The National tribune., 1904-09-01

Tribune Don't make any mistake. but re-
member the name. Swamp-Root. DIR. Kill
mer'S Swamp-Root and the address, Bing-
hamton. y. u. on ever bottle.
rested at Centerville if Dixon S. Miles had
been a capable commander.
The Union army retired to the narrow
strip along the Potomac from Alexandra
to the nights above Washington, and re-
mained there until the next March, while
the eXultant rebels strongly fortified the
line of Bull Run, erected batteries along
the lower Potomac. to blockade Washing
ton and advanced their outposts until their
flag could be seen on Alunson's Hill, not
over three miles from Washington.
Mcclellan was deaf to all opportunities
to push the insolent enemy back to a more
respectful distance. though Gen. Joe John
ston-the ableSt military man in the Con
fe,leracy-fully recognized that the line of
Bull Run was n great piece of bluff,
since it could be easily turned at any time
by Union force marching down the Mary
land side Of the Potomac. and crossing the
river below the mouth of the OccOquan
The great bend which the Potomac makes
would have brought the Union army di-
rectly in the rear of the rebel army. be-
tween it and Richmond. and compelled its
haSty retreat Johnston was constantly
expecting this to be done, and was ready to
abandon Manassas. A number of Union
Generals urged it. but Mcclellan remained
immOvable.
Johnston recognized that the line of the
Rappahannock was the true line of de-
fense.
THE SCENE SHIFTED.
In March. 1862. Gen. Mcclellan moved
the Army OF the Potomac TO the PENN
sula. and events there cngroSsed public at
tenion for few weeks.
sToNEwALL JACKsoN's OPPORTUNITY
In pursance Of a vicious policy the War
Department had sent into the Shenandoah
Valley Il number OF small columns, pene
tratng 1T from various directions. These
columns were widely separated, out of sup
porting distance, and their commanders
were ambitious OF personal distinction and
not inclined To cooperate.
Gen. Banks. commanding the largest
column, advanced from Harper's Ferry,
strung his force along for 100 miles, and
there were others under Gen. Mcdowell,
Shields, Milroy. Fremont etc. The Con
fcderate Government devised d plan to re-
lieve Richmond from its pressure by strik-
ing these in detail and threa tening Wash
lngtOn, and Stonewall Jackson gained his
first fame by swift march in the Valley
and striking the heads of these columns,
one after another. Though he was gen
orally repulsed. the effect was to make all
the columns fall back in haste, and there
from that direction. When this passed the
Government saw the necessity of having
these various forces under one head, and
Gen. John Pope, who had shown great
capacity in the West. was brought East
and put in command He gathered up
these forces, formed what he designated as
the Army OF Virginia, and moved out OH the
plains of Manassas as far as the Rapidan
to threaten Richmond and help Mcclellan.
Feeling confident that they had brought
Nc. lellanS army TO standstill, the rebel
authorities dropped him and threw their
whole force against Pope.
Gen. Pope ordered an immediate concen-
tration Of his forces, and July % left
Washington to put himself at the head.
Sending Stonewall Jackson ahead to the
Rapidan. followed with his whole army. Lee
had hopes of catching Pope's widely scat
tered forces and defeating him in detail.
Stonewall Jackson came up first with
Banks who had less than 5000 men, at Cedar
Mountain. Banks promptly attacked Jack
son. and with such vigor as to seriously
shake that redoubtablr chieftain, who had
probably nearly $1,000 men to Banks s
5000. Jackson succeeded i'm repulsng
Banks at last, but it was a barren victory
| for him. Gen. Pope was aware that he
| must expect the whole Of Lees army now
To pounce upon his small force. and began
concentrating his troops to hold the enemy
in check until he could get assistance from
hand Lee was making every effort to crush
him before the Army of the Potomac could
come to his assistance. Gen pODe man
| uvered and fought with great skill until he
reached the old battlefield of Bull Run,
where n series of battles were forced upon
| him. lasting from Aug. 2S to Sept /
These are known in history as
| GrovctOn and Gainesville. Aug. 1920 !;
Second Bull Run. Aug. 80; Chantilly,
Sept. /.
GEN PoPE's MIsFoRTrNEs.
| There has been such world Of acrimon-
| ious discussion that we shall not venture
! into an account Of them. since scarcity of
space forbids taking rs much as would
| be necessary for n fair presentation. Gen.
Pope made many mistakes, undOubtedly.
| and he misconceved the situation, but
| never was there man in the Union army
worse abused and his mistakes made to
appear more fragrant. The Mcclellan
clique in the Army of the Potomac were
i then excited to the utmost to save Gen.
Mcclellan being extinguished by any rival.
The men of the Army of the Potomac
as was their custom. fought magnificently
all the time and everywhere, and so did
| the subordinate officers who commanded
them. There is nothing but praise for ali
the Division, Brigade and Regimental
commanders who fought on the plains of
Manassas in tie campaign which led to
the army being forced back into the de.
fcnse of Washington, leaving the gateway
open for Lees advance into Maryland.
AFTER ANTIETAM
| After this came Antetam, and after
Antietam both armies returned to the
plains of Manassas. After manuverine
for some time the issne of battle was
joined on the line of the Rappahannock
where we suffered two severe defeats al
Fredericksburg and Charlottesville. Again
the Army of Northern Virginia swept
northward, but after its defeat at Gettys
burg it returned to its old position behind
the Rapidan, with headquarters at Orange
Court House, willie the Army of the Po
tomac came back to it's old position on
the plains Of Manassas, with HEADQUARTERS
at Culpeper Court House. The last six
months of 1863 saw the two armies re-
peatedly manuyering back and forth on the
plains Of Manassas with Gen. Meade skill
fully interposing the Army of the Potomac
between Lee and Washington. 1t was