n), pp. 114, 115.

(26) Ordnance and inspecting officers during the War of the
Rebellion contended that the .58 calibre rifle was the smallest
practicable. In 1863 I purchased for special use a small number
of Martini-Henry repeating rifles, calibre .44, and on applying
for ammunition, the ordnance officer protested against supplying
it on the ground that the ball used was too small for effective
use. This, I demonstrated at the time, was a mistake. And now
(1896), after years of most careful experiments and tests by the
most skilled boards of officers, English, German, French, Austrian,
Swedish, United States, etc., it has been ascertained that a steel-
jacket, leaden ball fired from a rifle of .30 calibre has the
highest velocity and greatest penetrating power.

The armies of all these countries are now, or are fast being, armed
with this superior, small-calibre rifle.

(27) As late as April, 1862, Jeff. Davis, though a soldier by
training and experience, attached importance to "pikes and knives"
as war-weapons.--_War Records_, vol. x., pt. 2., p. 413.

CHAPTER III
Personal Mention--Occupancy of Western Virginia under McClellan
(1861)--Campaign and Battle of Rich Mountain, and Incidents

Events leading, as we have seen, to the secession of States; to
the organization of the Confederate States of America; to the
assembling of Confederate forces in large numbers; to the firing
on Fort Sumter and its subsequent capitulation, and to the summons
to arms of seventy-five thousand volunteer United States troops,
ended all thoughts of peace through means other than war.

President Lincoln and his advisers did not delude themselves with
the notion that three months would end the war. He and they knew
too well how deep-seated the purpose was to consummate secession,
hence before the war had progressed far the first three years' call
was made.

By common judgment, South as well as North, Virginia was soon the
be the scene of early battle. Its proximity to Washington, the
Capital, made it necessary to occupy the south side of the Potomac.
The western part of the State was not largely interested in slaves
or slave labor, and it was known to have many citizens loyal to
the Union. These it was important to protect and recognize. The
neutral and doubtful attitude Kentucky at first assumed made its
occupation a very delicate matter.

While many volunteer troops were hastened to the defense of
Washington, large nu