The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-01-30
international Review. Augustus A. Hayesl
An Unwritten Chapter of the Late
yTar

The year 1861 closed gloomily for the cause
of the Union. The army of the Potomac un-
der Mcclellan had not made the expected
move; Mason and Slidell had been surrendered;
Congress was surrounded with the gravest
difficulties. Early in 1862 Burnsil les fleet was
wrecked; and Cameron's resignation made
room for a new Secretary of War, of whose
capacity and energy the people had no accu-
rate knowledge. Great expectations were en-
tertained of important movements and sue
cesses in what was popularity called the West,
but of what might be planning and happening
in the far West, in those remote territories
which were not even correctly laid down on
the maps, not one person in one hundred
thousand from the President down, had
thought or a care; though most anxious SOL
icitude would not have been misplaced, as
shall forthwith appear.
Surveying further the situation in the far
South and " est we find in the first place that
the Rebels had complete possession OF the
great State of Texas. Twiggs had trsitorous
ly surrendered all the troops under his CON-
mand, with forts, arms, ammunition and sup
plies of all kinds, and many of the men had
been paroled. This vast region afforded an
admirable base for extended military opera
tlons, and It was not long before advantage
was sought TO be taken of it, in
the autumn OF 1861. 1t was somewhat
as follows that the Confederate leaders
argued the matter.
Assuming that they could hold their own
east of the Mississippi move could be made
westward of that river having every promise
of success, and which if successful would give
immense material and moral advantage to the
South. The plan nothing less extensive
than the capture of California and the subjec-
ton of five other States and Territories.
For the execution of this brilliant enterprise
the programme was simple. A powerful col
umn should march by El Paso into New Mexi-
co, defeat or flank Candy at Fort Craig, and
occupy Santa Fe. Next would come Fort
Union containing an admirable arsenal and
supply depot fitted in good season by Floyd
with most convenient stock of arms, ammu-
milton and stores. Thence the march north
ward would be easy, and the prizes would IL
rapidly into the hard of the troops. Indians
and Mormons were probable and valuable al
lies. The sure result could hardly fail to be
the complete and speedy control of rich
State, splendid sea coast and forts from
which men-of-war and privateers could issue
to sweep the Pacific. This would hasten recog-
milton by European nations, would lead to the
breaking of the Atlantic blockade by England
and France, and then the end would soon come.
They were three. First, the Rebels made the
mistake, which they repeated over and over
again, of attaching importance to the support
to come from dsaffected people and districts
where the general sentiment was loyal. Sec
ond, they were hopelessly misled about the
sentiments of the Mexican population of New
Mexico, and forgot or ignored the anmosity
born years before of the Texan Santa Fe expe-
dition, and still deeply ranking. Third, they
made fatal miscalculation in undertaking
the stern patriotism the untlinching courage,
and the fierce energy of the men who were
laying the foundation OF our Centennial
State" of Colorado while Drawing hardship
and privation in the search for gold.
That these events were not known and have
not since been known in the East is hardly
surprising, in view of the fact that other mat
ters of transcendent importance, far nearer
home, were contemporaneous with them. Fort
Henry was taken on February 6, Roanoke
Island on February 8, and Fort Donelson on
February 16. The battle of Pea Ridge ended
on March s, and the Monitor fought the Mer-
rimac ON March 8. and the great engagement
at Shiloh occurred on April and Z. Probably
not one in ten thousand suspected that such
threatening movement was making in the
rear of our armies; and it would have been
equally surprising and terrible to have heard
suddenly that a junction had been affected by
the Rebels with the Mormons and that mis-
chief had already been done which could be
repaired, if at ALL only at the cost of hundreds
of lives and millions of money Instead OF
heartened and demoralized, resting at that
same Fort Bliss from which he had marched
with fell purpose four months before. The
valley of the Rio Grande would know him no
more, and he doubtless sought his accustomed
consolation in the flowing bowl.