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watchfulness； dash； and energy。 Consequently he took no part in
the campaign that commenced in the first week in June。
Tired of standing always on the defensive； the Confederate
authorities determined to carry out the stop that had been so
warmly advocated by Jackson earlier in the war； and which might
at that time have brought it to a successful termination。 They
decided to carry the war into the enemy's country。 By the most
strenuous efforts Lee's army was raised to 75；000 men； divided
into three great army corps； commanded by Longstreet； Ewell； and
Hill。 Striking first into Western Virginia； they drove the Federals
from Winchester； and chased them from the State with the loss of
nearly 4；000 prisoners and 30 guns。 Then they entered Maryland
and Pennsylvania； and concentrating at Gettysburg they met the
Northern army under Meade； who had succeeded Hooker。
Although great numbers of the Confederates had seen their homes
wasted and their property wantonly destroyed； they preserved the
most perfect order in their march through the North； and the
Federals themselves testify to the admirable behavior of the troops；
and to the manner in which they abstained from plundering or
inflicting annoyance upon the inhabitants。
At Gettysburg there was three days' fighting。 In the first a portion
only of the forces were engaged； the Federals being defeated and
5；000 of their men taken prisoners。 Upon the second the
Confederates attacked the Northerners； who were posted in an
extremely strong position； but were repulsed with heavy loss。 The
following day they renewed the attack； but after tremendous
fighting again failed to carry the height。 Both parties were utterly
exhausted。 Lee drew up his troops the next day； and invited an
attack from the Federals； but contented with the success they had
gained they maintained their position； and the Confederates then
fell back； Stuart's cavalry protecting the immense trains of wagons
loaded with the stores and ammunition captured in Pennsylvania。
But little attempt was made by the Northerners to interfere with
their retreat。 On reaching the Potomac they found that a sudden
rise had rendered the fords impassable。 Intrenchments and
batteries were thrown up； and for a week the Confederate army
held the lines； expecting an attack from the enemy； who had
approached within two miles； but the Federal generals were too
well satisfied with having gained a success when acting on the
defensive in a strong position to risk a defeat in attacking the
position of the Confederates； and their forces remained impassive
until pontoon bridges were thrown across the river； and the
Confederate army； with their vast baggage train； bad again crossed
into Virginia。 The campaign had cost the Northern army 23；000
men in killed； wounded； and prisoners； besides a considerable
number of guns。 The Confederates lost only two guns； left behind
in the mud； and 1；500 prisoners； but their loss in killed and
wounded at Gettysburg exceeded 10；000 men。 Even the most
Sanguine among the ranks of the Confederacy were now
con…scions that the position was a desperate one。 The Federal
armies seemed to spring from the ground。 Strict discipline bad
taken the place。 of the disorder and insubordination that had first
prevailed in their ranks。 The armies were splendidly equipped。
They were able to obtain any amount of the finest guns； rifles； and
ammunition of war from the workshops of Europe； while the
Confederates； cut off from the world； had to rely solely upon the
makeshift factories they had set up； and upon the guns and stores
they captured from the enemy。
The Northerners had now； as a blow to the power of the South；
abolished slavery； and were raising regiments of negroes from
among the free blacks of the North； and from the slaves they took
from their owners wherever their armies penetrated the Southern
States。 Most of the Confederate ports had been either captured or
were so strictly blockaded that it was next to impossible for the
blockade…runner to get in or out； while the capture of the forts on
the Mississippi enabled them to use the Federal flotillas of
gunboats to the greatest advantage； and to carry their armies into
the center of the Confederacy。
Still； there was no talk whatever of surrender on the part of the
South； and； indeed； the decree abolishing slavery； and still more
the action of the North in raising black regiments； excited the
bitterest feeling of animosity and hatred。 The determination to
fight to the last； whatever came of it； animated every white man in
the Southern States； and； although deeply disappointed with the
failure of Lee's invasion of the North； the only result was to incite
them to greater exertions and sacrifices。 In the North an act
authorizing conscription was passed in 1863； but the attempt to
carry it into force caused a serious riot in New York； which was
only suppressed after many lives had been lost and the city placed
under martial law。
While the guns of Gettysburg were still thundering； a Federal army
of 18；000 men under General Gillmore； assisted by the fleet； had
laid siege to Charleston。 It was obstinately attacked and defended。
The siege continued until the 5th of September； when Fort Wagner
was captured； but all attempts to take Fort Sumter and the town of
Charleston itself failed； although the city suffered greatly from the
bombardment。 In Tennessee there was severe fighting in the
autumn； and two desperate battles were fought at Chickamauga on
the 19th and 20th of September； General Bragg； who commanded
the Confederate army there； being reinforced by Longstreet's
veterans from the army of Virginia。 After desperate fighting the
Federals were defeated； and thirty…six guns and vast quantities of
arms captured by the Confederates。 The fruits of the victory；
however； were very slight； as General Bragg refused to allow
Longstreet to pursue； and so to convert the Federal retreat into a
rout； and the consequence was that this victory was more than
balanced by a heavy defeat inflicted upon them in November at
Chattanooga by Sherman and Grant。 At this battle General
Longstreet's division was not present。
The army of Virginia had a long rest after their return from
Gettysburg； and it was not until November that the campaign was
renewed。 Meade advanced； a few minor skirmishes took place；
and then； when he reached the Wilderness； the scene of Hooker's
defeat； where Lee was prepared to give battle； he fell back again
across the Rappahannock。
The year had been an unfortunate one for the Confederates。 They
had lost Vicksburg；' and the defeat at Chattanooga had led to the
whole State of Tennessee falling into the hands of the Federals；
while against these losses there was no counterbalancing success
to be reckoned。
In the spring of 1864 both parties prepared to the utmost for the
struggle。 General Grant； an officer who h