Wichita eagle., 1889-08-04
BLOODY JULY.
This Has Been Well Called the
Battle Month.
INTERESTING RESUME OF FACTS.

INTERESTING RESUME OF FACTS.
July Anniversaries During the American
Civil war-vicksburs and Gettysburg
the Twin Fourth of July Offering to the
North-French Revolution Dates.
Few people recall the fact that July con-
| tains more anniversaries Of important historic
events than any other month in the calendar
| Leaving out 1.-The glorious Fourth" which
every good American celebrates with re-
| ligious regularity, and beginning the record
in 1861. the month is marked with trail Of
! bloodshed that continued until the close Of
| the American civil war.
1t is obviously impracticable in these limits
TO mention in detail all that occurred, but
enough may be compactly written to revive
! old memories and refresh the mind of the
reader with recollections of incidents that at
this season of the year are the theme of those
who have survived the terrible struggle
On the 9Th of July, 1861, a force of $500
Missourians under Governor Jackson en-
gagged the Federal troops under command of
! w.
quired the reputation of being one Of the
most accomplished artillerists, in Germany,
and who since the war has been known as the
agent of the pension buseau in New York.
1t was the first hard fought engagement in
the west, the combined loss being between
six and seven hundred, and the bravery and
execution on both sides served to demonstrate
that war among them had begun in earnest.
1nlx L cir i2pGl nv no hot of
Rich Mountain, in western Virginia, a position
which, in consequence of a defile passing
through it, wasdeemed an important military
post. The Federals were under command of
Gems Mcclellan and Rosecrans, and the
Confederates were commanded by Gen.
Robert Garnett. Col Pegram with strong
force of the latter occupied the mountain,
while Gen Garnett held position known as
Laurel Hill. The brunt of the attack fell
upon Col Pegram, and after three hours
fight and the loss of many Of his men he was
obliged to fall back Upwards of five hun
bred Confederates were taken prisoners. Hear
ing OF the disaster Gen. Garrett determined
to evacuate Laurel Hill as soon as night set
in, and ia a short time he, too, was in retreat,
followed by the victorious troops.
Skirmshing was continued two or three
days, portion Of his command was cut off
and suffered great hardship among the mount
aims, and finally, at Carricks Ford, where
stand was made on the 14th of July, Gen.
Garnett was killed by almost the last fire of
the Federals Gen. Mcclellan announced to
the government at Washington a signal vic
tory, summing up the results of the battle on
the mountain and his pursuit Of the retreat
ing army as 1.-TWO hundred killed and wound
ed, a thousand taken prisoners and seven guns
captured, together with much baggage" 1t
was a serious disaster to the Confederates
and involved the surrender of an important
portion of northwestern Virginia.
FIRST BATTLE OF MANASSAS
And now comes the first battle of Manassas,
on the 10th of July. Gen. Irwin Mcdowell,
with $4,000 men in four divisions advanced
from the banks of the Potomac to begin, as
was believed, a victorious march to Richmond
The ConfederateS, under Beauregard and
Johnston, awaited the movement with an
army nearly equal in numbers on the oppo-
site bank of Bull Run, and here the first
great decisive battle of the war was Joined
on the 2lst of July. Without going into de-
tails, it is enough that the result proved a
surprise and disappointment to the people of
the north, who had clamored for an imme-
diate advance, and inspired an overween-
ing confidence throughout the south; it gave
the country its first smell of blood, and both
sections stripped for a long fight
Who that has survived the trials and anxi-
cites of 1862 which more than any other NAV
be called 1.-The battle year of the year" for
Hateful events were crowded into every
month, can forget the series of victories and
defeats that alternately aroused the enthusi-
asn of the people or plunged them in gloom!
In January the record begins with the battle
of Mill Spring, in Kentucky. In February
it is continued with the capture of Forts
Henry and Donelson, in Tennessee and of Roa-
noke Island, n. c.. In March are the three
days battle of Pea Ridge, Ark the sinking
of the frigates Cumberland and Congress by
the ram Virginia, the capture of Newbern,
n c., and the battle of Winchester between
"StonewaIl" jackson and Gen. Shields
In April the two days battle of Shiloh,
Tenn, is fought; Island No TO- on the Mis-
sissippi, is captured, and Fort Pulaski, Ga, !
Beaufort, S. c., and the city of New Orleans
fall into the hands of the Union forces In
May, Yorktown, Va, is occupied by McClel-
Ian; Norfolk is seized by Gen WOOL the bat
tie of Williamsburg, Va, is fought, and
Corinth, Miss, is captured by the Federals,
and on the last day of the month and the lst
of June at Fair Oaks, Va, Mcclellan begins
that series of savage encounters around Rich !
mond, and almost within sight Of its spires,
which finally ended in the discontinue of his /
army and its retirement to the banks of the
James.
And now appears period of travail such /
as the nation experienced neither before nor /
afterwards during the war. Stonewan Jack /
son and Gen. Ewell with their combined /
forces were moving hither and thither in /
the Shenandoah Valley and disarranging all /
the Federal plans. Banks had been forced |
across the Potomac and Mcclellan with |
monster army having moved TO base of |
operations at the White House il front of /
Richmond, Washington was left compare
lively unprotected and liable TO attack 4 .
call was made for more troops for its defense [
and the cities of the north were thrown in a
fever of excitement 1t seemed 10 be the /
turning point of the struggle. Meanwhile /
Mcclellan had established aud fortified his
position on the Chickahominy, name that
will for all time remain famous in the annals
OF American valor.
Fighting began on the Goth OF June, at
Mechanicsyille, the right OF the National
line; was followed on the 9th by the battle
of Gaines Mil; on the 9th by the battle Of
Savages Station; on the S0th by the battles
Of White OAK Swamp and Charles City Cross
Roads and on July bv the battle Of Nal