From Manassas to Appomattox: Memoirs of the Civil War in America

Some weeks after the surrender the newspapers announced that I was to visit Washington City. My old company commander, Bradford P. Alden, who had resigned from the army some yea...

The Stroke of Arms that shook the Continent--Longstreet opposed the Attack as planned and made--The Confederate Column of Assault--It was weak in Numbers but strong in Spirit--T...

Closing Events of the Great Struggle--Burnside crosses the Bridge he made famous--Toombs made Gallant Defence, but was outnumbered and dislodged--The Confederate Brigades from H...

A New Line of Defence--Positions of the Confronting Armies--Fitz-John Porter--Terrific Storm on the Eve of Battle--General Johnston's Orders to Longstreet, Smith, and Huger--Lac...

Campaign of 1864--General Grant in the Field--Strength of the Armies--Their Positions--Description of the Wilderness--The Battle opened--A Brisk Day's Fighting--Longstreet's Com...

Retreat--Lee's Bold Initiative--Lee and his Lieutenants planning Battle--The Confederates' Loss at Mechanicsville--Gaines's Mill--A. P. Hill's Fight--Longstreet's Reserve Divisi...

The Confederate Commander reviews the Field and decides on Plan of Battle--Positions on the Morning of July 2--Night March of the Federal Sixth Corps--It was excelled by Law's B...

Battle opened by the Federals on Jackson's Right, followed by Kearny--Longstreet's Reconnoissance--Stuart, the Cavalry Leader, sleeps on the Field of Battle--Pope thought at the...

Longstreet again considers Relief from Service--General Grant at Knoxville--Shoeless Soldiers leave Bloody Trails on Frozen Roads--A Confederate Advance--Affair at Dandridge--Fe...

General Bragg's Infatuation--General Grant in Command of the Federal Forces--Longstreet ordered into East Tennessee--His Plans for the Campaign--Poorly supported by his Superior...

Longstreet differs with General Bragg as to Movements of Pursuit--The Confederates on Lookout Mountain--Federals gain Comfortable Positions around it--Superior Officers of Bragg...

Commanders on both Sides generally Veterans of the Mexican War--General Irvin McDowell's Preconceived Plan--Johnston reinforces Beauregard and approves his Plans--General Bernar...

The Battle-field veiled by a Heavy Fog--Terrific Fighting of the 13th of December--Forlorn Hope of the Federals--General Meade's Division of Franklin's Command makes the First A...

General Lee modifies his Order of March--Continuous Skirmishing--Cavalry Commander Stuart gets into General Pope's Head-quarters and captures his Personal Equipment--His Uniform...

Birth--Ancestry--School-Boy Days--Appointment as Cadet at the United States Military Academy--Graduates of Historic Classes--Assignment as Brevet Lieutenant--Gay Life of Garriso...

Bloodiest Single Day of the War--Comparison of Casualties--Hooker opens the Fight against Jackson's Centre--Many Officers among the Fallen early in the Day--McLaws and Walker in...

Information of Federal Force and Positions brought by the Scout Harrison--General Lee declines to credit it--General Longstreet suggests a Change of Direction in Conformance wit...

The Fierce Concerted Assault by the Federals--Death of A. P. Hill--General Lee announces to Richmond Authorities that he must retreat--Reception of the News by President Davis a...

Tactical Features--The Battle opened by Direct Attack on the Federals in the Early Morning of September 20--Repeated and Determined Front Assaults--Brigadiers Helm killed and Ad...

How the Federals found the Despatch--With every Advantage McClellan "made haste slowly"--Lee turns back to meet him at South Mountain--Longstreet preferred that the Stand should...

Impracticability of joining General Bragg--Wintering in East Tennessee--General Longstreet given Discretionary Authority over the Department by President Davis--Short Rations--M...

Some of General Lee's Officers say to him that "Further Resistance is Hopeless"--Longstreet does not approve--General Grant calls for Surrender--"Not yet"--The Confederate Chief...

The War-Cloud--The Journey Northward--Appointed Brigadier-General--Report to General Beauregard--Assigned to Command at the Scene of the First Conflict--Personnel of the Confron...

Various Affairs of the Closing Campaign--The Massing of Grant's Forces--Sortie against Fort Steadman--Captured but quickly retaken--General Grant's Move around the Confederate R...

Last Stand in the Great Retreat--Strength of McClellan's Position--The Confederates make Poor Use of their Artillery--A Mistake and Defeat for Lee's Army--The Campaign as a Whol...

Closing on the Enemy's Lines--A Gallant Dash--The Federal Positions--Fort Loudon, later called Fort Sanders--Assault of the Fort carefully planned--General McLaws advises Delay-...

Burnside's Abortive Moves--The "Mud March"--General Hooker supersedes Burnside--The Confederates strengthen their Position for the Winter--Longstreet ordered to Petersburg--Secr...

The Author reverts to the Perils and Opportunities in the West--Proposes to the Secretary of War to reinforce against Rosecrans from the Army of Northern Virginia--Makes Plan kn...

Plan of the Confederate March North--General Lee hoped to draw Troops from the South and develop Important Results North of the Potomac--He wanted Beauregard sent to support the...

General Lee continues Aggressive Work--From Foraged Fields of Virginia into a Bounteous Land--Longstreet objected to the Movement on Harper's Ferry--Lee thinks the Occasion Time...

Confederates retreat from South Mountain--Federals follow and harass them--Franklin and Cobb at Crampton's Pass--A spirited Action--Fighting around Harper's Ferry--Its Capitulat...

Confederate Expectations--General Lee's Salutatory to the People of Maryland--The "Lost Despatch"--McClellan's Movements--Turn in the Tide of War--A Miracle great as the throwin...

Longstreet absent on Leave, nursing his Wounds--Hears of the Death of Cavalry Leader J. E. B. Stuart--Returns to Virginia--Assigned to Command on the North Side of James River--...

Centres of Activity gravitate towards Orange and Culpeper Counties--Pope's Unsoldierly Preliminary Orders--Jackson's and Pope's Encounter at Cedar Mountain--Confidence in and Es...

Description of the Field--Marye's Heights--Position of the Troops of Longstreet's Command--General Jackson called down from Orange Court-House, and Preparations made for a Deter...

The Attack on Fort Magruder--Hancock occupies two Redoubts--The Slaughter in Early's Brigade--The Fifth North Carolina Regiment and Twenty-Fourth Virginia mercilessly exposed--A...

The Forces under Command of G. W. Smith after Johnston was wounded--The Battle of the 1st--Longstreet requests Reinforcements and a Diversion--Council held--McLaws alone sustain...

Longstreet's Army at Bull's Gap--U. S. Grant made Lieutenant-General--Richmond Authorities awake to the Gravity of the Situation--Longstreet's Proposition for Campaign--Approved...

Second Federal Move against Fort Fisher and Wilmington Harbor--Confederate Disaffection--Act of Congress appointing a Supreme Commander of the Armies--Montgomery Blair's Peace C...

The Defences of the Confederate Capital--Army of Northern Virginia at Centreville--Aggressive Action--Council with the President and Secretary of War--Mr. Davis's High Opinion o...

Confederates retreat from Gettysburg--The Federals pursue--Crossing the Potomac under Difficulties--Kilpatrick's Cavalry Dash on Pettigrew's Command--General Lee thought to rest...

The Confederates appoint Seven Lieutenant-Generals--The Army of Northern Virginia organized in Corps--General McClellan relieved, and General Burnside appointed Commander of the...

The Great General's Assignment not at first assuring to the Army--Able as an Engineer but limited as to Field Service--He makes the Acquaintance of his Lieutenants--Calls a Coun...

An Early War-Time Amenity--The Author invited to dine with the Enemy--"Stove-pipe Batteries"--J. E. B. Stuart, the Famous Cavalryman--His Bold Dash on the Federals at Lewinsvill...

Old Friends and their Kindness--General Grant--His Characteristic Letter of Introduction to President Johnson--In Business in New Orleans--Political Unfriendliness--Cause of Cri...

The Confederate Commander reviews the Field and decides on Plan of Battle--Positions on the Morning of July 2--Night March of the Federal Sixth Corps--It was excelled by Law's B...

The Battle-field veiled by a Heavy Fog--Terrific Fighting of the 13th of December--Forlorn Hope of the Federals--General Meade's Division of Franklin's Command makes the First A...

The Stroke of Arms that shook the Continent--Longstreet opposed the Attack as planned and made--The Confederate Column of Assault--It was weak in Numbers but strong in Spirit--...

Plan of the Confederate March North--General Lee hoped to draw Troops from the South and develop Important Results North of the Potomac--He wanted Beauregard sent to support the...

Information of Federal Force and Positions brought by the Scout Harrison--General Lee declines to credit it--General Longstreet suggests a Change of Direction in Conformance wit...

Burnside's Abortive Moves--The "Mud March"--General Hooker supersedes Burnside--The Confederates strengthen their Position for the Winter--Longstreet ordered to Petersburg--Secr...

Some of General Lee's Officers say to him that "Further Resistance is Hopeless"--Longstreet does not approve--General Grant calls for Surrender--"Not yet"--The Confederate Chief...

Longstreet differs with General Bragg as to Movements of Pursuit--The Confederates on Lookout Mountain--Federals gain Comfortable Positions around it--Superior Officers of Bragg...

Closing Events of the Great Struggle--Burnside crosses the Bridge he made famous--Toombs made Gallant Defence, but was outnumbered and dislodged--The Confederate Brigades from H...

Description of the Field--Marye's Heights--Position of the Troops of Longstreet's Command--General Jackson called down from Orange Court-House, and Preparations made for a Deter...

Impracticability of joining General Bragg--Wintering in East Tennessee--General Longstreet given Discretionary Authority over the Department by President Davis--Short Rations--M...

The Fierce Concerted Assault by the Federals--Death of A. P. Hill--General Lee announces to Richmond Authorities that he must retreat--Reception of the News by President Davis a...

Bloodiest Single Day of the War--Comparison of Casualties-- Hooker opens the Fight against Jackson's Centre--Many Officers among the Fallen early in the Day--McLaws and Walker i...

Tactical Features--The Battle opened by Direct Attack on the Federals in the Early Morning of September 20--Repeated and Determined Front Assaults--Brigadiers Helm killed and Ad...

General Lee modifies his Order of March--Continuous Skirmishing--Cavalry Commander Stuart gets into General Pope's Head-quarters and captures his Personal Equipment--His Uniform...

Battle opened by the Federals on Jackson's Right, followed by Kearny--Longstreet's Reconnoissance--Stuart, the Cavalry Leader, sleeps on the Field of Battle--Pope thought at the...

The Author reverts to the Perils and Opportunities in the West--Proposes to the Secretary of War to reinforce against Rosecrans from the Army of Northern Virginia--Makes Plan kn...

Last Stand in the Great Retreat--Strength of McClellan's Position--The Confederates make Poor Use of their Artillery--A Mistake and Defeat for Lee's Army--The Campaign as a Whol...

Various Affairs of the Closing Campaign--The Massing of Grant's Forces--Sortie against Fort Steadman--Captured but quickly retaken--General Grant's Move around the Confederate R...

Commanders on both Sides generally Veterans of the Mexican War--General Irvin McDowell's Preconceived Plan--Johnston reinforces Beauregard and approves his Plans--General Bernar...

The Confederates appoint Seven Lieutenant-Generals--The Army of Northern Virginia organized in Corps--General McClellan relieved, and General Burnside appointed Commander of the...

Longstreet again considers Relief from Service--General Grant at Knoxville--Shoeless Soldiers leave Bloody Trails on Frozen Roads--A Confederate Advance--Affair at Dandridge--Fe...

Closing on the Enemy's Lines--A Gallant Dash--The Federal Positions--Fort Loudon, later called Fort Sanders--Assault of the Fort carefully planned--General McLaws advises Delay-...

Longstreet absent on Leave, nursing his Wounds--Hears of the Death of Cavalry Leader J. E. B. Stuart--Returns to Virginia-- Assigned to Command on the North Side of James River-...

An Early War-Time Amenity--The Author invited to dine with the Enemy--"Stove-pipe Batteries"--J. E. B. Stuart, the Famous Cavalryman--His Bold Dash on the Federals at Lewinsvill...

Confederate Expectations--General Lee's Salutatory to the People of Maryland--The "Lost Despatch"--McClellan's Movements--Turn in the Tide of War--A Miracle great as the throwin...

Confederates retreat from Gettysburg--The Federals pursue-- Crossing the Potomac under Difficulties--Kilpatrick's Cavalry Dash on Pettigrew's Command--General Lee thought to res...

The Great General's Assignment not at first assuring to the Army--Able as an Engineer but limited as to Field Service--He makes the Acquaintance of his Lieutenants--Calls a Coun...

General Bragg's Infatuation--General Grant in Command of the Federal Forces--Longstreet ordered into East Tennessee--His Plans for the Campaign--Poorly supported by his Superior...

Longstreet's Army at Bull's Gap--U. S. Grant made Lieutenant-General--Richmond Authorities awake to the Gravity of the Situation--Longstreet's Proposition for Campaign-- Approve...

Campaign of 1864--General Grant in the Field--Strength of the Armies--Their Positions--Description of the Wilderness--The Battle opened--A Brisk Day's Fighting--Longstreet's Com...

Second Federal Move against Fort Fisher and Wilmington Harbor-- Confederate Disaffection--Act of Congress appointing a Supreme Commander of the Armies--Montgomery Blair's Peace...

How the Federals found the Despatch--With every Advantage McClellan "made haste slowly"--Lee turns back to meet him at South Mountain--Longstreet preferred that the Stand should...

A New Line of Defence--Positions of the Confronting Armies-- Fitz-John Porter--Terrific Storm on the Eve of Battle--General Johnston's Orders to Longstreet, Smith, and Huger--La...

Retreat--Lee's Bold Initiative--Lee and his Lieutenants planning Battle--The Confederates' Loss at Mechanicsville-- Gaines's Mill--A. P. Hill's Fight--Longstreet's Reserve Divis...

The Forces under Command of G. W. Smith after Johnston was wounded--The Battle of the 1st--Longstreet requests Reinforcements and a Diversion--Council held--McLaws alone sustain...

Confederates retreat from South Mountain--Federals follow and harass them--Franklin and Cobb at Crampton's Pass--A Spirited Action--Fighting around Harper's Ferry--Its Capitulat...

The War-Cloud--The Journey Northward--Appointed Brigadier-General--Report to General Beauregard--Assigned to Command at the Scene of the First Conflict--Personnel of the Confron...

Centres of Activity gravitate towards Orange and Culpeper Counties--Pope's Unsoldierly Preliminary Orders--Jackson's and Pope's Encounter at Cedar Mountain--Confidence in and Es...

General Lee continues Aggressive Work--From Foraged Fields of Virginia into a Bounteous Land--Longstreet objected to the Movement on Harper's Ferry--Lee thinks the Occasion Time...

The Attack on Fort Magruder--Hancock occupies Two Redoubts--The Slaughter in Early's Brigade--The Fifth North Carolina Regiment and Twenty-Fourth Virginia mercilessly exposed--A...

Birth--Ancestry--School-Boy Days--Appointment as Cadet at the United States Military Academy--Graduates of Historic Classes-- Assignment as Brevet Lieutenant--Gay Life of Garris...

The Defences of the Confederate Capital--Army of Northern Virginia at Centreville--Aggressive Action--Council with the President and Secretary of War--Mr. Davis's High Opinion o...