases Desperation. Longstreet committed the
error OF attempting the siege Of Knoxville {;
Qsnaral Grnnf ,ran lha riolarv Of Chaiia nooos