The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-07-25

iaFglhg MS powers to meet the exfraor
binary situation In future. and general
~ providing ways and means to con-
Duct the struggle. and defining the ma.
tons attitude in regard thereto.
NO graver problems have faced any
congress In the nations history. The
members met not only in the midst of
perils to the country. but of personal
danger to themselves. WASHINGTON
was menaced by a hostile army ONLY
a few miles distant and was throat
ened with the blowing up Of the capt
tol and the assassination Of the chief
officials Finances were at a low ebh.
and industry and commerce were seri-
ously crippled. To add to the from
bles at home there was a possibility
OF danger from abroad Several Of the
great nations had already recognized
the sonth's rights as belligerent, and
the possibility of foreign Intervention
hung like shadow over Washington.
There was no faltering In the face Of
these real or threatened perfls. half
billion dollars were promptly voted
and means provided to borrow this
amount or raise it from the revenues.
Congress seemingly was actuated by
the spirit animating the closing para
graph of the presidents message:
! And. having thus chosen our course.
without guile and with pure purpose
let US renew our trust In God and go
forward without fear and with manly
| hearts,
| While congress was assembling I'M
! portant military movements were in
! progress. After repeated urging from
Washington General Patterson on July
once more sent his army across the
| Potomac at Williamsport. There has
been so much controversy over Patter-
sons Ill starred campaign that 1t Is
well nigh impossible to get an unbiased
statement of the facts, but 1t Is agreed
that In this instance his delay was
caused by waiting for re-enforcements
and supplies.
The movement began at o'clock on
beautiful morning. General Patter-
son reviewed the troops as they fled
past. The men were elated at this Sec
ond entrance into Virginia. but this
time observed silence for the reason
that the enemy was encamped on the
! other side of the river The Union adj
vance was led by Colonel John j. Aber-
crombie, and he was on the Confeder-
ates before they were prepared to re-
ceive company. Nevertheless q warm
reception was afforded for a time,
when the southerners gave way and
retreated down the river. abandoning
blankets. knapsacks and other pro-
visions on the way. In order to charge
the enemy the Federal troops had to
demolish barn and carriage house.
Stonewall Jackson's First Fight.
Colonel T. ]. c'Stonewall'O Jackson
was In command Of the Confederates,
| this being his first fight of any mo-
ment in the war. The loss on the I'm
ion side was three killed and ten
wounded. and that of the foe is be-
lieved to have been larger. This was
known as the battle Of Falling Waters.
The army of General Patterson now
advanced and on July occupied Mar
tinsburg, where 1t was joined on the
9th by Colonel Stone with two regi-
ments and Colonel Lew Wallace with
one and on the 9th by General Sand
ford with two regiments. There is no
question now that this gave General
Patterson an army numerically SUI
perior to the opposing force under Cen
eral Johnston.
Events had been moving even more
swiftly in the western end of the
state. On July l the legislature Of
the restored government of Virginia
met at Wheeling and formally ratified
the choice of Francis 81. Pierpont for
governor. There is one anomalous
fact concerning Pierpont. Ii was
never technically the governor of West
Virginia, which was admitted into the
Union In 1868. although born in that
state and still citizen thereof. Yet
until 1868 he was recognized by Wash.
ington as the governor Of the entire
state of Virginia and after the fall OF
Richmond had his capital In that city
On the same day that the Wheeling
legislature met General t. A. Morris
leading the advance Of McClellan'e
army. fought the battle Of Buckhan
non. General Morris had two regi
ments and the Confederates a divi
sion under General Henry A. Wise
former governor of Virginia. The On
ion losses were small. The Confeder
ates were repulsed and lost, 1t was re
ported, % killed and 200 prisoners.
On July General Mcclellan ad
vanced to Buckhannon with the maiI
army. General Morris was already
facing the Confederate General Gar
nett at Laurel hill and. while instruct
ed not to attack. was thoroughly feel
ing out his position. Skirmishes were
occurring almost daily.
July the Ninth Indiana and thu
Fourteenth Ohio engaged the THIRD
Georgia and portions Of several othel
| Confederate roUfmonfS at RnalinpfOn