Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-30

ouu NHO OouleueEdIe ArO1Cldu hdaHAs- |
sas. The ram got IN q stroke which
sent the Federal ships about their bust
ness. but was so badly damaged her
self that she had to retreat. Some Of
the Federal ships grounded and were
attacked by wooden river boats which
the Confederates had converted into
warships. One of the ships was aban-
doned and the rest got away. The
blockaders on the gulf coast were
very vigilant. About the close of the
first year they were organized into two
divisions, one called the East Gulf |
squadron and the other the West Gulf
squadron.
The Warships' Attack on the Coast.
| The two successes Of the navy In |
I battle during the year were not gained
Z by vessels assigned to duty as block |
4 aders. They were won by naval ex- |
petitions fitted out specially to make
! conquests on the coast. On Aug. 1920 |
( the feet commanded by Commodore |
/ Stringham sailed up TO the North Car |
DINA coast at Hatteras and bombarded |
Forts Hatteras and Clark. which |
1
By a clever stroke In sailing he
brought his vessels into position SO
that they concentrated their fire upon
the forts. but escaped the missiles
which the Confederate guns hurled at
them. This was the first naval victory
of importance in the war. It was also
the first success at arms Of importance
which the north could boast.
A few weeks later still greater ex-
petition under Commodore s. f. Du-
pont attacked the forts at the entrance
| TO Port Royal sound, South Carolina,
using very much the same tactics that
won the day for Stringham at Hatteras.
Dupont so handled his ships that they
suffered very little from the guns at
the forts which they attacked. These
were two in number-Forts Walker and
Beauregard. They stood on opposite
sides of the very narrow channel.
Dupont's success at Port Royal led
Immediately to the capture of Beau
fort. an important seaport. From this
base Dupont explored the coast OF
South Carolina and Georgia to the
south and occupied several points Of
|
erals in future attack upon Savan-
nah
Confederate Victories on Land.
On land the Confederates easily bore
off the honors Of the year in substan-
tial results from fighting excepting in
western Virginia.
General Beauregard's stroke in cap
turing Fort Sumter was the beginning
That took place in April. Two months
after that General j. B. Magruder re-
pulsed at Big Bethel. Va, a Federal
force which had been sent out from
Fortress Monroe by General B. F. But
! Ter. The Federals were advancing in
the direction of Richmond, but did not
intend to strike that point. However.
Magruder was a sort of long distance
defender Of Richmond, and his victory
led to great rejoicing in the Confed-
crate capital.
In a little over q month after Big
Bethel General Beauregard won anoth-
er triumph which was pleasing to the
south, at Manassas. 1t is true that the
Confederates did not follow up their
advantage at Bull Run and capture
Washington, distant only twenty miles
But that was not the game which
Beauregard was playing that day. He
was attacked by a strong force which
had marched out of Washington in
tending to go straight across Virginia
to Richmond. Since Beauregard held
up this march when it was only day
old he deserved the credit for victory.
In another month at Wilson's Creek
Mo-. General Ben McCulIoch with O
t. Confederate force defeated a Fedora
army which General Nathaniel Igor
led against him. Lyons object was tt
! prevent the Confederates under Nc
!. ! Culloch and General Sterling Price
from getting a foothold in southwest
ern Missouri. Lyon made good figh
and was himself killed in a charge
His force was outnumbered and wal
d compelled to retreat. This battle wa!
ot sometimes called "the Bull Run Of tn,
'e west"
ct In another month the affair at Ball.
st Bluff, Va, added to the Federal dis
u asters of the year on land. There wa
nothing important at issue at Ball.
Is Bluff, but the stunning repulse Of tn
e. Federal force so close to the main line
I'd of the Federal army and to Washing
he ton itself. was victory which the Con
IN federates naturally made the most Of
tie On July II the Confederates lost tn
ne decisive battle for western Virginia a
Mt Rich Mountain and on the 18th. Cal
IL rick Ford. These two actions virtual
ID ly gave the Federals the control 0
DO western Virginia throughout the war.
The Armies In Winter Quarters.
The closing week of 1854 found tn
ne contending armies of the civil war
ne winter quarters, Federal and Confet
al crate facing each other or prepare
an to do so.
Us The Confederates were everywher
o. on the defensive, fighting on their ow
re soil 1t was policy for them to play
as waiting game. The enemy must a
rs tack them In order to prosecute th
X war. On the other hand. the polio
co Of the Federals was aggressive, exceI
Is around washington. The capital mu!
~ be kept out of the hands Of the Coz