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History of the United States, Volume 4

by Elisha Benjamin Andrews

By Elisha Benjamin Andrews · History · Public domain

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History of the United States, Volume 4 is a public-domain classic of history by Elisha Benjamin Andrews.

The complete text is on this page and the chapter pages below — all 32 chapters, about 46,451 words (~4 hours of reading), free to read online with no signup. Chapters include “Chapter V. the Struggle for the Mississippi Valley”, “Chapter Vi. the War in the Centre”, “Chapter Vii. the Virginia Campaigns of 1862--63”, and more.

History of the United States, Volume 4 at a glance

Author
Elisha Benjamin Andrews
Length
46,451 words · about 4 hours to read
Chapters
32
Price
Free — public domain

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Chapter V. the Struggle for the Mississippi Valley

Three Great Lines of Campaign.—Confederate Posts in Kentucky.—Surrender of Fort Henry.—Siege of Fort Donelson.—Capture.—Kentucky Cleared of Armed Confederates.—Pope Captures Island No. 10.—Gunboat Fight.—Memphis Ours.—Battle of Pittsburg—Landing.—Defeat and Victory.—Farragut and Butler to New Orleans.—Battle.—Victory.—The Crescent City Won.—On to Vicksburg.—Iuka.—Corinth.—Grant's Masterly Strategy.—Sherman's Movements.—McClernand's.—Gunboats pass Vicksburg.—Capture of Jackson, Miss.—Battle of Champion's Hill.—Siege of Vicksburg.—Famine within.—The Surrender.

Chapter Vi. the War in the Centre

Bragg Invades Kentucky.—Buell Saves Louisville.—Battle of Perryville.—Of Stone River.—Losses.—Chickamauga.—Thomas the "Rock of Chickamauga."—Grant to the Front.—Bragg's Movements.—Chattanooga.—The "Battle above the Clouds."—Capture of Missionary Ridge.—Bragg's Army Broken Up.—Grant Lieutenant-General.—Plan of Campaign for 1864-65.—Sherman's Army.—Skirmishes.—Kenesaw Mountain.—Johnston at Bay.—Hood in Command.—Assumes the Offensive.—Sherman in Atlanta.—Losses.—Hood to Alabama and Tennessee.—The March to the Sea.—Living on the Country.—Sherman at Savannah.—Hardee Evacuates.—A Christmas Gift.—The Blow to the Confederacy.—Thomas Crushes Hood.—Sherman Marches North.—Charleston Falls.—Columbia.—Johnston Routed at Bentonville.—Sherman Master of the Carolinas.—Johnston Surrenders.

Chapter Vii. the Virginia Campaigns of 1862--63

McClellan to Fortress Monroe.—Yorktown.—Williamsburg.—Fair Oaks.—Lee in Command.—McDowell Retained at Fredericksburg.—Lee Assumes the Offensive.—Gaines's Mill.—The Seven Days' Retreat.—Malvern Hill.—Union Army at Harrison's Landing.—Discouragement.—McClellan Leaves the Peninsula.—Pope's Advance on Richmond.—Retreat.—Jackson in his Rear.—Second Battle of Bull Run.—Pope Defeated.—Chantilly.—McClellan again Commander.—Lee in Maryland.—South Mountain.—Antietam.—Lee Escapes.—McClellan Removed and Burnside in Command.—Fredericksburg.—The Battle.—Hooker General-in-Chief.—Chancellorsville.—Flank Movement by Jackson.—Battle of May 3d.—Lee in Pennsylvania.—Convergence to Gettysburg.—First Day's Battle.—Second Day.—Third.—Pickett's Charge.—Failure.—Lee Escapes.—Significance of this Battle.

Chapter Viii. Collapse of the Confederacy

Grant Comes East.—Battle of the Wilderness.—Flanking.—Spottsylvania.—The "Bloody Angle."—Butler "Bottled Up" at Bermuda.—Grant at the North Anna.—At Cold Harbor.—Change of Base to the James.—Siege of Petersburg.—The Mine.—Washington in Peril.—Operations in Shenandoah Valley.—"Sheridan's Ride."—Further Work at Petersburg.—Distress at the South.—Lee's Problem.—Battle at Five Forks.—Blue-coats in Petersburg.—Davis and his Government Leave Richmond.—Union Army Enters.—Grant Pursues Lee.—The Surrender.—Assassination of President Lincoln.—Johnston Grounds Arms.—Capture of Jefferson Davis.

Chapter Ix. the War on the Sea

Classification of Naval Deeds.—Our Navy when the War Began.—Enlargement.—Blockading.—Difficulty and Success.—Alternate Tediousness and Excitement.—Blockade-running Tactics.—Expeditions to Aid the Blockade.—To Port Royal.—To Roanoke Island.—Confederate Navy.—The Merrimac.—Sinks the Cumberland, Burns the Congress.—Monitor and Merrimac.—An Era in Naval Architecture and Warfare.—Operations before Charleston.—The Atlanta.—The Albemarle.—Blown Up by Cushing.—Farragut in Mobile Harbor.—Fort Fisher Taken.—Southern Cruisers upon the High Seas.—Destructive.—The Sumter.—The Alabama.—Her Career.—Fights the Kearsarge.—Sinks.

Chapter X. Foreign Relations. Finance. Emancipation.

Views of the War Abroad.—England's Hostility.—Causes.—The Trent Affair.—Seward's Reasoning.—Great Britain's Breach of Neutrality.—Louis Napoleon's Hypocrisy.—Invasion of Mexico.—Maximilian.—War Expenditure.—How Met.—Duties.—Internal Revenue.—Loans.—Bonds.—Treasury Notes.—Treasurer's Report, July 1, 1865.—Errors of War Financiering.—Confederate Finances.—High Prices at South.—Problem of the Slave in Union Lines.—"Contraband of War."—Rendition by United States Officers.—Arguments for Emancipation.—Congressional Legislation.—Abolition in District of Columbia.—Negro Soldiers.—Preliminary Proclamation.—Final Effects.—Mr. Lincoln's Difficulties.—Republican Opposition.—Abolitionist.—Democratic.—Copperhead.—Yet he is Re-elected.

Chapter Xi. Reconstruction

Delicacy of the Task.—Reasons.—The Main Constitutional Question.—Different Views.—The Other Questions.—Answer.—Periods of Reconstruction.—During War.—President Lincoln.—Johnson.—His Policy.—Carried Out.—Congress Rips up his Work.—Why.—South's Attitude just after War.—Toward Negroes.—XIVth Amendment.—Rejected by Southern States.—Iron Law of 1867.—Carried through.—Antagonism between President Johnson and Congress.—Attempt to Impeach Johnson.—Fails.

PERIOD V

THE CEMENTED UNION

1868-1888

Chapter I. Political History of the Last Two Decades

Grant's First Election.—His Work During Reconstruction.—Its Difficulty.—Bayonet Rule in the South.—The Force Act.—Danger to State Independence.—"Liberal Republican" Movement.—The Greeley Campaign, 1872.—Grant again Elected.—Fresh Turmoil at the South.—Culminates in Louisiana.—Blood Shed.—The Kellogg Government Sustained in that State.—A Solid South.—The Election of 1876.—In Doubt.—The Returns.—The Electoral Commission of 1877.—Hayes Seated.—The Electoral Count Act, 1886.—Hayes's Administration.—End of the Bayonet Regime.—Garfield's Nomination.—And Election.—And Assassination.—The Guiteau Trial.—Civil Service Reform.—Under Grant.—Under Hayes.—Need of it.—Credit Mobilier Scandal.—The Pendleton Act Passed.—Its Nature and Operation.—Recovery of Power by the Democracy.—Election of Cleveland.—The Civil Service.—Presidential Succession Act of 1886.—Its Necessity.—And Provisions.

Chapter Ii. the Treaty of Washington.

A Shining Instance of Peaceful International Methods.—Earlier Negotiations.—"ALABAMA CLAIMS" Insisted on.—A Joint Commission.—Its Personnel.—A Treaty Drafted and Ratified.—Its Provisions.—Northwest Boundary Question.—Minor Claims.—The Alabama Claims.—Geneva Tribunal.—Personnel.—No Pay for Indirect Losses.—Importance of the Case.—The Three Rules of the Washington Treaty.—Position of Great Britain Relative to These.—Their Meaning.—An Advance in International Law.—The Other Cruisers.—The Award.—Charles Francis Adams.—The Money Paid.—Its History.

Chapter Iii. the Fisheries Dispute.

Fishery Clause of the Treaty of 1783.—Value of the Rights it Conveyed.—Effect of War of 1812.—Convention of 1818.—Its Fateful Provisions.—Troubles in Consequence.—The Reciprocity of 1854.—Repeal in 1865.—New Troubles.—Reciprocity by Treaty of Washington, from 1871.—Repealed in 1885.—Why—Friction in 1886.—Strict Enforcement by Canada of Convention of 1818.—Severities.—Their Animus.—Pleas of the United States Government.—Threat of Retaliation.—Commission to Draft New Treaty.—Indecisive Result.—Northwestern Fisheries Question Settled.

Chapter Iv. the South.

The Results of Congressional Reconstruction.—Restoration of White Rule.—Ku-Klux-Klan.—Improvement.—Loyalty at the South.—Prosperity.—Cotton.—Manufacturing.—Iron.— Marble.—Southern Cities.—Country Parts.—State of Florida.

Chapter V. the West.

New States and Territories.—Alaska.—Its Resources.—Both Sides of the Rockies Filling Up.—Pacific Railways.—Colorado.—California.—Great American Desert.—Tabular View of the West's Growth.—Western Cities.—Minnesota.—St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth.—Duluth and Chicago.—Statistics of Immigration.

Chapter Vi. the Exposition of 1876.

Origin of the Plan.—Organization.—Financial Basis.—Conclusion to Make it a World Affair.—To be at Philadelphia.—Building.—Opening Exercises.—The Main Building.—Arrangement and Contents.—The American Exhibit.—Machinery Hall.—The Corliss Engine.—Agricultural Hall.—Memorial Hall.—The Art Exhibit.—Horticultural Hall.—Minor Arrangements and Structures.—The Fourth of July Celebration.—Original Copy of the Declaration of Independence Read.—Interest in the Philadelphia Exposition.

Chapter Vii. Economic Politics

Reduction of National Debt.—Refunding.—Surplus.—Tariff.—Its History since the War.—Policy of the Political Parties.—Tariffs of 1890 and 1894.—Trusts.—The Dollar of the Fathers.—Resumption of Specie Payments.—The Promissory Greenback.—Fiat Greenback Theory.—And Party.—Great Strike of 1877.—Labor Movement and Labor Question.—Corporations.—Their Evil Influence.—Counter-organizations.—Growth of our Urban Population.

Chapter Viii. the March of Industry.

Progress in Cotton Manufacturing.—In Woollen, Iron, and Other.—In Travel.—New Submarine Cables.—First Pacific Railway.—Others.—Consolidation of Railways.—Electric Lighting.—Brooklyn Bridge.—Elevated Railways and New Modes of Surface Traction.—Telephone.—Black Friday.—Chicago Fire.—Boston Fire.—Hard Times of 1873.—Material Betterment for Last Two Decades.

Chapter Ix. End of the Period.

Contrast of New Things with Old.—Postal Arrangements.—Art.—Extension of Suffrage.—Woman's Rights.—Higher Education for Women.—Socialism and State Socialism.—Widened Scope of Governmental Action.—Restriction of Immigration.—Catholics.—Their Attitude to Public Schools.—Peril to Family.—Mormonism.—Divorce.—Danger from a Secular Spirit.—New Sense of Nationality.—Benign Results.—Greely Expedition to Polar Regions.—Lesson of our National Success to Other Nations.—Our Nation's Duty in World Affairs.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

THE WORLD'S FAIR AT CHICAGO. CENTRAL PORTION OF MACMONNIES FOUNTAIN--EFFECT OF ELECTRIC LIGHT.

GENERAL JOHN POPE.

GENERAL WILLIAM T. SHERMAN.

THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS AT MEMPHIS, JUNE 6, 1862.

FARRAGUT IN THE MAIN-RIGGING. (From the original by William Page).

GENERAL HENRY W. HALLECK.

GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS.

GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS.

GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER.

THE BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. (The "Battle above the Clouds ").

GENERAL JAMES B. McPHERSON.

GENERAL DAVID D. PORTER.

GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE.

GENERAL NATHANIEL P. BANKS.

GENERAL J. E. B. STUART'S RAID UPON POPE'S HEADQUARTERS.

AUGUST 22, 1862, WHEN POPE'S DESPATCH-BOOK FELL INTO THE HANDS OF THE CONFEDERATES.

GENERAL THOMAS J. ("STONEWALL") JACKSON.

GENERAL EDWIN V. SUMNER.

GENERAL WINFIELD S. HANCOCK.

GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE.

THE STONE WALL AT FREDERICKSBURG.

GENERAL OLIVER O. HOWARD.

GENERAL JOHN SEDGWICK.

GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET.

GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE.

DEATH OF GENERAL SEDGWICK AT SPOTTSYLVANIA, MAY 9, 1864.

GENERAL DAVID HUNTER.

GENERAL LEE SIGNING THE TERMS OF SURRENDER AT APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE.

GIDEON WELLES.

THE SINKING OF THE FRIGATE CUMBERLAND BY THE MERRIMAC IN HAMPTON ROADS, MARCH 8, 1862.

JOHN ERICSSON.

SECTIONAL VIEW OF MONITOR THROUGH TURRET AND PILOT-HOUSE.

THE ORIGINAL MONITOR.

THE SINKING OF THE ALABAMA.

THE LANDING OF THE ALLIED TROOPS AT VERA CRUZ.

MAXIMILIAN WATCHING THE DEPARTURE OF THE LAST FRENCH TROOPS FROM THE CITY OF MEXICO.

SALMON PORTLAND CHASE, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

FACSIMILE OF A PORTION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S DRAFT OF THE PRELIMINARY PROCLAMATION OF EMANCIPATION, SEPTEMBER, 1862. (From the original in the Library of the State of New York, Albany).

EDWIN M. STANTON.

ULYSSES S. GRANT.

SAMUEL J. TILDEN. (After a pastel by Sarony in the house at Gramercy Park).

JAMES A. GARFIELD.

JAMES G. BLAINE.

PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND.

A FACSIMILE PUT IN EVIDENCE BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.

THE MOUTH OF THE MIAMI RIVER, FLORIDA.

THE SITE OF CHICAGO.

AN OHIO RIVER FLAT-BOAT.

AN IRRIGATED ORANGE GROVE AT RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

THE IRRIGATING RESERVOIR AT WALNUT GROVE, ARIZONA, SHOWING THE ARTIFICIAL LAKE PARTLY FILLED.

AT THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION, PHILADELPHIA, 1876.

THE AMERICAN LINE STEAMSHIP ST. LOUIS, LAUNCHED FROM THE CRAMPS DOCKS, NOVEMBER 12, 1894. (554 feet long, 11,000 tons, and 20,000 horse-power).

CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.

THE BIG LOOP ON THE GEORGETOWN BRANCH OF THE UNION PACIFIC, COLORADO.

CHARLES F. BRUSH.

MOSES G. FARMER.

THOMAS A. EDISON.

THE HOOSAC TUNNEL LIT BY GLOW LAMPS, AFTER THE PLAN OF THE MARR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

EDISON'S PLATINUM LAMP ON CARBON SUPPORT, 1879.

EDISON'S PAPER CARBON LAMP.

EDISON'S FIRST INCANDESCENT PLATINUM LAMP.

THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE, LOOKING UP THE EAST RIVER.

THE MANHATTAN ELEVATED RAILWAY, NEW YORK.

UNDER SIDE OF A MODERN SWITCHBOARD, SHOWING 2,000 TELEGRAPH WIRES.

PROFESSOR BELL SENDING THE FIRST MESSAGE, BY LONG-DISTANCE TELEPHONE, FROM NEW YORK TO CHICAGO.

THE NEW YORK GOLD ROOM ON "BLACK FRIDAY," SEPTEMBER 24,1869.

A SCENE DURING THE CHICAGO FIRE.

CATCHING THE MAIL POUCH FROM THE CRANE.

IGLOOS, OR ESQUIMAU HUTS.

A. W. GREELY.

LIST OF MAPS

THE CONFEDERATE LINE FROM COLUMBUS TO BOWLING GREEN.

FORT HENRY.

FORT DONELSON.

NEW MADRID AND ISLAND NUMBER TEN.

MEMPHIS TO IUKA, 1862.

OPERATIONS IN LOUISIANA. FEBRUARY TO JULY, 1863.

ATLANTA TO SAVANNAH.

THE BATTLE-FIELD OF NASHVILLE.

MAP OF NORTH CAROLINA.

JACKSON'S ATTACK ON HOWARD, MAY 1, 1863.

DIAGRAM OF THE ATTACK ON SICKLES AND SYKES.

THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

GENERAL EARLY'S MARYLAND CAMPAIGN.

GRANT'S PURSUIT OF LEE, APRIL, 1865.

MAP OF HAMPTON ROADS.

PERIOD IV. CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION

(Continued)

1860-1868

CHAPTER V.. The Struggle for the Mississippi Valley

THE STRUGGLE FOR THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY

The North conducted the war upon three great lines of campaign: 1. The Western campaigns, to clear the Mississippi River and thus divide the Confederacy. 2. The campaigns in the centre, to reach the sea at Mobile, Savannah, or Charleston, cutting the Confederacy a second time. 3. The Eastern campaigns, to take Richmond, and capture or destroy the main Confederate army, ending the Confederacy. This chapter deals with the Western campaigns alone.

The opening of 1862 found the Confederates in possession of a strong line across the southern portion of Western Kentucky, stretching from Bowling Green, near the centre of the State, to Columbus on the Mississippi. The two gates of this line were Forts Henry and Donelson, on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, respectively, just over the Tennessee border. If these forts could be taken the Confederates must give up Kentucky.

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