CHAPTER XXI.
THE POLITICS OF 1864 AS A FACTOR IN THE
WAR.
ARMIES EAST AND WEST—UNITED STATES CONGRESS—MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN—THE CONFEDERATE STATES CONGRESS—MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT DAVIS—NO SIGN OF YIELDING—ALL MALE CITIZENS IN THE SOUTH ENROLLED—OTHER ACTS OF CONGRESS—POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES—THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT PROPOSED—A PEACE MOVEMENT—WAR PREPARATIONS—CONFEDERATE VICTORIES.
AFTER the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg the movements of the armies in various parts of the field brought on a number of conflicts, especially in the West. The main Confederate army had fallen back to Chattanooga and thence to Chickamauga valley, where it was followed by the Federal forces. Upon this ground the battle of Chickamauga was fought September 20th, and a technical victory won by the Confederates. The Federals were forced back to Chattanooga, whence, after two months delay, they advanced again, and achieving a victory at Missionary Ridge, closed active operations for a time, with the general situation in the entire West decidedly advantageous to the United States. In the East the Federal use of the signal advantages gained by the defeat of Lee at Gettysburg was chiefly for some time in congratulations at the escape Washington had made, and the delivery of Pennsylvania from the "tread of the hostile invader." With a slowness that seems remarkable the Union armies along the Potomac were employed in what has been called "a campaign of strategy," which
