The National tribune., 1907-07-18
have driven Evans off and saved the
Eject Upon the Country.


day.
Effect Upon the Country.
In some ways the effect upon the
country was more poignant and de-
pressing than even Bull Run. We had
measurably explained Bull Run as be-
ing the result of n premature rushing
of raw militia regiments under raw Off
GERS against an enemy in position. Now,
however. there were three-yearS troops
who had been drilling, preparing and
organizing for months. Gen. Mcclellan
ana his Regular Army officers had been
saying a great deal as to the perfection
the troops had attained under their su-
perior management in the three months
which had followed Bull Run. In this
very first collision under the new re-
gime the troops had been mishandlci
far worse than anything that had oc-
Cured at Bull Run. There was some
thing almost maddening in the thought
of tn little band of Union soldiers,
after their desperate resistance TO over
whelmins numbers, scramblinS down
the rugged cliffs and battling with the
swift current of the Potomac, while
their triumphant enemies stood upon
the bank and shot them down at leis-
ure.
The death of the gallant Baker sal
dened every loyal heart. He was Il
strong, magnetic man, who appealed
powerfully to the sympathes and ad-
miration of the people. His English
parents had brought him to this coun-
try when but five years old, and they
became part of the Quaker community
of Philadelphia. Dying shortly after.
the child was left to the care of whom
Soever would take interest in him. He
was apprenticed to n trade, spent his
leisure hours in acquiring an educa-
ton, showed great talent for oratory,
4
regiment for the Mexican War and COM
manded it. and brigade after the
wounding of Gen. Jas. Shields. acquir-
ing well-earned reputation for gal
lantry. Upon his muster-out he was
sent to Congress. but his pronounced
Free Soil views rendered him non gratl.
and he declined denomination. Tha,
wonders of the new country of Oregon
attracted him, and he at once became
favorite with the settlers He was
sent to the United States Senate, and
distinguished himself by his eloquent
and ardent advocacy of everything look
ing to the salvation of the country. His
speech at the great Union meeting a
Cooper's Institute, New York, was sec
ond only to that of Lincoln's in its cleo
trifying influence upon the people Of
the country.
The Effect In the South.
The eXhilaratiOn of the South over
the victory was even greater than tho
sorrowful depression of the North. The
South had been waiting with not a little
| apprehension on the part of the more
thoughtful as to what would be the re-
suit of the mighty preparations Nc
Clellan was making. This was the first
demonstration of the potency of this ar
ray. and the SouthernerS made the most
of it to reaSSure their people. The cur
! lie
| 4 900 men. had overcome, masSacred of
driven into the river fully 10000 Union
| troops under their very best Generals.
AS at Bull Run, there were great
quantity of substantial trophies to lend
color to this exaggeration. All over the
South were sent muskets, bayoncts.
cartridge boxes. swords and other arm,
which had been captured at Balls Rluf.
Arrest of Gen. Stone.
It would have been amazing if in the
heat of their grief and resentment the
people had not demanded victim. Gen.
Stone was selected for tie sacrifice, and
public rumor did not hesitate to accuse
him of the most reasonable cOmmuni
cations with the enemy. There was
some slight color for this, or. at least,
said 10 be, in the statement of a "refu
gee from Leesburg, who was examine
before the Committee on the Conduct
not subsequently be learned by any one
Stone was n thoroly educated soldier, Il
tnative of Massachusetts,, a refined, ac-
complshed man, who had shown much
courage and capacity in putting Wash
ingtCn in n condition of security and
peace for the inauguration of Abraham
Lincoln, and in preventing the Capital
from being raided by parties from Vir-
ginia or Baltimore. After Mcdowell
took command of the army Stone WIS
promoted to BrigadierGeneral of Vol
untcers. and did good service in guard
ing the Potomac above Washington. ii :.
showed so much competence for this
that Mcclellan gave HIM command of a
division. The catastrophe at Balls Bluff
was simply a frightful mistake on his
part and those of his suboTdinates.
without any more shadow of treason at
taching to him t';an to the gallant Col
oneis under him. The Committee on
the Conduct of the War made an in
vestigation of the disaster. and seemed
to find evidence eliminating Gen. Stone.
whcreupon Secretary Stanton. by orde-
dated Jan. 2S. directed Gen Mcclellan
to relieve Gen. Stone and ~ him in
close custody. The order was - lnsmit-
ted to Gen. Andrew Porter. Who de-
| tailed Gen. Sykes, with the City Guard,
| to make the arrest. Stone was sent ia
Fort Lafayette and placed in solitary
allowed to reach him. After 40 days
he was tranferred TO Fort Hamilton and
given more liberty, but he was
refused his rights as an officer
to have copies of the charges agains;
him. These were never given him. He
repeatedly applied to be allowed trial
| or restored to duty. and finally. Aug
| 16, 1862, after 1S9 days of confinement,
the doors of his cell were opened, and
| he was told that he was at liberty. He
renewed his application for copies OF
the charges against him. and tried in
vain to secure trial. Gen. Halleck in
| formed him that he had no information
as 10 the cause of his arrest. and no
charges nor specification. that he knew
anything about, had been filed against
him. AS soon as he was released Gen
| Mcclellan applied for permission 90
have him serve with the army If only
as spectator, and expressed no doubt
as 10 the loyalty and devotion of Gen
Stone. The House of Representatives
asked for information as to the respon-
sibility for the disaster of Balls Bluff
but Secretary Stanton replied that any
! u. f.Nv rN,att low. tl,,N