The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-07-30
THE BATTLE MONTH.
Fhe Reasons Why July Was So
ChIiStened.
INTERESTING RESUME OF FACTS.
July Anniversaries During the American Civil
Wharf.-The Twin Fourth of July Offer
ling to the North.

events than any other month in the calendar.
Leaving out ''the glorious Fourth, which
every good American celebrates with re-
6giOus regularity, and beginning the record
IN 1861 the month is marked with trail of
bl0odshed that continued until the close of
the American civil war
It is obviously impracticable in these limits
20 mention in detail ali 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
thisseason of the year are the theme of those
VINO have survived the terrible struggle.
On the 9th Of July, 1861, force of {, 900
8fissourians under Governor jackson en-
Saged the Federal troops under command of
Gen Franz SeiGel an officer who had &C
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 bureau in New York
e was the first hard fought engagement in
tae 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.
July II was signalized by the battle Of
Rich Mountain, in western Virginia. a position
which, in consequence of a defle 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.
BSbert Garnett. Col. Pegram with a strong
force Of the latter occupied the mountain,
while Gen. Garnett held a position known as
Eaurel Hill. The brunt of the attack fell
upon Col. Pegram, and after n three hours
eight and the loss of many of his men he was
Obliged to fall back. Upwards of five hun
dred ConfederateS were taken prisoners. Hear
ing OF the disaster Gen. Gqrnett determined
to evacuate Laurel Hill as soon as night set
~, and in a short time he, too, was in retreat,
followed by the victorious troops.
Shlirmishing was continued two or three
days, q portion of his command was cut off
aa,d suffered great hardship among the mount
aims, and finally, at Carrick's Ford, where
stand was made on the l4th of July, Gen.
f}arneGt was killed by almost the last fire of
the Federals. Gen. Mcclellan announced to
tho 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
cd. q Thousand taken prisoners and seven guns
captured, together with much baggage" 1t
WAS a serious disaster TO the Confederates
aRd 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 $1,000 men in four divisions, advanced
front the banks of the Potomac to begin, as
was believed, a victorious march to Richmond
Tho ConfederateS, under Beauregard and
Johnston, awaited the movement with an
army nearly equal in numbers on tina oppo-
size bank of Bnll Run, and here the first
great decisive battle of the war was Joined
on the 21st of July. Without going into de
tails, it is enough that the result proved a
surprise and disappointment 20 the people of
the north, who had clamorcd for an imme-
date advance, ans inspired an overween-
ing confidence throughout the south; it gave
tho country its first smell of blood, and both
sections stripped for long fight.
Who that has survived the trials and anxi-
cites of 1852, which more than any other may
be called ''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-
ASH of the people or plunged them in gloom?
In january the record begins with the battle
Of hill Spring, in Kentucky. In February
81 is continued with the capture of Forts
Henry and Donelson, in Tennessee, and of Roa-
1oke 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
stStonewalr' jackson and Gen. Shields.
In April the two days battle of Shiloh,
Tenn, is fought; Island No. 10, on the Mis-
eissippi. is captured, and Fort Pulaski, Ca,
Beaufort, s. c., and the city of New Orleans
SaN into the hands of the Union forces. In
May, Yorktown, Va, is occupied by McClel-
Ian; Norfolk is seized by Gen. Wool; the bat
tic OF Williamsburg, Va, is fought, and
Corinth, Miss, is captured by the Federals,
and on the last day of the month and the 1st
OF June at Fair Oaks, Va, Mcclellan begins
that series of savage encounters around Rich
1l3nd and almost within sight Of its spires,
which finally ended in the discontinue of his
sruly and its retirement to the banks of the
James.
And now appears period of travail such
as the nation experienced neither before Dor
afterwards during the war. Stonewall Jack
son and Gen. Ewell with their combined
forces were moving hither and thither in
tho Shenandoah Valley and disarranging all
Che Federal plans. Banks had been forced
across the Potomac and Mcclellan with a
monster army having moved 70 a base of
operations at the White House in front of
Richmond, Washington was left compare
lively unprotected and liable to attack. A
cali was made for more troops for its defense
and the cities of the north were thrown in a
fever of excitement. 1t seemed to be the
turning point of the struggle Meanwhile
Mcclellan had established and fortified his
positiono on the Chickahominy, name that
7gil for all time remain famous in the annals
OF Ane valor.
Fighting began on the Goth of June, at
Mechanicsville, the right of the National
line; was followed on the 9th by the battle
OF Gaines Mill, on the 29th by the battle of
Savage's Station; on the 3Oth by the battles
Of White Oak Swamp and Charles City Cross
Roads, and or July by the battle of Nal
veg7a Hill. here, on the banks Of the James
river under cover of the Federal gun boats,
the Union army made its last stand The
raosjtion was admirably chosen for defense,
and when the Confederates advanced to the
assault over an open plain swept by sixty
r,ieces of artillery, it was only TO be repulsed
with q quick and frightful slaughter not wit
messed on any other field of the war
Battles now followed in quick succession.
On the 9th of August that of Cedar Noun
Tain was fought, and Gen. Lee having begun
his advance into Maryland, the second battle
of Bull Run made havoc with both armies.
On the same date, Aug. 80, the battle of
Richmond XIV. took place. September Of