CONFEDERATE PROSPECTS AFTER THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE--THE MILITARY SITUATION--PRIMARY OBJECTS OF THE CONFEDERATES--AFFAIRS IN THE WEST--A BRIEF CONSIDERATION OF SEVERAL PLANS OF CAMPAIGN SUGGESTED TO THE CONFEDERATE AUTHORITIES--VISIONARY STRATEGY--AN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ADOPTED--THE INVASION OF PENNSYLVANIA JUSTIFIED--CONDITION OF THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA AT THIS PERIOD--THE MOVEMENT FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK--LEADING FEATURES OF THE CONFEDERATE PLAN--LEE'S STRATEGY AGAIN ILLUSTRATED--GETTYSBURG--A FATAL BLOW TO THE SOUTH--LEE RETURNS TO VIRGINIA--THE SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG--OTHER REVERSES--EXULTATION OF THE NORTH--THE CONFEDERATE ADMINISTRATION AGAIN ARRAIGNED BY ITS OPPONENTS--THE CASE OF GENERAL PEMBERTON--POPULAR INJUSTICE TO A GALLANT OFFICER--A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE SUBJECT--PEMBERTON'S APPOINTMENT RECOMMENDED BY DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS--HIS ABLE ADMINISTRATION IN MISSISSIPPI--HIS RESOLUTION TO HOLD VICKSBURG, AS THE GREAT END OF THE CAMPAIGN--HIS GALLANTRY AND RESOURCES--NOBLE CONDUCT OF THIS PERSECUTED OFFICER--A FURTHER STATEMENT--THE MISSION OF VICE-PRESIDENT STEPHENS--ITS OBJECTS--PRESIDENT DAVIS SEEKS TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERINGS OF WAR--MAGNANIMITY AND HUMANITY OF THE OFFER--PROUD POSITION IN THIS MATTER OF THE SOUTH AND HER RULER--THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECLINES INTERCOURSE WITH MR. STEPHENS--EXPLANATION OF ITS MOTIVES--CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MESSRS. DAVIS AND STEPHENS. CHAPTER XVI. (Page 477-501.) OPERATIONS OF GENERAL TAYLOR IN LOUISIANA--THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY IRRECOVERABLY LOST TO THE CONFEDERACY--FEDERALS FOILED AT CHARLESTON--THE DIMINISHED CONFIDENCE OF THE SOUTH--FINANCIAL DERANGEMENT--DEFECTIVE FINANCIAL SYSTEM OF THE SOUTH--MR. DAVIS' LIMITED CONNECTION WITH IT--THE REASONS FOR THE FINANCIAL FAILURE OF THE CONFEDERACY--INFLUENCE OF SPECULATION--ANOMALOUS SITUATION OF THE SOUTH--MR. DAVIS' VIEWS OF THE FINANCIAL POLICY OF THE SOUTH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR--MILITARY OPERATIONS IN TENNESSEE--BRAGG RETREATS TO CHATTANOOGA--MORGAN'S EXPEDITION--SURRENDER OF CUMBERLAND GAP--FEDERAL OCCUPATION OF CHATTANOOGA--BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA--BRAGG'S EXPECTATIONS--GRANT'S OPERATIONS--BRAGG BADLY DEFEATED--PRESIDENT DAVIS' VIEW OF THE DISASTER--GENERAL BRAGG RELIEVED FROM COMMAND OF THE WESTERN ARMY--CENSURE OF THIS OFFICER--HIS MERITS AND SERVICES--THE UNJUST CENSURE OF MR. DAVIS AND GENERAL BRAGG FOR THE REVERSES IN THE WEST--OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA IN THE LATTER PART OF 1863--CONDITION OF THE SOUTH AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR--SIGNS OF EXHAUSTION--PRESIDENT DAVIS' RECOMMENDATIONS--PUBLIC DESPONDENCY--THE WORK OF FACTION--ABUSE OF MR. DAVIS IN CONGRESS--THE CONTRAST BETWEEN HIMSELF AND HIS ASSAILANTS--DEFICIENCY OF FOOD--HOW CAUSED--THE CONFEDERACY EVENTUALLY CONQUERED BY STARVATION. CHAPTER XVII. (Page 502-532.)