Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/149

Rh disparity of numbers and the bravery and great sacrifices of the Southerners in battling for their principles and for what they honestly consider were their rights. And I take a just pride, as an American citizen, a descendant, on both sides of my parentage, of English stock who came to this country about 1640, that the Southern army, composed almost entirely of Americans, were able, under the ablest American chieftains, to defeat so often the overwhelming hosts of the North, which were composed largely of foreigners to our soil. "General Hooker, in his testimony, surely overlooked this element, or he would not have testified that the Confederates were inferior to his people, "intellectually and physically," and acquired their superiority in steadiness and efficiency "by discipline alone."

But the point will be obvious by citing the results of a few of the many battles as illustrations. When on account of the wounding of Gen. J. E. Johnston at Seven Pines, Gen. R. E. Lee was put in command in Virginia, June 1, 1862, the situation looked dark indeed for the Confederates. The capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, the fall of New Orleans, the capture of Nashville, Roanoke island and Norfolk, gave the Federals confidence of success and tended to greatly dispirit the Confederates. The gloom had been somewhat brightened by the Confederate victory at Shiloh and Stonewall Jackson's brilliant Valley campaign, which terminated at Cross Keys and Fort Republic a few days after General Lee assumed command. But the situation was still exceedingly threatening, for McClellan was strongly intrenched with 115,000 men within sight of the spires of Richmond and almost within cannon range of the city. He had 10,000 more men at Fortress Monroe and was confidently expecting McDowell, whose troops had been diverted by the movements of Stonewall Jackson, to join him with 40,000 troops. General Lee, to oppose this strong force, after receiving all of the reinforce-