DR. FISKE'S LECTURE.

Dr. Fiske delivered in Sanders Theatre last evening the second in his series of lectures on the Western Campaigns of the Civil War. Beginning immediately after the battle of Shiloh, he described the naval operations about New Orleans, Halleck's supreme command in the West, and finally the battle of Stone River or Murfreesboro.

As usual, Dr. Fiske treated his subject in a most personal, direct manner, giving such details of the circumstances of each action, and the individual character and motives of the men who controlled affairs, listener could not but feel an intimate, vivid interest in the great events under discussion. The audience was as before, large and appreciative.

Dr. Fiske spoke in effect as follows:

After their defeat at Shiloh, the Confederates gave up their aggressive policy entirely in the face of the overwhelming Union forces. Their new line of defense extended from Memphis and Corinth east of Chattanooga.

Polk, after evacuating Columbus, had fortified Island No. 10 in the Mississippi, and effectually blocked further Union advance by the river. The approaches were well protected by the river and a great marsh on the east. On the southeast of the river was the only passable road. Gen. John Pope moved upon this almost impregnable fortress and, aided by gun-boats, captured it in brilliant style. He first moved to a point on the west bank below the defences and captured New Madrid, the only considerable town. To pass the river and overpower the batteries which defended the one road to the island, he needed gun-boats and transports. By a wonderful feat of engineering, a canal, six miles long, but shallow, was cut across a submerged peninsular, from loop to loop of the river and the frail transports thus passed around the batteries. A gun-boat, the Carondelet, boldly ran the gauntlet of the fort at night, running so close under the banks that, before the guns could be sufficiently depressed, she was out of range.

The task was now easy. The lower batteries were silenced; the troops crossed, and the Confederates were caught in a trap. 7000 men and immense quantities of supplies were captured.

The Mississippi was now open to Fort Pillow.

In these Western campaingns, services of the river fleet can not be overestimated. The North was very strong in this branch of the service. Not only was she favored by her machine shops, and skilled engineer, but the crews were imbued with the same bold spirit, which carried the navy so triumphantly through with its unheard-of task of blockading 3000 miles of sea coast.

At the suggestion of Commodore Porter, Lincoln determined to send an expedition against New Orleans. Besides the importance of the city itself it was doubly important to finish the work of opening up the Missippi. Thus alone could the West, the great store-house of the Rebellion be rendered useless.

In '61, any three men-of-war could have entered the river to Cairo, but the opportunity was not realized, and now the two strong forts, Jackson and St. Phillip, guarded the entrance, and other points, as Vicksburg, were strongly for tified.

No more time was lost. The veteran Farragut was placed in command of the fleet, mounting 150 guns, and Ben. Butler commanded the land force of 13,000 men.

The defences were very strong, and the Confederates, relying on their 126 guns, and the heavy obstruction of schooners chained together, kept but a small reserve land force. Notwithstanding such odds against a wooden fleet, Farragut attacked at once. The barrier was broken by a small vessel which slipped around the end in shallow water, and burst through from above by the aid of the current. The fleet kept on and the result was the famous battle which ended in the destruction of Fort Jackson and the rebel fleet, with but slight damage to the Union forces. The heroism of Farragut and his men is a household story.

The river was now opened up, as far as Vicksburg, and here the river fleet from above joined Farragut, and the only thing that was needed for the capture of Vicksburg and the conquest of the Mississippi, once for all, was a strong land force. But Halleck was in command and here, as always, he was timid, irresolute. In the west was Vicksburg; in eastern Tennessee was Chattanooga. A great general with Halleck's advantages would have taken both; any prompt courageous man would have taken one; but Halleck straddled between the two and lost both. As a result the war was prolonged a year.

Buell was sent east with 40,000 men, but was compelled to guard two hundred miles of railroad, and Bragg, who had succeeded Beauregard, anticipated Buell by a swift move, took Chattanooga and assumed the offensive.

At this time Grant became commander-in-chief in the West in place of Halleck, who went to the Army of the Potomac.

Grant immediately went on with his triumphs and Rosecrans, under him, won such successes at Iuka and Corinth, that he supersceded Buell. The latter had lost his position, a victim to misfortune and unjust treatment at the hands of Halleck.

Rosecrans and Bragg now maneuvered for some time in Kentucky but were at length forced by public opinion in the North, and the South as well, to a decisive battle.

Accordingly Rosecrans moved on Bragg, who awaited him at Murfreesboro, on the Stone River. Each general arranged his line for the battle next day, intending to attack and crush his opponent's right. Rosecrans, however, was so intent upon this purpose that he failed to strengthen his own right, and as Bragg struck his blow first and luckily found this one weak spot, the rebels came within an ace of winning a decisive victory. The Union right was forced back and routed, but Sheridan and Thomas stood firm in the centre and, by magnificent firmness, repelled

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