Chapter 8: Civil affairs in 1863.--military operations between the Mountains and the Mississippi River.
- The National finances, 226. -- Financial measures adopted, 227. -- finances of the Confederates, 228. -- retaliatory measures proposed by the Confederates, 229. -- Emancipation of the slaves, the Government policy, 230. -- the autumn elections in 1863, 231. -- list of the members of Congress, 232. -- position of the contending forces, 233. -- Grant created a Lieutenant -- General, 234. -- duties assigned to Meade and Sherman, 235. -- mendacity of the Conspirators, 236. -- Forrest's raid into Tennessee, 237. -- Sherman's March across the State of Mississipp, 238. -- operations in Central Mississippi, 239. -- effect of Sherman's invasion, 240. -- operations in Northern Georgia, 241. -- Forrest's assigned duties, 242. -- Forrest's raid into Kentucky, 243. -- he is repulsed at Paducah, 244. -- he attacks Fort Pillow, 245. -- his massacre of prisoners at Fort Pillow, 246. -- expedition into Mississippi, 247. -- Forrest dashes into Memphis, 248. -- organization of negro troops, 249. -- negroes employed in the War, 250.
Before proceeding to a consideration of military affairs in 1864, let us take a brief glance at the aspect of civil affairs at the beginning of that year. The management of the finances of the nation was yet in the able hands of Secretary Chase; and so fully did the people and Congress confide in his judgment and patriotism, that his suggestions were generally accepted as eminently wise, and the measures he proposed were usually carried into execution. From the day when he assumed the duties of Minister of Finance, and his plans began to develop, the public credit became stronger every hour; and at the time we are considering, when the public debt had reached the appalling sum of over a thousand million dollars, the great war in full career, and that debt increasing enormously every day, the public credit, especially among the people of this country, had never stood higher. “The history of the world,” said the Secretary, a year later, when he had been fully sustained by the people, “may be searched in vain for a parallel case of popular financial support to a National Government.” 1 When Congress met in December, 1862, Secretary Chase laid before them a statement and estimate which would have appalled the representatives of a less hopeful people. He reported, that, on account of greatly increased expenditures, there remained a balance of disbursements to the amount of nearly two hundred and seventy-seven million dollars, for which provision must be made; and he asked for an additional sum to meet the estimated expenditures of the Government to the close of the fiscal year, at the end of June, 1864, which would make the whole sum to be provided for, for the next eighteen months, more than nine hundred million dollars.2 The important question, How is this vast sum to be provided? had to be met. The able Minister of Finance was ready with an answer. Keeping in mind the four objects in view which had controlled his action up to that time, namely, “moderate interest, general distribution, future controllability, and incidental utility,” he now renewed propositions which he had already made, and recommended two immediate measures of safety, in connection with a
