Chapter 11:
- The fickle public of the North. -- Gen. Scott. -- the clamour for McClellan. -- his exaltation in the newspapers. -- the theatrical and sensational mind of the North. -- advance of the Confederates towards the Potomac. -- McClellan's designs. -- the Confederates fall back to Centreville. -- the battle of Leesburg. -- McClellan's movement on the Confederate left. -- Evans' brigade. -- fortunate capture of a Federal courier. -- the Federals cross the Potomac and occupy Ball's Bluff. -- splendid charge of the Confederates. -- death of Col. Baker. -- the enemy driven into the River. -- an appalling spectacle of death. -- misrepresentations in Washington. -- Morale of McClellan's army. -- the affair at Dranesville. -- defeat of Stuart, -- “Stonewall” Jackson's new command. -- his expedition from Winchester.Terrible sufferings of his command. -- his demonstration at Bath. -- his movement to Romney, and return to Winchester. -- close of the first year's campaign in Virginia. -- naval operations in 1861. -- the enemy's immense advantage in his navy. -- statistics of the Federal navy. -- improvidence of the Confederates in coast and River defences. -- Secretary Mallory. -- the Confederacy to lose all her sea-ports. -- two naval expeditions down the Carolina coast. -- engagement at Hatteras Inlet. -- an unequal combat. -- the Port Royal expedition. -- capture of Port Royal. -- value of this Federal success. -- the “Trent” affair. -- capture of commissioners Mason and Slidell. -- an English commander's protest. -- great indignation in England. -- preparations there for war. -- conceit and exultation of the North. -- tributes and attentions to Capt. Wilkes. -- concern among the Confederates. -- what Richmond orators said. -- Seward's correspondence with the British Government. -- his collapse. -- the last resort of demagogueism. -- disappointment of the Confederates in the termination of the “Trent” affair. -- Earl Russell's declaration in Parliament. -- Mr. Gregory's reply. -- the treaty of Paris and the Federal blockade
In the beginning of the war, General Winfield Scott had been entitled in Northern newspapers “the Greatest Captain of the Age.” After the disaster of Manassas the same newspapers derided him as an imbecile; and in the meanest humiliation General Scott publicly announced himself an “old coward” for having yielded to popular clamour in fighting the battle, and thus sought by the most infamous confession the mercy of men prompt to insult his fallen fortunes. The fickle course of popular applause in the North was to exalt a new
