[15] Governor Alexander S. Abernethy writes the following anecdote of Governor Stevens. Meeting him just before starting East, the governor said that he had told the Southern gentlemen, with whom he had been associated in the Democratic Executive Committee and in the convention, that, if a war should result from the action they had taken, he would be found supporting the government against them. “And,” said he, “I am going to Washington at once, and shall offer the President my sword and my services as long as this war shall last.”
[16] The author was General Stevens’s chief of staff, and was confidentially informed and employed by him in all the details of this plan of campaign against Charleston, and of the scouts by Captain Elliott and others. Since the war he has gone over the whole matter with General Thomas W. Sherman, who expressed the utmost confidence in the proposed movement, and his lasting regret that he was deprived of the opportunity of carrying it out.
[17] The Confederate major, Pressley, who went over the ground just after the assault to be related in the next chapter, thus describes Fort Lamar, in Southern Historical Society Papers, vol. xvi.: “The work across the neck of the Secessionville peninsula was about fifty yards in length, and was a very well-constructed line of intrenchments. The ramparts were about fifteen feet from the level of the ground. There was a ditch in front about ten to fifteen feet in width. The exterior slope was so nearly perpendicular that it was impossible to get up in front without scaling-ladders. The enemy were not provided with these.”
[18] See Rebellion Records, vol. xiv.; History of the 79th Highlanders, by William Todd; Major Pressley, in Southern Historical Society Papers, vol. xvi., Major John Johnson’s Defense of Charleston Harbor.
[19] John C. Ropes, Army under Pope, pp. 193–199, gives Pope 71,000; Lee, 54,268. General Longstreet, Manassas to Appomattox, gives Pope 54,500; Lee, 53,000. Colonel William Allen, Army of Northern Virginia, puts “Lee’s strength at 47,000 to 55,000; say over 50,000.”
[20] The reports of Jackson and his subordinates indulge in much exaggeration as to driving the Union forces in their front, but Longstreet, with more truth, states in his book, p. 189, that “Jackson failed to pull up even on the left.”
[21] Statement of Colonel Charles McClure, of Patrick’s staff.
[22] H.H. Bancroft’s History of Washington.
[23] Anonymous, from Boston Commonwealth.