Battle of Pea Ridge.-During 1862 two warlike events took place west of the Mississippi. One of these was a battle at Pea Ridge, Arkansas. General Van Dorn, with twenty thousand troops, was met and totally defeated by General Curtis at the head of the Union forces.

tually ended the war in Missouri and Arkansas.1

This vir

The Sioux Indian Outbreak. In the summer of 1862 an outbreak of Sioux Indians took place. They had long complained of ill treatment by the white settlers and government officials, and took advantage of the war to invade Minnesota and Iowa, where they massacred nearly a thousand men, women, and children. They were quickly suppressed, and several of their leaders were hanged for murder.

5. THE EAST IN 1862.

Affairs in Virginia.-It will be seen from what has been said that the Union armies made great progress in the West during 1862. The opposite was the case in Virginia. Here the Confederates won a number of important battles, and the attempt to capture Richmond ended in failure and disaster. After the defeat at Bull Run, months passed without a movement being made. During this period General McClellan, the new commander-in-chief, was engaged in a careful drilling of the army, seeking to make soldiers out of untrained recruits. He was not ready to advance until the spring of 1862. Then the army was put in march for Richmond.

1 Several thousands of Indians from the Indian Territory had joined the Confederate forces in Arkansas, and took part in the battle of Pea Ridge. They proved of little use, the roar of the artillery, the sight of guns that ran round on wheels, and the fall of trees behind which they took shelter, reducing them to a state of panic. They were not used to that kind of war.

McClellan's Advance.-The overland route was not deemed advisable after the experience at Bull Run, so the advance was made by water. McClellan wished to take the James River route, but as that would have left Wash

MCCLELLAN'S CAMPAIGN. YORKTOWN TO RICHMOND.

ington in danger of capture by a sudden dash, he took the York River route instead, while McDowell led an army overland toward Richmond.

The Siege of Yorktown.-Yorktown, the scene of the final event of the Revolution, was that of the first event in this march. It was strongly fortified, and General Magruder, with fifteen thousand men, detained McClellan's forces here for a month. At length, just as heavy siege guns were in place and about to open fire, Magruder withdrew, having well performed his task of checking the Union advance.

The Fight at Williamsburg.-Magruder fell back to Williamsburg, ten miles distant, where works had been built. He was sharply pursued, and a fight took place there on May 5. Both sides claimed the victory, but Magruder

retreated during the night, and the pursuit was continued until Richmond was near at hand.

A Panic at Richmond.-On the evacuation of Yorktown, Norfolk was abandoned, the navy-yard burned, and the famous ironclad Merrimac blown up. The Monitor and other vessels now ascended James River until within eight miles of Richmond. The army was only seven miles from the city. A panic ensued. The Confederate Congress adjourned, and the people of the city were in a state of consternation.

GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN.

Waiting for Reinforcements.-An immediate attack might perhaps have taken Richmond, but it was not made. McClellan dispersed a Confederate force in his rear, and then waited for McDowell, who was approaching overland. This reinforcement did not reach him. Its coming was prevented by a skilful movement of the Confederate forces, General Johnston having sent his able subordinate, Thomas J. Jackson,-already best known as Stonewall Jackson,'-with a strong force down the Shenandoah Valley to threaten Washington.

In the Shenandoah Valley.-Jackson's march was rapid and effective. The Union forces in the valley retreated

1 Thomas Jonathan Jackson-who gained his famous nickname of "Stonewall" from a remark made during the first battle of Bull Run, "There's Jackson standing like a stone wall"-was born in Virginia in 1824. He graduated from West Point in 1846, served in the Mexican War, and afterward became Professor of Natural Philosophy at Lexington, Virginia. He entered the Civil War as a colonel, and captured the arsenal at Harper's Ferry in May, 1861. As a subordinate to General Lee he proved himself a soldier of remarkable ability.

hastily before him and crossed the Potomac. Washington was in a state of panic. No one knew how many men Jackson had. Troops were hurried to the Potomac. Banks and Fremont were ordered to cross that stream, and McDowell was stopped in his march toward Richmond and ordered from Fredericksburg to the valley. It was now Jackson's turn to retreat with all haste, for his foes were closing in and he was in serious danger. He did so, burning the bridges behind him, and made good his escape. He had done his work well, threatened Washington, prevented McDowell from joining McClellan, and saved Richmond.

Battle of Fair Oaks.—In the advance against Richmond McClellan had divided his army, the left wing having crossed the small stream known as the Chickahominy. At the end of May this advanced wing was placed in a dangerous situation by a heavy storm, which flooded the stream and converted its banks into marshes. Taking quick advantage of this opportunity, on May 31, Johnston made an impetuous attack on the exposed wing, and drove it back toward the swollen stream. A serious disaster was prevented by General Sumner, who succeeded in crossing the stream and checking the Confederate advance. On the next day the battle was renewed, but the Confederates were disheartened by the loss of their general, who had been wounded, and were driven back with severe loss.

General Lee in Command.-The wounding of General Johnston rendered necessary a new Confederate commanderin-chief. General Robert E. Lee1 was chosen, a man who

1 Robert Edward Lee was born in Virginia in 1807, being the son of General Henry Lee, the famous "Light-horse Harry" of the Revolution. He graduated from West Point in 1829, served in the Mexican War, and

was to gain world-wide fame for military genius. He lost no time in showing his activity. General Stuart was sent on a cavalry dash around McClellan's'

army, and succeeded in doing serious damage, tearing up railroads and destroying great quantities of supplies.

ROBERT E. LEE.

The Seven Days' Battle.-Jackson soon after returned and joined his forces with those of Lee. An instant advance was made, and for seven days. the two armies were locked in deadly fight. On June 26 the Union forces were repulsed at Mechanicsville, and on the 27th at Gaines' Mills. McClellan, his line of supply from York River being now cut off, began to withdraw his forces toward the James. Day after day Lee continued his vigorous assaults, and step by step the Union army drew back. July 1 found it strongly posted on the sloping face of a plateau at Malvern Hill. Here Lee attacked again and was repulsed with heavy loss. McClellan now withdrew to the James River without further attack. Both sides had lost heavily, McClellan about sixteen thousand, Lee twenty thousand men. But the victory rested with Lee, immense stores had been taken or destroyed, the siege of Richmond was raised, and general discouragement affected the North. President Lincoln called for three hundred thousand fresh troops.

New Military Counsels.-General Halleck, who for a

was made colonel for his courage. He went with his State in its secession, was at once made third in rank of the Confederate officers, and during the war gained the reputation of being one of the ablest of modern commanders. After the war he became president of the Washington and Lee University, and died in 1870.