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CHAPTER XLV
SAVING SAN JUAN Returns to Puget Sound—Guest of General Harney—Close relations with—Renominated for Congress—The canvass—Elected—Death of Mr. Mason—San Juan dispute waxes warm over a pig—General Harney advised by Governor Stevens—Sends Captain Pickett to occupy the island—British fleet blockade—Reinforcements sent to Pickett—British powerless on land—Thousands of American miners in Victoria and on Fraser River—Governor Gholson guided by Governor Stevens—Offers support of militia to General Harney, who places ammunition at his disposal—General Scott pacifies British lion—Governor Stevens’s influence in saving the archipelago 288 CHAPTER XLVI
THE STAND AGAINST DISUNION Governor Stevens becomes chief exponent and authority on Northern route—Letter to Vancouver railroad convention— Contending for the Northern route—Governor Stevens lives down prejudice—Gains respect—Great influence with President and departments—His habits—Rebuke of self-seekers—Political issues—Governor Stevens a national man—Sustained constitutional rights of South, as matter of justice and to defeat disunion—Patriotism of men of this view—Attends Charleston and Baltimore Democratic conventions—Supports General Lane—Split in party—Governor Stevens accepts as chairman of executive committee of National Democracy—Writes address in a single night—Labors hard—Hopes of success—Abraham Lincoln elected President—Act to pay Indian war debt passed—W.W. Miller appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Washington Territory—Governor Stevens’s achievements in seven years—His firm Union sentiments—Denounces secession—Strengthens the hands of the President 296 CHAPTER XLVII
THE OFFER OF SWORD AND SERVICES Governor Stevens returns to Washington Territory—Recommends supporting the government and arming the militia—Elected captain of Puget Sound Rifles of Olympia—Democratic convention meets—Governor Stevens withdraws his name as candidate for delegate—His speech—Offers services—Hastens to Washington—Meets cold reception—Accepts colonelcy of 79th Highlanders—Governors Andrew and Sprague offer regiments 313 CHAPTER XLVIII
THE 79TH HIGHLANDERS.—THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC The Highland Guard, a New York city militia battalion, volunteer as the 79th Highlanders—Splendid material—Severe losses at Bull Run—Promised to be sent home to recruit—Disappointed— Colonel Stevens takes command—Breaks unworthy officers—The mutiny and its suppression—Colonel Stevens enforces discipline—Marches through Washington with band playing the dead march—Removes camp guards and appeals to honor of the regiment—Crossing the Potomac into Virginia—Colonel Stevens’s brief speech at midnight—Building Fort Ethan Allen—Digging forts and felling forests—Picket alarms—The reconnoissance of Lewinsville—General McClellan meets returning column; his anxiety to avoid a general engagement— Colonel Stevens deprived of his brigade and given three green regiments—President Lincoln reminded, directs appointment of Colonel Stevens as brigadier-general; says delay is owing to General McClellan’s advice—Hazard Stevens appointed adjutant 79th Highlanders—Colonel Stevens appointed brigadier-general— Moves forward four miles to Camp of the Big Chestnut—The recusant wagon-master—The unexpected rebuke—McClellan’s passive-defensive—General Stevens ordered to Annapolis—Bids farewell to the Highlanders—Whole line cries, “Tak’ us wi’ ye!”—Secures appointment of his son as captain and assistant adjutant-general—Condemns McClellan’s management—Predicts disaster—Reaches Annapolis—Applies for Highlanders—McClellan objects, but President Lincoln overrules him and sends them 321 CHAPTER XLIX
THE PORT ROYAL EXPEDITION General Thomas W. Sherman—His army—General Stevens’s brigade—The embarkation—Fleet assemble off Fortress Monroe—Boat’s crew of Highlanders—Lively scenes—Sailing out to sea—Storm scatters the fleet—Opening sealed orders—Sail for Port Royal—The rebel defenses—Commodore Dupont’s attack—The enemy’s flight—Landing of the troops—Demoralized by sweet-potato field—General Stevens alone urges advance inland—Constructs a mile of defensive works—Sickness—Life on Hilton Head 341 CHAPTER L
BEAUFORT.—ACTION OF PORT ROYAL FERRY General Stevens occupies Beaufort, the Newport of the South—Abandoned by white population—Sacked by negroes; their ignorance, habits, condition—Faint attack on the pickets—General Stevens advances across Port Royal Island—Pickets outer side, throwing enemy on the defensive—Enemy close the Coosaw River—General Stevens’s plan to dislodge them authorized—Reinforcement by two regiments and gunboats—Flatboats assembled in a hidden creek—Troops embark at midnight, cross Coosaw, and effect landing—March in echelon toward Port Royal Ferry—The action—The enemy’s hasty retreat—The Ferry occupied—The forts destroyed—Troops bivouac for the night—Cross the ferry and march to Beaufort in triumph—Thanked in general orders for the victory of Port Royal Ferry 353 CHAPTER LI
BEAUFORT.—CAMPAIGN PLANNED AGAINST CHARLESTON General Stevens restores public library—It is confiscated by Treasury agents against his protest—The Gideonites come to elevate the freedmen—General Stevens moderates their zeal; wins their gratitude—Other visitors—Thorough course of drill and discipline—Twenty-five-mile picket line—Detachment of 8th Michigan defeat 13th Georgia regiment on Wilmington Island—Death of Mr. Caverly—Governor Stevens’s views on military situation—General Stevens’s force a menace to Charleston and Savannah Railroad—Six miles trestle bridges—General Robert E. Lee’s defensive measures—General Stevens eager to cross swords with Lee—Plans movement to destroy railroad and hurl