EVENTS OF 1864

German-Austrian Forces Beat the Danes at Düppel and ElsewhereTruce-Allies Demand Independence of Schleswig-Holstein-Denmark Refuses this and Hostilities are Renewed-Prussians Take Sonderburg-Denmark Cedes Schleswig-Holstein to the AlliesGordon is Pacified and Resumes Command of Imperial Chinese Troops-He Destroys Rebel Army at Waisso-Nanking, the Last Taiping Stronghold, is Stormed-End of the Wangs-Grant Takes Supreme Command of Union Armies-Leaving Sherman in Charge of the West, He Comes East with Sheridan as His Cavalry General -Cushing (Union) Torpedoes "Albemarle"-Small Confederate Privateers Endanger Union Coast Trade-"Alabama" and "Florida" (Confederate) are Built in England-They Take Many Prizes-Collins of the "Wachusett" Captures "Florida" in Bahia Harbor-Ordered to Return Her, Collins Aggravates His Breach of International Law by Sinking the Prize "Kearsarge" Sinks "Alabama" off CherbourgDeath of Hawthorne-Grant Fails in Frontal Attacks on Lee in Battle of the Wilderness, Va.-Drawn Battle of SpottsylvaniaButler (Union) Takes Bermuda Hundred, Va.-Sheridan's Cavalry Skirts Lee and Worsts Stuart, who is Killed-Grant Joins Butler -He Fails in Assault on Cold Harbor-Hunter (Union) Defeats Jones and Moves Up Shenandoah Valley-Grant Fails in Assaults on Petersburg-Hancock and Wright (Union) are Defeated by Hill in Attempt to Destroy Weldon Railroad-Early (Confederate) Approaches Washington Through Shenandoah Valley-Wallace Checks Him in Time to Save Capital-Early Defeats Crook at Winchester, Va.-Farragut's Fleet Breaks Through Torpedo Line into Mobile Bay, Beats Defending Gunboats, and Takes Forts Gaines and Morgan -Sheridan Succeeds Hunter-He Beats Early at Fisher's Hill, Va., and Changes Early's Victory at Cedar Creek into His Rout-Confederate Submerged Boat Sinks "Housatonic" and Herself in Charleston Harbor-Sherman Moves on Atlanta, Ga.-Johnston's Masterly Retreat Sherman Takes Kenesaw Mountain- Hood Supersedes Johnston-Atlanta is Taken-Hood Invades Middle TennesseeHe is Joined by Beauregard-Forrest (Confederate) Makes Destructive Cavalry Raids Around Sherman-Sherman Marches to Savannah, Ga.-Hood Defeats Schofield at Franklin, Tenn., and Invests Thomas in Nashville-Thomas Routs Confederates-Lincoln is Reelected-Congress Amends Constitution to Prohibit Slavery and Establishes "Freedman's Bureau"-Napoleon III Offers Mexican Crown to Archduke Maximilian-Maximilian Receives Financial Backing and Accepts-American Congress Protests and Withdraws the Minister to Mexico-Maximilian is Coldly Received by Mexicans -Bazaine, the French General, is Avaricious and the Auxiliary Troops are Insubordinate-Maximilian Loses Support of Pope and Mexican Clergy by Proposal to Sequestrate Church Lands.

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N January 15 the Frankfort Assembly sent an ultimatum to Christian IX, commanding him to repeal

the constitution of November 18, 1863, within forty-eight hours. He refused. Behind the famous fortifications of the Dannewirk the Danish army of 30,000, under General Meza, was gathered ready for battle.

BATTLE OF DÜPPEL

1864

Denmark, after the manner of weak nations, had placed her reliance not so much upon her army as upon the possibility of foreign assistance, upon the hatred between Austria and Germany, and upon dissensions among the minor German States. Notwithstanding Lord Palmerston's promising hints at intervention, foreign assistance was not forthcoming. Prussia and Austria, thanks to the diplomacy of Bismarck, were allied in a common cause. On February 1 20,000 Austrian and 25,000 Prussian troops crossed the Eider and were received with open arms by the inhabitants of Schleswig.

With the Prussians, under Prince Friedrich Karl, forming the right wing, and the Austrians, under Von Gablenz, the left, the Commander-in-Chief of the allied forces, General Wrangel, moved forward. On the 2d the Prussians engaged the Danes at Missunde on the Schlei; and on the 3d the Austrians fought their first battles at Overselk and Jagel. The army was to cross the Schlei on the 6th, but on the evening of the 5th the Danes evacuated the Dannewirk. The allies followed, but only the Austrians succeeded in overtaking the rear-guard of the retreating army at Oversee. Without further losses the Danes reached Düppel, in the southeastern part of the peninsula of Sundewitt. Here a notable battle was fought. After a six weeks' siege the Prussians and Austrians, on April 18, captured the works by storm after a short and hotly fought battle, in which the Danes lost their commander, Duplat, together with 5,000 men killed, wounded, and captured, and 118 guns. The other corps invaded Jutland, fought the battles of Veile and Fridericia, and finally took possession of Fridericia after its evacuation by the Danes late in April.

During the progress of these events a conference of the Powers was held in London, at which the German Confederation was represented by Von Beust of Saxony. A truce was

1864

DENMARK RESIGNS SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN

declared on May 9. The Danes obstinately refused to make any concession. Seizing the opportunity thus presented, Prussia and Austria retracted the pledges which they had made in the London Protocol, and on May 28, in conjunction with Von Beust, demanded the complete separation of the Duchies from Denmark and their consolidation into one State under the rule of Frederick of Augustenburg. Hostilities began again. The Prussians, under General von Bittenfeld, took Sonderburg on June 29 with slight loss-the last battle fought. The Danes left the island after having lost 4,000 men, of whom 2,000 were taken as prisoners. On the 19th a fleet of Austrian and Prussian ships captured the Danish captain, Hammer, who had earned an evil reputation on the western coast. Another truce was declared, and finally on October 30 a treaty of peace was signed at Vienna, by the terms of which the King of Denmark ceded all his rights to Schleswig-Holstein and Lauenburg to the Emperor of Austria and the King of Prussia. Neither the Duchies nor the Confederation were represented at the signing of the treaty.

In China Major Gordon, after two months' abstention form the war, had sunk his differences with Li Hung Chang and returned to quell the Taiping rebellion. February 18 he left Quinsan with his men and took the field anew. Chung Wang's force retired to Changchow, and Chung returned to Nanking. General Ching had seized Pingmang, and obtained another entrance to the Taho Lake. Gordon attacked Changchow. The stockades were carried; a great many rebels were killed, and 5,000 were taken prisoners. The stronghold of Lizang surrendered. Gordon attempted to capture Kintang, but he here suffered his second defeat, and had to retreat to Lizang, and thence to Wusieh. Fushan was taken and soon Changu was surrounded by the Taipings. But Chung captured Kashingfoo, and Isung Tong had re

GRANT TAKES SUPREME COMMAND

1864

covered Hangchow. Major Gordon, incapacitated by a wound, directed all operations from his boat. The Taipings returned from before Chanzu, but offered battle at Waisso. Gordon failed in getting his gunboats up the creek, his infantry was outmanœuvred, and routed. Collecting fresh troops after a week's rest, Gordon resumed his attack on Waisso and captured the place. The rebel army was practically destroyed.

The capture of Changchow followed as the next success, and the crowning event of the campaign. The leader was taken prisoner and executed. This was the last action of the "Ever-Victorious" army. After Changchow, Tayon was evacuated. Nanking alone remained in rebel hands. Tien Wang, despairing of success, committed suicide. Thus died the man who thirteen years before had erected the standard of revolt in Kwangsi. On July 10 the imperialists had run a gallery under the walls of Nanking, and charged it with 40,000 pounds of powder. The explosion destroyed fifty yards of the walls, and the imperialists poured through the breach. Later Chung Wang was captured. On August 7 this hero of the Taiping movement was executed.

In America, when the time came for new military operations in 1864, the country turned to Grant. On the first of March he was made a Lieutenant-General and called to Washington. While there he outlined the general strategy of the approaching campaign. His old command in the West was given to Sherman, Sherman's to McPherson, and McPherson's to Logan. Command of the Army of the Potomac was left to Meade. Grant himself accompanied that army, leaving to Sherman great freedom in the conduct of operations in the West.

As to Lee, Grant resolved at the last moment to engage him in front, and "pound his army to pieces." Sheridan was summoned East to take charge of the cavalry of the

1864

LIEUTENANT CUSHING'S EXPLOIT

Army of the Potomac. Grant's own army was reduced to three corps, under Hancock, Warren, and Sedgwick. Burnside's force of 20,000 was blended with Meade's.

Some notable naval encounters were won by the Confederate ironclad "Albemarle" in Albemarle Sound. Immediately upon her completion, on April 19, she came out to drive away the Federal ships, which threatened the way for the Southern army before Richmond. In midstream the Federal gunboats "Miami" and "Southfield" were lashed together so as to catch their dangerous opponent between them. Captain Cooke of the "Albemarle," on approaching the two vessels, steamed out of the current, and, under a heavy fire, turned at right angles and charged the "Southfield” at full speed amidships. His ram plowed ten feet into the "Southfield's" side. At once the "Southfield" began to sink, and carried down with her the bow of the Confederate ironclad. The whole forward part of the ship was carried under the water. Across the sinking "Southfield" the "Miami" fired a nineinch shell into the "Albemarle." It struck her armor nearly at right angles, and the fragments of the shell, flying back, killed the "Miami's" commander.

After this Federal defeat a strong flotilla was despatched to Pamlico Sound to watch the "Albemarle." On May 5 the "Albemarle" came out and roughly handled the "Mattabessete" and "Miami." The Federal ship "Sassacus" rammed her, but failed to sink her. Before she could back out, the "Albemarle" put a shot through the boiler of the "Sassacus," disabling thirteen men. An attempt to board her was beaten off. In the midst of the steam and confusion, the "Sassacus" drifted clear.

After this second defeat it was determined to accomplish the destruction of the dangerous ironclad by means of torpedo launches. Lieutenant Cushing, who, young as he was, had already distinguished himself by repeated exploits, vol