Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/217

Rh were held in readiness to be equipped for the field of battle.

The lack of a navy was not only very apparent, but the difficulty of creating this important means of defense was nearly appalling. Many of the best officers of the United States navy had resigned and reported at Richmond for active service in the Confederacy. Tattnall, Buchanan, Semmes, Hartstene, Hollins, Rousseau, Ingraham, Randolph and others, who did great service and acquired great fame, were among the accomplished naval officers first assigned to duty by the navy department at Montgomery. About 200 officers of the United States navy, of all grades, resigned their commissions early in 1861, and with a nice sense of honor, not one of them who had charge of a ship brought it into the possession of the Confederacy. What is called the nucleus of the Confederate navy consisted of the few vessels which were seized by the seven States soon after each had seceded, in the aggregate about ten, the most powerful carrying only ten guns. Congress authorized the increase of this little navy by the purchase of ten gunboats, and distributed the gallant officers who had offered their services among various naval posts. Yet, notwithstanding the lack of essentials for creating a navy, the skillful officers above named, with those of like character who subsequently joined them, gave a wonderful fame to this arm of Confederate defense.

The Southern movement was also sustained at its outset by military leaders recognized as the choice spirits of the United States army, who gave up their commissions in obedience to the action of their States. Among them were Albert Sidney Johnston, Braxton Bragg, P. T. Beauregard and the venerable David E. Twiggs, who were soon joined by Joseph E. Johnston, Robert E. Lee, and others whose names will appear hereafter. Military leaders such as these were placed from year to year in command of "the incomparable Southern armies," winning from Mr. Horace Greeley the tribute: "The rebels